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Everton must compromise on their asking price for Anthony Gordon to make a deal happen, claims Luke Edwards.

The Lowdown: Gordon in demand

The Everton forward has been in high demand since his breakout campaign last year, where his performances helped keep the Goodison Park outfit in the Premier League, as he started 25 games in the top-flight, majority coming at the business end of the season.

This led Gordon to look destined for Chelsea in the summer, but the Toffees stood firm as he remained on Merseyside.

Talks regarding his exit are back again with Everton floundering in the drop zone, and the Daily Mail is reporting that he has missed training for a third consecutive day amid a potential switch to Newcastle United.

The Latest: Edwards’ comments

Speaking on the BBC’s Transfer Gossip Daily on Thursday morning, Edwards claimed that the only way a deal will go through is if a compromise on the price is met, with the Magpies believing Everton’s valuation is too high.

He said: “If the player wants to leave, which he certainly does – he’s not been at the training ground for two days; I think he may even have handed in a transfer request now – at some point, there’s going to have to be a compromise in those fees.

“Newcastle are not going to go that high, Everton may have to kind of wake up and smell the coffee a little bit and realise they’re not going to get that sort of fee for him.

“I would expect it to be closer to something like £35m, maybe rising to £40m or something like that.”

The Verdict: Interesting days ahead

With the 21-year-old’s public display of unhappiness on Merseyside, it begs the question of whether Everton will bow to his demands or stick to their guns on their £60m tag.

Despite Newcastle boasting the finances to pay £60m for a player considering their lavish spending in recent windows since their Saudi Arabian-backed takeover (as per Transfermarkt), the Toffees’ demands clearly don’t represent value for money for buyers.

With Gordon bagging just three goals and not registering an assist in the top flight this campaign, it could be argued that he’s far from an attractive figure to bring into a Champions League-chasing side for that fee.

It seems Everton are fixed on getting the full amount that was mooted last year, and with their current struggles and the limited amount of time left in the window, you wonder whether the Toffees should indeed cut their losses on an unhappy player given their situation.

Liverpool have ‘nothing concrete’ going on with Atalanta regarding a potential deal for Teun Koopmeiners, according to the club’s sporting director Tony D’Amico.

The Lowdown: Scouting mission

The Merseyside outfit are reportedly planning to make a box-office midfield signing this month following a mixed start to the season and have identified the 24-year-old as a potential target.

The Dutchman has been the recipient of interest from the Reds having scouted him on multiple occasions over the last 12 months, though it doesn’t sound like he’ll be making a move to the Premier League anytime soon.

The Latest: D’Amico’s comments

Speaking to Sky Italia (via Sport Witness), D’Amico admitted that Liverpool have been in contact to enquire about Koopmeiners, but quickly shut down any chances of him leaving for Anfield.

“There’s nothing concrete with Liverpool: we welcome the interest, but he’s one of our players.”

The Serie A star himself also recently confirmed that he’s content with his current position at the Gewiss Stadium.

“I’m playing for Atalanta, I’m very happy here and I’m only thinking about this.”

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The Verdict: Blow for Klopp

Koopmeiners is a fantastic player and it’ll surely be a huge blow for Jurgen Klopp to learn that he’s set to miss out on his target, who’s been dubbed an ‘orchestrator’ and ‘press-resistant’ by scout Jacek Kulig.

The Castricum native has posted seven goal contributions so far this season and is currently averaging 1.8 shots and 1.6 key passes per league 90 minutes (WhoScored).

Liverpool will be gutted that they’ve failed to secure Koopmeiners, but it’s important that the hierarchy turn their attention elsewhere to sign a different central candidate before the end of the month.

Chelsea remain interested in signing West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Chelsea’s midfield targets

The Blues have been targeting a new midfielder this month, with both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante’s contracts expiring at the end of the season.

The midfield duo are now both over the age of 30, meaning that younger options are needed for Graham Potter, and the manager has recently been linked with moves for the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

The Latest: Rice still targeted

While there may have been some concern that Chelsea’s interest in a plethora of midfielders indicated that the Blues were no longer interested in Rice, Jones has now claimed that this is not the case.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s an interesting one because Declan Rice does still remain a target at this stage. But he’s not available until the summer so Chelsea are trying to make sure they’ve got enough in the tank by the time they get to next season.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claimed this week that the 23-year-old would be available for around £70m in the summer, and there is no doubt that Chelsea should pursue a deal for the West Ham skipper at that price, as he has consistently proven himself to be a top-level player.

