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Everton are believed to be working on a deal to sign Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga in January, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Elanga out of favour at United

The 20-year-old enjoyed something of a breakthrough season at United last term, scoring two goals and assists apiece in the Premier League, as well as netting once in the Champions League.

Elanga has struggled to enjoy regular football for the Red Devils in 2022/23, however, managing only five league starts and finding himself behind the likes of Antony and Marcus Rashford in the pecking order.

Everton have been linked with a move for the youngster recently, and another update has emerged.

The Latest: Everton working on deal

According to Football Insider, United are ‘working on a deal’ to sign Elanga, who is described as one of the Blues’ ‘top targets’ in the January transfer window.

They are thought to be in ‘negotiations’ with the player, whose current United deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026.

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The Verdict: Ideal wide addition

Elanga could be exactly what Everton need in wide areas, providing Frank Lampard with extra attacking ammunition ahead of their current relegation battle.

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He has been hailed as a ‘great talent’ by Zlatan Ibrahimovic – high praise from such a legendary figure – and his performances last season show what he is capable of.

At 20, Elanga is still a work in progress, but he could end up proving to be an upgrade on some of the current options, with the likes of Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil proving to be inconsistent, in terms of end product.

Chelsea are no longer in contact with Benfica over the signing of Enzo Fernandez, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

The midfielder, who won the Young Player of the Tournament award as Argentina lifted the World Cup in Qatar, has a €120m (£106m) release clause, though Benfica were previously adamant that they would not accept anything below this valuation in January.

Liverpool and Manchester United are also interested in the 21-year-old, but Chelsea looked close to a transfer after agreeing personal terms with the player.

However, Romano has revealed on his YouTube channel that the clubs are no longer in contact as the deal has broken down, with Chelsea attempting to negotiate a lower fee for Fernandez.

He said: “As of now, Chelsea and Benfica are no longer speaking and there is no new meeting scheduled between the two clubs.

“Last week, Chelsea had an agreement with the Benfica player, Enzo Fernandez, they had an agreement on the contract, a long-term contract for Enzo, everything in place on the player’s side – but not on the club’s side.

“In the last 7-8 days, Chelsea accepted to negotiate with Benfica around that value [of the release clause]. So this is why the two clubs were in direct contact and this is why the deal was verbally advanced between Chelsea and Benfica.

“They never triggered the clause and they never submitted an official proposal for €120m – they always discussed verbally of negotiating around the value of the clause with different payment terms.”

A good decision?

Given what Romano has revealed, the deal broke down simply because Chelsea were unwilling to pay the huge fee upfront, despite offering a large fee broken down into instalments.

Paying the release clause would have seen Fernandez become a British record signing, and this is a 21-year-old midfielder with half a season of experience at Benfica.

Whilst his supreme talent was on display at the World Cup, it is hard to justify such a large fee for an unproven player, and there are alternative options Chelsea could target now or in the summer.

A long-standing interest in Declan Rice could be explored, and he would arrive as a much more proven option, for potentially a lower fee.

It remains to be seen whether Fernandez will be on the move in January but it seems unlikely that anyone would spend the required funds in the middle of the season.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge. 

The Lowdown: Liverpool’s previous interest in Berge

The Merseyside club have been linked with a move for the Blades midfielder in the past, most recently during the previous summer transfer window.

This season has seen the Norwegian, who had a £25m price tag reportedly put on him last summer, score three goals and deliver three assists in 12 Championship appearances.

Now that the January transfer window is around the corner, the Reds have reportedly reignited their interest in the player.

The Latest: Liverpool eyeing Sander Berge

According to a recent report from Jeunes Footeux, Liverpool, and fellow Premier League side Chelsea, have been keeping their eye on Berge for several months.

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The report also adds that the two sides could make moves to sign the 6 foot 5 midfielder during the January transfer window and exactly why – as Liverpool ‘anticipate the departures’ of both Naby Keita (end of contract) and Arthur Melo (end of loan).

The Verdict: A useful signing for Liverpool

In addition to his goals and assists this season, Berge has also racked up the highest passing accuracy percentage (81.7%) out of any Blades player that has attempted more than two passes in the league.

The 24-year-old, who has been praised for his “outstanding” attitude in the past by Chris Wilder, has also racked up the fourth-highest number of shot-creating actions (41) and goal-creating actions (5) at the Yorkshire club, as well as the second-highest total of successful dribbles (20).

