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Everton should now look at ‘overhauling the midfield’ after the ‘massive’ test of losing Richarlison to Tottenham, claims The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland.

The Lowdown: Richarlison’s move

After David Ornstein broke news on Thursday morning that the 25-year-old Toffee was set to undergo his medical with Spurs, a deal has now been confirmed.

The Merseyside outfit eventually accepted a £50m fee with £10m worth of add-ons for the Brazil international, after they initially rejected a £40m bid on Wednesday.

Richarlison has been hoping to test himself on the European stage, so a move to Tottenham will see his ambitions met by playing in the Champions League next season.

The Latest: Boyland’s claim

After it was revealed that Everton had accepted Spurs’ bid, Boyland shared his thoughts on Richarlison’s exit.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist claimed:

“It is, in essence, a massive early test for the new recruitment structure (DOF, Lampard etc). Replace best player in side that finished 16th.

“But it is not impossible and Everton must see this also as an opportunity to better balance the squad as a whole.

“Think there should be just as much focus (maybe more) on overhauling the midfield and adding pace/creativity on right. Who takes set pieces/delivers the final pass?”

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The Verdict: Big hole to fill

Since arriving from Watford, the 25-year-old has gone on to establish himself as the Toffees’ most valuable player.

Having finished the 2021/22 Premier League season as Frank Lampard’s top scorer with ten goals, Richarlison’s departure will leave a big hole in Everton’s starting XI.

The transfer will now allow the club to reinvest however, given the previous worries surrounding Financial Fair Play sanctions.

A direct replacement for the winger will be very hard to come by, making this a huge loss for the Blues on the pitch, but perhaps it could benefit Lampard in the long-run if he can get his recruitment right.

Crystal Palace will make more signings this summer according to journalist Tom Barclay who offered an exciting update to supporters of the Eagles.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Barclay said: “They’re definitely looking around. I think they like what they’ve already got in terms of a [Conor] Gallagher replacement.

“But again, if something comes up then it depends what’s available, and if it works for them. I can’t see a repeat of last season when they did all that business

“So probably another one, maybe two additions.”

The news will be welcomed by supporters who will hope additions can lead to an improvement on their 12th-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

Supporters will be buzzing

The Eagles have made two signings so far this summer but are yet to spend a penny on transfer fees, with both Sam Johnstone and Malcolm Ebiowei signing as free agents.

Last season the club strengthened massively with ten new additions coming before a ball was kicked, it’s unlikely we will see that many new arrivals this time around, but there will be more to come for fans to be buzzing about.

The club have been linked with several players recently and look set to sign Cheick Doucoure from French side RC Lens with Fabrizio Romano recently confirming the deal was very close.

Another player on their radar is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, with journalist Dean Jones also speaking to GiveMeSport explaining how he would be perfect for the club and suit their system well.

Midfield seems to be the area where Vieira wants to strengthen ahead of the new season, and that could see the departure of our of favour club captain Luka Milivojevic, but the club have recently stated they would be happy to keep him.

If supporters were expecting a complete overhaul of the squad then they might be disappointed, but given the fact they haven’t yet paid any transfer fees, more than one new addition is likely.

Fans still have plenty to get excited about with those in the know confident that the Eagles’ business this summer is far from over.

IN other news: “I’m hearing..”: Sky Sports journo drops exciting CPFC claim that supporters will love – opinion

Leeds United youngster Joe Gelhardt is in advanced talks over a big pay rise at Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Gelhardt’s breakthrough season

The 20-year-old made the leap from exciting youth team player to key squad figure last season, making his presence felt as the Whites secured their Premier League safety.

Gelhardt ended up chipping in with two goals and assists apiece in the league, one of which was an unforgettable stoppage-time assist for Pascal Struijk in the 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.

Huge things are expected of the young striker, who has been described as ‘unreal’ by Premier League pundit Alan Hutton, and the hope is of course that players of his ability want to stay at Elland Road long-term.

The Latest: Big new deal

Following reports last month from Graham Smyth that Gelhardt had entered talks with the club, Football Insider are now reporting that Gelhardt and Leeds are in ‘advanced talks’ over a new contract, with his current deal expiring in 2024.

FI say a ‘big pay rise’ is on the cards for the attacker, and club chiefs believe he will be a ‘huge’ player moving forward.

