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BBC pundit Chris Sutton has questioned Chelsea manager Graham Potter after his comments to the press following the club’s recent draw.

What’s the latest?

The Blues were unable to pick up all three points on the weekend in the Premier League as they had to settle for just a draw in an away trip to Nottingham Forest.

Raheem Sterling had put Chelsea ahead but they failed to hold onto their lead as Steve Cooper’s men hit back in the second half thanks to Serge Aurier, with his strike being enough to see the match end 1-1.

Speaking after the draw, the Chelsea boss was quoted on BBC Radio Show 606 as saying that the club ‘have to accept’ that they aren’t quite as good as they would like to be at the moment.

He said: “It’s frustrating, and obviously we have expectations and want to do better. But at the moment, we’re not quite where we want to be and we have to accept that.”

Reacting to this on the same radio show, Sutton seemed quite shocked at just how blunt Potter had been with his assessment and questioned the wisdom of it all.

Indeed, he said:  “Very honest, Graham Potter was there, but if you’re a Chelsea fan, is that the sort of language you want to hear? Talking the team down, below par?”

Room for improvement

After that draw against Forest, Chelsea now find themselves on 25 points after 16 league games. Incredibly, they are level with local rivals Fulham who have played one more game than the Blues.

This means, Potter and his side are eighth in the table and seven points behind Manchester United (in fourth), with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also above the Blues but not inside the top four.

On that evidence, the Chelsea manager isn’t exactly wrong to suggest that his players aren’t delivering the results the club should expect. However, it’s up to him to get them to improve and it won’t inspire great confidence from the fans, the board, or the players to hear Potter sound so defeatist in his attitude.

If he can’t turn things around soon, it remains to be seen just how patient Todd Boehly will be.

Everton manager Frank Lampard is running out of time and could be sacked in the next few weeks, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Everton in dire form

The Blues are increasingly having a season to forget, with results proving to be hugely disappointing on either side of the 2022 World Cup.

Everton are hovering ominously above the Premier League relegation zone, having not won since October, and Lampard is under big pressure to keep his job.

However, a new update suggests that his time at Goodison Park may have slightly longer left to run after Saturday’s draw at Manchester City.

The Latest: Lampard timeline

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips claimed that Lampard probably has a couple more weeks to save his future at Goodison:

“In terms of the amount of time I think he’s got, I think if things don’t get better in the next few weeks, then you might see him in some real trouble then.”

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The Verdict: Time for a change?

With each passing game, the more it does feel as though Lampard has taken this Everton side as far as he can, with performances and results both not good enough even despite the impressive fightback at the Etihad.

The 44-year-old is struggling to get the best out of too many players, with last season’s bright sparks like Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi now struggling, and having had support from the fans for some time, the tide is definitely turning now.

A new manager with fresh ideas may be the sensible option or Everton could find themselves in a second consecutive relegation battle come the spring.

Manchester United have emerged as one of the growing train of club’s with sights set on the signing of Croatian titan Josko Gvardiol, who is starring at the World Cup in Qatar.

With the 20-year-old phenom successfully taking the headlines after a captivating start to the campaign with RB Leipzig, starring despite his tender age, he has transferred his feats to the international stage and played an integral role for Croatia, who have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament for the second successive time. 

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently took to Twitter to report on the prospective transfer of the Leipzig ace.

“We’ve been told: NO release clause in his contract until 2027. But lots of top clubs informed about him for 2023. #CFC, #MUFC, Real and Barcelona highly involved. For Tuchel he was the main target. Boehly also focused on him. NO contact with Bayern,” he said.

Despite the intense interest in his signature, United boss Erik ten Hag will be confident of enticing Gvardiol with his proposal, with Old Trafford still one of the most prominent homes in world football. 

Bad news for Maguire

With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar the birth-ground to several stars, Gvardiol might just be the cream of the crop, with his aggressive tackling and ball-playing ability an embodiment of the modern centre-back at the top of the game. 

He would not come cheap, but Manchester United have been known to splash out on defenders in recent years, notably signing Harry Maguire for a fee of £80m – a world record deal for a defender.

