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Everton winger Anthony Gordon has been urged to remain at the Merseyside club amid recent transfer rumours linking him with a move away from Goodison Park. 

The Lowdown: Gordon linked with Everton exit

The 21-year-old was linked with a move away from the club during the previous summer transfer window but ended up staying at Everton.

Since then, reports have emerged claiming that not only are there doubts over whether Gordon will sign a new deal with the Toffees, but also that Tottenham Hotspur are continuing to monitor the player ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

With that in mind, it seems as though the winger has been urged to stay put at Everton for the time being.

The Latest: Gordon urged to stay at Everton

Speaking to Football Insider, former Hibernian striker Tam McManus had words of advice for Gordon and what the future could look like for him if he were to depart Everton in the near future.

The 41-year-old said: “I’ve seen it a million times, players move when they aren’t ready and then their career just fizzles out. Gordon has played 60 or 70 games for Everton, you really need to be looking at 140 or 150 before you make a big move.

“Right now he doesn’t have the maturity to handle it, I don’t think anyway. Think about where he will be in another 70 games if he gets his head down and grafts at Everton.

“He’s the main man there. If he went somewhere else then maybe he wouldn’t be getting the same minutes and his development would be stagnating.

“He’s a massive, solid, raw talent. There is no doubting that. You don’t want to see him making mistakes at this point in his career.”

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The Verdict: Gordon needs to step up

Despite scoring three goals across his 14 appearances for Frank Lampard’s side in the Premier League this season, there have been other aspects where the 21-year-old has been disappointing.

For example, Gordon has one of the lowest passing accuracy percentages (71.9%) among outfield players at Everton. He also has one of the lowest percentages for successful dribbles (22.2%) at Goodison Park, which is quite disappointing for a winger.

With Everton hovering around the relegation zone, Gordon and the rest of his team-mates will need to step up once the campaign resumes if they want to avoid the risk of being relegated by the end of the season.

In terms of Gordon’s future, it could be said that his performances this term have not warranted a move to another club and should instead force him to focus on the here-and-now instead of potentially looking to up sticks from Goodison Park.

Fulham have previously been dubbed the “ultimate yo-yo club” by pundits and football fans alike.

They are supposedly a team too good for the Championship, but wholly unprepared for the step up in quality in the Premier League. They’re stuck in purgatory between leagues. So how, then, are Fulham in the top-half of the Premier League after 15 games?

Have they spent £100m again? No, according to The Athletic, Fulham’s net spend was £53m.

Instead of shopping in foreign markets where players often take longer to adjust to the league, Fulham spent most of their money on Premier League proven players, with nine of the twelve signings having played in the English top flight before. This meant that most of the players only had to learn Marco Silva’s systems and tactical plans rather than a whole new league and country.

Fulham had been burned in the past by spending big on highly-rated European talent. For example, neither Jean Michaël Seri nor André-Frank Zambo Anguissa thrived during their times Craven Cottage.

Instead, Marco Silva worked with Director of Football (and club owner’s son), Tony Khan, to identify players who fit roles within Silva’s tactical style. In the past, there was a feeling that signings were made based purely on ability rather than how they suit Fulham’s system, with the aforementioned signings from Ligue 1 both being defensive midfielders who were better at progressing the ball in high possession teams, rather than winning it back for an underdog.

Silva’s influence on new arrivals was seen with the capture of Andreas Pereira, who he had been talking to a year before he eventually arrived.

“I actually had a conversation with Andreas last season when I joined Fulham,” said Marco Silva about the Manchester United man, who has started in every game this season and has been Fulham’s chief creator from set-pieces.

Silva also wanted a change in profile at the base of Fulham’s midfield. He wanted a destroyer, a defensive midfielder better suited to a league in which Fulham would rarely be the team in control.

Silva informed Seri of this change in tactic. “He understood clearly what I wanted from a player in that position. But in some moments, we knew what this season would be like, so we changed the profile of the player,” Silva admitted.

