It took just two weeks of pain and suffering but Everton are now firmly outside the relegation zone once more after an emphatic 3-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Thursday night.

In fact, the Toffees have been tremendous throughout the campaign, with a ten-point deduction back in November generating an unfair reflection of the team's position in the Premier League table. Everton have now earned more points overall than Chelsea and would be tenth in the top-flight had they not been punished.

One player who has been a rock at the back for the Merseyside club is Jarrad Branthwaite, but with rumours of the centre-back being linked elsewhere, Everton are said to be looking around for a new central defender.

Everton transfer news – Jake O'Brien

According to a recent report from Foot Mercato, Everton are keeping tabs on Lyon centre-back Jake O'Brien ahead of the January transfer window.

The French outfit are in free-fall at the moment and currently sit rock bottom of Ligue, despite reaching a Champions League semi-final merely three years ago.

The Irish defender moved to Les Gones during the summer for around £850k, having previously played for his boyhood club Cork City before joining Crystal Palace.

With the Eagles, O'Brien was sent out on loan to Swindon Town and eventually Belgian side RWD Molenbeek before making the switch to the Groupama Stadium, having failed to make a single competitive appearance for Palace at Selhurst Park.

Incidentally, O'Brien is Lyon's joint-top goalscorer with three goals, alongside former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, having scored 27% of the team's goals which is incredible for a centre-back. Additionally, O'Brien has ranked quite high statistically when compared to all other central defenders from Europe's top-five leagues.

Per 90 Metric

Percentile Ranking in Men's Big Five leagues

Non-Penalty Goals

99

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

99

Passes Completed

76

Pass Completion %

88

Short Passing Completion %

87

Long Pass Completion %

92

Aerial Duels Won %

96

Ball Recoveries

87

23/24 Stats via FBref

Jake O'Brien's stats this season

O'Brien could be the perfect replacement for Branthwaite at Goodison Park as the latter is currently being touted with a move to Old Trafford ahead of the January transfer window as Erik ten Hag looks to shore up his leaky Manchester United defence.

The rumoured pursuit of O'Brien has similar connotations to the deal which saw Branthwaite move to Merseyside back in 2020 for a mere £1m from then-League Two outfit Carlisle United.

Everton have since bumped up their asking price for the 21-year-old to £25m. Like Branthwaite, O'Brien also has experience in the English lower leagues, having made 21 appearances for Swindon, and could be available for an incredibly cheap amount, especially with Lyon sitting bottom of France's top flight.

The Irishman is said to be worth £4m, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

Furthermore, even if Branthwaite was to remain with Everton, O'Brien could provide depth and quality on Sean Dyche's bench, particularly with Ben Godfrey being linked with a move elsewhere this winter. The ex-Norwich City defender has played merely 91 minutes all season under Dyche and O'Brien has outperformed him in almost every metric so far, based off of Godfrey's stats last season.

Goals

0.38

0

Expected Goals

0.25

0.14

Progressive Passes

3

2.13

Passes To Final 1/3

3

2.7

Passes To Penalty Area

0.13

0.11

Pass Completion

90.5

64.8

Aerial Duels Won %

73.9

46.9

Touches

69.3

43.9

Tackles

0.5

2.25

Tackles Won

0.5

1.41

Interceptions

0.38

0.91

Stats via FBref

Godfrey has been making more tackles than O'Brien, although the latter has a higher success rate. However, apart from interceptions, the Lyon star trumps the Everton defender.

If Godfrey leaves this January, Dyche should look no further than O'Brien to be an upgrade on him due to his superior defensive and in-possession capabilities across the board to repeat the club's Branthwaite masterclass.

Tom Curran starred with the ball while Jordan Silk and Moises Henriques helped Sixers start 2019 on a winning note

