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Everton have been getting stuck into the winter transfer window after a disappointing start to the season that has left the club just six points away from the relegation zone, and are clearly using the January window as an opportunity to turn their struggles around and climb the table in the last five months of the league, but one target is apparently off the table.

What’s the word?

Daily Express Journalist, Ryan Taylor, has offered an insight on the potential transfer of Dwight McNeil from Burnley to Everton during this transfer window during his transfer round-up on YouTube.

Taylor said: “After losing Chris Wood, doesn’t look like Burnley would entertain losing McNeil,”

“Everton are interested and he remains a long-term target for the club. If Burnley were to go down, I’d expect them [Everton] to potentially move for him.”

McNeil has been linked with a move to the Merseyside club over the last month, and it’s not the first time Rafa Benitez has chased down the midfielder, as the Liverpool Echo reported back in July that the Spanish manager was keen to sign him, however in the current window there has been no official bid or talks opened up for the Burnley player so far.

Benitez will be gutted

If Taylor is right about Burnley’s stance on the player then we expect Benitez will be gutted, as he is a clearly a fan of the player after showing interest in the attacker back in the summer too.

The 22-year-old has clearly impressed the Toffees manager over the last few seasons, with the youngster scoring seven goals and bagging 17 assists in 126 appearances for the Lancashire club, making his debut in the Premier League when he was just 18 years old, back in 2018.

According to SofaScore, despite only offering one assist so far this season, the left-sided midfielder has been successful in completing the majority of his dribbles (64%), as well as winning the majority of both his ground and aerial duels (57%) in his 17 appearances so far for relegation battling Burnley.

As a result, it will be unfortunate for the Toffees manager that he cannot add a player so capable of performing consistently in the top-flight to his ranks this winter.

It is clear that Benitez is trying to add more youthful yet experienced players into his Everton side, with recent signings Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko perfectly matching that description, something that, again, McNeil could also offer to the squad.

Therefore, we expect this won’t be the last time we hear that Everton are interested in securing the player, and they could find that a much easier challenge to do so if Burnley get relegated at the end of the campaign.

In other news: Benitez should axe Holgate amid interest from other clubs

Wolves need to bring in both a centre-back and a midfielder in the January transfer window, according to journalist Luke Hatfield.

The Lowdown: Heartbreak against Liverpool

Bruno Lage’s side suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool on Saturday, with Divock Origi pouncing at the death at Molineux.

The loss is no disaster in the grand scheme of things, however, with Wolves sitting eighth in the Premier League after the weekend action – their season will not be decided by fixtures against teams like Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Still , it may be that January reinforcements are needed if Wanderers are to mount a genuine European push, given the quality of the teams around them – West Ham for example were able to grab three points against title-chasing Chelsea on Saturday.

The Latest: Journalist backs double signing

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Hatfield says that should be the case next month, claiming there are two clear areas that need to be improved upon:

“They need a really dominant centre-half, would be ideal for them along with an energetic midfielder.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“375704”]

The Verdict: Ideal for squad depth

It makes complete sense for these areas to be focused on, with Wolves appearing to run out of the steam against Liverpool on Saturday.

In Max Kilman, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss, Lage has a strong to back-three to call upon but another option would allow him to rotate and give his key defenders the odd breather.

Someone like Lille’s Sven Botman would be ideal, having been linked with a move, with the 21-year-old’s average of 2.5 aerial duel wins per game in the league this season only bettered by Saiss (2.9).

In midfield, the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are arguably too similar, oozing technical class but not covering endless ground, so a more combative middle man could be a perfect foil for the pair – perhaps the endlessly linked Renato Sanches.

In other news, three Wolves players struggled in the defeat to Liverpool. Find out who they are here.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has suffered a fresh injury blow with Rodrigo now ruled out for the Premier League clash against Chelsea this weekend.

What’s the story?

A statement from the club read: “Rodrigo has been suffering from bilateral heel pain for some time. The player and medical staff have deemed it necessary to reduce his activity for the time being, in order to aid his long-term recovery.”

Bielsa will be worried

If you thought things were just beginning to ease up slightly for Leeds on the injury front with the returns of Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford last weekend, think again.

The Whites’ disastrous luck with injuries has struck again, and not only will they be without talisman Kalvin Phillips for an extended period of time, their club-record signing in Rodrigo is set to be missing for a while too.

The Spaniard has scored just twice in 15 games in all competitions this term, and what has been particularly disappointing is that he has been given a runout as the sole centre-forward in Patrick Bamford’s absence.

