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Reliable journalist John Percy has dropped a big update regarding the future of Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil, following his side’s 5-3 defeat away to Brentford over the weekend.

O'Neil struggling as Wolves manager

Wanderers went into Saturday’s trip to Brentford looking for their first Premier League win of the season, but yet again, the travelling supporters didn’t get what they hoped for.

A hugely entertaining game saw the Bees run out 5-3 winners in west London, with Wolves twice coming from behind in the first half, but eventually succumbing to yet another defeat in the top flight.

It means that Wanderers remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, having only got one point from their opening seven matches, so there is understandable pressure on the shoulders of O’Neil currently.

The 41-year-old made an impressive start to life at Molineux, standing out as arguably one of the most exciting young British managers in the game, but things have turned this season, and he desperately needs to turn his team’s fortunes around. Now, a fresh update has dropped on O’Neil’s future.

Update on Gary O'Neil's Wolves future

Writing on X on Sunday morning, Percy claimed that O’Neil still has the backing of those high up at Wolves, despite such a poor beginning to the season:

While many supporters could understandably be frustrated with Wolves’ struggles under O’Neil, it is refreshing to see the club’s board standing by him and still looking at him as the right man for the job.

There is a level of impatience that exists in the modern game that means managers get sacked far quicker than they used to, but if Wanderers believe their current boss is the correct individual to take them into the future, there shouldn’t be too big an overreaction to their start to the campaign.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Wolves can stick with O’Neil forever, and at some point, a change may be needed if defeats continue to arrive after the international break, so the run of fixtures after the international break feels crucial as Percy alludes to.

A home clash with champions Manchester City is a horrible way to return to action later in the month, and it would be unfair to react after that game, regardless of the result.

O'Neil must ditch Wolves gem who took fewer touches than Johnstone

The Old Gold are in serious trouble now…

2 ByRoss Kilvington Oct 6, 2024

A trip to Brighton is also tricky, but the back-to-back home clashes with Crystal Palace and Southampton at the start of November feel massive. If Wolves are still without a victory in the league after those four games, you have to wonder whether the managerial situation will have changed, with the club possibly feeling they have given O’Neil long enough by that point.

Everton chiefs are making an urgent attempt to keep their key stars at the club, and have now tabled a new contract offer to do just that, it has been revealed.

Everton struggling so far

So far, Everton are yet to record a win this season in the Premier League. After being beaten by both Tottenham and Brighton in their opening two games, they have thrown away 2-0 leads in both of their most recent games to fall to 3-2 defeats, a worrying trend for Sean Dyche’s side.

Talks held: Everton nearly hired a “genius” in 2023, they got Dyche instead

The Blues have started the season in wretched form…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 20, 2024

To make matters worse, they exited the Carabao Cup via penalties at the hands of Southampton, ensuring that there is a toxic atmosphere engulfing Goodison Park in the early weeks of the season. But they may have been handed a much-needed piece of good news.

Everton star offered new contract

Now, it has emerged that Everton are in talks to extend the contract of star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin amid interest from across Europe. The striker is down to the final months of his £100,000 a week deal at Goodison Park, meaning that he can discuss terms over a free transfer abroad from January should he wish to.

He was the subject of interest from Newcastle United over the summer, but no deal materialised for the England international, and the 27-year-old remains a key part of the Toffees set up, having had a hand in three of their four goals so far this season and starting all four games.

His form towards the end of last season was also strong, with Dyche keen on one particularly “excellent” outing against Liverpool.

“I thought he was excellent,” Dyche said. “His physical performance was outstanding, He’s not quite over it [illness] but we hope it settles down a bit.”

Though he has suffered a tough period with injuries, his fitness and form will be a key part of keeping the Toffees out of relegation trouble as they look for their first points of the season. And TEAMTalk report that a new deal is on the table at Everton should Calvert-Lewin wish to take it up.