With the Theatre of Dreams looking to return to former glory, Gvardiol could be the presence at the bedrock of the pitch to cement status as a top-four team, and aid the club in the pursuit of major honours once again after going over five years without a single trophy. 

In Qatar, as per Sofascore, Gvardiol has recorded an average rating of 7.28 – not dropping below 7.0 throughout the tournament – and has been an assured colossus at the park with a maturity that belies his age.

And FBref points out some of the best defensive statistics in the business from the young ace, ranking him within the top 1% for passes attempted and dribbles completed, and the top 5% for progressive passes.

It is this forward-thinking approach that will aid United greatly, providing a creative stalwart from the very back, while also maintaining the aggressive nature that can differentiate good centre-backs from the great. 

Playing on the left side of the central defence, the position that Maguire has occupied at Manchester United, the “sensational” Gvardiol could be a breath of fresh air into the team, a new star on the biggest stage that can continue his burgeoning rise under the mould of Ten Hag’s clay. 

He might have only cast his teenage years aside earlier this year, but Gvardiol has been an impeccable defender for club and country, and with some of Europe’s top outfits circling like sharks, the Red Devils manager must move with swift precision.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Jakub Kiwior to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport, who claim that Juventus have now joined the race to sign the Spezia Calcio centre-back this winter, with the Serie A giants willing to sign the 22-year-old in January before loaning the defender back to Spezia for the remainder of the current campaign – a prospect that is thought to tempt the 17th-placed side.

This is sure to have come as a blow to Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte, with an earlier report by Spanish publication AS revealing that Tottenham are one of a number of Premier League clubs hoping to land the Poland international this winter – with Spezia believed to be demanding a figure in the region of €30m (£26m) in order to part with the youngster.

“Very positive surprise”

Considering just how impressive Kiwior has been in Italy so far this season, coupled with Conte’s well-documented desire for defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window, it is not hard to understand why Paratici would be interested in a deal to bring the 22-year-old to north London this winter.

Indeed, over his 15 Serie A appearances in the current campaign, the £17.5m-rated talent has been a rock at the back for Spezia, making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 3.7 clearances and winning 3.0 duels per game.

The £22k-per-week defender has also impressed in possession of the ball, creating one big chance for his side, in addition to enjoying an average of 59.2 touches, completing 38.9 passes – a success rate of 86% – and playing 3.6 long balls per match.

These returns have seen the player who Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig claimed has been a “very positive surprise” and Fabrizo Romano previously dubbed “untouchable” average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.83, currently ranking him as Luca Gotti’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of Italian football.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the left-footer also ranks in the top 7% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for blocks per 90, as well as the top 20% for interceptions, the top 21% for tackles and the top 17% for dribbles over the last 365 days – highlighting just how strong the 22-year-old is at the back, as well as his comfort in bringing the ball out from defence.

As such, considering just how much ability Kiwior already possesses, in addition to the youngster undoubtedly boasting huge scope for further development, it is indeed easy to see why Paratici and Conte would be keen on the Poland starlet in January, as the defender would certainly look to make an exceptional – if not surprising – addition to Spurs’ current defensive options.

Everton have struck gold by appointing Frank Lampard, a manager who has not only improved the performances of the first team but has an eye for young talent that have become superstars in their own right.

Reece James, Mason Mount, Tariq Lamptey and Marc Guehi are just some of the hottest young English prospects the former Chelsea boss gave Premier League debuts to when he was managing the squad at Stamford Bridge.

James and Mount have gone on to be regular England internationals featuring in the squad that were the first to reach an international final since 1966 last year at the Euros, and both played a crucial part in Chelsea’s Champions League victory just six months after Lampard was sacked.

As a result, the promising prospects in the Everton academy on Merseyside will surely be hoping that they can become the manager’s next big breakthrough and there is one youth player in particular who could be Lampard’s next Mount.

Everton U21 star Charlie Whitaker signed a brand new contract yesterday, agreeing a three-year deal that keeps him at the club until June 2025.

