"Outstanding" Defender Snubs Man United Interest

Leeds United defender Robin Koch has snubbed interest from Manchester United in favour of a return to Germany, according to reports.

Who has turned down moves to Man United this summer?

The Red Devils haven’t had an ideal start to the summer window ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge at Old Trafford.

Defender Kim Min-jae previously agreed to sign for Man United, however, he has since rejected a move and is now on course to sign for Bayern Munich.

In midfield, those at Old Trafford went back in for Adrien Rabiot, who was due to become a free agent at the beginning of July. A contract offer was made to the France international, however, he has now signed a one-year contract extension to stay with Juventus.

Another player who the Red Devils have shown an interest in signing is Koch, with Sky Sports stating earlier this month that talks have taken place over a surprise move.

However, Sport Witness have now relayed an update from German outlet Kicker regarding Koch, which spells more bad news for Man United. They claim that the defender has snubbed both Man United and Newcastle United and is choosing between Bundesliga sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen.

Koch, labelled as "outstanding" in the media last season, wants a leadership role at his next club, something that wasn’t realistic at Old Trafford or St James’ Park, and he also wants to focus on breaking back into Germany’s national side.

Leeds United's Robin Koch

Who could Man United sign?

The Red Devils aren’t having much luck in the summer window, but it isn’t down to a lack of effort. A number of players have been linked with moves to Manchester despite the ongoing takeover saga, and United may end up having better luck with both Mason Mount and Andre Onana.

An offer worth £55m was rejected for Mount, but negotiations re-opened between United and Chelsea and a package worth £60m has now been agreed.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils are thought to be one step away from signing Onana, who could well come in and take over as first choice from David de Gea. The Inter Milan goalkeeper could cost around €50m, so if moves go through for the two players mentioned, United’s summer spending could quickly rocket to £100m.

It doesn’t look as if Koch will be joining United from Leeds, though, so Ten Hag and co may need to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

Liverpool Could Sign Kvaratskhelia 2.0 in £51m "Wizard"

Liverpool target Federico Chiesa has been placed on the transfer market, according to reports from Italy, with Juventus seeking to recuperate funds after only qualifying for the Europa Conference League this year.

What's the latest on Federico Chiesa to Liverpool?

Indeed, CalcioMercato claims that Chiesa has been transfer-listed for €60m (£51m) following the Old Lady's ten-point deduction due to financial mismanagement, and Liverpool are among the suitors.

Jurgen Klopp's club is joined in its interest by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, both pushing for a deal for the 25-year-old, who has two years remaining on his current deal in Turin.

Liverpool already have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal and the onus is on the defensive and midfield departments, but Chiesa is a long-term target and could complete Anfield's frontline.

How good is Federico Chiesa?

The Reds are understandably undergoing something of a transitional phase right now, with a midfield exodus this summer preceded by the sale of distinguished attacker Sadio Mane one year ago.

Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo have all arrived over the past 18 months, and there have been tantalising glimpses of the cogs coming together last term despite the lacklustre travails of the squad, failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Next season, Klopp and co have to get the recipe right, forge a title challenge and compete for the Europa League trophy, and as such Chiesa could be the perfect player to bolster the right flank and provide Mohamed Salah with some respite – especially considering the Egyptian star will leave a chasm when departing mid-season for the African Cup of Nations.

Chiesa can fill the void; a fleet-footed "wizard" – as hailed by DaveOCKOP – with more than a little creative ingenuity, the £153k-per-week ace recovered from a big injury this year and scored four goals and six assists from just nine starts across all competitions, with a late-season purple patch underscoring his return to full-firing form.

Federico Chiesa

The 41-cap international ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, showcasing his flair and drawing parallels to one of the hottest commodities of the recently-concluded term in Napoli's Georgian sensation Khvivha Kvaratskhelia who is the 'most similar' player to the Italian.

Another Serie A sorcerer, Kvaratskhelia has been heralded as "magic" by Fabrizio Romano and was instrumental in Napoli's Scudetto-winning campaign after signing for a bargain €10m (£9m) last summer, having scored 14 goals and supplied 17 assists across all competitions.

