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Everton have made only one signing so far this summer, with Ashley Young joining the Toffees on a free transfer, and although he will bring a wealth of experience to the club, it is hardly the marquee name that the supporters expect.

More arrivals will be required in order for Sean Dyche’s men to avoid yet another Premier League relegation battle and with this in mind, they have been linked with a move for Nigerian striker Victor Boniface ahead of 2023/24.

How much will Victor Boniface cost?

According to Nigerian outlet Football Rover, the Merseyside outfit have emerged as a contender to lure him away from Belgian side Union St-Gilloise in order to bolster their attacking options.

USG value the 22-year-old at just €12m (£10m) and although Dyche will have some money to spend during the transfer window, securing young talent on the cheap will perhaps be a perfect way to approach his transfer business.

They could however, face competition from German side RB Leipzig with regard to a potential move, and with Champions League football being on offer at the Bundesliga outfit next season, Dyche may need to come up with a wonderful offer to lure him to Goodison Park.

Who is Victor Boniface?

The Toffees scored a paltry total of 34 league goals last season which was the second-worst total across the whole top flight, indicating just how poor they were in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms netted just four times across all competitions between them and this was one of the main reasons why they lingered near the bottom of the table for so long, narrowly escaping the drop.

This clearly highlights the need more one or more new strikers at the club and Boniface should certainly be a wonderful choice.

The 22-year-old plundered 22 goals and grabbed 12 assists for USG last term, which would have made up 65% of Everton’s total league goal tally, suggesting he has the capabilities to improve this next term.

He also averaged 0.9 key passes per game and created four big chances last season for the Belgian side in the league, indicating that he could offer more than just a clinical goal threat, linking up well with others around him. As such, he could form a solid partnership with Dwight McNeil.

The Englishman recorded seven goals and three assists, emerging as their top scorer, yet his abilities on the wing could allow Boniface to flourish and score even more should he make the move to Everton.

McNeil delivered 0.5 crosses into the penalty area per 90 across the previous 365 days and with Boniface scoring five headers during 2022/23, he could reap his rewards by getting on the end of regular deliveries into the box from the Everton gem.

The 23-year-old led the way with big chances created (11) while ranking second for key passes per game (1.4) across the whole Everton squad during the 2022/23 league season.

It's these creative qualities that could also generate plenty of chances for the Nigerian starlet, who has shown a keen eye for goal during the embryonic stages of his career.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded Boniface for being “on fire” alongside compatriots such as Victor Osimhen and Terem Moffi and judging by his statistics over the previous 12 months, he could be a wonderful addition to the Everton squad.

Journalist Charles Watts has praised Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after his goal-saving tackle on Joe Willock against Newcastle United.

What's the latest on Arsenal and Granit Xhaka?

With the Gunners still hoping to win the Premier League and the Magpies looking to secure Champions League football next season, it's no surprise that this encounter was full of quality as well as plenty of fight.

Indeed, it was a fiercely contested encounter that could have potentially gone either way but Arsenal's quality told on the day as they picked up all three points.

Goals in each half – first from Martin Odegaard and then an own goal from Fabian Schar – were enough to see Mikel Arteta's men win 2-0.

But the outcome of the match could have been different had Xhaka not made one brilliant tackle to deny former Gunner Willock from netting against his former club.

While speaking about the win on his YouTube channel, Watts handed the £120k-p/w star and 8/10 player rating for his efforts before highlighting the "special" challenge.

He said (08:07): ”Xhaka I gave him eight [out of ten] as well. That block from Granit Xhaka to deny Joe Willock was just something very, very special.

"It just looked a certain equaliser. How he got there in time, I have no idea, but he did. A really good performance from Xhaka, he bang up for it.

“There was lots of times when you thought: 'Oh, is he going to go over the edge here and get himself sent off?' Because it could have happened.

"But it didn't, he kept himself just on the right side of it. And it was a top performance from him.”

How good was Xhaka against Newcastle?

It's safe to say Watts wasn't the only one impressed with Xhaka on the day. For instance, in the player ratings for football.london, Kaya Kanak also handed him an 8/10.

The journalist added: "A superb all-round midfield display from the Swiss international. Two blocks to prevent almost certain Newcastle goals and then some passes in the final third to split the Newcastle defence wide open. Great leadership and fight too when things got feisty."

