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Everton are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres, after failing to sign him in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: January talks

Everton were reportedly ‘in talks’ over signing Gyokeres late in January, after scouting him playing for Coventry in the Championship.

They were thought to be lining up a £15m bid for him, which would not have been deemed to be enough to secure his signature.

The Latest: Interest remains

As per Football Insider, the Goodison Park outfit, as well as AFC Bournemouth, are ‘keeping tabs’ on Gyokeres’ situation until the summer, and are still ‘keen’ on a move for him.

He is likely to be available for between £10-12m, which would be up to half the £20m that Coventry demanded to sell him in January, and the Championship side are ‘concerned’ about potentially losing him on a free transfer, with his contract set to expire in 2024.

Thus, the summer presents their best opportunity to get a maximum price for Gyokeres, who would only have a year left on his contract.

The Verdict: Striker needed

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has proven to be too unreliable with injury problems, not just this season but in previous campaigns as well.

The Merseyside club are the lowest scorers in the Premier League with 17, and are in desperate need of some more attacking firepower.

Lauded by his manager Mark Robins for his ‘unbelievable’ power and technique, Gyokeres is currently the second-top scorer in the Championship with 15 goals, while he has also provided a handy five assists (BBC).

Yes, the Premier League is a big step up, but the 24-year-old has plenty of time to adapt, and would provide the killer instinct that the Toffees have been missing so far this season.

There is no hiding away from the fact that Sunderland are in the midst of a poor run of form and they will be hoping to turn that around when they travel to Norwich on Sunday.

Tony Mowbray’s side are four games without a win in the Championship and have lost each of their last three matches in the division, with the latest coming in a 5-1 loss to Stoke at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats are now six points off the play-off places and will need to turn their fortunes around and go on a run of positive results to give themselves a chance of securing a top-six finish by the end of the season.

Goalscoring has been an issue for Sunderland in recent weeks after Ross Stewart was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign and Ellis Simms returned to Everton, with Joe Gelhardt coming in from Leeds as the only arrival up front.

They have only scored more than one goal in a game once in their last seven outings in the Championship and Gelhardt has managed one goal in his seven appearances for the club in the division.

Will Harry Gardiner get a chance at Sunderland?

Goalscoring was no problem for the U21 side on Monday night as the young Black Cats beat Stoke, ironically, 4-1 in the Premier League 2 and one academy star caught the eye with an excellent display – Harry Gardiner.

The likes of Jewison Bennette and Isaac Lihadji also played in the match but it was the 19-year-old striker who impressed as the marksman scored twice and forced an own goal, which was initially credited as his hat-trick.

Gardiner has now notched six goals in ten Premier League 2 outings for the U21s this season with this coming after the dynamo managed six goals in ten appearances for the U18s in the 2021/22 campaign.

Mowbray must now promote the teenager, who journalist Josh Bunting stated is “scoring goals” and performing “regularly well”, to compete with Gelhardt for a place in the team.

The on-loan Leeds forward has been involved in two goals, one goal and one assist, in his seven Championship appearances and has missed three ‘big chances’ so far.

The youngster is struggling for form and bringing the 19-year-old academy striker into the side, off the back of his superb performance against Stoke for the U21s, could give him much-needed competition and a rest for the upcoming clash with the Canaries.

It is hard to gauge whether or not Gardiner can translate his form from youth level to the first-team squad but the only way to find out is to chuck him in at the deep end and to see if he sinks or swims. He could well become the club’s secret weapon during the back end of the campaign.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their interest in signing Gerard Deulofeu in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Gerard Deulofeu to Aston Villa?

According to Mondo Udinese, via Sport Witness, the Villans could make a move for the Udinese winger at the end of the season, despite the fact he's currently suffering with an injury.

The report claims that Unai Emery is a 'great admirer' of the forward and has wanted to sign the wizard dating back to his time in charge of Villarreal in LaLiga, with Villa now eyeing the talent ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Deulofeu is currently out with a knee problem and is not projected to return to action until at least June which could delay any potential transfer for the attacker.

