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Everton are once again on the hunt for a new permanent manager with Duncan Ferguson having to hold the fort on a temporary basis in his latest caretaker role after the sacking of Rafa Benitez.

Before even officially being appointed at Goodison Park, protests began from Toffees fans against the former Liverpool manager.

With just seven wins, four draws and 11 defeats in the 22 games he had in charge of Everton across all competitions with the latest being a disheartening 2-1 defeat against Dean Smith’s relegation battling Norwich City at Carrow Road, it’s safe to say that Benitez’s second spell of managing in Merseyside did not go too well, thus leaving Ferguson to pick up the pieces and steady the ship.

While Farhad Moshiri is on the lookout for a new permanent manager for his side, there has, unsurprisingly, been a significant number of names linked with the position.

One name that has been mentioned with the role that a lot of Premier League followers will be familiar with is AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho.

Despite having success managing in England in the past, mostly with Chelsea where he won three Premier League titles and one FA Cup across two spells in charge of the west London club as well as winning the Europa League with Manchester United, things haven’t always been smooth-sailing for the 58-year-old.

Having admitted to being “arrogant” during his early days of managing in England, there have been occasions where claims have emerged suggesting that he had lost the dressing room during his time at Tottenham and United.

Given the drama that Mourinho has been involved in during his previous spells at clubs in the Premier League, like having rocky relationships at United with the likes of Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw, he could end up being another version of Benitez; somebody who arrives with previous experience of managing in the Premier League and at top clubs, but ultimately dragging Everton towards the relegation zone and falling out with players, as the Spaniard did with Lucas Digne.

Also, in a recent poll run by Football FanCast, it seems as though 77% of voters think that Mourinho would not be a good appointment for Everton, further suggesting that the Toffees should be looking elsewhere for their new permanent manager instead of risking a potential disaster at the helm.

In other news: Moshiri must appoint “perfect” 46 y/o as next EFC manager, he’s miles better than Rafa – opinion

Everton’s first victory since 25 September on Monday night steadied the ship on Merseyside, but the club remains firmly in a state of transition and disorder.

What’s the story?

Ahead of their crucial clash with Arsenal, it was announced that former director of football Marcel Brands had departed the Toffees, citing “a clear difference in the vision and direction” that he and the board wanted to take the club in.

The Dutchman followed Sarvar Ismailov out of the Goodison Park exit door, leaving Chairman Bill Kenwright, chief executive officer Denise Barrett-Baxendale and finance chief Grant Ingles as the only remaining board members.

Upon Brands’ departure, it was revealed via a club statement that a “strategic review of the football structure” will take place at Everton, and the Liverpool ECHO reporter Phil Kirkbride has provided an update on the situation.

He wrote: “Everton are planning to find two new board members following the departures of Marcel Brands and Sarvar Ismailov. And the ECHO understands that further additions to the Goodison top table have not been ruled out.”

Moshiri must axe Bill Kenwright

News that big changes are not expected at Everton will leave large sections of the club’s supporters extremely concerned and may have some calling for more of the hierarchy to depart, given their extensive failings in recent years.

According to TransferLeague, the Toffees have the third-highest net spend on transfers in the Premier League over the last five years, with their £275m outlay only falling behind Manchester United and Manchester City.

However, they have not had the results or any silverware to show for it. In that time, Everton have finished seventh, eighth twice, 10th and 12th, highlighting their huge underperformance both on and off the pitch.

The Blues’ fanbase has been growing ever-more frustrated with the club’s chiefs in recent weeks, unfurling a banner against them at Brentford and chanting ‘sack the board’ during the Merseyside before hosting a walk-out in protest on Monday.

And it’s Kenwright who appears to be taking the majority of the flack. Journalist Richard Buxton highlighted why in a recent tweet, questioning what the 76-year-old actually does behind the scenes.

He wrote: “What is Bill Kenwright’s defined role as Everton chairman? Yes, he’s involved in the day-to-day running but when it comes to the high-ranking decisions (managers, transfers etc) Moshiri’s autonomy renders him little more than a legacy figure with a fancy title.”

Therefore, despite Everton languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, owner Farhad Moshiri ought to be wielding the axe upstairs once more rather than putting extra pressure on manager Rafa Benitez.

The Merseyside outfit’s issues run far deeper than the person sitting in the dugout on a Saturday afternoon, and unless extensive changes are made, their issues are likely to continue for many years yet.