The 22-year-old also excels with his barrelling runs, ranking among the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, and he is undoubtedly one of Europe's most coveted talents.

Considering Chiesa is also "impossible to stop", as he was praised by Gianluigi Buffon, Liverpool could add a conclusive dimension to their offensive ranks with a swoop, and with silver-laden success the only answer for the Reds, his signature might just be worthwhile.

Chelsea Could Replace Havertz With ‘Extroardinary’ Signing

Chelsea are on course to reshuffle and reshape their dysfunctional attack.

It has already been confirmed that Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t wish to make Joao Felix’s stay in the English capital permanent, Romelu Lukaku prefers to spend another season in Italy instead of returning to Stamford Bridge, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to depart after a disastrous stint in West London.

However, the possible transfer of Kai Havertz to Arsenal is the most surprising storyline thus far, to leave the Blues extremely light up top.

Nevertheless, Nicolas Jackson has been linked to sparking the Chelsea rebuild and replacing the aforementioned quartet as the focal point next season.

What’s the latest on Nicolas Jackson to Chelsea?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the 2021 Champions League winners have decided to activate the release clause for the Villarreal striker and are set to pay €35m (£30m) in instalments for the 21-year-old.

Three unnamed clubs are also reportedly tracking the player, but Jackson wants to play in the Premier League and the Blues are planning to offer a long-term contract.

The Guardian has stated that the Senegalese has already agreed personal terms with the West London outfit.

Can Nicolas Jackson replace Kai Havertz?

The attacker made 26 La Liga appearances this year and registered 16 goal involvements (12 goals and four assists) which has attracted Chelsea to his glistening talent. He was the top scorer for a Villarreal team that secured a fifth-place finish in Spain.

Considering that this is the 6 foot 1 ace’s first full season at the first-team level in senior football in Europe, this return makes for impressive reading.

Across the continent, the £9k-per-week man ranks magnificently, as he sits within the top 11% for non-penalty goals, assists and progressive carries per 90, and his quality and effervescence could be of insurmountable importance to Pochettino.

The one-cap international has been described as “extraordinary” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig and his profile as a traditional number nine could be far more useful than the more fluid and unpredictable Havertz who scored just nine goals across 47 outings last term.

Kai Havertz Chelsea

The German has been at Chelsea since 2020 and his career has involved flashes of mercurial brilliance with the highlighting being his winning goal in the Champions League final two years ago.

However, the rest of his exploits in England have been largely unforgettable and despite making 139 appearances for the West London outfit, his best and most effective position is still a subject that is hotly debated.

Last season, under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard, he was often tasked with acting as the focal point, but his distinct lack of physicality and dynamism, as well as a damaging inability to hold up play, meant he often cut an isolated figure.

The addition of Jackson, therefore, is an intelligent move, and he could the key source of firepower for Pochettino.

New Defensive Target Could Emerge For Man United

Manchester United may set their sights on trying to bring Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo to Old Trafford in the transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Jean-Clair Todibo?

Last month, acclaimed transfer guru Fabrizio Romano gave an insight into Todibo's situation heading into the summer, stating on Twitter: "Understand Newcastle, Manchester Utd and Liverpool scouts were in attendance at Nice-Rennes game to monitor Jean-Clair Todibo. French centre back could get top club move in the summer — with price tag understood to be around €45m."

L'Equipe via Get French Football News also echo a similar story, claiming that Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United want to sign the 23-year-old defender, who is also being tracked by clubs around Europe, including Serie A giants Napoli and Juventus.

The £21k-a-week ace is said to be open to a new challenge next season and is mulling over his options before deciding his next career move.

Nice-Matin have revealed that Paris Saint-Germain also hold an attraction towards the former Barcelona defender, who has considerable levels of interest in his services in the off-season.

Manchester United have also been linked with other defenders recently, namely Napoli defender Kim Min-jae and Monaco star Axel Disasi, with Erik Ten Hag believed to be keen to strengthen his backline.

Speaking to Give Me Sport, journalist Jones has signified that Todibo could 'come into the equation' at Old Trafford this summer.

