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Everton have been dealt a big blow to their festive plans as winger Andros Townsend has suffered an injury to his foot.

According to The Athletic, the ex-Tottenham man sustained the knock whilst playing against his former team Crystal Palace on Sunday and he is now set to be out for a number of weeks – missing the Christmas schedule.

Major issue

This causes a major issue for Blues boss Rafa Benitez as Townsend has been one of his standout players in the Premier League this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (7.53) is the only player in the squad with a higher average SofaScore rating than the winger (7.09) and he will need to be replaced in the starting XI over the coming weeks.

The Spaniard could potentially solve this problem by unleashing academy beast Anthony Gordon and giving him a further run of games from the start to prove his worth at senior level.

He has had a smattering of starts in the top-flight this season but it has been difficult for him to find consistency as he has not had a prolonged spell in the XI to build some momentum. Gordon has started six games and made a further seven appearances off the bench, having played three times in the league last season.

The 20-year-old has shown potential whilst playing in the youth sides at Goodison. He scored 24 goals and provided ten assists in 59 games for the U23 and U18 outfits combined, showing that he has the quality to score and assist goals from a wide position – albeit he is yet to prove that he can do it at senior level.

David Unsworth previously backed the youngster to fulfill his potential, saying:

“If chances come along, you want them to come to Anthony Gordon because he is in such a rich vein of form.

“He’s grown in stature as a player. He can still be better physically, in terms of being able to go for 95 minutes – and he will do that. His desire and application is there.

“He is such an explosive player. He’s progressing really well and when he reaches his full potential, he’ll be some player. It’s not a question of if, he will do. He’s got that star quality.”

With Townsend now set to miss a number of matches, Benitez must unleash Gordon from the start over a prolonged period now to allow him to build up his confidence to see if he is able to make a significant impact at first-team level for Everton.

If he is able to do that then he could kick on and become an important player for the club moving forward, which is why the Spanish boss could benefit from selecting him – starting with the clash with Chelsea.

AND in other news, Rafa can kickstart Everton revival by unleashing 65-goal prodigy who “rarely misses”…

Rangers chief Ross Wilson looks set for a busy summer transfer window at Ibrox to shape Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad heading into next season.

The Gers lost their crucial top-of-the-table clash in the Premiership on Sunday and now sit six points behind their rivals with games running out to catch up with them.

A major flaw in the current squad was exposed in the 2-1 defeat to the Hoops as Alfredo Morelos’ absence all but ended their chances of winning.

Kemar Roofe has started the last two Old Firm matches in the Colombian’s absence and put in dismal performances in both of them. The ex-Leeds man has not scored a single goal from open play in his eight league starts for the Gers and this suggests that he has not been good enough as back-up to Morelos.

Therefore, Wilson must be in the market for a striker to compete with the South American forward, with a view to taking over from him further down the line.

The club are reportedly interested in a deal to sign talented 18-year-old goalscorer Josh Stones from English side Guiseley, but Football Insider recently claimed that Wigan have agreed terms over a contract with the centre-forward ahead of the summer.

Wilson must now avoid a major disasterclass in the window as missing out on the attacker would be a big blunder from the Ibrox supremo. His sublime goalscoring record at youth level suggests that he has the potential to be Morelos’ heir in Glasgow.

Stones has scored 21 times in 13 games in academy football throughout the 2021/22 campaign, whilst he also scored a hat-trick for the England schoolboys team against Scotland recently. This means that the predator has 24 goals for club and country this term in at least 14 matches – a phenomenal return for the 18-year-old fox in the box. 

He could be the replacement Van Bronckhorst needs for Roofe, based on his goalscoring return, and that is why missing out on him would be a disaster-class for the club.

At the age of 18, he has the potential to keep improving and progressing as a player. This means that the Gers would be picking up a financial investment as well as a gem who may have the quality to solve their long-term Morelos problem at Ibrox. His record in front of goal suggests that he can be the heir to the Colombian’s throne and that is why Wilson must do everything in his power to usurp Wigan and snatch this deal up from under their nose.