The former Valencia man has shown flashes of his ability, and it was a particularly impressive performance against West Ham which really caught the eye of The Athletic’s Phil Hay.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “I thought Rodrigo’s false nine performance on Saturday was worth another look. Lots to admire and ponder in his positioning, movement, interplay and switches of position with Raphinha. More displays like that could spark Leeds United into life.”

With Rodrigo now out for the foreseeable future, even more of the goalscoring onus is placed on the shoulders of Bamford, who could really do with some help having just returned from injury himself.

This latest update on Rodrigo is sure to have Bielsa worried.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign a Rodrigo upgrade in this star…

Renato Sanches may be eyeing up a move to a bigger club than Wolves, which could scupper a switch to Molineux, according to journalist Luke Hatfield.

The Lowdown: Wolves linked with January move

According to recent reports, Bruno Lage is keen on acquiring the signature of the Lille man who shone for Portugal at Euro 2020, averaging a 91.6% pass completion rate.

Sanches’ current Lille contract expires in the summer of 2o23, so next year will likely be their final opportunity to receive a hefty fee for him.

Wolves could eye up a January move for the 24-year-old but a negative update has emerged in that respect.

The Latest: Journalist provides Sanches update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Hatfield claimed Sanches may see his future at a club with greater credentials than Wolves, putting paid to a move to Molineux:

“The issue with Sanches is you see his name linked with other clubs, and clubs who are higher up the pecking order in terms of size than Wolves. Would he see them as a more attractive option? That’s a question you’ve got to ask.”

The Verdict: Talented but injury-prone

Sanches is an extremely gifted footballer – he won the 2016 European Golden Boy award, which speaks volumes – but his career has been plagued by injuries.

In fact, the 32-time capped Portugal international has never started more than 16 league games in a season at any club, highlighting his fitness issues. If he were to play just 16 times in a 38-game Premier League campaign, that amounts to only 42 per cent of the season.

For that reason, Wolves may end up seeing not signing Sanches as a blessing in disguise, spending their money on a more trustworthy midfielder who will be available for more than half the campaign.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has given an update on one Wolves target. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United are set to face off against Norwich City in a gigantic game at the bottom of the Premier League table tonight.

The two clubs are currently in 20th and 19th respectively, with a win for the Canaries potentially taking them level with 17th and three points for the Magpies taking them above their opponents.

Eddie Howe’s first game in charge of the club, after watching on from isolation against Brentford, ended in a 2-0 win for Arsenal at The Emirates at the weekend.

How many changes will he make to the team? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that he will make four alterations, with Javier Manquillo, Ciaran Clark, Jamal Lewis and Isaac Hayden coming in.

Firstly, we are predicting a change in formation from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3. This should not be viewed as a move to become defensive and prevent expansive football from being played, but instead as a way of providing the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson with a secure platform to build from in the final third.

Manquillo could get the nod at right-back ahead of Emil Krafth to freshen the side up. The £37k-per-week Swedish dud has averaged a disappointing SofaScore rating of 6.63 in the Premier League and could be axed from the XI to make way for the Spaniard as a simple form of rotation. Although, Jacob Murphy may be pushing hard to start in that position alongside the pair.

At left-back, Lewis could replace the suspended Matt Ritchie. FFC published an article detailing why the Northern Ireland international should be unleashed to replace the Scot, with the defender having a point to prove to both Howe and his former club Norwich.

Another player who will be forced to watch on from the sidelines is centre-back and captain Jamaal Lascelles, as he picked up a fifth booking at the weekend. Clark has started 10 Premier League matches this season and we predict that Howe will go with him due to his recent experience in the division, instead of bringing a player in from the cold to partner Fabian Schar.

FFC previously explained why Joelinton should be axed from the XI. We highlighted that the lightweight may let the Magpies down in a physical battle with the Canaries, which is partly why we are predicting that he will be replaced to facilitate the change in formation – with Hayden coming in. The ex-Arsenal enforcer could sit at the base of the midfield and cut out Norwich attacks alongside Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock.

AND in other news, 13 duels lost: Howe must brutally axe £80k-p/w NUFC passenger after Arsenal display…

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by The Guardian, Bruno Lage will be unable to call upon Francisco Trincao on Saturday afternoon as the winger is yet to complete his quarantine period after falling ill while on international duty with Portugal last week.

It had originally been reported that the Barcelona loanee was a doubt for the game, as it was unclear exactly when his aforementioned quarantine would end, and it has now been confirmed that Wolves will be without the 21-year-old for the trip to Aston Villa today.

