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Everton and Carlo Ancelotti will have to get rid of players before they start signing new additions, says former Toffees defender Michael Ball.

Ancelotti hinted earlier this month that the Merseyside club will try to bring in individuals this summer who can help his side play a more attractive brand of football having previously prioritised adding energy to the midfield.

That is likely to include Crystal Palace’s £130,000-a-week talisman Wilfried Zaha, with Goal recently reporting that Everton are keen on bringing the 28-year-old winger to Goodison Park in a potential £40m deal.

Before such transfers take place, though, Ball is certain that some players currently on the Toffees’ roster will have to go first.

“They know they’re going to have to bring in maybe four or five players,” the ex-Everton full-back exclusively told TT.

“And [with] the financial situation, they know they have to sell players and a lot of players are probably not going to demand the fee, nowhere near [the fee], they’ll be asking for Moise Kean.”

It remains to be seen what exactly Ancelotti will have to work with. But if Everton do end up selling Kean permanently, it does look like the Italian’s transfer budget will be boosted significantly, with the reliable Fabrizio Romano (via GiveMeSport) reporting that the Toffees’ price for the player is around £40m.

Roberto Firmino may consider leaving Liverpool this summer due to Sadio Mane’s shift into the middle, says former top flight manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Firmino down the pecking order

The Brazilian has become an undisputed Reds legend since joining from Hoffenheim back in 2015, winning the Premier League and Champions League, not to mention leading the line superbly.

Firmino finds himself down the attacking pecking order these days, however, with Mohamed Salah, Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota all arguably seen as stronger options by Jurgen Klopp, especially since Mane moved to a central role after Diaz’s arrival in January.

The 30-year-old’s current Liverpool deal runs out at the end of next season and the idea of him leaving this summer hasn’t been completely ruled out.

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The Latest: Pundit casts doubt over future

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish admitted that he could see Firmino moving on due to the shift Klopp has made in recent weeks with Mane, moving Firmino further down the striker pecking order.

Ultimately, he says, the decision will be up to the player himself:

“I think he’s still making an impact. You see him in games coming on and getting a couple of goals and assists. He’s still, I think, very integral to their success this season.

“Like everybody else, he will want to maybe play more football at the end. Who knows, maybe it suits him, the way it is just now. One thing’s for sure, Liverpool are a great club and will do the right thing by their players.

“They will do whatever Firmino wants to do, I would think. Maybe keep him on and keep doing his cameo. Or does the guy want to play more football? I think that would be in Firmino’s hands.”

The Verdict: Don’t leave, Bobby

While it would be understandable if Firmino decided to enjoy a fresh challenge this summer, the hope with the vast majority of Liverpool fans is that he stays put.

At 30, he still has a huge amount to offer, even if his best days are behind him, and he is a perfect foil for different styles of players around him in attack. If he is content being a squad player, the matter should be settled immediately.

Firmino isn’t a player who is reliant on pace, which further highlights why he can be a force for years to come, and the idea of such a popular player leaving doesn’t bear thinking about.

In other news, an exciting Liverpool transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

After coming on as a second half substitute in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last week, Leeds starlet Ian Poveda must surely be unleashed by Marcelo Bielsa today in the Premier League against Manchester United.

The Whites boss turned to the 21-year-old for the final 23 minutes of the game upon replacing Helder Costa, who once again failed to impress. Indeed, speaking after the match, former Leeds striker Noel Whelan insisted that Poveda’s cameo was far more effective than anything that Costa produced on the night.

Whelan told Football Insider: “There is something there that is not right because Poveda came on and did more in that short time than Costa did in the 60 minutes he was on the field.

“He is fourth in the pecking order in terms of wingers for me. Poveda has to come before him now. He is direct, exciting and wants to take people on. He wants to do his job as a winger and Costa does not. He plays it safe and he’s negative. At least Poveda runs at people. He is positive and that is what a winger should do. Costa has been a massive flop. A real disappointment again.”

