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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Marlon Harewood, who made 164 appearances for West Ham, has backed Said Benrahma to have a big role to play for David Moyes during the business end of the season.

Benrahma initially joined on loan last summer from Brentford, however his move was made permanent in January so that West Ham could bring in Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United.

The Algerian joined the club despite there being concerns during his medical, and has failed to make a significant impact this season as well as seeing starts hard to come by in the Premier League, such has been the form of Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Lingard.

Speaking on how he expects Benrahma to still have a big role to play this season and how Moyes has handled him perfectly, Harewood told FFC:

“I see him being massive for them from now until the end of the season because they’re going to need him.

“I think the way Moyes has handled him has been spot on because when there have been times for him to come on, he’s done so.”

The £23,000 per week winger may be hoping for some more minutes now that Michail Antonio is out injured until likely the end of the season.

Moyes will have to utilise his entire squad in the coming weeks with Declan Rice, Antonio and Aaron Cresswell all requiring time on the sidelines at the minute.

Reports from Spain earlier this week claimed that Carlo Ancelotti is eager to exploit Everton’s relationship with FC Barcelona to help him sign Miralem Pjanic in the summer, but the Toffees boss must avoid striking a deal for the Bosnian midfielder.

It is claimed that Ancelotti wants to maximise the relationship that Everton have built with the Camp Nou natives in recent years, one which has seen Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes ditch the La Liga giants for life on Merseyside.

Pjanic could be the next in line to join that group after struggling to establish himself in Catalunya since leaving Juventus last year, with Ronald Koeman often leaving the 30-year-old on the bench such has been the disdain for his performances.

Koeman is thought to have had high hopes for Pjanic having arrived after his €65m (£59m) arrival and the €72m (£66m) sale of Arthur to Juventus in June, but the 98-cap international has only started 13 of his 28 appearances in all competitions.

Pjanic is still seen to have his admirers around Europe and is not expected to struggle to find a new home in the off-season, with Everton one side who could potentially sign him.

It is suggested that the Blues may enquire into signing Pjanic on loan for the 2021/22 campaign with an option to buy the midfielder, who now has a TransferMarkt valuation of just £36m, in the following summer window.

Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur may also be in the mix for the £271,000-per-week talent as Jose Mourinho likes Pjanic a lot, though Barcelona are noted to favour a deal with Everton due to the two club’s shared relationship.

But Ancelotti should not explore the requirements Barcelona are bound to request to send Pjanic out on loan for next season, as the four-time Serie A winner would not be expected to improve the Goodison Park ranks sufficiently enough to make a move worthwhile.

Koeman has frequently opted to overlook Pjanic this season as the former Toffees boss has grown serious concerns over the Bosnian’s abilities, noting last month via quotes by FC Barcelona Noticias: “Miralem has to improve the rhythm of the ball [and] know his position.”

Pjanic’s struggles to adapt to Koeman’s demands, and the resulting lack of game time, have seen the 30-year-old grow frustrated at the Camp Nou, and question why he has only started three of his seven La Liga appearances from 11 available games since the turn of the year.

“I have played at all the clubs I’ve been at and with all the coaches I’ve had. A situation like this has never happened to me. Of course, it’s not easy, I accept it with great difficulty,” he told Telefoot last month.

“I don’t have the exact reasons why I’ve not had the playing time I expected. I keep working and you have to respect the decisions that are taken, even if you don’t agree. I want to leave my mark at this club.”

That mark has so far been one of a player who Marca note ‘seems to be getting further, not closer, from where Barcelona need him to be,’ as Pjanic struggles to find any consistency with his performances or minutes on the field.

His maiden year at the Camp Nou started on the wrong foot, too, with Sport reporting in October that he was ‘two steps behind his teammates in training’ and was ‘still far from optimal physical shape’ despite more than a months’ worth of sessions, as he struggled to match the intensity shown by his new teammates.

