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The recent years at Everton football club have been marked with considerable upheaval at Goodison Park. Multiple managerial casualties, relegation battles and a misfiring transfer strategy have all contributed to the Toffee's plight.

If this current difficult position is going to improve on and off the pitch, it is imperative that 777 Partners acquire the entirety of owner Farhad Moshiri's 94.1% shareholding in the club.

According to the Liverpool Echo, their deal to acquire the Toffees is going through the process of obtaining regulatory approval, however, the Premier League, Football Association and Financial Conduct Authority all need to be satisfied that 777 Partners would be appropriate owners of the club, and have the necessary funds to complete the deal as well as a clear plan moving forward.

Whilst the departure of Moshiri would heighten the mood around the club, it would be dampened significantly if Everton were to be handed a 12-point deduction for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, as has been suggested.

Despite this news, the Merseyside outfit have been linked with several names to bolster their squad in January, including Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Signings that Everton could make in January

Earlier this month, it was reported by the i that Everton and several other clubs are interested in taking Phillips on loan from the Etihad in January.

The publication revealed that the midfielder is becoming increasingly frustrated over his lack of game time and wants to play regular football, which the Toffees would be able to provide.

In an ideal world, Everton's takeover would be completed followed by Phillips' signing, however, with multiple big clubs interested – including Bayern Munich, West Ham United, Newcastle United, and Liverpool – a deal looks difficult to complete, as revealed by journalist Paul Brown to GiveMeSport.

He said: “I just find it hard to believe that Kalvin Phillips would want to give up Champions League football and the chance to win what could be a bucket load of trophies again this season with Manchester City for Everton."

Everton's position in the table doesn't make a deal any easier to complete but if they were able to prise him to Goodison, he would be an upgrade on current midfielder, James Garner.

The stats to show why Phillips would be an upgrade on Garner

Everton captured the highly-rated former Manchester United midfielder for £15m in September 2022 and the Englishman has since established himself at the heart of Sean Dyche's plans this term.

Garner is a natural ball-playing midfielder, an aggressor of sorts, who can spray passes at will and keep the cogs in Dyche's midfield ticking over.

The 22-year-old has featured in all nine Premier League matches so far and has averaged the fifth-highest Sofascore rating in the Everton squad (7.18), underlying his importance.

Whilst he is undoubtedly an important member of the team for the industry and the tenacity he brings to the engine room, Phillips has proven, especially in his performances for Leeds United, that he would be a huge upgrade on Garner.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the one that ultimately earned him the £42m move to Manchester, the 27-year-old – who was described by Italian icon Andrea Pirlo as a "rock" – established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, ranking in the 10% against his positional peers for tackles, top 20% for interceptions and top 4% for blocks while placing in the top 1% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

He was an instrumental figure in the Whites's survival that season, anchoring the midfield exceptionally with his passing range and utilising his ability to read the game to sweep up possession.

By contrast, Garner's defensive metrics this term, when comparing them to Phillips in the 2021/22 campaign, paint a picture of someone who is unable to eclipse his English compatriot. He's recorded fewer tackles (2.55/3.05), blocks (1.53/2.09) and interceptions (0.38/1.35), as well as a worse pass completion (70.8%/80.9%).

If Dyche is looking to solidify his midfield with someone who has experience of galvanising a team to Premier League survival while offering "superb" defensive attributes – as lauded by Barcelona legend Xavi – he should look no further than the £18m-rated Man City star.

Erik ten Hag dragged Manchester United from a sixth-place finish when he took the reins back in 2022 to third in the Premier League, two finals and even managed to end the club's six-year trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup in February.

One of the keys to United's success last term under the Dutchman was a well-balanced midfield, primarily consisting of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes, although Fred and Scott McTominay played their part as well.

However, due to unforeseen injury issues this season, Ten Hag has struggled to find the right balance in the middle of the park and now the Red Devils' Brazilian general has been ruled out of action for several weeks with a hamstring problem.

Nonetheless, Ten Hag has a glaringly obvious, yet risky solution staring him in the face.

