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Aston Villa and Leeds have both approached West Ham over a possible move for Manuel Lanzini, according to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Gerrard’s huge January kitty

Steven Gerrard looks set to be a busy man in the New Year in what will be his first transfer window as Villa boss.

A new centre-back and a defensive midfielder are reportedly his main priorities, with Marvelous Nakamba suffering a serious knee injury in recent weeks.

He’s been promised a huge transfer kitty by NSWE, and it appears as if attacking midfielder Lanzini is a player of interest to Gerrard and sporting director Johan Lange.

The Latest: Villa’s enquiry

TEAMtalk shared a story on Wednesday evening suggesting both Villa and Leeds made it clear to the Hammers they are keen on the Argentine.

West Ham were open to an exit earlier in the season, but they have rebuffed approaches regarding a January transfer involving Lanzini.

The 28-year-old, labelled as a ‘top player’ by Darren Bent, has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, with his three league starts coming in the last three fixtures.

The Verdict: Priorities

Gerrard and Lange’s main focus should be on a holding midfielder in January, so their failed approach for Lanzini shouldn’t be viewed as a disaster at this moment in time.

The club have just Douglas Luiz as the only available senior defensive midfield option following Nakamba’s injury. Should they get one in early next month, then perhaps a move for an attacking midfielder could be of use, with Jacob Ramsey the club’s only out and out attacking midfielder.

However, Gerrard has plenty of wide attacking talent on the books who could adapt to a central role, but losing Luiz alongside Nakamba and not bringing in a replacement could be extremely worrying.

In other news: ‘Disgrace’ – Lots of Villa fans fume as ‘ridiculous’ pre-Chelsea update emerges. 

According to Football Insider, a Tottenham Hotspur source has told the outlet that former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo has ‘made it clear’ he is keen on taking the job in north London.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Nuno…

Tottenham fans have watched a host of different managers come in and out of the frame since the Lilywhites opted to sack former boss Jose Mourinho in late April.

Indeed, the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Brendan Rodgers were touted as early frontrunners only for Spurs to move and hold talks with Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca and Gennaro Gattuso in that order (BBC).

Now another coach appears to be in pole position for the role at Tottenham in Nuno, who guided ex-club Wolves to Premier League promotion.

The Latest: Nuno has ‘made it clear’ he wants to join…

As per a Lilywhites source speaking to Football Insider, the 47-year-old has now ‘made it clear’ he is ‘keen on taking the post’ at Tottenham with discussions going well during the subsequent period.

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There is apparently a ‘growing confidence’ among both parties that a deal can be finalised for his appointment and he could even be appointed the club’s new manager by the end of this weekend.

Nuno and Spurs have also agreed salary terms with only a few issues left to be ironed out, namely the makeup of his possible backroom staff.

The Verdict: Coup for Tottenham?

This comes as a pretty big development in the Tottenham manager hunt and one that could see their long search for a Mourinho heir finally reach it’s conclusion, but is Nuno the right man?

He doesn’t exactly fit chairman Daniel Levy’s original requirements for a free-flowing, attacking-minded coach – as outlined in his end of season letter to supporters.

Nuno does meet the standard when it comes to nurturing young talent and developing players, though, which is said to be another major pull for the role when it comes to Levy (football.london).

Lauded as a ‘genius’ by Matt Murray (This is Futbol), the Portuguese certainly has his credentials, like guiding Wolves to successive seventh-placed Premier League finishes and the Europa League quarter-finals before his underwhelming final year at Molineux (BBC).

He comes as a pretty mixed bag but could maybe steady the ship, with new managing director Fabio Paratici said to be a big admirer.

In other news: Journalist says Tottenham now want ‘magical’ man as ‘official contacts’ begin, find out more here.

Aston Villa must avoid selling Anwar El Ghazi as major news emerges from Bodymoor Heath about Dean Smith’s position on the matter.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have revealed that El Ghazi’s teammate, Trezeguet, is set to be out of first-team action for the best part of a year after suffering an ACL injury in the clash against Liverpool.

