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Everton have been getting stuck into the transfer window over the last few weeks with five new signings making the move to the blue side of Merseyside, and now the club could be onto their sixth signing according to a reliable source.

What’s the latest?

Journalist and former Everton communications director Alan Myers has revealed that the club are interested in signing Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Myers tweeted:

“Viktor Gyökeres is one of a number of names on Everton’s list as they look to strengthen the attacking options, however, no bid has been made for the Coventry striker.”

It’s a big risk for Lampard

With Richarlison making a swift exit this summer and Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured for six weeks, Frank Lampard is in desperate need of reinforcements he can trust in his front-line over the weeks and months ahead, and signing Gyokeres could be a big risk for the manager.

Despite the Coventry centre-forward scoring 99 goals over his career so far, those have come from the lower tier leagues, with Gyokeres scoring most of his goals (52) at IF Brommapojkarna in the Swedish Superettan league.

Nevertheless, the Swedish striker has been impressing in the Championship over last season and was a constant goal-threat for Coventry scoring 17 goals, delivering five assists and creating seven big chances, so there is a player there who is hungry for goals.

The 24-year-old’s goal-scoring abilities haven’t gone unnoticed by his manager at Coventry City with Mark Robins hailing Gyokeres “unbelievable” in an interview (via Coventry Live):

“He is what you see. He’s not the finished article by any stretch of the imagination but he has some unbelievable ability – power, technique. He has got everything in his locker and that desire and hunger to score goals.”

Lampard will be desperate to find a player that can slot into the important forward role and deliver goals instantly as the Toffees will want to get off to the best start possible following their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the first game of the season.

Replacing Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin’s presence in the forward positions at Goodison Park will be no easy job and Lampard should be looking for players that have Premier League experience to ensure they can compete with their opponents to win as many points as possible.

There is no doubt that Gyokeres has quality and Lampard has the experience to develop the goal machine into the player he needs in the team, but at the same time, he doesn’t have time to mould the striker into a Premier League starter as the position is desperately needing instant influence.

The signing of Gyokeres would be a great piece of business as a future prospect to develop, but that said, Everton must focus their attentions on finding a striker who can offer not only guaranteed goals but has the experience to know what it takes to compete in the top flight. The Swede isn’t that man at the moment and would represent a big risk for the recruitment team.

Recent reports have seen Glasgow Rangers linked with a move for midfielder, Kartal Yilmaz, having already brought his namesake and ex-teammate Ridvan Yilmaz from to Ibrox so far this summer.

That fact has seen journalist Pete O’Rourke suggest that the Old Firm giants could have an “advantage” in the race to land the 21-year-old starlet, with the player potentially set to be available on loan this summer.

The 5 foot 10 man previously enjoyed a temporary stint at Ümraniyespor in Turkey’s second tier last season, helping the club to secure promotion back into the Super Lig after playing a starring role from his defensive midfield berth.

The Besiktas youngster notably chipped in with seven assists and provided one goal from his 30 league outings, while further showcasing his creative flair by registering two key passes per game, with that record in the latter metric significantly better than the likes of Steven Davis (0.9), Glen Kamara (1.3) and Ryan Jack (1.7) from the current Gers squad during the 2021/22 campaign.

The Turkey-born gem has also got off to a strong start in the new season at his parent club – where he has made just ten senior appearances thus far – as he impressed in the recent 1-0 victory over Kayserispor, winning an impressive 100% of his ground duels and recording three interceptions and one tackle from his 77-minute outing.

Should he be snapped up by Giovanni van Bronckhorst and co, those at Ibrox will be hoping he can emulate his compatriot and fellow midfielder, Tugay Kerimoglu, with the now-retired gem having enjoyed a brief, yet impressive stint in Glasgow almost 20 years ago.

While perhaps best remembered for his eye-catching spell at Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, the chain-smoking genius become something of a cult figure during his time in Scotland, earning the acclaim of supporters for his classy touch and flair after joining in January 2000.

