All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur may end up waving goodbye to another fan-favourite star before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

At the start of June, The Telegraph reported that club captain Heung-min Son could move on from London after leading the team to the Europa League trophy this season.

The outlet claimed that the South Korea international could be sold by Spurs in order to generate funds to bolster the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, amid interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League.

Son has racked up an eye-catching haul of 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 appearances in all competitions for the club since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.

The experienced forward’s departure this summer would mean that all three of Mauricio Pochettino’s iconic attacking line-up will have moved on, following Dele Alli and Harry Kane’s exits from the club in recent years.

All three stars were key players for the former Spurs head coach at the top end of the pitch, and Alli’s contributions should not be overlooked.

Why Dele Alli was a star for Spurs

The London-based club reportedly splashed out a fee of £5m to sign the attacking midfielder from League One outfit MK Dons in 2015, and Pochettino brought him into the first-team squad for the 2015/16 campaign.

Alli hit the ground running in the Premier League, bypassing the Championship, with a return of ten goals and eight assists in 33 top-flight games in his first season with Spurs.

The England international went on to plunder 67 goals and 59 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham before his move away from the club in 2022.

These statistics show that the former MK Dons talent provided plenty of quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Spurs during his time in London, whilst he also offered Pochettino a lot of flexibility in the way that he could be deployed within the starting line-up.

As you can see in the table above, Alli was deployed in several different positions for Tottenham, mainly playing as a central or attacking midfielder, or off the left flank.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who now plays for Como in Italy, was a star for Spurs due to both the quality he provided at the top end of the pitch and the versatility he offered the manager.

Spurs may now be about to unearth their next version of Alli, who was a key member of the attack that included Son and Kane under Pochettino, as they are expected to sign a Premier League star.

Spurs expected to sign Premier League midfielder

West Ham United outlet HammersNews reports that the Premier League side expect Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jacob Ramsey to sign for Tottenham this summer.

The Hammers are interested in a deal to sign the former England U21 international to bolster their own squad this summer, but the club believe that the 24-year-old talent is on his way to another team in London.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Speaking to HammersNews, the ‘top spokesman’ for the West Ham owners said: “I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs.”

Spurs were recently linked with an interest in the Villans starlet, who could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, and this latest update suggests that they are set to win the race for his signature.

Earlier this year, The Boot Room reported that Manchester City are also interested in the attacking midfielder, who is valued at a fee of around £50m by Aston Villa.

However, it remains to be seen exactly how much Spurs will end up paying for the English talent if they do end up signing him, as West Ham expect.

Why Spurs should sign Jacob Ramsey

The Lilywhites should push ahead with a deal to sign the 24-year-old star in the coming weeks because he could arrive at the club as Thomas Frank’s own version of Dele Alli.

Ramsey may not seem like an obvious signing for Spurs, given that he has only scored two Premier League goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but his form in the past for Villa suggests that there is a quality player who could be unearthed.

The Villans maestro’s performances in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns suggest that he has the potential to develop into a top performer for Tottenham if Frank can get the best out of him.

Ramsey, who was once dubbed “sensational” by Seb Stafford-Bloor, plundered 12 goals and eight assists in those two seasons, and was particularly impressive in front of goal in the 2022/23 campaign, with six goals and seven assists to his name that term.

As you can see in the table above, the English star caught the eye as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Villans, ranking highly among midfielders in the Premier League in several key attacking metrics.

Like Alli, Ramsey’s top three most played positions are central midfield, attacking midfield, and left midfield, which means that he can offer Frank the same positional flexibility that the former Spurs star did for Pochettino, as a playmaker who can play centrally or come in off the left.

His form in the 2022/23 season also suggests that he has the potential to provide an impressive threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from those three positions, which is exactly what Alli did throughout his time in North London.

Therefore, Frank could unearth his own version of the former England international by securing a deal for Ramsey, before helping him to get back to the kind of form he displayed at the start of his Villa career.

A bigger talent than Eze: Spurs make enquiry for "sensational" £40m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another Premier League talent.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 28, 2025

An exciting transfer update has emerged regarding Liverpool’s quest to build a squad capable of retaining their Premier League crown, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool closing in on stunning Wirtz move

The Reds appear to be edging closer to completing the most exciting signing of the summer in England, with Florian Wirtz on the verge of joining from Bayer Leverkusen.

He is expected to smash Liverpool’s transfer record, with a move of £116m mooted, in what could be among the club’s most significant signings of the past decade or so.