Why Man Utd's midfield are struggling

In the opening two games of the 2023/24 campaign against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur, the Dutch coach opted to deploy summer signing Mason Mount and club captain Fernandes in front of Casemiro in the midfield but both teams carved United open a worrying amount. The English giants lost possession of the ball 88 times in the middle third across these two fixtures, according to Opta.

Regardless, Ten Hag refused to admit that the midfield was the issue after the 2-0 defeat to Spurs back in August. Instead, the former Ajax boss felt as though the frontline's pressing and the lack of stability at the back were the primary culprits. Still, the club secured the loan services of midfielder Sofyan Amrabat until the end of the season but the arrival of the Moroccan hasn't fixed the team's issues, with club legend Paul Scholes even calling Eriksen a "much better footballer" than Amrabat.

Win or lose, the midfield balance has come under the microscope in almost every game this season. Against Manchester City in the derby over a week ago, the manager decided to take Amrabat off at half-time after his booking in the first half. City ran United ragged after the interval. Pundit Gary Neville criticised this decision, claiming that "Amrabat coming off emptied the midfield".

Ten Hag has tried almost every combination possible in midfield, but there may still be one more trick up the Dutch tactician's sleeve, a return for Kobbie Mainoo.

Kobbie Mainoo's stats at Man Utd

Stockport-born Mainoo made his Premier League debut for Manchester United last season in the Premier League at home to Leicester City and was even handed his first-ever start for the club in a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic in the EFL Cup back in January. However, it was a pre-season game at the MetLife in New Jersey where Mainoo really stood out from the crowd.

Partnering with Casemiro in a double-pivot until half-time, the teenage sensation bossed the midfield against the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, assisting the opening goal of the game, and ending the match with a 7/10 rating, as per Sofascore.

After the game, club legend and former skipper Bryan Robson called Mainoo a "top player" and insisted that Ten Hag "must trust him" this season. Meanwhile, Fernandes heaped praise on Mainoo, claiming he is "good on the ball, strong, he can defend and attack". In a 45-minute performance against the Gunners, the young midfielder held a 96% passing accuracy, made one key pass and one interception, and won 100% of his defensive duels.

In Mainoo's one and only competitive start for the Red Devils, at home to Charlton in the League Cup last term, the youngster boasted an 82% passing accuracy over the course of his hour on the field. What's more impressive is that the academy product registered five passes into the final third in that game while creating one chance, according to FotMob. Piling on the praise, Anthony Elanga, Mainoo's former teammate at Old Trafford, recently labelled the 18-year-old as "unreal".

Unfortunately, Mainoo picked up a nasty ankle injury in a game against Real Madrid in pre-season which has kept him out of the team for several months. However, Mainoo is back in training and even made it onto the bench during United's dismal derby defeat to Man City recently.

With Ten Hag running out of options, perhaps Mainoo could be the perfect answer to the manager's woes in the middle of the park.

After flirting with relegation last season, before dramatically winning the Europa Conference League, West Ham United have steered clear of the dropzone and continued their European exploits in the current campaign. After comfortably easing past Manchester United too, the Hammers now sit inside the top six in the Premier League and are on course to once again qualify for the Europa League to sum up the excellent job that David Moyes is doing at the London Stadium.

Things could yet get even better when the January transfer window swings open in just over a week, meanwhile, with the Hammers reportedly eyeing a move to land one particular rival player.

West Ham transfer news

Despite losing Declan Rice to Arsenal, West Ham arguably came out of the summer transfer window far better than they went in thanks to their successful recruitment. The likes of Edson Alvarez and Konstantinos Mavrapanos have slotted straight in, whilst Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse have so far been revelations for Moyes. Kudus has especially impressed, with his goal against Manchester United the latest moment for West Ham fans to savour at the London Stadium. If they can add even more firepower to their side next month, the sky could be the limit for West Ham, however.

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, West Ham have set their sights on a move to sign Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah in the January transfer window. The forward is most likely to leave at the end of the campaign, but a winter move reportedly cannot be ruled out as Arsenal could be prepared to sell as they look to raise funds for improvements of their own.

