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Everton could be ready to pull the trigger on one of Carlo Ancelotti’s reported transfer targets and it’s one that would bring excitement back to Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

According to the Express, the Toffees have been keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey and he could now be ready to complete a move to England.

It’s claimed that the Jamaican speedster has changed agent to Aidy Ward, who manages Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and has also told Sport1 that the German outfit have said he can depart for a certain amount.

Sky Sports have previously reported that Bailey could be available for £20-30m, a much lower fee than the £60m they were originally asking for.

Robben comparisons

Everton are rather short for players with attacking flair and creativity, something that the world-class Ancelotti has been blessed with throughout his career having managed Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

A swoop for Bailey would certainly give the Italian a new weapon, particularly as he’s been compared to one of his former stars in the past.

Bundesliga.com once labelled the 23-year-old as ‘Arjen Robben’s heir’ as the league’s right-wing king and it’s easy to see why.

Ex-Ajax youth coach Ronald de Boer was a big fan of Bailey, once claiming: “He’s so fast it’s not normal. His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points.”

Whilst his numbers for the year back that up – even despite being hit with numerous injury blows – he’s provided five goals and three assists as well as averaging 1.6 dribbles, 1.3 shots and 1 key pass per appearance in the German top-flight, via WhoScored.

Ancelotti’s current crop have disappointed, none more so than Alex Iwobi, who has managed the solitary goal since his £34m move last summer, so Marcel Brands absolutely must convince Farhad Moshiri into splashing out a similar amount for Bailey.

AND in other news, Everton have “monitored” Espanyol midfielder…

Alan Nixon has made a rather bold claim about the proposed takeover of Newcastle United after responding to a fan on his Twitter page.

As per his tweet, the journalist has claimed that it looks like the Premier League want the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to do a television deal at their end in order for the top flight to approve of the £300m bid from Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabian-led group.

This could be in response to the findings of a report from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which found that the KSA were responsible for running the pirate satellite TV channel beoutQ in their own country, therefore breaching their own international laws.

The Qataris are the only country in the Middle Eastern region to have the rights to broadcast and stream football games from the major leagues, including the Premier League, which are usually shown on beIN Sports. However, the Saudis were found to be broadcasting these matches on the pirate television channel, therefore breaching piracy laws.

The fact that they were showing games illegally from England’s highest division would surely not go down well with the league, especially since the buying side consists of the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and his Public Investment Fund (PIF).

However, the WTO report did not find a connection between them and the piracy issues themselves, so this could be a good omen for the Premier League to approve of the deal.

Geordies, will the Premier League approve the takeover? Comment below with your views!

Manchester United defender Phil Jones has never been the same since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford.

Jones has been plagued by constant injury setbacks over the years after arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Blackburn for £17m back in 2011.

However, according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, Jones has recently undergone surgery to clear a lingering problem with his knee. The surgery has been a success and Man United are confident that he can turn his career around and finally live up to expectations.

David Moyes, who managed Jones during his time at Old Trafford, is keen to sign him, although that hinges on whether or not West Ham stay in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old is open to a move regardless, as he wants to be playing regular football and finds himself below the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in the pecking order. He has shockingly only managed to play two games in the Premier League all season.

Unsurprisingly, many United fans slammed the news on social media, with some branding him a “broken man” and suggesting that he is “robbing the club blind” in light of his horrendous injury record. Meanwhile, one fan urged the board to “get him out.”

Scroll through some of the scathing reactions so far…

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward should sell Phil Jones? Let us know down below!

Newcastle United’s takeover is still yet to be officially complete and this week further doubts over the deal have emerged, leaving fans in a frenzy on social media.

The Guardian revealed late on Monday evening that new legal documents have raised ‘fresh questions’ over the Magpies prospective takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium.

It’s also claimed that Premier League lawyers are reviewing information which is said to establish a link between the Saudi government and a pirate streaming service which broadcasts English football illegally.

It means that any announcement that was expected this week has been pushed back and supporters aren’t happy whatsoever.

The news was relayed by popular Twitter account @NUFC360 and much of the St James’ Park faithful have responded in their masses.

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Plenty are starting to worry if the takeover is even going to happen, and the longer this goes on without any substantial confirmation, then the more fans are going to worry.

Here’s how they have been reacting to the report…

AND in other news, Craig Hope claims Newcastle takeover will be further delayed…

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Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed Southampton’s transfer policy, per Sky Sports.

The new Saints manager has managed 10 games at the helm of the Saints and has taken the club from 18th in the Premier League to 15th, but they are yet to make a January signing.

What’s the word?

Hasenhuttl has overseen a few departures from the club this month; Manolo Gabbiadini joined Sampdoria, Wesley Hoedt moved to Celta Vigo on loan, and Steven Davis returned to Rangers.