Wirtz has been voted as the best player in the Bundesliga in each of the past two seasons by his peers, highlighting his brilliance, and Reds supporters will be hoping that he can enjoy the same level of world-class influence that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have at Anfield.

Once the German superstar is confirmed as a Liverpool player, it will be time for the Reds to turn their attention to other targets.

Romano: Liverpool "on fire" with Kerkez set to join

Speaking on TikTok late on Sunday evening, Romano confirmed Wirtz will join the club once he finishes his holidays and completes a medical, but he also had news on Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez, revealing the Reds are “on fire”.

At this point, it would be a huge surprise if the Reds didn’t bring in Kerkez this summer, with the Hungarian at the top of their list for a long time now, and it’s not hard to see why.

The Bournemouth man, on just £30,000-a-week on the south coast, already looks like such a polished footballer, despite his tender years, and the energy and competitive edge in his game have echoes of a young Andy Robertson, with former teammate Mat Ryan once heaping praise on him.

“Milos is a great boy. A crazy dude, in a good way. He is always positive and smiling. Hopefully he can develop even further in England and become even more mature. He is aggressive, powerful and has so many qualities. A unique skill set. Bournemouth is going to get stronger because of him. Milos still has a great career ahead of him.”

Liverpool could easily get close to a decade of great service from Kerkez, assuming he avoids serious injury, and regardless of whether Robertson stays or not this summer, the Cherries ace must be considered the Reds’ first-choice left-back.

After failing to negotiate a new contract with Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton watched on as the Frenchman departed and are now reportedly eyeing his potential replacement in a £25m deal.

Everton must replace Doucoure this summer

For all his experience and important moments to match, Everton failed to offer Doucoure a new deal in Merseyside in a decision that they’ll be desperate not to regret this time next season. The veteran midfielder spent five years at the club in a spell full of ups and downs, from being dropped by Frank Lampard to thriving under Sean Dyche and David Moyes.

Doucoure was the man who scored the goal to keep Everton afloat in the 2022/23 campaign and he was the man who battled Curtis Jones in what proved to be his final-ever Merseyside derby. A Frenchman turned scouse, there is no denying that replacing his influence will not be a simple task for the Toffees this summer.

Saying goodbye to the fans, Doucoure said at the end of last season: “Hi Evertonians – just wanted to share this message with you that I’m going to leave the football club at the end of the season.

“After five wonderful years, my time at Everton came to an end. Everton means a lot for me. Obviously the past five years it’s been hard but I will always remember my time as a dream for me, to play for Everton Football Club.”

Everton fighting Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland for free agent signing

The Toffees are lining up a bargain transfer…

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 11, 2025

It’s a decision that Everton must now justify by signing a younger, improved model this summer and, to their credit, they could do exactly that by welcoming one particular midfield star.

Everton eyeing £25m Yarmolyuk deal

As reported by Caught Offside, Everton are now eyeing a summer swoop to sign Yegor Yarmolyuk from Brentford, who value their young midfielder at just €30m (£25m).

The 21-year-old is represented by the same agent as Everton left-back Vitalii Mykolenko and could now join his countryman in Merseyside to hand Moyes his Doucoure replacement. Joining Everton in pursuit of his signature, however, are Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

More robust than Doucoure whilst also outperforming the Frenchman when progressing play last season, there’s even an argument to be made that Yarmolyuk would be an upgrade on the former Everton man rather than just a replacement.

At just 21 years old, the Ukraine-born midfielder has already found himself at the centre of praise and that includes from Ben Mattinson. The analyst dubbed the Brentford star “underrated” and “physical” back in January and could now watch on as he swaps West London for Merseyside.

In a deal that would reportedly cost around £25m, the Toffees could commence their summer business with an absolute bargain whilst instantly replacing Doucoure in the process.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin knows that he has an incredibly difficult job ahead of him, as the club have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the last four seasons.

The Light Blues also failed to win any trophies in the 2024/25 campaign under Philippe Clement or Barry Ferguson, which means that the former Scotland international is tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox.

Martin may have to do that whilst dealing with some of his key players moving on from the club, though, as multiple stars have been linked with exits from Glasgow.

Both Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande are reportedly being eyed up by teams in England this summer, which puts them at risk of being sold in the coming months.

This means that Martin could need to bring in new midfielders to lead the team forward, if Raskin and Diomande move on this summer, and the domestic market could be the way to go, as it has produced some terrific signings, such as Glen Kamara.

