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Everton have made three signings during the January transfer window, however, they have not made any further additions since they sacked Rafa Benitez over a week ago.

Though, with less than a week to go they have been linked with a player who could potentially change the fate of their season.

The Toffees are struggling in the Premier League so far this term, finding themselves teetering on the edge of the relegation zone only three points clear of the drop.

Their defensive record has been shocking, with the side scoring 11 fewer goals than they have conceded and several shocking performances at the back that have cost Everton points, most recently Michael Keane’s own goal at Carrow Road which led to their tenth defeat and the firing of Benitez.

Further bolstering the defensive line is something Farhad Moshiri and Duncan Ferguson should be looking closely at in the last week of the transfer window, with Malang Sarr linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Yerry Mina has recently returned from injury and adding a high quality centre back partner could be the change that Everton need to reignite their campaign and save themselves from a relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Sarr can play both left back and left sided centre back, which would complement Mina on the right side perfectly, with the £5.4m-rated titan being hailed by his current manager Thomas Tuchel, who said:

“I have the feeling that he knows his role very clearly, he appreciates being in the team and when necessary, he steps up and shows he can be a strong teammate and a strong player.”

The 22-year-old is not currently first choice at Chelsea, making just ten appearances so far across all competitions but has clearly impressed his manager due to the praise he has received, and even his little experience playing in a competitive and successful side could be something that could add value to the Everton defence right now.

Ferguson could form a terrifying defensive duo by deploying Mina and Sarr together, with the 6 foot 3 Everton defender returning to the side.

The Colombian will offer a fresh perspective in the backline following the confidence knocks the other central defenders are likely to be rocked by after several poor performances this season.

Combine that with Sarr’s eagerness to prove he is good enough for first-team football, whilst offering experience of playing alongside some of the most pedigreed defenders in football like Thiago Silva, and it bodes well for the future of the Toffees’ backline.

There has been no official approach or bid made for the young Chelsea defender, but this could change in the last week of the window as Moshiri will surely be keen to make sure Everton have everything they need to stay in the Premier League next season.

In other news: Moshiri could cause chaos by appointing Vitor Pereira

Newcastle failed to escape the bottom three as they were swept aside 4-0 by Leicester City at the King Power on Sunday.

Jamaal Lascelles was adjudged to have brought James Maddison down in the box and Youri Tielemans stepped up to fire the ball into the top corner from 12 yards out.

Patson Daka then doubled the lead in the second half as he tapped into an empty net after brilliant work from Maddison and Harvey Barnes. Tielemans and Maddison both then found the back of the net in the final 10 minutes to complete the scoring.

Whilst it was a dismal afternoon for the Magpies and many players struggled, one player who failed to pull their weight was striker Callum Wilson.

Newcastle fans know how good he can be on his day, but he was unable to make a positive impact on the game. He has scored six Premier League goals this season, showing that he can make the difference in the final third at this level, but came away from the King Power without getting his name on the scoresheet.

Against the ball, he was a liability for the Magpies. As per SofaScore, he lost eight of his 12 duels – including all four of his aerial battles against the Leicester defenders. He also gave away two fouls and completed two tackles, which meant that he was successful in 50% of his challenges. This shows that he was too weak off the ball as he was shrugged out of the way too easily by the opposition.

The forward, who had fewer touches (23) than goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (35), was disappointing on the ball. Via SofaScore, he gave possession away 10 times from his 23 touches, resulting in just six completed passes out of nine attempts. He failed to create a single chance or manage a shot on the Leicester goal, whilst also failing with his one attempted dribble.

Given his goalscoring record and what is he capable of delivering at the top end of the pitch, this worrying performance will surely have left Howe feeling frustrated.

He was not the sole problem with the team’s display, given it was a 4-0 loss, but he did not do enough up front to drag them back into the game or cause Wilfred Ndidi and Caglar Soyuncu any real problems to deal with.

AND in other news, “Seriously interested”: Romano drops fresh NUFC transfer claim which fans will love…

Aston Villa would be wise to make a move for Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez as a replacement for Azel Tuanzebe, according to Kevin Phillips.

The Lowdown: Villa linked with Gomez move

The 24-year-old has found it difficult to get regular minutes for the Reds this season, appearing for just 14 minutes in the Premier League.

Villa have been linked with a move for Gomez in the January transfer window as Steven Gerrard looks to strengthen his squad between now and the end of the season.

With Tuanzebe set to leave Villa and join Napoli on loan, a centre-back may well be needed this month.