The departures have not, however, seen the recruitment of replacements in this transfer window.

And Hasenhuttl has insisted that he has seen no reason to strengthen his squad, though he says he is always open to the possibility of recruiting young players who have the scope to improve at St Mary’s.

“The team have shown that they have more potential in them than people thought,” he told Sky Sports. “We didn’t have to immediately bring new players in.

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Pl>ymaker FC…

“We tried to create potential and quality, and I think we did that. That doesn’t mean we are not looking, because we are looking, but we’ll only do a transfer if it helps us immediately and also for the future.

“It’s a package. If you find a young player who has potential and quality then we’ll think about a transfer. The more important thing in this transfer period is to give players away, to have a committed group that is not too big.”

Sensible managerial decisions

Southampton seemed directionless prior to Hasenhuttl’s appointment and were drifting towards the worst possible fate, relegation.

Now they have a manager with his head screwed on following the departure of Mark Hughes, and his words make an awful lot of sense.

Southampton have made their name when it comes to searching for bargains with huge sell-on potential; the likes of Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk have netted the club huge profits, without compromising on the quality of the starting XI.

The Saints are right to wait to enter the transfer market, too, as they have finally hit a period of decent form, and Hasenhuttl appears to have a settled line-up.

His vision will surely start to take shape in the summer if the Saints are to dip into the transfer market but, for now, they are sensible to keep their powder dry and focus on the bigger picture of surviving.

Weston McKennie returned to the Juventus midfield on Saturday as he was rejoined by U.S. men's national team teammate Tim Weah in the club's XI.

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McKennie starts in midfieldWeah back in at wingbackJuve win 2-0

Both Americans earned the start in Juve's 2-0 win over Torino, with the two playing together for the first time. Prior to Saturday, McKennie and Weah had been battling for the same position at right wing-back, but the former's return to a familiar midfield spot opened the door for the latter to make his own return to the XI.

Their starts came in a Juve win, as the Italian giants continued their dominance in their local derby with Torino. With the win, Juventus continued a run that has seen them lose just once to Torino in the last 28 years.

GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The match seemingly started on a high for Juve, who, just a few minutes in, appeared to seize an early advantage on a goal from Moise Kean, who started up top in place of the injured Dusan Vlahovic. The goal, though, was ruled back, giving Torino a lifeline early.

Juve did eventually get their goal, though, early in the second half, although that one two was nearly called back as well. A lengthy review followed after Federico Gatti was able to finally tap home a rebound from close range following a set piece, but Juve were rewarded as the VAR determined there was no offside on the sequence.

Substitute Arkadiusz Milik put the game out of reach in the 62nd minute with a towering header from a Filip Kostic corner kick, sealing another win for Juve in a match where their attack never quite got going from open play.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

McKennie's return to the midfield will be the story of the game as he joined usual starters Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot in the center of the pitch.

The American had largely been starting as a wingback in recent weeks, making five starts in the position prior to Saturday's return to the center. With McKennie starting, Weah had been relegated to the bench, but his teammate's shift freed up his starting spot out wide.

It remains to be seen if Massimiliano Allegri will continue to see McKennie as a potential midfield starter. The USMNT star didn't quite steal the show in Saturday's win, as he was just solid, but not spectacular. In an ideal world, he would have been a bit more involved than he was as, out of Juve's three midfielders, he was the least active on the ball throughout the match.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

The U.S. isn't concerned with where McKennie and Weah are playing, but rather how they are playing and how often. Even so, McKennie's move back to the middle will be a welcome sight.

McKennie faces a big test in the coming international break with Tyler Adams still out due to injury, leaving the U.S. without their star No. 6. As a result, McKennie and Yunus Musah could be asked to do a bit more defending if the U.S. flip their midfield to include a No. 10 like, say, Gio Reyna.

As for Weah, he remains a go-to starter on the wing and will likely play significant minutes for the U.S. during the international break.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Weston McKennie (6/10):

Decent, but not incredible. Could have been a bit more active in the attack as Juve dominated the game but, overall, it's hard to complain too much in a 2-0 win that never looked in doubt.

Tim Weah (7/10):

Very good to see him get 90 minutes, especially considering his recent spell as a substitute. Had a few good moments, but will need to be a bit more precise in the final third going forward.

Aaron Ramsdale’s father has questioned the handling of Arsenal’s goalkeeper situation, claiming that Mikel Arteta has got things “wrong”.

