As reported by The Times, Everton manager Sam Allardyce will try to sign Manchester United defender Phil Jones in the summer transfer window if he remains boss at Goodison Park.
Everton badly need defensive reinforcements before the new season with supporters losing all faith in the likes of Ashley Williams this term.
Phil Jones has had his own critics at Old Trafford, but with 188 appearances for the club has plenty of elite experience that might help improve the Toffees’ defensive fortunes.
Fans though aren’t keen, believing he is just the latest in a long line of transfer targets that have failed to inspire.
They’ve been linked with a number of English top flight talents over the past couple of months, but supporters are looking for the club to put a bit more effort into scouting and unearth a hidden gem or two.
They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on a potential deal for Jones…
For all the resentment Everton fans have shown towards Sam Allardyce, it’s often forgotten that he’s working with a desperately imbalanced squad and players he inherited from a manager with completely different ideals in Ronald Koeman. Cuco Martina’s regular outings at left-back this season epitomise how the former England boss has been forced to settle for square pegs in round holes and sellotaping ill-fitting jigsaw pieces together for much of his short time at Goodison Park.
After losing their last two outings to Burnley and Watford, the Toffees returned to winning ways against Brighton on Saturday and the man who replaced Martina at left-back – the previously injured Leighton Baines – was a pivotal influence on the result, providing the quality, width and vital balance the right-footed Curacao international has often failed to this season.
Indeed, it was the 30-cap England international who overlapped Yannick Bolasie at the perfect time for the first goal, creating the space for the winger to drift inside and launch a cross that Gaitan Bong then put beyond his own goalkeeper. Baines had a far more direct impact on the second goal – providing the assist for Cenk Tosun’s rifled finish that put the result beyond doubt – and tellingly of how influential he was on Saturday, he had the second-most touches of the ball of any player on the pitch.
Speaking of perfect timing, Baines’ return couldn’t have come at a better time for Allardyce. The 33-year-old not only improves Everton defensively but also going forward as well, his left-footed deliveries from out wide being a defining feature of the Toffees’ attacking play for many seasons now.
And for all the ill-feeling towards Allardyce currently, a positive end to the season – which is far more likely with Baines in the team – could extinguish much of that ahead of a transfer window in which the Everton boss will have the chance to truly imprint his ideas onto the team. Accordingly, Baines’ return to fitness could prove to be something of a turning point for the Toffees’ under-fire manager in the months to come.
With many of the alternatives struggling for both game-time and form this season, is Baines actually still England’s best option at left-back at the age of 33? Let us know by voting below…
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After the international break, West Ham face a monumental clash against relegation rivals Southampton at the London Stadium.
The Hammers are coming off the back of the 3-0 home defeat against Burnley and of course the ugly scenes that marred that match are still fresh in the mind of both fans and players alike.
Irons fans might have fancied their chances of beating the Saints if they were still managed by Mauricio Pellegrino but Mark Hughes is the new man in the hotseat at St Mary’s and he got off to a flying start by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win against Wigan.
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The Welshman has a point to prove after his sacking by Stoke and will be looking for a similar result in his first Premier League match in charge of the Saints, to land a major blow in the relegation dogfight.
Unfortunately for David Moyes, he will not have a full compliment of players to choose from. Winston Reid, Pedro Obiang and Andy Carroll are among the absentees and with the help of Premier Injuries, we’ve taken a look at their current situations…
When was Collins injured?: He picked up a knock in the aforementioned defeat against Burnley but given that his season has been interrupted by injuries, Moyes will be keen to ensure that the Welshman is not out for an extended period. He also limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury in the Hammers’ 3-1 friendly win over Dagenham and Redbridge on Wednesday night.
Has he been missed?: The absence of Winston Reid and the sale of Jose Fonte to China has catapulted Collins into a critical role in the survival fight. He has never been the quickest but despite his aging legs, his experience and knowhow will be vital in helping the squad deal with the pressure of a relegation battle. He is one that Moyes won’t want to have to do without.
When was Byram injured?: He picked up an ankle injury in the thrashing against Swansea, which could well keep him out for the rest of the season.
What the manager said: On March 9, Moyes said: “It doesn’t look great for Sam [who could miss the rest of the season].”
Has he been missed?: Byram has never been a regular starter but he is a player with great potential who was meant to spend this season learning from Pablo Zabaleta with a view to taking his spot as the season wears on. This injury has disrupted those plans, quite clearly. Also, Zabaleta was being deployed as a holding midfielder by Moyes but now the Scotsman has been deprived of Byram at right-back, those plans could get shelved.
When was Reid injured?: Like Byram, he was also injured during the humiliation at hands of a relegation rival at the Liberty Stadium.
What the manager said: On March 9, Moyes said: “Winston will be out for the rest of the season.”