The Report by Alex Malcolm01-Jan-2019Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk have delivered the Sydney Sixers the perfect start to the New Year executing a brilliantly timed chase to ensure Brisbane Heat remain winless.The pair came together with the Sixers needing 84 from 51 balls. Henriques made an outstanding 57 from 37 balls before falling with 44 still needed from 23. But Silk and Josh Philippe ran the Heat ragged and maneuvred the ball to the vacant boundaries behind square with extraordinary skill. Silk fell for 46 from 25 balls with just six runs to win but Tom Curran finished the job.Earlier, Chris Lynn held together the Heat’s batting with a powerful 84. Youngster Max Bryant made an electric start in the Powerplay but he and Lynn were the only players in the Heat’s top six to reach double figures. At one stage they were targeting a total of 150 but Lynn and Jimmy Peirson finished the innings superbly to set the Sixers 165 to win, but it still wasn’t enough.Bash Brothers’ new siblingThe Heat opted for a change at the top of the order, dropping Brendon McCullum down to No.4 and promoting Sam Heazlett to have a left-right combination. Heazlett only made 2 but he was involved in a 34-run opening stand from the first 2.5 overs as the newest Bash Brother bucked his head. Max Bryant, 19, had shown glimpses in the first two games and he exploded here. The Sixers opted for spin from both ends and Bryant showed Ben Manenti and Steve O’Keefe no respect. He was savage on O’Keefe, who has been untouchable in the Powerplay this season, clubbing three fours and a six in the second over. He showed smart footwork against the veteran finding the rope off both the front and the back foot. He failed to go with his start though, holing out to long on in the fourth over for 34 from just 18 balls.The lives of LynnLynn had gone 21 T20 innings with a fifty, including seven T20 Internationals late in 2018. That was set to be 22 when he hit a towering sky ball to deep midwicket on 13, but Manenti was strangely positioned in the key spot instead of Silk, and looking into the sun he spilt the opportunity. Lynn reached 19 off 20 balls with just one boundary before he unleashed on Manenti with a huge six over long on. But he had to reign it in again as he lost Joe Burns and Ben Cutting in quick succession. He played wisely picking the gaps and biding his time. He launched his second six to bring up his fifty in the 15thover. He then unfurled his trademarks strikes. He hit Sean Abbott 98m over midwicket and Tom Curran’s slower ball 93m over long on. He gave another life on 73, with Daniel Hughes unable to hold onto to a ball sliced over his head at backward point. It cost the Sixers another 11 runs before he was out for 84. Lynn got great support from Jimmy Peirson who made an excellent 23 off 17 balls to raise the total above 160.Avendano air walkThe Sixers finally made a change at the top of the order dropping Jack Edwards and promoting 25-year-old North Sydney batsman Justin Avendano. It was an inspired move. Avendano struck two huge sixes and a boundary and the Sixers only lost one wicket in the Powerplay. Henriques joined the debutant after the fall of Joe Denly and the pair steadily built, never letting the required run-rate climb above 10 an over. But Avendano had a brain snap in the 11thover. After squeezing out a yorker to short third man, he was called through for a single. Ben Cutting threw at the non-striker’s end and hit but Avendano didn’t ground his bat and had his feet in the air. He would have made his ground easily if he had simply grounded his bat. Daniel Hughes fell five balls later as the required rate climbed to 10.25.Silky finishHenriques and Silk didn’t panic. They faced just three dot balls in a 40-run partnership. Lynn had held back Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s last over, after he conceded just 18 from his first three, hoping to bowl to a new batsman. But Henriques and Silk forced Lynn’s hand in the 16thover. With Henriques set and ready to target the quicks, Silk gambled and slog swept Mujeeb for six and took 12 from the over. Henriques fell off the first ball of the 17th. But Silk and Josh Philippe never stuttered. They ran brilliantly to force fielding mistakes. Philippe played an incredible falling ramp shot to fine leg for four forcing a field change before Silk was able to pick the gap at deep square after the change had been made. Silk holed out from the last ball of the 19thbut had the presence of mind not to cross with Philippe so the set player was on strike for the start of the last. Philippe couldn’t find the boundary but Tom Curran did to get the Sixers home with three balls to spare.

Chelsea star Lauren James appears to have unfollowed fellow Lionesses Mary Earps and Ella Toone after a post from Man Utd defender Millie Turner.

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• Man Utd beat Chelsea in FA Cup on Sunday
• James included in Turner's Instagam post after win
• Has since unfollowed Earps, Toone & more

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following the Red Devils' win over Chelsea in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final, Turner took to Instagram to post a series of images from the game, including one of her and James battling to get hold of the ball after the England star had pulled a goal back for the Blues.

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  Several of Turner's Man Utd and Lionesses team-mates liked and commented on the post and it appears James has now unfollowed some of them. She is no longer connected with Turner, Toone, Earps or Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh on the platform. Turner has now disabled comments on the post.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Some have criticised Turner's decision to include images of the tussle between her and James on the post due to the criticism that could be aimed at the Chelsea star as a result. Despite players wrestling for the ball being a very common occurrence across football, some fans were surprisingly unhappy with James' actions and the 22-year-old has sadly been subject to vile and unacceptable abuse before.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JAMES AND ENGLAND?

