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With Everton once again on the hunt for another permanent manager after the Merseyside club sacked Rafa Benitez as a result of a poor run of form in the Premier League that capitulated with a 2-1 defeat against relegation struggler Norwich City at the weekend, numerous names have been thrown around as potential candidates to take the reins at Goodison Park.

One name that has been mentioned with the position is one that will be very familiar to not just Premier League followers, but specifically Everton fans.

What’s the latest?

Speaking on a recent live Sky Sports programme, journalist Kaveh Solhekol revealed that if Everton were to offer the manager’s role to current Derby County boss Wayne Rooney, the former Toffees star would find it difficult to turn down.

He said: “The information we have that is although Wayne Rooney is focused and working hard at Derby County, if he was offered the opportunity to return to Everton, he would find it very very difficult to say no.

“If he was to return to Everton, you are talking about somebody that is footballing royalty.

“Other players, current players respect him so much.”

He’d raise the roof

In his playing days, Rooney made a total of 117 appearances for the Toffees across all competitions, scoring 28 goals and providing four assists along the way.

As a manager, the 36-year-old has taken charge of 64 games for Derby as their caretaker and permanent manager, winning 19 games, drawing 19 and losing 26 in the process.

Given the financial situation the Midlands club have found themselves in that have led to points deductions as well as transfer and contract issues with players, the former striker has been able to show his mettle in the dugout at Pride Park this season by guiding his team to eight wins and 11 draws.

With Rooney’s connections at Goodison and his knowledge of the Premier League having played 491 games in the top division, he has the ability to raise not only the mood at Everton but the standards as well, especially if he’d be able to get a positive run of results under his belt and get a big reaction from the fans as well; something he’s already achieved at Derby.

With Rooney previously sharing his intent on staying at Derby regardless of how their current campaign ends whether it be in the Championship or as a League One side next season, it seems that even if the Toffees do approach their former striker with a job offer to replace Benitez, he wouldn’t want to leave halfway through what could be a great achievement for him and the club in keeping them in the second tier.

With that in mind, it could be worth Everton targeting a manager that isn’t currently employed that would be able to make a quick move to Goodison Park and get to work on getting their season back on track.

In other news: “As things stand”: Fabrizio Romano drops fresh EFC manager claim, fans surely relieved – opinion

With Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side heading into Thursday evening’s Europa League fixture knowing that nothing but a win will keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive, the 56-year-old manager must ensure he gets his team selection spot on against Ferencvarosi TC.

And, with the Hoops’ Hungarian hosts currently being on a run of three consecutive fixtures without defeat – a series of games which includes a 7-0 spanking of Tokol VSK – Postecoglou will be well aware that taking three points from the Groupama Arena will be no walk in the park.

So, will the Bhoys boss make any changes to the team which started the lacklustre 0-0 draw with Livingston last time out? Here’s how we think Celtic could line up against Ferencvarosi, along with the latest team and injury news…

With both Tom Rogic and Carl Starfelt being unavailable for Thursday evening due to injury, we predict that Postecoglou will make three changes to the side that lined up against Livingston last weekend.

The first of these alterations is a forced one in the centre of defence, with the stricken Starfelt being replaced by the highly-rated 21-year-old Stephen Welsh – who is handed his first start since September.

The remainder of the back five is unchanged, with Joe Hart starting between the Celtic sticks, Josip Juranovic and Anthony Ralston lining up at left and right-back respectively, and Cameron Carter-Vickers starting alongside Welsh at centre-back.

There is something of a reshuffle in the middle of the park, with the £14k-per-week Nir Bitton dropping to the bench, while Jota moves into a central attacking midfield role – in a bid to combat the Bhoys’ clear lack of creativity in midfield against the Lions on Saturday.

This move sees the £9k-per-week Mikey Johnston handed a start on the left of Postecoglou’s front three, while Kyogo Furuhashi returns to the XI in place of the £2.25m-rated Georgios Giakoumakis – who had something of an afternoon to forget against Livingston – with Liel Abada keeping his spot on the right.