The talented attacking midfielder – who was dubbed an “undoubted talent” by Kevin Thelwell – name-dropped Lampard as one of his inspirations for the way he plays upon signing his extension on Tuesday:

“As a kid, Frank Lampard was someone I looked up to and to learn from him now has been terrific.”

Just like Mount, Whitaker is an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal and a creative mindset that allows him to be a versatile threat in his advanced role on the pitch.

The 19-year-old has scored 20 goals and registered nine assists over his 64 appearances across the Everton U18s and U21s with a goal contribution every 154 minutes.

This season over his three appearances in the EFL Trophy, Whitaker has been a standout performer, scoring one goal and delivering one assist, as well as averaging 2.7 tackles, 2.3 key passes and 2.7 shots per game, proving that he is becoming a player Lampard will struggle to ignore as he continues to flourish.

Whitaker is comfortable operating in all three positions across the front three as well as the attacking midfield role and could be the perfect answer to Everton’s much-needed refresh in the forward line and has already had the opportunity to train with the first team on many occasions.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Whitaker and if he continues to flourish in the Everton U21s and first-team training sessions, there is no doubt that the talented midfielder will catch Lampard’s eye in no time at all.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are still searching for a successor to former boss Bruno Lage, with Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers having now been put forward as a potential candidate to fill the vacancy.

What’s the word?

Speaking on BT Sport, via Birmingham Mail, both Peter Crouch and Robbie Savage gave their backing to the idea of the Northern Irishman taking on the top job at Molineux, with a replacement for the aforementioned Lage – who was sacked just over two weeks ago – still yet to be confirmed.

Savage said: “I think if Leicester were to get rid of him, and a Premier League job came up, possibly not a top four, five or six club now, but anybody else… Wolves for instance. Just say, if Rodgers wasn’t the Leicester manager, would Wolves (go for him)”, before Crouch responded: “They’d take him in a heartbeat.”

The Old Gold had seemingly identified long-term target Julen Lopetegui to take on the role although the Spaniard subsequently turned down the offer due to family reasons, with Queen’s Park Rangers head coach Michael Beale as well as former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo just two of the names who are now being considered.

Managerial masterstroke

Much of the talk at present is about that man Nuno, with the 48-year-old having previously guided the club out of the Championship, before enjoying a remarkable spell in the top flight which also included European qualification.

While a popular figure as a result of the work he had done during that stunning four-year spell, the jury is out on whether it would be wise to bring the Portuguese coach back to the club just 17 months after his departure, with The Athletic suggesting that there is split opinion over the wisdom of such a move.

The current Al-Ittihad boss had endured something of a frustrating end to his time with the Midlands outfit, with the feeling being that the relationship had simply run its course as the club secured an underwhelming 13th-placed finish in the Premier League during the 2020/21 campaign.

As such it may feel like a step backwards to re-appoint the former Tottenham Hotspur boss, with turning to a fresh face such as Rodgers potentially the better option, particularly due to the latter man’s impressive CV to date.

While the 49-year-old is currently struggling at the King Power Stadium – with doubts over his future after seeing his side pick up just five points in ten league games to date – prior to this season it had largely been a tale of success with the Foxes, having overseen a first ever FA Cup triumph for the club back in 2021, as well as a subsequent Community Shield success.

That time in the Midlands had come following a glittering stint in Scotland with Old Firm giants Celtic, memorably guiding the Hoops to a remarkable unbeaten domestic campaign during the 2016/17 season.

Prior to that, the Carnlough-born genius had narrowly missed out on the league title during his time at Liverpool in 2014, after finishing just two points behind Manchester City, with managerial counterpart Jose Mourinho only recently lauding the “amazing” job that he had done at Anfield.

While there are yet to be any confirmed links to Rodgers at present – beyond the suggestion of Savage and Crouch – it would no doubt be a managerial masterstroke for the Wolves hierarchy to consider an approach, even amid his ongoing turmoil at Leicester.