Lage will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Trincao has been for Wolves since joining the club on a temporary basis this summer, Lage will be gutted that he will have to make do without the forward for the all-Midlands clash this afternoon.

Indeed, despite being yet to directly contribute to a goal over his six Premier League appearances, the £19.8m-rated winger has nevertheless demonstrated his ability in abundance, taking 2.5 shots, making one key pass and completing 3.2 dribbles per game. None of his team-mates have averaged more shots per match, while only the league-leading Adama Traore can better his dribbling average at Molineux.

These metrics have seen the £140k-per-week man earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.90, ranking him as the club’s joint eighth-best performer in the top flight.

While Lage is not exactly short of options in the wide attacking areas of his squad – with Traore looking the most likely candidate to come in for the Portugal international against Villa – it will undoubtedly come as a big blow to the Wolves boss to be without Trincao, as the winger has already proven that he can offer a threat in the final third of the pitch.

In other news: “Huge” £51k-p/w Wolves target “able to leave” in January, he’d be a major coup for Shi

Leeds picked up their second win of the Premier League season to move out of the relegation zone on Sunday as they beat Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are now on ten points after as many games, as they bid to stay up in their second season in the top-flight after promotion in 2020.

The Argentine is in his fourth campaign in charge of the club and has achieved great success at Elland Road, with a Championship title and a top-half Premier League finish in the first three terms.

Bielsa masterclass

Bielsa arrived at Leeds after they finished mid-table in the Championship and inherited a squad lacking in Premier League experience, but has been able to bring a number of players along for the journey with his excellent coaching – one of them being Poland international Mateusz Klich.

The ex-Lille manager has produced a masterclass with the central midfielder over the last three years. Klich joined Leeds from FC Twente in 2017 and played a measly five Championship games before being sent out on loan to Utrecht in January 2018

At the end of his loan spell, which coincided with Bielsa’s arrival, Klich was valued at just £1.58m by Transfermarkt. Instead of heading away from Elland Road again, he remained in Yorkshire and quickly became an influential member of the squad.

He played 91 of Leeds’ 92 Championship regular-season matches under the Argentine, scoring 16 goals and providing 13 assists. His form earned high praise from Bielsa, who has held him in high esteem. He said: “Klich for me is a player that can play in all the best teams in the world.”

The central midfielder then played 35 of the club’s 38 Premier League games last term, chipping in with four goals and five assists. This shows that the manager relied upon him week-in-week-out in the top-flight, which highlights the immense progress he has made since failing to make the grade in England in the second tier in his first year at the club.

To that point, David Prutton called him the ‘epitome’ of Bielsa’s work with the club in terms of improving players whilst moving up the football ladder. Prutton told the Yorkshire Evening Press:

“You can look at what Leeds have got out of maybe an unsung hero in Mateusz Klich which has been wonderful.

“Klich has been a player who has been the very epitome of what Marcelo has done with Leeds United in making him better.”

At the time of writing (02/11/21), Transfermarkt value Klich at £3.5m. This means that his price has rocketed 127.8% from when Bielsa was appointed in 2018 and illustrates the development he has undergone under the 66-year-old’s coaching. Therefore, it has been a masterclass in management and, hopefully, more players will follow in Klich’s footsteps in the coming years.

AND in other news, Viduka 2.0: Leeds could land new goalscoring sensation with “technically-gifted” beast…

Manchester United have cultivated an enviable reputation for producing a constant stream of talented youngsters in their academy, and striker Anthony Elanga is the latest prodigy to come off their conveyor belt.

The Sweden U21 international departed his homeland back in 2014 in order to chase his dream of becoming a Premier League footballer and burst onto the scene last term, scoring in the Red Devils final-day victory over Wolves on only his second appearance for the club.

Since then, he’s continued to take great strides towards becoming a permanent fixture in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-team setup.

After finding the back of the net during a pre-season game over the summer, United’s Norwegian manager was quick to praise Elanga, hinting he could feature more prominently in the senior side throughout 2021/22.

Solskjaer told the club website: “The boy is electric, has energy and enthusiasm, he’s really enjoying himself. He’s done himself the world of good. We know he’s a good player, we know he’s a good lad.

“He works so hard, he’s always smiley, bright, asking what more he needs to do, he’s so hungry to improve and get better. He can play wide left, wide right, upfront, so anywhere along the front line. He’s going to be an asset.”

Elanga’s only minutes in the first-team so far this season have come as an emergency left-back in the 20-time English champions shock 1-0 defeat to West Ham United in the Carabao Cup, though.