The Verdict: Huge indeed

Nailing down Gelhardt’s future is of the utmost importance given the club have already lost two fan favourites this summer, so this is a huge piece of news considering what a prodigiously gifted talent the Englishman is.

The genius of his aforementioned assist summed up his natural ability and he is capable of producing moments of magic from nowhere – something that is priceless in a player as it cannot really be taught. Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta are spot on to believe in his huge potential.

At 20, Gelhardt is still maturing and some rawness should be expected in his game, but with Patrick Bamford injury-prone and turning 29 this year, he could be viewed as Leeds’ future first-choice striker.

Celtic have discovered the asking price required to sign Argentinos Juniors midfielder Fausto Vera this summer, according to a report from Brazilian outlet Lance.

The lowdown: Hoops interested

Following initial tentative links from South America citing the Hoops as potential suitors for Vera, journalist Fraser Fletcher took to Twitter to confirm the admiration from the Glasgow giants.

Unfortunately for the Bhoys’ chances, there is also interest forthcoming from Belgian side Genk and Brazilian outfit Corinthians, as the 22-year-old Argentina youth international suddenly looks like hot property.

Amidst the battle to land the combative midfielder, a fresh report from Brazil has now shed some light on what it may cost in order to prize Vera away…

The latest: Price revealed

As per Lance, Argentinos Juniors ‘want’ at least €6.5million (£5.5million) for the eight-cap Argentina Under 23 starlet.

It’s claimed that the Argentine Primera Division club have already rejected bids from Genk and Corinthians of around €4million (£3.4million) during the ongoing transfer window.

The report also suggests that the two other suitors could return with improved offers for the playmaker, who has recently taken his game to ‘another level’ according to football writer Chaka Simbeye.

The verdict: Pay up

In the final 12 months of a contract in his homeland (Transfermarkt), the mooted asking price is already reflective of a need to cash in on the talented youngster and Celtic should waste no time in meeting the demands.

Predominantly operating as a defensive-minded midfielder during the 2021/22 campaign, Vera scored four times and provided three assists in 24 appearances across all competitions, earning an outstanding 7.13 Sofascore rating whilst winning 5.1 duels, completing 1.0 dribble and making 1.4 interceptions on average per Argentinian top-flight outing.

That stellar form, combined with still possessing the room to develop further, makes the young ace a superb potential addition to Ange Postecoglou’s ranks as a replacement for Nir Bitton.

This is a deal that the Parkhead hierarchy should be doing everything in their power to make a reality.

Aston Villa have struggled in front of goal so far in pre-season but a new striker is not thought to be among the priorities before the transfer deadline on September 1st…

What’s the word?

That is according to Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece, who revealed the latest update on the Villans’ plans this window during a recent Q&A with supporters.

After one fan asked whether a striker was a priority as Villa haven’t been clinical or ruthless enough over in Australia, the reliable reporter responded with just seven words to dampen the mood back in the Midlands.

“Striker is not a top priority, no,” he said.

Gutting update

This revelation will be sure to leave much of the Villa Park faithful absolutely gutted, if not fuming, as many want to see a new talisman through the door – especially after being linked to the likes of Jonathan David and even Luis Suarez.

Last season, Ollie Watkins (11) was the only player to hit double figures in the Premier League. Danny Ings lagged behind on seven goals, despite featuring in 30 of their 38 matches, as per WhoScored.

talkSPORT’s Alex Crook believes that manager Steven Gerrard is “scouring the market” for a new frontman and that any arrival would seriously impact Ings’ chances of remaining in his plans.

But that no longer appears to be the case.

It’s true that Villa have looked futile in front of goal this pre-season. Against old foes Leeds United a few days ago, only a penalty from the aforementioned former Southampton man separated the two sides.

Preece also noted after the game that Ings may well have picked up an injury – an all too frequent situation. ‘Appears to have an issue with his foot/ankle having received lengthy medical treatment,’ he wrote.

If he is facing further time on the treatment table, then a new striker may certainly be required, if it wasn’t already.

So, this latest update isn’t likely to be good news for Villa supporters back in England.

AND in other news, Forget Coutinho: Gerrard could have a secret weapon at Villa in “very rare” £30m gem…

Journalist Jacob Hackett has been left fuming after news broke of Crystal Palace’s compensation offer to Derby County for winger Malcolm Ebiowei.

The Lowdown: Ebiowei’s Palace move

At the end of June, it was announced that the Eagles had secured the signature of 18-year-old Ebiowei, who had penned a five-year deal with the Premier League club.