If the Hammers do want to land their rival's forward, they will have to reportedly fend off interest from Brentford and Crystal Palace and fork out as much as £40m in what would be a hefty deal.

"Incredible" Nketiah could be an upgrade on Antonio

Whilst Michail Antonio has struggled with injuries this season, his impact has lessened when he has been available to lead the line for West Ham, arguably creating the need for a fresh option in Moyes' attack. Nketiah could be the perfect option to turn to, even for the high price of £40m in January or next summer.

The Arsenal forward has struggled to establish himself as Mikel Arteta's first choice over Gabriel Jesus but has consistently been a reliable goalscorer at The Emirates whenever asked to step up in the last year or so. Nketiah's stats show just how clinical he can be in front of goal compared to Antonio.

Player

Goals

Assists

Expected Goals

Goal-Creating Actions Per 90

Eddie Nketiah

5

1

3.7

0.74

Michail Antonio

2

2

1.8

0.55

Earning the praise of Arteta as a result of his performances, the Arsenal manager labelled Nketiah, who has scored twice against the Hammers in the past, as "incredible".

“It was a great goal but I think overall his performance was incredible. The way he understood the pressing, his intensity, the way he counter-attacked certain spaces, the composure he showed. And then he stayed patient. And in the box he produced a moment of real quality to win us the game.”

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly decide to pursue a deal for a new full-back in January, and recently appointed technical director Johan Lange already knows him from a previous job in the Premier League.

Spurs form and best players…

Ange Postecoglou’s team have made a remarkable start to the new campaign having won six and drawn two of their opening eight games, meaning that they are joint top of the table and level on points with rivals Arsenal, with these being the only two clubs left in the division to remain unbeaten.

The Lilywhites currently have several star players away on international duty representing their nations, including Son Heung-Min with South Korea, James Maddison with England and Dejan Kulusevski with Sweden, and this break in domestic action will have allowed club chiefs to start assessing their transfer options ahead of next year.

One of the players that the N17 hierarchy could pursue is Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash, who has made a total of 109 appearances for Unai Emery’s side since putting pen to paper from Nottingham Forest back in 2020 (Transfermarkt – Cash statistics).

The Poland international still has another four years on his deal (Aston Villa contracts), but having emerged as his club's second best-performing defensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Aston Villa statistics), the 26-year-old is attracting interest.

Matty Cash transfer update

According to GiveMeSport, who have delivered a transfer update on Matty Cash, Spurs have been named as a club who could potentially make a surprise approach for the star in January due to his connection with Lange:

"Another Aston Villa player that Lange could look towards is the adventurous right-back, who has impressed during his three-year spell at Villa Park thus far. Cash is very good at getting forward to support attacks, and this could fit with the new Spurs boss' ethos that puts a lot of importance in the full-backs.

"There are two senior options when it comes to the right-back position for Tottenham – Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro – but with both players having struggles at various stages in their respective Spurs careers, there is always room to upgrade.

"Royal finds himself as the back-up option in the early stages of the season, meaning the Brazilian could seek a new challenge in the near future and this would open up a position for a right-back to come in and Cash could be a very solid option."

What is Matty Cash's salary?

Cash currently pockets £80k-per-week in the Midlands, which he has more than earned during his three years at the club (Aston Villa salaries), so should he ever put pen to paper at Tottenham, it would be a massive coup for Postecoglou and Daniel Levy.

The Slough-born talent has made 21 tackles so far this season which is the joint-highest number in his squad along with Boubacar Kamara (FBRef – Aston Villa statistics), but he’s also capable of using his pace to burst down the flank and create chances for himself and his fellow teammates.

Emery’s attacking “threat”, as hailed by pundit Alex McLeish, has racked up 51 contributions – 27 assists and 24 goals – in 264 career appearances, and having won the Player of the Year award at both Villa and Forest, Cash’s individual positive impact is clear to see.

Manchester City are now reportedly ready to hijack Manchester United’s move to sign a Premier League star worth as much as £100m in 2026.

