da brwin： Manchester City are believed to be keen on bolstering a key area with a talented star; however, they will face rival competition from Arsenal, according to reports.

Man City transfer updates

da heads bet： The Citizens look to be showing no sign of slowing down in their quest to acquire new talent to strengthen the ranks under Pep Guardiola following the additions of Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes. Whether Manchester City choose to go down the path of acquiring youth or experience, Guardiola's talent identification radar is usually on point and the Spaniard has cultivated a reputation in conjunction with his scouting team of rarely making a poor investment.

According to Sports Zone via TEAMtalk, Paris Saint-Germain teenage sensation Warren Zaire-Emery is a target for Manchester City despite news that he is closing in on a new contract at the Parc des Princes. The report states that an agreement in principle has been reached over the 17-year-old extending his time in Paris; however, Manchester City could look to lodge a last-minute bid in an attempt to lure the midfielder to the Premier League.

Speaking of experience, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has been offered to Manchester City and could re-unite with Citizens boss Guardiola on a free transfer next summer when his contract at the La Liga giants expires. Nevertheless, West Ham United, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United could all rival Manchester City to sign the former German international, who is believed to be open to a dramatic switch to the English top-flight in the twilight of his distinguished career.

City seem to have their sights on more than one player at the minute and they could also be joined by other suitors in the race for a talented defender, according to a fresh report.

Man City keen on Marc Guehi

According to a transfer report from The Sun, Manchester City are keen on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and they could even lodge a bid for the England international in January despite the Eagles' insistence that he is not for sale at any price at present.

Crystal Palace would want a huge fee for the defender, possibly even a club record at Selhurst Park, who is also being lined up by Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and even his former club Chelsea, where he came through the academy system at Cobham.

Marc Guehi stats for Crystal Palace (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

95

Goals

3

Assists

1

Providing a physically imposing presence for Roy Hodgson's men, Guehi has excelled in 2023/24, making an average of 4.6 clearances, 1.3 tackles and 1.3 blocks per game in the Premier League this term (Guehi stats – WhoScored).

Capable of stepping out from the back, Guehi, who has previously been dubbed "composed" by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, has also managed to successfully carry out ten shot-creating actions in the English top-flight, demonstrating his capacity to efficiently progress the ball from deep (Guehi statistics – FBRef).

da lvbet： QPR are on the lookout for a new manager after Gareth Ainsworth's sacking, and a fresh report claims they are eyeing an individual who Pep Guardiola thinks is "incredible".

QPR sack Ainsworth

da mrbet： The Hoops were hoping for a positive season in the Championship during the summer, having finished 20th in the table last time around and only narrowly missed relegation, but things have gone badly to date in 2023/24. On Saturday, Ainsworth was relieved of his duties as QPR boss, following the 2-1 win defeat at home to league leaders Leicester City, as the 10-man hosts failed to get anything from the game.

While the result in itself was far from a disastrous one, it was the final straw for Ainsworth, who has lost 10 out of the last 14 Championship matches, leaving his side languishing in 23rd place in the division and only above Sheffield Wednesday. With the Englishman no longer in charge at west London, the key now is to find the perfect replacement to come in and guide QPR away from the relegation zone in the coming months, avoiding a return to League One in the process.

A host of names could well emerge in the coming days, but a new rumour suggests that there could be an early front-runner to take the job at Loftus Road.

QPR want Warnock

According to a significant update from Sky Sports, QPR are keen on making Neil Warnock their new manager, seeing the veteran as the right man to come in and change the team's fortunes for the better, having enjoyed a stint there in the past:

"Sky Sports News understands QPR are expected to approach Neil Warnock to take over from Gareth Ainsworth, who was sacked as head coach early on Saturday evening. Ainsworth departed the club after they were beaten 2-1 at home by leaders Leicester.

"Warnock managed QPR for nearly two years between 2010 and 2012 and led them to promotion to the Premier League in his first full season. He has been out of work since leaving Huddersfield Town a little over a month ago."

This is certainly an eye-catching update, and while some QPR supporters may want to see a younger manager with fresh ideas come in, it is hard to ignore Warnock's record throughout a long career – one in which he has become an expert at steering teams away from relegation.