  James, Turner, Toone, Earps and Walsh were all included in the Lionesses' latest squad and are all likely to be called up by Sarina Wiegman again at the end of May for a double-header against France.

Newcastle United have been forced to balance European football and Premier League action this season after qualifying for the Champions League during the last campaign. And, whilst the Magpies have enjoyed impressive victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, they have also suffered defeats against the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Borussia Dortmund as the fixtures and injuries mount.

Newcastle's up and down run will have given Eddie Howe plenty to think about ahead of the next two transfer windows, as those at St James' Park reportedly set their sights on some defensive depth for the former Bournemouth boss.

Newcastle United transfer news

At the time, it looked as though Newcastle spent well in the summer, welcoming Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and some young defensive talent to reinforce Howe's side. Months later, and that's anything but the case. Tonali is at the start of a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, Barnes is injured and the Magpies have just three recognised centre-backs after failing to add depth to their backline. And that's a problem that they could look to solve next summer in a deal that could eventually look like a stroke of genius.

According to 90min, Newcastle are keeping tabs on Tiago Djalo and are ready to battle for the Lille defender's signature against Serie A giants Inter Milan. Djalo's current Lille contract expires at the end of the season, making him a free agent, and he is open to a move. The Premier League side have reportedly been tracking the defender for a year now and will continue to monitor him upon his return from injury.

Djalo's versatility would certainly provide Howe with a major boost. The 23-year-old can play in every position across the backline, which would solve Newcastle's growing concern over their depth.

"Strong" Djalo can solve Newcastle's depth problem

We've already seen Sven Botman shoehorned in at centre-back this season and Howe will be well aware of the need to avoid a similar situation next season. And that's where the arrival of Djalo could help. The Lille man has earned the interest of both the Magpies and Inter Milan through excellent performances in Ligue 1. When compared to Newcastle's current options too, Djalo's stats last season show that he is more than capable of keeping up.

Player	Progressive Carres Per 90	Progressive Passes Per 90	Tackles Won Per 90	Interceptions Per 90
Tiago Djalo	0.40	3.13	1.38	1.03
Sven Botman	0.23	2.51	1.10	0.98
Fabian Schar	0.76	3.90	1.32	1.46

It's no surprise then that Djalo has been at the centre of praise during his career, including from Zach Lowy, who posted on X: "Tiago Djaló. After moving from Sporting to Milan in January due to a contract dispute, he’ll need to impress for the Primavera and then get a loan before he can contest the likes of Caldara and Romagnoli. Agile, strong, quick but needs to improve his decisions and IQ."

Having matured with age but kept the same athletic traits that made him such a highly rated prospect back then, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Newcastle make their move.

Everton could have an opportunity to offload one of their first-team players in January after it emerged that interest has surfaced in his services from elsewhere.

Everton's 10-point deduction…

As everyone will now know, Everton are at the centre of a storm that has hit the headlines in the Premier League over the last few weeks following their controversial 10-point deduction for financial breaches, which they have since appealed and hope to find the outcome of out before the end of the campaign.

The outlet indicate that the Toffees haven't been informed by the independent commission why the figure of 10 points was deemed appropriate and they are of the belief that receiving a sporting penalty for financial irregularities away from the field is unfair.

Outside of the media circus surrounding docked points at Goodison Park, it is easy to forget that Sean Dyche's men are also embroiled in a takeover saga on Merseyside as 777 Partners look to secure control of the club.

Nevertheless, The Sun claim that any deal that would involve the organisation purchasing Everton could be cast into oblivion after it emerged that the US Department of Justice are probing alleged money laundering offences committed by the firm, of which 777 deny all charges.

Related Everton eyeing "sensation" who's earning rave reviews in his country

The Toffees could land a star for the future…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Dec 6, 2023

777 co-owners Josh Wander and Steven Pasko are currently undergoing the Premier League's Owners and Directors' Test. At the same time, the 12-week deadline initially given for the completion of the sale after Farhad Moshiri agreed to pass on his 94% stake in the Blues has now passed, creating more uncertainty to pile on to the trials and tribulations suffered over a rocky few years at Goodison Park.

Meanwhile, on the transfer front, Everton could now have the opportunity to sell one of their out-of-favour stars and gain a financial boost come January.