Where does Gerard Deulofeu play?

The Udinese maestro is a versatile attacker who can play in a multitude of positions and roles across the frontline, which could make him an ideal replacement for current Villa dud Leon Bailey.

In the Premier League this season, the Jamaica international has been deployed as a winger on either flank and as a supporting striker alongside Ollie Watkins under Steven Gerrard and now Emery.

The 25-year-old has produced four goals and two assists in 25 appearances – averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.64. This comes after the flop managed one goal and two assists in 18 appearances in the top-flight for Villa in 2021/22, with that an indication of how much the forward has struggled in front of goal since making the switch to England.

Deulofeu – who can also play on either flank, through the middle as a supporting striker, or as a centre forward – has plundered 15 goals and 11 assists in 50 Serie A outings for Udinese since the start of last season.

Over the last 365 days, the Spaniard ranks in the top 1% of players in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, progressive carries, assists, and shot-creating actions per 90.

Bailey, meanwhile, ranks in the bottom 17% for progressive passes, assists, and shot-creating actions, whilst is only in the top 22% for carries per 90.

These statistics suggest that Deulofeu, who was once lauded as "unstoppable" by reporter Anthony Lopopolo, would be a significant upgrade on the current Villa forward because of the quality he has the potential to provide in the final third.

The £22k-per-week marksman's end product, both in terms of goals and assists as well as his ability to progress the ball, could allow the Villans to carry a greater attacking threat in the Premier League, which is why Emery and Johan Lange must land him this summer.

Leeds United are thought to be close to signing Barcelona youngster Ilias Akhomach, with a move seemingly at an advanced stage.

The Lowdown: Akhomach profiled

Akhomach is 18 years of age and is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle. The left-footed forward is valued at €3m (£2.7m) by Transfermarkt and is out of contract at the end of the season.

He made three first-team appearances at the Nou Camp last season and even featured in a Champions League matchday squad earlier this season, sitting on the bench against Viktoria Plzen.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Mundo Deportivo regarding Akhomach and Leeds in the last 48 hours. They claimed that the Whites are in ‘most advanced’ talks to sign the player, with the report saying that the ‘winger is finishing negotiating his new contract’ at Elland Road.

Leeds look set to pip a number of sides, including Sevilla and Club Brugge, to Akhomach’s services and a transfer could be finalised before the end of the month.

Akhomach’s representatives are confident Leeds will remain in the Premier League, and as it stands, those at Elland Road are close to agreeing a free transfer, where he could become the first signing under new head coach Javi Gracia.

The Verdict: Good news

After signing Junior Firpo from the Catalan giants and selling Raphinha, it looks as if a transfer involving the two clubs looks set to materialise again with a move for Akhomach.

He appears to be an in-demand gem, so it is good to see that it is Leeds who look set to win the race for his signature. Of course, a deal won’t be completed until all the relevant paperwork is signed, so the club’s top-flight status could be crucial to a transfer officially going through in the summer.

Previous reports even suggested that Leeds, and by extension sporting director Victor Orta, have already reached a four-year agreement with the teenager, so it’ll be interesting to see if that is correct and if a pre-contact agreement is completed over the coming months.

If it is, Leeds will be hoping Akhomach can make a similar immediate impact to Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian has starred in Yorkshire since joining in the summer from FC Zurich, contributing to six goals in 19 appearances so far, with his displays already catching the eye of Juventus, who have been linked with a summer swoop.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is seemingly continuing his bid to find a suitable successor to current boss, Antonio Conte, with the Italian coach looking set for an imminent exit from N17 following what has been a disappointing campaign thus far for the north London outfit.

Recent weeks, in particular, have soured the mood at the club after the Lilywhites were dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League in limp fashion, with that ill feeling then exacerbated following the former Chelsea man's explosive post-match comments after the late collapse away to Southampton last weekend.

Such woes have ensured that Levy and co are now plotting yet another managerial change amid what has been a turbulent last few years in the dugout, with the Premier League side looking for their fourth permanent appointment since the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino back in 2019.