This showcases how much of an attack-minded midfielder he is and what he’d be able to offer Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Having already experienced life in the Premier League and English football, this could make it easier for the Norwegian to settle into Liverpool if he does end up at Anfield in January.

Bearing in mind how Liverpool have a significant number of central-midfielders in their squad in and around the age of 30, bringing in Berge could be a smart long-term investment for the Merseyside club to make based on his age.

Arsenal ‘really appreciate’ transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk ahead of a potential move for him in January, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Mudryk wanted by Arsenal

The 21-year-old has emerged as arguably one of Europe’s most exciting young players, producing some magical performances for Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mudryk has scored three goals and registered two assists in the Champions League this season, not to mention being praised by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

The Gunners have been strongly linked with a move for the winger, and January could be a time to snap him up.

The Latest: Romano provides update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano claimed that Arsenal are still big admirers of Mudryk, with a potential bid imminent:

“They will sign players if they are the right players for Arsenal’s project in January. We know they’re following Mykhaylo Mudryk. He is a player they really appreciate and he’s a winger they really like.

“They had contacts with his agents for a long time because – last summer – they wanted Mudryk, but they never negotiated with Shakhtar as they knew they wanted more than €40-45million. Now they want way more than that.”

The Verdict: What a signing he would be

It can be easy to overhype young players before they have time to fully reach their potential, but Mudryk does look like a special player with a massive future ahead of him.

His displays for Shakhtar in the Champions League have really caught the eye, not least one superb finish against Celtic, and he could be add further brilliance to an already exciting Arsenal attack.

To have Mudryk as another left-sided option alongside Gabriel Martinelli would provide Mikel Arteta with extra depth, and he could be the sprinkling of extra genius that helps get the Gunners over the finish line in the Premier League title race.

West Bromwich Albion finally stopped their rut on Tuesday night, ending a three-match losing run as they beat Blackpool at the Hawthorns.

Although it took an 85th-minute winner to seal the three points, it was another solid performance as Carlos Corberan’s side dominated 64% of the ball and had 11 shots, via SofaScore.

This impressive display is highlighted by the average SofaScore rating given to the team of 6.96.

However, this further highlights the outlier for the Baggies, as Jed Wallace recorded yet another disappointing display with his 6.4 rating.

This marked the 28-year-old’s 18th successive start in the Championship since joining in the summer, yet was another game where he did not manage to find the net.

Not since mid-September has he scored; a nine-game barren run.

With the likes of Grady Diangana forced to watch from the bench, it makes his continued inclusion all the more baffling.

This is a winger who just three years ago, at the age of 21, scored eight and assisted seven in one season in this division.

Few at the Midlands club have had a good season thus far, hence why they sit two points adrift in 23rd.

But for a side that has scored just 21 goals in 18 games, Wallace has seldom contributed according to the underlying numbers.

They paint the picture of a winger that offers little goal threat, and despite making 14 carries per 90, has only seen one end in a goal this campaign.

This lines up with the simple one-word summation from Lewis Cox on one of the former Millwall winger’s displays this season: “wasteful”.

His poor midweek performance was likely overlooked due to the relief that came with a win at last, but this was not a one-off.

Wallace must improve soon, or else risk being forced to the bench.

With Corberan now at the helm permanently, he will be assessing who in his squad he can trust to perform consistently.

But with SofaScore ratings of 6.4 and 6.7 respectively in his first two games, the wide man has not made a good first impression.

Decision effectively rules him out of T20 World Cup 2022, but he’ll reconsider if team’s circumstances become difficult

Mohammad Isam27-Jan-2022Tamim Iqbal has made himself unavailable from T20Is for the next six months, effectively staying out of contention for the T20 World Cup later this year. Tamim, however, said that he could reconsider this decision if the BCB asks him again before the World Cup, although he doesn’t believe it will be required.The announcement follows recent discussions between Tamim and top BCB officials including president Nazmul Hassan, who tried to dissuade him from taking the decision. Tamim had been mostly away from Bangladesh’s T20I side for the past 12 months.In a press conference in Chattogram on Thursday, Tamim insisted that it was a cricketing decision, and that his focus is on Tests and ODIs this year, but he will only reconsider T20Is if circumstances get difficult for the team.”There have been discussions about my T20I future,” Tamim said. “In the last few days, I have been doing meetings with the BCB president (Nazmul Hassan) and Jalal (Yunus) and Kazi Inam (Ahmed). They wanted me to continue T20Is till the World Cup (this year). I had a different sort of thinking. I will not be considering T20Is for the next six months. My full focus will be on Tests and ODIs. We are preparing for the World Test Championship and qualification for the 2023 World Cup. I will not be thinking about T20Is in the next six months. I hope that those playing will do so well, that the team won’t need me in T20Is. But if God forbid the team or cricket board needs me, and I am ready, I will possibly think about it.”Related