In other news: Cost £4.5m, left on a free: Celtic had a nightmare on 25 y/o gem who “has everything”

Alan Nixon has dropped an extremely promising update regarding a potential takeover of Derby County.

What’s the latest?

In response to a fan asking whether the American businessman, Chris Kirchner – who has been heavily linked with a takeover of the Rams – is indeed a serious contender to purchase the club from Mel Morris, The Sun journalist suggested that Kirchner is very much interested in a deal, as well as claiming the businessman wants to tie-up his purchase of the club as quickly as possible.

In a six-word post on Twitter, Nixon revealed: “Wants the club. Wants it ASAP.”

Fans will be buzzing

There has not been much for Derby County fans to get excited about so far this season, with the club being entered into administration and docked 12 points for doing so, as well as being docked a further nine points after admitting they had broken Football League accounting rules on Tuesday.

That has left the club rooted to the foot of the Championship table which means the news that Kirchner is a serious candidate to purchase the club will undoubtedly leave fans buzzing and relieved.

Indeed, with relegation appearing to be all but a certainty following the club’s latest points penalty, there was rather understandably a great deal of concern that any interested parties may well be put off by the fact they would essentially be buying a League One side.

However, following Nixon’s latest update, despite the rather bleak outlook for the Rams on the pitch, it would nevertheless seem as if Kirchner is extremely interested in securing a deal to purchase Derby, and would like to do so as quickly and efficiently as possible – something which will provide fans of the club with a great sense of comfort.

So, while things will more than likely get worse before they get better at Pride Park, there now appears to be hope on the horizon for the Rams, an outcome that did not appear overly likely only a matter of weeks ago.

Many Everton fans have been left flocking to some manager news on Kasper Hjulmand.

As per Danish news outlet B.T., the Goodison Park faithful have now enquired about the Denmark national team coach, and are doing ‘concrete research’ on him in the view of him potentially succeeding Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard is under pressure following their 4-1 loss at home to bitter rivals Liverpool in midweek, which has now seen them without a win eight games in the Premier League ahead of their visit of Arsenal on Monday night.

The poor run of form will reportedly see some supporters of the Merseyside club walk out during the 27th minute of the match in protest, due to it being 27 years now without a major trophy to their name.

Nonetheless, Hjulmand is one name on the shortlist due to his success with Denmark, in where he guided them to the semi-final of Euro 2020, as his team also became the third side to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He also guided them to ninth spot in the official World Rankings in the process.

However, his record as a club manager is nowhere near as impressive, as he lasted just 21 games in his mist high-profile job at Mainz, and has no other experience of managing in any other major European league (Transfermarkt).

Of course, managing at club level is a lot different to the international stage, and so Toffees supporters seem split on his potential appointment.

Everton fans on Hjulmand news

These Blues flocked to the news as it was shared on Twitter:

“Don’t know much about him but he’s taken an about average Denmark team and put them in a good position. International footy is different, look at Southgate, but think it’s a decent shout.”

Credit: @1878_Shirts

“This would be amazing. Gets the best out of average players. We have a lot of average players”

Credit: @adam_drage

“Please”

Credit: @Shot_Stopper24

“Doesn’t look great on paper….. Biggest club gig was Mainz where he didn’t even last a season, started ok in the league then 1 win in 13. Lampard for me”

Credit: @keepitreal_82

“Another disaster”

Credit: @iamawayrightnow

“His record as a domestic manager is awful”

Credit: @AlmightyLard

In other news, find out what Marcel Brands news has Evertonians erupting here!

Some fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter, in which ExWHUemployee provided an update on the fitness of West Ham left-back, Arthur Masuaku.

So far this season, Masuaku has made 10 Premier League appearances for David Moyes’ side, providing one assist and averaging a WhoScored match rating of 6.87 – ranking the £6.75 million-rated defender as the club’s sixth-best performer in the top flight.

However, the 27-year-old has not featured for the Hammers in the league since December of last year, having undergone surgery on a knee injury.

