This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers.
Former Everton man Michael Ball has identified the club’s main issue as their inability to produce quality in the final third.
What did he say?
Everton have struggled both defensively and in attack this season, forcing them into an early relegation scrap as a result. The club’s 11 goals from 11 games in the Premier League currently puts them in 17th and has heaped immense pressure on the players and Marco Silva.
Ball told the Liverpool Echo: “We just need more quality in the final third, that’s what’s been letting us down when sometimes it seems like we run out of ideas a little bit.
“We’re okay at passing around the back and in midfield but if we can get it right more often in that final third, it can help get us back up that league table.”
Lack of quality and consistency
Som Everton players have proven to be a handful in previous seasons. The likes of Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scored 13 league goals last season, whilst Alex Iwobi’s six assists with Arsenal last year prove he can be creative.
However, this season, Iwobi has not assisted at all and Richalison and Sigurdsson have just three league goals between them.
Part of this is also down to Marco Silva, who has constantly chopped and changed his side. The former Watford boss has often gone with Richarlison up top but then tried the Brazilian out on the wings as well.
Then there is Moise Kean, who Silva doesn’t seem to understand whatsoever. The Italian scored seven goals from a centre-forward position with Juventus last season, but Silva has resorted to playing him as a winger on a handful of occasions.
The 42-year-old needs to establish his strongest starting XI to transform Everton’s fortunes in the final third.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Everton U23s boss David Unsworth has praised Oumar Niasse after the struggling striker bagged two goals for the youth side against Crewe Alexandra.
What did he say?
Niasse’s goals in the 2-2 draw at Gresty Road were enough for Unsworth’s men to advance in the Leasing.com trophy. It was a rare sight to see 29-year-old on the scoresheet, as Niasse has failed to make a name for himself on Merseyside over the past few years.
However, the U23s boss has sung his praises after his recent display and praised his attitude.
Unsworth told Evertonfc.com: “Oumar gives you everything he’s got.
“The lads love him and they were all singing his name in the dressing room at the end!
“The man is just infectious. His attitude is incredible and he got his goals tonight.”
First-team still far off
Marco Silva has struggled to get goals out of his side this season. Everton’s first-team currently sit 17th in the table and have only scored 11 goals in the 11 games that have been played.
This awful record puts Silva’s squad as the joint fourth-lowest scoring team in the Premier League.
The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison up top have been looked at for these goals. However, the two have just five league goals between them so far.
On the other hand, Niasse only has nine goals in 39 appearances for the senior squad, a record which has justifiably seen him drop into the reserves to find some form. The former Cardiff City man is perhaps fifth in the pecking order for a role as Everton’s striker, with the likes of Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean most likely ahead of him.
Plus, if there is anybody who is going to make the move to the first-team it is Anthony Gordon.
The youth star has six goals and three assists for the U23s so far and is pushing for a senior appearance.
The international break could well have come for Leeds United at the worst possible time, killing any momentum that was potentially building after the Whites had finally found their feet this season.
Two draws and a defeat in all competitions was a nightmare start for Daniel Farke's men, but that has since been forgotten about with two wins on the spin in the Championship, with the second-tier promotion hopefuls now up to a promising fourth spot in the early league standings.
Mateo Joseph has been a bright spark across those two wins, with Farke and Co hopeful that their young Spanish hotshot can continue to lead the line effectively, even during more tense contests to come down the line.
Joseph's rise at Leeds
This does feel like the season where Joseph really comes into his own in the senior fold, removed from the comforts of U21 football and unleashed onto the Championship in full force.
Bagging 19 goals for the U21s across 33 games, it was only a matter of time before Farke began to regularly play him from the start in the men's games, having been the manager to give Archie Gray his big break last campaign.
He hasn't quite been as free-flowing in front of goal as in his golden youth days yet, but his instinctive finish against Hull City saw him finally get off the mark for the new second-tier campaign, after cleverly connecting with Manor Solomon's cross.
It has actually been Joseph's creativity that has stood out over his ability to rifle an effort home, with two assists managed from four league games, as both of those assists allowed Leeds to win away at Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 to secure their first three points.
Far more muscular and confident in appearance than the youthful Joseph that fired home two excellent strikes away at Chelsea in the FA Cup last season, the still raw Whites number 19 will hope he can develop even more and become an even deadlier finisher the men's team can rely on in big moments.