Tamim Iqbal announces retirement from T20Is

BPL draft: Dhaka sign Mashrafe, Tamim and Mahmudullah

Tamim drops out, says other players deserve a chance

Ahead of last year’s T20 World Cup, Tamim voluntarily pulled out of the tournament in order to give the other openers like Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim opportunities. Tamim said at the time that since he missed the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, it was only fair for him to skip the tournament.His last T20I was against Zimbabwe in 2020, after which he missed the rest of the three-match series due to a knee injury.Tamim is Bangladesh’s third highest run-getter in T20Is. He has played 74 T20Is for Bangladesh and four for World XI teams – three in Pakistan in 2017 and one against West Indies at Lord’s in 2018. He has 1701 runs for Bangladesh, at an average of 24.65 and a strike-rate of 117.47, while his overall T20I record is 1758 runs at 24.08 and a strike-rate of 116.96. He is Bangladesh’s only centurion in the format.Till the end of 2018, Tamim was one of the most regular members of the T20I side, having played 75 out of 84 T20Is (89.3%) that Bangladesh played. But in the last three years, he has only played three out of 38 matches.Tamim will continue to play in domestic T20 leagues, having already made two half-centuries for Minister Group Dhaka in the ongoing BPL.Tamim insisted that the new players who will be tried in his place should be given a long rope. He drew an example from his, and other senior Bangladesh cricketers’ early days, to compare the situation for the likes of Naim, Sarkar and Saif Hassan.”We handed chances to a number of youngsters in the last (T20I) series. We cannot lose hope in them quickly. We have to give them time. I think six months is a good enough time. I am pretty confident that I won’t be needed in T20Is. Even then, if the team management or cricket board feels otherwise, I will be open for discussion.”The team has to go forward. You know my stand ahead of the last T20 World Cup (of giving the young openers more opportunities), so it won’t be wise to judge anyone after one or two series. Many of us seniors went through three or four bad series, and then bounced back with maybe three good series on the trot. Considering those who will play in my place, I am sure they will find their feet and do well,” he said.

Aston Villa are still keen on signing Rangers forward Ryan Kent, according to The Sunday Mirror.

The Lowdown: Kent rejects new contract

Hailed as a ‘big-game player’ by journalist Andrew Dickson, the 25-year-old was linked with a move to Villa Park to reunite with his former Gers boss Steven Gerrard over the summer.

As we know, a transfer failed to materialise, although Kent has reportedly rejected a new ‘big-money’ deal at Ibrox and has set his sights on a move to the Premier League. His current deal with the Scottish giants expires at the end of the current campaign.

The Latest: Villa still want Kent

According to the print edition of The Sunday Mirror (2 October, page 71), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, Villa remain in the hunt for Kent and will watch him in action in the Champions League against Liverpool.

The report also states that the 25-year-old has snubbed a new contract at Ibrox and ‘will be a free agent next summer’.

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The Verdict: One to watch

Kent is currently valued at a career-high £15.75m Transfermarkt valuation, so he appears to be at the top of his game.

He can play in a variety of attacking roles and registered 11 league assists in each of the past two seasons, so he could definitely be a shrewd signing if he arrives at Villa Park on a free transfer.

Villa and NSWE will be able to discuss potential pre-contract terms for Kent in the New Year should his situation remain the same, so this could be one to keep a close eye on over the coming months.

When Leeds United brought 19-year-old Illan Meslier to the club on a season-long loan deal back in the summer of 2019, it is unlikely that any of the Elland Road faithful would have predicted that the French U21 international would be the Whites’ first-choice goalkeeper by the end of the 2019/20 Championship campaign.

However, after Kiko Casilla received an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Charlton Athletic loanee Jonathan Leko in March of 2020, Marcelo Bielsa was forced to deploy the youngster between the sticks over what was a crucial run of fixtures in Leeds’ push to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.

And, after keeping five clean sheets and conceding just five goals over the eight games in which Casilla was unavailable – form that led to Victor Orta paying FC Lorient £5m in order to make the shot-stopper’s loan deal a permanent move – the now-22-year-old has been a near ever-present fixture in the Leeds’ starting XI ever since.

