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Everton’s recent defeat to Manchester United saw academy starlet Anthony Gordon return to the starting XI, with the highly-rated forward having dropped to the bench for the win over Southampton a week earlier due to illness.

The 21-year-old had proven the difference when the two sides had met back in April, after netting a deflected strike past David De Gea to help the Toffees’ fight for survival, although was unable to make a similar impact this time around, having “struggled” against Erik ten Hag’s side, in the words of The Athletic’s Greg O’Keefe.

The £36m-rated man was restricted to just 22 touches before being withdrawn just after the hour-mark, with that substitution having taken place just moments after the Englishman had been shown a yellow card for lunging in on Red Devils’ skipper, Bruno Fernandes.

That reckless challenge had seemingly epitomised the youngster’s performance as he struggled to impact proceedings, with Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley awarding him just a 5/10 match rating after what was a ‘frustrating night’ for the explosive forward.

That frustration will have only been heightened with the £10k-per-week gem now suspended for Saturday’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur due to what was his fifth booking in just nine Premier League games thus far this term, ruling him out of facing a side who had been linked with his signature over the summer.

The England U21 international had been hot property in the recent window with fellow top-flight side Chelsea reportedly eyeing a £60m approach, although on the evidence of Sunday’s display the Liverpool-born starlet has not yet lived up to that valuation.

While the “fearless” ace – as lauded by pundit Alan Shearer – has netted twice in the league already this season, his absence against the Saints had showcased that Frank Lampard’s side can win without him, with his replacement Dwight McNeil having scored in that 2-1, comeback victory.

The aforementioned O’Keefe had suggested that the latter man was “hard done by” to have been replaced by Gordon for the recent clash with United, with the former Preston North End loanee unable to warrant his inclusion ahead of the £20m new addition.

This upcoming suspension for the Toffees academy graduate will again allow McNeil the chance to shine in his place against Spurs, with a positive display from the former Burnley winger potentially set to have Lampard questioning what his best forward line truly is.

On recent evidence, when Gordon does again become available for the midweek trip to face Newcastle United, it would be no real surprise if he is to be ditched from the Merseysiders’ starting lineup.

Rangers plan to sell midfielder Glen Kamara in January, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Kamara’s Gers career

Having joined the Light Blues in 2019 for a meagre £50,000 in what was described by Gers teammate Scott Arfield as the ‘steal of the century’, the Finland international has gone on to become a fantastic servant at Ibrox.

The central midfielder has made 168 appearances in three-and-a-half-years for the Scottish outfit; this includes 32 games in the Europa League, in which he played a huge part in Rangers getting through to the final.

However, in the Premiership this season, Kamara seems to have fallen out of favour under Giovani van Bronckhorst, having featured just three times – only two of which have come in the starting XI.

The Latest: Rangers plan to sell

On transfer deadline day, Ligue 1 side Nice tried to push through a last-minute move for the Rangers midfielder.

However, the French club could not get an agreement in place before the 11pm deadline hit. Consequently, Kamara remained at Ibrox, despite his openness to making the switch.

Now, according to a fresh report by Football Insider, the Gers are willing to sell the Finland international in January after his deadline day move to Nice collapsed.

The Light Blues need to sell a number of big-name players in order to raise cash to invest in the squad, and Kamara is considered one of the squad who could command a fee in excess of £10m.

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The Verdict: Needs to move

Demonstrated by numerous exemplary performances in the Europa League last season, Kamara has the ability to perform with the best at the top level.

Therefore, if van Bronckhorst does not view him as a part of his favoured XI, the midfielder should look for a move elsewhere in search of regular first-team football.

Previously tipped to become a ‘monster’ by former Gers manager Steven Gerrard, Kamara’s Ibrox departure could end up being a mistake for the Scottish giants.

Crystal Palace finally seem set to see a fan favourite return to Selhurst Park… 

What’s the word?

According to sports writer Sam Pilger, Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be preparing for an SE25 homecoming after an underwhelming spell at Manchester United.

Taking to Twitter, Pilger stated: “It is looking increasingly likely Aaron Wan-Bissaka will leave Manchester United and return to Crystal Palace before the end of the transfer window”.

The English full-back has two years left on his £90k-per-week contract, having left the Eagles in 2019 for a mouth-watering £50m.

