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Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks could be on the move this summer, but Marcus Bent doesn’t reckon he’s a player that would appeal to Everton.

The versatile defender, who’s also able to play in midfield, spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom having seen his opportunities decrease under Mikel Arteta.

He took his opportunity, quickly making himself a regular at the Hawthorns, but a permanent deal was quickly ruled out following West Brom’s relegation.

Since his loan spell expired, Maitland-Niles has been linked to Crystal Palace and Leeds, although the Toffees are also reportedly in the race for his signature, according to the Daily Mail.

With Maitland Niles, described by Martin Keown in 2020 as a “Rolls-Royce of a player”, now wanting to play more regularly in midfield, a chance could present itself at Goodison Park, with regulars Tom Davies and Allan linked with moves away from Goodison Park.

However, former Toffees striker Bent exclusively told Football FanCast that he’s not a target Rafa Benitez will consider:

“I’m not sure, he went out to West Brom, did ok. He’s gone back to Arsenal but getting into the team is hard at the best of times, especially at his age.

“I don’t think he’s a player that Everton would be attracted to at this moment.

“He’s definitely a talent, but if you’re going to go to Everton, you’re expected to hit the ground running, so I don’t think inexperienced players will be brought in unless you’re a massive talent.”

Everton’s hopes of signing Matheus Nunes look to be over, with Rafa Benitez’s appointment reportedly scuppering any chances of a deal for the Sporting Lisbon ace.

What’s the word?

According to Portuguese news outlet Record (via Sport Witness), whilst Everton were ‘very close’ to signing the 22-year-old just a few weeks ago, they no longer appear to be interested in him following Benitez’s arrival at Goodison Park.

It is suggested that, had Everton appointed former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as they looked close to doing not long ago, then a deal for Nunes would likely have been completed for around €16m, despite his €60m release clause with the Liga NOS side.

Would Nunes have been a good signing for Everton?

Nunes was a regular for Sporting Lisbon last season as they were crowned champions of the Portuguese top-flight, making 31 league appearances and contributing three goals and two assists.

Whilst Everton boast strong options such as Allan, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Abdoulaye Doucoure in their midfield, all of these players are 28 or older, and Nunes could have perhaps been a long-term successor in the heart of Everton’s side.

Former teammate Goncalo Santos detailed why Nunes would be such a good signing for Everton earlier this year when he spoke to Liverpool Echo, saying:

“Matheus is a box-to-box player. He’s not so strong like midfielders in the Premier League but he’s very fast. He’s very good with the ball because he is a Brazilian boy. They know how to play with the ball.

“If you are in the defensive phase and he gets the ball, he can run with it and fire the team 30 yards up the pitch because he is so good in possession.”

Therefore, it seems clear that Nunes would have been a good option for Everton to have next season and in the long-term, so Blues fans will undoubtedly be gutted that the appointment of Benitez has seemingly caused the deal to fall through.

And, in other news… Everton set to make offer for Euro 2020 star

Steven Gerrard has revealed that summer Glasgow Rangers arrival Nnamdi Ofoborh has a heart issue and will be out of action for a while.

The Lowdown: Ofoborh arrives

The Gers completed the signing of Ofoborh from Bournemouth on a pre-contract earlier this year.

The 21-year-old recently joined up with the squad for the first time ahead of the new campaign, but his spell at Ibrox has not got off to the best start.

The Latest: Gerrard provides update

Speaking to Rangers TV following the 55-time Scottish champions’ 2-2 pre-season draw with Arsenal, Gerrard said (via irishexaminer.com):

“I don’t think you’ll see him in the short term.

“Unfortunately something has flagged up with his ECG, which is the heart test.

“We’ve got top medical people here at the club now and we check all the players thoroughly from head to toe when they arrive.

“Unfortunately there’s been a bit of a red flag with a heart issue so he’s going to see some specialists in the coming weeks and we need to do more tests before we move forward.

“It’s disappointing and frustrating but we’ll have to manage and cope.

“The important thing is the player’s health, which we’ll obviously focus on first and foremost.

“Of course it is disappointing and frustrating for the player but I spoke to him yesterday, told him to keep smiling and be patient and we will do everything we can to support him, get him in front of the right people and the right support and hopefully he will be back, not too long.”