And now, Football Insider claim that because of the Egyptian’s lay-off, he has made a U-turn on El Ghazi’s future at the Premier League club.

The report suggests that both Smith and the Villa hierarchy were prepared to cash in on the Dutchman in the summer, but that stance has now been changed given Trezeguet’s injury blow.

Dean Smith would be making a mistake

With eight goals in 23 games, El Ghazi certainly has a very impressive goal-scoring record this season in the Premier League, so it beggars belief that Smith wanted to get rid of him.

There’s no questioning that he’s got the ability to be a real game-changer for the side when he’s on song – you only have to look at his back-to-back goals against West Brom and Everton in Villa’s last two games to see that.

And, speaking after his goal against Crystal Palace earlier this year, former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown said: “Dean Smith told me his training in how he executes those finishes is there for all to see. Craig Shakespeare then backed him straight up when I ran into him later, he just said ‘what a technician he is.’

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“He’s practising in training, he has a bad week against Burnley: eight shots, great chances, can’t put one away. Then he scores against West Brom, then goes and puts one in the top bins like he did last night… Magnificent is the word we’re all looking for.”

Smith must avoid an unforgivable mistake by selling the £9m-rated El Ghazi this summer. And given Trezeguet’s injury update now, it would be even more of a foolish blunder on the part of the Villa boss to get rid of him.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a move for this “great leader”…

Jamie Carragher warned Liverpool’s Sadio Mane about his behaviour during the first half of Sunday’s Merseyside Derby at Anfield. 

The lowdown

Tensions boiled over late in the first half after Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure fouled opposite number Fabinho.

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A ‘mini brawl’ ensued, in the words of one Sky Sports journalist, as players from both sides rushed to the scene.

Amidst the melee, Mane could be seen arguing with Allan and ‘pushing him in the face’.

Referee Stuart Atwell issued a yellow card to the Senegalese attacker, his seventh booking of the season in all competitions.

The latest

As he viewed the replay of the incident, Carragher slammed the forward.

“That’s just stupid from Mane,” the Sky Sports commentator said [17:17].

The verdict

You can understand why Carragher was frustrated with the £100,000-per-week man.

Indeed, he was arguably fortunate to avoid a red card following the incident, which would have made his team’s task far more difficult.

The laws of the game dictate that a player who deliberately strikes an opponent in the face with a hand or arm has committed violent conduct, unless the force is ‘negligible’.

That’s certainly up for debate, but you could argue that a player of Mane’s experience – this was his 258th Premier League match – shouldn’t be getting himself involved in such altercations, particularly when so much is at it stake for the title-chasing Reds.

In other news, this Liverpool superstar has been backed to sign a new deal. 

Former Newcastle United and England midfielder Rob Lee has told Football FanCast that Leeds would be taking a gamble by appointing Massimiliano Allegri to replace Marcelo Bielsa as manager.

The Argentinian has been with the club since 2018 and has overseen their rise from the Championship to the Premier League.

He has been exceptional this season, too, with Leeds currently 11th and looking up the table rather than down.

However, his contract expires at the end of the season and there have been reports of Leeds putting a contingency plan in place in case Bielsa does decide to move on.

Allegri has been mentioned as a potential recruit, with journalist Duncan Castles, via The Sun, naming the former Juventus boss as a potential replacement.

Lee hopes that Bielsa stays at the club but he has urged Leeds to tread carefully, with foreign managers being rather hit and miss in the Premier League.

He told FFC: “I think you always take a chance when you bring a foreign manager in.

“Bielsa’s done it at Leeds so it does work but I think it was slightly different because he was in the Championship. He’s brought the club up.

“When you bring a foreign manager in and chuck them straight into Leeds, as good as Allegri would be, you’re always taking a chance on whether he gets to grips with the Premier League, with where Leeds is, with whether the players like him. I hope Bielsa stays because I think he’s been brilliant.”