The popular Argentine has been tipped for a return to his former club, although the 51-year-old is not the only potential candidate who could seemingly revitalise Tottenham's fortunes, according to The Telegraph, with Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou another figure who could well spark something of a resurgence in the capital.

The Greek-Aussie has undoubtedly worked wonders during his time at Parkhead to date, with the Hoops currently on course to claim a second successive league title amid what has been a rampant run of domestic form, with the Old Firm outfit having previously finished 25 points behind rivals Rangers in the season prior to Postecoglou's arrival in 2021.

That turnaround has been aided by the 57-year-old's "exceptional" recruitment record – according to former Bhoys skipper Scott Brown – while the former Yokohama Marinos boss has also earned plaudits for his "beautiful attacking football", as per BT Sport pundit, Owen Hargreaves.

Despite having been something of an unknown quantity prior to the move to Glasgow, the experienced asset is now rightfully catching the attention of clubs south of the border, with it set to be a notable coup if Levy could tempt the one-time Australia boss to make the switch in the near future.

Would Postecoglou be a good fit at Spurs?

If Postecoglou is to be snapped up any time soon, the highly-coveted coach could look to emulate the impact that another former Celtic man has enjoyed in the Premier League of late, with Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers having enjoyed a standout spell at the King Power Stadium in recent years.

While the former Liverpool and Swansea City ace had previously coached in England's top flight prior to making the move to Scotland, the Northern Irishman certainly enhanced his reputation during his time in the Scottish Premiership, having won a plethora of major honours during his three-year spell – notably guiding his side to an unbeaten domestic campaign in 2016/17.

That remarkable hot streak unsurprisingly led to interest from afar, with Rodgers ultimately taking the somewhat controversial decision to move on from the historic club to join the Foxes midway through the 2018/19 season, in order to get started early in his new surroundings.

While that certainly damaged the Carnlough native's image back in Glasgow – even irking members of his own family in the process – that mid-season switch subsequently proved fruitful, with the one-time Watford boss using that extra time to settle to good effect as he went on to steer Leicester to fifth in his first full season at the club, before repeating that feat the following season.

Although the 50-year-old – who has also been linked with a move to Spurs – has come under pressure of late with the Midlands outfit currently battling to stave off relegation, the Foxes did claim a first-ever FA Cup triumph back in 2021, before also winning the Community Shield.

That success may well indicate that Rodgers has taken the winning mentality that he fostered at Celtic to his current post, with the hope being that Postecoglou could also mirror that journey if he is to link up with Levy and co any time soon.

The latter man may wish to wait until the summer before taking a decision on his future, although a repeat of Rodgers' mid-season move to England could also prove fruitful.

Leeds United have endured a rough season, with Jesse Marsch failing to live up to the expectation set of him after he had steered the Whites to safety last campaign.

Having taken over from the legendary Marcelo Bielsa, the American instantly was put at a disadvantage as he was to be forever compared to the Argentine who had returned them to the Premier League.

With a similarly frantic style but with arguably even less structure, his dismissal was unsurprising. It was this philosophy that makes Javi Gracia seem all the more refreshing, with his change of pace seemingly turning the tide in Yorkshire.

Players and fans alike have bought into the Spaniard wholeheartedly, and it shows dramatically on the pitch. Everyone is fighting for their shirt, and even formerly underperforming players seem reborn under the new leadership.

Arguably their biggest accomplishment thus far has been the reignition of Junior Firpo in particular, who seemed destined to depart Elland Road after what had been a miserable spell at the club.

How is Junior Firpo playing?

Having signed for £13m under Bielsa, the former Barcelona man was expected to hold down the vacant left-back position for the foreseeable future with a quality that should have surpassed most in the squad.

However, it has been far from smooth sailing for the 26-year-old, who last season endured an average rating of 6.60 as they narrowly avoided the drop. This has risen only slightly during this campaign, but his 6.65 rating is threatening to improve alongside his performances.

Whilst Wilfried Gnonto might steal the headlines for his emergence onto the scene, and his five goal contributions at 19 years old would merit that, Firpo's slow recovery has arguably been the more compelling arc given how low his stock has been at the club. Just last year was he branded a "liability" by journalist David Anderson, and yet he continues to persevere.