Jones told FFC when asked about Manchester United's interest in Todibo, Kim and Disasi: "Both players that have been scouted throughout the season [Kim Min-jae and Axel Disasi], I think Todibo as well in Ligue 1 has been looked at, so there's another name that potentially could come into the equation."

Would Jean-Clair Todibo be a good signing for Manchester United?

Todibo has enjoyed a solid campaign over in France at Ligue 1 outfit Nice and looks primed to test himself this summer by securing himself a move to an elite-level side.

In 2022/23, the Cayenne-born made 46 appearances in all competitions for Nice in a season where he was almost ever-present for his current employers, as per Transfermarkt.

Jean-Clair Todibo for Nice

WhoScored also shows that Todibo has excellent awareness of dangerous attacking situations and managed to complete an average of 3.1 clearances per match in the French top-flight this term.

The 23-year-old, who received massive praise from German legend Lothar Matthaus, who stated: "Todibo is the best centre back I’ve seen in a long time.”, was also solid in the tackle across the campaign and obtained an impressive challenge success ratio of 72.3%, according to FBRef.

Manchester United boss Ten Hag will be keen to boost his side's defensive abilities looking ahead to 2023/24 and Todibo is an addition that would excite the Old Trafford faithful due to his consistency and room to blossom further in the next few years.

Liverpool Could Land Gundogan 2.0 In Perfect £52m Machine

Liverpool have taken promising early strides as Jurgen Klopp reconstructs his midfield, and now attention must turn to Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, who is of a vested interest to the Anfield side.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?

That's according to Liverpool writer Neil Jones, speaking on the Anfield Index Podcast, who says that the Merseyside giants "like" the ace following information that they are in negotiation with his entourage.

He said: "Liverpool really like [Thuram] as a player. There’s something in him I think they see, you know, he’s an unusual or, I should say, rare sort of type of midfielder. He’s so physically imposing but he’s [also] got great footballing skill and massive technical quality."

The 22-year-old midfielder is reportedly touted at €60m (£52m) by his outfit who will be reluctant to part with one of their most coveted assets.

This follows news from transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who claims that the Reds have been in "direct contact" with the Frenchman this week, and with the bargain £35m transfer of Alexis Mac Allister now tied up, the emphasis may well shift onto Thuram.

Should Liverpool sign Khephren Thuram?

Despite his relative inexperience, Thuram looks a real player and could very well slot straight into Liverpool's starting midfield, such is the scope of his skill set.

His hopes at hitting the ground running are bolstered by the departures of trio James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; while none of the listed have cemented a starting berth with regularity over the past several seasons, they are all talented midfielders and given Liverpool's woes this year, there is no reason he cannot transcend the remaining crop.

Bestowed his debut for Les Parisien this year, the 6 foot 4 colossus, discernibly graceful and adroit for a man of his stature, Thuram has made 138 appearances for Les Aiglons, scoring eight goals and supplying 11 assists, and has recently been hailed as a "tenacious tackler", a "powerful & energetic carrier" and boasting "significant upper-body strength" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

As per FBref, the £15k-per-week phenom ranks among the top 25% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, which illustrates the energy and exuberance that has been scattered like fallen maple leaves in a storm at Anfield.

Liverpool did craft a seven-match winning run to steady the ship in the closing weeks of the season before drawing a succession of games to end the unlikely hopes of qualifying for top four, but it will have certainly instiled some optimism that there is a pathway back to prominence next year, especially after the squad has been rejuvenated with astute additions.

kephren-thuram-premier-league-liverpool-transfers

His energy and driving nature could provide Klopp with the perfect template to chisel his next sculpture in the mould of Ilkay Gundogan, who played under the German's wing at Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal in his first season before ultimately departing the Yellow Wall for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City for £21m, where he is now regarded one of football's premium stars.

Hailed as "outstanding" by Manchester United icon Roy Keane for his efforts this term, Gundogan ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 19% for rate of assists, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 21% for progressive carries and the top 4% for touches in the attacking box per 90, outling him as a creative ball carrier, just like Thuram.

If the Frenchman can emulate the City midfielder's impact as he grows into his skin over the next several seasons, he could yet assume the role of the Premier League's first-class midfield box-crasher.