Lee believes Bielsa operates differently to most managers and has hailed the success he has found at Elland Road.

Indeed, he believes it will not be Leeds’ decision if he stays, rather Bielsa’s.

He added: “Bielsa’s done brilliantly, I love him. I think he’s a breath of fresh air. He’s different. He does things differently.

“And I presume it’ll be his decision whether he wants to stay in England. I don’t think he’ll manage anybody else in England but whether he wants to be around and do that (is up to him).”

Celtic’s summer is wrapped in uncertainty as they desperately try to improve upon a disastrous 2020/21 campaign.

They face the prospect of star striker Odsonne Edouard departing, which would leave the Hoops severely light in attack.

On the chalkboard

In the eventuality that Edouard moves on, their primary options in a centre-forward position would be Albian Ajeti and Leigh Griffiths.

The Swiss international only scored six times last term and has found the net just once for Celtic since last September, while Griffiths can find himself fortunate to still be at the club.

As the calendar flicked over into July, it looked as though the Scot was heading out of Parkhead on a free transfer. However, in a surprising announcement, the club revealed that he had signed a one-year contract extension on Thursday morning.

Fans were divided on the matter but the vast majority of supporters were perplexed at why a rebuild included someone who has already been given numerous opportunities at Celtic.

The solution

Everyone is right to be given a clean slate under new manager Ange Postecoglou, but one player they should consider forgetting is Griffiths.

That’s because they have a menacing striker waiting in the wings for his own second opportunity at Paradise.

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That happens to be Vakoun Issouf Bayo. The Ivorian has only ever played 17 times for the Bhoys but caught the eye during his loan spell with Toulouse last season.

The 24-year-old found the back of the net on 13 occasions for the French Ligue 2 side, also providing four assists. It wasn’t the most outstanding of tallies but crucially he possesses similar qualities to Edouard, who could be heading for the departures lounge.

Speaking about Bayo during his first campaign with Celtic, Chris Sutton was impressed with what he saw, remarking: “He has some really good raw attributes. I think he’s powerful, and he is good in the air.”

The 24-year-old has beaten the goalkeeper just twice in a Hoops shirt, but if Griffiths is being handed a chance under Postecoglou, Bayo deserves one too.

The attacker has one year left on his current terms in Glasgow which could be problematic, but there would be no harm in providing a small extension to that contract. He certainly deserves an opportunity to prove his worth in pre-season at the very least.

AND in other news, Celtic told to sign 28y/o who’s been “outstanding” at Euro 2020, he’d be a big upgrade…

Everton are spoilt for choice at centre back with Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate all at the club, which means bringing in someone like Chris Smalling would not improve them, according to former striker Marcus Bent.

With the Toffees set to appoint Rafa Benitez as their new manager, he will likely look to build from the back and ensure that they are solid defensively, much like during his time with Newcastle United, so links with new centre backs may be expected.

Smalling fell out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer which saw him seal a move to Roma where he excelled during his initial loan spell with a 7.00 WhoScored rating, before seeing performances slightly dip last season with a 6.65 rating. However, that has not put off reports suggesting a move to Goodison Park could be on the cards.

Everton had the worst goal difference of any side in the top half of the Premier League last season but bringing in the 6 ft 4 former Red Devil would not add anything that they don’t already have, according to Bent who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“He’s no better than Keane, Mina or Godfrey so I don’t think they will replace any of them with him as I think they’re very happy with Keane, Godfrey and Mina.”

Despite spending £448.98 million in the last four seasons, it is likely that Everton will be looking to spend big against his summer to try and eventually crack into the top six, something West Ham achieved as they shopped smart in the transfer market.

The Toffees started last season like a train, losing just one of their opening eight fixtures but it was to be a false dawn as they ended the season in a disappointing 10th, behind teams such as Leeds United and West Ham.