ESPN’s David Cartlidge has previously hailed the Englishman as a ‘monster’, a fitting description considering his performances for the Irons, as he is still excelling despite his team’s very poor Premier League campaign up to this point.

His 6.90 WhoScored rating is the best of anyone at the London Stadium and would put him joint-fifth in Potter’s squad at Stamford Bridge.

The former Chelsea youth player has displayed his talent in distributing the ball by completing 1,106 passes, the eighth-most of any player in the league, making him a fantastic fit for Potter’s possession-based style of play.

Newcastle United are believed to be in the mix to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, with the teenager facing an uncertain future with the Bundesliga outfit.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports in Germany, the Magpies are said to be one of a handful of Premier League clubs who are keen on signing the 18-year-old in the near future, with the Germany international having just six months remaining on his existing deal at Westfalenstadion.

Transfer expert Mark Behrenbeck stated: “It is clear that a lot of top clubs are asking about Moukoko and are keen on him as he is available on a free transfer in the summer and is a bargain. We hear that Chelsea are the closest. There have already been negotiations and talks. More clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Newcastle are on the list, but Chelsea is the hottest, the others aren’t ready yet”.

This comes amid reports from journalist Florian Plettenberg who suggested that the promising youngster “won’t accept” the current offer of an extension from Dortmund, with an exit either in January or at the end of the season now a very real possibility.

Haaland-esque

The highly-coveted sensation has warranted such interest due to his sparkling form in his homeland in recent times, having scored six goals and laid on four assists in just 14 top-flight games this term, while his total tally this season stands at six goals and six assists in 22 games in the early months of the campaign.

The Cameroon-born gem – who was part of Hansi Flick’s World Cup squad for Qatar – only recently became the youngest player to ever hit ten goals in the Bundesliga, having also broken the record for the youngest player to make his league debut in the German top-flight back in November 2020.

Such a meteoric rise – which followed a string of prolific form at youth team level in which he scored 90 goals in 56 games for the U17s – has seen the exciting asset lauded as a “wonder” by his brother, Borel, while he is also said to be valued at around £22m, as per CIES Football Observatory.

Moukouko’s emergence onto the scene at Dortmund no doubt has similarities to that of former teammate Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian hotshot having also previously made his name for Die Borussen.

The 22-year-old – who previously scored 86 goals in just 89 games in the yellow jersey – has even lauded his former colleague for his sparkling talents, with the Manchester City talisman stating previously:

“Moukoko’s much better than I was at his age. I’ve never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life. The advantage for him is that he’s already playing for Dortmund at the age of 15. At his age, I was still playing for my home town of Bryne.”

Should Moukoko be able to follow in his fellow left-footer’s footsteps and make his mark in the Premier League it would certainly prove a real coup for Eddie Howe’s side, with the Etihad machine having already shown his ruthless nature in English football with 18 goals in just 13 league games this season.

The Tynesiders will likely face a real fight to land the £4k-per-week starlet in 2023, although being able to secure a Haaland-esque talent could well be a real masterstroke.

Newcastle United could be set to finally make a move for a long-term target…

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic, the Magpies have been watching Borussia Monchengladbach star Marcus Thuram for some time, with the French forward having been mentioned as a viable transfer option internally.

With just six months left on his contract, there is a belief he could be snatched for a cut price.

This was confirmed by Sport Bild, who suggested he might be available for as little as £6m this January, which has unsurprisingly drawn interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United amongst others.

Their own Henry

Boasting a hulking 6-foot-4 frame but a fleet-footedness to make him a physical marvel, Thuram instantly draws comparisons to the great Thierry Henry.

This is further compounded by the fact that both have enjoyed stints on the left wing and as a central striker, with huge success.

Arsene Wenger even concurred as he told Der Spiegel two years ago: “Thierry Henry had the timing of the smartest footballers. He was also very strong physically, and technically he could do everything. 

“In fact, there’s a player in the Bundesliga who reminds me of him – Marcus Thuram from Borussia Monchengladbach.”

The goalscoring exploits of the 25-year-old in the current campaign will surely suggest that he could achieve something similar to the man who Alex Song and many Gunners fans refer to as “The King”.

In just 17 games across the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, he boasts 13 goals and four assists, meaning that he is almost guaranteed to contribute offensively in every game he plays

He has already equalled his best-ever goal tally in the league for the German outfit, highlighting how he finally seems ready to take the step up to Premier League football.

There would be little worries about him competing with the physicality of English football, especially after Herve Renard’s claim that dubbed him a “physical monster”.