Thorp Arch talent Luca Thomas will take inspiration from Joseph's rise from being once an U21 goal machine to now a member of Farke's main XI and aim to replicate it as a potent goalscorer himself at youth level.
Thomas' statistics at youth level
Thomas has been a consistent source of goals in the U18 and U21 structures for some time now, with the audacious strike against Newcastle United below happening all the way back in January 2023.
Across 56 games, the clinical 19-year-old attacker has helped himself to a very impressive goal return of 30, with Joseph only scoring 20 from 37 clashes when he was exclusively strutting his stuff on youth pitches.
24/25
2
2
0
23/24
18
6
4
22/23
19
7
1
21/22
17
15
2
Already accumulating two goals from two appearances during the infancy of the new Premier League 2 campaign, it feels like only a matter of time before the "class" youngster – as he was labelled by Leeds U21s commentator Thomas Hill last year – gets his moment to shine in the senior spotlight.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Capable of playing down either flank, as well as terrifying defenders as a centre-forward, Farke could grow to love having Thomas in and around the first-team, having also taken a shining to Gray last season for his flexibility to slot into spaces in the side when needed.
Joseph's story at Elland Road is only starting, away from any young stars aiming to replicate his ascent, with the 20-year-old keen to fire in more goals moving forward that could see the Whites triumphantly return to the Premier League.
Leeds messed up selling "unplayable" ace who's now worth more than Ramazani
The Whites even tried to re-sign the exciting attacker this summer.
Kieran Trippier has been an excellent addition for Newcastle United following his £12m move to the club from Atlético Madrid back in January 2022.
He’s provided quality and experience to Eddie Howe’s backline, playing a crucial role in the club’s recent success that has seen them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over two decades, having notably been hailed a "revelation" by talkSPORT's Simon Jordan.
However, with the England international now 33, he’s coming towards the tail end of his professional career, as demonstrated by his failure to appear off the bench against Southampton in the first Premier League outing of the season last weekend.
Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier.
He’s since been linked with a move to Everton ahead of the transfer deadline next Friday, with the Toffees eyeing a loan move for the right-back.
His lack of game time could hand one other first-team member a consistent run as a starter after a stop-start beginning to his Magpies career.
Tino Livramento’s Newcastle career so far
Full-back Tino Livramento only arrived at St James’ Park last summer in a £40m deal from Southampton after the Saints suffered relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
His first full season on Tyneside was an inconsistent one, only making 12 starts in the Premier League, utilised as a backup to Trippier or as cover in an unnatural left-back role.
However, he started the opening day victory against his former side last Saturday, with Howe giving him the opportunity to stake his claim for a regular starting role – especially after the latest development on Trippier’s future.
The youngster was part of the backline that kept a clean sheet, whilst winning all 100% of the tackles that he entered and winning 60% of his ground duels.
Despite his impressive display, he could find himself as a backup once more if the club complete a deal for one player who’s recently impressed in the Premier League.
Newcastle could land £25m Trippier replacement
This summer has been a relatively quiet one for Newcastle, with only four new signings, but given Trippier’s current situation, they may be forced to make a late move in the transfer window.
The Magpies have previously been touted with a move to land Nottingham Forest right-back Neco Williams, with the Reds demanding a fee in the region of £25m to part ways with the Welsh international.
23-year-old Williams has been a key player under Nuno Espírito Santo since his appointment back in December, winning three consecutive Player of the Month awards, potentially forcing Livramento to return to the substitutes bench.
When comparing the duo’s respective stats from last season, the former Liverpool ace comes out on top in various key areas – highlighting what an excellent addition he would be for Howe’s side.
The “relentless” Forest ace, as described by football writer Leanne Prescott, attempted more tackles per 90 along with 2.4 blocks – showcasing his excellent defensive capabilities.
Games played
26
26
Goals + assists
1
1
Tackles attempted
3.8
1.6
Blocks made
2.4
1.1
Clearances
2.9
2.8
Take-ons completed
2.4
2.1
Crosses made
3.7
1.8
Aerials won
1.7
0.8
However, Williams was just as impressive going forward, completing more take-ons per 90, whilst also attempting more crosses, potentially falling straight into the hands of star man Alexander Isak.
Whilst Livramento undoubtedly has the ability to be the club’s starting right-back, Williams has demonstrated he has all the qualities to displace the Englishman on Tyneside.
£25m in today's market is a bargain for a player of his quality, with Howe's side needing to act quickly to secure a deal for the Welshman before the transfer deadline in just seven days' time.