As per Sofascore, he also showed quality on the ball with 27 completed passes (the fourth highest for Arsenal), one key pass, and 3/4 long balls. And was key definitely too with two tackles, one blocked shot, and four clearances (the most from either side).

All in all, it's safe to say Xhaka earned his paycheck with this superb display.

Liverpool are keeping a watchful eye on Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze's situation this summer as sporting director Jorg Schmadtke considers lodging a summer transfer offer.

What's the latest on Eberechi Eze to Liverpool?

According to recent reports, Jurgen Klopp's outfit are "planning to check" on the 24-year-old this summer as they plan to recraft their midfield following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Fellow Premier League sides Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all said to be interested in the England international, with the Eagles willing to talk business for around €30m (£26m).

A mercurial midfielder with dazzling skills, Eze would be a stellar addition to the Anfield ranks, and with just two years left on his current deal, his club might seek to secure maximum value with haste.

How good is Eberechi Eze?

Considering Liverpool's problems throughout the 22/23 campaign stemmed from the stagnancy of a midfield depleted of energy and with a pervading loss of belief, signing a progressive menace in Eze, who finished the term atop the crest of a wave, could be an auspicious move.

Hailed as "magic" by former Palace teammate Christian Benteke, Eze scored ten goals and supplied four assists in the Premier League last season, indeed coming into his own in the business end and plundering six strikes from his final nine matches.

Having recently made his international debut, the one-cap England star's box-surging prowess and potency could leave him as the perfect alternative to Celta Vigo prospect Gabri Veiga, who has been in scintillating form in LaLiga this season, scoring 11 goals and supplying four assists, and subsequently leaving Liverpool considering paying his €40m (£34m) release clause.

Such similar returns indeed stand out among the aforementioned pair, but a deeper dive into their styles reveals that Eze could produce every bit the 'magic' that Veiga could, with the 21-year-old Spaniard being called a "wonderful talent" by journalist Josh Bunting.

As per FBref, Eze ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Veiga, comparatively, ranks among the top 1% for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 24% for shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

The 24-year-old Eagle would indeed be a worthy alternative to Veiga, and Klopp must now choose carefully as he charts the best route to success on Merseyside.

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

There has been an update regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Fiorentina midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat…

What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?

According to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils are still pressing on in their desire to land the Moroccan international this summer, albeit with prior reports that a bid had been lodged for the 26-year-old having seemingly been "premature".

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Amrabat after friendly game: “I don’t know if I’m leaving… maybe I can stay here at Fiorentina”. Told there are no changes: Man Utd keep working on Amrabat and want him — but talks are on player side. No bid… yet.

"Reports about official bids last week were premature."

Read the latest [club] transfer news HERE…

While it would appear that an offer for the former Club Brugge ace has not yet been made by those at Old Trafford, the Daily Mail only recently reported that the 6 foot 1 maestro could cost in the region of £25m, having entered the final year of his contract in Florence.

How would Amrabat fit in at Man United?

While player sales may be needed prior to any deal for the Netherlands-born ace, it looks as if Fred could be on his way to Turkish giants, Galatasaray, while Donny van de Beek has caught the attention of La Liga outfit, Real Sociedad, thus ensuring that space could soon be available in the first-team squad at the Theatre of Dreams.

If Amrabat – who featured 50 times under Erik ten Hag during his prior stint at FC Utrecht – is to sign on the dotted line over the coming weeks, the Red Devils would be snapping up a combative and composed asset who could slot in nicely in the centre of the park.

Lauded as something of a "beast" by ESPN's Steve Nicol amid his strong form for his country at the World Cup last year, the £32k-per-week ace could potentially allow United's attacking talents to shine due to his defensive acumen, with Bruno Fernandes likely to be a notable beneficiary.

The latter man has been the undoubted creative hub for the Premier League side of late having created 32 big chances in the top-flight last season – more than any player in the division – proving himself a true master at providing quality service from his playmaking berth.

For the Portugal international to have a figure like Amrabat behind him could well prove to be a dream scenario, with the Fiorentina man having notably averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game in Qatar as a sign of his knack for winning back possession – with that record not far off what Casemiro achieved in the league last season (4.4 tackles and interceptions per game).

Perhaps the 49-cap international's most notable attribute is his ball-playing quality from a deep-lying midfield berth, with that showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, ensuring that the one-time Feyenoord man is not one to squander possession easily.