West Ham United are willing to sell Declan Rice at the end of the current campaign.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Claret & Hugh, with the Hammers insider revealing in a recent post that, after the 23-year-old and his agent, Sean Rice, rejected a new contract offer reported to be worth £200k-per-week from the club, West Ham will now be prepared to listen to offers for the England international in the summer of 2023.

The insider goes on to state that the Irons are hoping to receive a figure north of £100m for the midfielder, with Rice’s future at the London Stadium believed to be more under question than at any point over the past two years.

Huge blow for Moyes

Considering how integral Rice has become for West Ham over the last few years, should David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady be willing to cash in on the 23-year-old next summer, it would come as a huge blow to David Moyes and his side.

The £72m-rated club captain has been one of the Hammers’ top five performers in each of the past three seasons, with the midfielder’s remarkable displays last season demonstrating just how crucial he is in the heart of the West Ham side.

Indeed, over his 36 league fixtures in 2021/22, the £60k-per-week talent was in sensational form, scoring one goal, registering four assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 2.2 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 54.8 passes, 1.4 dribbles, 3.6 long balls and winning 5.1 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

These returns saw the player who Fabrizio Romano dubbed “untouchable” average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.19, not only ranking him as Moyes’ best performer in the league but also as the joint 26th-best player in the top flight of English football as a whole last time out.

However, it was not only in domestic competitions that the former Chelsea academy prospect impressed last season, as Rice also stood out over his ten Europa League fixtures in 2021/22 – averaging a breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.39, with his incredible displays over the Irons’ run to the semi-final earning him a place in the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season.

Furthermore, despite West Ham’s extremely poor start to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign – with the Hammers currently sitting 18th after seven games played – Rice has nevertheless been a shining light in the heart of midfield – averaging an extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.14, ranking him as the division’s 50th-best player so far this season.

As such, while many West Ham supporters will be well aware that the 32-cap international is a player who is destined for bigger things than a career at the east London side, it will still come as gutting news to learn that GSB are willing to part with the midfielder next season – not to mention a huge blow to Moyes.

Everton are believed to have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Leander Dendoncker, with manager Frank Lampard looking to bolster his squad before the window closes.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, the Toffees lodged a bid of around £8m for the Belgium international, although that offer was subsequently rejected by the Midlands outfit.

The report suggests that the Merseysiders are keen on bolstering their midfield ranks in the coming days following the departures of Dele Alli and Jean-Philippe Gbamin to Besiktas and Trabzonspor, respectively.

The 27-year-old has just a year remaining on his existing deal a Molineux – albeit with the club retaining the option of a 12-month extension – while he has failed to start the last two league games for Bruno Lage’s side.

The Goodison Park outfit have, of course, already raided the Old Gold for the signings of Ruben Vinagre and Conor Coady, with the pair joining on loan earlier this summer.

Imagine him and Onana

Dendoncker’s arrival would help to bolster an area of the pitch that has long been scrutinised, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher previously criticising the “lack of athleticism” in Lampard’s side following the 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last season.

The addition of the 29-cap gem would offer a more dynamic presence in midfield, with the former Anderlecht man – who made the move to England back in 2018 – having scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 159 outings for his current side from his holding role.

Not just a threat in the final third, the £25.2m-rated ace also provides real defensive strength, as he notably ranks in the top 10% for blocks made among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues – a better record than the likes of Allan (top 13%), Abdoulaye Doucoure (top 38%) and Andre Gomes (top 22%).

A Premier League-ready player who should take little time to adjust to his new surroundings, the £90k-per-week man could also offer a real boost in the dressing room, having been dubbed a “big character” by Lage back in February.

His leader-like presence could well help to guide his international colleague Amadou Onana in the centre of the park, with the 21-year-old still finding his feet in English football after his big-money move from Lille.

That Belgian connection could well prove vital in helping to build a formidable midfield unit under Lampard, with the 44-year-old potentially finally able to settle on a preferred pairing after chopping and changing in his tenure thus far.

With Dendoncker providing the calm, experienced head, it would allow Onana to be the more aggressive and front-foot figure in the midfield, with the latter man having proven his worth as an elite ball-winner, ranking in the top 5% for tackles made, as per FBref.