Watch out Wilson: Newcastle can land Isak 2.0 in £25m talisman
The Magpies are still targeting attacking reinforcements before the end of the window.
Aston Villa enter the final few days of the transfer window hoping they can entice another big name to join the club.
Qualification for the Champions League has allowed Unai Emery to lure the likes of Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen to Villa Park. Will there be one final signing before the deadline on Friday?
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
It appears the club have a current Premier League player on their shortlist as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Aston Villa eye late move for Chelsea striker
According to Caught Offside, the Midlands side are open to the idea of adding another striker to their squad before Friday. There are a few different names on the shortlist, but it looks as though Chelsea centre-forward Nicolas Jackson is the preferred option.
The report states Emery has monitored him for over a year as the manager is evaluating whether there is room to make a concrete offer for him in the coming days.
The £65k-per-week hitman would add something different to the Villa attack and, with a single season of Premier League experience behind him, could be a solid purchase this summer.
Nicolas Jackson’s season in numbers
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed Jackson as “superb” towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign after he scored in four successive La Liga matches, claiming the striker was “one of the best La Liga players in recent weeks” due to his displays.
It didn’t take long for the Blues to make their move, signing him that summer from Villarreal. His debut season in England yielded 17 goals and six assists across 44 matches for the Blues, a decent, if unspectacular, return in front of goal.
Goals
14
Assists
5
Shots on target per game
1.2
Big chances created
8
Successful dribbles per game
1.5
Total duels won per game
4.2
Among his teammates, he ranked second for goals and assists (19) in the top flight, along with ranking second for shots on target per game (1.2) and for successful dribbles each match (1.5), underling how important he was.
Ollie Watkins may have scored 27 goals last season, but the next highest goalscorer at the club was winger Leon Bailey with 14 goals, suggesting the need for another striker.
Jackson, according to FBref, is the sixth-most comparable player to Watkins. Considering how good the Englishman was last season, signing a player who plays like him would be advantageous for Emery, even if Jackson is something of a "rough diamond" according to pundit Paul Merson.
Indeed, the duo registered similar statistics in the Premier League last season with regard to shots on target per 90 (1.22 vs 1.31), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.05 vs 2.8), successful take-on percentage (51.4% vs 41.3%) and aerial duels won (35 vs 49).
Much will depend on Jackson’s price tag, but if there is any realistic chance of signing the Senegal international, then a concrete move should be made.
He and Watkins could combine to devastating effect this season for Villa, especially given their likeness, and it could fire the club back into the top four of the table.
The next few days will be interesting, to say the least.
Onana repeat: Aston Villa have discussed signing "monster" striker
He has 12 months left on his contract and could move before the deadline.
An update has emerged on Manchester United and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…
What's the latest on Nicolo Barella to Man United?
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Red Devils are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Inter central midfielder Nicolo Barella in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle United are keen on the Italy international and would be willing to double his current salary, which is reportedly around £152k-per-week.
It states that United and Mauricio Pochettino's team have both made contact with the Serie A outfit to sound out a potential deal for the talented ace, although no official offers have been made for his services as of yet.
Inter are said to be wanting a fee of at least €80m (£69m) but it remains to be seen how much the English giants are willing to pay for him.
Would Nicolo Barella be a good signing for Manchester United?
Barella could be an excellent addition to Erik ten Hag's squad next term as the 26-year-old maestro would be a big upgrade on current midfielder Fred.
The Inter magician is an attack-minded number eight who stacked up well against other players in his position in Europe's top five leagues last season.
Indeed, Opta Analyst Radar shows that the Italian excelled at getting forward to make things happen in the final third, particularly when it came to creating chances and scoring goals, which has earned him a strong comparison with impressive Barcelona starlet Pedri.
Barella, who reporter Mike Piellucci dubbed a "genius", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 across 35 Serie A matches in 22/23 and contributed with six goals and six assists from the middle of the park, whilst he also won 55% of his individual duels.
Inter central midfielder Nicolo Barella.
Fred, on the other hand, averaged an unimpressive Sofascore rating of 6.78 across 35 Premier League games and chipped in with two goals and two assists.
This suggests that the Inter ace, who was described as "outstanding" by writer Jerry Mancini, is capable of being more consistent with the quality of his performances and has the quality on the ball to make a greater impact at the top end of the pitch to win points for his side.