Tottenham Hotspur want Ben Godfrey

According to 90min, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to push to sign Everton defender Ben Godfrey as they look to bring in defensive cover once the transfer window opens. The report states that the England international is on the Lilywhites' shortlist and has impressed scouts in N17 over the years.

Five similar players to Ben Godfrey (FBRef)

Club

Player

Hellas Verona

Davide Faraoni

Crystal Palace

Joel Ward

Freiburg

Lukas Kubler

Nottingham Forest

Serge Aurier

Sampdoria

Fabio Depaoli

Godfrey is reportedly determined to leave Goodison Park after falling down the pecking order under Dyche and could be available for a fee of £20 million plus add-ons. Jarrad Branthwaite is also a target for the north Londoners; however, the Toffees will resist any offers for the former PSV Eindhoven loanee in January.

Labelled "great" by former Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand, Godfrey has made 79 appearances in all competitions during his time on Merseyside, registering three assists in the process (Godfrey statistics – Transfermarkt).

Nevertheless, a move away from his current surroundings is becoming an increasingly likely prospect and could give Dyche some valuable resources for the January transfer window, making this one to watch.

Newcastle United are now one of the biggest spending clubs in the Premier League and Eddie Howe looks set to open their chequebook once again in the January window, according to reports.

Newcastle United transfer updates…

Newcastle United once again spent big in the summer transfer window as ambition levels in the North East continue to get loftier, with Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Yankuba Minteh, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall all arriving at St James' Park.

Despite performing slightly below expectations according to some in footballing circles, the Magpies sit seventh in the Premier League table with 20 points from their opening 12 fixtures. Nevertheless, they have won just two of their last six matches in all competitions and a recent spate of injuries has complicated matters as they aim to once again challenge for Champions League qualification.

Bringing in some additional quality in January will be an important endeavour for Howe as he tries to bolster key areas; nevertheless, Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves, who has been mooted as a target for Newcastle United in recent times, is unlikely to arrive at the club in January as the Premier League considers implementing a ban on teams who loan players from sides they have an association with, as per Football Insider.

Reports in Denmark indicate that Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande is someone who is in Newcastle United's sights and a bid believed to be in the region of £58 million is being readied for the Ivory Coast international by Howe and company.

Now, a fresh report has indicated that the Toon could also look to strengthen their options in the final third by initiating a transcontinental swoop for a talented winger.

Newcastle United track Benjamin Rollheiser

According to reports from Argentina via Sport Witness, Newcastle United are keen on Estudiantes winger Benjamin Rollheiser once again after previous links with the 23-year-old in the summer transfer window.

Benjamin Rollheiser in 2023 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

54

Goals

12

Assists

6

The outlet claim that Estudiantes only own 50% of his rights, with the other half being retained by Rollheiser himself, alongside his entourage. Former Argentina Under-23 international Rollheiser is expected to move clubs in January after rejecting offers from clubs in England, Brazil and the United States in the summer to continue his time at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi.

Speaking earlier this year, Estudiantes manager Eduardo Dominguez revealed that he sees aspects of football legend Lionel Messi's game in Rollheiser, as he stated via Ole: "The comparison has to be with the maximum expression. It seems to me that he has things, if we understand that it is not that he is Messi. I don't know when another (player with Rollheiser's attributes) one will come out.

"Of course, today he is one of the most decisive players in Argentine football and he has to learn to take care of what he is achieving. I don't care what he is experiencing."

Casting their net across the globe, Newcastle look to be utilising their reach to the full extent as Howe eyes more talented players from far and wide to boost the depth and quality in his squad.

Harry Kane claims to have no mixed emotions ahead of an outing for Bayern Munich that could dash Champions League dreams for Arsenal and Tottenham.

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England star preparing to face GunnersTaking aim at semi-final berthProgress could impact friends at SpursWHAT HAPPENED?

The prolific England international severed career-long ties with Spurs last summer when heading to the Allianz Arena. The north London outfit will forever hold a special place in his heart, but there is no room for sentiment as he takes aim at a place in the semi-finals of elite European competition for 2023-24.

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Victory over Arsenal on Wednesday will keep Bayern in the hunt for continental glory, with that heavyweight encounter locked at 2-2 on aggregate. Progress for the Bundesliga giants could also cost Spurs a Champions League place for next season, as Germany seeks to overtake England in the battle for a fifth qualification spot that currently sees the two nations tied on the same UEFA coefficient points.