And, in other news…Rafa must seal EFC swoop for “complete” £51k-p/w beast who plays like Platini & Zidane 

Many Everton fans have been left fuming over some transfer news on Vitaliy Mykolenko.

As per Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Ukraine international is currently now undergoing his medical at Goodison Park ahead of a move from Dynamo Kyiv.

The final price is between €21-23m (£17.8-19.5m), and personal terms have already been agreed with the player.

The fee itself certainly seems hefty given the Merseyside club’s problems with Financial Fair Play (FFP), and some Toffees supporters are now worried that there will not be money elsewhere to spend on other priority positions, as they already have Lucas Digne at left-back.

While club captain Seamus Coleman has been a faithful servant, he is 33 years of age now, and so needs replacing soon, while deputy right-back Jonjoe Kenny has only played in a mere four games in total over all competitions so far this season, with that area in particular one that certainly needs strengthening.

Everton fans on Mykolenko transfer news

These Blues fumed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that they were ‘concerned’:

“Everton with no money and gaping holes in the squad on the right side, spending €20m+ on a left back. WHY?”

Credit: @0ptimumvelocity

“We’ve replaced our replacement for Baines before replacing Coleman”

Credit: @Ofearns7

“How’s he worth £18m yet no one’s heard of him… that’s a stupid amount to pay.”

Credit: @Evertxn

“Took us 2 weeks to find a replacement LB but 4 years after Coleman broke his leg we still have no RB”

Credit: @J_Reck90

“Madness that this is a priority when we have Nkounkou out on loan too, priority has to be to replace Seamus Coleman surely”

Credit: @gally1878

“Seriously concerned.”

Credit: @The_Penny_Blue

In other news, find out who is now a candidate to potentially replace Rafa Benitez here!

With the return of the Premier League this weekend, Southampton make the trip to face Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday to see if they can continue their solid run of form from before the international break.

During the break, there were some concerns over the fitness of certain Saints players and whether or not they would be able to take part against the Canaries, who are currently sitting at the bottom of the league table with just five points on the board from 11 games.

Fortunately for Southampton, it seems as though one of their key players will be available for the clash.

What’s the news?

After being forced to drop out of the England squad at the start of the international break through illness, it has been revealed by Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl that club captain James Ward-Prowse will be available to play against Norwich after recovering from a bug rather than anything serious.

Given how Ward-Prowse has started nine out of Southampton’s 11 league games so far this season and scored two goals in the process, this shows how important he is to Hasenhuttl and the team.

As well as the number of appearances he’s made this season, the midfielder has also shown just how useful he is with his performances in an attacking and defensive sense.

In the Premier League, Ward-Prowse has racked up an average of 1.2 shots and 1.7 key passes per game, showing that he is a big part of Southampton’s attacking force. Indeed, only Nathan Redmond can better the captain’s average for the latter metric among Hasenhuttl’s squad.

The 27-year-old skipper, who is currently valued at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, has also shown that he isn’t one to ignore his defensive duties, with an average of 1.2 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game this season.

With this in mind, it’s safe to say that Southampton fans will be buzzing to hear that Ward-Prowse will be available to play against Norwich this weekend.

Taking into account that Norwich have only won one game all season, scoring fewer goals (five) and conceding more (26) than any other side in the Premier League, this could be a great opportunity for Southampton to pick up another victory after winning three of their four previous matches prior to the November international break.

In other news: Hasenhuttl must unleash “confident” £53k-p/w Saints gem v Norwich, he’d give Smith nightmares

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick began life in the Old Trafford dugout with victory as Fred’s stunning 77th-minute effort proved the difference against a stubborn Crystal Palace outfit.

The German oversaw a 3-2 victory at home to Arsenal on Thursday night from the stands but took training on Friday and Saturday before standing in the Old Trafford dugout for the first time on Sunday.

Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal following a 4-1 defeat to Watford, United are unbeaten in all competitions, with the Arsenal and Palace successes their first back-to-back league wins since September.

Fred will take the plaudits for his goal, however, there was one man in particular who was key in United’s quest for three points: Alex Telles.

The Brazilian midfielder’s fellow countryman has hardly featured for United this season, with the left-back only making his first league appearance of the season against Manchester City in early November.

However, he’s started the Red Devils’ last three Premier League outings, including playing the whole game against the Eagles on Sunday.

The 28-year-old was a key factor as Rangnick’s side registered their first home clean sheet of the campaign in what was a solid display against a Crystal Palace side limited to five shots.