The Brazil international also lost 52% of his physical contests for Manchester United, indicating that Barella would be a stronger option in midfield, which could add some real steel to the team in front of the back four. Just imagine the thought of hm beside Casemiro; it's a tantalising prospect.
Indeed, it's clear that Ten Hag could land a big upgrade on the current Red Devils midfielder by swooping for the Serie A talent this summer. He would undoubtedly offer far more in and out of possession.
A summer of transition is under way at Wolverhampton Wanderers, with as many as nine players set to find new clubs in the summer transfer window.
While some players will soon be forgotten, such as striker Diego Costa, it will take far more time and consideration to find a replacement for a player of Joao Moutinho's standing at Molineux.
The Portugal international's five-season stay with the Premier League side came to an end at the conclusion of last season, and it is looking likely he will reunite with former Wolves boss Nuno Santo at Saudi club Al Ittihad.
There are plenty of adequate options available to freshen up Wolves' midfield next season, with Bristol City's Alex Scott among them.
Scott has long been touted as an option for Julen Lopetegui, and CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs reports that Wolves – as well as Tottenham Hotspur – have been boosted in their pursuit as Liverpool are no longer in the running for the midfielder's signature.
What can Alex Scott bring to Wolverhampton Wanderers?
Despite still being aged just 19, Scott has already racked up 89 senior appearances for Bristol City, 81 of which have come in the Championship.
That includes 40 starts in the second tier last season when used in a number of midfield positions. Whether it is as a holder, out wide or just off the striker, Scott has the ability to mix it up.
The teenager is more of a defensive and creative-minded midfielder than someone who gets forward and scores himself, as reflected by his four assists last season and smaller tally of just one goal.
Wolves central midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Indeed, the team-high ten yellow cards he received in the Championship last season gives a good indication of what Scott is all about.
That is not to say Scott is dirty – he is someone who was described as "an unbelievable player" by Pep Guardiola earlier this year, after all – but it comes as part of his job as someone in the side to intercept the ball.
Interestingly, Scott's 0.98 interceptions per 90 minutes in the Championship last season, as per FBref, is almost identical to that of Moutinho in the Premier League – 0.91 per 90 minutes.
The pair also committed fouls at a similar rate (1.33 for Scott compared to 1.57 for Moutinho), and likewise when it comes to percentage of challenges won (40.3 and 41.3 respectively).
With 0.19 and 0.15 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes for their respective sides last season, neither Scott nor Moutinho were selected for their goalscoring ability alone (the latter did not find the net all season), but they each bring other vital components that help make a team tick.
If it is a like-for-like replacement of sorts Lopetegui is after to soften the blow of Moutinho's departure, Scott – who will not come cheap at a reported £25m – may be just their man.
Liverpool are keen on Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and it will soon become clear whether there is a roadmap for the Reds to sign the Netherlands international this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Ryan Gravenberch?
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are keen on signing Gravenberch this summer and will attempt to try and prize him away from Bayern Munich as Jurgen Klopp eyes a squad rebuild.
The report states that Liverpool have been admirers of Gravenberch for a long period of time and the Reds believe that the prospect of offering the 21-year-old more playing time at Anfield may be enough to tempt him to move to Merseyside.
As per The Daily Mail, Liverpool have previously held discussions with Gravenberch's entourage over the possibility of acquiring Gravenberch; however, it is said that Bayern Munich are reluctant to lose his services in the off-season.
Capology understand that Gravenberch earns around €176,923 (£153,680) per week at the Allianz Arena and is contracted to his current employers until June 2027.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that we will soon find out whether Liverpool moving to bring Gravenberch to Anfield is a viable option this summer.
Jones said: “I’d say we should probably keep an eye on the Gravenberch situation because that’s the other one they’ve really wanted to know about. And I think there will be indications very soon on Gravenberch and whether Liverpool could even get involved in that conversation.”
Would Ryan Gravenberch be a good signing for Liverpool?
Despite finding it difficult to make an impact at Bayern Munich, Gravenberch is a talented midfielder who would add some extra composure in Liverpool's engine room.
In 2022/23, the 21-year-old made 33 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga champions, registering one goal and a solitary assist apiece, as per Transfermarkt.
WhoScored show that Gravenberch is a reliable outlet in possession for Bayern Munich and managed to maintain a pass success rate of 89.3% in the German top-flight this season.