The Latest: Phillips talks up possible Gomez move to Villa

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips talked up the idea of Villa acquiring Gomez’s services.

After Gerrard admitted that “we would be delighted to keep [Tuanzebe]” and “we just hope we have the opportunity”, the former Sunderland striker stated: “He’ll definitely need a new centre-back. Whether Joe Gomez happens, I’m not sure. It’d be a great signing.

“But when managers speak like that, ultimately it looks like the player will be moving on. Then, it will be a priority to get a centre-half through the doors”

The Verdict: Tough to see happening

Gomez is a top-class defender who has won both the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, being hailed as ‘sensational’ by Jurgen Klopp.

He could be an exceptional signing for Villa despite some sizeable injury problems, but it is hard to see the Reds allowing the England international to leave.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip both now in their 30s, Gomez will surely be viewed as a future regular if he can stay fit, and even a loan move could feel needless after the Reds’ centre-back shortage last season.

Villa may well need to look elsewhere if they intend to add to their ranks in this department during the month.

In other news, some Villa fans have reacted to reported interest in one player. Find out who it is here.

The lure of guaranteed playing time is expected to see Celtic win the race to sign Bayern Munich youngster Christopher Scott this summer, according to Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Celtic linked with move

The 19-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move to Parkhead in recent days, with Sky Germany reporting talks with the player’s representatives even though Bayern are keen on extending his stay beyond 2022 – when his current deal expires.

It is believed that Brentford are also interested in acquiring Scott’s services, as the potential battle to sign him in the summer hots up.

The youngster has won four caps for Germany’s Under-20 side and is valued at £1.08million by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: McCleish backs Hoops for signing

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live, backed Scott, a ‘glorious talent’ to trade Bayern for Celtic, with the promise of more minutes giving them the edge over Brentford:

“That would be a cracker. I suspect he will only come if he is promised he will be playing. I’m not saying he’ll be in the nucleus of the team.

“But he will need to be assured he will be getting games. It’s rare to see young teenagers making a breakthrough but teenagers in their late teens have a chance.

“If you’ve got a glorious talent, there’s absolutely no stopping you. But it seems that a lot of them are thinking about, not bigger clubs but the bigger leagues, to get them over that kind of foundation hurdle.

“The aim is to catch the eye of the seniors at Bayern Munich or whatever. They clearly want to get the experience of a tougher league.”

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The Verdict: One for the future

While Scott wouldn’t necessarily come in as a key man immediately, he is someone who would be viewed as a long-term signing with great potential.

That’s not to say he wouldn’t play regularly, though, as McLeish alludes to, and he has been described as ‘one of the biggest talents in Germany’ in the past, surely earning himself plenty of playing time when the Bhoys compete on multiple fronts.

Scott could add depth and quality to Celtic’s midfield, not to mention ensure that Ange Postecoglou’s side continues to build into the future, as key midfielders like Callum McGregor begin to age.

In other news, two Celtic players could potentially start at Rangers this weekend. Find out who it is here.

Tottenham Hotspur could finally make a move for a player they have been tracking for three years this summer; Joachim Andersen…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Eurosport’s Dean Jones, who claims the current Spurs squad will undergo a refresh regardless of who is in charge; Jose Mourinho or someone else.

He also suggests that recent reports linking the north Londoners to the Dane do carry weight after all.

Alasdair Gold suggested earlier this month that Andersen would be a potential summer target after impressing on-loan to Premier League rivals Fulham, and they have no option to buy, so parent club Lyon could see a bidding war ensue for their towering defender.

The Telegraph believe he could be available for just £25m.

Imagine him & Rodon

It is no secret that Spurs need defensive reinforcements, particularly through the middle. They may well hold the record of being the fourth-best defence in the top-flight but mistakes at the back have been the true defining trend of the season.

Following Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United, Mourinho’s side have now dropped 18 points from winning positions, only second to Brighton’s attempt of 20 points.

Had they seen out those matches, then Spurs would be second in the league to an outstanding Man City side.

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That’s not the case and is undoubtedly why they are so desperate to transform their backline this summer. Joe Rodon, a late £11m signing, has started to prove his worth and at just 23, he’s certainly one for the long-term future.

He’ll need a partner, though. And it’s evident that neither Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez or the aging Toby Alderweireld are up to scratch as Mourinho has utilised 16 different combinations at the back this term alone.

Andersen, however, has impressed in a side battling for relegation. Despite it being his maiden campaign in England, he’s picked up the armband in 14 of his 26 appearances, including the 1-1 draw against Spurs, where he stopped Harry Kane to just the one goal.