Rangers hit the jackpot with Glen Kamara

The Light Blues swooped to sign the central midfielder for £50k at the start of 2019, before his contract at Dundee expired that summer, in what turned out to be a bargain move by the club.

In fact, the £50k that the Scottish giants paid for the Finland international was later described as the “steal of the century” by former Rangers midfielder and Kamara’s teammate Scott Arfield.

The Gers hit the jackpot with the midfield maestro because they snapped him up from a Premiership team and he hit the ground running as a player who did not need time to adapt to the league.

Kamara went on to play 193 times in all competitions for the Scottish giants, winning the Premiership in the 2020/21 campaign, and his value soared during his time at Ibrox.

As you can see in the table above, his value had risen from £50k to £5m by the time he left to join Leeds in the summer of 2023, which shows that the Gers hit the jackpot with the Finnish star.

New Rangers boss Russell Martin could, now, land his own version of Kamara amid reported interest in a midfielder from another Premiership side.

Rangers eyeing deal for Premiership midfielder

According to SportsBoom, Rangers have ‘quietly explored’ what it would take to secure a deal to sign Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Celtic and the Gers are both keen on snapping up the Scotland international to bolster their options in the middleof the park ahead of next season.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds, however, that Premier League side Sunderland are preparing an offer of £10m to sign the 18-year-old talent, after they sold Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund this week.

The outlet claims that Celtic and Rangers have both been watching the teenage Premiership starlet, but the Black Cats are quietly confident that they can get a deal done for the Motherwell talent.

Martin and Kevin Thelwell must work hard to convince Miller to remain in Scotland and make the move to Ibrox, over joining Sunderland, as he could be the new manager’s own Kamara signing.

Why Lennon Miller could be Russell Martin's own Glen Kamara

The teenage talent would come in as a similar signing to Kamara as a player who has already proven himself as a central midfielder in the Premiership.

He has already racked up 76 first-team appearances for Motherwell by the age of 18 and showcased his quality on a regular basis in the top-flight, even producing an exceptional assist against Celtic in the clip below.

This means that the 18-year-old star could come in to hit the ground running at Ibrox, given his knowledge of the league, which was also the case for Kamara after he joined from Dundee.

Miller, who has been hailed as “ridiculous” by James McFadden, is also similar to the Finland international when it comes to the strength and athleticism that he provides out of possession.

Kamara won 59% of his duels and made 6.09 ball recoveries per 90 in the 2020/21 title-winning season, which shows that he was strong off the ball, and Miller displayed similar qualities in the 2024/25 campaign for his current club.

As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international ranked incredibly highly among midfielders in the division in a host of key defensive metrics, including his duel success rate and ball recoveries per 90.

Like Kamara, Miller is a central midfielder who puts him about the park to win possession back for his side on a regular basis, but the Scottish ace also has the quality to provide goals and assists.

The £10m-rated dynamo ended the season with two goals, 12 ‘big chances’ created, and eight assists in the Premiership, whilst Kamara never managed more than four assists in a single league season.

This suggests that Miller could bring the physicality that the Finnish ace brought to Ibrox, but with more quality in possession in the final third to make an impact in front of goal.

Big Danilo upgrade: Martin lines up Rangers move to sign "complete" striker

Russell Martin is eyeing up a Rangers move for a striker who would be a big upgrade on Danilo.

1

By
Dan Emery

Jun 9, 2025

Therefore, Martin could land his own version of Kamara, but with the potential to be even better due to his ability on the ball, by winning the race to land the Premiership starlet this summer.

Fulham are now ready to make a move for an “incredible” manager, should Marco Silva decide to leave this summer, according to a report.

Silva's future at Craven Cottage still in doubt

Having been at Craven Cottage since 2021, Silva is now among the longest-serving Premier League managers, behind only Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta, but there have been suggestions his time in west London could now be coming to an end.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham Hotspur persist with Ange Postecoglou after their Europa League triumph, but should they part ways with the Australian, the Cottagers boss could be among the main candidates to be brought in as a replacement.

In the same report, it is revealed the 47-year-old coach could also be tempted by a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with several clubs ready to offer him mega money to leave the Premier League despite his insistence this weekend that he will stay put.

Agent says Fulham have submitted "very important" bid for 24 y/o goalkeeper

Could the Cottagers be bolstering a key area of the pitch?