Has he been missed?: His leadership was sorely missed against Burnley, when the fans began to turn against the team and the Clarets smashed in two more goals. He is still the best centre-half on the books at the club and it would be hard to see a combination of him and Angelo Ogbonna conceding so many goals that the Irons go down. His absence is a major blow for Moyes.
When was Obiang injured?: He was forced off in the first half of West Ham’s FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Wigan and it was later confirmed that he had suffered knee ligament damage.
Potential return date: 02/07/18
What the manager said: On February 6, Moyes said: “We are confident that he will return fit and strong in time for pre-season.”
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Has he been missed?: Obiang adds energy and endeavour to the Hammers midfield and his absence is another big loss to Moyes. He can chip in with the odd goal as well and there is no doubt that he would have featured heavily in the relegation battle if he was fully fit.
When was Carroll injured?: ‘When was Carroll not injured?’ would be the cynical reply in reference to a player who has seen his career decimated by various ailments. His latest issue is a broken foot sustained in a January match against West Bromwich Albion, in which he scored two goals.
Potential return date: 21/04/2018
Has he been missed?: It is easy to forget that Carroll’s injury came at a time when unlikely interest from Chelsea was circling and Moyes was reportedly considering letting the former Newcastle man go in exchange for £20m and a loan deal for Michy Batshuayi, who is now banging in the goals for Borussia Dortmund.
However, Carroll has always been vital to West Ham’s hopes which is what makes it such a shame that he can’t stay fit. Moyes will want him back before the season is out, but if Chicharito can maintain his form then the blow will be softened.
Champions Chelsea welcomed Tottenham to Stamford Bridge for one of the most important games of the Premier League season so far on Sunday.
The London derby is always spicy but this time it had extra importance as a game that would be decisive in deciding which of the local rivals would take their place in the Champions League next season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side went into this one with the better form and confidence and were buoyed by the early return of talisman Harry Kane, who was named among the substitutes for the visitors.
Antonio Conte has overseen quite a steep downturn in form in 2018 and knew his side were in greater need of the victory and despite Alvaro Morata putting them ahead, they contrived to lose 3-1.
That loss means that the distance between the two sides is now eight points and gives Chelsea an absolute mountain to climb if they are to get back into the Champions League next season.
In such a crunch clash, it was the performance of Eden Hazard, valued at £90m by Transfermarkt, that took the attention of the home fans and we’ve examined some of the best reaction…
Not many times this season have Manchester City been seen as the underdogs, but they will have that title when they take on Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been flying high this season, and they are on the verge of wrapping up the Premier League title race as they hold a 13-point advantage.
In the last six days, though, it has been doom and gloom for the North-West outfit as the team were played off the park against Liverpool in the first leg of their tie.
Jurgen Klopp’s men earned a 3-0 victory at Anfield, leaving City with a mountain to climb in order to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
On Saturday, the club threw away the chance to secure the league crown when they relinquished a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Manchester United on home soil.
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After the first-leg loss, some City supporters prayed that Raheem Sterling would be the hero in the return fixtures, and now they are considering who will make the first XI.
Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.
Relegation from the Premier League is looking like a real possibility for Southampton as they head into the final five games of the season five points from safety.
Mark Hughes was brought in to help save the club from drifting into the Championship but he is yet to oversee a league win since taking over in March.
It is fair to say that the team have played better football under his stewardship following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino, but the results have been unwanted.
Against West Ham United, the Saints were beaten 3-0, and they were also on the losing end of 3-2 scorelines against both Arsenal and Chelsea.
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On Thursday, Southampton will try to give their survival chances a boost when they face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
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Three days later, Hughes will take his team to Wembley to go head to head with Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final.
Some fans are already resigned to relegation, while others are holding on to some optimism.
Everton moved into eighth position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday night.
Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the match as the Toffees moved into the top eight, and the Merseyside outfit will now look to stay in that position in the final weeks of the season.
Despite the victory, the Everton fans remain an extremely frustrated bunch, with many calling for Sam Allardyce to leave at the end of the season.
Wayne Rooney has also taken a lot of criticism following the Newcastle match, with the 32-year-old struggling to make his mark in the middle of the park.
Rooney has actually scored 10 Premier League goals for Everton this season, but there remain question marks over his ability to influence matches from the middle of the park.
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The Everton fans were not pleased with the former England captain’s performance against Newcastle, and took to Twitter to vent their frustration:
When you’ve fallen afoul of Mauricio Pochettino, you certainly know about it. While the Argentine has never discussed such matters in public, he’s developed a recurring strategy of slowly freezing out first-team players that he feels he can no longer quite trust, for whatever reason.
Kyle Walker provided perhaps the first most notable instance towards the end of last season, when he found himself benched for Tottenham’s biggest games. But we’ve seen that replicated throughout the 2017/18 campaign with Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose as well – two players whose futures in north London remain unclear.