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Gunners acquired Spaniard over the summerHave made him their new first-choice keeperEngland star left mulling over his futureWHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners appeared to have their long-term No.1 in place when handing starting duties to England international Ramsdale. He was, however, to see David Raya drafted in from Brentford over the summer, and the Spaniard has quickly taken over between the sticks.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ramsdale has admitted to “suffering and hurting” after surrendering his spot, with his father telling that a sense of joy has been lost in the game for a usually confident and enigmatic character. Nick Ramsdale has said: “Aaron’s lost that smile to when he was holding onto that ball at this moment in time. And it is difficult. It really is difficult to see him there and we all keep saying you need to keep smiling.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Ramsdale senior went on to say of how Arsenal kept transfer business close to their chest, before then taking the decision to hand starting duties to Raya: “When I spoke to Mr Arteta on the phone before he signed Aaron, he said he wanted Aaron. But now, you know, David Raya’s back on the market and he’s had David Raya. Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off. Aaron’s got to live with that and he is living with that even though he’s not been told it. By anybody. You’ve got to give the guy a chance for God’s sake. Even though the way it’s been done, in my eyes, it's been wrong and we can talk about that but it’s the decision. Really and truly we’ve got to get behind David Raya. He’s part of the family now. Whether it's only until May-June of next year. It won’t be, it’ll be longer in my eyes, but that’s by the by.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

There has been talk of Ramsdale making a move elsewhere, potentially in January or at the end of the season, with the 25-year-old shot-stopper having his own future to think about as he seeks regular game time at club level and further recognition with England heading towards Euro 2024.

Mikel Arteta's side made it two wins from two in the Premier League, but they were made to work hard for the three points

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Monday night in an incident-packed derby that saw Takehiro Tomiyasu sent off, and Martin Odegaard score the winner. The Gunners were perhaps slightly unimpressive throughout the fixture, but they managed to earn a vital three points in one of the trickiest away games in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side earned the lead through Martin Odegaard but Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off, and left the north London side hanging on over the final 29 minutes of the contest.

Nevertheless, the Gunners were resilient and managed to hang on and secure all three points.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Selhurst Park…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Aaron Ramsdale (6/10):

Did exactly what he needed to do and was never really stretched.

Thomas Partey (6/10):

Played out of position but dominated his flank. Was rarely beaten by the tricky Eberechi Eze.

Ben White (6/10):

Got his head to everything but did seem uncomfortable against Palace's pace.

William Saliba (7/10):

Solid as a rock at the back and impressed with his distribution.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (3/10):

Sent off, perhaps harshly, for two yellow cards, but never got up to the pace of the game.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Declan Rice (7/10):

There's a real majesty to his game at his best. Read the play well and calmed Arsenal down when they were a man light.

Kai Havertz (5/10):

Some nice touches but was barely in the game in the final third. Arteta needs to figure out his role in the team.

Martin Odegaard (8/10):

Cool as ice from the penalty spot and played excellently, forever keeping Arsenal ticking.

GettyAttack

Bukayo Saka (6/10):

Not at his effervescent best but continually ran at Palace and tried to make things happen.

Eddie Nketiah (6/10):

Won the penalty from which Odegaard scored but blazed over an easy chance in the first half.

Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):

On the fringes of the game all night.

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GettySubs & Manager

Gabriel (6/10):

On after the sending off to mop up defensively and did exactly that.

Jorginho (6/10):

Got his foot on the ball and slowed play down as Arsenal saw the game out.

Jakub Kiwior (N/A):

On too late to make any sort of impact.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (N/A)

Only introduced for the final few minutes.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

Will be delighted with the win but this wasn't a sparkling Arsenal display. They'll move on quickly, and he did tighten them up after the red card.

Despite enjoying a strong campaign, the Gunners are set to spend big again as they prepare for their return to the Champions League

Arsenal are set for another busy summer transfer window. Fresh from guiding his young team to a second-placed finish in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta is determined to improve his squad as the club gears up to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

Some big name additions are expected to arrive in north London, but who could they be? GOAL takes a look at the 10 most likely candidates…

GettyDeclan Rice (West Ham)

It’s no secret that Arsenal want to sign West Ham’s captain and that they have already put a lot of work in behind the scenes to try and get a deal done. But that does not mean they are guaranteed to land Rice, even though it is understood he is open to making the move across London.

There is strong rival interest in the England international that Arsenal will need to see off if they are going to sign him, and they are also going to need to absolutely smash their club-record transfer fee, that currently stands at the £72m ($89m) they paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

West Ham want in excess of £100m (£123.5m) for their skipper and will be hoping for a bidding war to drive the price up further. Whether Arsenal have the financial capability to win the race for Rice remains to be seen, but they are certainly going to try.

AdvertisementGettyMoises Caicedo (Brighton)

Arsenal pushed hard for Caicedo in January but were left disappointed when Brighton rejected two bids for their midfielder. The Gunners remain interested in the 21-year-old, but it is currently unclear whether they will bid for him as well as Rice this summer. It could be a case of one, rather than both as they look to reshape their midfield.

