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Everton are reportedly ready to make a move for Udinese striker Beto this summer, after having a bid rejected for him in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Bid rejected

The Goodison Park outfit reportedly had a bid worth €25m (£22m) plus bonuses rejected by Udinese on transfer Deadline Day, meaning that they went through the window without making a senior signing.

They also ended up selling winger Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United, so will be expected to be looking for attacking reinforcements come the summer.

The Latest: Beto return?

As per Italian news outlet Mondo Udinese, Everton are ‘ready for an assault’ for Beto again this summer, but would have to pay between €25-30m (£22-26m) for his signature.

After rejecting a similar offer in January, Udinese could be less reluctant to let him go this time, given that would have more time to replace him.

The Verdict: Striker needed

Even though Sean Dyche got off to a good start as Everton manager, winning 1-0 at home to the Premier League leaders Arsenal, it is clear that they still need help in the final third.

They remain the second-lowest scorers in the top flight, with just 16 goals scored in 21 games, and so are in need of more firepower come the summer.

Hailed as a ‘big’ striker with a ‘physical presence’ by Blues legend Kevin Campbell, the six-foot-three Beto has proven to be a handful for defenders in Italy, scoring seven goals and making a further two assists in total overall competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

Of all forwards in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Beto also ranks in the 89th percentile for non-penalty xG per game, showing that he can still become even more clinical in front of goal.

Nonetheless, a deal for the 25-year-old would make sense in the summer, providing that the Toffees can stay up of course.

Leeds United are enduring a torrid time in their search for a manager, but could now secure the perfect fit…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to journalist Miguel Delaney of the Independent as he suggests that the Whites have approached Feyenoord boss Arne Slot regarding taking over in the Elland Road dugout.

It’s noted in the report that the Dutchman has emerged as the preferred candidate for the job, having been snubbed by both Carlos Corberan and Andoni Iraola in quick succession.

The 44-year-old has become one of the most coveted coaches across Europe for his work in his homeland and could emulate the successes of Erik ten Hag should he join his arch-rivals.

Could be their own Ten Hag

Having joined Manchester United in the summer, the 53-year-old had shone as head coach of a rampant Ajax side. He had led them to numerous trophies including three Eredivisie titles and a Europa Conference League final, whilst averaging 2.34 points per game.

This success was packaged in a wonderful free-flowing style that saw him chosen as the man to reignite the Red Devils.

With Leeds in need of a similar revival, but in a far more precarious position, Slot shares plenty of similarities in his far shorter career that suggest he could be the man to not only save them now but lead the Yorkshire outfit to success in the future.

Having taken over at his current club for the commencement of the 2021/22 season, he led them to third in the table before they too were beaten in a European final.

He has since returned with a vengeance for this year, as his outfit sit atop the table having lost once all season. They seem poised to topple sides with far greater budgets and standing in the game, and again have done so with a philosophy that has fans reeling.

Slot himself outlined how he wants his teams to play, as he spoke ahead of that Europa Conference League final where Jose Mourinho got the better of him.

He claimed:

“We are an attack-minded team that likes to have a lot of the ball, and we play with a lot of intensity. When we don’t have the ball, we want to win it back as quickly as possible by being aggressive and pressing to win back possession. I think we are a team that is difficult to beat.”

This style paired with the undeniable results make for an enthralling prospect for Andrea Radrizzani, as he ticks all the boxes to be the man for the present and the future.

The only issue might be prying him away from a title charge, but should they manage it Leeds could see a similar return to form as their Manchester rivals have done too.

TalkSport pundit Jamie O’Hara has slammed Tottenham Hotspur summer loan signing Clement Lenglet after the club’s most recent defeat.

What’s the latest on Clement Lenglet and Spurs?

It’s been a bad week for Spurs to say the least. After a spate of injury blows, the club have tasted back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and now the Champions League.

Indeed, after being thumped 4-1 away at Leicester City, Antonio Conte’s men travelled to Italy to face AC Milan and were beaten 1-0 thanks to a goal from Brahim Diaz.