Although he lasted just 18 months before being snapped up by former Gers boss Graeme Souness at Ewood Park, the ageing playmaker still played his part in helping the Scottish Premiership side to silverware.

His remarkable talent saw former Blackburn coach Mark Hughes once reveal that the 51-year-old was the “best I’ve managed, best I’ve played against”, such was his impact on British football even in his advancing years.

His affection for the club has clearly remained as it was recently revealed he had been talking to the aforementioned Ridvan Yilmaz about life at Rangers, amid the left-back’s wait to gain a work permit ahead of his now completed deal.

Tugay can potentially work his magic again and persuade Kartal Yilmaz to make the switch before the September deadline, with the hope being that the young midfielder can match the levels of the 94-cap magician.

If the highly-rated prospect’s form of last season is anything to go by, then he clearly has the quality to make a difference both in the final third and defensively.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their interest in Kai Wagner in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Journalist Manuel Veth has claimed that the Whites are keen on a deal to sign the German full-back before the deadline passes next month. 

He has also revealed that other teams are in the race to secure his signature, whilst it has been reported that he could cost around £2.5m.

Veth tweeted:

“Source! Leeds United remain interested in Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner. But the Premier League club are not the only one interested. Benfica and Dinamo Zagreb have also shown interested in the #DOOP star. This is a decisive summer for the 25-year-old German!”

Jesse Marsch’s own Andy Robertson

By striking a deal to sign Wagner, Leeds could land their head coach his own version of the Liverpool full-back, who has proven himself to be an impressive player in the top-flight in recent years as he has caught the eye with his attacking thrust.

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In the last two campaigns combined, the Scottish international has racked up 17 assists for the Reds in the Premier League. He delivered 1.7 and 1.9 key passes per game respectively in the two seasons, which shows that he offers a big creative threat to Jurgen Klopp’s team from left-back. 

The gem ranked in the top three for chances created per game in the Liverpool squad in that time and Wagner could now come in at Leeds and have a similar impact, in terms of his importance to the team when it comes to unlocking the opposition.

In the 2022 MLS campaign, the German has averaged 2.7 key passes per match across 24 outings. This comes after the 1.7 he produced per game in the division throughout 2021. 

Meanwhile, no Leeds player managed more than 1.9 per game last term and Raphinha was the only player with more than 1.2.

The season before that, the Brazilian topped the pile with 2.1 and Jack Harrison was second with 1.6 per match, which means that Wagner – like Robertson for Liverpool – would have placed in the top three in that statistic in both campaigns. 

He was dubbed “fighter” by ex-Philadelphia Union defender Aurelien Collin and hailed as a “very unique” by Union boss Jim Curtin, with the latter describing exactly what he could be for Leeds as his creativity from left-back could offer something different to Marsch’s team.

If he is able to adapt to playing in England then his numbers suggest that he has the potential to provide Robertson levels of chance creation to the team whilst playing at left-back.

Whereas, Junior Firpo created 0.9 chances per match in the Premier League last term, which is why Wagner would be unique for the Whites in that position as he has the ability to unlock doors in the final third.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Valencia forward Maxi Gomez in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that the Magpies are one of a number of teams keen on signing the attacker.

The player is available for a fee in the region of £10m, although it remains to be seen if the Toon will submit an offer or not.

Plettenberg said: “Excl. News Maxi #Gomez: The 26 y/o striker wants to leave Valencia. Gladbach bosses should like the player (next to Beljo), talks took place. But: Price tag around €12m at this stage. Still too expensive for Borussia! Also in: Everton, Newcastle and Fenerbahce.”

Imagine him & Callum Wilson

By striking a deal to bring Gomez to St. James’ Park in the coming weeks, Newcastle could form an exciting competition for the number nine position.

Callum Wilson has been a superb signing for the Magpies since arriving from Bournemouth in 2020 because he has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer.

In just over two Premier League seasons on Tyneside, the England international has started 41 matches and found the back of the net 21 times. This shows he knows how to beat the goalkeeper in the English top-flight and is a terrific option for Eddie Howe when fit.