Most Premier League goals for Everton

Player

Games

Goals

Romelu Lukaku

141

68

Duncan Ferguson

239

60

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

217

56

Tim Cahill

226

56

Kevin Campbell

145

45

They claim that “Everton are pushing on with contract talks and those are now ongoing”, while “a contract offer has been placed” on the table for the Everton star should he be keen to remain on Merseyside, while the Toffees are hoping “they can stop the Englishman from leaving the club for nothing” as he is currently set to do.

It is added that Calvert-Lewin “loves Everton” and has never looked to force his way out, but his contract situation could see him leave for nothing at the end of the current campaign as it stands.

After a poor start to the season, a breakthrough in contract talks for one of their stars could be just the boost that the Toffees need as they look to string a run of results together to drag themselves away from the relegation zone.

Derby County will know that Pride Park needs to continue being a fortress this season if they want to safely secure their Championship status come the end of the gruelling 46-game campaign.

The Rams have picked up an impressive nine points so far from six matches, with three wins and three losses next to their name, as all the victories tallied up to date have come on their own patch.

Paul Warne will be hoping that his team don’t over-rely on their home form to get them out of trouble, however, but will be pleased with his side’s start all the same, with Kayden Jackson, in particular, standing out with his displays up top.

Jackson's form this season

Supporters that pack out Pride Park week in week out will already be heralding Jackson as a top buy, with the former Ipswich Town attacker costing the Rams nothing to get in through the door this summer, after his Tractor Boys contract had expired.

The experienced EFL forward, who has amassed 71 second tier appearances across his varied career to date, has netted three goals already this season in all competitions, which included this powerful strike against Bristol City finding the back of the net to send the Derby home masses into pandemonium.

He has fluffed his lines in Derby’s last two Championship encounters, with Jackson only managing a lacklustre 26 touches last time out versus Sheffield United in a 1-0 defeat, but plenty more will be expected of him as the season goes on and clashes become more meaningful.

Derby would love to have this former striker back on their books to aid Jackson up top, to alleviate some of the pressure on the former Ipswich man’s shoulders, with the ex-star in question now on the books at League One Wrexham who are taking the third tier by storm.

Marriott's form this season

That former hero is Jack Marriott, who is most widely known in Derby quarters to this day as the striker who bagged the Rams’ only strike in the 2019 Championship playoff final, when facing off against Dean Smith’s Aston Villa.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Villa would, unfortunately, get the better of Derby 2-1 come the end of the entertaining final, as Frank Lampard’s side had to take their Premier League near miss on the chin, with an energetic Marriott then struggling to ever recapture his best form donning a Rams strip after this moment in the Wembley spotlight.

Club played for

Games

Goals

Assists

Sheffield Wednesday

13

0

0

Peterborough United

58

16

2

Fleetwood Town

48

13

2

Wrexham

25

5

0

Marriott has become a well-travelled presence up and down the EFL since his exit from Pride Park, which saw him leave for nothing in 2021 to move to Peterborough, but it’s his impressive form for Wrexham this campaign so far that has really caught the eye.

The 30-year-old has actually outscored Jackson at the Racecourse Ground, with four goals managed for the Red Dragons from eight games in all competitions, as the experienced attacker even picked up the League One Goal of the Month accolade for this sublime effort versus Wycombe Wanderers last month.

The much-talked-about Welsh outfit will just pray that Marriott can keep up this early electric form as back-to-back promotions begin to be eyed up, with the ex-Derby man even a previous golden boot winner at the level – having been hailed as “top class” by former boss Lampard.

If Marriott does continue to fire in goal after goal, Wrexham and Derby might well even face off against each other next season, if Warne’s men also manage to stave off relegation.

It will be an intriguing race to keep tabs on to see who scores the most goals for their respective outfit, with Derby banking on the fact that their shrewd buy can remain consistent in front of goal away from any talk surrounding Wrexham, to ensure they don’t drop immediately back down to League One.