Man City make Semenyo a top target

It’s not just their local rivals that Man City are looking to frustrate. The Citizens are also reportedly interested in signing Antoine Semenyo and have made the Bournemouth star a top target. In what would deal Liverpool an untimely blow, City could land one of the most in-form wingers that the Premier League has to offer.

It’s clear that Semenyo likes the idea of linking up with Erling Haaland, too, after saying: “Haaland is number one. You see it on TV, scoring all these goals and thinking, surely he’s not like this in person… That man is tall, my goodness. Tall, strong, fast, can finish.

“He’s got everything you need as a striker. I remember Man City just bopping, and I’m thinking, okay this is normal that they bop it. Ruben Dias wraps the ball to him, the ball’s like this high, I’m thinking ‘how’s he going to deal with this?’ just takes it on his chest like this – I am thinking: Haaland, the man.”

It’s also easy to see why City have set their sights on another direct winger. Aside from the improved Jeremy Doku, Pep Guardiola’s wide men have struggled to leave their mark, with Savinho receiving his fair share of criticism from those at the Etihad in recent weeks.

The Brazilian was part of a much-changed Man City side against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, but to say that he failed to make his opportunity count would be an understatement.

Alas, it’s not just wide men that Guardiola wants. The Spaniard and Man City have now reportedly turned their focus towards midfield star Elliot Anderson, who is represented by the same agency as Omar Marmoush.

Man City ready to hijack Man Utd's Anderson move

As reported by the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Man City are now ready to hijack Man Utd’s move for Anderson. The Citizens have made the Nottingham Forest star a top target and could splash out as much as £100m to secure his signature in 2026.

Man City now considering move for £65m forward who Pep called "extraordinary"

City have identified a forward as a priority target ahead of the January transfer window.

ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025

The England star is quickly becoming one of the most wanted players in the Premier League and that should come as no surprise.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has quickly made the Forest star one of his main men and has showered him with praise a number of times, telling reporters: “He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent. He is fulfilling his role in the best way possible so we are very happy with him.”

Man City now frontrunners to sign "world-class" £80m star, Pep's a big fan

Everton have made a terrific start to the campaign and could now look to bring a talented La Masia graduate to Merseyside after his recent run of impressive performances.

Everton renew Jordan Pickford terms

Most people on the blue half of Merseyside wouldn’t disagree with the statement that Jordan Pickford has been Everton’s most influential player over the last few years, and he is now set to sign a new long-term contract that will likely see him end his career at the club.

Delivering details of his extension, Sky Sports reporter Phil Dorsett wrote on X: “Jordan Pickford will sign an improved four-year contract with EFC when he returns from #england duty. Brilliant servant for club and country. He surpassed Gordon Banks’ record of eight consecutive clean sheets for England in the 3-0 win over Wales.”

Currently Everton’s highest paid permanent player with a weekly wage of £125,000 per week, Pickford will be likely to earn a major increase on that salary and nobody can argue that it hasn’t been deserved.

Putting that to one side, the Toffees face a difficult challenge against an in-form Manchester City side this weekend at the Etihad Stdium, albeit David Moyes will fancy their chances of claiming something against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Ultimately, there is a steely resilience surrounding Everton that has been mixed with a unique blend of attacking talent, with Jack Grealish leading the charge on a weekly basis alongside the likes of Iliman Ndiaye.

Moyes can make Ndiaye unplayable by unleashing Everton ace in new position

Everton could make Iliman Ndiaye unplayable by unleashing this star in a new role.

ByDan Emery Oct 13, 2025

Nevertheless, you can never have too many good technicians within your ranks, and supporters of the Blues will be delighted to hear about their latest interest in a proven international.

Everton want to sign Ansu Fati

According to reports in Spain, Everton are keen on signing Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati, who is currently enjoying an encouraging start to his spell at AS Monaco.

Six goals in his first five games for the club, equating to an effort converted every 32 minutes, has brought about further interest in his services from the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.

Five similar players to Ansu Fati (FBRef)

Luis Diaz

Bayern Munich

Leroy Sane

Galatasaray

Oihan Sancet

Athletic Club

Jamal Musiala

Bayern Munich

Fermin Lopez

Barcelona

Intriguingly, Monaco have a chance to sign him permanently for just £9.5 million. Meanwhile, Barcelona can exercise a buyback clause for just over £24 million.