Only a trio of regular starters under Scott Parker have managed a better average WhoScored rating than the Dane (6.81), whilst he leads the squad for aerial duels won (3.2 per game).

The 6 foot 4 titan’s form this campaign has earned glowing praise from across English press, ranging from Mirror chief football writer John Cross lauding him “magnificent” to the Telegraph’s Sam Dean claiming he’s Fulham’s best passer – an attribute that would definitely see him fit nicely with Spurs playing out from the back.

Rodon is currently Mourinho’s best passer, managing to find another Spurs player with 88.7% of his passing attempts, so pairing the two together could prove to be a shrewd decision in the long run.

He’s only 24, too, so you can just imagine the spine of Rodon and Andersen for years to come.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Hojbjerg: Spurs plot swoop for the next Paul Pogba…

Carlo Ancelotti has dropped a double injury blow for Everton ahead of their home game versus Southampton in the Premier League on Monday night.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match against the St. Mary’s faithful, the Italian boss revealed that there has been no date set for Jean-Philippe Gbamin to return to training, while Yerry Mina faces another two weeks out of action.

Double Everton injury blow

The Merseyside club will be without both Mina and Gbamin for the fixture against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men at Goodison Park, and will no doubt miss the former especially.

Mina has been nothing short of a rock for the Toffees in the heart of the defence, winning no fewer than 4.7 of his duels a game in the Premier League so far in the 2020/21 term, as well as averaging 4.5 clearances, 1.1 interceptions and one tackle per appearance (Sofascore).

As for Gbamin, it is a case of whether the Blues will ever be able to see him play for EFC again. The central midfield player has had an awful time with injuries ever since his move from Mainz, and has only played in a mere two senior matches in all competitions for Everton, with his last one coming all the way back in August 2019.

Nonetheless, Ancelotti’s team will have to find a way to get all three points against the Saints without both of them.

In other news, find out why Paul Joyce’s latest update has been lauded by Everton fans here!

Lee Johnson may have got this Sunderland side playing better football but there is one thing he cannot seem to control – injuries.

It has been a wretched few months in terms of fitness for his players. At the moment, he is missing Conor McLaughlin, Denver Hume, Bailey Wright, Jordan Willis and Grant Leadbitter.

He was set to receive an injury boost this week with Tom Flanagan approaching fitness again. Last week, the manager admitted that he was a week away from returning. That meant he should have been fit to face Rochdale on Saturday.

However, as revealed by Johnson this week, Flanagan has suffered a setback in his bid to return and now looks as though he’ll miss this weekend’s game.

Speaking this week, the Mackems boss said: “Tom has got a deferred injury.

“He broke his foot and that caused him to run differently, that led to the calf injury, and now compensating for his calf he has now felt his hip flexor. He’s like the man who swallowed the bird to catch the spider to catch the fly!”

Johnson further commented on his injury on Friday afternoon, suggesting the defender wasn’t a million miles away from coming back.

Johnson must be tearing his hair out at the moment. Very rarely has he been able to play his strongest XI and, with Sunderland aiming to get promoted, that’s far from ideal.

If he is searching for positives, however, it’s that the Black Cats have coped adequately without Flanagan in the side.

It’s been a risk but the Mackems have converted Luke O’Nien into a centre-half and, alongside Dion Sanderson, they have been superb.

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Sunderland have kept three clean sheets in their last four, even with five defenders all on the treatment table.

With Flanagan set to miss out again this weekend, it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he keeps faith with Sanderson and O’Nien.

That being said, just imagine how good Sunderland could be once everyone is fit and healthy. This squad has high potential under Johnson if he ever gets the chance to harness it.

Sitting fourth in League One, this could be the year they finally bounce back to the Championship.

AND in other news, Move over Wyke: Sunderland should swoop for 57-cap gem who Moyes dubbed a “predator”…

Former BBC pundit Noel Whelan has tipped Tottenham Hotspur defender Joe Rodon to leave the Lilywhites in the summer and join a newly-promoted Premier League club.

The Lowdown: Rodon’s position

According to a report by Football Insider, Spurs have informed the Wales international that he is free to find himself a new club when the transfer window opens.

The 24-year-old was keen on leaving Hotspur Way in January, with the likes of Brighton and Newcastle interested in signing the defender, but a move away from north London failed to materialise.

Rodon has shone on the international stage, drawing praise as ‘flawless’ and ‘special’ from journalist Ian Mitchelmore.