By
Henry Jackson

May 12, 2025

As such, Fulham have now started to identify potential replacements for the Portuguese manager just in case, and a report from The Sun states they are now ready to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira.

Indeed, should Silva decide to move on, the Cottagers will look to raid their Premier League rivals for Pereira, who enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in England, leading the Old Gold to safety after replacing Gary O’Neil in the dugout.

The Portuguese coach is the number one choice to replace his compatriot, having been identified as an ideal fit, and there is a feeling the west Londoners could offer him a more lucrative financial package and a better long-term plan than he currently has at Molineux.

Pereira could be "incredible" Silva heir

The Wolves boss had a tough job on his hands after replacing O’Neil, but Wolves ultimately managed to avoid relegation with ease, at one point winning six matches on the spin from March until the end of April.

In light of the job the 56-year-old has done at Molineux, he has also received high praise from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, who said: “He really has done an incredible job, the whole atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch,”

“He’s given everyone belief and confidence, made them more solid at the back. All over the park, they’re better, so he’s done a great job.”

The feel-good factor off the pitch is perhaps best showcased by the fact the former FC Porto boss has even been known to go to the pub for a pint with Wolves fans after matches.

Having also been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award, there are plenty of signs that Pereira could be a great replacement for Silva, but Fulham will ultimately be hoping their manager stays, having stabilised them as a top-flight club.

Everton have now made an offer to sign a “highly talented” defender, whose club are now willing to cash-in this summer, according to a report.

Toffees eyeing defenders with Keane departure imminent

Michael Keane’s time on Merseyside is coming to an end, with the 32-year-old set to leave Goodison Park upon the expiration of his contract this summer, meaning David Moyes will be tasked with bringing in a new centre-back.

There is no shortage of options for the Toffees, who have wasted no time identiying potential replacements for the English defender, with Nantes’ Nathan Zeze the latest player to join the list of targets.

The need to bring in a new centre-back could also be exacerbated by Jarrad Branthwaite’s potential departure, with Chelsea now keen on taking the Englishman to Stamford Bridge.

One defender who will not be leaving the Blues this summer is Seamus Coleman, with the Irishman’s contract recently being extended by one year, but there have been suggestions that a new right-back could arrive at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Coventry City’s Milan van Ewijk emerged as a potential option for Moyes’ side earlier this week, and a report from Turkey (via Sport Witness) has revealed that Everton have also made an offer for Galatasaray right-back Elias Jelert.

Galatasaray are looking to cash-in on Jelert this summer, amid interest from a range of different clubs, with some unnamed Spanish sides coming forward with proposals of their own.

A deal is likely to be relatively inexpensive, with the Turkish side looking to recoup the €9m (£8m) they spent on the right-back, but a loan deal also remains a possibility, given their eagerness to get him off the books.

Jelert struggling in Turkey despite being "highly talented"

It is clear that Everton need to start thinking about long-term replacements for Coleman, given that the captain is now 36-years-old, and there are some signs the Galatasaray defender could be a suitable option.

The Dane was lauded as “highly talented” by analyst Jacek Kulig during his time with FC Copenhagen, during which time the 21-year-old racked up a great deal of first-team experience at a young age, making 97 appearances for the club.

The next Richarlison: Everton join race to sign "extraordinary" £30m CF

David Moyes is hoping to sign a new striker at Everton this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 20, 2025

However, it would be fair to say the move to Galatasaray hasn’t worked out for the youngster, who has made just a handful of starts for the Turkish champions this season, which suggests he isn’t at the level to make the step-up to the Premier League.

As such, despite the fact Jelert could be available on the cheap, it would be a risk to bring in the Denmark international this summer, and it may be wise for Everton to sign a player who is proven in a major European league.

Newcastle United have now submitted a significant bid for an “incredible” player, with Eddie Howe of the belief he would be a perfect fit in his midfield, according to a report.

Newcastle pushing for the Champions League

Regardless of whether Newcastle secure Champions League football, the 2024-25 season will always be remembered fondly by fans, having finally ended their 70-year wait to win a major honour, but they still remain in a strong position to seal a top-five finish.

The Magpies are sitting pretty in fourth place, two points clear of Nottingham Forest with just three Premier League games left to play, although their remaining fixtures are on the more difficult side, with matches against two direct rivals now on the horizon.

It could prove to be a difficult task, but should Howe’s side qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they should be able to attract some top players in the summer, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo believed to be of interest.