Lenglet played at San Siro and it seems as though he, and many others, were not up to standard on the night in the eyes of former player O’Hara.

While speaking on Talksport, the pundit said: “When you’re looking at it and going Sarr and Skipp are the two best players in Tottenham’s team tonight, what does that say about the rest of them?

“When you’ve got players like Perisic, Son, Kulusevski, Kane… Lenglet was bought from Barcelona, he’s like an imposter.”

What does Clement Lenglet’s form mean for Spurs?

Lenglet has joined Spurs from Barcelona on a season-long loan and having arrived from such a prestigious club, big things would have been expected of the defender.

However, it feels as though he’s never truly won the faith of Conte and has started just 11 league games all season – sitting on the bench for the past three matches.

The 27-year-old has played more regularly in Europe though, with five starts from a possible seven games in the Champions League. Against Milan, though, it seems as though he underwhelmed.

For instance, as per Alasdair Gold of football.london, Lenglet picked up a 6/10 player rating and “failed to make good use of the ball when he got into good positions”.

On top of that, on Sofascore he finished the game having won none of his three attempted aerial duels, lost the ball 11 times, made three fouls, and failed to find a teammate from his only attempted cross and three long balls played.

All in all, it’s not hard to see why some are disappointed by the way this summer move has worked out for Spurs.

Everton reporter for The Athletic, Patrick Boyland, says that Everton are ‘pressing ahead’ with their plans to give Alex Iwobi a new contract.

The Lowdown: Two deals close?

Journalist Paul Joyce reported for The Times that Jordan Pickford is close to signing a new deal at Goodison Park, later adding that there is no relegation clause and that it will run until 2027.

Sean Dyche confirmed the news in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, while he added that Iwobi’s contract situation will be ‘looked at’.

Iwobi reportedly agreed terms on a new deal in December, but the contract has not been officially signed.

The Latest: Everton ‘pressing ahead’ with Iwobi

Taking to Twitter, Boyland has shared that the Merseyside club are ‘pressing ahead’ with their plans to tie Iwobi down too, after agreeing a new contract for Pickford:

“Told Jordan Pickford has agreed new contract with Everton & could formally put pen to paper this week. Credit @_pauljoyce for initial story.

“Club also pressing ahead with plans to secure Alex Iwobi on fresh terms.”

The Verdict: Another big boost

It would be another big boost for the Toffees should Iwobi put pen to paper on a new deal alongside Pickford.

The Nigeria international has played in nearly every single minute of Everton’s Premier League campaign so far this season, and has contributed one goal and seven assists in the division from midfield (Transfermarkt).

That makes him the highest assister in the squad, while he has also averaged more key passes and dribbles per game than any of his team-mates (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, Iwobi has proven himself to be a key player in the team, and so tying him down to a new long-term contract is vital.

Chelsea make the short trip to north London on Sunday afternoon to face Tottenham Hotspur, with the pressure growing on Blues boss Graham Potter.

Last weekend’s embarrassing home defeat by Southampton continued Potter’s woeful run as Chelsea manager, with reports linking the Stamford Bridge outfit with a number of potential candidates to take over from the former Brighton boss.

However, Mikel Arteta’s slow start at Arsenal has seemingly convinced Todd Boehly that Potter needs time to deliver the best results at Chelsea, although a positive result against Spurs is needed if the Blues are to rectify their slim hopes of a top-four finish this season.

Here is how Football FanCast expects Potter to line his side up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with five changes from the team that started against Southampton.

How could Chelsea’s starting XI look vs Spurs?

(4-2-3-1) Kepa, James, Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell, Fernandez, Kovacic, Sterling, Felix, Mudryk, Havertz

With Edouard Mendy still sidelined through injury, it seems clear that Kepa Arrizabalaga will keep his place in between the sticks against Spurs.

Chelsea were boosted by the news in midweek that Reece James will be fit to feature, so he comes in for Cesar Azpilicueta after his head injury against the Saints, while Thiago Silva also returns from injury to take the place of Kalidou Koulibaly.