A surprise victim of this approach though, comes in the form of Victor Wanyama. At first it seemed Pochettino was simply nursing the Kenyan powerhouse back into the starting XI after a lengthy injury layoff, but Wanyama first returned to action in January – yet still finds himself behind Eric Dier in the defensive midfield pecking order.
Recent reports from The Daily Mail have even claimed Tottenham are ready to part him this summer, alongside Alderweireld, Rose and Mousa Dembele.
It’s a surprising situation considering Wanyama has been a consistently impressive performer for the Lilywhites, and one that Tottenham’s bitter local rivals Arsenal should look to capitalise on.
After all, although we don’t know who will replace Arsene Wenger next season, his successor will surely view adding defensive discipline and brute physicality to this lightweight Gunners team as one of his first ports of call in the transfer market.
Wanyama – who Transfermarkt value at £27million – would remedy both of those needs and could accordingly prove to be a key figure in the new era at Arsenal, revolutionising a side that could prove far more resilient once solidity is added to its spine.
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But would Arsenal fans back a controversial swoop for the Tottenham midfielder? Let us know by voting below…
Aston Villa will face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final.
Steve Bruce’s side will be looking to secure a positive result away to Boro before the two teams meet at Villa Park in the second leg on May 15.
There is simply no downplaying the importance of the match, and the winner will take on either Fulham or Derby County in the final of the Championship playoffs.
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The Villa supporters have been discussing their team selection for the clash at the Riverside, and a number have called on Bruce to select Albert Adomah in an attacking role.
Bruce has a number of options in the final third of the field, but the bulk of the Villa fans believe that Adomah, who has faced criticism this season, should be in the XI this weekend.
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The 30-year-old has 14 goals in 39 Championship appearances this term, and will be looking to add to that tally against Tony Pulis’ team.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
If you had have asked Newcastle United supporters at the start of the 2017/18 season who was going to be their most important player by the end of their first campaign back in the Premier League following a one-year absence, not many would have said Ayoze Perez.
The Spaniard had scored nine goals and provided a further seven assists in 36 Championship appearances to help the Tyneside outfit make an immediate return to the top flight under Rafa Benitez, but you got the feeling that the St James’ Park faithful still weren’t convinced about whether the 24-year-old should be a regular starter.
That perhaps stemmed from the fact that they feel Perez didn’t do enough when they were in the Premier League previously – 13 goals and two assists in 70 outings.
Benitez is clearly a huge fan of his fellow countryman however, and he started him in the No.10 role on the first day of the campaign for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur, which ended in a 2-0 defeat.
The 24-year-old picked up his first assist of the season on his third league appearance in the 3-0 success against West Ham United at St James’ Park, while his opening goal didn’t come until his eighth outing when he netted in the 2-2 draw against Southampton at St Mary’s in October.
Even at that early stage, Magpies fans on Twitter were frustrated with Perez and didn’t feel he was contributing enough, and that was even more apparent when he went from that October day on the south coast until New Year’s Day without picking up a single goal or assist.
It was clear by this stage that Newcastle were probably going to be fine from a defensive point of view in their bid to avoid dropping straight back into the Championship, but that their lack of goals could cost them.
The likes of Dwight Gayle and Joselu weren’t doing enough up top, while Matt Ritchie, Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy weren’t getting on the score-sheet from wide areas like they may have been expected to.
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Perez helped his team pick up a crucial three points against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on January 1 with the only goal in a 1-0 win, while he produced key assists in the draws against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth in February.
The 24-year-old’s key part of the campaign came at the end of March and into April – the business end of the season – however, when he scored the winner in the 1-0 victory against fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town, before he scored one and assisted the other in the 2-1 success away at Leicester City.
That result meant that a triumph against Arsenal at St James’ Park would take them past the magic 40-point mark and preserve their Premier League status for at least another year, and that is exactly what they did as the Spaniard scored the opener in a 2-1 win.
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Perez had hit form at just the right time, and three more goals arrived before the climax of the campaign – including two on the final day against Chelsea.
Had it not been for the 24-year-old – who produced when it mattered most and was pivotal in earning his team 15 points (draws against Southampton, Palace and Bournemouth and wins against Stoke, Huddersfield, Leicester and Arsenal) prior to them surpassing 40 points – Newcastle would likely be on their way back to the Championship now.
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Not only did he prove to be the Tyneside outfit’s best and most important attacker, he was their most important player in general, too.
Should the attacking midfielder – who at his age still has plenty of time to improve – take his run of six goals in eight matches into the 2018/19 campaign and continue to replicate it, he will quickly become a target for the top six clubs in the Premier League who are always looking for naturally gifted and clever forward players.
Perez may not have been admired by Toon supporters on occasions, but that changed in recent months and he has the technique and quality to play at the very highest level – as long as he adds some consistency to his game.
If he does that in August and beyond, the 24-year-old may not be a Newcastle player any longer when the 2019 January transfer window closes.