Enter João Palhinha, a £17m signing from Sporting Lisbon, who BBC broadcaster Reece Parkinson called “signing of the season, surely.” FBRef shows that Palhinha has the most successful tackles of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, averaging 4.4 per game.

Palhinha’s combative spirit and tough tackling have helped Fulham become more secure defensively whilst maintaining an attacking threat, as seen by Fulham’s significantly better goal difference this season compared to the last two survival attempts (-2 after 15 games this season compared to -21 at the same stage in 2018-19).

To improve defensively, Fulham attempt to defend from the front, settling into a 4-4-2 formation without the ball. Andreas Pereira frequently joins the front line, with Aleksandar Mitrovic there to press opposition defenders into mistakes.

Fulham’s wingers double-up with the full-backs to defend against crosses, whilst the midfield two of Palhinha and Harrison Reed pressure and disrupt the opponent’s chief creators.

Finally, the defence, martialled by 35-year-old Tim Ream – who was recalled to the US men’s national team due to excellent performances for Fulham – regularly steps out of the back line to intercept passes into the strikers before danger arises, leading to Fulham having the most interceptions in the league so far.

However, Fulham’s defence is not perfect, showcased by Silva’s recent switch between Tosin Adarabioyo and Issa Diop alongside Ream, not knowing who his best pair is due to bad positioning, which leaves space behind for teams to exploit.

When teams do get through the defence they still have to get past German international and former Arsenal number 1, Bernd Leno, who WhoScored considers the best-performing goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.

However, perhaps the part of Fulham’s game that has changed the least between the Premier League and the Championship is their attack. Whilst build-up play has had to speed up, often countering teams quickly rather than slowly building up, the final third objective has stayed the same. Full-backs overlap, wingers invert, and get the ball to Mitrovic by any necessary.

Highly-rated Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous is good enough to join Celtic, according to a claim from coach John Hughes.

The Lowdown: Old Firm battle

The 23-year-old has matured into an impressive young player in the Scottish Premiership, becoming an undisputed key man for Hibs, despite his tender years.

Porteous has been described as ‘excellent’ by goalkeeper Craig Gordon and has already made a total of 151 appearances for his current club.

His current Hibs deal expires at the end of this season though, leading to links with the league’s powerhouses, as both the Bhoys and rivals Rangers are reportedly battling to sign him.

The Latest: Porteous good enough for Celtic

Speaking to The Daily Record, Hughes claimed that Porteous is good enough for either club, although the same article claims that Rangers won’t sign him:

“One hundred per cent Porto has a target on his back and he’s been hard done by. But that goes with the territory of being a heart-on-sleeve, full-blooded type of player.

“Maybe that’s a reason to get out of Scotland. I don’t know. But at the same time he has been capped by Scotland because he has all those qualities.

“He has become a much better footballer over the last couple of years too. And he is still evolving and will be even better. Nothing intimidates Ryan. Going to Ibrox is not a problem for him. That’s the kind of guy you want in your team.

“A lot of people mention his temperament. If you take that out him then you’re not getting the same player.

“In terms of determination, commitment and putting your body on the line then all your best players have that edge and it’s a case of managing it. Sometimes I needed to start a fight to get wound up and get the best out of myself. Take that hunger and desire out of Porto and you don’t have the same player.

“It’s what makes him one of the favourites at Easter Road. The way he has progressed over the last couple of years he is good enough for the Old Firm. Definitely.

“I have no idea where he will end up but I’d expect it will be down south. He has all the qualities to go on and be a top, top defender.”

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The Verdict: Snap him up, Hoops

Porteous could be a brilliant signing by Celtic, coming in as a talented homegrown prospect with a high ceiling in the coming years and with the added bonus of beating the Gers to his signature.

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To have already played such a hefty number of games for Hibs at just 23 speaks volumes about his ability and he could provide competition for the likes of Cameron Carter-Vicker and Carl Starfelt at centre-back.