Benoit Badiashile partners him at centre-back, while Ben Chilwell keeps his place at left-back, in the hope that he and James can continue their fine form going forward, on a rare occasion when they are both fit.

In midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovacic look likely to keep their spots, although N’Golo Kante looks to be nearing a return to fitness, so there is pressure on both of those midfielders to perform well in north London today.

Joao Felix also starts in the attacking midfield role, although he should be the only attacking player to keep his spot after the disappointment against Southampton last time out.

Raheem Sterling earns a rare start on the right-hand side, while Mykhaylo Mudryk also returns on the left to add some counter-attacking threat with his pace, as Mason Mount and Noni Madueke drop to the bench.

Finally, the “exceptional talent” of Kai Havertz, as dubbed by Jamie Redknapp, earns a start up front after David Fofana did little to impress last time out, with the Germany international still looking to live up to expectations following his move from Bayer Leverkusen.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to improve their squad in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Mohammed Salisu to Newcastle?

According to the Mirror, the Magpies are planning a swoop to sign Southampton central defender Mohammed Salisu at the end of the campaign.

The report claims that Eddie Howe is a fan of the Ghanaian and that the club looked into a deal, before ultimately looking elsewhere, during the January window in 2022.

It is stated that the defender is expected to depart from St. Mary’s if the Saints are relegated from the Premier League and that Newcastle will swoop if that becomes the case.

Will Jamaal Lascelles leave St. James’ Park this summer?

The signing of Salisu, who joined Southampton for £11m from Real Valladolid in 2020, could push Magpies skipper Jamaal Lascelles out of the door ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Sven Botman and Fabian Schar have been the preferred defensive partnership for Howe in the Premier League this season, with the captain playing just five times, and the arrival of another player in that position could result in a centre-back being moved on.

Lascelles, who has played 223 matches for the club, was thrown in at the deep end against Manchester City on Sunday and struggled to deal with the quality on display from the champions – losing four of his five defensive duels and failing to make a single block, tackle, or interception.

The Englishman has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.53 across his five Premier League outings this season and lost a whopping 75% of his ground duels. This comes after the defender averaged a score of 6.73 and lost 57% of his battles on the deck in the top-flight last term.

Salisu, who is six years younger than the Toon centre-back, could be a major upgrade on the ex-Nottingham Forest man. The Southampton star, who journalist Josh Bunting once described as a “total force”, has caught the eye in 2022/23 in spite of his club’s battle against the drop.

In the Premier League this season, the 23-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07 across 21 appearances and won 58% of his ground duels. Last term, the “nasty” 6 foot 3 ace – as he was dubbed by Ralph Hasenhuttl – averaged a score of 6.92 and won 57% of his battles on the floor, which suggests that the youngster has progressed over the last 18 months.

The Saints defender has showcased his defensive strength and consistency in the top flight over the last couple of seasons, whilst Lascelles – who looks set to leave in the summer – has struggled badly.

As a result, the enforcer could be a strong addition to Howe’s side and one that forces an exit for their current captain.

Everton had made plenty of financial missteps since Farhad Moshiri’s takeover, with the Iranian arguably too keen to turn the club into a success that he opened himself to the various blunders.

In an effort to announce that the Toffees were around to compete with the big sides, he threw money at numerous talents who ultimately struggled under the weight of expectation and the often inflated transfer fee that came with it.

One prime example was the deal to bring Yannick Bolasie to Goodison Park, in a fee amounting to a mouth-watering £30m.

Although his struggles at the club were not of his own making, the mercurial trickster still represented terrible value for money considering how little impact he would have on the club.

Having starred for Crystal Palace with a pace and power that captured the attention of all who viewed him, it did not seem like a poor buy initially. In the end however, he did drain the Merseyside outfit.

How much did Yannick Bolasie cost Everton?

Having posted just 43 goal contributions in 144 games for the Eagles, it would have been lofty to see him as the man to come in and transform Ronald Koeman’s attack.

However, his unique physical attributes and mind-boggling skillset suggested that he could create for both himself and others. He would have at the very least been the thorn in the side of any opposition, branded a “magician” by Alan Pardew.