Indeed, Thuram might just be the "perfect profile" – as he has been called by Alex Jaquin – for the Reds, and while he is not quite the refined, finished article as of yet, under Klopp's wing he could be shaped into a deadly gem every bit as emphatic as City's German sensation.

Spurs Could Ditch Sanchez For £15k-p/w "Monster"

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in making a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, Max Kilman, having seemingly had a long-standing interest in the Englishman.

What's the latest on Kilman to Tottenham?

According to the Mirror, the 26-year-old is among the list of potential targets for the Lilywhites this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy said to be ready to back incoming manager, Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market.

The piece notes that the experienced coach could oversee something of a mass clearout at N17 over the coming weeks, with defensive reinforcements likely to be needed amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier.

While the piece does not reveal how much it could cost the north London outfit to prise Kilman from Molineux, The Athletic's Tim Spiers previously suggested back in January that the 6 foot 4 ace could command a fee of around £20-£30m.

Who could Kilman replace at Tottenham?

The Tottenham hierarchy will likely be hoping that they can finally get their hands on the towering centre-back ahead of next season, having previously been linked with a move for the Wolves man last summer during Antonio Conte's time at the helm.

As alluded to above, the addition of the "generational talent" – as hailed by sports writer Nathan Judah – could prove something of an upgrade on the struggling Sanchez, in particular, with the latter man having endured a miserable 2022/23 campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The long-serving Colombian – who arrived from Ajax on a £42m deal back in 2017 – was notably booed off by the home support following a disastrous, brief cameo against AFC Bournemouth back in April, having largely been on the periphery throughout the campaign after making just eight Premier League starts.

Spurs' Davinson Sanchez

Part of a backline that shipped 63 top-flight goals this season, the 26-year-old seemingly "doesn't have the talent" to be able to thrive at centre-back – according to ex-Colombia boss Jorge Luis Pinto – while former Spurs man Jamie O'Hara described him as "one of the worst players" that he has seen at the club.

As such, turning to a defensive "monster" like Kilman – as hailed by Wolves insider Tom Parker – could prove the final nail in the coffin for Sanchez, with it easy to see why the Wolves ace has caught the eye of late.

The £15k-per-week machine is notably a real dominant force as he won 67% of his aerial duels in the league in 2022/23, while the current Tottenham man, by contrast, won just 62% of his aerial duels.

It is the Chelsea-born gem's quality in possession that also sets him apart from Sanchez, with the former Maidenhead United starlet ranking in the top 12% among his European peers for successful take-ons as a marker of his ability to play out from the back, while his Spurs counterpart ranks in just the top 47% in that regard.

With the signing of Sanchez having seemingly "not worked" – according to pundit Alan Hutton – Postecoglou could ruthlessly ditch the £65k-per-week dud by bringing Kilman into the fold this summer.

Burnley Eye Swoop For "Brilliant" 23 y/o Whiz

Burnley will be looking forward to their return to the Premier League this summer and Vincent Kompany will be preparing for the huge challenge ahead of him.

The former Anderlecht boss has been a revelation at Turf Moor since his arrival less than 12 months ago, but the step-up to top-flight football will be a true test of the up-and-coming manager.

The club has already put the wheels in motion to build a squad fit to compete, with the permanent signings of Jordan Beyer and Michael Obafemi so far, but will need to add more depth across the squad to ensure they have enough quality and depth.

In the forward line, Ashley Barnes is set for a move to Norwich City following the expiration of his contract, whilst top scorer Nathan Tella is – as it stands – returning to Southampton after an incredible 19-goal loan stint at Turf Moor.

As a result, bolstering the attacking options will be a priority for Kompany in the summer transfer window, with a consistent and reliable goal-scorer desperately needed to replace Tella’s goal contributions.

One player who has been linked to a Burnley move this summer is Aris Saloniki star Luis Palma, a talented forward who could form a formidable attacking partnership with Anass Zaroury.

Who is Luis Palma?

The 23-year-old has been plying his trade in the Greek top flight and his impressive performances has attracted the attention of a number of clubs in the process.