His winning strike against Southampton was a culmination of his recovery, in a cathartic moment that saw them snatch three points against bitter relegation rivals. It even led Luke Ayling to write on Instagram: "So happy for @juniorfirpo3 the guy always works so hard and so pleased he got that moment today".

A well-liked figure, he has become a mainstay under Gracia now, who trusts him in a more simplistic role. He still might struggle from time to time, but the upturn in his displays is marked. Three of his last five league matches have seen him handed rating of 6.8 or higher, an improvement on his average.

Journalist Phil Hay hinted at an ideal end to the season for the Whites, as he finished one piece by writing: "From doom at Goodison Park to the tantalising idea of a resurgence in which Firpo comes good while Leeds stay up. Stranger things have happened and Elland Road has seen most of them."

The tide does seem to be turning for the once-down-and-out defender, but he must maintain consistency if he is to repay the faith the club continue to show in him.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club lacking an identity.

Antonio Conte knew what his philosophy would be, but that differed from the defensive stylings of both Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho before him.

Then, preceding all three of them was Mauricio Pochettino, who came the closest to any long-lasting success with his expansive brand of attacking football.

Ever since their rise to the top of the English game, the Lilywhites have seemingly lost all track of what direction they wanted to take the club in, with Daniel Levy one of many responsible for this. He has allowed the standards to drop in north London, and now seeking a new manager once again, they must find someone to pick them back up.

Needing a reset, and a strong-willed coach who would be happy to oversee such a revolution, there is arguably few more renowned for his work rebuilding a sleeping giant than Marcelo Bielsa.

Would Marcelo Bielsa join Spurs?

The Argentine is clearly keen to return to football, with his interest in both the recent vacancies at Everton and AFC Bournemouth enough to suggest he would be open to joining Spurs.

Especially following the suggestion from journalist Mark Carey, who put the great Argentine forward as a possible successor in north London.

Although the systems of Conte and the 67-year-old could not be more varied, given the former's reliance on defensive structure whilst the latter prefers free-flowing attack, the gruelling pre-season camp held last year would at least have the fitness levels up to the required level to replicate some form of the infamous 'murder-ball'.

His role in restoring Leeds United to the top flight was instrumental, and in doing so he reset the culture at Elland Road after a 16-year absence from the Premier League.

His unique brand of football had everyone enamoured, and although it had started to fall apart before his sacking, perhaps with a higher calibre of players it might reach new heights.

After all, many of the game's greatest managers have been quick to praise his exploits. Pep Guardiola lauded his achievement with that promotion and seemed to downplay his own legacy in comparison to his idols. He claimed: "Give him my Barcelona and you will see how he will win titles. Give me Leeds, with all due respect to the Leeds players, but I would still be in the Championship."

A former player from his reign, Jamie Shackleton, suggested that the unorthodox leader was a "world-class" coach before Carey seemed to outline exactly what Spurs need from a manager in Bielsa.

He noted: "Across his career, Bielsa has raised the levels of each squad he manages, he demands the highest standards from his players and he has a clear high-pressing style that could benefit many of Tottenham's current crop."

In an effort to find a new identity, and one which will mark a refreshing switch up from their dull last three appointments, Levy needs to look no further than the former Leeds boss.

Arsene Wenger enjoyed a remarkable 22-year spell in charge of Arsenal, leading them to their finest ever era and becoming the first team to go an entire Premier League campaign undefeated, doing so in 2003/04.

It wasn’t just the winning that was enjoyable, but the swashbuckling style of football they played while doing so, swatting teams away with ease, with players such as Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp enjoying plenty of freedom.

His final decade in charge of the Gunners was much less successful and his business in the transfer market became progressively worse, signing duds such as Lucas Perez and Marouane Chamakh who didn’t exactly improve the side as they only won three FA Cups during his final 12 years at the helm.

One of his poorest signings was that of French right-back Mathieu Debuchy, who failed to live up to the hype during his failed spell at the North Londoners between 2014 and 2018.