But, very early on in his Everton career, he would receive a hammer blow that would send his career into a dramatic nosedive. On the receiving end of an innocuous challenge against Manchester United, the 33-year-old went sprawling to the ground. 

He would suffer an ACL injury that would rule him out for 53 games, and in the end, would make just 32 total appearances for the club across his five-year spell. Journalist Alex Keble showcased his sympathy on Twitter, branding him “really unlucky”.

Bolasie would endure various loan spells in an effort to regain fitness, to no avail, and his play style was never the same. Across the two years he was solidly at the club, including his wages and initial fee, he cost the club a whopping total of £37.8m.

Having lost that dynamism, he now plays his football in Turkey.

It has been a desperate fall from grace for the 6 foot 2 wide man, who promised so much but was let down by his own body just when he had made the bold step up. Indeed, he sadly drained Moshiri’s coffers quite considerably. 

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major boost in their hopes to bring Mauricio Pochettino back to the club…

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

Antonio Conte's future in north London seems rather dubious, with the 53-year-old unlikely to remain in the dugout much past the current season, even suggesting himself that he may be sacked before then.

Former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettio has since been heavily linked with a return and according to journalist Paul Brown, the Argentine is "open" to a comeback.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

"[Daniel] Levy usually gets what Levy wants. If both those conditions are met, I think you're quite likely to see Pochettino back at Spurs.

"But you have to wonder what other options Pochettino might have. He's always seemed pretty open to a return and to finishing a job he feels he never really got to see through the first time around."

Is Pochettino coming back to Tottenham?

Spurs have endured a tumultuous time ever since they sacked Pochettino after a five-year spell back in late November 2019 as not even Jose Mourinho or Conte has been able to replicate similar consistency that saw them achieve three successive top-three finishes and being runners-up in the Champions League, despite being well-backed to do so.

The 51-year-old made a name for himself at Tottenham and whilst silverware eluded him, he regularly had the team punching above their weight both domestically and in Europe and most importantly, players loved him.

Reports have recently emerged suggesting that several key stars and staff at Hotspur Way have pleaded for Pochettino and his progressive style to return to north London, which says a lot.

Since his departure, the Lilywhites have been strangled by dogmatic, defensively-minded and quite frankly boring football, with the two aforementioned managers plus Nuno Espirito Santo sucking any excitement out of the team through their stubborn set-ups.

That is why a return for the "world-class" – in the words of talkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara – former Paris Saint-Germain manager is needed to get the club rocking once again.

There were some scintillating moments under the stewardship of the Argentine, ranging from that night in Amsterdam to defeating heavyweights like Real Madrid and handing Pep Guardiola his first taste of defeat on English soil

Then when you throw in the two finals they made, without much financial backing at all, the job he did was pretty remarkable. Nothing of the sort can be said about the Mourinho or Conte eras, that's for sure.

A lot of Pochettino's touch still remains around north London, particularly when you consider the likes of Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Heung-min Son are all still starting each and every week, so he'd need very little time to slot back in, you'd imagine.

It was ultimately one bad season that cost him his job and it's likely one of Levy's biggest regrets, given how things have gone since.

As such, it's time for the Spurs supremo to make the right decision and bring Pochettino back to Tottenham Hotspur. It could be his final roll of the dice in what has been a controversial and lacklustre reign indeed.

AND in other news, Worse than Sanchez: Spurs disaster who lost the ball 34x is "a massive waste of money"…

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui has been handed a boost in his pursuit of Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, who has reportedly expressed his desire to join the ranks at Molineux.

What's the latest on Alex Scott to Wolves?

The Telegraph's John Percy reported in January that the Old Gold were indeed interested in the flourishing starlet, but a move did not materialise due to The Robins' £25m asking price, a figure Lopetegui and co were reluctant to pay for an untested Championship commodity.

And now, according to the Express & Star's Lewis Keen, Scott favours a move to Wolves above all else, reigniting the hopes of the Old Gold that a deal could be struck this summer.