Burnley will need to compete with Leeds United, Rangers, Anderlecht and Dynamo Kyiv who are also named as potential suitors for the promising player.

Over 29 Greek Super League appearances, Palma has scored 11 goals, registered four assists and four big chances created, as well as averaging 2.1 shots on goal, 1.4 key passes, one successful dribble and 37.5 touches per game, proving that he is a huge presence in front of goal.

luis-palma-burnley-transfer

The Honduran forward – praised for his “brilliant” goal contributions by Spanish agent Paulo Hernandez – not only provides consistent goal contributions but offers great versatility with experience on the left wing, striker role and in attacking midfield.

As a result, Palma could be a fantastic asset to Kompany next season in the attacking threat and combining his hunger for goals with Anass Zaroury’s creativity could cause nightmares for opponents in the top flight.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see how Kompany develops and builds his squad to compete comfortably next season, and the signing of Palma could be a great place to start.

Unai Emery Wants £165k-p/w Aston Villa Transfer

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Aston Villa now have a "big chance" of signing Marco Asensio this summer with Unai Emery in love with the player.

What are the latest Marco Asensio transfer rumours?

As reported by The Athletic, the Spanish midfielder will be leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season for free when his contract expires.

The article claims that the 27-year-old had been negotiating a new deal with the club since the start of the year but has ultimately decided to reject what was on the table as he wants a "more prominent role in the team."

In the aftermath, it's no shock to learn that some big clubs may be keen on picking up Asensio and ESPN state he is now in "advanced talks" to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.

Despite that, while talking about all the rumours on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Emery wants the player and so he could yet end up in the Premier League.

He said (2:22): “Then Premier League clubs, Aston Villa, Emery is in love with Marco Asensio so a big chance now for them to go for it on a free transfer, but also other clubs interested in Marco Asensio.

"For example, last summer, it was last August, Manchester United were in contact with Jorge Mendes about Marco Asensio. Then the player decided to continue at Real Madrid also because [Carlo] Ancelotti wanted him to stay at the club.

"Now the market is open for Asensio, and so a very big opportunity for the Spanish player. So let's keep an eye on Asensio in the next days and in the next weeks."

Can Aston Villa afford Marco Asensio?

It's not hard to see why plenty of clubs around Europe are keen on Asensio. After all, he's won nearly everything club football can offer in Spain having lifted the likes of the Champions League, La Liga, and the Club World Cup (all on multiple occasions).

He won't come cheap, however, as he is currently on around £165k-p/w at Madrid, but as he can be signed without a transfer fee, this could be an affordable deal for Aston Villa.

Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio.

With all that in mind though, there will obviously be major competition for his signature and with PSG already in advanced talks, Emery and co will have to move swiftly in the next few days potentially if they are to pull off this exciting summer transfer.

Arsenal Making Risky Decision If They Sell £110k p/w Ace

Arsenal have enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 campaign and have put up a strong title fight against reigning champions Manchester City; however, look like they will just be pipped by Pep Guardiola's men.

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta has led the Gunners to Champions League qualification and Europe's elite competition will return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since 2016/17.

In the summer, the Spaniard is likely to invest in several positional areas to add squad depth in order to balance domestic and continental future. Despite this, Football Insider report that left-back Kieran Tierney could be set to depart in the off-season, with Newcastle United said to be in a 'very strong position' to secure his signature.

Electing to sell the Scotland international, who has been a more than able deputy for first-choice left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko when needed, would be a brave move by Gunners' chiefs and could potentially leave them with more work to do in the transfer window.

What's the latest news on Kieran Tierney and how has he faired this season?

As per FootballTransfers, Manchester City are also keen on Tierney this summer and are in talks with Arsenal over a swap deal that could see Joao Cancelo and the 25-year-old swap places between the respective clubs. And, David Ornstein has claimed that the defender could also join Newcastle United in the summer window.

The report claims that the Gunners are in the market for a new left-sided defender in the forthcoming transfer window, which could spell the end for Tierney in north London.