According to Sofa Score, the £18m-rated man made 104 touches, more than any of his United teammates. He also contributed seven tackles, as well as winning 53% of his duels which earned him an 8.0 rating overall.

After a frustratingly slow start to his campaign, the Brazilian can be one of Rangnick’s most reliable servants, particularly as we approach the hectic festive period.

Furthermore, fellow left-back Luke Shaw will still face time on the sidelines, with the latest news suggesting that the Englishman could possibly be in contention next weekend when United travel to Norwich City.

For now, though, Telles has done more than enough to warrant a regular place in the United starting lineup, especially with performances like the one against Crystal Palace.

Manchester United are still thinking whether or not to part ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Antonio Conte keen on the Old Trafford position, should it become available.

That’s according to reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano and, as to be expected, a number of United supporters have been reacting to the update on social media.

Solskjaer’s position as manager has been under major threat following the 5-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool on Sunday, which made it four defeats from seven in all competitions.

Romano has been providing the latest on the Norwegian’s future since the loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side and revealed that Conte now wants the Red Devils job.

The United hierarchy are still yet to make a decision on Solskjaer, though, who signed a new contract through to 2024 earlier this year.

United fans react

Romano’s late-night Twitter post on Monday had plenty of United fans talking. This is what some had to say in reply, with many hoping to see the back of Solskjaer and the arribval of Conte.

“Wow.. big news!”

Credit: @DesireMUFC

“Let me hear that sweet sweet phrase… Here we go”

Credit: @_chulat

“SIUUU GET OLE GAWNNN”

Credit: @LiamsUTD

“why is this so difficult for them just sack him already”

Credit: @itssofiiaaa

“Please get it over the line.”

Credit: @mufcfanzone4

“Wonderful NEWS, we’ll be waiting to hear from you Fab once they have made that decision”

Credit: @lincz45

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Brennan Johnson to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Ekrem Konur, with the journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Victor Orta is currently preparing an offer for the Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder ahead of the winter market.

A further report by Football Insider also suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are interested in a deal for the 20-year-old, with a source close to the club claiming that the Whites sent scouts to watch the Wales international in action for Forest last week.

In his tweet, Konur said: “Leeds United are preparing to make an offer to Nottingham Forest for Brennan Johnson.”

He’s what Bielsa is missing

Considering just how impressive Brennan Johnson has been in recent seasons, in addition to the fact that attacking midfield is a position in which Bielsa lacks considerable depth in his Leeds squad, a move for the Nottingham Forest starlet would appear to be a highly advisable one.

Indeed, over his 43 League One appearances while out on loan at Lincoln City last season, the £360k-rated man scored 11 goals, registered five assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.3 shots and making 0.7 key passes per game.

These returns saw the player who Glenn Murray dubbed a “special” talent earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.98, with his highly impressive performances playing a key role in the Imps’ run to the League One play-off final.

Johnson has continued this remarkable form over his 17 Championship appearances for Forest this term, with the £2.5k-per-week midfielder having already bagged three goals, provided four assists and created five big chances for his teammates.

These metrics have seen the 20-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Steve Cooper’s fifth-best player in the second tier of English football.

As such, with so much of his professional career still ahead of him, it is clear for all to see that the Welshman is a player with a significant amount of potential.

And, when taking into account that Bielsa currently has no attacking midfielders in his first-team squad at Elland Road, Johnson would appear to be exactly the type of player the Argentine is missing.

In other news: Leeds must ruthlessly axe £15k-p/w lightweight who Bielsa said he “can’t praise”

Sunderland return to competitive action on Wednesday night as they host Manchester United’s under-23 side at the Stadium of Light in the EFL Trophy.

The Black Cats won their opening match in the group last time out, beating fellow League One outfit Lincoln 2-1 away from home last week. Meanwhile, United have won one and lost one of their two matches in the competition, with Sunderland able to move above the Red Devils in their group with a win on Wednesday.

One player who Lee Johnson must unleash against the under-23 Premier League side is young forward Stephen Wearne.

The 20-year-old whizz kid made his senior bow against Lincoln as he came off the bench and scored the crucial second goal for the Black Cats. He came on for Ellis Taylor and played out wide on the right, marking his debut with a special goal which will surely live in his memory for a long time.