Getty ImagesWHAT KANE SAID

Quizzed on whether he has given any thought to potentially upsetting friends at Spurs while also downing their fiercest rivals, Kane told reporters: “I don't know how to answer that. The Bundesliga has been a great experience for me so far. You've got some top teams in this league. I can't focus on what may or may not happen in the Premier League, I just have to focus on Bayern and trying to finish as high in the league as possible and that's second place.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Kane is determined to help Bayern progress in this season’s Champions League and admits that defeat in the 2019 final to Liverpool has him desperate to right a few wrongs in Europe’s biggest club competition. He added: “When you reach a final and don't quite get over the line there is always a burning fire to get back there and go one step further. We have an opportunity that starts with a big game tomorrow and then, if we get through, it's just a couple of games to Wembley. It's in the distance at the moment and I can just try to put in my best performance and step by step we can reach our goals.”

حسم فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك نتيجة مباراته أمام زد في خضم منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري، بالفوز بهدف دون رد.

وكشف محمد أسامة رئيس الجهاز الطبي للزمالك عن حالة الثلاثي حمزة المثلوثي وعمر جابر ومصطفى شلبي في مباراة زد، بعد أن غادروا اللقاء.

وقال أسامة في تصريحات رسمية إن الثلاثي يعاني من إصابات مختلفة، حيث اشتكى مصطفى شلبي من آلام في العضلة الخلفية، وحمزة المثلوثي شد في العضلة الخلفية، وعمر جابر شد في العضلة الأمامية.

وأشار الطبيب إلى أن الجهاز الطبي والفني فضل تغيير الثلاثي وعدم المخاطرة باستمرارهم في الملعب للحفاظ عليهم.

وقرر الجهاز الفني لفريق الزمالك بقيادة البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز منح اللاعبين راحة لمدة 48 ساعة بعد خوض مباراة زد مساء اليوم الخميس في مسابقة الدوري.

فيديو | بهدف قاتل.. الزمالك يفوز على زد في الدوري المصري

ويستأنف الزمالك تدريباته يوم الأحد المقبل في السادسة والنصف مساءً على ملعب النادي، استعداداً للقاء طلائع الجيش في مسابقة الدوري.

ويستعد فريق الزمالك للقاء طلائع الجيش يوم الأربعاء المقبل في إطار مباريات الجولة الثالثة والثلاثين لمسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

Having been on the wrong end of two brutal batting displays on night one, bowlers were in desperate need of a hero on the T10 League’s second day