According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are also interested in a new midfielder, having submitted a €25m (£21m) bid for Girona maestro Yangel Herrera, who they are now determined to win the race for.

Atletico Madrid and top-five rivals Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing Herrera this summer, but the Magpies have now taken a firm step towards securing his signature, having put a strong offer on the table.

Howe believes the Venezuelan would fit perfectly into his side, and the manager is looking to introduce some additional quality into an already impressive midfield, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali attracting interest due to their performances this season.

Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target

The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.

By
Dominic Lund

May 6, 2025

Herrera could be "incredible" signing for Newcastle

While Howe is not short on top-quality midfield options, there are clear signs the 27-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, who could play an important role for the Magpies in a potential Champions League campaign next season.

The central midfielder has caught the eye in front of goal for Girona this term, registering four goals and three assists in La Liga, including a well-taken headed effort against Celta Vigo back in September.

Not only that, but the former New York City FC man impressed with his tackling ability in the early stages of his career, while also catching the eye due to his pass-success rate in the final third during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lauded as an “incredible player” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are plenty of signs that Herrera could be a success at a major European club, so it is a promising development that Newcastle have now made a concrete approach.

Chelsea are now ready to launch a £51m offer for an “unplayable” Premier League forward, according to a report.

Blues looking to bolster attacking options

Enzo Maresca will be pleased that Cole Palmer managed to get back among the goals on Sunday afternoon, with the attacking midfielder ending his drought and bagging his 15th Premier League goal of the season.

However, the manager may feel he is a little short on top-quality attacking options, given that Nicolas Jackson has scored just 10 league goals, and signing a new striker is on the agenda in the summer transfer window.

The Blues have now stepped up their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, making an approach to sign the England international, while they are also in the race for the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap and Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha.

Sky Sports: £195k-a-week star Maresca loves has "decided to leave Chelsea"

He’s struggled to establish a starting place…

By
Tom Cunningham

May 5, 2025

Delap is an intriguing option, having outscored Jackson despite playing for already-relegated Ipswich, but an even more prolific striker is now in the west Londoners’ sights.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now ready to launch a €60m (£51m) offer for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has caught the eye of Stamford Bridge chiefs with his impressive performances in the Premier League this season.

There is a belief that Mbeumo would be an ideal fit in Maresca’s frontline, having already proven himself in the Premier League, and the Blues are willing to spend big to ensure they win the race for his signature.

It is unclear whether Brentford would be willing to accept an offer in that region, but negotiations could accelerate over the next few weeks, and it is looking increasingly likely that a move across the capital could be on the cards.

"Unplayable" Mbeumo could be upgrade on Jackson

Jackson has spent time on the treatment table this season, but a return of just 10 goals is still below par, so it is no surprise the Blues are looking to bring in an upgrade this summer, and there are plenty of indications the Brentford star could fit the bill.

The France-born forward has been prolific in front of goal this season, picking up 18 goals and six assists, and his performances have impressed manager Thomas Frank, who lauded the forward as “unplayable” back in December.

The Cameroonian, who has 6 goals in 22 caps for his nation, has predominantly featured at right-wing for the Bees, but he has featured through the middle on a number of occasions, scoring while playing at striker in his side’s 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge back in December.

Regardless of whether Mbeumo is brought in to play out wide or as a centre-forward, there is every indication that he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, and a fee of around £51m seems reasonable, given that he is only 25-years-old.

Manchester United are still yet to determine their fate ahead of next season, but may now have a surprise proposal to consider at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim, per reports.

Man Utd's transfer business hinges on Europa League outcome

Nerves are slowly starting to kick in as the Red Devils prepare for their two-legged Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club, a competition that remains their only viable route to Champions League qualification.

Ruben Amorim wasn’t dealt the best hand at Old Trafford after replacing Erik ten Hag and will be given an extended grace period to piece together a squad of his own making. Still, Manchester United have hardly been convincing on Premier League duty.

Ultimately, the importance of the Portuguese boss bringing Europa League silverware back to English shores cannot be understated, especially considering the finances involved.

As a reward for such an achievement, Manchester United could launch a significant bid to sign Southampton’s Tyler Dibling to offer a new dimension between midfield and attack.

However, without the £85.8 million prize pot on offer for winning the Europa League and subsequently qualifying for the Champions League, there may be limited scope for big-money deals to take place.

6 players Manchester United should sign this summer

United are in need of a revamp in the summer.