With the Premier League often touted to have higher physical demands on players than La Liga, we would expect to see Pjanic struggle if Everton were to make a move to sign the midfielder this summer and as such, they must not explore what is bound to be an expensive deal.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti is eager for Everton to sign a £32.5m-rated titan who top clubs would sign “without thinking twice”…

Fosun have done some amazing things for Wolves since taking over the club in 2016. First and foremost, they have taken them from the Championship to the Premier League.Secondly, they have taken them to Europa League football. Thus, a simple link-up with Swiss outfit Grasshopper is likely to be low down on their list of achievements.That being said, it’s a relationship that’s beginning to blossom and grow. Fosun also own Grasshopper and as a result, they’ve used the club as a feeder team. At the moment, they have a number of Wolves players on loan.Oskar Buur, Leo Bonatini, Connor Ronan and Toti Gomes are all currently plying their trade in Switzerland. They’ve clearly had a good influence on the side as they lead the way at the top of the Swiss Challenge League.One of the key performers has been Toti. The 22-year-old signed for Wolves last summer and was immediately loaned out in order to further his development.He has done so to brilliant effect in Switzerland this season and has very much looked the part at the heart of their defence.Toti hasn’t missed a match and has helped Grasshopper to seven clean sheets from their 21 league outings to date. He has also scored twice.

It has been an encouraging learning curve for the young defender who, at times this season, has shown similar qualities to those of Willy Boly. The Wolves stalwart is one of their most consistent players and uses brute force to throw opponents to one side. He is a devastating wall and when it comes to physical traits, no one comes close to him in the current Wolves backline.

Though, in Toti, they have a similar player, someone who could give Boly a run for his money if he gets a chance in the senior set-up at Molineux next season.

You only need to look at his performance against Thun earlier this season. He was a battering ram, using his sheer pace to recover quickly and his power to swat attackers to one side.

The footage above was shared by a scout at a Champions League club, someone who detailed Toti’s best qualities on Twitter: “(He is) very fast and mobile, physically strong, quick reactions, decent in the air, knows how to defend, comfortable on the ball.â€

The scout revealed that the defender’s next step should be at a Europa League level club and in Wolves, he has that firmly on his doorstep.

Possessing similar attributes to Boly, it’s hard to deny he wouldn’t fit Nuno Santo’s style of play. Toti typifies the modern centre half in all its glory. He is a very eye-catching prospect.

AND in other news, Forget Jose: Wolves should have signed 18-goal Mendes client instead, he’s an “entertainer”…

Many Sheffield Wednesday fans are reacting to the latest tweet from Dom Howson in which he discusses the awful situation the club are in right now.

The journalist pointed out that the Owls are at a low ebb as he tweeted: “Crisis club #SWFC are in free-fall and at risk of heading into League One with a whimper.”

Saturday’s match in the Championship against high-flying Reading summed up their season as they lost 3-0 and saw Julian Borner get sent off early in the first half (SofaScore). Many fans were fuming at the defender for this incident as the score was 0-0 at the time.

The Championship table does not look good for the Owls right now as they are second bottom and seven points away from safety (SofaScore). They are now closer to the bottom of the division than they are to 21st place.

New manager Darren Moore has a huge task on his hands to keep the club in the division, but as it stands at the moment, it looks like Wednesday will be heading into League One.

Here is how Owls fans reacted to the tweet from Howson:

“At risk! We are down already. The players are an embarrassment to this club and as for Chansiri he should be locked up for what we has done to our club!”

Credit: @LifeIsPeachy82

“There’s no risk about it Dom. And heading into League 2 and administration. I would ask you to ask Mr Chansiri about the prospect of administration when you next get the chance please. I’m not sure people on the outside full understand the concern @swfc supporters have.”

Credit: @jamescowley22

“We have been down for a few weeks. This part of the season is giving DM time to assess the squad and see what is needed for next season. Big rebuild needed so this next few months will help with next season’s prep.”

Credit: @Dango1867

“We will be lucky to survive league 1 at this rate, can anybody really see DC giving Moore cash to get us back up. I really don’t”

Credit: @wazzaowl

“Been in free fall for awhile Dom, unfortunately. League 1 is the reality.”

Credit: @Waltz610

“Imagine sticking up for Chansiri at this point. Bloke has ruined us. Until he sells or puts someone else in charge, we have no chance.”

Credit: @keiranowen

In other news, many fans reacted to an update on this Owls ace!

Rob Lee has exclusively told Football FanCast that Callum Wilson could be the key to Newcastle’s survival chances.

Newcastle slipped further into trouble following their defeat at Brighton on Saturday, leaving Steve Bruce’s team just two points above the bottom-three heading into the international break.

That result was the Magpies’ sixth Premier League game without victory, which has coincided with the injury to top scorer Callum Wilson.

The former Bournemouth striker sustained a hamstring problem during Newcastle’s win over Southampton last month, which was the last time Bruce’s men tasted victory.

Prior to his setback, Wilson had scored 10 Premier League goals this season, which is more than 30 percent of the goals they’ve netted in the league.