The fact that Porteous has represented Scotland at senior, Under-21 and Under-19 further highlights his quality, and considering he would be available on a free transfer in the summer, it could be a no-brainer for Celtic.

Newcastle United are set to return to competitive action at home to Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, with the Magpies looking to pick up where they left off prior to the World Cup break.

Despite the notable excitement of the resumption of club football after an extended hiatus, manager Eddie Howe will no doubt be sweating on the fitness of his key individuals, particularly in the centre-forward ranks.

England international Callum Wilson was a notable absentee from the recent friendly triumph over Rayo Vallecano at St James’ Park following his return from Qatar, with doubts creeping in as to whether the 30-year-old is carrying an injury at present.

While Howe has since moved to suggest the six-cap menace has not sustained an issue, the former Cherries boss was vague as to whether the striker would be in line to feature against his former club tomorrow evening.

More worryingly, the 44-year-old also stated that there is no fixed return date for summer signing Alexander Isak, with the club-record capture having been out of action since early September after making just three appearances for the club thus far.

Although the Tynesiders do have £25m man Chris Wood waiting in the wings for a chance – with the 31-year-old netting against the La Liga side last time out – the New Zealand international has hardly pulled up any trees in 2022 thus far, scoring only four times for the club to date.

That could well lead to an opportunity for academy starlet, Dylan Stephenson, to make his senior debut against Gary O’Neil’s men, with the 20-year-old having notably scored in the recent, 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal.

Following that late strike, the emerging talent was lauded for his performance by his manager, with Howe stating post-match: “You always remember the first goal you score. He’s a great lad, very hard working, great attitude, this is a great experience for him and hopefully the first of many.”

A player who clearly “knows where the net is” – according to journalist Craig Hope – the young Englishman has sparkled in the academy ranks in recent times, with five goals and two assists in just ten games at Premier League 2 level this season.

The youngster’s total record for Newcastle’s U21 side stands at 19 goals in 56 games, having previously scored 20 goals in just 39 outings, proving himself a truly clinical presence in front of goal.

The next test will now be to replicate such displays in the first team, with these latest injury woes ensuring it may well be an ideal time for Stephenson to earn his competitive senior bow this week.

Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Ferran Torres to The Emirates in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Dean Jones, with the transfer insider revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that Mikel Arteta is a big fan of the Barcelona forward, before going on to suggest that, after making an approach for the 22-year-old in the summer, Arsenal believe the Spain international could become available this winter.

Regarding the Gunners’ interest in Torres, Jones said: “They really like Ferran Torres, and they clearly believe he might become available because they inquired about him in the summer as well. So, if they’re sniffing around him again now, they sense that something’s up.”

Arteta’s own Foden

Considering just how impressive Torres has been for Barcelona ever since his £54.7m move from Manchester City last January, coupled with the fact that Gabriel Jesus looks set to spend around three months on the sidelines due to a knee injury, it is not difficult to understand why Arteta would be interested in a move for the Spaniard in January.

Indeed, over his 18 LaLiga appearances in his debut campaign at the Camp Nou, the £105m-rated talent was in fantastic form going forwards, scoring four goals, registering four assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average 2.9 shots – 1.1 of which hit the target – making 0.7 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 22-year-old – who is capable of operating from any position across a front three – average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Xavi Hernández’s 14th-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football last time out.

The £165k-per-week winger also caught the eye over his six outings in the Europa League last season, bagging two goals, providing two assists and creating one big chance, as well as taking an average of 2.8 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per match – with these returns seeing the Spaniard average a Sofascore match rating of 6.92.

Putting some of these numbers into context, FBref currently rank Torres in the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for shots per 90, in addition to the top 9% for non-penalty xG, the top 18% for pass completion, the top 15% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the top 6% for progressive passes received.