Could be a transfer masterclass

Having sold the youngster for an astronomical fee, to see him return just three years later for what we can assume will be a heavily reduced fee (given reports of a possible £10m swoop) would be a transfer masterclass from Dougie Freedman.

The 24-year-old’s stock has dropped dramatically, but if anyone knows the value that he can offer to a team it is Palace, from whose academy he emerged. When he first left the club, Dave O’Grady labelled him an “unstoppable force”, denoting just how highly Wan-Bissaka was rated.

His defensive output has continued to be outstanding, as he ranks in the top 3% for interceptions and top 1% for blocks per 90 among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 12 months.

It is offensively where Wan-Bissaka has fallen short at Old Trafford, but with the summer addition of Chris Richards, the Eagles would quickly have two varied profiles of full-back who both excel in their respective fields.

The American ranks in the top 7% for assists per 90 and the top 12% for touches in the attacking penalty area over the past 12 months.

To bring back their academy graduate, who has gone away and earned invaluable Champions League experience with United, to a considerably less pressured environment in Selhurst Park could see him return to his best.

If the 24-year-old can improve upon his disappointing 23% accurate cross rate, there is every chance that he could be one of the best all-round full-backs in the Premier League.

His 59% dribble success rate is indicative of a player who wants to get forward, and often successfully, so perhaps Vieira can help to make Wan-Bissaka a tidier full-back once he gets into the final third.

If he were to return to Selhurst Park for just 20% of the fee at which Palace sold him in 2019, it would mark a sensational transfer masterclass from Freedman.

Newcastle United are eyeing up a big-money move for Everton attacker Anthony Gordon this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Solid start to the season

The Magpies picked up a respectable 0-0 draw away to Brighton on Saturday afternoon, backing up their opening-day victory at home to Nottingham Forest.

It has been a perfectly reasonable start to the campaign for Eddie Howe’s men, but that’s not to say that more transfer business won’t be conducted in the coming weeks.

A new update suggests that their attack could be bolstered by the signing of a Premier League forward.

The Latest: Newcastle keen on Gordon

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are ‘lining up a new move’ for Gordon this summer, although only an offer of ‘£40million-plus’ would make Everton consider selling.

Nonetheless, they have ‘opened talks’ on a new deal with the winger.

It is stated that a £35million bid was turned down last month, with Howe clearly seeing the Englishman as a key summer target.

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The Verdict: Exciting target

Everton may have flirted with relegation last season, but Gordon was a rare bright spark, with the 21-year-old scoring four league goals and registering two assists.

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Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has described the youngster as a ‘fearless’ player and he possesses the ability to add an extra dimension to the Magpies’ attack.

With Allan Saint-Maximin potentially moving on, Gordon would be a strong replacement, coming in a long-term acquisition with a high ceiling.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of James Maddison…

What’s the word?

It’s believed that the Leicester City midfielder has been a target for manager Antonio Conte.

Transfer insider Dean Jones revealed to GIVEMESPORT last month that Spurs had “touched base over Maddison” whilst CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs also suggested that “Conte likes the player a lot” to the same outlet.

There were even claims that the Foxes playmaker wanted to join Tottenham after a bid came in from Newcastle United but now, both the Magpies and Spurs have been dealt a gutting transfer setback.

Despite being the only club to not announce a new signing this summer, Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers told reporters that the England international was “not for sale.”

“We need to move players out but it’s not getting rid of everyone and certainly not our best assets. It’s something the club are very strong on,” he added.

Big blow to Conte

It’s no secret that Spurs are looking for a creative influence in midfield and Maddison was someone who fit the bill immensely.

Last season, the English maestro was in fine form as he provided the Midlands outfit with 18 goals and 12 assists from 53 matches across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

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Lauded as “one of the Premier League’s chief creators” by The Athletic’s Rob Tanner, Maddison could well have been the final piece of the puzzle for Conte at Hotspur Way.

The likes of Tanguy Ndombele (ten goals and nine assists from 91 games) and Giovani Lo Celso (eight goals and six assists from 84 appearances) have failed to step up to fill the void left behind by Christian Erisken.

Maddison has far exceeded the disastrous Spurs duo in the space of just one season, whereas they have struggled to deliver across a whopping three years.

The “special talent”, as hailed by The Times’ Henry Winter, was thought to be available for around £50m, according to The Times, so Conte will surely be gutted by this big transfer blow.

His attention will need to turn to another target with less than a month to go until deadline day.