However, however, he is not always available as he has had trouble with injuries since joining the club, missing 35 games across six injuries in his first two seasons.

His sketchy injury record is why bringing in another number nine to challenge him could be a smart move by the Magpies.

Newcastle could now land strong competition for his place by landing Gomez as the Uraguay international is a proven goalscorer at the top level. He has scored 52 times and set up 21 in 165 appearances in La Liga throughout his career, including 31 strikes in his two campaigns for Celta Vigo in the Spanish top flight.

Spanish football expert Tim Vickery previously tipped him to suit the physicality of English football and said:

“He is fearsomely strong. Opponents almost bounce off him, he is so physically strong. He is known as ‘The Bull’. You look at him and physically, he is a bull. He is a very, very strong, powerful centre-forward with plenty of technical gifts as well.”

This suggests that he would be able to hit the ground running in the Premier League, whilst Newcastle’s interest in him indicates that Howe believes he will suit how the team is going to play this season.

The marksman is also reliable in terms of his availability. He has only missed 19 games through injury since moving to Celta in 2017, compared to Wilson’s 47 in that time, and this means that he could cover for the former Cherries man throughout the campaign.

Now, imagine the pair competing for the number nine position every week, pushing each other to score goals and win vital points for the club.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been left ‘surprised’ by a decision involving Tottenham Hotspur defender Clement Lenglet.

The lowdown: Slow start

Signed on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Lenglet has made a slow start to life in north London having played four minutes in the opening day victory against Southampton.

Following a muscle injury that meant the 27-year-old missed the draw with Chelsea, the France international returned to the bench for the 1-0 win against Wolves last weekend.

Now, one heavily invested onlooker has shared his thoughts on Lenglet’s early stages in N17…

The latest: ‘Surprised’

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Spurs shot-stopper now Sky Sports contributor Robinson admitted he was ‘surprised’ to see the 15-cap ace left out for Davinson Sanchez.

He said: “I was surprised to see Sanchez play against Wolves. I thought Lenglet would get his full debut. I expected him to start.

“Davinson Sanchez does carry an element of risk with the way he defends at times. I was surprised he got the nod.

“You have to say that Sanchez played very well at the weekend though. He had one shaky moment but other than that I thought he was very good.

“You would not hesitate to start him against Nottingham Forest at the weekend if Romero is not ready.”

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The verdict: Time will come

Albeit undoubtedly not the start to his Tottenham career Lenglet would’ve had in mind when agreeing on the switch to Antonio Conte’s side, the Frenchman still has a huge role to play moving forwards.

With domestic cup action fast approaching and the UEFA Champions League group stages as well, Conte will need the entire Lilywhites squad at his disposal in order to compete on all four fronts.

Boasting 317 domestic career outings, the £10.8million valued star’s experience will be invaluable to Tottenham this season and Fabio Paratici’s major coup will likely still prove to be a masterstroke as the campaign wears on, even if Sanchez is preferred in the short-term whilst Cristian Romero is sidelined.

West Ham United could reportedly be set to lose defender Craig Dawson, amid interest from another Premier League club in the Englishman.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the 32-year-old is the subject of interest from Aston Villa, with Steven Gerrard’s side said to have made a move to sign the centre-back before the window slams shut.

The report suggests that the Midlands outfit are keen on bolstering their defensive ranks following the long-term injury to summer signing Diego Carlos, with Villa feeling that they can hand the former Watford man more regular game time were he to jump ship.

The piece goes on to add that while manager David Moyes is reluctant to see the 6 foot 2 brute depart, the player himself is said to be ‘unhappy’ with life at the London Stadium, with just a year remaining on his current deal.

Must avoid disaster

That news has no doubt come as a shock to those of a Hammers persuasion, with the club seemingly unable to afford to lose such a “reliable” asset – in the words of former West Bromwich Albion teammate Ahmed Hegazi – so late in the window.

Although Moyes and co have moved to strengthen their backline this summer with the additions of Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd – which could be the source of Dawson’s unhappiness – there is still undoubtedly a role to play for the £42.5k-per-week titan at the club.