The Verdict: Unfortunate

This is very unfortunate for all involved at the club. Ofoborh will have been hoping to make an immediate impact following his switch to Ibrox, but he is now facing a considerable spell on the sidelines as the Gers’ medical staff aim to get to the bottom of the issue. Gerrard will also be disappointed to lose a new signing just weeks after he arrived, as evidenced by his comments on the episode.

However, the most important thing is Ofoborh’s health. As we saw with the traumatic incident involving Denmark’s Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020, a major health issue can occur at any moment, so it is vital that no risks are taken with the youngster.

In other news, many Rangers fans were livid over this club tweet.

An update has emerged on Sunderland target Hayden Coulson, regarding Ipswich’s pursuit of the defender.

What’s the talk?

According to TEAMtalk, Ipswich are closing in on the signing of Sunderland target Hayden Coulson. The Tractor Boys are said to be in pole position for the 23-year-old’s signature, although it is not clear whether it is set to be a permanent move or on a temporary basis.

Sunderland and Luton are also reportedly keen on landing the full-back from Middlesbrough, but Paul Cook’s side are seemingly poised to win the race.

Fans will be gutted

Fans will be gutted by this news as they are club are on the verge of missing out on a talented player to one of their rivals in League One. Coulson has Championship experience and plays in an area Sunderland are severely lacking in depth.

As of right now, the Black Cats have no natural full-back options contracted to the club heading into next season. Luke O’Nien is listed as a right-back by Transfermarkt, but played the majority of his games as a centre-back in the 2020/21 campaign.

This means that Lee Johnson is in dire need of full-back additions in the coming weeks. Therefore, missing out on Coulson would be a cruel blow for the club, especially to a team that could be competing with them for promotion out of the third tier.

Supporters will be livid that Kristjaan Speakman has allowed Ipswich to steal a march on the defender, as he also could have been a quality addition to the squad.

Earlier this year, Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock called the left-back a “breath of fresh air” and praised his ability in tight situations, following his spell out of position in midfield. He told Gazette Live:

“He does so well in training in that type of situation – tight areas with bodies around him. He’s the best player at the club in training in those tight situations.

“So we thought, why not give him a go at number ten. This opportunity came today.

“We didn’t have many options, but it was a good time to let him have a look at that position.

“And I think he revelled in it after the first five minutes. It looked like he was a breath of fresh air.”

In the 2019/20 season, Coulson played 30 games in the Championship and averaged a solid WhoScored rating of 6.76, making 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game.

This shows that he is a player capable of putting in good performances in the second-tier, which would make him a great signing for Sunderland in the short and long-term as it suggests he would be able to thrive in League One whilst holding the potential to make the step up if they secured promotion.

AND in other news, “Go and play for a big club like Sunderland” – Exclusive: EFL insider drops verdict on 25 y/o…

Southampton striker Danny Ings will find the chance to play up front with Harry Kane at Tottenham attractive, claims Evening Standard journalist Jack Rosser.

With Kane continuing to be linked with a move to Manchester City, it looked like Ings could be brought in as a replacement.

However, according to The Telegraph, the 29-year-old has been earmarked as someone who can come in and play alongside the England captain.

The same outlet also claims that Ings is Tottenham’s top target this summer, so you would expect the north London club to do everything they can to sign the Southampton man. And Rosser is convinced he would relish the opportunity to partner his compatriot in attack.

“It’d be attractive for any striker,” Rosser said in a chat with TT when discussing the topic of Ings potentially playing next to Kane at Tottenham.

“A lot of strikers have turned down Spurs because they don’t want to be stuck behind Harry Kane, which is completely understandable because he’s someone who wants to play every minute.”

While Kane is obviously an elite goalscorer, he also proved to be a very good playmaker last season. No player provided more Premier League assists than the 27-year-old’s 14, so Ings must be licking his lips at the prospect of playing up front with his countryman.

Everton are interested in a deal to bring Marvelous Nakamba to Goodison Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Daily Mail, who claim that Rafael Benitez is looking to bolster his options in the middle of the park in the summer transfer window, with the Aston Villa midfielder believed to be high on his list of targets.

The report goes on to state that Dean Smith would be reluctant to lose the services of the 27-year-old ahead of next season, although it is believed that the Toffees, along with Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace, are ready to test Villa’s resolve regarding the Zimbabwe international with an offer in the coming weeks.

