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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 

Tottenham Hotspur was at least three additions before transfer deadline day on January 31st…

What’s the word?

That’s according to ever-reliable Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, who delivered an exciting claim to GIVEMESPORT this week.

“My understanding is that Conte wants a new right wing-back, he wants a new striker to supplement [Harry] Kane and a central midfielder,” he said. “Whether they can do all of those, I’m not sure they will, but that’s what they’re aiming for.”

One name heavily linked with the north London outfit has been Adama Traore, who fits the bill as their potential new right wing-back, though Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly knocked back Spurs’ initial offer of £15m this week.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites could look to seal a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie now, rather than the summer, when he’s out of contract at the San Siro.

Hugely exciting news

Spurs remain unbeaten under the Italian in the Premier League, which already displays the sort of magic he’s been able to pull off at Hotspur Way. However, he needs to be backed to truly elevate the club to the next level.

There have already been fears behind-the-scenes that he could walk should he not get such financial support during the transfer window. Not only is Conte dealing with injuries but largely, they lack the strength in depth that those in the top four possess.

The former Chelsea boss seemingly doesn’t trust summer signing Emerson Royal at right wing-back, particularly in the final third, so it’s easy to see why they are targeting Traore, who on his day is “unplayable” in the final third, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

And whilst the north Londoners are well-stocked in the engine room, it’s believed that Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli are free to leave and there isn’t much quality behind the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skip anyway.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-transfer-gossip-rumours-conte-paratici-levy-premier-league” title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

As talented as he is, it’s rather telling that the 21-year-old gem has walked straight into the starting XI after a loan spell in the Championship last season.

Then there is the striker issue – it’s a catch-22 for Spurs. They need an alternative to Kane but no one in their right mind will want to play second fiddle to him. Although, there’s a chance that Conte reverts to his title-winning tactics at Inter Milan, where he played two up top.

Either way, this exciting revelation from Mokbel should leave much of the Lilywhites faithful absolutely buzzing heading into the final ten days of the transfer window.

It’s time for chairman Daniel Levy to open the chequebook. They now have a world-class manager capable of giving this club the silverware they are desperately craving but he needs to be backed, starting with this current window.

AND in other news, “Tottenham will”: Sky Sports reporter issues “exciting” transfer claim…

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit and BBC regular Noel Whelan has slammed Spurs for what he believes is a ‘sickening’ detail in regards to Jose Mourinho’s sacking by the Lilywhites.

Indeed, as claimed by the same outlet, Tottenham offered to pay a severance package of £8m to Mourinho and his staff to avoid placing them on gardening leave with their full salaries.

However, it is claimed that the Portuguese and his contingent rejected it out of hand and will continue to be paid their wages despite no longer being at the Spurs helm.

BBC pundit slams Spurs after Mourinho sack revelation

Mourinho’s contract is understood to have been worth £12.5m per year, with the former Spurs manager allegedly about to receive his full salary on gardening leave despite being dismissed.

Sickened by this detail, Whelan pointed out that the Lilywhites can somehow afford to do this despite temporarily planning to cut the wages of 550 members of staff under the government’s furlough scheme last year.

The club eventually opted against this decision, but the BBC pundit has used that incident as an example and questioned how Spurs can continue to pay Mourinho’s lofty salary.

“It’s sickening because they were one of the first clubs to put everyone on furlough,” explained Whelan to Football Insider.

“That shows their hand straight away and what sort of club they are. They can pay a manager off that’s been absolutely woeful £12million-a-year. Yet they couldn’t pay the staff who have been there for years and years and years?

“They’ve done a great job by the way, they’ve looked after the club. They’ve managed it properly, they’ve done their job right but yet they’re the first ones to feel the pinch.

“It’s sickening. It really does make my blood boil when I see things like this. You go back to those days when these people really need the money. Jose Mourinho doesn’t need the money for being c**p.

“Everything he said he was going to do, he’s not fulfilled.”

Transfer Tavern take

Given the financial uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, Whelan may have a point when criticising Spurs, but one redeeming effort made by the club was their offer to try and reduce the payoff.

Indeed, Mourinho and his staff rejected the £8m severance package, with the 58-year-old and his former staff also appearing to be major culprits in this situation.

Whoever Levy next appoints as Spurs boss, supporters will surely be hoping that measures are in place to avoid paying more gardening leave when/if he is dismissed by the club.

In other news: Alasdair Gold backs Tottenham links to this managerial ‘genius’, find out more here.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could miss out on a move for Marseille’s Croatian centre-back Duje Caleta-Car.

What’s the word?

That is according to French reporter Ignazio Genuardi via Get France Football News, who claims that Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has scouted the 6 foot 1 defender ahead of a potential move to Villa Park.

Wolves reportedly offered Marseille £13m, just seven months ago, as per RMC Sport and he was considered a real target for the Molineux side.

Their own Dias?

With their Midlands rivals now in the race to sign the central defender, Bruno Lage must consider reviving the club’s pursuit of the Croat.

Caleta-Car is about to enter the final year of his contract and with no apparent sign of renewing, Marseille may feel pressured into selling him at the end of the season in order to acquire some decent money for the 25-year-old.

The £14.4m-rated Croatian has started just 59% of Marseille’s games in the league this season, though, in that fairly limited time, he has demonstrated exactly what his game is about – with his passing ability shining through.

Caleta-Car, who has been dubbed as a “Daddy Emperor” by The Mirror (which is what his name translates to), has asserted himself as one of Marseille’s most accurate passers of the ball per 90, achieving an average of 72 passes, whilst also demonstrating his ability as a long-ball specialist, topping the charts for accurate long balls per 90 with an average of six accurate long balls per game.

Though, his defensive metrics are not as impressive as his offensive stats this season, with the only shining light in this area being his 66.7% of dribblers tackled metric that places him within the elite category for positionally similar players across the last 365 days in Europe’s top 5 leagues, as per FB Ref.

Wolves will feel hard done if Aston Villa capture their target after their bid fell short just seven months ago.

It has been reported that Lage is in the market for a young striker and a right-footed centre-back this summer, with Caleta-Car fitting the bill for the latter requirement.

Indeed, based on the stats above, he could become the club’s own Ruben Dias too, a player the Old Gold famously missed out on before he joined City. FB Ref notes how the players are incredibly similar and a deeper look at the stats explains why.

They both complete over 92% of their passes, and make a fairly equal number of progressive passes with Caleta-Car averaging 426.1 yards per 90 compared to the Manchester City defender’s 432.1.

Furthermore, they are producing a similar number of defensive actions. Dias completes 2.58 tackles and interceptions per 90 whereas the Marseille brute averages 2.45.

Thus, the Old Gold faithful will hope Lage can tempt the Croatian to the Molineux in what would be a great signing.

In other news: John Percy: Wolves now eye swoop for the “next Mbappe“, he’s better than Jimenez – opinion