2

By
Barney Lane

Feb 4, 2025

Taking PSR regulations into account, selling one or two star assets could be a scenario the Red Devils will have to consider to ensure their books remain in check.

Manchester United could sell Rasmus Hojlund to kickstart a chain of movement in both directions, though he is unlikely to be the only one at risk of being let go to breathe new life into the club.

Now, Amorim may have another proposal to consider once the summer window opens for business, per recent developments.

Andre Onana in major talks to leave Man Utd for Saudi Arabia

According to Foot Mercato, Saudi club Neom SC have started major discussions over a move for Andre Onana and the Cameroon international is open to leaving Old Trafford for a new challenge in the Gulf region.

Earning over £6 million a year at Old Trafford, the former Inter Milan stopper is said to be ‘unsettled’ in his current surroundings, which isn’t a major surprise when taking into account his patchy form this term.

In turn, Manchester United are close to signing Freddie Woodman on a free transfer from Preston North End to populate their goalkeeping pool of talent.

Admittedly, the former England Under-21 international is likely to be brought in to strengthen their homegrown quota, but it may be a sign of changes to come between the sticks as Amorim searches for added security.

Onana is evidently a talented stopper and has enjoyed plenty of highs alongside the lows he has experienced at Old Trafford. Still, it feels like a clean break could be best for all parties.

Everton need to trim the fat this summer. Oh, while excitement is in the air as David Moyes gears up for what may be the club’s biggest summer of spending, there’s plenty going on out the exit door too.

As many as 15 first-team players are out of contract at the end of the season. Some will stay. Many will go. Two of these quandaries take the shape of the culminating loan spells of Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom, neither of whom has enjoyed the best of terms. Several more are made from flotsam drifting out on short-term stints elsewhere.

There are too many profiles to dig into, but one curious expected outgoing is the man who earns more than any of his Toffees teammates: Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Everton set to part with Abdoulaye Doucoure

Back in 2020, Everton signed Doucoure from Watford in a deal worth £20m, and he’s since made 162 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring 21 goals.

Regarded as a ‘pressing machine’, the Malian ace is now 32 and while he still works industriously in the middle, three goals across 29 matches is hardly a prolific return for an attacking midfielder whose duel success rate stands at just 39% in the Premier League this year, as per Sofascore.

Indeed, one of those facing the end of their contract this summer, the £130k-per-week Doucoure is Everton’s top earner. Given the amount of shuffling set to take place over at Bramley Moore this summer, it would be a grave error to renew Doucoure’s deal on the same terms.

He’ll be midway through his 33rd year by the end of next season and, despite scoring the winner at Nottingham Forest a few weeks back, no longer carries the same swagger in the final third.

Everton need a new star in attacking midfield. Iliman Ndiaye, Charly Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil make three exciting options, three good reasons why Doucoure’s influence is waning.

That said, the fans could be in for an even more thrilling ride if Everton’s new version of Ross Barkley hits his stride after flourishing for the academy.

Everton's new Ross Barkley

Barkley featured 179 times for Everton’s first team after breaking from the Finch Farm youth ranks, notching 52 goal involvements and drawing inevitable comparisons to Wayne Rooney.

However, he left for Chelsea in January 2018 for a £15m fee, now long archived as a bygone part of the Merseysiders’ history.

It’s been a while since such a player rose to the fore (Anthony Gordon notwithstanding), but Moyes might just find he holds the keys to unlocking the next prodigy, with 17-year-old Braiden Graham making waves for the development outfit.

Graham’s still in that unsure maiden stage, struggling to find his best position. However, a four-goal performance from attacking midfield for the U21s last time out in the Premier League 2 suggests that maybe he has a future as a ten.

With such dynamism, ranged in his ability to make a positive impression on the pitch, Graham’s surely going to go a long way, not least because his shooting boots seem to stay intact wherever he features.

The Northern Ireland youth international has been hailed as a “fearless” forward and an “incredible player” by his former Linfield boss David Healy, prior to transferring to the Toffees. In short, there’s an ever-loudening buzz around this young talent, whose eye for goal and crisp, powerful dribbling offer shades of Barkley in his Everton days.

Having scored four goals in a single game against Tottenham Hotspur’s U21s – away from home – makes a firm comment on this young man’s potential, not least because Spurs’ U21s won the Premier League 2 last season.

One to watch, and maybe one whose professional Everton debut lingers not too far away.

Not just DCL: Everton's £55k-p/w "warrior" is finished & won't start again

Everton are set to undergo a series of changes in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 21, 2025