AND in other news, Gvb now plotting Rangers swoop for “exceptional” monster, he’d be a bargain “diamond”…

While the Premier League season may not be over just yet, there’s a real argument to be made that Newcastle’s signing of Jeff Hendrick last summer has proven to have been an absolute howler.

The Magpies signed the midfielder back in the summer window on a free transfer after his departure from fellow Premier League side Burnley, and Steve Bruce made it clear just how satisfied he was at pulling off a deal.

Speaking at the announcement of his signing, he said: “I watched him when he was at Derby, then he went to Burnley for a lot of money and (we) couldn’t afford him, so I missed out then!

“He’s an experienced international footballer who can play all across the midfield so we welcome him aboard. He’ll be a big asset to us, on and off the pitch.”

And, after establishing himself as a key part of the starting eleven in the early weeks of the Magpies’ campaign, including scoring on his debut against West Ham, things have just gone downhill for Hendrick.

The Republic of Ireland international has completely fallen out of favour under Bruce, and has not completed the full 90 minutes in the Premier League since the 2-0 win over Everton back in late January.

Since then, Hendrick has spent most of his time on the bench as an unused substitute, and has played just 103 minutes of top-flight football since February 6th.

And, after the Magpies’ defeat to Leeds earlier this year, The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder lambasted him in his player ratings, simply insisting that he “doesn’t seem to be the answer in midfield”.

Dubbed a “liability” by The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson, the £50k-a-week earning Hendrick just hasn’t justified Bruce’s decision to hand him a big-money contract to sign on as a free agent at St James’ Park.

With just two goals and one assist in 21 games in all competitions for the Magpies this season, the Irishman has shown nothing to really say that Newcastle have even got value for money in paying the midfielder that sizeable wage.

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In fact, out of those players who have started more than ten times for Newcastle this season, Hendrick has the lowest average match rating of any player in the entire Magpies squad, as per Whoscored, with just 6.36.

Mike Ashley certainly won’t be happy with how this transfer has played out for Newcastle, given his club have paid a signing fee and given a substantial salary to a player who is seemingly not good enough.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are eyeing a summer move for this Championship star…

West Ham United have long been recognised as one of the frontrunners in youth development, earning themselves the nickname of the ‘Academy of Football’ in the process.

From the days of producing Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand – among others – right the way through to the present with the likes of Declan Rice, there has seemingly been an endless conveyor belt of talent streaming out of the youth ranks and into the Hammers first team.

One young starlet who has joined that illustrious list over the past few years is versatile full-back Ben Johnson, the 22-year-old having shone since making his senior debut back in 2018.

While he made just a handful of appearances across his first two campaigns in the first-team set-up, he has since gone to enjoy much more regular game time over the past couple of seasons, having now made 53 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The current campaign has proven a particular turning point for the home-grown star – who was voted the club’s Young Player of the Year last season – as he has often slotted in ahead of Vladimir Coufal at right-back, both domestically and in the Europa League.

Such displays have piqued the interest of those at international level, with the £2.5k-per-week ace having been handed his England U21 debut earlier this year in a 3-0 victory over Albania, while he also earned praise from his club boss, with Moyes dubbing him a “utility player” for his ability to slot in at different positions.

Being seen as a jack of all trades but a master of none may at times be a hindrance rather than a help to a player’s career, although the Hammers boss certainly views his versatility as a benefit, with first-team coach Stuart Pearce having also praised the youngster for being a “wonderful professional”.

It is not just within the London Stadium that his talents are being recognised, however, with pundit Paul Robinson labelling the full-back as “absolutely brilliant” earlier this season, with that view having also been echoed by former Hammer, Trevor Sinclair.

Amid an outstanding season for the club as a whole – with European glory still up for grabs – Johnson’s individual showings have also been particularly eye-catching, with the Waltham Forest-born speedster averaging an impressive 1.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game.

His willingness to commit to Moyes’ often dogged defensive style is also evident by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% for blocks made among those in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, while he also ranks in the top 10% for clearances made, as per FBref.

The 5 foot 9 defender is clearly a player on the rise, something reflected in his soaring market valuation, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at £8.1m – a significant increase from his value of £2.7m back in December.