However, he’s continued to impress at youth level. He underlined his burgeoning reputation with a match-winning performance for United’s U23s against bitter rivals Liverpool last time out, scoring one and laying on an assist as the academy side earned a 3-0 victory.

And Elanga’s rise to prominence could come at the ideal time for both the player and the club.

With Edinson Cavani’s contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign, Anthony Martial desperately struggling for form and Cristiano Ronaldo deep into the twilight zone of his career, a new forward is believed to be high up on the hierarchy’s wishlist.

The youngster has previously outlined an Arsenal legend as his biggest influence in an interview with The Athletic, saying: “Thierry Henry was my idol, and I tried to match my game with his.

“He was quick. He could play anywhere across the front three – striker, left-wing, right-wing – and that’s how I want to replicate my game.”

But United will be hoping their latest homegrown star can replicate one of their own; Ronaldo.

Just like the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Elanga started his career as a skilful, pacey, goalscoring left-winger, but has already made the leap to becoming a central striker on many occasions.

Of course, it will take some stunning performances to replicate the great Portuguese attacker but his dribbling, goals and creativity certainly show shades of their famous number 7.

Solskjaer and co. will be hoping their Scandinavian starlet carries on his meteoric rise in the weeks and months ahead, providing the Old Trafford outfit with yet another outstanding asset in the final third of the pitch.

And, in other news…Murtough must seal Man Utd move for £70m magician, he’s “destined for great things” 

Hopes for Boli Bolingoli will have been high at Celtic upon his £3m arrival at Parkhead back in 2019, with the Hoops subsequently selling first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney in the same transfer window.

Indeed, the defender had impressed over his 25 Bundesliga appearances for Rapid Vienna in the season prior, scoring two goals, registering two assists and helping his side keep eight clean sheets in the league, as well as making an average of two interceptions, 1.4 tackles, 1.2 clearances and winning 4.4 duels per game.

However, after making a mere 14 Scottish Premiership appearances in his debut campaign, things took a further turn for the worst for Bolingoli last season, when the left-back travelled to Spain without informing Celtic, as well as breaking quarantine restrictions on his return to Scotland.

This led to the left-back receiving a three-match ban from the Scottish FA, while Neil Lennon also took the decision to bomb the former Belgian U16 international out of his squad, with the club labelling his actions as “irresponsible” and the Northern Irishman sending him on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir for the duration of 2020/21.

In Turkey, the £12.5k-per-week man also failed to impress over his 12 Super Lig appearances, helping his side keep just two clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 0.9 clearances and winning 3.6 duels per fixture.

These returns saw the 26-year-old average a disappointing seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.74, ranking him as Basaksehir’s 17th-worst performer in the Turkish top flight.

And, while Bolingoli has featured once for Celtic under the new leadership of Ange Postecoglou, the defender has been left out of the Celtic squad for the majority of their games this season, suggesting that the future does not look overly bright for the left-back at Parkhead.

Further still, as a result of this lack of game time over the past two seasons, Bolingoli’s value has plummeted from £3.15m at the time of his move to Scotland to just £1.98m today – meaning that, should Postecoglou wish to move the Belgian on any time soon, he will almost certainly have to take a loss in the transaction.

As such, with the benefit of hindsight, it would have to be said that Celtic’s former chief executive Peter Lawwell had something of a nightmare when signing Bolingoli back in 2019.

In other news: Forget Rogic: Ange could save Celtic millions by unleashing “fantastic” teen prodigy

Former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast that he expects his old side to make another move for Huddersfield Town star Lewis O’Brien in the future.

O’Brien, 22, was a target for Leeds during the summer transfer window, with the club’s director of football Victor Orta revealing to the Yorkshire Evening Post that the player’s valuation prevented a transfer.

Palmer, however, does not think that is the end of it and believes the Yorkshire club could revisit things when the transfer window is open again.

When asked by FFC if he could see Leeds making a fresh move for O’Brien, the ex-Whites player said:

“Yeah, for sure. You identify a player, but you don’t always get the player at the time. I remember when I signed for Leeds United, Howard Wilkinson told me he was tracking me for nearly three seasons before he was actually able to sign me and that’s the way it goes sometimes.

“You keep your scouts watching him, make sure he’s performing, make sure he’s the player that’s going to fit into the system that you want and then you test the water again at the appropriate time.”

Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds have already shown that they are not afraid to revisit previous targets.

After missing out on Dan James back in 2019, the Premier League outfit finally managed to land him last month. Perhaps a similar thing could happen with O’Brien in the new year.