Nakamba could finally replace Gueye

With defensive midfield having been something of an issue for Everton since the departure of Idrissa Gueye back in 2019, as the club’s replacement for the 31-year-old, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, has made just three appearances for the Toffees, it is easy to see why Benitez is keen to strengthen in the position this summer.

And, considering the impressive performance of Nakamba for Villa last season, should Marcel Brands be able to get a deal over the line for the midfielder this summer, he could have finally found Gueye’s heir in the position.

Indeed, despite featuring sparingly for Smith’s side last time out, the £6.3m-rated man nevertheless shone over his 13 Premier League appearances, making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, 0.6 clearances and winning 3.2 duels per game.

These metrics saw the man Smith dubbed an “excellent” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as Villa’s 13th-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Furthermore, although Gbamin now appears to be injury-free ahead of Everton’s upcoming Premier League campaign, whether or not the Ivory Coast international is the same player he was for Mainz – having spent two years on the sidelines due to three very serious injuries – is anyone’s guess.

Either way, it would seem as if, with the 25-year-old being Benitez’s only option in the position, the Spaniard simply cannot rely on the fitness of Gbamin over 38 Premier League games, meaning that a move for a defensive midfielder, and the £34k-per-week Nakamba in particular, should be Brands’ priority this summer.

In other news: Bye-bye Rodriguez: Benitez must seal Everton swoop for “exceptional” 33-goal wizard

Former Manchester City defender Michael Ball feels that a loan move for striker Liam Delap could possibly help him.

Liam, the son of Rory Delap, has been linked with one of his father’s old clubs in Stoke City according to the Manchester Evening News. Alongside the Potters, a number of other clubs, including West Bromwich Albion, Millwall and according to Lancs Live, Preston North End, have been linked with a summer move for the forward.

Delap was in impressive form last season in the Premier League 2, scoring 24 goals in just 20 games and former Cityzen Michael Ball believes a loan move away from the Etihad Stadium could possibly benefit the young striker, exclusively telling the Transfer Tavern: “When I’ve seen him play for the first-team he’s done well, he’s a different type of striker than City have had, he’s sort of stuck between a big guy going forward but he likes running in behind as well. 

“So, I feel a loan could possibly help him again for one more year, but I wouldn’t go against if he actually wants to push a move permanently to get his career on track now, you’re only young for so many years and you want to start making a name for yourself, you want to get a shirt, name on your back and that’s your main position.”

Delap made his senior debut for Manchester City last season against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup, marking his City bow with a goal.

After Sergio Aguero left the Etihad Stadium this summer, City have been linked with a move for Tottenham striker Harry Kane and according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, City have already had a bid of £100m turned down for the England international.

If Kane does become a Manchester City player, though, it could see Delap’s game time limited in the first team and so a loan move could be beneficial to his development this season.

Liverpool are still interested in a deal to sign West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen, according to The Mirror’s David Maddock. 

Bowen has been with the Hammers since 2020, and has gone on to make 53 appearances for them in total since signing from Hull City.

He chipped in with eight goals and six assists for David Moyes’ side last term, as they finished sixth in the Premier League table, qualifying for European competitions in the process.

It appears as though some of Bowen’s strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed though, with it being claimed by The Mirror that there is a ‘chance’ that Liverpool could sign the 24-year-old.

Liverpool finished third in the Premier League table last term, in what was a frustrating league campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who had to deal with a number of injury problems throughout the season.

Klopp is clearly keen to strengthen his attacking options this summer, with the new season set to get underway next weekend and both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane expected to miss time in January due to AFCON.

Plenty of Liverpool supporters were quick to take to social media to react to the club’s rumoured interest in signing Bowen, and you can take a look at the best of the reaction from the LFC Transfer Room Twitter account…

Reds fans erupt

“Please no. Nightmare.”

Credit: @jasonmac58

“Honestly this is just embarrassing right now.”

Credit: @E79Norman

“Lol…. This reminds me of Roy’s reign….”

Credit: @Elaino09

“Awful, simply awful, we aren’t winning anything this season bruh.”

Credit: @Marigold0204

“City signing Grealish and this is our level.”

Credit: @sisenor_9

“When we said sign someone we didn’t mean this.”

Credit: @oIivia66

“Rather sign no one than sign Bowen.”

Credit: @TalkingRed23

Newcastle United must make a ruthless call and sell Sean Longstaff this summer amid links with a move to fellow Premier League side Everton.