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The Latest: Whelan’s claim on Rodon

Whelan has claimed that if Rodon aims to stay in the Premier League, he should consider joining a newly-promoted team as the defender is not the sort of player Conte wants.

Speaking with Football Insider, the former Leeds striker said of the 24-year-old: “He’s not in the category Conte wants in a centre-half. I don’t expect him to have a life at Tottenham.

“There are teams like Fulham who have already been promoted. There will be teams who look at him because of the Premier League status that he has had at Tottenham.

“Also, the fact that he’s an international and could be going to the World Cup. You never turn your nose up at a young centre-half.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if people who are promoted want to look at him as a possibility to take on.”

The Verdict: Needs a move

The Welshman has made just one appearance in the league this season, and with Conte’s desire to sign a new left-footed centre-half, it would appear that Rodon’s career with the Lilywhites is over. Therefore, if the player hopes to reinvigorate his career at the top level, a move elsewhere will be crucial in doing so.

Having enjoyed a number of strong performances with the Welsh national team, Rodon will be hoping that will be enough to secure a transfer away from N17 in the summer and reignite his career elsewhere.

In other news: Rodon isn’t the only Tottenham player being discussed over a possible exit

This has been a topsy-turvy spell for Wolverhampton Wanderers, one filled with change rather than familiarity.

It’s not often we can say that about Nuno Santo’s team but he’s been forced into making a few switch-ups over the last month.

For the first time during his spell at Molineux, he moved to a four-man backline against Southampton. With that formation he engineered a draw with the Saints and a win over Arsenal but things quickly unravelled against Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Reverting to a three-man backline did the trick versus Chelsea last time out as the Old Gold secured a 2-1 win.

In some senses, a trip to Turf Moor could be trickier, though. Here’s the XI we’re predicting Nuno to pick on Monday evening.

As you can see, the Wolves coach could prefer his tried and test system once again – using an unchanged formation from the one that defeated the Blues.

However, there are two changes to the side that won last week.

The first to note is that there is no Ruben Neves. The Portuguese started just his third game in the last five against Chelsea in place of the suspended Joao Moutinho but with his fellow countryman set to return on Monday, Neves drops out.

For one reason or another, Nuno doesn’t see the young central midfielder as one of the first names on the team sheet anymore.

The other change is in attack where the £22.5m-rated Fabio Silva is axed from the XI. It may seem harsh but the teenager may struggle against a bullish Clarets backline.

He hasn’t scored in the Premier League yet and consequently, we’re tipping Adama Traore to be recalled and start next to the lively Pedro Neto.

Given his physical qualities, Traore could be the right man to upset the likes of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.

We think that Wolves’ defence will be unchanged with Marcal keeping his place ahead of Rayan Ait-Nouri. Unfortunately, Raul Jimenez is still out and recovering from a fractured skull.

AND in other news, Shi could land Wolves their next Saiss in “incredible” 35-cap talent…

Frank McAvennie believes Glasgow Rangers should expect more shocks in the future following their defeat to St. Johnstone.

McAvennie makes Gers claim

The Gers were dumped out of the Scottish Cup quarter-finals as they were defeated on penalties by the Saints after a 1-1 draw.

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie suggested the Ibrox outfit should get used to such losses because being champions prompts the best from opposition teams. He said:

“The biggest problem Rangers have is that they’re the champions.

“People stand up to them, they fight more. It’s not happened with Celtic this season because they’ve not been scared of them. 

“I don’t think Rangers underestimated St Johnstone and I wouldn’t say they were disrespectful either. 

“They thought they had the game won and took their foot off the gas, they didn’t mark the goalkeeper because they didn’t think he’d do anything. 

“Look what happened there. There was some naivety there, that’s what it was. When you’re champions, everyone wants to knock you off your pedestal. It will probably happen again.”

In Rangers’ hands

Of course, the Gers are now an even bigger scalp than they were before. That comes with the territory of being the Premiership champions, and Steven Gerrard will not be complaining. However, the Gers have proven in the league that they are more than a match for every other side – they remain unbeaten in that competition (BBC).

The defeats to St. Johnstone and St. Mirren – they were beaten by the Buddies 3-2 in the Scottish League Cup – were disappointing, especially given how comfortable Rangers have been in the Premiership. Of course, teams will want to beat the Gers, but that does not mean they need to get used to losing. What kind of message would that send? The 55-time Scottish champions play to win every match – a couple of poor defeats will not change that.

In other news, Rangers are believed to be interested in this goalscoring midfielder.