These metrics see FBref list some of the biggest talents in European football as Torres’ most comparable players, with Manchester City starlet Phil Foden, RB Leipzig sensation Christopher Nkunku and Tottenham Hotspur flanker Son Heung-min all on the list.

Foden, who is equally as dazzling in the final third, is a particularly outstanding case given Arteta will know him well from his days as the assistant manager at the Etihad, where the Spaniard no doubt would have had a great influence over one of England’s hottest talents, something he will now hope rubs off on Torres too.

As such, should Arteta manage to get a deal over the line for the 22-year-old – who Pep Guardiola claimed has “the smell” for goals that all good number nines have – in January, the Spaniard could well have landed his very own version of the City star at The Emirates – something that is sure to be an extremely exciting prospect for all involved with the Gunners.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their pursuit of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to TUTTOmercatoWEB, Spurs are ‘moving decisively’ to secure a deal to sign the French international heading into the second half of the campaign.

The report claims that the player is not willing to put pen to paper on a new contract with the Old Lady and that fellow Premier League side Arsenal are also in the race for his signature.

Rabiot is set to leave the Italian giants upon the expiry of his current deal at the end of the season but it remains to be seen whether Tottenham are hoping to land him on a pre-contract agreement or in a cut-price January swoop.

It has been reported, by Corriere dello Sport, that Juventus would be willing to sell the Frenchman next month if an offer in the region of €15m (£13m) came in.

Arturo Vidal 2.0

Antonio Conte has worked with a number of talented midfielders throughout his career and Rabiot could be the next one to thrive under his management.

One player who caught the eye in the middle of the park whilst working with the Italian coach was Chilean enforcer Arturo Vidal, who played for him at Juventus and Inter.

He played 141 games across four seasons with Conte and produced 36 goals and 21 assists in that time, whilst he has a career average of 4.6 tackles and interceptions per game.

Vidal was a combative, quality, midfielder for the Spurs boss for several seasons and Rabiot could be the next version of the current Flamengo dynamo.

Italian icon Gianluigi Buffon once likened the gem to the Chile international, saying: “He is a fantastic mix, he has the physical strength of Pogba, who is like a wardrobe, has the personality of Vidal and potentially the dynamism of Marchisio. He is incredible, extremely strong.”

Rabiot, who plays for Vidal’s former team Juventus, has a career average of 3.3 tackles and interceptions per match and has chipped in with 32 goals and 26 assists in his club career.

In the Serie A this season, the 27-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.29 across 11 appearances. He has scored three goals and provided two assists, whilst also making 3.0 tackles and interceptions and completing 86% of his attempted passes per outing.

These statistics show that the maestro is capable of delivering excellent performances on a regular basis and that he is – like Vidal was for Conte – a combative midfielder who can also produce moments of quality in the final third to win matches for his side.

Arsenal have reportedly had a £57m transfer bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk rejected by Shakhtar Donetsk. 

The Lowdown: Arsenal linked with Mudryk

The Premier League leaders have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old since last summer’s transfer window. Since then, the Ukrainian has gone on to score 10 goals and deliver eight assists in 18 games for Shakhtar across all competitions.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, the Gunners have been dealt a setback to their hopes of securing a deal for the winger.

The Latest: Arsenal have Mudryk bid rejected

According to a report from the Daily Mail on Tuesday evening, Arsenal’s bid of £57m for Mudryk has been rejected by Shakhtar.

The report adds that the Ukrainian club are looking to get as much as £85m for the winger, who Kevin Campbell previously claimed would be a “devastating” player for Mikel Arteta’s side and who ‘has made clear his interest in joining the north London side’.

The Verdict: Disappointing for Arsenal

In addition to providing a goal contribution in almost every league game that he’s played this season, Mudryk has also showcased his attacking capabilities in the Champions League, with three goals and two assists to his name in six appearances in Europe.