Speaking after the game, Wearne explained how much the goal meant to him. He said: “I was delighted to make my debut, it was a good team performance and obviously I’m happy to get the goal and with my family being here as well – my mum, my dad, my sister, and girlfriend – it was a special moment. I was delighted to score in front of the fans and it was a great feeling.

“I found out I was going to be in the squad the other day. The U23s had a game on Monday and I was told I was only going to play 45 minutes and then be on the bench on Tuesday. There was a possibility I might come on so I was just raring to go and excited to play and even more happy to get the goal.”

Taylor, who Wearne replaced, endured a difficult night against Lincoln as he lost half of his duels and gave away possession of the ball 11 times from just 28 touches. He also failed with both of his attempted crosses and did not attempt a single dribble, which is why Johnson must now unleash Wearne from the start against Manchester United’s under-23s.

In just 28 minutes, Wearne completed 10 of his 12 attempted passes and scored a goal to showcase his quality in the final third. This shows that he has the quality to be a game-changer for Sunderland, as he was able to find the back of the net at senior level, which means that he could score important goals to help Johnson’s side secure valuable points in the league and the EFL Trophy.

Therefore, the Black Cats boss should select him from the start on Wednesday night to see if he can replicate his Lincoln performance over the course of 90 minutes.

Having joined Celtic on a season-long loan deal this summer, Jota has quickly established himself as a fan favourite at Parkhead.

Indeed, the 21-year-old has left the Celtic Park faithful stunned on more than one occasion over the course of his six Scottish Premiership fixtures so far this season, having already bagged two goals, provided two assists and averaged a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.42 – ranking him as Ange Postecoglou’s fifth-best performer in the league.

The Benfica loanee has also done the business in Europe, registering two assists and creating four big chances in his three Europa League appearances, returns which have seen the £3.15m-rated man average a SofaScore match rating of 7.63.

As such, the Portugal U21 international would not appear to be too far away from being undroppable at present, however, that is exactly what Postecoglou must do when he side visits Hibernian on Wednesday evening.

There are a couple of reasons for this standpoint, the first of which is the fact that Jota is probably deserving of a rest after starting all ten of the fixtures he has been available for – especially when considering the winger has been substituted just once in this ten-game period, with four minutes to go in the 2-0 win over St. Johnstone last time out.

The second, and perhaps more important, is so Postecoglou can afford to hand Mikey Johnston his first start of the club’s 2021/22 campaign, with the winger in rather desperate need of game time in order to regain match fitness after recovering from his hamstring tear suffered in pre-season.

Indeed, the 22-year-old looked incredibly lively when brought on against Ferencvarosi last week and undoubtedly possesses the potential to become yet another exciting option for the 56-year-old Hoops manager to call upon in his Celtic attack this season.

However, unless Jota is dropped at some point in the near future, Johnston’s return will be severely hindered, leading us to believe that Postecoglou simply must sacrifice the player who he himself dubbed an “outstanding” talent for the greater good of his side this Wednesday.

In other news: Nicholson must seal Celtic deal for “unbelievable” 7 G/A dynamo, fans would love it

Crystal Palace posted their official squad photo for the 2021/22 campaign on Twitter on Wednesday.

And a number of Palace supporters were quick to interact with the official club post, sharing their positive thoughts.

The Eagles made plenty of changes over the summer, bringing in Patrick Vieira as manager to replace Roy Hodgson.

Palace backed Vieira in the transfer window, bringing in six permanent additions at a cost of just over £66m.

Conor Gallagher also arrived on loan and has starred at Selhurst Park, winning the club’s Player of the Month award for August.

All seven signings, along with Vieira and his backroom staff posed for the official squad photo, with players wearing the home kit. 25 first-team members were on show, with the image available to view here.

Palace fans react

Palace relayed the photo on their official Twitter page with the caption ‘The Palace’. This is what these Eagles fans had to say in reply, with one labelling it as ‘beautiful’.

“Bring on Monday……”

Credit: @redandbluesite

“Love it. My palace. My football club”

Credit: @benh199225

“Up there with one of our best ever squads. What a team, buzzing that these lads are representing our club! Big season ahead for the boys ”

Credit: @kade_bladeSE25

“What a beautiful bunch of lads they are.”

Credit: @WillCPFC03

“Our most talented squad of all time.”

Credit: @J_CPFC

“Best Palace squad I’ve seen in my lifetime”

Credit: @TheJakeWarren

In other news: ‘Miracle’ – Lots of Palace fans go wild at Eze update.