The only problem now is ensuring that his future remains in east London with the player having reportedly rejected a new six-and-a-half-year deal earlier this season, albeit with the club managing to trigger a two-year contract extension to avoid losing him for nothing this summer.

Much like West Ham’s form, the starlet’s value and performances continue to soar – it remains to be seen if that progression will continue with his current club, or elsewhere.

In other news, West Ham plot bid to sign £25.2m-rated “great talent”, he’s a big Ogbonna upgrade – opinion

Tottenham Hotspur are among the front-runners to land Lucas Vazquez this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The 29-year-old is out-of-contract at Madrid at the end of the current campaign and looks likely to leave the Bernabeu, having rejected the fresh terms offered by the La Liga giants, as per Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness).

They claim that the £13.5m-rated star is already among their lowest-paid players – though £115k-per-week may say otherwise – and would not be prepared to take a 10% wage cut. It is also thought that Vazquez wants a long-term deal with a team in the Champions League.

Given only Spurs and arch-rivals Arsenal are mentioned in the report, it certainly seems like the Lilywhites have an advantage, with them sitting three places and six points ahead of their north London counterparts.

Doherty’s nightmare

Vazquez is a winger by trade but has been utilised more frequently at right-back by Zinedine Zidane, which will have undoubtedly piqued Jose Mourinho’s interest given his continual struggles in the role.

Summer signing Matt Doherty has failed to reach expectations since his £15m move from Wolves.

According to ESPN last month, the Spurs boss is far from happy with the 29-year-old’s form, so much so that if it doesn’t improve in the coming months, he could well make the defender available for transfer after just a year at the club.

The report explains how Mourinho was berating him all game from the sidelines against Liverpool, just a few matches after a needless red card against Leeds United, and he’s done himself no favours since after dropping a diasterclass in the north London derby defeat.

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Wolves are thought to be seen on re-signing him, so you’d imagine if Spurs were to bolster the position once again this summer, through the arrival of Vazquez, then the Irishman is probably going to face the chop – you certainly couldn’t have three potential first-team starters for one right-back spot.

Despite the uncertainty over his future in the Spanish capital, Zidane has still trusted him to start regularly. “What he’s doing right now doesn’t surprise us. Not only do I like him, we all like him because he is always on the job and reliable. He always gives everything on the pitch,” lauded the Frenchman.

Indeed, the nine-time Spanish international has started each of Madrid’s last six league games and has only failed to start three matches since the end of October, thanks to injury via Transfermarkt.

20 of his 31 appearances have come at right-back, where he has delivered six assists, compared to just the one when deployed in his natural wing position.

Similarly, Vazquez has displayed strong attributes defensively and has shown an excellent reading of the game having averaged 2.3 tackles and 0.8 interceptions, via WhoScored.

Throw in 1.9 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per game, and you get a pretty all-rounded full-back capable of contributing at either end of the pitch.

Whereas Doherty, having come from a wing-back system at Wolves, has struggled defensively managing fewer tackles (1.5) than the Madrid ace and the third-highest number of fouls per match (1.3).

Considering Spurs can nab him on a free transfer this summer, it would certainly be a bargain swoop from Daniel Levy.

AND in other news, Terry 2.0: £11m beast could be the answer to Jose Mourinho’s biggest problem…

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa could sign the club’s new Rio Ferdinand in Arsenal transfer target Ben White.

What’s the story?

Duncan Castles recently claimed that the Whites are still one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing the England international this summer, with Arsenal and Leicester also said to be keen on him.

In response to Leeds’ interest in the centre-back, former Hull striker Dean Windass told Football Transfer Tavern: “I could see that happening but it all depends on money so if they’re happy with the contracts and everything else then yeah, I could see that happening.”

Leeds’ new Ferdinand

While it may be years since Ferdinand was at Elland Road, there’s no questioning that the former Manchester United star remains one of Leeds’ best central defenders of this generation – his big-money move to Old Trafford and his subsequent titles are a testament to that.

Ferdinand was the archetypal modern day centre-back – quick, strong and superb on the ball. Essentially, that’s everything White brings to the table.

Brighton’s academy coach John Morling said: “He’s so calm, nothing fazes Ben. Any hurdles, he just jumps over. He just looks like he’s been there for years. He’s a winner. You’d want him in your team.”