Arsenal’s bid being rejected will come as a blow for the north London club, but with the January transfer window not officially open yet, they still have time to potentially negotiate with Shakhtar and come to a conclusion which would satisfy all parties.

However, considering the transfer fee that the Ukrainian club reportedly want for their star attacker, it’s safe to say that this could be a very expensive move for the Gunners to make, perhaps one which could see them get near or even break their transfer record.

Arsenal sporting director Edu will have to decide whether he thinks Mudryk is worth the fee that Shakhtar are demanding for him.

Leeds United are in desperate need of someone who isn’t afraid to put himself about and make things happen in the final third, and manager Jesse Marsch may well have exactly that in Sam Greenwood.

Whilst a respectable result against the Premier League’s strongest defence, the Whites looked hopeless in attack once again as a 0-0 draw to Newcastle United last time out made it four games without a win across all competitions.

It means the Yorkshire giants are sitting just two points above the relegation zone and look every bit like facing another dogfight heading into the final half of the 2022/23 campaign.

Tonight they face a struggling West Ham United at Elland Road, so it’s certainly a golden chance to put another three points on the board but they’ll need to look far better in front of goal; the reintroduction of Greenwood might just do that.

With Rodrigo largely playing as the sole centre-forward at the moment and Luis Sinisterra out injured, Marsch has struggled to find a settled no.10 to play in the hole behind him.

Brenden Aaronson has featured there at times but may have now settled out on the right wing, whilst Jack Harrison looked absolutely lost in the position against the Magpies.

It’s a more natural role for the 20-year-old, though.

Greenwood provided an assist for Leeds’ only goal against defending champions Manchester City in their top-flight clash after Christmas and only two games before that, he came off the bench to score and assist in the 4-3 win over AFC Bournemouth.

Yet, he did not play a single minute at St James’ Park despite Leeds looking woeful in the attack.

The young dynamo – formerly of the renowned Hale End academy at Arsenal – has scored and provided hatfuls of goals for the Whites’ youth setup over the last few seasons and that has clearly caught the eye of the American and his predecessor, Marcelo Bielsa, who handed him his senior debut.

Once compared to ex-Gunners talisman Robin van Persie, the England U21 international could be exactly what Marsch needs to punish David Moyes’ perilous Hammers side in west Yorkshire tonight.

Not only is he naturally gifted, as perfectly described by TEAMtalk editor James Marshment: “He’s one of the few players in the game who are both left AND right footed. A very rare breed,” but the 20-year-old gem also has an immense ability from set-pieces, with Noel Whelan describing them as a “weapon” and “his forte” to Football Insider.

Meanwhile, when Marsch first arrived at Thorp Arch, he namechecked the promising talent as one of the few players to have adapted to his methods and demands on the training pitch the quickest, whilst in another interview, the 49-year-old dubbed him a “big talent” and a “hard-worker.”

Therefore, it makes sense to unleash Greenwood on their 17th-placed relegation rivals this evening and with the east London outfit only two points behind Leeds, the inclusion of the academy wonderkid could be what Marsch needs to spark a much-needed revival in the final third.

The versatile 5 foot 11 maestro can put cause the Irons all sorts of nightmares and wreak havoc tonight.

AND in other news, Orta could seal an “incredible” signing in Leeds move for “relentless” £35m “phenom”…

Express & Star journalist Liam Keen has given his verdict as to why Wolves’ January transfer window has been so quiet thus far, claiming there is activity going on behind the scenes at Molineux.

The Lowdown: Only one new face

Wolves announced the loan signing of Atletico Madrid’s Matheus Cunha on Christmas Day, but since then, there have been no new additions to Julen Lopetegui’s squad.

There’s plenty of work to do as the side from the Black Country find themselves 19th in the Premier League and one point away from safety.

In addition, Wolves are the lowest scorers in the league, as they’ve only found the net 11 times in 18 matches.