What’s the story?

After breaking onto the scene at St James’ Park, it’s fair to say things haven’t quite panned out the way Longstaff or the club would have wanted them to.

Now, The Times claim that former Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is keen on a reunion with the midfielder this summer, as he looks to bring him to Goodison Park.

Benitez can have him

It was another difficult season at St James’ Park for Longstaff last term, with the midfielder making just 22 appearances in the Premier League, and enduring a really hard spell in the early months of the new year, either being named on the bench or missing out on the match-day squad completely.

And when you look at his stats, it’s difficult to see just where the Geordie ace really fits into this side under Bruce.

As per Whoscored, he averaged just 1.4 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game in the Premier League last season, while his numbers going forward were equally unimpressive – he didn’t average over one shot, key pass or dribble per match, while his average rating of 6.36 was the third-worst of any Newcastle player who started more than ten games.

The £13.5m-rated ace just simply hasn’t kicked on as many would have hoped, and with news that the club are closing in on a deal for Arsenal’s Joe Willock, and that they have made a bid for another midfielder in Jens Cajuste, the writing appears to be on the wall for Longstaff at St James’ Park.

The fact that some Everton fans have gone on record to voice their anger and frustrations with seeing their club linked with a move for Longstaff says it all about how far his stock has fallen.

He’s managed just four goals and four assists in 69 games in all competitions for Newcastle’s senior side, while after averaging a match rating of 6.87 in his breakthrough 2018/2019 campaign, that has fallen to 6.37 and 6.36 in the following seasons.

If the Toffees do come in with a bid for the midfielder this summer, Bruce would be wise to cash in and simply wave goodbye to their academy product – the fact his contract expires next year is yet another reason for that to happen too.

It would certainly be a ruthless call from the manager given Longstaff has come through the academy system on Tyneside, but it’s one that the club should really be making.

Meanwhile, Newcastle could sign a dream Joe Willock partner in this star…

West Ham manager David Moyes has been dealt a massive blow over one of his top transfer targets this week…

What’s the word?

It’s believed that Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham sits atop the 58-year-old’s priorities this window, though he has been reluctant to splash out on his reported asking price.

But now, it appears the Irons are set to miss out on the 23-year-old after a major update has emerged.

According to Sky in Italy, Serie A outfit AS Roma – managed by ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho – have agreed to a £34m deal to sign Abraham and it’s now on the Englishman to decide if he wants the move.

Fellow Italian side Atalanta are also keen, as are Arsenal, but Chelsea’s preference is to sell him to a foreign club rather than a Premier League rival.

Romelu Lukaku’s imminent mega-money return will push Abraham even further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, despite him featuring in all three of their pre-season friendlies thus far.

Gutting blow

The Hammers may well have missed a trick here and it’ll surely leave many around the London Stadium absolutely reeling.

With the new Premier League season around the corner, quite literally as they open against Newcastle United this Sunday, Moyes has only one senior striker.

This has to be a major cause for concern as West Ham will be competing in the Europa League this term, meaning there’s a real possibility that they will play over 50 games throughout the year.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-the-latest-gossip-and-much-more-3” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

An injury-prone Michail Antonio, who has never started over 24 league games since joining the club in 2015, is the Scot’s only option. If he gets injured, then it’ll be likely down to winger Jarrod Bowen to lead the line.

In fact, it’s quite shocking that the club are yet to sign someone in the position as they’ve had several months to sort out viable candidates. By sitting around and doing nothing, they have effectively left targets like Abraham free to go elsewhere.

The 23-year-old fell out-of-favour under Thomas Tuchel but still ended the 2020/21 campaign as Chelsea’s joint top-goalscorer on 12 goals, taking his total for the club to 30 goals in 82 appearances.

Described as a “goal machine” by former academy teammate Kasey Palmer and a “phenomenal player” by former top-flight manager Alex McLeish, Abraham would have been a very intriguing option for Moyes to have at his disposal and certainly one that offers a different kind of threat to Antonio.

Whilst the Chelsea forward seems unlikely to join a Premier League side, this is a saga that the Irons could well live to regret. If Moyes’ only striker gets injured or the goals dry up, then the fanbase will quite rightly be furious.

AND in other news, West Ham could seal bargain swoop for “physical” £18m-rated beast, Moyes would love him…