Equally, Amrabat could also be perfect for Fernandes due to his knack for playing incisive forward passes as he ranks in the top 8% for progressive passes, with that a sign that he regularly looks to find those ahead of him.

That could then benefit the United skipper – who previously joked about Fred's shortcomings on the ball, in contrast to former coach Michael Carrick – as he can regularly pick the ball up in dangerous areas to try and impact proceedings in the final third, with Ten Hag's chief chance creator likely to be able to do even more damage next season.

Everton have a long-standing interest in Chelsea central midfielder Conor Gallagher, and a reliable journalist has revealed whether Sean Dyche will make a late move before the transfer deadline on Friday.

How old is Conor Gallagher?

Gallagher is 23 years of age and an academy graduate at Stamford Bridge, but he’s never really been given a chance to prove what he’s capable of, having been sent out on four development loans throughout his career to Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

However, the England international has started all three top-flight games so far this season so is clearly being given more of an opportunity under Mauricio Pochettino than previous managers, but that hasn’t stopped him from being targeted by the likes of Aston Villa, Brighton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham.

Speaking to GiveMeSport last month, Dean Jones, journalist and transfer insider, claimed that the Toffees have been in contact with the Blues for a long period of time after seeing a £45m package for their target rejected back in January, having never fully lost hope that a move could take place at some point in the future.

Are Everton signing Conor Gallagher?

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs name-checked Everton as one of the clubs to have been monitoring Gallagher for the largest amount of time, but admitted that the hierarchy are not pursuing a deal as it stands. He said:

“Conor Gallagher also faces an uncertain future but has been playing for Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino and is content to stay and fight for his place.

"Bayern, West Ham and Spurs have all looked at Gallagher during different parts of the window. Everton and Newcastle held a historical interest as well, but are not active currently.

"Brighton really like Gallagher, but not his wages, and that’s why nothing has materialised to date. Chelsea will listen to offers should they arrive around the £50m mark.”

€25m (£21m)

€12.5m (£10.7m)

Loan – €3m (£2.5m)

Loan Transfer

Free Transfer

Everton will know that Gallagher hasn’t yet been handed the proper chance to flourish, so having been dubbed a “warrior” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it’s clear to see why Dyche and the rest of the board have wanted him for so long.

The Epsom-born talent is extremely calm and composed on the ball where he’s currently averaging a 92.6% pass success rate in the top-flight, not to mention that he loves to get stuck into challenges having made eight tackles so far this season which is more than any other of his teammates at Stamford Bridge, via FBRef.

The Elite Management Agency client, who has also clocked up 68 contributions (36 goals and 32 assists) since the start of his career, even has a great record against the Toffees having scored twice previously, so if he’s capable of doing that on the opposition side, surely he could continue that impressive form on Merseyside, but by the looks of things, a late move may not be on the cards.

Manchester United are believed to be interested in making a move for Fulham sensation, Joao Palhinha this summer, with manager Erik ten Hag seemingly keen to bolster his midfield ranks ahead of next season.

What's the latest on Palhinha to Man United?

According to The Sun, the Red Devils are said to be 'monitoring' the 27-year-old ahead of the upcoming window, with it looking as if the Carabao Cup winners will 'make their move' once the market re-opens.

The report suggests that the former Sporting CP ace – who only arrived at Craven Cottage on a £17m deal last summer – could fetch as much as £60m if he was to depart in the near future, with Marco Silva's side having already identified a potential replacement for the Portugal international in the form of Porto's Mateus Uribe.

It would appear that Palhinha has been something of a long-term target for those at the Theatre of Dreams, with reports early last year having suggested that United were keeping tabs on the 20-cap menace.

Would Palhinha be a good fit for Man United?

While the addition of the 6 foot 3 titan would arguably not be the playmaking, Frenkie de Jong-esque signing that Ten Hag may be craving, it would certainly add some further steel to a midfield department that has only recently been strengthened by the £70m addition of Casemiro from Real Madrid last summer.

To have the potential to partner the latter man alongside Palhinha on occasion is truly mouthwatering indeed, with the Old Trafford outfit set to have a simply menacing and destructive duo on their hands in front of the back four.