However, despite this, his ability with the ball is nearly unmatched.

He ranks in the top 7% for dribbles completed and combined with his newfound proficiency in front of goal, he could be unstoppable at St James’ Park.

His former teammate Denis Zakaria is another who has marvelled at his abilities, stating: “What he brings to the pitch is phenomenal”.

Perhaps if he could bring some of his Henry-esque magic to Tyneside, it could add just what Eddie Howe needs to cement their place in the top four.

Transfer expert Dean Jones claims that Newcastle United could attract the sort of player that the traditional top four or five would be able to do in January.

The Lowdown: Great position

Eddie Howe’s side find themselves in a great position going into the January transfer window, as they sit in third place in the Premier League table.

Having already signed Alexander Isak for a club-record £63m in the summer, the owners will feel like they can go again in the winter, especially if it strengthens their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for next season, a competition that they have not been in for nearly 20 years.

The Latest: Big pulling power

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that the St. James’ Park outfit could attract the same profile of player that the traditional top four or five could attract in January:

“I think Newcastle have put themselves in a wonderful position very, very quickly, and that they could almost attract the sort of players now, that the traditional top four or five could.”

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The Verdict: Exciting

The January window is set to be an exciting one for the Toon Army, as their position in the league, coupled up with the owners’ ambitions, could mean that they attract one or two top names to the North East.

The likes of Mykhaylo Mudryk and Memphis Depay are just two players that have recently been linked, as the Tynesiders really look to kick on in the second part of the campaign.

Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what positions they look to strengthen, as well as who may have to be let go by the Magpies in order to make room in the squad.

Leeds United head into Thursday evening’s Premier League meeting with Leicester City in a disappointing run of form, as, after winning three of their opening four fixtures in all competitions in 2022/23, Jesse Marsch’s side are now without a win in their last six games.

Although, despite the 1-0 loss to Arsenal last weekend, the Whites’ performance against the table-toppers will have given the 48-year-old manager a great deal of confidence heading into tonight’s meeting with the bottom-of-the-table Foxes.

Indeed, following Patrick Bamford’s introduction at half-time against the Gunners, Leeds were incredibly unlucky to leave the game with nothing, as the striker saw an equaliser ruled out for a push on Gabriel Magalhaes, missed a penalty and initially looked to have another opportunity to draw his team level from the spot before VAR overturned the decision to award a penalty.

However, while the 29-year-old ultimately failed to pull his side level, the England international’s second-half display represented a stark contrast from the one turned in by Rodrigo in the first 45-minutes of the match – with the 31-year-old offering his side very little during his time on the pitch.

Indeed, the Spaniard saw all three of his attempts at goal blocked, completed a total of just 14 passes and lost possession of the ball on six occasions, while the £58k-per-week forward was also at fault for what proved to be the visitor’s winner – with his crossfield switch to Pascal Struijk being intercepted by Martin Odegaard, who then set up Bukayo Saka to give Arsenal the lead.

Following this display, Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross awarded the attacker a four in his player ratings – the worst given to any of the Leeds side on the day – as well as stating of the £6m-rated forward’s performance:

“What started out as a promising display turned into one of the worst errors of the season with a bizarre, pitch-wide cross from right to left, backwards into Struijk, which ultimately put the Leeds goal in harm’s way. Confidence was shattered from there on and a half-time hook seemed inevitable.”

As such, considering the Spain international’s “shocker” – in the words of Cross – against the Gunners, coupled with Bamford’s electric introduction at half-time, it would very much appear as if Marsch simply must drop Rodrigo at the King Power Stadium this evening, as the striker could well cost his side dearly in a fixture the Whites cannot afford to lose.

Leeds United are ready to offer Jack Harrison a ‘huge’ new contract at Elland Road, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: January timeframe

The Whites lost two star players over the summer in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha and were also at risk of losing Harrison.

Newcastle United showed plenty of interest in the winger, with Leeds now wanting to extend Harrison’s deal after keeping hold of his services.

The 25-year-old’s current deal expires in 2024, with reports last month suggesting that Leeds chiefs want to finalise a new contract before January.

The Latest: Contract update

FI provided an update from a ‘well-placed source’ regarding Harrison’s future.

They revealed that Leeds are ready to offer the player a ‘huge’ pay rise in a double-your-money new contract, with Harrison currently nowhere near Leeds’ top earners.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Harrison began the season in exceptional form, contributing to four goals in the opening three Premier League fixtures. He has been the club’s second-best performer behind Pascal Struijk, as per WhoScored, so a new long-term contract to place him around the top earners in Yorkshire makes sense.