Keen to get ahead of the curve, Everton may be banking on the Ligue 1 outfit looking to trigger a quick sale for a profit amid his availability to Monaco for a low fee.

The player will likely have the deciding say on his future, and interest from Premier League clubs is something that could be weighed up as an alternative to a permanent move to his loan club or returning to Barcelona upon the conclusion of his spell at Stade Louis II.

Chelsea are interested in signing a “magnificent” ace who could be available for £16.7m, according to a new report.

The Blues are likely going to be busy when the January transfer window opens as Enzo Maresca and co. will have their eyes on areas of the team that they would like to improve amid their bid for a Champions League place.

Chelsea leading the race to sign £45k-p/w international in 2025

Chelsea are ahead of the rest when it comes to signing a player at the end of this season.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 17, 2024 Chelsea transfer news

It could be a busy month for Chelsea in terms of incomings and outgoings, as they have their eye on a few potential players, while players that are already at the club are being looked at by other teams.

One player that Chelsea are keen on signing is defender Jonathan Tah, but his arrival would only happen in the summer. The defender looks set to leave Bayer Leverkusen when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, and the Blues are looking to beat several interested teams to Tah’s signing by securing an agreement in the new year.

Chelsea could have their eyes on one or two players leaving the club in January, with midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall attracting interest from Aston Villa. The former Leicester City man has struggled since moving to Stamford Bridge, and a move, whether it be a permanent switch or a temporary one, could be on the cards in early 2025.

Villa hold an interest in the midfielder, but it depends on whether Chelsea and Maresca are willing to let Dewsbury-Hall leave for a rival also fighting for a European spot.

But while Chelsea have their eyes on the likes of Tah for next summer, they also have their eye on a player who could arrive in January.

Chelsea plotting £16.7m swoop for Lyon ace

According to a report from Spain, relayed by CaughtOffside, Chelsea are interested in signing Rayan Cherki from Lyon in January – and have even placed a €20m (£16.7m) offer. The Frenchman has been with Lyon since July 2010 and has firmly established himself as a key member of their starting XI in recent years.

Last season, he played 33 times in Ligue 1, scoring one goal and registering six assists. This season, Cherki, who has been dubbed “magnificent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has played seven league games and has one goal and one assist to his name.

But given the French club’s financial issues, Cherki could be about to leave them when January arrives. This report states that Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in signing Cherki, who is considered statistically similar to Ousmane Dembele by analysis site FBref.

Metric

Cherki

Dembele

Apps

33

26

Goals

1

3

xG

5.2

4.4

Goals per 90

0.05

0.18

Assists

6

8

xAG

4.2

6.7

Assists per 90

0.31

0.48

Shots (on target)

57 (17)

43 (14)

Shots per 90

2.98

2.57

Progressive carries

93

160

Progressive passes

138

133

Despite the Blues’ offer – which has reportedly been matched by Liverpool – the Ligue 1 side will look to get more than that price as the 21-year-old is contracted to the club until 2026. The cash-strapped club will aim to recoup as much money as possible given their financial issues, which leaves them under threat of relegation from the French top flight.

Newcastle United are keen to add a new forward to their ranks after a difficult start to the season in front of goal, according to reports.

The Magpies have scored just 13 goals in the Premier League this term, which is the joint fourth-lowest total in the division. Having been beaten 2-0 by struggling West Ham United on Monday night, they’ve also now failed to find the net in three of their last six top-flight matches.

Club

Goals

League Position

Southampton

9

20th

Crystal Palace

10

19th

Everton

10

15th

Newcastle United

13

10th

Ipswich Town

13

18th

Manchester United

13

12th

After the defeat to the Hammers, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was asked if his side’s goal return this season is a cause for concern. He replied: “Yes, it is. I can’t say anything other because it’s the most important aspect of the team.