Sean Dyche has admitted that he finds the links to the manager job at Newcastle United if Steve Bruce were to leave ‘very flattering’.

However, speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match against the St. James’ Park faithful at Sunday lunchtime, the Burnley manager also claimed (via Daily Mirror) that he will keep doing his job with the Clarets.

The North East club are reportedly eyeing up Dyche as a potential replacement for Bruce should the latter leave, given the growing pressure that the former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss is currently under to keep his team in the Premier League.

Newcastle and Dyche a good match

Dyche could be a good fit at the Tyneside club. He is vastly experienced in managing in the top flight, and has kept Burnley for a number of seasons there despite their relatively inferior transfer budget and status to other clubs in the division – something Toon fans know all too well about with Mike Ashley at the helm.

The fact that he has managed to do this should not go unnoticed, and that is what makes him such a good coach, with former EPL ace Frank McAvennie even going as far as to claim that he is ‘exceptional’ following links to the Celtic job back in March.

Nonetheless, he should certainly be a manager to consider hiring for the Magpies if Bruce were to leave his post.

In other news, find out what takeover claim from consortium sources Mark Douglas has dropped here!

Gareth Bale’s loan spell with Tottenham officially ended on Sunday afternoon, but Carlton Palmer believes that his brace at Leicester wasn’t his last hurrah in a Lilywhite shirt.

Bale signed off with two late goals to secure Spurs’ place in the inaugural UEFA Conference League next season, but has since returned to Real Madrid to prepare for the European Championships with Wales.

It remains unclear where Bale will be playing his football next season, with his contract in the Spanish capital expiring next season, whilst another loan back to Tottenham appears complicated.

The 31-year-old spoke after the Leicester game and said that his future will be decided after the Euros, although he did reveal that he knows what he’s doing, but kept his cards close to his chest.

Despite fitness problems and difficulties with Jose Mourinho, the winger still managed 16 goals and three assists in 34 outings, proving that he’s still one of the most dangerous players in European football despite his history of injuries.

With that record in mind, Palmer is confident that Bale will be back at Tottenham next season.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“I think Levy wants to keep Bale – he’s very good pals with Jonathan Barnett, who’s Bale’s agent and it’s very clear he wants to keep him.

“He wasn’t getting game-time under Mourinho. It would not surprise me to see Bale there next season, and if that’s the case, that’s why Mourinho got the sack.”

Everton return to Premier League action following the international break bang in form and with plenty of confidence.

The Toffees have secured seven points from a possible nine available and kept their first clean sheet of the season last time out.

However, they will be taking on a battle-hardened Burnley side on Monday night under the lights.

The task at hand will not be easy, especially if Rafa Benitez has to name his starting XI without star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Whether or not the forward is fit remains to be seen but here’s the XI we’re predicting at Goodison Park this evening.

We’re tipping the manager to make three changes from the side that beat Brighton 2-0 a fortnight ago.

The first alteration to note is up front where Salomon Rondon earns his debut for Everton.

Rondon was signed on transfer deadline day and will link with Benitez for the third time in his career. He plays at the expense of Calvert-Lewin who is a doubt for the game after training through pain in the last few weeks with a broken toe.

It would be a risk to play him and thus, we think the powerful 31-year-old will start instead.

The remaining changes are in the middle of the defence where Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina return to the fray.

Both of the centre-backs have been out injured in recent weeks with Mason Holgate and Michael Keane having to play instead.

They kept a valuable shut out versus Brighton but the latter has been far from assured in 2021/22 so far.

We have already championed the idea of Mina and the £68k-per-week-earning Godfrey starting so they come in at centre-back to give Everton the best possible chance of winning against physically tough opponents.

Seamus Coleman picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with the Republic of Ireland but the boss has revealed that he should be fit to start at right-back.

Demarai Gray continues his role on the left and will look to score for a third successive game after his summer arrival.

AND in other news, Bye-bye James: Rafa must unleash Everton’s “sensational” rarely-seen 17 y/o this term…