Derby have struck gold on star who's worth more than Mendez-Laing & Cashin

Derby County have already struck gold with this new addition.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 15, 2024

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has confirmed that an “impressive” player has picked up an injury, having missed the defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

Sunderland suffer shock defeat

The Black Cats turned up for their Championship clash with Plymouth on Saturday full of confidence, having won all four of their opening games in the competition this season. For that reason, they were resounding favourites to pick up another victory, but things didn’t pan out that way.

A Patrick Roberts penalty in the first half gave Sunderland the lead, suggesting that three more points were coming their way, but Le Bris’ men found themselves 2-1 down relatively late on.

Just when it looked as though Romaine Mundle had snatched a point for the visitors, they conceded in stoppage time, sending the travelling fans home miserable. It was a disappointing afternoon for anyone of a Sunderland persuasion, with the defeat acting as a reality check in the Championship promotion battle, but they still look like one of the leading contenders to be in the mix come the end of the season, and are still top of the table.

Le Bris confirms Sunderland injury

Speaking after the loss to Plymouth, Le Bris confirmed that Ian Poveda missed the game through injury, with a thigh problem keeping him sidelined, acting as a concern alongside star centre-back Dan Ballard, who limped off and was on crutches and in a brace after the Home Park loss: “He felt a small discomfort on his thigh so he was not available, but we think that it is not serious”, said Le Bris on Poveda.

Poveda’s absence on Saturday wasn’t ideal for Sunderland, given the attacking quality he possesses, potentially being a difference-maker with his unpredictability in the final third. The 24-year-old has only featured for 17 minutes of action for the Black Cats after joining from Leeds United on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window, but he is a talented footballer who Leeds United manager Daniel Farke once said of:

“Ian came back with a smile on his face, lots of confidence because he had good performances on this level. He was also quite impressive during this training week. I like what he’s showing so far.”

As Le Bris alludes to, it doesn’t look as though Poveda’s injury is serious, so the hope is that he is back in the fold as soon as possible, and he is going to be an exciting player to watch in the coming months.

Granted, the two-cap Colombia international has had a nomadic career to date, spending time at Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday, all on loan, but the hope is that he can now settle at Sunderland and be an important squad player for Le Bris.

Liverpool now register interest in "wonderful" Real Madrid target for Slot

He’s a future star.

1 ByTom Cunningham Sep 13, 2024

He is still only 24 years of age, so he has plenty of time on his side, and it is now a case of finding the right club and kicking on, hopefully making up for the departure of Jack Clarke in the process.

Manchester United are "one step away" from completing the signing of Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Andre Onana joining Manchester United?

The Cameroon international looks set to become the Red Devils' second signing of this summer window after the club completed a deal for Mason Mount earlier this week.

The club have been looking at the goalkeeper market for a while, and with last season's No 1 David de Gea confirming his Old Trafford exit after 545 appearances across 11 seasons, the decision has been made to reunite manager Erik ten Hag with his goalkeeper from his tenure as Ajax boss.

Reports state that the deal for 27-year-old Onana could cost United £43m, which could represent great value in the market for a shot-stopper given his age.

The Red Devils are eager to seal the deal by the end of next week according to reports, with the coaching staff wanting Onana to join the squad in time for their pre-season tour in the United States.

Speaking on his YouTube channel before De Gea announced his official departure, Romano revealed that the goalkeeper is "one step away" from completing the transfer, with the negotiations going really well.

"United will submit a new official proposal, and the feeling is that they will close the deal. All parties want this deal to be completed by the end of next week, so it is a matter of days and then Man United will complete the deal for Andre Onana.

"Erik ten Hag is really pushing and Onana is really one step away from joining Manchester United, the negotiation is going very, very well."

Is Andre Onana a good signing for Manchester United?

The signing of Onana could be a really positive move for the club, with the player's skillset opening up the possibility for United to play a more advanced Ten Hag-style of football.

The Cameroon international is one of the more proactive sweeper-keepers available on the market at this moment, with 18% of his open-play touches in the previous campaign coming from outside the penalty area, which is in contrast to De Gea, who managed just 13% outside his own box.

Onana is also a very reliable passer of the ball, and attracted praise from City boss Pep Guardiola after their Champions League final defeat, with the Spaniard saying the 'keeper played like a "holding midfielder".