With summer arrival Aguerd currently set for an extended period on the sidelines – and with Issa Diop having made the move to Fulham – the Irons are not currently blessed with a wealth of centre-back options, having been forced to deploy young full-back, Ben Johnson, in that role in the early weeks of the season.

That has coincided with an underwhelming start to the new campaign, with three defeats from four, with the absence of Dawson due to a thigh injury only further rubberstamping his importance to the side.

The Rochdale-born colossus has been in inspired form in recent years since joining the Hammers back in the summer of 2020, notably earning a place in the UEFA Europa League team of the season last term due to his stunning displays in the club’s run to the last four.

The one-time England U21 international also racked up 34 top-flight appearances in the 2021/22 campaign, scoring two goals and providing two assists, while winning an impressive 63% of his total aerial duels – a better record than that of teammate Kurt Zouma (62%).

Something of an unsung hero throughout his career, Dawson is no doubt a figure whose consistent displays can at times go under the radar, although his absence will surely keenly be felt if he is allowed to leave in the coming days.

Moyes must simply hold firm and keep the old-fashioned, no-nonsense gem at the club, with the awarding of a new contract having also potentially been deserved.

Aston Villa are looking to finalise a move for Jan Bednarek before tomorrow’s transfer deadline…

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider and journalist Dean Jones, who delivered an update on their pursuit of the Southampton colossus to GIVEMESPORT.

He said:

“A move for Bednarek is being stepped up, so we’ll soon find out whether that comes through. I think it probably will, to be honest. It’s certainly being worked on right now.

“Is that enough? I’m not totally sure, to be honest with you. Obviously, defensively, it’s just to add depth.”

The Athletic originally reported Villa’s interest in the 26-year-old last week and revealed that talks were at an advanced stage, giving the Midlands outfit the nudge over West Ham United and Leicester City, who were also keen.

Lange masterclass

Steven Gerrard’s need for further defensive reinforcements was increased in recent weeks after his side agonisingly lost summer signing Diego Carlos to a serious injury that is set to rule him out of the remainder of 2022, at the very least.

And sporting director Johan Lange could look to repeat one of his previous masterstrokes after he signed Calum Chambers out of nowhere from Arsenal during the January transfer window.

Bednarek’s proven experience in the Premier League will be of major importance to Villa, having racked up 133 appearances, as they look to fill the void left behind by Carlos and the Poland international would also be able to fill that ball-playing void, too.

So far this season, the 26-year-old has averaged an 85.7% passing accuracy – the second-best in the Saints squad for players with two or more appearances – as well as 2.5 long balls per game.

Only Ezri Konsa has managed better so far for Villa, as per WhoScored.

Bednarek, who has been described as a “firefighter” by his manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and a “monster” by journalist Sam Tighe, has been a solid option compared to other centre-backs across Europe.

The 6 foot 2 titan currently ranks inside the top 4% for interceptions (3.18), the top 4% for non-penalty goals (0.13) and the top 10% for blocks (2.23) per 90, via FBref, so he’ll add defensive intelligence as well as his ball-playing ability in an attempt to replace Carlos temporarily.

Then when you factor in his low £20k-per-week wages, it’s easy to see why Lange would be securing something of a masterstroke once again as the Pole is a very cheap and solid replacement heading into the remainder of the year.

AND in other news, Aston Villa receive late transfer boost over 28 y/o “diamond”…

Leeds United are eyeing a move to sign Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz on a free transfer in 2023, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Brereton Diaz links

The Whites were on the hunt for a new senior centre-forward over the summer, with Brereton Diaz one option heavily linked. As we know, Victor Orta ended up fast-tracking a deal to sign teenager Wilfried Gnonto from FC Zurich on deadline day.

The Leeds chief, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, pushed to bring in Brereton Diaz in the final hours of the summer window even alongside the deal for Gnonto, and it looks as if he is still keen on the Chile international.