“We need to score, we need to feel that confidence, to feel that belief, and we’ve had that for such a long time. “We’re probably still not as fluent as we have been previously, and so that’s stuff for us to try to fix.”

Semenyo wanted at Newcastle

To fix the problem, Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. According to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, the Cherries frontman has emerged as a January target for the Magpies following his impressive displays on the South Coast this season and last.

Semenyo has scored four goals in 12 games this term for Andoni Iraola’s side, while last year, he managed eight in 33 games.

Thomas claims that Newcastle are keen on the 24-year-old, ideally in the New Year, but would be unlikely to sign him in the upcoming transfer window unless other players leave the club.

Liverpool are also tracking Semenyo, according to Thomas, who says the Reds are assessing future targets that could play for Arne Slot.

Cook on Semenyo: "He's got a lot better"

Semenyo, who is valued at £16.7 million by Transfermarkt, joined Bournemouth in January 2023 from Bristol City, where he made 125 appearances and scored 21 goals across six seasons.

Though he had a slow start to life at the Vitality Stadium, he’s come into his own since the appointment of Iraola last summer, establishing himself as one of Bournemouth’s top stars.

Almiron upgrade: Newcastle may have already sold their own Semenyo

Newcastle already sold their own Semenyo in “special” talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 26, 2024

Following Bournemouth’s 3-1 victory over Southampton back in September, in which Semenyo was on the scoresheet, Cherries midfielder Lewis Cook heaped praise on the Ghana international, who has been capped 25 times by his country.

“As a team, we knew the quality he has and we saw that last year. He’s got to just keep working hard – being aggressive and being clinical.

“He’s got a lot better at running back and helping out the team too. He’s a powerful lad and has all the ability in the world. Hopefully he can continue to show that.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers fans must be sensing a change is desperately needed at Molineux in the manager department, especially after Monday night’s defeat to West Ham United.

That was the third straight defeat the Old Gold had tasted in Premier League action, which leaves them with just two wins next to their name in a lowly 19th spot, as Gary O’Neil attempts to cling onto his job position for dear life with a basement clash versus Ipswich Town up next.

He might not be so lucky to last until that big game at the foot of the league, however, with a number of rumoured names being lined up to replace the 44-year-old now.

Managers who could replace O'Neil

Although talkSPORT have come out and said that it’s looking likely that O’Neil will still amazingly be in charge for this tie with Kieran McKenna’s men, there must surely be some movement on Wolves’ end now in putting together a list of replacements if the plug is pulled soon.

Rumours had circulated that West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan was in some conversations to oust the former AFC Bournemouth boss from his precarious job post, with the close geography between the two sides one obvious factor behind the link.

Of course, the Spaniard has also made the Baggies regular promotion contenders in the Championship, with the 41-year-old perhaps ready for a test up a level at nearby Wolves.

There had also been some talk of David Moyes being lined up to replace O’Neil, but one face really would be an ideal successor to O’Neil if a move could get off the ground, with the manager in question an improvement too on Corberan.

Wolves could look to appoint "genius" manager

It had been reported that the relegation-threatened Old Gold were holding talks with Graham Potter to come in before Monday night’s defeat to the Hammers, with the temptation to appoint the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss even more palpable now after this crushing loss.

Even West Ham have been eyeing up Potter in their attempts to get rid of Julen Lopetegui, but it’s much more pressing for the Old Gold to improve on O’Neil, with the 49-year-old offering the West Midlands side a lot more than their under-pressure boss.

Whilst he will still feel the agony of how poorly his spell at Chelsea went, Potter managed to oversee an impressive ninth-placed finish for the Seagulls during his final full campaign at the South Coast, alongside also lifting his side way above the bottom three during his first two seasons.

Wolves fans will take some comfort in the fact Potter has been there and done that when it comes to relegation battles, with a hope he could also help the Old Gold soar back into the top half of the league standings over time, having captivated fans at Brighton with some exciting displays of attacking football when things were all going smoothly.