As deadline day looms, Everton supporters will no doubt be hoping that the club renew their attempts to sign the Wolves man, with an Onana-Dendoncker axis likely to be a real key pairing.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with Alex Moreno over this summer but the player rejected a move. However, a new update has emerged that could mean a deal might be back on the table over the last few weeks of the transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to Spanish news outlet Estadio Deportivo, a deal for the Real Betis wing-back to join Nottingham Forest hasn’t been ruled out as of yet.

As per the report, the newly-promoted side could go back in for the player with more force as they are still very much interested in signing Moreno this summer.

It could be a big signing

Steve Cooper has already welcomed 15 new players to the City Ground this summer as the club have left nothing to chance in their efforts to build a team that can compete comfortably in the Premier League and retain their top-flight status.

Moreno is clearly a player the Forest hierarchy view as a perfect fit for their challenge over the season ahead with every part of the deal agreed to bring the player in before it was snubbed, and it’s not hard to see why when you consider the player’s strengths and dominance on the left flank for his Spanish side.

The 29-year-old ranked in the top 20% of his positional peers in the top five European leagues for tackles, blocks, clearances and progressive carries, demonstrating a phenomenal work rate on the flanks. That said, it’s not just his defensive attributes that would have caught the eye of the powers at the City Ground.

Over 30 La Liga appearances, the £9m-valued talent who was hailed as “quality” by journalist Ethan Lamb scored five goals, delivered three assists and created two big chances from an average of 62.7 touches per game, proving that Moreno has no trouble in not only providing defensive cover but offering plenty in attacking play too.

When you look at how Cooper has deployed his team over the first two fixtures in the Premier League, the Welsh manager opts for a 3-4-1-2 formation which worked perfectly for the Reds last weekend against West Ham United where they took their first three points from their first home game of the season.

With that being said, Moreno would be the perfect profile of player to occupy the left wing-back position in the team thanks to his admirable work rate and phenomenal power in the final third. Therefore, it would be no surprise if Forest do try their luck again in order to finally secure a signing that would be rather ideal for the manager’s system.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to Goal France. 

The lowdown: Hot property

A product of the youth system at the Parc des Princes, the 20-year-old has risen through the ranks to become one of the most exciting young players in Europe at present.

Following back-to-back successful loan spells at Ligue 1 outfit Lens, yielding 27 direct goal contributions in 65 appearances, the France youth international has already been heavily linked with the Hammers’ Premier League rivals Leeds United, along with loan admiration from Nice and Rennes.

Despite impressing away from the French capital and in pre-season, PSG may still sanction the sale of Kalimuendo, and it now appears as though east London has emerged as a potential landing spot…

The latest: West Ham interested in Kalimuendo

As per Goal France, West Ham have joined the list of suitors for the France under-21 starlet.

It’s claimed that the Irons ‘are looking for a second striker after the arrival of Gianluca Scamacca’ and are therefore ‘interested’ in acquiring the services of Kalimuendo this summer.

The report also states that Leeds have ‘already submitted several offers’ for the youngster, who was described as a ‘disgustingly good striker with ‘bags of potential’ by reputable football journalist Jacque Talbot.

The verdict: Do it

Available for a previously mooted €25m (£20m), signing a player of the enormous potential of Kalimuendo for anything close to the suggested fee would be a sensational coup for the east Londoners.

Having been linked elsewhere with Chelsea marksman Armando Broja and Nice prodigy Amine Gouiri, the east Londoners are seemingly still in the market for an attacking addition, and the PSG gem can be considered a genuine possibility.

Last season, the French wonderkid scored 13 times in 34 Ligue 1 outings and continued to defy his xG statistics (8.8) in the process, comfortably outperforming his expected tally for a second consecutive campaign at Lens.

Sharing a close stylistic match with the likes of Luis Suarez, Kevin Gameiro and West Ham-linked Jonathan David (FBRef), Kalimuendo should be regarded as a top target in the remaining weeks of the window for Rob Newman and GSB as the West Ham board look to further bolster the options available to David Moyes at the London Stadium.