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Everton reporter for The Athletic, Patrick Boyland, says that Everton are ‘pressing ahead’ with their plans to give Alex Iwobi a new contract.

The Lowdown: Two deals close?

Journalist Paul Joyce reported for The Times that Jordan Pickford is close to signing a new deal at Goodison Park, later adding that there is no relegation clause and that it will run until 2027.

Sean Dyche confirmed the news in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, while he added that Iwobi’s contract situation will be ‘looked at’.

Iwobi reportedly agreed terms on a new deal in December, but the contract has not been officially signed.

The Latest: Everton ‘pressing ahead’ with Iwobi

Taking to Twitter, Boyland has shared that the Merseyside club are ‘pressing ahead’ with their plans to tie Iwobi down too, after agreeing a new contract for Pickford:

“Told Jordan Pickford has agreed new contract with Everton & could formally put pen to paper this week. Credit @_pauljoyce for initial story.

“Club also pressing ahead with plans to secure Alex Iwobi on fresh terms.”

The Verdict: Another big boost

It would be another big boost for the Toffees should Iwobi put pen to paper on a new deal alongside Pickford.

The Nigeria international has played in nearly every single minute of Everton’s Premier League campaign so far this season, and has contributed one goal and seven assists in the division from midfield (Transfermarkt).

That makes him the highest assister in the squad, while he has also averaged more key passes and dribbles per game than any of his team-mates (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, Iwobi has proven himself to be a key player in the team, and so tying him down to a new long-term contract is vital.

Leeds United reportedly have former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl as a contender to replace Jesse Marsch, according to The i’s Mark Douglas.

The Lowdown: Hasenhuttl profiled

Hasenhuttl, once labelled as an “exceptional” manager by Pep Guardiola, is currently out of work after leaving Southampton back in November.

The 55-year-old, previously of RB Leipzig, was in charge of 173 games at St Mary’s, averaging 1.26 points per game. The Austrian likes to play a 4-4-2 double 6 formation, and it seems as if he is of interest to Victor Orta and co.

The Latest: Leeds claim

Douglas shared a story for The i in the last 48 hours following Marsch’s dismissal at Elland Road.

He stated that Hasenhuttl is an early contender to take over in Yorkshire, with reports since stating that the available manager has actually turned down the chance to return to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.

The Verdict: Pros and cons…

Hasenhuttl would bring a wealth of Premier League experience to Leeds, something which could be crucial as the club look to avoid relegation once again.

However, on the flip side, the out-of-work manager struggled towards the end of his time with the Saints, losing six out of nine top-flight fixtures to leave Southampton in the drop zone before he was sacked, showing that a move could still be a gamble.

Therefore, in regards to the long-term project, it may well be wise to look elsewhere, with Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot thought to be contenders for the vacancy at Elland Road after impressing for their respective clubs.

An update has emerged on Everton and who they would like to take over from Frank Lampard at Goodison Park…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has revealed that the Toffees do have an interest, from some members of the club, in bringing a current Premier League head coach to Merseyside.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, the reporter said: “Another name that has been mentioned to me is Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager. I’ve been told that there are people at Everton who are big admirers of Thomas Frank.

“Again, I’m being told that people at the club are not sure whether he would leave Brentford (or) whether he would be happy to go and work at Everton.”

Dream Lampard replacement

The Toffees could land a dream replacement for Lampard if they are able to convince Frank to part ways with Brentford to join the club in the coming days.

He put pen to paper on a new contract with the Bees at the end of December 2022 and this suggests that the 49-year-old is committed to his current team, which means that it could be a difficult task for Farhad Moshiri to bring him to Merseyside.

However, if the Everton chief can pull it off then Frank has the potential to be a superb appointment, as the Danish tactician has proven his quality as a manager at Premier League level.

The former assistant manager to Dean Smith at Brentford led his team to 13th in the English top-flight in their first season in the division, after taking them up via the play-offs in the previous campaign.

This season, the Bees are currently sitting eighth in the table – a whopping 15 points clear of Everton – and have scored 32 goals in the Premier League – 17 more than the Toffees.

His achievements with Brentford show that the 49-year-old knows how to manage a team in the English top-flight and that he could play a big role in getting the club out of the relegation zone, given that the coach has prevented Brentford from being near the drop over the last 18 months.

Frank is also an engaging character who could galvanise the fanbase and the players. Jurgen Klopp previously hailed his “entertaining” press conferences and claimed that the football he deploys is “incredible”, which suggests that the Dane could get Goodison rocking with his personality and his style of play.

Therefore, the Brentford tactician could be a dream replacement for Frank and Everton must do everything in their power to convince him to make the switch, however unlikely it may seem at the moment.