Not only that, but legendary Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has even spoken of his admiration for the 74-year-old in the past, saying of him:

"I want to be honest. Look what happened with Neil Warnock in Huddersfield. There’s a tendency for these incredible managers, they have [put] this Premier League or this competition in a better position. They are really good and help us to be what we are. Roy Hodgson for Crystal Palace, look what they have done, they are really good, they have incredible experience and they know the game perfectly."

Warnock is a big character and he will surely be chomping at the bit to take charge again at Loftus Road, and it could be exactly what is needed at a critical time for the club, making this one to watch.

Burnley are reportedly plotting an approach to sign a "dangerous" £20m player, however, they aren’t the only Premier League side keen.

Burnley transfer news…

The Clarets and Vincent Kompany didn’t mess around in the previous transfer market ahead of their top-flight return, bringing in a whopping 15 players. However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for the club on the pitch, winning just one of their eight games, sitting in the relegation zone ahead of the trip to Brentford. Goals have also been a problem for Kompany’s side despite the number of additions in the summer, scoring just seven goals in the league.

One player who hasn’t struggled for goals this season, though, is Sunderland’s Jack Clarke. The winger has already netted seven goals himself in the Championship, with Burnley seeing a £10m offer turned down in the summer. Reports have recently claimed that the Clarets are still keen on the 22-year-old, a new Burnley transfer update has now emerged showing that the club look to be ready to step up their interest once more.

According to TEAMtalk, Burnley are plotting a January approach for Clarke, with Sunderland valuing the player at £20m. However, Brighton and Crystal Palace are ready to follow suit, whereas Bournemouth, Brentford and Wolves are keeping an eye on the attacker.

How good is Jack Clarke?

Clarke, who burst onto the scene with Leeds United as a teenager, appears to be getting his career back on track following a forgetful spell at Tottenham. He made just four senior appearances for Spurs before sealing a permanent move to The Stadium of Light, where he has made 82 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals and providing 18 assists. (Jack Clarke stats – Transfermarkt)

Hailed as a “dangerous” player by journalist Josh Bunting, Clarke has also received praise from his manager Tony Mowbray, who recently said:

“He was amazing tonight. Scored two great goals, earned the penalty, he stuck it away, which shows the confidence level he’s got to stand up and take the penalty, and the composure for his second goal.

“He’s a super talent, he’s a great kid and I don’t apologise for shouting at him and telling him he has to work hard because all the best players work harder than anybody else and their talent shines through.”

Kompany and Burnley appear to be long-term admirers of the player, so a deal could once again be one to watch heading into the New Year.

Liverpool have recently been linked with a move for Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, and a reliable journalist has now delivered a definite update regarding the chances of him moving to Anfield in January.

Is Jamal Musiala leaving Bayern Munich?

Musiala has been with his club ever since his childhood days having graduated from their academy to get promoted to the first-team, where he’s made a total of 135 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Musiala statistics).

Germany’s attacking midfielder has previous experience playing his football in England having had spells within the youth set-ups at both Southampton and Chelsea, so he’ll be no stranger to the style of play in this country, and FSG and Jurgen Klopp are keen to bring him back to the Premier League.

According to BILD’s Christian Falk, Merseyside’s outfit are interested in a deal for the 20-year-old at the start of next year after learning that his agents haven’t entered discussions regarding a new contract, though it would appear that the player has had a change of heart regarding his future with Thomas Tuchel's side in the Bundesliga.

Jamal Musiala transfer update

Taking to X, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg offered a transfer update on Jamal Musiala and confirmed that whilst Liverpool are still keeping close tabs on the attacker, he isn't expected to put pen to paper at this stage and is instead focusing on Bayern Munich.

"Jamal Musiala is currently not thinking about leaving FC Bayern. Liverpool is monitoring him as a possible top replacement for Salah in 2024. But his move to LFC is absolutely unlikely. If he really would leave Bayern in the next years there are the only two realistic options for him: Real Madrid & ManCity!"

Falk has since added a new update of his own, revealing Liverpool will have to do battle with Man City if they want to secure Musiala's signature in the future.

How many goals has Musiala scored for Bayern?

During his time at Bayern, Musiala has posted 59 involvements (33 goals and 26 assists) in 135 first-team appearances, which shows how prolific he can be in the final third, but even if the ball doesn’t always hit the back of the net, he poses a constant threat to the opposition's defensive backline.