His 93.8% pass accuracy in his own half was only bettered by 12 goalkeepers in Europe, with only three of those 12 attempting more passes per game than the former Ajax man. Should this translate to the Premier League, United could employ a much more expansive style of build-up, knowing that their goalkeeper can help carve out a number of promising attacks for them in a similar nature to some of the best in the division such as City's own Ederson thanks to his passing technique.

United fans should start getting excited about the prospect of Onana between the sticks next year, as well as the freedom and confidence he could give those around him at Old Trafford next season.

Bayern Munich have prepared "a second offer" for Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, with the German club being the England international's "preferred destination" should he leave the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – What's the latest on Harry Kane?

Earlier this week German giants Bayern made an initial verbal offer to Spurs for the services of their talismanic captain and all-time leading goals scorer, Kane.

According to the Daily Mail, the opening offer was in the region of £60m, which was swiftly rejected by the north London side, who maintain their position that they would rather lose the player for free next year than sell him for a figure that low.

The publication also revealed that personal terms between the player and club had been agreed 'in principle', leaving the ball firmly in Daniel Levy and Co's court.

It would appear that the Bundesliga champions see the Englishman as one of their key targets this summer, as they are reportedly set to make a second offer to the north London club imminently.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, reporter Mark McAdam revealed the latest information on this unfolding transfer saga: "We are now being told by Sky Germany that there is a second offer being prepared, and this is a more formal offer in writing from Bayern Munich to Tottenham Hotspur.

"Their information is also that Harry Kane would be open to the move, and should he leave the Premier League, Bayern Munich would be his preferred destination.

"Of course, Spurs' stance has always been the same, they do not want to sell Harry Kane, they want to keep him, Ange Postecoglou would like him as part of squad for next season, and that they would be more happy to let him go on a free next season when his contract comes to an end.

"He is of course in the last year of his current Tottenham Hotspur deal at the moment and to try and find a replacement for man that scored 30 Premier League goals is almost impossible."

Just how good was Harry Kane last season?

In a season that saw headlines dominated by the sensational exploits of Erling Haaland, it has flown under the radar somewhat just how good of a campaign it was from an individual point of view for Kane.

The Walthamstow-born machine scored a seriously impressive 30 goals for a lacklustre Lilywhites side, coming up with a further three assists.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 7.51 across his 38 league appearances as well, highlighting that he wasn't just hiding behind a good goal tally.

His temporary boss Cristian Stellini certainly appreciated his goals in his short tenure, hailing the player as a "GOAT in this league" following their shock 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Guardiola is another great of the game that has never hidden his admiration for the England captain, lauding him as "exceptional" and "one of the best I have ever seen."

It is hard to argue against Kane being one of the Premier League's greatest ever players, and with that, it is easier to understand Spurs' position of being happier to lose him for free next year if they can get another year of exceptional service out of him.

Whatever happens, and wherever Kane plays next season, he will likely be challenging for the golden boot all over again.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are not willing to match the £25m price-tag set by Bristol City for young midfield star Alex Scott, according to Dean Jones.

Scott has been linked with a move this summer after impressing for the Robins in the Championship last season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news – Alex Scott

Several Premier League clubs have entered the chase to sign Scott this summer, according to TalkSPORT, with Wolves among those.

The Midlands club reportedly face competition from West Ham United and Bournemouth for the teenager's signature this summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool previously sent scouts to watch the midfielder, before cooling their interest.

As the summer goes on, it looks like Scott will have a big decision to make regarding his future.

What has Dean Jones said about Alex Scott and Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Speaking to Football FanCast, when asked about Scott and Wolves, Jones said: "Scott’s an interesting one. Bristol City value him at around £25m at the moment.

"That’s been quite off-putting for a lot of teams, it’s not just Wolves that aren’t willing to get to that make, so I think as the window goes further in, we might find that price-tag comes down a little."