Having also been dubbed as a “special talent” and “a warrior”, White’s performances for Brighton last season even saw him named by Gareth Southgate into the England squad for Euro 2020.

The £51,000-a-week ace averaged an impressive 1.4 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game in the Premier League, as well as boasting an 83.2% pass accuracy – perhaps the most eye-opening statistic is his average of 0.7 dribbles per game despite predominantly playing either at centre-back or on the right.

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White looks comfortable with the ball at his feet, and Leeds fans have already seen from his loan spell at Elland Road the kind of confidence with which he plays, never seemingly ruffled by opposition attackers and more than willing to step out and drive into midfield before playing a pass through.

As a young, English central defender, White is akin to what Ferdinand was when he was at Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds are eyeing this Copa America star…

Arsenal appear to be closing in on their first two signings of the summer transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have reached an agreement with Benfica over the transfer of left-back Nuno Tavares, who is expected to cost the club around €8m (£6.8m) plus add-ons.

He also revealed that the North Londoners are now working to complete a move for Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Writing on Twitter, Romano said:

“Arsenal have an agreement signed with Benfica for Nuno Tavares since yesterday. Done deal, no doubt. Fee will be €8m, plus add ons. Nuno will sign until June 2026 – he’s in London to undergo his medical.

“Arsenal now working to complete also Lokonga signing.”

Getting things done!

It certainly seems as if sporting director Edu Gaspar and the rest of the Gunners’ hierarchy is going about their business quietly as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s playing squad for 2021/22.

Arsenal finished in eighth place last term, meaning they will miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years.

There are now around five to six weeks until the new campaign gets underway, so it has to be hugely encouraging to see the club signing players early – they have also been linked to some more exciting names in Brighton defender Ben White and Italy’s Euro 2020 star Manuel Locatelli.

With Tavares, current first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney will be getting some solid competition, whilst it also presents the opportunity for him to be played in a back-three, just like Arteta did at times last season and just as he plays for Scotland.

And in Lokonga, the Gunners could be getting some much-needed squad depth, with as many as three central midfielders set to depart the Emirates Stadium.

Granit Xhaka looks set to join Jose Mourinho at AS Roma in a €20m (£18m) deal, Matteo Guendouzi is closing in on a move to Marseille, and Lucas Torreira is reportedly up for sale, too.

All in all, it appears Arteta has identified how to overhaul his squad and the board are prepared to back him in doing so. Therefore, it could well be an exciting time to be a Gunners fan, heading into a season where they will need to deliver results on the pitch to get back on track. Arsenal supporters will almost certainly be buzzing with Romano’s update.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Bellerin: Edu can strike gold with Arsenal swoop for “special” £20m-rated gem…

With a swift click of the fingers, Pedro Neto’s outstanding season has come to a premature end.

The winger has enjoyed a scintillating breakthrough campaign at Wolves, putting a number of Premier League teams to the sword with red-hot dribbling and his devastating left-foot.

Neto is the club’s top scorer this season on five goals while he’s also Nuno Santo’s chief creator with six assists.

Those aren’t breathtaking numbers but it says a lot that at the age of just 21, he is the standout player in a top-flight side.

The Portuguese sensation has stepped up admirably in the absence of Raul Jimenez but like his Mexican teammate, he now faces a considerable period on the sidelines.

Wolves have had rotten luck with injuries this term and only last week Jonny was ruled out for the best part of a year with another ACL injury.

Neto won’t miss quite as much time, but he’s now set to miss the next six months with a significant injury to his knee cap that requires surgery.

On the chalkboard

The youngster will be a huge miss to Wolves between now and the end of the campaign and they will struggle to replace him.

After all, Nuno’s side have hardly been full of goals. Fabio Silva has only found the net three times this term while Willian Jose hasn’t scored at all.

They can take comfort from the fact that Adama Traore bagged his first Premier League goal since December 2019 in the win over Fulham but he has some way to go before rediscovering his best form.

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One player Wolves could turn to is a player in their academy; Theo Corbeanu.