And Lee told Football FanCast that Wilson’s return can’t come soon enough for the St James’ Park oufit:

“You get him back after the international break, he’s the one that can save the season because he’s the guy that can score goals out of nothing.

“Even when we’re not playing well, which is a lot, he can still score. And that’s the different between somebody staying up and going down.”

Newcastle have won seven Premier League games this season, with Wilson scoring in five of those. So if Bruce’s men are to finish above the dotted-line, Wilson is certainly going to play his part.

Speaking exclusively with Football FanCast, former West Ham United striker Marlon Harewood backed David Moyes to utilise Tomas Soucek in efforts to sign Slavia Prague striker Abdallah Sima.

The Irons have been credited with interest in the 19-year-old marksman, but face competition from Premier League big-hitters Arsenal and Manchester United and Serie A giants Juventus.

Sima has scored 14 goals in 21 games this season, after making the step up to Jindrich Trpisovsky’s first-team with strikes to his name in the Fortuna Liga and Europa League.

Slavia have been expected to rebuff any approaches in January and look to cash-in on Sima come the summer, after rejecting offers worth €10m (£9m) during the last transfer window, but would not refuse bids of €50m (£44.5m).

Harewood would not judge Sima on the fee Slavia President Jaroslav Tvrdik touted, but rather bend the ear of 6 ft 4 Moyes favourite Soucek after the midfielder’s time at Slavia Prague.

“The best person to ask would be Soucek. If he’s played with him, he would know straight away and he can explain to him what it’s going to take to [make it in England],” Harewood told FFC.

“He’s been playing with him for quite a while at his previous club, so it’d be good, he knows what he’s about. And if he says: ‘Yes, he’s the one that’s going to help us build and do really well for seasons to come’, then I think he’ll be the best person to ask that question.

“But his ratio seems really good. The money, nowadays, it’s hard to judge a player on a price tag.”

Sima made his Slavia first-team debut after Soucek joined West Ham in a permanent £19m transfer this summer, but the Irons’ star midfielder has previously waxed lyrical over the Senegalese teen.

“I’m excited about him. His goals are very much similar to what I’ve been scoring. I’m glad that such a player was found, but it’s not just about that. He shows one-on-one qualities, finishing, just a typical winger,” Soucek told CT Sport.

“I have to say that the guys or the media around West Ham know about him. I would only be happy if another player from Slavia came, but it is still far away. He’s still a young player and he has to prove it. But a lot of people know about him and notice him. Only good for him.”

Soucek’s love is well placed, with Sima scoring twice against Ligue 1 side OGC Nice in the Europa League earlier this season, and finding the back of the net twice in the Fortuna Liga derby against rivals AC Sparta Prague.

Whether West Ham move to sign Sima this month remains to be seen, though Moyes’ side are certainly in the market for a striker after Sebastien Haller’s £20m move to AFC Ajax.

AND in other news, West Ham are considering a £15.5m-rated striker without a goal since October to replace Seb Haller…

Is today the day that Celtic finally turn their season around?

It has been a topsy-turvy 2020/21 for Neil Lennon and co but with a Scottish Cup final to contest, it’s time to bring back positivity to Parkhead.

On the chalkboard

Only a few weeks ago, Hoops supporters turned out in their droves outside Celtic Park to protest against the management.

It was understandable too. The Bhoys are 13 points behind Rangers in their quest to win a tenth successive SPFL crown in a row and they were being battered on a constant basis in Europe.

However, after the hierarchy came out and backed Lennon, he has engineered two wins in a row against Lille and Kilmarnock.

The victory over Killie marked the club’s first clean sheet since the beginning of November, and they will have to take that confidence into their Scottish Cup final clash with Hearts.

If they lose, you really do fear for Lennon and the players. It will be nothing short of disastrous.

Therefore, how can they go about ensuring victory?

The solution

To put things simply, Celtic simply have to unleash David Turnbull on Hearts.

The Scot spent a period out with COVID-19 but has now recovered and since being instated in the side, has been nothing short of outstanding.

Against St Johnstone, Celtic’s creativity was questioned severely. They drew 1-1 and Tom Rogic, the club’s attacking midfielder on the day, managed just one shot and crucially he failed to play a single key pass.

Turnbull has now taken his place and been excellent, assisting goals against both Lille and Killie. As it happens, the summer signing also found the net against the French opposition in the Europa League.