While a game against Manchester United may seem like a big one to throw him into, it could be the kind of surprise move which catches Ole Gunnar Solskjaer off guard.

Talking about Poveda earlier this campaign, Whelan said: “You can see now when you talk about people changing games and bringing a different dimension, he’s very, very quick, got great feet, very tricky, likes to run at players. Very much like Raphinha as well.

“He just looks a lot stronger this season, body-wise, mentality wise. He looks like he’s there to push people rather than just take up a bench place.”

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The £10,000-a-week ace has plenty of ability and showed in his cameo against Liverpool that he could be a real livewire, executing one key pass and winning three duels.

With Raphinha set to be ruled out, Leeds could get the closest to replacing him by someone who’s “very much like” him in Poveda.

Meanwhile, Leeds have been handed a major boost ahead of their Premier League clash against Man Utd…

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a fresh setback in their bid to bring John Souttar to Ibrox in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, which relayed a claim made by Hearts manager Robbie Neilson stating that it would take a “crazy bid” for his club to part ways with the centre-back this month.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side recently won the race to sign the 25-year-old on a pre-contract deal, beating the likes of Sheffield United and Blackburn to the defender’s signature for a free transfer at the end of the season, although it is reported that Ross Wilson is now weighing up an offer to bring the Scotland international to Glasgow in the current window.

However, in a recent statement, Hearts backed up their manager’s claim that they are firmly against letting Souttar leave Tynecastle in January, with the club announcing: “The club reiterates that John is an important member of the squad and will remain so until the end of the season unless a significant and satisfactory offer is made during the January transfer window.”

Van Bronckhorst will be fuming

Considering just how impressive Souttar has been for Hearts so far this season, in addition to the fact that Van Bronckhorst is currently experiencing issues in the heart of his defence – with Leon Balogun and Filip Helander out injured and Connor Goldson being free to discuss a move away from the club – the news that the Jam Tarts look set to play hardball over sanctioning the 25-year-old’s departure this month with have left the Dutchman fuming.

Indeed, over his 18 Premiership appearances in the current campaign, the £900k-rated defender has been in remarkable form, helping his side to keep five clean sheets, scoring three goals and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 1.1 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

The £3.1k-per-week centre-back has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making 1.5 interceptions, 0.8 tackles, 4.4 clearances and 44.9 passes and winning 71% of his duels per match.

These returns have seen the Scotland defender average an astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.43, not only ranking him as Neilson’s best performer in the league, but also as the fifth-best player in the entire division.

As such, it is clear to see that bringing Souttar to Ibrox this month would undoubtedly provide Rangers’ chances of going on to secure a second Premiership title in two years with a considerable boost.

However, following the latest update from Tynecastle, it would appear as if Wilson has a lot of work to do if he is to get a deal over the line for the 25-year-old in the current window, while missing out on the centre-back in January would certainly come as a blow to Van Bronckhorst and his side.

In other news – Negotiations ongoing: Report delivers huge update on Rangers dud which will delight fans

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Football Daily), journalist Dharmesh Sheth has dropped some news on Declan Rice and his situation at West Ham United.

The Lowdown: Rice refuses new deal offers…

The Telegraph first broke news that Rice had rejected two new deal offers from West Ham and is open to considering moves to interested clubs. with Man City, Man United and Chelsea all linked.

West Ham’s star man is also expected to reject any new attempts to tie him down at the London Stadium and wants to be informed of any new bids this summer.

The Hammers value him at around £100 million but Rice would apparently be disappointed if they dismiss offers in the region of £60m.

The Latest: Sheth drops Rice news live on air…

Speaking to Sky (via FD), Sheth has now shared some news on Rice and Manchester United’s stance on swooping.

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It is believed that West Ham are remaining stubborn when it comes to allowing the 22-year-old to leave this summer and the Red Devils now have zero plans to make a bid.

“I’m told, as it stands, there are no plans to move for Declan Rice in this transfer window,” Sheth explained.

“What’s more, West Ham United simply aren’t for selling in this transfer window, are the noises that we’re getting from West Ham.”