Rather remarkably, despite his tender age, the £43.5m-rated goalkeeper excelled over his 35 Premier League appearances in his debut top-flight campaign, keeping an astonishing 11 clean sheets and making an average of 4.0 saves per game – the joint fifth-most and the second-most in the league respectively that season.

These returns saw the French starlet – who Fabrizio Romano claimed is “untouchable” at Leeds – average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.13, not only ranking him as the Whites’ third-best performer in the league but also as the joint 33rd-best player in the division as a whole in 2021/22.

It was a similar story for the £22k-per-week shot-stopper over his 38 league fixtures last time out, as, despite Leeds shipping a total of 79 goals in their disappointing 2022/23 Premier League campaign, Meslier still managed to keep five clean sheets and make an average of 3.8 saves per game – the most of any goalkeeper in the division last term.

These metrics not only saw the 22-year-old average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.87 – ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s sixth-best performer in the league – but also saw the Frenchman attract the interest of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City last summer – although, with Phil Hay claiming it would take an offer of £50m+ in order to purchase the shot-stopper, no official offers appeared to be submitted to the Whites.

However, considering the quite evident upward trajectory Meslier is on, it would not be surprising if, following another solid season in the Premier League, Victor Orta does start fielding offers of around the £50m mark – a 900% increase on the fee the Spanish director of football paid for the youngster just two years ago – for the Frenchman next summer.

And, whether or not the club decide to cash in on the ‘keeper, one thing is clear – both Orta and Andrea Radrizzani stuck gold when bringing Meslier to Elland Road back in 2020, as the former Lorient starlet has not only made an exceptionally impressive addition to the Whites’ first-team, but he could also be the source of a substantial payday in the not too distant future.

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Newcastle United to sign goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

The Lowdown: Antony in the building

The Red Devils are finally making inroads in the transfer window late on, with Ajax’s Brazilian winger Antony set to follow countryman Casemiro to Old Trafford.

United have agreed on an £85m deal to sign the forward, who is already at Carrington after footage leaked on social media. The 22-year-old looks like he’ll become the club’s fifth summer signing, and a sixth isn’t far off either, seemingly.

The Latest: Dubravka next…

Fabrizio Romano revealed on Twitter in the last 24 hours that United have reached a “full agreement” with Newcastle for Dubravka.

The transfer expert stated that the goalkeeper will join on an initial loan deal with a £5m option to buy next summer, with the Slovakian set to undergo a medical today.

The Verdict: Needed

Although a move for Dubravka might not get United fans as excited compared to a mega-money deal for Antony, it still appears to be a shrewd piece of business.

The 33-year-old, who has been labelled as ‘top class’ by journalist Josh Bunting and dubbed a leader by The Chronicle’s Mick Quinn, has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt during his four-year stay at St James’ Park.

Therefore, he should provide adequate cover for David de Gea, with Erik ten Hag’s side also having Europa League football in their schedule this season.

Failing to bring in another goalkeeper would have left Tom Heaton as the only senior alternative to De Gea, so this transfer is definitely needed.

Tottenham Hotspur have scheduled a new round of talks with Valencia over the sale of winger Bryan Gil, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown

After a busy summer in the transfer market, managing director Fabio Paratici is now looking to offload players who are excess to Antonio Conte’s requirements.

The likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Joe Rodon have all left the club on loan, whilst Steven Bergwijn and Cameron Carter-Vickers also sealed their permanent exits from Hotspur Way earlier in the summer.

Elsewhere, attention has now turned to Gil, who has been receiving interest after spending the second half of last season on loan in La Liga.

The Latest

Romano has shared an update on the Spaniard’s position at the club, revealing details of a possible move away from north London.

Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist claimed: “Tottenham and Valencia have new round of talks now scheduled for Bryan Gil deal. Negotiations in progress as all parties want to get the deal done next week. #THFC”

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The Verdict

Having arrived at Spurs last summer in a deal worth £21.6m, with Erik Lamela heading the other way to Sevilla, the 21-year-old has failed to establish himself as a core member of the Tottenham first-team.

The Spain under-21 international has played just 20 games for the Lilywhites, only nine of which have come in the Premier League (all off the bench), totalling a meagre 85 minutes in the division.

Having made 17 appearances for Valencia during his short stint at the club, a return to Spain seems to be in the best interests for the youngster, who has been dubbed a ‘very exciting’ player by ESPN editor David Cartlidge, as he has a lot of potential to fulfil.

Therefore, with game-time looking scarce under Conte (he’s yet to feature this term), this could be the ideal scenario for Gil’s career.