The Stuttgart native currently ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons so loves to use his athletic pace to dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his teammates in the final third (FBRef – Musiala statistics).

Furthermore, Klopp’s target is a versatile operator having previously been deployed in seven different positions since the start of his career, including four roles in the midfield and everywhere across the attacking frontline, making him a great option for the boss to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur.

Finally, Musiala already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured 12 trophies since first bursting onto the professional scene, so he would be able to match the winning mentality of the current squad who are already at Anfield.

da mrbet： "How many injuries have we got?" barked Kieran Trippier to a disgruntled fan following Newcastle United's 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday evening in what was a very unhappy return to the Vitality Stadium for manager Eddie Howe.

da bet sport： The Magpies are currently missing 13 players through injuries and suspensions and are down to the bare bones at the moment, having picked up just two wins from their last six games in all competitions.

The defence has been plagued with problems this season too. Both Dan Burn and Sven Botman will be missing in action for quite some time, while Matt Targett and Javi Manquillo are also unavailable. As a result, the Newcastle boss has already begun looking for defensive reinforcements.

Newcastle transfer latest

Back in January, the Geordie club dipped into Premier League rivals Everton's pool of players to strengthen the squad ahead of a tense top-four race. Eventually, the two clubs agreed on a £45m fee for Anthony Gordon and the winger was on his way to St. James' Park.

Amid an injury crisis at the club, FootballTransfers are reporting that Newcastle have their eyes on another gem from Goodison Park and will look to make a move for defender Jarrard Branthwaite when the winter window opens up in a few weeks' time.

The outlet are claiming that Howe is a massive fan of the former PSV Eindhoven loanee and believes the centre-back can be the perfect successor for Fabian Schar in the heart of the defence.

It was reported during the summer that Manchester United were keeping tabs on the 21-year-old, with Everton slapping a price tag of £25m on his back, although Branthwaite has now become a regular starter under Sean Dyche so this fee may have risen since.

Jarrard Branthwaite's stats this season

Having joined the Toffees from Carlisle United in 2020 for £1m, Branthwaite has made 25 appearances in all competitions for Everton, with 12 coming this season alone.

Following an impressive performance and a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Bournemouth back in October, journalist Elliot Bretland called the England U21s international an "unbelievable" talent as his stock at the highest level continues to rise.

In comparison with the rest of the centre-backs in the Premier League and Europe's top five leagues over the course of the last 365 days, Branthwaite impressively holds his own.

The defender is in the top 20% for tackles per 90, the top 8% for shots blocked per 90, the top 5% for passes blocked per 90 and the top 12% for ball recoveries per 90. Additionally, Branthwaite is also in the top 12% for goal-creating actions which proves he's also a threat from set-pieces and in the final third, not just a wonderful defender.

Branthwaite was Everton's Man of the Match during a 1-0 win away at West Ham at the end of the previous month. Premier League icon and pundit Alan Shearer described his display as "magnificent".

The Everton star is statistically better defensively than Schar this season and is winning 62.8% of his aerial duels while also making 1.7 interceptions per 90. In comparison, Newcastle's Swiss sergeant has won just 51.2% of his aerial duels this term and is making only 0.92 interceptions per 90.

Branthwaite has a higher ceiling than Schar and with the latter turning 32 in December, the Newcastle head coach would be wise to find a younger, long-term replacement.

The Everton defender fits the mould perfectly and could follow in the impressive footsteps of Gordon this winter. It's a transfer strategy that has already worked wonders with the young winger having registered six goal contributions this term. If Brathwaite could replicate performances like that, Howe and Co will have struck gold again.

da bet7k： West Ham United have been "offered" the chance to sign a forward with 150 career goals – and it is believed they're willing to take him.

Hammers searching for new striker

da cassino： Another year, another search for new strikers at the London Stadium.

In the summer of 2022, West Ham may have thought that search had come to an end with the signing of promising young Italy international Gianluca Scamacca for £30.5m (BBC).

The former Sassuolo star, though, failed to impress in his debut season – scoring just eight goals in all competitions under David Moyes before being sold at a loss to Atalanta.

Moyes – amid doubts surrounding his future at West Ham – has just Michail Antonio, who's now 33 years old, and the out-of-favour Danny Ings at his disposal.