However, with Leeds struggling in recent weeks and facing the possibility of another relegation battle, Harrison may decide to stall when it comes to a fresh deal.

Everyone at Leeds will be hoping talks go well, and who knows, a new deal could see Harrison rediscover his fine early-season form.

Everton could be smart to consider signing Mykhaylo Mudryk as a replacement for Anthony Gordon if he leaves Goodison Park, Kevin Campbell has told Goodison News.

The lowdown

New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is a big fan of Gordon and tried to convince then-Blues manager Thomas Tuchel to get behind the prospective signing in the summer. The west London club reportedly made a bid of £60m for the young English attacker, such was their desperation to land him.

Simon Phillips recently told GiveMeSport that he ‘fully’ expects another push from Chelsea in January or next summer, with the player’s ‘head turned’.

Meanwhile, Kevin Thelwell and co saw a bid rejected for Shakhtar winger Mudryk during the summer transfer window, and 90min’s Graeme Bailey claims that the Toffees scouted the 21-year-old in last month’s Hampden Park clash between Ukraine and Scotland.

The latest

Campbell, who played for Everton between 1999 and 2005, reckons that Mudryk is ‘further along the line development-wise’ than the current Toffees winger. The 52-year-old added that, from that point of view, there might actually be a case for recruiting the Ukrainian as Gordon’s successor if necessary.

Campbell told Goodison News: “That wouldn’t be the worst move ever would it? A full international player who’s been doing it in the Champions League, who needs a stage. 

“He needs a stage, and probably you could say in his development he’s ahead of Gordon as a young player. Because he’s been playing top level Champions League football, he’s a full international for Ukraine etc. 

“So you can say that he’s one who is further along the line development-wise, and getting the right type of player in is very important for Everton.”

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The verdict

Campbell does have a point. Mudryk, dubbed ‘different class’ by journalist Andrew Dickson, has now played eight matches in the Champions League, scoring twice and providing two assists, while Gordon hasn’t been tested at continental level just yet, save for a fleeting two-minute Europa League cameo in 2017.

While the Ukrainian has also won eight senior caps for his country, his counterpart at Everton has yet to break into the Three Lions squad, having represented the under-21s in the most recent international break.

If Chelsea sign Gordon, they would perhaps regard him as a player for the future, rather than placing too much emphasis on his immediate contribution.

On the other hand, Everton may view Mudryk as someone who can put up competitive numbers straight away, so Campbell’s standpoint is quite justified.

Wolverhampton Wanderers had a strange summer of transfer activity. The Midlands club went weeks without even a sniff of an arrival, before then signing Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes within close proximity to each other.

This was a big boost to the Molineux faithful, who must have been getting nervy with the lack of transfer activity, especially with the Premier League season looming closer.

It took until the sixth league game for the Old Gold to record their first victory, a 1-0 win over Southampton last weekend, and this will hopefully be the catalyst to propel them towards a good run of form.

Despite the impressive coups of Nunes and Guedes, Bruno Lage did have one shocker in the market, and that was the departure of Conor Coady to Everton on a season-long loan deal.

Last season, Wolves only conceded 43 league goals, the fifth-best record in the division, and the 29-year-old was an integral part of Lage’s defence.

The Englishman averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.99 while starting every single match of their league campaign.

He chipped in with four goals and kept 11 clean sheets while also having a 90% pass success rate, showing his confidence in his passing ability and being able to generate attacks from the heart of defence.

Since his move to Everton, his form has shown no sign of slowing down, playing five matches for his new team and averaging a rating of 6.96 from SofaScore. The defender has made six clearances, 0.2 tackles and 0.4 interceptions per match while featuring in a defence which has kept one clean sheet, while they are on a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions in which they have conceded just three goals.

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure lavished praise upon the defender when he signed for the Toffees, saying: “He is going to help us a lot this season. All the times I have played against him, he was a good character and very consistent.

“We are very happy to have him in our team – he is a leader, like another of the new signings, James Tarkowski.”

Although Wolves have been resolute at the back so far this term, conceding just four league goals, Lage is not blessed with centre-back depth.

Of the four options available to him, three are 23 or younger and lack the ample experience of Coady. One of those is Yerson Mosquera, who last season suffered a serious hamstring injury and could be liable to break down again.

The £16.5k-p/w Coady has certainly started the season well, and many of the Molineux faithful must still be perplexed at Lage’s decision to send him on loan in the first place, as the manager is being proven wrong to have let him depart given the 29-year-old’s performances on Merseyside.