Although, in a recent post on Twitter, the reliable insider ExWHUemployee claimed that the DR Congo international should make a return from the sidelines in the next two to four weeks, something which appeared to please a number of the West Ham fan base, many of whom flocked to share their delight at the insider’s injury update regarding the left-back.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to ExWHUemployee’s injury update regarding Arthur Masuaku? 

“This would be a massive boost for our European push.”

@ScoutSoucek

“Best Sunday news (Liverpool a close second).”

@LenaWHU

“He was the reason Fornals’ form was so good at the start of the season.”

@JackNew140192

“5-2-3 with Benny and Arthur on the left.”

@billywhufc_

“Him and Benrahma down the left.”

@LukeBar81276466

“Can’t wait to see him back.”

@SamanthaWalsh1

“Yesss! King Arthur back before the end of the month? What a huge boost that’ll be!”

@TheWestHamYank

In other news: Many West Ham fans responded to this club update, find out more here!

In recent comments made on Twitter, ExWHUemployee discussed the impact Kevin Nolan has had since his appointment as a coach at West Ham United.

The Irons have been one of the more surprising success stories this season, with David Moyes and his coaching team transforming a side which finished just five points above the relegation zone last term to one currently occupying fifth place in the Premier League, well in contention for Champions League qualification with just 11 games remaining of their campaign.

Following the Hammers’ most recent victory, a 2-0 win against Leeds United on Monday night, ExWHUemployee singled out Kevin Nolan for praise on Twitter, claiming that the former West Ham midfielder’s set-piece coaching is another thing to add to the list of reasons to praise the 38-year-old.

Transfer Tavern Take

Since being appointed as one of Moyes’ assistant coaches back in February 2020, West Ham’s league form has been rather impressive, with the club winning 18, drawing nine and losing 13 of their 40 Premier League games played since Nolan’s arrival.

However, five of these 13 losses came over the coach’s first six games at the club, a period in which it could be argued the 38-year-old had still not had enough time on the training pitch to implement his ideas.

With West Ham having scored a league-high 14 goals from set pieces so far this season – something which ExWHUemployee claims falls under Nolan’s remit – it would very much appear as if the coach is indeed deserving of a considerable amount of praise for the work he has done with this West Ham side.

In other news: Many West Ham fans responded to this club update, find out more here!

Journalist Fabrizio Romano laid down a major West Ham update this weekend that will surely have supporters of the Premier League side disappointed.

What’s the word?

Romano took to Twitter to confirm that Declan Rice had indeed turned down a new deal proposal from West Ham as David Moyes looks to keep one of his stars at the club beyond the summer.

However, it was reported by Adam Newsom and relayed by Romano before the match between West Ham and Chelsea that Thomas Tuchel rates Rice “very highly”, but hasn’t given him much more thought due to the ban on Chelsea signing or selling players until their takeover is complete.

Tuchel isn’t the only admirer of the England international, with Manchester United reporting interest in the player too.

Moyes will want to keep Rice

Rice has emerged to be one of the Hammers’ key players as they have had a fantastic season in the top flight.

They are pushing to consolidate a top-six spot in the league and reaching the Europa League semi-finals has potentially justified Rice’s £67.5m market value, with some of the fees teams have been quoted with to sign him having pushed beyond the £100m mark.

With a SofaScore rating of 7.17, the highest of any other West Ham player, it is a case of when and not if before he eventually leaves the side.

With his contract not expiring until 2024 then Moyes is in a prime position to haggle for the best fee possible. His stock has never been higher and a £100m plus transfer fee could give the manager some major funds to continue the wonderful job he has done so far.

It’s fair to say the supporters will be gutted if Rice does go, but the reality is, once the big boys come calling, not a lot of people turn them down. That said, if it’s their London rivals Chelsea, it will aggravate fans even more.

AND in other news, Sources: West Ham eye swoop for “brilliant” 21 y/o, he’s “similar to Eden Hazard”

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has refused to back Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard’s comments on whether a break would ease the current coronavirus problem in football.

Lampard doesn’t agree

Ahead of the Ibrox outfit’s match with Celtic at Ibrox on Saturday, Gerrard said that football gives people a distraction, and that the data does not suggest a two-week break would eradicate the problem within the game.