The youngster made 15 appearances in the Championship under manager Wayne Rooney last season, scoring once and assisting twice for a Rams side who were fighting relegation due to their 21-point deduction.

As per The Athletic, the teenager is regarded as one of the brightest talents in English football.

The Latest: Hackett’s claim

Hackett has now reacted to Ebiowei’s move to Palace, with news having emerged of the reported fee Patrick Vieira’s side offered to pay Derby as compensation.

A report from The Telegraph detailing the ‘chaos’ at Pride Park revealed a mere £30,000 offer from the Eagles, and taking to Twitter, the journalist reacted:

“I’m not surprised that Malcolm Ebiowei’s Crystal Palace transfer is going to a tribunal. The Eagles offered Derby a measly £30,000. Thirty thousand British pound sterling. Let that sink in.”

The Verdict: Financial hit to Derby’s academy

With a current market valuation of £900,000, a number which is sure to rise rapidly in the near future, Palace’s £30,000 offer must have felt like a slap in the face for Derby, who gave Ebiowei his first break in first-team football.

These kind of offers contributed to the decimation of the Rams’ academy, with homegrown players such as Jayden Bogle, Max Lowe, Kaide Gordon, Omari Kellyman, Dylan Williams, Morgan Whittaker, Luke Plange and Kain Ryan all being sold in the last two years.

Despite being offered a lucrative contract by the League One outfit, Ebiowei chose to join Palace. As such, the Premier League club should have to stump up a suitable amount in return for the 18-year-old’s services.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Remo Freuler this summer, and a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s progress in signing the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League side are “pushing to sign” the Atalanta midfielder.

Romano tweeted: “Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign Remo Freuler. Negotiations on, club optimistic after deal collapsed for William Carvalho. Talks will continue in order to reach full agreement.”

Imagine him & Lingard

Forest have wasted no time and no resources in ensuring that they have a squad which can compete in the Premier League when they make their long-awaited return to top flight football this weekend, with 12 summer signings already secured.

It has been reported that Cooper is keen to sign another midfielder before the transfer window closes in four weeks’ time, and Freuler fits the profile of someone who would be a huge asset to the Reds in their pursuit to retain their top-flight status by the end of this season.

The 30-year-old Atalanta ace has been a consistent and reliable performer in Serie A over his six-year tenure with the club, and last season yet again showed that he has the quality to be a great prospective addition in the centre of the pitch for Forest.

In 29 league appearances last term, Freuler scored one goal, delivered three assists and created three big chances, making 2.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions and winning 4.7 duels per game. He also completed the majority of his dribbles (57%) and tallied a pass completion rate of 92% in his own half.

Furthermore, the midfielder ranked fourth for the most pass interceptions completed in all of Serie A last season, and his hard-working attributes haven’t gone unnoticed.

Il Giorno correspondent Fabrizio Carcano said of the 46-cap Switzerland international: “Remo isn’t especially athletic, but he is the brains of Atalanta. He covers everyone, recovers balls, tackles, and – most importantly – builds play from behind. His pass completion ratio is very high. He is the conductor of the orchestra.”

Cooper could even strike a formidable midfield partnership between Freuler and Lingard. Combining the Swiss midfielder’s work ethic with the former Manchester United star’s attacking prowess (56 senior career goals) could help the Forest boss to continue deploying his attack-minded style of play with comfort in the Premier League.

Lingard could really benefit from having a player with the passing range and defensive capabilities of Freuler behind him, which would allow the Englishman to put his complete focus on creating and converting goal-scoring opportunities in a more advanced role.

The signing of the Switzerland midfielder would be a great coup for Forest and would likely add consistency in the middle of the park which could well be needed in order to compete in the top flight this season.

Manchester City have been involved in some big-money transfer deals over recent years.

One deal which grabbed headlines and broke the British transfer record at the same time was last summer’s £100m swoop for Jack Grealish.

Throughout his debut season at the Etihad Stadium, the England international scored three goals and provided three assists in 26 league appearances.

Despite his sporadic goal contributions, Grealish ended the campaign with only Kevin De Bruyne (139) and Bernardo Silva (127) recording more shot-creating actions than him (110) among the Premier League champions’ squad.

This shows just how much of a danger the former Villa star can pose and why he will likely be seen as an important figure for Pep Guardiola’s side this season following the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.