Ings has played just 68 Premier League minutes this season, and it's clear as day that Moyes doesn't really favour the Englishman as a contender for Antonio's spot in the starting XI.

The Hammers have even been forced to play winger Jarrod Bowen down the middle at times this season, making the need for a striker all the more prevalent.

As a result, it was stated that West Ham transfer chief Tim Steidten has made signing a centre-forward his "main focus" for the January transfer window.

“Tim Steidten’s role at the club has grown in seniority since his arrival,” said club insider ExWHUemployee on Patreon this week (via West Ham Way).

“His knowledge, targets and dealings have really impressed [David] Sullivan, who now fully trusts Tim as his right-hand man. This will almost certainly mean that Steidten will be leading the search for our next manager in the future. However, it's understood his main focus for now is player contracts and January recruitment – with a striker top of the list.”

West Ham now "offered" Timo Werner

Sharing a small update on this, 90min journalist Graeme Bailey has taken to X to reveal that West Ham have been offered RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner as a potential option.

The former Chelsea star scored nine goals and assisted three others in 27 Bundesliga appearances last term – stats which have seemingly been enough to impress the Irons.

It is believed, after being offered Werner, that West Ham are "open" to doing a deal. However, they're not alone, as Fulham and Crystal Palace are among the clubs in a similar situation with the striker.

The German has scored 150 senior career goals across spells at Leipzig, Stuttgart and Chelsea (Transfermarkt), being called a "constant threat" by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell (Football Insider).

"Werner is a very good player," said Campbell in the summer of 2022 during his Chelsea stint.

“The problem is, I think he needs a change. He needs to get out of that spotlight. He needs to go somewhere else.

“It may all turn around and click for him once he does that. The spotlight at Chelsea might be too much for him. He gets into unbelievable positions. His movement and speed are a constant threat."

Timo Werner's strengths (via WhoScored)

Long shots

Holding on to the ball

On a reported £164,000-per-week wage at Leipzig (Salary Sport), signing Werner would make him one of West Ham's highest-earning players.

Liverpool are the front-runners to sign a "complete" midfielder during the January transfer window, and it's a player Jurgen Klopp has been interested in for years.

Liverpool eyeing midfield signing

The Reds continued their good start to the season on Sunday afternoon, easing their way to an impressive 3-0 home victory over Brentford in the Premier League. It was an impressive result, especially with a host of midfielders unavailable, with the likes of Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch injured while Alexis Mac Allister was suspended.

Liverpool made significant changes in the middle of the park in the summer transfer window, but there does still appear to be a need to bring in a proper defensive midfielder when January rolls around. Mac Allister hasn't looked like a natural in the role, while Wataru Endo doesn't look like anything more than a squad player.

The Reds have been strongly linked with a move for Fluminense star Andre, but with the Brazilian also being tipped to join other Premier League clubs, they could have to turn their attention to other options. Now, a fresh transfer update suggests that Liverpool are front of the queue for a player who has been seen as a transfer target on Merseyside for a number of years.

Liverpool in pole position to sign Piotr Zielinski

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are at the front of the queue to sign Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski, seeing him as a strong option to bring in and bolster their midfield. The update suggests that the Reds are more interested in the 29-year-old than his other suitors, who played a key role in his current club winning their first Serie A title since 1990 last season.

He is a fantastic player who has shone at the top level for a long time now, so the idea of him playing for the Reds is exciting because of the natural ability he possesses. Zielinski has scored ten goals in 86 caps for Poland, highlighting his pedigree as an international footballer, and he also has 96 goal contributions (50 goals and 46 assists) in 345 appearances for Napoli.

That being said, he is now 29 years of age, so he wouldn't represent a long-term signing – he is only a year younger than Endo, for example – and he also isn't the out-and-out No.6 that Liverpool need, instead shining as more of a No.8 a lot of the time.

Klopp does appear to rate Zielinski highly as a player, considering the Reds were linked with bringing him before they snapped up Gini Wijnaldum instead back in 2016, but it would be a surprise if he came to Anfield at this point in his career.

Should it happen, there would certainly be reasons to be positive, with Carlo Ancelotti once heaping praise on him as a player, saying he is a "complete midfielder" who is "dynamic and skilled with the ball". It feels unlikely, though, and a younger, more defence-minded option should be looked at instead of him.