In 2022/23, Tierney has featured 34 times for his current employers in all competitions, registering one goal and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Last year, former Arsenal icon Martin Keown even went as far to tip Tierney for the captaincy at the club, stating in an interview with The Daily Mail: "I am a really big fan of Tierney, we spoke last year about captain material. I think he has had to show a lot of resolve when he has been third choice for a lot of the season, he is not really the third choice, he has come on in ten or eleven games."

Ex-Manchester United striker Andy Cole is also perplexed as to why the Gunners would look to sell Tierney, as he told King Casino Bonus with quotes transcribed by The Daily Express: "I like Kieran Tierney, he's had a few problems with injuries but he is talented. If Arsenal are prepared to sell him, he would not be struggling for options." He later added: “If you look at Tierney's situation previously, you have to ask what did he actually do wrong? He's never let Arsenal or Mikel Arteta down, of course, he's had a few injuries but he's always played well. He's a kid with a brilliant attitude."

kieran-tierney-arsenal-gabriel-saliba-arteta-newcastle-united

It does seem a little odd that Arteta would look to let a consistent performer like Tierney leave the club in the off-season, especially considering that he has successfully combated 85.7% of dribbles he has faced in 2022/23, as per FBRef.

His injury problems may have played a part in the Gunners' thinking, though the same outlet report that the Scot has also ranked well in comparison to his positional peers in Europe's top five divisions in the art of progressive carries, managing to carry out 2.92 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the top 20% of full-backs for this metric, showing that he can carry an offensive threat from the left flank.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Ben Jacobs has indicated that Tierney may have to leave the Gunners this summer to experience more first-team football, stating: "There's a few sort of intriguing ones. Kieran Tierney is probably the most interesting for me because if you're Arsenal, you perhaps want that depth, but Tierney's kind of been ousted and lost his place since the arrival of Zinchenko. As a consequence, if he wants that game time, he's not necessarily going to get it anymore at Arsenal, even with Champions League football and more games."

Ashley Cole once labeled Tierney as a "warrior", as per The Mirror, and it is easy to see why some fans may be on edge about the £110k-a-week ace potentially departing in the next few months.

Arsenal need all the strength in numbers they can get for an assault on Champions League football next year and letting go of Tierney would be a big blow given his consistent level of performances shown at the club.

Everton handed major boost ahead of Watford

Everton will travel to Vicarage Road this evening to attempt to stop themselves from suffering the same fate as their opponents as their battle against relegation rolls on, and Frank Lampard has been given a major injury boost ahead of the clash.

What’s the latest?

Roy Hodgson took to his pre-match press conference ahead of the Everton game to confirm that there will likely be a number of changes to his team on Wednesday night, claiming that the squad were in the middle of an injury crisis.

Hodgson told the press (via Watford Official):

“I was hoping to play a similar team, but we’ve lost so many players that we find ourselves in the middle of an injury crisis.

The club website further confirmed that doubts are on Tom Cleverley, Kiko Femenía, Joshua King, Ismaïla Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis and Shaq Forde.

Players who are definitely unavailable are Juraj Kucka (knee), Cucho Hernández (hamstring), and Nicolas Nkoulou (minor groin problem).

Lampard will be thrilled

The Everton manager will surely be delighted that Watford will potentially play a weaker than usual team this evening, especially since he has injury problems of his own to key players.

Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Donny van de Beek have all been ruled out of the fixture, with the two defenders, in particular, a huge loss for Lampard as they have both been positively influential in the backline over the season.

Michael Keane and Mason Holgate will be available to play in the centre-back partnership and with a weakened Watford side should be able to protect their line effectively to secure Everton more points in their endeavour to survive relegation this season.

The Toffees have won three and drawn one of their last five games, and are currently 16th in the Premier League table ahead of Leeds United and Burnley, with one game in hand on their relegation rivals and the potential of picking up a maximum of 12 points over the next four games.

Lampard will hope that his team can continue the momentum in their final push for survival in the top flight by taking three more points this evening which would steer them into further safety and take the pressure off the Evertonians ahead of the end of the season.

Considering Watford’s ropey looking squad, they have every chance of sealing yet another vital win.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Everton dealt big injury setback ahead of Watford, Lampard will be gutted

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