In the case of the Cottagers' rock, the £50k-per-week monster has arguably been "one of the signings of the season", according to Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, having been a real standout presence at the heart of the midfield in west London throughout the current campaign.

Hailed as being as "strong as an ox" by Weir, the towering brute currently ranks first in the division for tackles made (105) as a marker of his ball-winning prowess, memorably making nine tackles and winning 12 duels in total when taking on Ten Hag's men in the Premier League back in November.

That class was again evident when the two sides met again in the FA Cup prior to the international break, with Palhinha winning nine of his 13 total duels, while also showcasing his quality in possession after completing three of his four attempted dribbles.

To have such an all-rounder alongside Casemiro would certainly offer the top-four hopefuls real solidity, with the Brazil international – who has been hailed as the "cement" in the side by Ten Hag – also a ferocious presence in the centre of the park after averaging 3.1 tackles per game this season in the league, a record only slightly lower than that of Palhinha (four tackles per game).

That partnership would also potentially allow the current United man to offer more in a creative sense having thus far created five big chances and averaged 0.9 key passes per game, with Palhinha – who has created zero big chances and averages just 0.2 key passes per game – providing more of a defensive shield.

Whether or not the deal does come to pass, it would certainly be of intrigue to see Ten Hag put together a midfield pairing that few teams in the league would relish coming up against.

Sky Sports presenter Joe Thomlinson has criticised the development of Crystal Palace sensation Michael Olise, claiming that the Frenchman is not living up to his potential with his current performance levels.

What's going on with Olise at Crystal Palace?

The winger has shown a lot of promise since joining from Reading last season, but is currently struggling to make an impact amid Palace's poor form. He has scored just two goals in 30 appearances this term.

Palace have suffered a major dip in form, which has seen them fail to win a league game in 2023, and they recently brought back Roy Hodgson to replace Patrick Vieira as manager.

Speaking on Football Daily's YouTube channel about each Premier League club's best under-21 player, Thomlinson praised Olise's ability as one of the best in his age group, but claimed he would like to see more from him.

He said: "In terms of talent, I actually think he's one of the best raw talents in this entire list. His skill set is so elite – a left-footed right-winger, who can play deeper, can get involved in midfield, unbelievable dribbler with the ball at his feet.

"I just don't feel like he's kicked on this season. I think that's partly due to Palace being quite out of form, but I would like to have seen more. Two goals in 23 appearances – obviously, one of them a screamer against Manchester United – but I don't know.

"I was really expecting Olise to go to the next level and just be basically unplayable this season, but some of his attacking output is just quite disappointing. And that's a shame.

"There are five assists in his game, but you look at these numbers here, maybe I'm being harsh, but things like progressive carries in the 60th percentile, I think he can do better than that.

"I believe he will. I think he will go to new heights, but this season, I think I wanted to see a little bit more."

Where is Olise struggling?

Olise's defensive output has overall been at a decent level, ranking highly amongst wingers for tackles and blocks as per FBref, suggesting that the problem is not a lack of effort or work rate.

However, he is currently having a minimal impact on the ball, as the £45k-per-week attacker ranks low for touches in the attacking penalty area, goals and pass completion. Although some elements of his dribbling have been impressive – ranking in the top 20% for successful take-ons – his lack of end product and low productivity on the ball has arguably contributed to Palace's lack of goals.

Olise still has time on his side given his age, but his performances this season have been underwhelming overall. And given the evident hype around his talent, perhaps it is fair for the likes of Thomlinson to demand more from the Frenchman.

Manchester United are undoubtedly a club famed for their production of young talent, with the Red Devils having repeatedly promoted players from the academy ranks into the first-team, from the Busby Babes to the ‘Class of 92’, right through to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.

For every success story, however, there is a notable figure who simply falls by the wayside – for every Paul Scholes there is a Ravel Morrison. For every Ryan Giggs, there is a Callum Gribbin.

In the case of the latter man, the Englishman is a prime example of the perils of hyping up players too young, as well as a warning as to the brutal nature of the game, with once-promising figures able to be so ruthlessly cast aside after years on the books at a club.

What happened to Callum Gribbin?

Gribbin’s tale is arguably one of wasted potential but also likely one of frustration – both for the player himself and for United – with the emerging gem having never been able to truly live up to his early, outstanding promise.