Caicedo has signed a new contract at Brighton since Arsenal’s failed attempts to sign him in January, but that does not mean he will not be moving on in the coming weeks.

GettyIlkay Gundogan (Man City)

Arsenal do have an interest in Gundogan and talks have taken place with his representatives over a possible free transfer this summer. Manchester City are still trying to get him to sign a new contract, but if he doesn’t, he will be available on a free transfer. 

A move to Barcelona remains the most likely option, but Arsenal are trying to convince him to stay in the Premier League following his glittering career at the Etihad. He would be a perfect, low-cost replacement for Granit Xhaka.

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GettyMason Mount (Chelsea)

Arsenal, like the rest of the top clubs in the Premier League, are keeping close tabs on Mount’s situation at Chelsea. It looks increasingly certain he will leave this summer rather than sign a new contract, and talks have been held over a potential move to the Emirates.

But several other clubs are also in the mix, including Manchester United and Liverpool, so it will be a difficult race to win. Chelsea are believed to want around £70m for Mount, a figure that could price Arsenal out of a move.

Who will Spain boss Luis Enrique call on for La Roja's round of 16 clash with Morocco?

Spain's hope of achieving World Cup glory for the first time since 2010 are still alive, despite falling to a second-place finish in Group E.

A frantic group stage campaign saw La Roja start strong, but gradually show their mortality. A rampant win over Costa Rica was followed up by a draw against Germany and a shock defeat to surprise package Japan – who secured top spot in the group with another huge win.

Despite the streaky performances, Luis Enrique has a good record with the Spanish national team and an excellent talent pool to pick from.

Here's what to know as Spain approach the last 16:

GettyGOALKEEPERS

Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon started all three group stage games, and despite a wobble against Japan, will no doubt resume between the sticks against Morocco.

He is fending off competition from Robert Sanchez and David Raya to remain Spain's No.1.

Manchester United's David De Gea is among those to have been left out of the 26-man squad – he will feel as though he could've put in a match-winning display where Simon flopped in matchday three.

Name

Club

Robert Sanchez

Brighton

David Raya

Brentford

Unai Simon

Athletic Club

AdvertisementGettyDEFENDERS

One of the biggest questions facing Luis Enrique when it came to the Spanish defence was whether Paris Saint-Germain centre-half Sergio Ramos should be part of the final squad. His absence hasn't been felt too heavily just yet, although with Spain's team being young, his presence could be missed later on in the tournament.

Cesar Azpilicueta, Dani Carvajal, Jordi Alba and Aymeric Laporte are all part of the 26-man party, with Spain boasting plenty of options at the back.

Eric Garcia has proven to be a reliable option, but has been unable to earn Enrique's trust. Instead, he has opted to deploy Manchester City midfielder Rodri as a makeshift centre-back, alongside Laporte and his deputy Pau Torres.

Name

Club

Cesar Azpilicueta

Chelsea

Hugo Guillamon

Valencia

Pau Torres

Villarreal

Eric Garcia

Barcelona

Alejandro Balde

Barcelona

Dani Carvajal

Real Madrid

Jordi Alba

Barcelona

Aymeric Laporte

Manchester City

Getty ImagesMIDFIELDERS

Spain boss Enrique has put his trust in an all Barcelona midfield three so far at the World Cup. And with how they've performed for the most part, it's unlikely he'll change on that front.

Sergio Busquets has provided experience behind the youthful Pedri and Gavi, who have each starred in the group stages. Busquets hasn't proven flawless, though, and some shuffling around could be required the further they go.

Carlos Soler and Marcos Llorente have been unable to make an impact, while Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara continues to watch on from home.

Name

Club

Sergio Busquets

Barcelona

Marcos Llorente

Atletico Madrid

Pedri

Barcelona

Rodri

Manchester City

Koke

Atletico Madrid

Gavi

Barcelona

Carlos Soler

PSG

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Getty ImagesATTACKERS

Pablo Sarabia, Alvaro Morata and Ferran Torres were expected to lead the line in Qatar, but Enrique has surprised with his selections.

Torres started each of Spain's first two games, alongside Real Madrid's Marcos Asensio and RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo. However, Morata has made his presence felt, scoring three goals so far in an unexpected run for the Golden Boot award.

Youngster Nico Williams seems to have earned the trust of the manager, while Ansu Fati has had to be patient for opportunities so far.

Asensio has starred, but Morata's scoring form might just earn him a place in the XI moving forward.

Name

Club

Alvaro Morata

Atletico Madrid

Yeremy Pino

Villarreal

Ferran Torres

Barcelona

Marco Asensio

Real Madrid

Pablo Sarabia

PSG

Dani Olmo

RB Leipzig

Nico Williams

Athletic Club

Ansu Fati

Barcelona