Keen said: “I think Spurs and Everton have been mentioned. There’s a few other rumours as well. But as far as I understand it, the player likes Wolves. He would be keen on the move to Wolves. It’s whether they can make it happen, and whether another club turns his head."

A dream partner for Ruben Neves?

Wolves have clearly completed their homework on City's most coveted asset, and should the cogs fall into place over the coming months, a move might indeed be forthcoming.

The revelations that Scott's interest has been piqued over a move to the Premier League outfit is will be sweet music to Lopetegui's ears, but whether his stance, or indeed Bristol City's, will change as the summer transfer window opens remains to be seen.

But in the "fearless" prodigy, as dubbed by Henry Winter, Wolves could nurture one of English football's brightest talents into a devastating phenom, with Scott having started 35 of his outfit's 36 league matches all term, scoring one goal and supplying four assists.

As per Sofascore, the dynamic ace has recorded an average match rating of 6.9 this season, completing 80% of his passes, making one key pass per match and exhibiting the combative nature of his game by forging 2.1 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per outing.

And having taken to the field in an arresting display during Bristol City's recent 3-0 FA Cup defeat at the hand of Manchester City, earning a match rating of 7.0 after succeeding with four of his five attempted dribbles and winning 11 of his 15 attempted duels, he was even hailed a "top talent" by City's £100m man Jack Grealish after his impressively stoic performance.

With a transfer, he could be the perfect partner for the established Ruben Neves, who has been the centrepiece of Wolves' engine over the past five years following his £15m transfer from Porto in 2017.

Neves is an assiduous and tenacious midfielder, having scored five goals in the Premier League this term – a joint high in the squad – completed 85% of his total passes and made 2.4 tackles per game, as per Sofascore.

This level of rock-solid assurance to provide Scott license to roam and instigate promising openings will only enhance the collective fluidity and energy of Lopetegui's outfit, and despite concerns over the price, Wolves must swoop.

Indeed, the thought of the young Championship ace battling alongside Neves is truly mouthwatering one.

Leeds United could be without influential winger Wilfried Gnonto after he picked up an injury on international duty, which should give Luis Sinisterra a perfect opportunity to prove himself in Javi Gracia's side.

Should Leeds unleash Sinisterra?

The impressive form of Gnonto, which has seen him register two goals and three assists in 15 Premier League games so far this season, has meant that chances for Sinisterra have been limited in his debut campaign at Elland Road.

However, after the Italy international was forced off in their 2-0 win against Malta recently, Gracia may have to look elsewhere for an option on the left wing for the Whites' upcoming fixtures.

Fortunately, Sinisterra has just recovered from an injury of his own and made his return to action as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw against Brighton earlier this month.

The 23-year-old has struggled for regular game time and form since joining from Feyenoord in a deal worth £21m last summer, contributing just two goals and no assists in 13 top-flight outings.

He is yet to rediscover the level of performance he produced with the Eredivisie side, where he managed 12 goals and seven assists in just 30 league appearances last season, averaging a phenomenal 7.88 rating from WhoScored.

The Colombian wide man has also shown his class on the international stage, with teammate Juan Cuadrado labelling him an "animal" after he scored a brace in the 3-2 win against Mexico back in September 2022.

If Leeds can get Sinisterra back to his best in the final few months of the season, now that he is back to full fitness, he could be something of a secret weapon for Gracia, as he is yet to show Premier League defences just what he is capable of.

According to FBref, the speedster ranks in the best 20% of wingers throughout Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, successful take-ons, tackles, interceptions and aerials won, which suggests that he can be an important player for Leeds from both an attacking and defensive perspective in the remaining fixtures.

Sinisterra, who earns £65k-per-week at Elland Road, ranks third for dribbles per game in Gracia's squad with coincidentally the same number as the aforementioned Gnonto.

That suggests that he can be a dangerous and creative option out wide for the Yorkshire outfit, potentially helping to unlock opposition sides as Leeds aim to maintain their Premier League status.

There is no doubt that the former Feyenoord man hasn't lived up to expectations in a Leeds shirt yet but after the news on Gnonto, this could be his chance to impress new manager Gracia and justify his summer price tag.