How did Alex Scott perform in the Championship last season?Reports over a potential Premier League move for Scott come as no surprise after the Bristol City youngster picked up the Championship's Young Player of the Year award.

Many were quick to praise the 19-year-old throughout the season, with Robins manager Nigel Pearson saying, via Bristol World: "He’s just a very unique talent and he’s got a very impressive temperament.

“I think he’s destined for the very top, but football dictates to you what’s going to happen because you can’t always be in control of your own destiny.

"Alex Scott will, I think, continue to progress and he’ll be a top player. But he also knows that he’s got to do it for us while he’s here, he just enjoys playing football so it's good to have young hungry players at the club as well as senior players who want to continue to perform and get better.”

In total, the man in demand was involved in seven goals from midfield in the Championship last season, as well as particularly impressing through his progressive dribbling ability, making 2.34 progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Wherever he ends up this summer, there is no doubt that Scott has all the tools to become a top talent.

Everton supporters are bracing themselves for Amadou Onana's exit from Goodison Park this summer, but they should fear not as there is a ready-made replacement waiting to join.

Onana is reportedly being targeted by Chelsea should they fail to sign top target Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Seagulls refusing to budge on their nine-figure valuation.

Everton are themselves said to be after £55m for Onana, which the big-spending Blues would likely pay, and the Toffees can then sign as good a player – if not better – for half of that fee.

What are the latest Everton transfer rumours?

According to the Daily Mail, Sean Dyche's side have already made enquiries over Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, though the United States international is also wanted by Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and indeed Brighton.

The report suggests that the 5 foot 9 ace could be the subject of a £25m bid from the Seagulls.

Is Tyler Adams an upgrade on Amadou Onana for Everton?

Adams may have suffered relegation from the Premier League in his first season with Leeds, having only joined from RB Leipzig for a reported £20m last summer, but his reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder remains intact.

The American ranked joint-fourth in the Premier League last season in terms of tackles, level with Manchester United's Casemiro on 89, as per FBref. To put that in some perspective, Onana ranked 16th in the division with 72.

Adams (50) also ranked second, behind only Fulham's Joao Palhinha (71), for dribblers tackled in last season's Premier League, while he ranked tenth for tackles and interceptions combined (129).

That translates to 5.17 combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes for Adams, compared to 3.95 for Onana, the man he may be brought in to replace by Everton.

Not only would the Toffees be bringing in one of the finest around at breaking up play – he ranks in the top 4% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues in that metric, as per The Analyst – they also have a natural leader in the engine room, as pointed out by former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch.

"We used to have conversations in New York about whether we make Tyler the captain at 17, 18 years old," Marsch told The Athletic of the pair's time together at New York Red Bulls. "Everyone talked about his potential as a leader."

Adams is also comfortable on the ball, ranking in the top 17% of midfielders in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A for average number of touches per game, whereas Onana is in the bottom 14%.

The 24-year-old does not provide any sort of attacking threat, as highlighted by the fact he is in the lowest 2% of his positional peers across Europe's elite leagues for shots taken, but that is not what Everton are after.

In some ways, a bid from Chelsea for Onana should almost be welcomed by Everton. Not only will they be able to bring in a player for half the cost at £25m, as per the Daily Mail report, but they will also have money left over to strengthen other troublesome positions in the hope of a more positive 2023/24.

Liverpool are gathering information regarding what it would take to bring Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat is a defensive midfielder who currently plays his football at the Artemio Franchi Stadium having joined back in 2020 from Hellas Verona. With his contract set to expire at the end of next season, Vincenzo Italiano is now facing his final opportunity to cash in should he not want to lose his prized asset for free in 12 months.

The Morocco international was his nation’s most regular outfield player at the 2022 World Cup having played 660 minutes of football, and excelled to the point where they made it all the way to the semi-finals, and these displays for his country grabbed the attention of Jurgen Klopp back in January.

The Athletic’s James Pearce reported that the Reds were considering a swoop for the 26-year-old as an outside alternative compared to some of their more high-profile targets at the time, Jude Bellingham being an example, and despite them eventually deciding against a move, it sounds like they might have since had a change of heart.