How much did Mathieu Debuchy cost Arsenal?

The defender joined the club in the summer of 2014 for a fee reported to be £12m and considering his performances for Newcastle United, making 46 appearances in 18 months and the French national side, featuring in the recent 2014 World Cup, he looked like a solid signing by Wenger.

Indeed, he even praised Debuchy highly upon his arrival, saying: "He has shown he can perform at the highest level with his club sides and also for France. He is a quality defender who has good Premier League experience and I'm confident he will fit in very well with us."

His spell would turn out to be a mistake, making just 22 appearances in his first 18 months at the club, largely due to a shoulder injury. The right-back would subsequently join French side Bordeaux for the second half of the 2015/16 campaign.

Returning to Arsenal ahead of the 2016/17 season, it looked as though Wenger was going to give him a second chance, yet he failed to take it, playing just once that term and only seven games the season after before sealing a move back to Ligue 1, joining Saint-Étienne in January 2018.

He clearly couldn’t quite cut it in England as after leaving for his homeland, Debuchy scored four goals during his first six months in France, even earning the player of the month award shortly after moving to the club, completing a sparkling turnaround.

His spell at the Emirates was a disaster and across his 156 weeks in London (not counting his loan spell), he rinsed the club for a total of £22.7m, combining his transfer fee plus the £10.7m he earned in wages.

He was even dubbed “terrible” by popular Arsenal fan site the Short Fuse back in 2016, having cost the club £760k every time he played, a staggering waste of money which could have been spent on other areas of the team.

It was a rare flop by Wenger, but when he made mistakes, they were often on a colossal scale.

Liverpool's dramatic 2-2 draw with rivals Arsenal on Sunday saw Reds midfielder Thiago Alcantara make his return off the bench, with the experienced Spaniard having been absent with a hip injury in recent months.

The former Bayern Munich man – who arrived at Anfield on a £20m deal back in 2020 – had been out of action since featuring against Wolverhampton Wanderers in early February, with the hope being that the 31-year-old's return can offer a real boost to Jurgen Klopp's side in the short-term.

In the long-term, however, it remains to be seen for just how long the midfield maestro will be a key first-team asset, with the ageing playmaker having just over a year remaining on his existing deal on Merseyside.

Despite the one-time Barcelona man's undoubted class – having been hailed as "sensational" last season by his manager – there may be concern as to his longevity in the side, amid the fitness woes which have plagued the 46-cap international's time at the club so far.

With that in mind, Klopp may be plotting to potentially freshen up his midfield ranks with a fresh injection of youth in order to eventually replace the likes of Thiago, with 19-year-old, Dominic Corness, seemingly a dream heir to the Italy-born dynamo.

Who is Liverpool's Dominic Corness?

The teenage maestro – who turns 20 next month – has enjoyed a standout campaign thus far at academy level, having showcased his creative prowess after registering five assists in 31 games in all competitions thus far, including four assists in just 21 Premier League outings.

While a chance at senior level has thus far proven elusive, the England U20 international is clearly a highly-rated talent among those on Merseyside, having been nicknamed 'The Wand' due to his silky ability with his left foot.

The £3.4k-per-week sensation has also received notable praise from youth coach Barry Lewtas, who stated last year: "Dom controls the game for us and helps us play the way we want to play. We want a midfielder who can break the game up in that position but who can also control it, and that's Dominic's standout quality, his ability to dictate the pace of the game.

"It's all down to his ability to pass. He has every pass in the locker, really. He showed that against Rangers. He can pass straight through the lines, he can switch the play. I have been really pleased with his performances so far."

That passing prowess is undoubtedly a trait that is shared by that man Thiago – who has been lauded as "like a quarterback" by ex-Reds man Michael Owen – with it unsurprising that young Corness has previously revealed his admiration for the classy midfielder:

"I love to watch Thiago really. I just try to base myself off some of the things he does. Obviously he plays for the first team and that's just the level you want to try to get to. I just try to get on the ball as much as I can. I've always liked the way Thiago played."