AND in other news, Spurs could seal “unstoppable” 7th signing in £10m “animal” with Paratici “a huge fan”…

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota could be set to sign a new-and-improved Reds contract in the near future, reports The Liverpool Echo journalist Paul Gorst.

The Lowdown: Jota stars for Liverpool

The Portuguese goalscorer arrived from Wolves back in 2020 and has been a superb addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad, adding more firepower and versatility in the final third.

Jota has scored 34 goals in 85 appearances for Liverpool, winning both domestic cups last season and being described as ‘world class’ by Klopp himself.

It now looks as though the 25-year-old will be rewarded for his efforts, following a fresh update.

The Latest: New contract incoming?

According to The Liverpool Echo‘s Paul Gorst, Jota’s performances have ‘encouraged’ Liverpool to potentially offer him a new deal – one that will see his £90,000 per week increased.

The attacker’s current contract expires in the summer of 2025 but the Reds clearly see him as a key figure beyond that date.

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The Verdict: No-brainer for Reds

This makes complete sense for Liverpool, with Jota such a potent addition to the team since joining, bringing a poachers’ instinct and popping up with big goals time and time again.

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Granted, the Portugal international’s form nosedived significantly towards the end of last season – his last goal came on April 10th, against Manchester City – but that looked largely to do with fatigue, having made 55 appearances overall.

While Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez could be Klopp’s go-to front-three now, Jota will continue to be a hugely important player for years to come, and rotation will mean he still features a large amount.

The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that there is ‘interest’ from Championship clubs in Newcastle United duo Ciaran Clark and Dwight Gayle.

The Lowdown: On the fringes

Both players were on the fringes of Eddie Howe’s squad last season, with just 23 appearances made between them in total.

As per The Daily Mail, they are both training with the under-23s at the moment alongside Jeff Hendrick, so they seemingly do not have a long-term future at St James’ Park.

The Latest: Championship ‘interest’

Taking to Twitter, Hope has revealed that there is ‘interest’ in Gayle from Middlesbrough, while they and Stoke City are boh ‘interested’ in Clark.

The reporter outlined: “Middlesbrough & Stoke also interested in Ciaran Clark. Boro had shown interest in Dwight Gayle but, as it stands, that is unlikely. Some at Boro like Jordan Rhodes but Huddersfield asking for too much, I’m told.”

The Verdict: Get rid

Given their lack of game-time last term, and with a few strikers and centre-backs ahead of them in the pecking order, it would be best for Newcastle to just get rid of the duo if the opportunity arises.

Clark currently earns £42,000-per-week on Tyneside, while Gayle is on £37,000-per-week, so overall they could trim a handy £79,000-per-week off the Magpies’ wage bill, along with whatever transfer fees they can get for the pair.

The money earned from selling the duo could then be used to help fund transfer targets in other areas of the pitch, as Howe looks to get his squad finalised before the new campaign starts in four weeks’ time.

An update has emerged regarding Sunderland’s interest in signing Ravel Morrison in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Black Cats are eyeing up a move for the 29-year-old as Kristjaan Speakman looks to improve the squad ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The report claims that Preston North End and Huddersfield are prepared to challenge Alex Neil’s men for the midfielder’s signature.

His contract with League One side Derby County expires at the end of next week and he is set to leave Wayne Rooney’s team on a free transfer.

Alex Pritchard 2.0

By securing a deal to sign Morrison this summer, Speakman could land Neil another Alex Pritchard to select in Sunderland’s midfield next season.

The Black Cats snapped up the former Norwich player on a free transfer from Huddersfield last year and he enjoyed a sublime debut season in red and white.

In the 2021/22 League One campaign, Pritchard produced four goals and nine assists from attacking midfield, creating nine ‘big chances’ for his team-mates and making two key passes per match. He set up both goals in the 2-0 win in the play-off final at Wembley against Wycombe, teeing up Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart to fire their team back into the Championship.

Sunderland can now repeat that masterclass by striking a move for Morrison in a similar deal to the one which brought Pritchard to the Stadium of Light.

The Derby playmaker started 26 games in the Championship last term and was directly involved in eight goals, with four strikes and four assists.

Rio Ferdinand previously quoted Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder as saying: “Rav – unpredictable, maverick, humble, a natural, and frustrating.”

These quotes suggest that the 20-year-old will be an exciting player for the fans to watch, as he takes risks with the ball and can entertain the crowd with his unpredictability in possession.