The Verdict: Good news for West Ham?

News of the Red Devils not planning to make a move, as it stands, could come as good news for West Ham given their desire to keep the player.

United are one of the only few clubs who could realistically afford Rice alongside Chelsea and City, with the Premier League giants now seemingly eliminating themselves from the transfer race.

West Ham are set to compete in the Europa League group stages over what will be a more hectic 2021/2022 season, so Moyes will certainly be boosted by this news involving their star player.

In other news: ‘No ambition’, ‘Joke’…West Ham fans erupt as Telegraph news emerges, find out more here.

Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts has exclusively told Football FanCast that the club are likely to appoint a new manager after the season finishes.

Jose Mourinho was sacked last month with Spurs at risk of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League for the second consecutive season.

But Daniel Levy has since missed out on appointing any of his top three targets.

Julian Nagelsmann left Leipzig, only to become the new Bayern Munich boss, Brendon Rodgers confirmed that he’ll be staying at Leicester, whilst Ajax boss Erik ten Hag ended speculation by penning a new contract in the Dutch capital.

Ryan Mason was placed in interim charge for the remaining six Premier League matches and has made a bright start with victories over Southampton and Sheffield United sandwiching the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

The likes of Graham Potter, Scott Parker and Nuno Espirito Santo have also been mentioned as potential replacements for Mourinho, but Roberts doesn’t expect an announcement until the end of the campaign.

He told Football FanCast:

“Ryan Mason has been told he’s got it until the end of the season, so I’m not expecting anything before then. If we win our last four games, you got a chance of the Champions League, but you need to win all four.

“The aim is either to finish in the Champions League or Europa. They threw the last cup final away and have got four more.”

Many Everton fans have been left to fume as a transfer update emerged on Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

As per football journalist and transfer guru Duncan Castles, the Goodison Park faithful are open to selling both players in the summer window if they receive good enough offers.

There are reportedly experts at the Merseyside club that feel as if Calvert-Lewin has reached his peak, and so may take advantage of his current stock being high.

There is no doubt that both players are so important to the Toffees, given that they finished as their top scorers by a long way in the 2020/21 season, with none of their other teammates reaching double figures for goals (Transfermarkt).

In the current climate with the financial impact that the global pandemic has had as well, they would not be easy at all to replace.

Everton fans on transfer update

These Blues supporters fumed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter:

“The club are in a dire state atm, absolutely nothing positive happening”

Credit: @Tom_A72

“Watching them from the outside looks like they are burning from inside the club is a mess”

Credit: @QuayleSam

“Madness if this is true @Everton are falling apart”

Credit: @EFC_Lucy

“The circus continues…”

Credit: @heyeschaz

“RIP Everton FC, 1878-2021”

Credit: @efc_alex18

“We’re gonna turn into Relegation FC”

Credit: @nicknavas4

In other news, find out what other transfer update has EFC fans raging here!

Marcelo Bielsa’s future as Leeds United manager remains up in the air but his replacement will be an ‘external’ one, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Inspirational leader

The 66-year-old has done an incredible job in charge of the Whites, guiding them back into the Premier League after 16 years in the wilderness and being hailed as ‘special’ by Mauricio Pochettino.

Not only that, but Bielsa has clicked with the supporters, coming across as a down-to-earth character and playing some of the best football at Elland Road in many years.

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The Latest: Phil unsure over future

The Argentine only signed a one-year deal in the summer, however, meaning constant question marks surround his long-term future at Leeds.

Responding to questions from fans for The Athletic, Hay admitted it is hard to predict what will happen next, with a decision likely to be made at the end of the season again:

“It would be someone external. Leeds always keep a shortlist because they have to be prepared for the day when the Bielsa era ends, in the same way as you plan for future transfer windows.“Dan O also asked if this will be Bielsa’s final season. There’s honestly no way of answering that. It’ll depend on various things, not least how well this season goes. Because he signs contracts year-to-year, he’s difficult to second guess.”