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is the subject of interest from a number of European clubs ahead of a potential exit from Elland Road, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Harrison struggling for goals

The 26-year-old hasn’t always been a key performer for the Whites this season, starting 14 times in the Premier League but arguably flattering to deceive in his performances.

Just one league goal has come Harrison’s way in 16 appearances overall in the current campaign, and that was against Chelsea in August. His influence has arguably diminished with Jesse Marsch at the helm, scoring only five times in 30 appearances under his current boss.

The £50k-per-week Englishman has been linked with a move away from Leeds in recent weeks, and it appears that he has plenty of suitors from the Premier League and abroad.

The Latest: Harrison a wanted man

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs claimed that there is interest in Harrison from several prominent clubs, with an exit from Elland Road perhaps still possible before the end of the month.

The CBS Sports journalist said of the Leeds winger:

“I know that there are clubs who he is still on the radar for. In particular, away from Arsenal, there are even a couple of European teams that are looking as well.

“Atalanta are one of them and I’m also told that Ajax have been keeping tabs on him since the summer.”

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The Verdict: Time to leave in the summer?

Harrison has reached a crossroads in his Leeds career, with his contract expiring next year and a feeling that things may have possibly started to grow a little stale in recent months.

His goalscoring record this season is a testament to that, with younger attacking team-mate Crysencio Summerville emerging to score four top-flight goals already in 2022/23.

At this point, Leeds could still earn a hefty sum from selling Harrison, so parting with him during the summer transfer window feels like the most logical option. A January exit would make little sense, weakening Marsch’s squad depth at a crucial point in the campaign when the manager has already had to deal with a plethora of injuries.

The winger had been hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by Conor McGilligan earlier in the season, having scored 29 times for the Whites, but Harrison might feel that a change is needed if he is to reinvigorate himself.

Everton host Brighton in the Premier League this evening and if Frank Lampard wants to keep his job at Goodison Park, he must consider unleashing Dwight McNeil from the start.

The Toffees picked up a morale-boosting point against Manchester City in their last fixture but were set up extremely defensively at the Etihad, and Lampard must surely revert back to a more attacking formation when the Seagulls come to Merseyside on Tuesday evening.

If a defender is sacrificed and Lampard returns to a four-at-the-back formation, then he should consider reintroducing McNeil, who can provide some flair and quality in the final third, as his side look to take three points against an impressive Brighton outfit.

The young winger arrived from Burnley in the summer and was much maligned after managing no goals and just one assist in 38 appearances for the Clarets, as they were relegated to the Championship.

However, he already has two goals and one assist to his name in the Premier League this season, which makes the 23-year-old Everton’s joint-second top scorer, while only Alex Iwobi has contributed to more goals overall.

The former Burnley man also ranks fourth for key passes and dribbles per game, despite many of his appearances this season coming from the bench, which emphasises the threat he can add to Everton’s attack.

Lampard has led Everton to just two points from their last five Premier League fixtures and three points are a must against Brighton, or it is only a matter of time before they find themselves in the relegation places in the top flight, so it is no surprise that he is once again under serious pressure.

Although the point at City was a remarkable one, only a wonder goal from Demarai Gray prevented another loss and the Toffees will need to create far more chances against Roberto De Zerbi’s side on Tuesday if they want to win the game.

Therefore, he will need another attacking option on the pitch and after some impressive performances from McNeil so far this season, it is time he was handed more minutes from the start.

Joe Cole and Peter Crouch were full of praise for the Englishman on BT Sport when he impressed against Liverpool in 2021.

Crouch said: “I didn’t realise how good he was. He looked fitter, stronger faster in some way. He’s a wonderful footballer.”

Cole added: “Without sounding to give him a big up, he reminds me of Di Maria.”

Considering the Argentine’s sensational performance in the World Cup final recently, where he scored one of all the important goals, Everton could definitely use a player like Di Maria for the rest of the season.

Thus, if Lampard is to have any hope of keeping himself in the job, he must hand McNeil a start in the hope that he can be the difference maker this evening.

Arsenal have now made contact with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic ahead of a potential January transfer swoop.

The Lowdown: Arsenal target striker

In light of Gabriel Jesus needing to undergo surgery for a knee injury sustained in Brazil’s World Cup game with Cameroon, Mikel Arteta has identified the need for a new striker to keep them in the hunt for the Premier League title.

CBS Reporter Ben Jacobs recently announced that there is a ‘very real possibility’ that Vlahovic could make a January exit from Juventus, and the Gunners now appear to be potential suitors for the man that they were interested in last January.

The Latest: Contact made

According to Tuttosport, via Football London, Edu and the Gunners have contacted the forward’s representatives, targeting a move in January due to the nature of Jesus’ injury.