The 18-year-old hasn’t made a single first-team appearance for the club but he was on the bench in both of their FA Cup ties this term while he’s appeared among the substitutes in the top-flight on six occasions.

He is yet to make a breakthrough but evidently, the Canadian is very much on Nuno’s radar.

A winger or centre-forward by trade, Corbeanu possesses many of the qualities that have made Neto such a stand out fixture in the Wolves starting XI.

He is a tricky individual with the ability to find the net and create. This season the teenager has five goals and two assists for the U23 side.

The forward has made a dazzling impact in James Collins’ team and has earned eye-catching praise along the way: “He’s athletic, tall, can head it, can defend, can dribble past people and score, he can shoot, he can pass, he’s both footed, he’s got a bit of everything,” Collins admitted.

“Theo can be anything he wants to be. He’s an outstanding prospect,” he concluded.

We saw the ruthless impact Corbeanu can have when he was given an opportunity to shine in the EFL Trophy against senior opposition. During that competition, the attacker managed 1.8 key passes per game and 2.3 successful dribbles.

Only Pedro Neto (2) has managed more key passes a match in Wolves’ Premier League side this term while only Traore trumps the youngster in terms of take-ons.

Clearly, the Wolves prodigy has plenty to offer to the senior squad. With Neto now on the sidelines, this feels like the perfect chance to hand him a first-team berth.

AND in other news, Wolves may have their new Jimenez in rarely-seen beast with an “assassin’s mentality”…

Harry Kane did an explosive interview with Gary Neville last week about his future at Tottenham Hotspur and Les Reed, former FA Technical Director, has claimed that it will be difficult to replace Kane both on and off the pitch.

It came to the forefront of all media channels last week that he had reportedly told Spurs he wants to leave the club this summer and after they only managed to qualify for the Europa Conference League, it doesn’t seem like he could be persuaded to stay.

Despite Spurs finishing seventh, Kane showcased his talent and how he has adapted his game through the season as he picked up both the golden boot and playmaker award for registering the most goals and assists.

If one of the top three strikers in the world left their club, there would be a huge void that would be almost impossible to fill and that is what will happen to Spurs if Kane leaves as his ability and leadership is top quality. Those are the thoughts of Reed, who spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern:

“It will be very difficult because he is an icon and I know Harry so I know there are a lot of things about him, his personality and his leadership and the way he does things.

“I’ve been fortunate to be close to both Harry and Jordan Henderson who are both leaders, but both very different in the way they do it. That makes Harry quite unique at Tottenham as he’s a very bright boy who plans a lot.”

If Sunday’s 4-2 win against Leicester City was his final game in a Tottenham shirt, he went out doing what he does best and that is scoring goals as he netted the opening goal for Spurs, which was enough to pip Mohamed Salah to the golden boot.

This summer looks to be one of Spurs’ biggest in their recent history as they hope to keep hold of their star striker Kane as well as needing to appoint a new manager who will be able to make them regular challengers for the top four once again.

West Brom centre-back Dara O’Shea’s current injury situation remains unknown, according to reliable journalist Steve Madeley.

The Lowdown: O’Shea suffers injury

The Baggies have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, sitting second in the Championship after picking up 13 points from their opening five games.

O’Shea has been an ever-present in that time, playing every minute of action, but he suffered an injury in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Wednesday night.

The Latest: Madeley provides update

West Brom are no doubt sweating over the news, but taking to Twitter on Thursday, The Athletic‘s Madeley simply offered a two-word update, revealing they are yet to find out the severity:

“Nothing yet.”

This likely means they are waiting on the results of a scan, which could be a concern given his importance at the Hawthorns.

The Verdict: Huge player for Baggies

The hope is that O’Shea’s injury is not too serious and that he will be back for next weekend’s Championship clash with Millwall at the Hawthorns.

The 22-year-old has averaged 2.4 tackles and 2.2 interceptions per game in the league so far this season, outlining his defensive brilliance.

If O’Shea ends up being absent for an extended period of time, he could be a huge loss for Valerien Ismael’s side, as they look for a swift return to the Premier League.

In other news, a journalist has given his thoughts on West Brom’s interest in one player. Read more here.