The midfielder has been playing just right of centre and was phenomenal last time out, amassing as many as six shots and eight key passes. That’s a truly ridiculous record when you consider he’s only just forced his way into Lennon’s plans, starting three times this season.

Against Lille, he managed four shots and three key passes which versus such superior opposition, is seriously impressive. It’s hardly a surprise that Lennon thinks he’s got a “real touch of class.”

Turnbull is proving to be a fabulous addition and if the Bhoys are to have any chance of winning on Sunday, they need to start him.

Forget Rogic, the 21-year-old is now their main creative spark.

AND in other news, Celtic must unleash “wonderful” ace with “explosive power” on Sunday…

Farhad Moshiri must urge Everton to boot Cenk Tosun out of Goodison Park in January amid claims of negotiations with West Bromwich Albion over a permanent transfer.

What’s the word?

According to Ekrem Konur, the Baggies have held talks with the Toffees over a potential deal for Tosun to move to The Hawthorns this winter with the Turkey international warm to their approach.

Tosun has struggled to establish himself under Carlo Ancelotti with just six outings to his name since recovering from cruciate ligament surgery, which saw the £60,000-per-week deadweight’s half-season loan with Crystal Palace called short last March.

Tosun enjoyed his second-longest appearance of the season so far as Everton lost 1-0 at home to West Ham United on Friday night, with only a 21-minute cameo at Newcastle eclipsing his 11-minute run out against the Hammers.

Crystal Palace were in possession of a £20m option to buy Tosun at the end of his loan spell last season, with Everton pushing to recoup as much of the £27m Sam Allardyce paid to sign the 29-year-old from Besiktas in 2018.

Allardyce has been claimed to be behind West Brom’s interest this month, with The Mirror (27/12, p. 69) suggesting the one-game England boss is keen on a reunion as he seeks to bolster the attacking threat of his relegation-threatened side.

It remains to be seen how highly Everton value Tosun this January having requested £20m for the 45-cap international since January 2019, when the Eintracht Frankfurt product was first deemed surplus to requirements at Goodison Park by former head coach Marco Silva.

Time to go

Moshiri must surely step in and urge Everton’s Director of Football Marcel Brands to seal a permanent deal to sell Tosun to West Brom this month with the two sides reportedly holding talks.

Tosun’s time at Goodison Park has been up for the past two years, but has continually stuck around through the Toffees’ inability to secure the fee they have demanded and a serious injury throwing a potential deal with Crystal Palace out of the window.

The Blues may struggle to find a suitor willing to pay £20m in the current market with Tosun yet to score since making his return to action in November, while only scoring five of his 10 Everton goals since Allardyce departed Merseyside in the summer of 2018.

Tosun netted five times in 14 games under Allardyce during the current Baggies boss’ time on Merseyside, but failed to repeat his success under Silva and has now been granted permission to leave by Ancelotti after just 44 minutes of game time.

Ancelotti has come nowhere near to seeing Tosun add to his record, either, with the 29-year-old yet to register a single shot or attempt a dribble under the Italian while losing 50% of his aerial duels, per WhoScored, highlighting Moshiri’s need to urge Brands to seal a deal with West Brom.

AND in other news, a rarely-seen £11m Everton “luxury” may have played his final game at Goodison Park.

For Leeds United, their January transfer window has been a quiet affair. They have been linked with plenty of new faces but we know this is a period Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa generally ignore.

We’ve not seen any outgoings yet either, that’s despite pleas for Helder Costa to move on before the window commenced.

That being said, with contracts expiring in the summer, players are free to discuss terms with clubs abroad. That’s been the case for Gjanni Alioski and if you believe reports, he’s already wrapped up an agreement to sign for Galatasaray in the summer.

Leeds guru Phil Hay revealed the Whites are still discussing new terms for the left-back but if he does indeed leave, then Bielsa must begin to unshackle a player in the academy as his successor.

Now, Leif Davis may appear to be the most ready-made choice given he’s already appeared in the first-team, but we think the duty should be handed to another young player in Niall Huggins.

The 20-year-old has never made a senior appearance for the club but he’s made some important strides in recent months. The left-back penned a new deal in December and was Leeds’ 19th man in the squad when they faced Everton earlier this term.

Clearly, he’s a player that Bielsa likes and it’s unsurprising when you assess Huggins’ versatility. He has played at left-back, left-wing back, right-back and even further forward as a striker.

However, it’s in a more defensive role where he’s impressed the most. Kalvin Phillips is also a fan of the youngster, revealing he could be set for a first-team role in the not too distant future.