As per FBRef, Gravenberch has also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of shot-creating actions, having averaged around 4.01 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the seventh percentile for this metric.
Liverpool need to add midfield depth to compensate for the loss of trio Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gravenberch would add some fresh legs and an ability to exert control in the middle of the park.
Leeds United are a club that will enter the Championship as one of its biggest. Therefore, their pull will immediately outrank most others seeking to snag promotion, and players offered the choice between Elland Road or elsewhere in the division will almost always opt for the former.
This monopoly over transfer targets is particularly useful at a level like this, where they could realistically use their enhanced funds and stature to bankroll all the competition, at immense risk in case it fails.
As such, they will want to remain careful of their spending, or else face another 16-year absence from the Premier League. That is where Andrea Radrizzani will feel they belong, and given his desperation to sell the club goes on, their presence at that level would surely boost any income he is sure to receive too.
This all feeds into their expected first move of the window, which reported late last month that they were moving in to sign free agent Ryan Manning. The £9k-per-week titan has seen his contract at Swansea City conclude this summer, and the Yorkshire club again have that pull to convince him that they are the best option.
How good is Ryan Manning?
In securing this fine left back, at last they could fix their long-term issue which even Marcelo Bielsa failed to solve.
Whilst the Argentine suffered from numerous failures that led to his eventual sacking, not limited to his stubbornness to alter his philosophy and the injury crisis he suffered, it could be argued that a failure to sign a top left back was his biggest gaffe.
Swooping for Junior Firpo in 2021, it quickly became clear that he would not be at the requisite level for the English game. And yet, he persevered, much to the detriment of his team.
The 26-year-old could only muster a 6.60 average Sofascore rating in that debut term, even forcing centre-back Pascal Struijk to fill in instead of him. They would ship a ridiculous 79 goals that campaign too, with Bielsa's dismissal an inevitability.
ryan-manning-swansea
In Manning, they would gain an immediate upgrade on the former Barcelona flop, as his 7.46 average Sofascore rating marks him out as one of the best assets in this division.
Offensively gifted but defensively solid, the 26-year-old would give them the boost they need to waltz through the Championship potentially at the first time of asking.
He averaged 2.5 key passes, two tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game last season, to supplement his five goals and mammoth ten assists, via Sofascore. Such form even led his boss Russell Martin to brand him as "outstanding".
With Radrizzani surely seeking an instant return to the Premier League, there are few better signings on the market than this Manning deal, given his imperious domination of the division they are set to enter.
It would also surely spell the end of a longstanding issue that started with Bielsa's stubbornness.
Glasgow Rangers have managed to significantly strengthen their midfield department since Michael Beale took charge in November.
Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell have both impressed, with Joshua Barrie lauding the former as “impressive” while Cantwell has registered 11 goal contributions already and they both have a bright future at the club. Kieran Dowell has also joined on a pre-contract agreement from Norwich City and there will surely be more incomings, especially across the attacking department.
With Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent departing, Beale is short of quality up top, and according to TEAMtalk, the Ibrox side have been linked with striker Anastasios Douvikas in order to add some much-needed firepower to the first team.
Celtic are also thought to be interested, yet Beale will be looking to find a way to scupper their hopes and secure a deal for the Greek frontman over the coming weeks.
Could Anastasios Douvikas replace Antonio Colak?
The Croatian striker arrived at the Ibrox side just last summer and has gone on to enjoy a fairly decent debut campaign, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, but he has started just five matches under Beale, and with The Scottish Sun claiming that the Gers could listen to offers for him in the summer, he might well be on his way out.
Douvikas has been on fire this term for FC Utrecht, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, with 18 of these coming in the Eredivisie as he currently tops the scoring charts.
Across his 31 league appearances this term, the 23-year-old has, along with his 18 goals, grabbed four assists, created seven big chances, succeeded with 0.8 dribbles per match and won 1.9 aerial duels per game – a success rate of 41% – indicating that not only can he score plenty, but he is also adept at creating chances for his teammates and offering a solid aerial threat.
Utrecht strikerAnastasios Douvikas.
These statistics are an upgrade on the numbers Colak has registered this term, as he has scored 13 goals, grabbed three assists, created three big chances and succeeded with just 0.3 dribbles per game while winning only 0.6 aerial duels per game.
Beale urgently requires some reinforcements during the summer window to bolster his attacking options ahead of a title challenge next season and with the FC Utrecht hitman shining in the Netherlands, his next destination could be Glasgow.