That likeness between the pair is also showcased by their ball-winning quality, with Thiago having averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season, while Corness averaged 2.3 and 1.3 for the same two metrics, respectively, during his three EFL Trophy outings earlier in the campaign.

All the signs then seem to suggest that the 'cultured' youngster – as hailed by the club's official website – can be the ideal successor to the Spaniard in the near future, with Klopp seemingly having a real diamond on his hands who is just waiting for a chance to impress.

It looks set to be a summer of change for Manchester United with manager Erik ten Hag seemingly plotting to move on a host of first-team assets ahead of next season, in order for the Dutchman to continue his squad rebuild at Old Trafford.

One man who appears to be a certainty to move on to pastures new is long-serving dud, Phil Jones, with the former Blackburn Rovers man – who arrived in Manchester on a £16m deal back in 2011 – having just a matter of months remaining on his existing deal at the club.

As The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell revealed earlier this week, the former England international is yet to complete a full training session since the former Ajax boss arrived at the club, having been so "unfortunate" with injuries in recent years.

The 31-year-old has not been included in United's Premier League squad and is not set to be handed a look in any time soon, despite the loss of both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane to their own injury woes of late.

The £75k-per-week man's slide down the pecking order was laid bare during the club's Carabao Cup final triumph back in February, with the experienced asset having been part of Sky Sports' pre-match coverage, rather than earning a place in the matchday squad.

That fall from grace represents a real decline for a player who was once tipped to be the Red Devils' "best ever player" by Sir Alex Ferguson, with it somewhat bizarre that the peripheral figure has not been moved on even sooner, having made just six league appearances since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.

While by his own admission, the 27-cap brute has endured a "tough time" of it of late, Jones can still look back fondly on his positive start to life at the club, having notably played his part in United's most recent title success, back in 2013.

That winner's medal is something which teammate Harry Maguire – who has also been tipped for a departure this summer – is unlikely to get his hands on any time soon.

Is Maguire worse than Jones?

It could well be said that it would be Jones who could leave the club with a greater legacy as a result of his part in that title triumph, having made 17 league appearances in the 2012/13 campaign.

Maguire, by contrast, only swooped his first piece of silverware as a result of the League Cup success earlier this season, albeit while only featuring off the bench in the showpiece victory against Newcastle United.

Although the 30-year-old still has time to add to his tally with Ten Hag's men still in the FA Cup and League Cup, supporters would no doubt have been expecting more from the England international following his £80m arrival from Leicester City just under four years ago.

Not that the Sheffield native is to blame for that price tag – nor is Jones to blame for being handed a new long-term deal in 2019 – although such a high-profile signing would have been expected to lead a side toward a title charge.

Equally, while with the case of Jones – who was branded a "very good player" by former boss Jose Mourinho – the struggling dud has largely been impacted by his injury woes, it is Maguire's on-field performances that have drawn notable criticism, having been described as "woeful" by pundit Lianne Sanderson earlier in the campaign.

Club legend Rio Ferdinand also suggested that the former Foxes man should feel "embarrassed" after arguably being outshone by Jones when the injury-prone defender made a rare outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season in his place, with the latter man having impressed despite his lack of action prior to that defeat at Old Trafford.

As Ferdinand noted, supporters were notably "singing his name" when the Preston-born rock left the field following that 1-0 loss, with there perhaps a sense of sympathy toward Jones for the repeated injury woes that he has had to endure, having "kept trying" to get fit – as per Whitwell.

As Ferguson's ultimately failed prediction showcased, the ageing talent was at one stage a hugely bright prospect at Old Trafford, with repeated setbacks having ensured that the 5 foot 11 man never managed to reach that early potential.

In the case of Maguire, supporters are likely to be less forgiving of a player who is captain of the club and who remains the most expensive defender of all time.

Of course, neither man can be deemed a successful signing, in truth, although Jones' title glory will ensure he leaves behind a legacy that it looks as if Maguire will be unable to match, particularly should the £190k-per-week skipper follow his compatriot out the door this summer.