The Latest: Keen gives transfer window verdict

Speaking on the E&S Wolves Podcast, Keen stated that the main problem ‘plaguing’ the club is other teams not wanting to lose players so early in the window, but he claims they’re working on potential opportunities this month.

He said: “They’re definitely working and speaking to people and trying to get these signings through the door. I think that the main issue that is plaguing them at the moment is that a lot of clubs don’t want to lose players early in the window for whatever reason – whether it’s they need replacements or they’re asking for too much money.”

The Verdict: Improvements still needed

With seven teams in and amongst the battle for Premier League survival at present, the Old Gold will need to do all they can to ensure safety.

Lopetegui will know this and it would be no surprise if he’s planning potential coups very carefully, as he would be a big factor in attracting high-quality players himself given his past achievements.

The Spaniard has an impressive managerial CV having been in charge of Real Madrid, Porto, Sevilla and the Spanish national team, while he picked up a Europa League title with Sevilla – beating Wolves along the way.

With a track record like that and the opportunity to play Premier League football, we think a number of players could be enticed with a move to Molineux, so there is cause for optimism with two-thirds of the window remaining – particularly when bearing in mind Keen’s claim that Wolves are indeed working hard behind the scenes.

Arsenal are reportedly still well-placed to secure the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk sensation, Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

As per the respected journalist, the Gunners are still said to be the frontrunners to land the 22-year-old despite rival interest from Chelsea, having now lodged a fresh offer in order to finally get a deal for the Ukrainian international wrapped up.

Writing on Twitter about that developing story, Romano stated: “Excl: Arsenal have submitted a new bid for Mykhaylo Mudryk in the last few hours. Parties are now getting closer, no breakthrough yet — talks ongoing with Shakhtar Donetsk.

“Arsenal are still leading the race — no official bid from Chelsea, as things stand.”

The fleet-footed sensation has been valued at a fee of around €100m (£88m) by his current side, although the north Londoners are said to have placed a bid of closer to €70m (£62m), as Romano has since confirmed.

Imagine him and Odegaard

It would appear that the Emirates outfit have their eyes firmly set on signing the youngster this month, with Mudryk’s arrival only set to help further strengthen the club’s push for the title.

The “unreal” talent, as lauded by broadcaster Jack Collins, has been in simply scintillating form in his homeland in recent times, scoring ten goals and laying on eight assists in just 18 games in all competitions so far this term.

Such “frightening” form, as per journalist Josh Bunting, has ensured that the 5 foot 9 man’s overall record for the club now stands at 29 goal involvements in only 44 games to date.

That rather remarkable ratio is evidence of just why Mikel Arteta and co are so keen to bring the eight-cap speedster to England, with it a truly mouthwatering thought as to the damage he can inflict on the rest of the Premier League.

The emerging starlet has certainly caught the attention of both supporters and media alike as a result of his performances in recent months, with The Athletic’s Nick Miller having only recently outlined Mudryk’s qualities, writing:

‘At this stage of his career, he’s still a little unrefined but is essentially an agent of chaos, raw and incredibly talented, someone you can drop in the middle of most defences and cause panic.’

Arteta could well be able to get the best out of the explosive ace due to the presence of skipper, Martin Odegaard, with the Norwegian playmaker seemingly the man to provide quality service to Mudryk in the final third.

That creativity is illustrated by the fact that the 24-year-old ranks in the top 14% in Europe for progressive passes made among those in his position, having laid on five assists already in the top flight this term.

The pair could also prove an effective partnership due to their apparent likeness, as per FBref, with Odegaard ranking in the top 2% for non-penalty goals and the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area, while Mudryk ranks in the top 1% and the top 7% for those same two metrics, respectively.

That showcases the duo’s ability to make the difference at the top end of the pitch, with it a real bonus for the Gunners to be able to bring in a player who could well replicate Odegaard’s impact in the side.

After weeks and months of speculation, the hope is that the league leaders are now edging closer to finally confirming Mudryk’s arrival.