Are Liverpool signing Amrabat?

According to Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are "attentive" to Amrabat's situation and have "sounded out" the midfielder about a potential summer switch to Anfield.

Fiorentina are believed to have set a price tag of €30m (£25m) plus objectives for the player, who wants to leave and start afresh elsewhere "as soon as possible", but it's not specified whether the fee is one that the board would be happy to pay.

Could Amrabat be a good addition for Klopp?

Liverpool will know that Amrabat is stronger in the natural defensive aspect of his game having only recorded one assist across all competitions last season, but with the protection that he could give to the backline, he would be a great acquisition for FSG.

The Huizen native ranked in the 95th percentile for pass completion so is calm and composed in possession, and loves to get stuck in after averaging 1.3 tackles per league game during the previous campaign, preventing the danger before it was too late.

Fiorentina’s “monster”, as dubbed by reporter Carlo Garganese, would also add wonderful versatility to Klopp’s squad with his ability to operate in eight various positions across the pitch, including everywhere in the centre and even in defence, making him a useful option to have available.

Finally, Amrabat shares the same agent, CAA Stellar, as Ibrahima Konate, Caoimhin Kelleher and Rhys Williams, so this existing connection that their representative has to the club could hand them a small advantage should they try and get a deal over the line this summer.

Arsenal remain interested in a Premier League rival's player, with a recent update on their pursuit having now been dropped…

What's the latest on Joao Cancelo to Arsenal?

Speaking on The Gooner Talk YouTube channel, journalist Harry Symeou detailed the numerous players that the Gunners have been linked with despite the window having only truly opened on Wednesday.

Whilst the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Declan Rice were mentioned, what he noted about Joao Cancelo was perhaps the most interesting.

He claimed:

"I really do think that Arsenal want to do this deal, I really, really do. Whether they’ll be able to do it or not remains to be seen, because I think financially this is quite a difficult one to do.

“We know that there was an option-to-buy available for Bayern at around about €60m (£51m) and we know that Bayern don’t want to take that up. This suggests that Manchester City are of the belief that the player is worth [the] money and he absolutely is.

“It’s going to cost money to get him off of a rival and City do see us as that now, I don’t think they’re going to be letting people move across to Arsenal as freely as they did last summer looking at the way that elevated us."

How good could Joao Cancelo be at Arsenal?

Whilst the acquisition of someone so ingrained in a philosophy akin to Mikel Arteta's would offer widescale improvements, it could be argued that the comfortability of the defender in his role could have a particularly revolutionary effect on those within the back line.

After all, should he invert to form the base of a box midfield, just like he has done at times under Pep Guardiola, it could allow the likes of William Saliba to truly thrive and become one of the best ball-playing defenders in the game.

The way in which Cancelo accepts the ball in awkward areas, as a creatively unique full-back, would offer another key passing lane for the Frenchman who has enjoyed a stellar first full year playing English football.

When compared to other central defenders across Europe, the 22-year-old ranks in the top 8% for passes attempted and the top 7% for pass completion per 90, via FBref. This has boosted his 6.96 average rating, further upheld through 1.3 tackles and three clearances per game too, via Sofascore.

Meanwhile, the Portugal international, when put alongside other full-backs in Europe, blows them all out of the water creatively. He ranks in the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 2% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for assists, but most importantly for Saliba, the top 4% for progressive passes received, all per 90 via FBref.

This has led teammate Jack Grealish to wax lyrical about his qualities, claiming:

"He is so good technically. You know when we're playing one-touch, two-touch, he's just a joke and then he can shoot right foot, left foot from anywhere."

City's treble-winning boss Pep Guardiola would also supplement this, by outlining one particularly outstanding showing: "He was aggressive and has incredible quality with the ball."

With a defensive steel showcased in his 1.5 tackles and one interception per Bundesliga game last season, but an unparalleled ability to take the ball and forge opportunities, Cancelo has all the attributes to come into the Emirates and help make Saliba one of the best in his position.