The Latest: Leeds interest

The Daily Mail provided an update regarding Brereton Diaz’s future on Tuesday. They claimed that three La Liga sides are planning to scout the forward during the international break ahead of a potential pre-contract agreement in January.

The report also adds that Leeds are ‘admirers and would take him on a free next summer if he doesn’t agree in the new year to join a European club at the end of the season’.

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The Verdict: Unlikely?

Should his situation remain the same at Ewood Park over the coming months, the forward will be able to pen terms in January with a club outside of England over a free transfer next summer. Leeds won’t be able to discuss pre-contract terms, so you could argue that a free move to Elland Road is unlikely, unless the player is willing to wait.

They seemingly still like the forward labelled as a “beast” by former manager Tony Mowbray, but their only chance could be if they cough up a fee in the New Year instead of waiting until the end of the campaign.

Celtic are reportedly now readying a ‘huge’ offer for Ange Postecoglou in the hope that they can tie him down to a new deal.

The Lowdown: Brighton target

It was reported that the Hoops boss was a ‘key target’ for Brighton and Hove Albion after Graham Potter left to join Chelsea, and while they have since appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach, Postecoglou’s name is still in the rumour mill.

Indeed, pundits believe he will become a target for several other Premier League clubs thanks to his excellent start to life at Celtic.

The Latest: ‘Huge’ offer ready

As per Football Insider, the Hoops are now readying a ‘huge’ offer for Postecoglou in the hope that he will sign an improved long-term contract.

They are keen to tie him down after he was targeted by the Seagulls, and want to make it harder and more expensive for any other clubs to try and poach him.

The Verdict: Deserved

A bumper new deal for Postecoglou would be fully deserved, and would help fend off any potential interest from other clubs in the Premier League or abroad.

He is currently averaging 2.21 points per game at Parkhead, the most for any side that he has managed, and of course helped wrestle the Scottish Premiership title back off of the hands of bitter rivals Rangers last season.

The Australian has made a good start to this league campaign as well, sitting two points clear at the top of the table, and could be set for back-to-back titles with the Bhoys.

Everton have been far from smart with money over Farhad Moshiri’s near seven-year reign over the club, with plenty spent and little progress made.

Under Ronald Koeman, it seemed like the Iranian might have got it right from the very start, as the Dutchman managed to steer the Toffees to a 7th-placed finish during the 2016/17 season.

It only seemed right to back him with all of his financial might, and the summer following saw him unload £182.88m on numerous players with seemingly no real game plan in mind.

This resulted in an imbalanced squad, with the additions of Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen the most baffling given their desire to all play the same position.

With the former being something of a returning legend, and the Icelandic star being their record signing, it was the Dutch midfielder who unsurprisingly fell to the wayside.

They still had to fork out a fee of £23.6m for him and handed him a handsome wage of £70k-per-week. Thus, in total, he cost the club £27.6m for just 58 weeks of mediocre service.

He featured just 16 times for the Merseyside club and did not score, recording just one assist. For comparison, the season prior he had captained Ajax to a league title and Europa League Final, scoring 15 goals and assisting ten.

The 29-year-old’s average SofaScore rating for his one and only Premier League season was decidedly underwhelming, recording just a 6.50. He created zero big chances, averaged 0.3 key passes per game as well as managing just 0.3 shots on target per game.

His move to England had nullified his attacking instincts, and he would make the switch away from the club the summer following after Koeman had been sacked. Werder Bremen only had to pay £12m for him, just over £10m less than his asking price a year earlier.

Since returning to Ajax in back in 2020, he has somewhat rediscovered his form of old. Erik ten Hag praised the player he was when first leaving Amsterdam, but also claimed his experiences away will have grown him as a player too.

He noted: “When he left here he was, without discussion, the best player in the Netherlands, then he has been in the Premier League and the Bundesliga. He has incredible experience and he carries it with him.”

Clearly, Everton did not get the full force of this supposed “best player”, and he will be remembered as someone who seemed like a smart buy but ultimately failed; like most of the transfers from that fateful summer.