He commented last summer: “We’ve got a few younger lads called Niall Huggins and Alfie McCalmont. They’re really good young players as well. They’ll be in the team in the next year or so, definitely.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-leeds-news” title=”Read this week’s latest Leeds news!”]

Playing further forward, he once scored 12 times in 29 outings for the U18s across a single season but he’s now being deployed in defence for Mark Jackson’s U23s. This has significantly developed his understanding of the game and judging by his qualities, he’d make a perfect Alioski replacement.

FocusOnLeeds wrote last year: “His pace across a short distance combined with his tenacious attitude means that he’s a real problem for defenders.”

Those words have been backed up by his performances in 2020/21 for the academy. During the U23s 4-1 dispatching of Burnley a few weeks ago, Leeds Live reporter Joe Donnohue said: “Niall Huggins has been a constant thorn in Burnley’s side, sprinting all over the pitch, winning fouls and maintaining his balance well in challenges.”

Meanwhile, Joe Mewis of the same publication gave Huggins the following review after Leeds’ Papa John’s Trophy defeat to Blackpool in November: “Injected energy and pace to the side after his half-time introduction. Came in at left-back but was constantly trying to attack and move the ball forwards.”

That’s a massive plus point for Bielsa, someone who loves his full-backs to bomb forward.

If Alioski does indeed leave, Huggins would represent a cut-price way of replacing him. He simply has to be readied for first-team action.

AND in other news, Leeds could have their ready-made Pablo heir in 17 y/o gem who possesses a “dying art”…

Everton have plenty of problems, but Sean Dyche will be hoping that Dominic Calvert-Lewin can stay fit and that his frontline can muster enough firepower to rise above the relegation one and avoid another fear-inducing battle against the drop.

It's not been a great few years for the Merseysiders, though last term's travails were somewhat skewed by an eight-point deduction in the Premier League. Take that away, and the Toffees actually finished 12th, only one point behind Crystal Palace in the top ten.

It remains to be seen whether Everton will indeed have enough up top to turn the tide following a poor start to the season, but having a dynamic former forward such as Richarlison would be nice…

Why Everton sold Richarlison

Everton signed Richarlison from Watford in a £40m deal in the summer of 2018, and though this was a tall figure for an up-and-coming forward, his start to life in Liverpool led Gary Lineker to hail the "bargain".

He'd complete 152 appearances over five years, scoring 53 goals and assisting 13 more, but when Tottenham Hotspur came calling in 2022 and presented the club with a £60m offer, it was accepted in a heartbeat.

And that recouped sum looks to be more and more masterful business by the month, with the Brazil international foundering through his debut campaign in the capital, scoring one Premier League goal across 27 matches, even being branded a "joke" by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino.

Richarlison might have been a menace for the Blues but he's fallen by the wayside since leaving, albeit enjoying a bright purple patch during the 2023/24 season.

Still, as per Football Transfers, the 26-year-old is currently worth just £28m, meaning that he has suffered a depreciation totalling £32m, or, to put it another way, a 53% drop.

And anyway, Everton now has a talented winger who's more valuable than their erstwhile talisman, and his name is Dwight McNeil.

Everton have hit gold on Dwight McNeil

Lauded for his "magic" creative quality by journalist Joe Thomas, McNeil is a playmaking monster and has been one of Everton's most underrated players since signing from Burnley in 2022 for a £20m fee by then-manager Frank Lampard.

Everton might have made a torrid start to the campaign but McNeil has been breathtaking. As per Sofascore, the 24-year-old has averaged 4.3 key passes per game and he is proving to be a linchpin for a side that views his playmaking ability as indispensable.

And it's reflected through his rise in value. Football Transfers record McNeil at £30m, meaning that he is higher-rated than Richarlison and enjoying a more significant impact over these past few years.

1.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

22

2.

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

21

2.

Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United

21

4.

Son Heung-min

Tottenham Hotspur

20

5.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool

17

5.

Dwight McNeil

Everton

17

5.

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

17

5.

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

17

He's been fantastic, and though Everton have endured a bleak beginning to the 2024/25 season, with players such as McNeil fighting to restore prominence and the feel-good factor, there's every chance that the future could be brighter on the blue half of Merseyside.

Everton flop left on a free in 2022, now he's outscoring Calvert-Lewin

A former Everton striker has been in wonderful form since leaving Goodison Park

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 10, 2024