Leeds United are showing some promising form in the Championship and now look ready to open their transfer chequebook in January after identifying a talented young target, according to a new report.

Leeds United cast eye to festive period…

Much goes on during the festive period in football, with a congested fixture period usually on the cards for those concerned, alongside the reality of the January transfer window drawing ever closer to opening for business. Leeds are no different in this sense and will have to factor both of these upcoming events into consideration in the next few weeks as Daniel Farke continues to do a sterling job at Elland Road.

So far, the Whites have given a good account of themselves all told, claiming 31 points from their opening 16 fixtures in the English second-tier ahead of their trip to face Rotherham United on Friday evening. Nevertheless, Farke doesn't believe that his side will feel added pressure to cut the gap on Ipswich Town to five points at the AESSEAL Stadium, as journalist Phil Hay described his response to the notion, stating on social media platform X:

"Farke doesn't think the chance to put pressure on Leicester/Ipswich with an early game is significant. Says that in his view, the last five or six games of the season are where you get scenarios where you have to hold your nerve. #lufc."

Casting an eye to the January transfer window, Leeds are keen on Cape Town Spurs striker Luke Baartman; however, they will face competition from other English clubs and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic to sign the 17-year-old. Now, a fresh report has emerged detailing that Farke has a promising young defender on his radar as the Yorkshire outfit start to make inroads concerning their New Year transfer plans.

Leeds United want Sam Curtis

According to 90min, Leeds, and by extension the 49ers Enterprises, appear to be in the market for a new full-back and have identified St Patrick's Athletic youngster Sam Curtis as a target.

Nevertheless, competition to sign the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international is vast and Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Hull City and Celtic are all keen to swoop for the right-back, who is expected to leave his homeland in the Irish off-season.

Tom Grivosti, who is a teammate of Curtis in Dublin, afforded the 17-year-old high praise earlier this year in an interview, as he stated when asked about his abilities:

"For a young kid I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s unbelievable. Even in his general play he is getting better all the time."

In years gone by, Leeds have had a number of Irish players who have gone on to feature for the club, including the likes of Gary Kelly, Robbie Keane, Ian Harte and Aidy White, among others. Now, the Whites could be set to once again tap into the Emerald Isle's talent pool in a move that could potentially secure a star of the future at Elland Road, with the club not afraid to hand youngsters first-team opportunities, as seen with Archie Gray this season.

da bet7： West Ham United faced the toughest task when it came to replacing Declan Rice during the summer transfer window, as proved by just how quickly he's adjusted to life at Arsenal. In the end, however, it was a task completed fairly seamlessly, with James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez coming into the middle of the park and impressing ever since at the London Stadium, helping their new side into the Premier League's top half and top of their Europa League group.

da roleta： That doesn't mean David Moyes will stop searching for reinforcements though, with reports suggesting that the London club are eyeing a move for one specific addition who could become Alvarez's long-term partner in midfield.

West Ham transfer news

With both European and domestic football to balance these days, West Ham can never have too much depth. The Hammers very nearly suffered as a result of a smaller squad last season, when they came all too close to sacrificing their Premier League status for the sake of Europa Conference League glory. In the end, Moyes managed to achieve both goals, but it was all too close for comfort and a situation that the former Everton manager will want to avoid in the current and future campaigns. And that could result in the arrival of one particular target.

Related Moyes could now unleash exciting teenager who West Ham chiefs "really rate"

There’s a buzz around him behind-the-scenes.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2023

According to Corriere Dello Sport, West Ham are courting Ardon Jashari ahead of a potential move. The FC Luzern midfielder reportedly has a price tag of just €6m (£5m) and has attracted the interest of both the London club and Serie A side Fiorentina in what could be a bargain deal for either side. At 21 years old, Jashari has already made his international debut for Switzerland and is reportedly considered to be one of their most promising midfielders, making West Ham and Fiorentina's supposed interest little surprise.

West Ham could land Alvarez partner in "leader" Jashari

Jashari is certainly one to keep an eye on in Switzerland, having already made his national team debut and earned plenty of praise whilst at FC Luzern. Jashari's stats are impressive for the Swiss club too. The midfielder has started 12 of their 14 Super League games, scoring three times and assisting once from the middle of the park. Meanwhile, he gained Europa Conference League experience earlier in the campaign, where he managed to record one assist.