Barny Read22-Nov-2018

Pravin Tambe belts out an appeal

Having been on the wrong end of two brutal batting displays on night one, bowlers were in desperate need of a hero on the T10 League’s second day. There were some encouraging performances from the first two matches, but the assault handed out by Mohammad Shahzad stuck in the memory more, as did the one-two punch of Paul Stirling and Eoin Morgan.Short boundaries and batsmen fearlessly launching into attacks are the hallmarks of T10’s marketability. It’s tailored to batsmen, the odds forever in their favour. Boundaries are the most valuable currency, and bowlers are sometimes but mere fodder; bowling machines with a pulse here for the derision of the batsmen charged with providing the entertainment.But cricket is at its best when bowlers have their tails up and the game is being squeezed into an almost unbearable tension. It brings out moments of brilliance from both parties, and if the game is swinging too far in favour of one or the other, the spectacle tends to suffer.So, a of sorts was needed to balance yin with yang. And he arrived in the shape of – on first glance – an unlikely figure: 47-year old Pravin Tambe.Having just seen Aamer Yamin take four wickets in as many balls in an albeit already dying match, the Indian legspinner crossed the picket line as the elder statesmen of the group.Yamin’s spell had hammered home, with devastating effect, his side’s advantage, to deliver the Bengal Tigers a 36-run victory over Northern Warriors. It was a stunning effort, but one that Tambe was about to reduce to a mere supporting evidence, as he made his own case, demonstrating the value of bowlers in the weird and wonderful world of T10.With new ball in hand, Tambe began inauspiciously, conceding five wides first up. A second wide followed. It didn’t look good for the man brought in to replace UAE spinner Ahmed Raza after Wednesday night’s defeat. When he had his first wicket, it was with a low full toss that Chris Gayle swatted straight down the throat of long-on.A dot ball followed, before Kerala Knights captain Eoin Morgan repeated Gayle’s dismissal almost step for step, letting out a wry smile as he fell. It was a telling look of ‘not our night’. Indeed, this was Tambe’s and the bowlers’. Batsmen have enjoyed too much of the spoils in recent times.Kieron Pollard was then undone first ball, bowled by a skidding delivery that just didn’t get up, putting Tambe on a hat-trick.Fabian Allen granted it, playing all around a dipping yorker and seeing the bails thrown out of their grooves. At this stage, Tambe had bowled just one over and had 4 for 6 with one of the most daunting top-orders in the tournament reduced to rubble.By the time he was done, Upul Tharanga had become his fifth victim, and Tambe was the first man to record a five-for in T10 cricket, with figures of 2-0-15-5.Beaming, and crowded with emphatic pats on the back, Tambe’s delight was shared among the union boss and his cohorts.Kerala were left reeling at 21 for 6, just three overs into their innings. It was a long way back from there, and the reigning champions couldn’t produce similar magic with the ball as the Sindhis romped to a nine-wicket victory.”I’ve never thought about my age. I enjoy this game and I keep enjoying this game,” Tambe said, quickly coming to terms with how challenging T10 is for his profession. “Being a bowler in this format, it’s a very short format and I think it’s for public entertainment. As a bowler, you have to think that you can’t give any sixes or fours. With that in mind, you will get wickets, and that’s what I got today.”Tambe had some words of advice for his peers on how they “can survive” in T10, a frank understanding of the challenge they face in cricket’s shortest iteration. “In this format, you don’t get a chance to set a batsman up. Every ball is going to go for a six. That’s what you have to think as a bowler in this format, so you try to bowl in the channels, and if you succeed in that, then you can survive in this format.”In this pick-it-up-and-drop-it form of cricket, individual performances such as Tambe’s stand out like exclamation marks. Huge scores off barely any balls jump out of scorecards accented far more heavily with low contributions. Ridiculous looking strike rates and astronomical bowling figures will obviously draw the eye.Equally, spells such as those from Yamin and Tambe explode off the page and there is no reason why this shouldn’t be the norm rather than an anomaly, despite the advantages afforded to batsmen.

A "superb" Newcastle United player has been linked with a move away from St James' Park, with one European giant keen on signing him.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies suffered a poor night at the office on Thursday evening, losing 3-0 away to Everton in the Premier League, in what was a tired-looking showing by Eddie Howe's side. It was a far cry from Newcastle's brilliant performance against Manchester United last weekend, as they won 1-0 at St James' Park, and it once again highlighted the potential need for more signings to arrive during the January transfer window.

Sandro Tonali's 10-month ban means that a new midfielder has become something of a necessity, with Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips seeming to be one of the front-runners to arrive in the middle of the park. Ruben Neves has also emerged as an option for the Magpies, although it also looks as though he will be staying put at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for the time being.

The hope may well be that a number of players will come in, with so many injuries hurting Howe's side this season, and failure to bring in reinforcements could be fatal to their hopes of finishing in the top four for a second consecutive season.

On a more worrying note, there is always the threat that Newcastle could lose some of their star players, and a new transfer rumour has hinted at as much, with one key man potentially heading off to pastures new soon.

Bruno Guimaraes wanted by Barcelona

According to a new report from Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Barcelona are interested in signing Newcastle ace Bruno Guimaraes, in what is a worrying update.

The update claims that the La Liga giants "really like" the Brazilian, although they are aware of the £100m release clause that the Magpies have slapped in his new contract. They add that it could be Barca include some of their own players in a swap deal to sign him, although the individuals in question aren't specified.

Bruno has been such a huge figure for Newcastle since arriving at the club back in January 2022, so the idea of him moving on so soon will be concerning for Magpies supporters. His importance to the cause has only increased because of the ban that has come Tonali's way, and Howe simply must do all he can to persuade him to stay for many years to come.

Related One Newcastle star was as bad as Trippier vs Everton

This Newcastle dud let Eddie Howe down badly in defeat at Everton.

Posts ByAdam Scully Dec 8, 2023

The 26-year-old's box-to-box presence and winning mentality are a major part of what makes this Newcastle team tick, with one goal and assist apiece coming his way in 14 Premier League appearances so far this season, as well as an average of 2.1 tackles per game in the competition.

Alan Shearer is a massive admirer of his, once calling him "superb", saying a lot about his ability as a top player at St James', but the lure of joining Barca can be great for any Brazilian player, considering the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar have represented them in the past.