The £4.7k-per-week maestro created six ‘big chances’ in total and made one key pass per match in the division above the one in which Pritchard was playing last season, showing that he has the ability to make things happen in the final third at that level.

Morrison is a proven Championship performer who could slot into Sunderland’s starting XI and have an immediate impact, much like the former Tottenham man did in League One in 2021/22.

It is now over to Speakman to convince the former Manchester United gem that a move to Wearside is the best next step for him ahead of the likes of Preston and Huddersfield.

AND in other news, Huge Sunderland behind-the-scenes development emerges, supporters will be buzzing…

Manchester City have seldom been reluctant when it comes to signing players from fellow Premier League clubs in recent years.

The Citizens have seen players such as Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker among others moving to the Etihad Stadium, all for rather hefty transfer fees.

One other player that the club signed from a top-flight rival is John Stones, who joined in a £47.5m move from Everton in August 2016.

Since then, the England international has gone on to make 195 appearances for the Cityzens across all competitions. In that time, the 28-year-old has scored 12 goals, provided two assists and won numerous domestic trophies along the way.

Last August saw the defender put pen to paper on a bumper new five-year contract worth £250,000 per week to keep him at the Etihad until the summer of 2026, which just goes to show how highly he is valued at the club.

Now that the summer transfer window is just around the corner, it seems as though Pep Guardiola’s side once again have the chance to replicate a similar sort of masterclass to the one they pulled off by signing Stones.

A few days ago, it was reported by the Daily Mail that City “have looked” at Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite with an eye to a potential swoop.

Man City’s next John Stones?

Signed from Carlisle United in 2020, Branthwaite has made just 13 senior appearances for the Toffees after he completed a loan spell with Blackburn Rovers last season.

Having joined Everton from a lower league club, this shows that the teenager is broadly following in the footsteps of Stones, who the Merseyside club signed from Barnsley in 2013.

In 10 matches on loan at Blackburn in the Championship, the 19-year-old left the Lancashire club with the highest average for interceptions (2.3) and joint-highest for tackles per game (2.3), highlighting just how capable a defender he is at such a young age.

Labelled a “confident” player who “never loses control” according to former Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti, who guided Real Madrid to Champions League glory just last week, Branthwaite certainly seems to have the potential to be a capable first-team player for City in the future.

If Guardiola sees enough in the Everton youngster to believe that he can be a star for the Premier League champions, then the Cityzens’ hierarchy should trust the manager and do all they can to get him to the Etihad and potentially see him become their next Stones.

In other news: Sam Lee drops behind-the-scenes Man City transfer claim, it’s worrying news for Pep

Everton manager Frank Lampard must cash in on Moise Kean this summer amid interest from Juventus who want to sign him on a permanent deal. The player, who is currently on loan at the Serie A club has never really shone during his time on Merseyside and has been on loan several times.

Recently, journalist Fabrizio Romano gave an update on his future saying that Juventus “will buy” Kean on a permanent deal from the Premier League club next month. The player is rated at £25.2m and now would be a good chance for Everton to cash in and use the money to rebuild their struggling squad.

The Italy international moved to Goodison Park in 2019 for a base fee of £25.1m in what was an exciting transfer for the club at the time. He subsequently signed a five-year deal and has a year remaining. Juventus might try and grab a bargain, and if they do, the Toffees should try and recoup as much as they can for the 22-year-old.

He’s made 39 appearances in an Everton shirt and been directly involved in just six goals in that time. It’s safe to say that he hasn’t been the revelation that they hoped for, and now is the time for him to leave the club for good.

Speaking to Centro Suono Sport (via Sky Sports) just months after his move to England, Kean’s father described the transfer as a “mistake” and said that it was too soon for Kean as he was still too young.

It’s clear that he’s wanted to move back to Italy for some time and he may finally get his wish this summer.

Everton have struggled for goals this season and as a result, have been stuck in a battle to stay in the league. They might need to improve their options going forward next season, especially if some of their big names depart. However, giving £49k-per-week Kean another opportunity is not the answer and it’s best for both parties if he moves on.

Ultimately this seems a case of too much pressure being put on his shoulders at a young age. He seems more comfortable playing in his home country and that alone will allow him to develop better.

IN other news: Everton plotting move for £12.6m-rated “monster”, he’s a huge upgrade on Keane…