With the end of the current summer transfer window in sight, the next three weeks could not only see City strengthen one area of their squad which needs some extra depth, but also give Guardiola the chance to form a significant partnership with Grealish.

Having seen Oleksandr Zinchenko moving to Arsenal and reported target Marc Cucurella join Chelsea in this summer, one left-back who has been talked about with a move to City is Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo.

In 248 appearances for the Lisbon club, which has produced players such as current Etihad trio Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Ederson, the full-back has scored 19 goals and provided 51 assists in the process.

To further highlight his attacking prowess, no other Benfica player delivered as many crosses last season as the 26-year-old (172), while only three team-mates had more shots on target than him (14).

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why journalist Rafael Brayan claimed that it is “incredible” that the defender is still a Benfica player for the time being.

Taking into account his clear attacking talent, having a player like him behind Grealish – who had more touches (41) in the attacking third during City’s 2-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday – would surely create a formidable attacking pairing for the Citizens.

With a reported price tag of €20m (£16.8m), securing a deal for Grimaldo would be an ideal way for the Premier League champions to top off their summer transfer window and ensure that they have enough depth in the squad to be successful in all competitions this season.

Leeds United are still reportedly keen on signing PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo this summer, but another club has now emerged in showing interest.

The Lowdown: Flying start for Leeds

Jesse Marsch’s side made a dream start to their Premier League season on Saturday afternoon, beating Wolves 2-1 at Elland Road after coming from behind to claim three points.

While it was a positive day at the office for the Whites, they could probably still do with bringing in another attacking signing this summer following Raphinha’s exit to Barcelona, duly depriving them of their top scorer from 2021/22.

Gakpo is one player who has been linked with Leeds in recent days, and it could be a saga which rumbles on throughout the remainder of the transfer window.

The Latest: Gakpo still ‘coveted’

According to Foot Mercato, the Dutchman is ‘coveted’ by the Whites, but Nottingham Forest have also now emerged as potential suitors.

A move to the Premier League certainly appears to be on the cards for the 23-year-old, with Arsenal also highlighted in the report as possible destination for Gakpo.

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The Verdict: Really exciting option

Gakpo has enjoyed a superb spell at PSV, scoring 43 goals and chipping in with 35 assists in 136 appearances in total, also being hailed by Theo Janssen as a player who ‘has everything’.

The 23-year-old could give Leeds’ attack an added dimension, combining speed, strength and finishing and giving Marsch another potent option in the final third.

A lack of firepower was one of the reasons that the Whites got dragged into a relegation fight last season, with Patrick Bamford’s injuries not helping, and Gakpo is someone who could alleviate that shortcoming in 2022/23 if he comes to Elland Road, also representing a long-term option given his youth.

Leeds United could make a move for Southampton striker Che Adams this week, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs. 

The lowdown

Leeds, Jacobs says, first tried to sign Adams back in 2020, only a year after his £15million move from Birmingham City to Southampton.

The Scotsman, now into the final two years of his deal at St Mary’s, played the full 90 minutes against the Whites in Saturday’s 2-2 draw.

Leeds may face competition if they do make a move, with The Athletic reporting that Everton are exploring a loan-to-buy deal.

The latest

Jacobs writes that ‘Leeds expect a busy week in the transfer market’, with a move for Adams seen as ‘a possibility’.

He’s ‘one of many forwards Leeds are considering’ as they seek to bolster their striker ranks.

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl ‘doesn’t want to lose him’ but, significantly, the club’s board are ‘open to offers’.

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The verdict

Would Jesse Marsch have liked what he saw on Saturday?

Well it was actually a fairly quiet afternoon for Adams in some respects, with journalist Jacob Tanswell noting that he was ‘starved from any meaningful service’ in the first half.

Indeed, he only completed seven passes, and his solitary shot missed the target (via SofaScore).

On the other hand, though, the 26-year-old was able to draw two fouls, win four out of six ground duels, make two tackles and create a chance.

And Saints reporter Benjy Nurick also hailed his ‘terrific’ contribution in the build-up to their equaliser.

Adams, who’s scored 20 goals and provided 11 assists in his top-flight career, could offer a strong all-round contribution for Marsch – especially going by Rangers legend Ally McCoist’s praise for the player.

Indeed, the Scotsman called him ‘clever’ and even a ‘breath of fresh air’.