Manager

Matches

Wins

Losses

Draws

Potter

374

144

114

116

Corberan

220

88

61

71

O’Neil

87

25

16

46

Sourced by Transfermarkt

It’s clear looking at the table above that Potter boasts more experience than both Corberan and O’Neil, with Potter even boasting 41 Premier League wins next to his name as a manager that could get the best out of the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri using his expansive 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Whereas, Corberan wouldn’t be able to make Wolves quite so entertaining, as his Baggies side have only found the back of the net 21 times in the Championship this season to date, where he has also only collected a weak six wins from 19 league outings.

A beloved figure throughout his time on the South Coast before his exit to Chelsea – leading to suggestions that he was a “genius” by journalist Sam Morton – Potter will hope he can repair his managerial reputation at the Molineux helm if he is decided to be worthy of replacing O’Neil.

Of course, O’Neil hasn’t officially been let go of yet, but with faces such as Potter readily available, it might not be long you presume until a decision on the 44-year-old’s future is finally out there.

10x ball lost: The next Wolves boss must ruthlessly ditch 5/10 Wolves dud

Gary O’Neil could be relieved of his Wolverhampton Wanderers duties very soon.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 10, 2024

Leeds United certainly didn't do things the easy way at the Riverside Stadium last time out, just about getting over the line in the end in the barnstorming Championship contest against Middlesbrough to win 4-3.

The seven-goal thriller was an enthralling watch, if a nail-biting one for the Whites away masses, with Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville the stars of the show against Michael Carrick's men by bagging three goals between them.

Away from the top performers in the back-and-forth contest, the likes of Ilia Gruev in the centre of the park notably underperformed and could now face the chop by Daniel Farke for the trip to Queens Park Rangers tonight.

Ilia Gruev's performance vs Boro in numbers

The Bulgarian midfielder has become a vital first-team presence in recent weeks, a reliable head in the centre of the park with 27 Championship appearances now tallied up for the campaign.

Yet, it was clear the 23-year-old was having an off-day against Carrick's men and could now be axed for the game at Loftus Road consequently.

Operating as the only real holding midfielder on the night, with Farke boldly tweaking his lineup to set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, the former Werder Bremen's man lacklustre performance was far more exposed.

Gruev would only accumulate 34 touches of the ball at the Riverside, a far cry away from the 65 touches he managed against Sunderland towards the start of April when the Whites limped to a 0-0 draw.

Even Illan Meslier, who was heavily criticised for his dire showing against Boro, managed more touches playing out from the back at 51 overall.

The Whites boss could well decide to freshen things up therefore, with Gruev handed out a second-rate 6/10 rating post-match by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth who described the ex-Werder Bremen man's first-half showing as lacking 'control'.

That was seen in his lack of touches, alongside the fact he failed to complete a single accurate cross in the 4-3 contest when venturing forward on occasion.

Farke will ponder who to bring in to fill the gap left behind the underperforming 23-year-old, with the experienced head of Glen Kamara potentially coming back into the first-team fold as one option.

The players who could replace Ilia Gruev

The ex-Rangers man looks the most likely candidate to fill in for Gruev if Farke does boldly axe the Whites number 44 for the trip to QPR, having been a steady if unspectacular presence this season for his German manager in the Championship.

Helping himself to four assists from the 37 games he has managed for the Whites this campaign so far, the Finland international will aim to pick up another if selected after being dropped for the last two league clashes.

Leeds 1-0 W

4th October 2023

QPR 1-0 W

18th January 2020

Leeds 2-0 W

2nd November 2019

QPR 1-0 W

26th February 2019

QPR 2-1 W

6th January 2019

Farke will need his troops to be on their A-Game regardless of who is picked or axed, with Loftus Road not the happiest hunting ground for Leeds in recent times having lost their last three visits to the Hoops in all competitions.

The Leeds boss could decide to move Archie Gray into that lone holding role if he sticks with the 4-1-4-1 look as well, but with Gray impressing at the Riverside with his forward-thinking runs, it would make more sense for Kamara – who is a naturally more reserved figure who can make teams tick – to line up in that spot.

It will, no doubt, be another rollercoaster ride of a match for Leeds in their hunt to win automatic promotion with QPR very much aiming to rain on the Whites parade.

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