Scout Oliver Zesiger is certainly a fan of the reported West Ham target, telling Luzerner Zeitung: “Jashari has a personality that qualifies him as a leader. You rarely see that at this age. Physically, Granit is stronger. (But) both players can move the ball in progression. In addition, the two are good at reading a game and winning the ball back. If things continue, then he’ll definitely end up at a club in one of the top five leagues (in Europe).”

With Alvarez in his prime at 26, West Ham will hope to land the perfect partner for their summer arrival in the form of Jashari, whose best is yet to come in top-flight football.

Everton will be reeling from a recent verdict that has seen them punished with a ten-point deduction in the Premier League, the Toffees alleged to have breached Financial Fair Play rules.

This points deduction would see Sean Dyche's side slide down the division into the top-flight drop-zone, level on points with bottom-of-the-table Burnley and into a dog-fight to stave off relegation in a blink of an eye.

This damning news has come at the worst possible time for the Blues, who had been rejuvenated by recent positive form with a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park last time out in league action against Crystal Palace meaning Dyche's men were only eight points off Manchester United in sixth spot.

Transfer rumours linking star Everton players away from Goodison Park could intensify as a result of this points deduction revelation, with Jarrad Branthwaite being eyed up by a number of clubs according to reports.

As a result, Dyche might start putting together a list of targets tentatively for his side to go after if their star 21-year-old defender does indeed end up moving on.

Here are three potential centre-backs the Toffees could look at signing if that eventuality occurs…

1

Ben Cabango

Shopping in the EFL market for centre-backs has proven to be a fruitful endeavour for Everton in the past, John Stones joining from Barnsley the obvious example but Branthwaite was also signed by Everton from Carlisle United who now play in League One.

The Toffees will hope that they can pick up another top talent by exploring this pool of players once more, with Ben Cabango standing out at Swansea City this season whom Everton should look to target for a bargain price. At present, Football Transfers' xTV model values him at £7m.

A regular first-teamer with the Swans for a number of seasons now – coming through the Academy ranks at the club before becoming a key senior player – the 23-year-old's strengths lie in his ability to pass out from the back and give his team an added attacking threat going forward when necessary.

Averaging 1.33 progressive carries per 90 minutes over the last year according to FBRef, Cabango would be an exciting addition to the Toffees group if signed that could competently fill the gap left behind by Branthwaite and offer something more unique as a result.

2

Wout Faes

The next target Everton could potentially go after is Leicester City's dominating presence Wout Faes, the Belgian centre-back excelling at Championship level this season after a tricky introduction to the Foxes' first-team in the Premier League.

Averaging a 7.36 Sofascore rating this campaign for Enzo Maresca's promotion-chasers, Faes has helped himself to five clean sheets from the 13 games he's played in with crucial interventions and tackles nullifying opposition attackers effectively.

Winning the ball back 6.4 times per game according to Sofascore, Faes would slot straight into the Toffees set-up in the wake of Branthwaite's exit and provide Dyche's men with some needed steel and defensive resilience.

Question marks could arise about whether or not the £22m-rated defender is cut out for Premier League football, but with his form in the Championship at the moment currently excellent, he deserves another crack at top-flight action to prove himself.

3

Jorrel Hato

The most left-field option out of the three transfers that could be lined up, Jorrel Hato is standing out in the Ajax ranks as an exuberant and confident centre-back at just 17 years of age. As a young talent, he certainly fits the Branthwaite bill when it comes to youthful energy.

It's led to Hato being linked with Liverpool and Arsenal in recent memory, but the Toffees could offer Hato an opportunity to impress straight away in the first team set-up if Branthwaite departs rather than waiting it out for a spot at Anfield or the Emirates.

The Dutch giants find themselves uncharacteristically languishing in 12th spot in the Eredivisie, but Hato is still gaining plaudits for his individual displays amidst the collective mess at the club.

The teenage starlet's performance last match versus Almere showcased his talents at the back, winning nine out of ten aerial and ground duels in the contest as per Sofascore.

The £22m-rated starlet would even wear the captain's armband for the Dutch club in this contest, the world Hato's oyster currently.

Everton gave a young Branthwaite a chance in the first team whilst he was still learning the ropes and never looked back, the Toffees hoping lightning could strike twice if they pursued a deal for Hato.