Lampard did not agree with his comments. Speaking of his side’s own clash against Manchester City, he explained:

“I’m not sure on that one. I understand it. If you do love football you love watching the amount of games you get to watch at home. But safety has to be paramount.

“There are lots of people working at Chelsea within our bubble who have babies, parents, friends, sisters, brothers, grandparents…they come here and go to work.

“Then they go home and are in the environment where there’s another surge of the virus, which seems to be more contagious, so safety and security are paramount rather than trying to keep the nation’s spirits up.

“I know that might not be a nice thing to say, but these are tough times for everybody. We enjoy watching our football but safety and health have to come first.”

Good point

You can understand where Gerrard is coming from. Of course, football does provide a distraction to fans around the world, and obviously a break does not guarantee that no-one will test positive for the coronavirus. However, at the end of the day, safety is the most important thing.

As we have seen with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamal Lascelles at Newcastle, the virus can have long-term effects on footballers seemingly in their prime. Hopefully, it does not come a point where another suspension is needed.

In other news, Rangers fans hammered this man against Celtic.

In an exclusive interview with Transfer Tavern, Rob Lee, who made 280 Premier League appearances, has claimed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin should remain at Everton despite having a good season.

Manchester United have reportedly enquired about the England international and the Toffees have slapped an £80 million price tag on their star striker, who has scored 15 goals this season.

Calvert-Lewin started the season as one of the most in-form players in the Premier League as he scored 11 goals in 11 games but injuries have disrupted his second half of the season.

Speaking on whether Calvert-Lewin should leave Everton this summer and what he must do before getting a move away, Lee exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“Not at the moment no, but I think he had a great start to the season scoring 11 in 11 but he needs consistency and that’s what teams will be looking for, consistency, especially for the amount of money that Everton would demand for him.

“I don’t see the point in him going or the point in Everton letting him go. He might as well have another season there and if he does as well as he started this season then in a year’s time, I’m sure that there’ll be clubs after him.”

The 24-year old was signed from Sheffield United in 2016 for just £1.6 million so the Toffees would make a comfortable profit on the striker if he was to leave.

Everton still have a chance of qualifying for the Europa League this season as they find themselves just four points behind Tottenham Hotspur in sixth.

Aston Villa may rue not signing Josh King after the forward joined fellow Premier League side Everton on transfer deadline day.

What’s the story?

Reports ahead of the January transfer window suggested that King could still be on Dean Smith’s side’s radar, after it was revealed over the summer that they had put in a bid of around £16m for the Norway international.

But on deadline day, Villa didn’t join the race to sign their long-term target, with the Bournemouth man eventually joining Everton on a cut-price deal.

Smith won’t be happy

Whilst Villa have enjoyed a remarkable Premier League campaign thus far – they find themselves just seven points off the top four but with two games in hand – there are some areas of concern for Smith, most notably in the striking position.

Summer signing Ollie Watkins has been a revelation in his debut campaign for the club, bagging ten goals already, but Villa have already seen first-hand just what can happen when their main man isn’t firing on all cylinders.

In that two-month period where he didn’t score in the Premier League, Villa won just three of their nine top-flight games, and Smith still felt compelled to keep him on during games, even during his most difficult patches – in fact, he hasn’t missed a single minute of top-flight football all season.

In part, that is down to the real lack of other options that Smith has available to him, what with Wesley only just trying to return back to full fitness, and Keinan Davis still incredibly raw – he’s managed just five goals in 75 games for the club.

In the 5 foot 11 King, they would have got someone with plenty of experience in the Premier League (he’s played 161 times in the competition) and a player who could have eased the burden on Watkins, either off the bench or allowing Smith to completely rest his main man.

King would have brought what his previous manager Eddie Howe described as his “unique pace” to the table, and offered the Villa boss a different option up front.

The fact they weren’t able to get him for the second transfer window in a row, means Smith has been left desperately short in the number nine role, and an injury to Watkins could be catastrophic. The manager will be worried about such a scenario, but there isn’t a lot he can do about it now, other than to manage Watkins as best he can.