Amid Juventus’ financial uncertainty, talks have apparently been ongoing throughout the World Cup, with the Serie A side bracing to lose some of their star players.

The Verdict: Get it done

Journalist Siavoush Fallahi has previously hailed the Serbia international as a ‘beast’, and this is highlighted with a very good scoring record in what is only a short career so far, netting 68 goals in 171 senior club games, while also bagging 11 assists in the process.

The 22-year-old is a live-wire in the opposition box, always looking to test the opposition goalkeeper, registering 3.44 shots per 90 minutes over the past year, placing him in the 89th percentile compared to his positional peers.

While Arteta will obviously be frustrated to lose Jesus, the injury could prove to be a blessing in disguise on a more long-term basis, as he may not have opted to move for a new striker otherwise.

Now he could be blessed with healthy competition for the starting striker pot, by signing a fantastic player who still has his best years ahead of him.

New Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale will be a respected figure because of his ‘forthright’ approach, according to The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell.

The Lowdown: Beale named as new Rangers boss

The Premiership giants may not be playing at the moment because of the ongoing World Cup in Qatar, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been a busy period at Ibrox.

Beale was named as Rangers’ new manager at the beginning of the week as he looks to pick up the pieces left by the departure of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The 42-year-old may not be a huge name in management as of yet but he impressed as Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Ibrox previously and did well enough at QPR to convince the Gers’ hierarchy that he is now ready for the managerial gig.

The Latest: Campbell talks up Beale

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for The Athletic, Campbell talked up Beale as a manager, praising his approach in the process.

The journalist tweeted:

“Does he have the presence of a Gerrard? Who does? But the question of leadership and aura is relevant at Rangers. Players and colleagues I’ve spoken to say he wasn’t shy in voicing his opinion as a coach and neither was he afraid to be forthright.”

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The Verdict: Very exciting

Beale feels like an exciting appointment – someone who could give Rangers the push in the right direction that they need and bring a youthful managerial approach.

It would have been easy for the club to appoint someone more renowned or experienced, but the job he did alongside Gerrard has clearly been a key factor, with the Liverpool legend saying that ‘would take me 15 to 20 years’ to reach his level as a coach.

It seems apparent that Beale has the respect of the players and coaching staff wherever he has been, and if he can turn things around at Ibrox and get the Gers playing eye-catching football while winning in the process, he could become a hero to the Light Blues faithful in next to no time.

Liverpool come into their match with Tottenham Hotspur today fearful that yet another defeat in the Premier League could take them firmly into the division’s midfield.

They are eighth at the moment and their hopes of securing European football next term are dwindling. Jurgen Klopp’s men haven’t won their last two domestic matches, with the concession of goals a real problem.

Indeed, the Reds have shipped 15 times, with the vast majority of those coming early in matches too.

Spurs showed against Marseille in midweek that they aren’t always too willing to be expansive in big games, so perhaps that could play to Klopp’s advantage.

However, they will have to take on Antonio Conte’s side without the injured James Milner, someone who has enjoyed a renaissance period at the top level this term. He shone at right back against Manchester City in that surprise win and has even played in midfield again throughout 2022/23.

It is perhaps damning of Liverpool’s midfield depth, though, with injuries running rife throughout that particular area of the squad.

One player who has benefitted from this is Harvey Elliott, with the teenager perhaps staking a late claim to be in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.

England are hardly swamped with options in that area of the pitch either, with Elliott’s Liverpool teammate, Jordan Henderson, struggling for fitness this term and Kalvin Phillips only set to return from a spell on the sidelines in the forthcoming week.

A good performance against Tottenham, therefore, could put him firmly in Southgate’s crosshairs.

The 19-year-old is a wonderful technician and has shown as much this term, with the midfielder scoring twice in the Champions League.

Although he has contributed to just a solitary goal in the Premier League this term, it is surely only a matter of time before the youngster finds the net more often.

He has bounced back tremendously from a horrendous injury at the start of last season to become a key figure in this Liverpool team.

Fascinatingly, he ranks in the top 9% of players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions per 90 while he’s also in the best 13% for progressive passes. That shows just how creative Elliott is, with his eye for a pass and ability to pick up spaces in dangerous areas something that sets him apart from other options Klopp has.

Indeed, the very fact he ranks in the top 13% as well for progressive passes received shows how well he can pick up those pockets of space between the lines.

However, it’s not a flashy number 10 that he’s been mentioned in the same breath as, with Andy Brassell comparing him to David Beckham when he first arrived at Real Madrid.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the European football expert once said: “The fact that Harvey Elliott stands out now, of course it’s a lot to do with his excellent form, but it’s also because he reminds me of David Beckham playing in the midfield of the melted Galacticos in 2003/04.