The Salford native – who would ultimately spend 11 years at Old Trafford after joining in 2008 – had been setting tongues wagging among supporters in the know for years as a result of his displays at youth level, having even been hailed as the “English [Lionel] Messi” due to his precocious talent, as The Athletic’s Daniel Taylor revealed.

Lauded as a “fantastic technician” by former assistant coach Kieran McKenna, the playmaker was notably included in the Guardian’s Next Generation list in 2015 alongside the 20 best talents in the Premier League, with that selection including current Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as ex-Tottenham Hotspur sensation, Marcus Edwards.

That wider acclaim was mirrored by the glowing reports coming out of United, with youth coach Paul McGuiness stating at the time: “Callum’s a very talented player and the type English football does not have a lot of. He can keep the ball with people around him. He can manipulate it and give space for a creative pass. Also, he’s waiting to look for a creative pass all the time too.”

The forward’s quality unsurprisingly sparked comparisons to club legend Giggs, with that likeness having become even more apparent following the youngster’s stunning, solo goal against Barcelona in the Otten Cup back in 2016.

An “unreal talent” – in the words of fellow academy graduate Charlie Scott – Gribbin appeared destined to eventually force his way into the first-team picture, having possessed that innate gift to be able to “glide past players with the ball tied to his feet”, according to club historian, Tony Park.

Despite enjoying a “light-bulb moment” – in the words of Nicky Butt – after producing an all-action display against Wolfsburg in the UEFA Youth League in 2015, the 5 foot 10 ace was never able to make that step up, with injury also playing its part in curtailing his progress.

Having been unable to ever make his senior bow, the former England U17 international was ultimately released in 2019, going on to endure a brief stint at Sheffield United, before joining League Two side Barrow in 2020.

That switch again failed to have the desired impact as Gribbin only made five appearances for the club, having subsequently been snapped up by lower-league side Radcliffe with the aim of kickstarting his career.

Now 24, the former wonderkid is currently on the books at seventh-tier outfit, FC United of Manchester, with that slide down the footballing pyramid representing a sad decline for a player who once promised so much.

With time still on his side, however, hopefully Gribbin can get back to where he belongs sooner rather than later.

Newcastle United are finally in a position where they can beat mega clubs to top signings, and a recent update suggests that could happen with one exciting young star.

Do Newcastle need more signings?

The Magpies have made giant strides with Eddie Howe in charge as manager, quickly becoming a real force in the Premier League, and finishing fourth in the table last season. That saw them return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, and they will begin their campaign in Europe's biggest club competition later this month.

Granted, Newcastle have made a surprisingly poor start to the season, losing three of their four league games, but it must be stressed that their opening to the campaign has arguably been tougher than any other team's.

New players have arrived at St James' Park, in order to go up another gear, with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento adding more quality and depth to the squad.

The money is there for Newcastle to continue spending well into the future, however, and the hope is that further upcoming arrive in the January transfer window, giving them an extra boost of quality heading into the second half of the season.

It could be that attacking reinforcements are looked at as a priority, giving the Magpies as much firepower as possible, and it looks as though they are turning to La Liga for a potential signing.

Will Newcastle sign Nico Williams?

According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are battling with Barcelona for the signing of Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, who continues to shine for the Basque club. They could trigger his €50m (£43m) release clause in January, in order to beat any free agent auction when the 21-year-old's current deal expires at the end of this season.

Liverpool are also mentioned as potential suitors in the report, as are Aston Villa, but the Magpies appear to be showing the most interest and intent, with Barca more keen on signing him for free next summer.

Williams could be an exciting signing for Newcastle in January, should they be able to convinced him that a move to England is best for his development, rather than a switch to Barca.

At just 21, the Spaniard is still very much an improving player with a high ceiling, but that's not to say he hasn't already become a key figure for Bilbao, being hailed as "simply amazing" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Strong dribbler

Inconsistent delivery

Versatile across the attack

Defensive contribution

Possesses blistering pace

Inconsistent finishing

Williams has already registered 23 goal contributions (12 goals and 11 assists) in 89 appearances for the La Liga side, despite his tender years, and he has also netted twice in ten caps for Spain, showing that he can cut it at international level.

Predominantly a left-sided attacking player, the Bilbao ace could provide competition for the likes of Barnes and Anthony Gordon, while his versatility allows him to play on the right-hand side and in a central role, which should be seen as an added bonus for Howe.