“He’s just so much faster than everyone else. Beckham was like a flying ant in a forest of sloths really.

“Not knocking the quality of the players around him, but no one did anywhere near as much running as him in that season.”The term ‘flying ant’ could easily be applied to Elliott, who has been running the show in the middle of the park, acting as a fresh pair of legs compared to his elder colleagues.Indeed, Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Milner and Fabinho are all 29 and above, demonstrating that the young England hopeful is very much the future of Liverpool’s midfield.With that in mind, the club’s German tactician must continue to turn to the former Fulham man, with his very own ‘flying ant in a forest of sloths’ possessing the tools to unlock Liverpool on Sunday evening.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their pursuit of Yuki Kobayashi ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Hoops have now agreed personal terms with the central defender ahead of signing him at the start of 2023.

The report claims that the club are now preparing to finalise an agreement as they close in on a free transfer, with Kobayashi’s contract at Vissel Kobe expiring at the end of January.

It is stated that Ange Postecoglou wants to sign a centre-back with the potential to develop and improve over time and has identified the Japanese enforcer as a target.

Imagine him and Carter-Vickers

The Hoops do have the option to sign Moritz Jenz on a permanent basis but there is no guarantee that the club go through with that or that the player will agree to it next summer.

This means that Kobayashi could be thrust into the spotlight next season if he does enough to catch the eye in the second half of the current campaign.

Now, imagine him and Cameron Carter-Vickers, who Jan Vertonghen once dubbed an “absolute beast”, lining up at centre-back for Celtic. It could be the catalyst to forming a remarkable and beast-like partnership at the back.

Indeed, this pairing could provide a perfect balance in possession for Postecoglou as the Kobe defender is naturally left-footed and could open up angles down the left channel, instead of having another right-footed defender next to the former Tottenham man.

Japanese-based journalist Dan Orlowitz praised Kobayashi’s ability on the ball, as he told the Celts Are Here podcast, via the Daily Express: “He potentially brings a lot of what Ange Postecoglou is looking for in terms of contributing to the build-up. He is not necessarily a shot-taker, but he can force turnovers, set up passes and move the ball forward.

“He’s got very good tactical awareness. He’s not the kind of player who will rush into a tackle.”

The same reporter shared a thread about the defender recently and it showed that he is above average in his defensive duels by J-League standards, whilst also pointing out that he is improving in his offensive passing – something that is said to suit what Postecoglou is looking for.

This suggests that he would be an ideal partner for Carter-Vickers as the Japanese defender, who has won 68% of his individual battles in 2022, can play an important role in build-up play on his left foot.

Kobayashi, who Sacha Pisani claims has “room to grow”, also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve at the age of 22, which means that he fits in with what the head coach wants as he has the potential to get better.

Therefore, he could be a terrific signing and Postecoglou should be delighted with the club’s work to agree terms with the centre-back ahead of the January window.

Southampton have suffered in the early stages of this Premier League campaign, and despite having impressed throughout his tenure at times, their loss to Everton might be the final nail in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s coffin. Following the defeat, a reliable source has offered an update on his future.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail, the Austrian is in serious danger of losing his job following three straight defeats.

Martin Semmens and the hierarchy at the club seem to already have plans in place, with Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper under consideration to replace him.

With the Tricky Trees boss also on thin ice, it could represent something of a managerial switch-up should they both lose their jobs after their next games.

He’s a dream Hasenhuttl heir

Although many might question the decision to bin off Hasenhuttl, having won just twice this season, his Saints side sit within a point of the relegation zone.

It has hardly been a sensational campaign, and despite what seemed like a fine summer transfer window, their lack of experience on the pitch is starting to show in their performances.

To replace him with Cooper could mark a fresh start for both club and manager, with the 42-year-old having earned plaudits for finally leading Forest back to the Premier League last season after their 23-year wait. It was a feat that Jurgen Klopp described as “crazy”.

He would bring in a pragmatic style that might suit this Saints side more, solidifying them whilst allowing their more technical players to thrive on the break.

One thing that will certainly impress those selecting the new boss is Cooper’s well-known ability to work with youth.

Having started his career as a part of Wrexham’s coaching staff, he was soon promoted to manager of Liverpool’s academy before moving on to the England U16s and then the U17s, where he triumphed at the World Cup.

With Southampton having the second youngest average age squad in the league, at just 24.1, this does seem like a match made in heaven.

It is hard to see Hasenhuttl surviving much longer given their poor form, and with Cooper seemingly set to become an option for his replacement, it might force their hand even sooner.