The Toffees have brought in two new players ahead of Sean Dyche’s first full season in charge at Goodison Park, looking to avoid another Premier League relegation battle.
Former Aston Villa full-back Ashley Young was the first to make the move to Merseyside on a free transfer, whereas Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma has followed, joining on a season-long loan.
Attention now seems to be on signing a new centre-forward after the club netted just 34 times in 38 Premier League games in 2022/23 – the second-fewest of any side in the division. Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggled through injury, scoring twice in just 18 appearances, with the club’s top scorer being winger Dwight McNeil with seven goals.
El Bilal Toure was heavily linked with a move to Merseyside and a deal was even thought to be in place, however, he has since opted to join Serie A side Atalanta.
Another forward who was linked with Everton at the end of May was Alberto, and it looks as if the Toffees may have made their move after missing out on Toure.
Journalist Dominik Schneider took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share what he knows about Alberto’s future. He said a number of clubs in Europe are showing an interest in the player but it is Everton who are in discussions, with a “high transfer fee expected” should he depart.
Future of Yuri Alberto of Corinthians remains open. Numerous clubs from Europe show interest. Talks with Everton FC are ongoing. Nothing concrete so far. He feels ready for move, waiting for perfect option. Contract until 2027, high transfer fee expected.”
Alberto is primarily a centre-forward who can also play on the left or right-wing if needed. The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at Santos before signing for fellow Brazilian side Internacional and then Zenit St Petersburg.
However, things didn’t exactly work out for Alberto in Russia, making just 15 appearances, and after a loan spell with Corinthians, penned permanent terms back in Brazil earlier this year. In total, Alberto has made 182 senior appearances during his career, scoring 57 times and registering 19 assists.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed Alberto as being “dangerous” and a “complete forward”, so a move to Everton could be good for all parties. Meanwhile, former teammate Edinilson described the forward as a player with “huge potential”.
“Since (Alberto) arrived, I have seen huge potential in him. I know that, soon, we won’t have him here anymore because he has really huge potential.”
However, in 38 appearances in 2023, Alberto has scored just eight times, and there’s no guarantee of a similar or better return on Merseyside in the Premier League. It looks as if a move will be one to watch, though, and hopefully, by the September 1 deadline, Everton and Dyche will have a new star striker to select.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among the clubs who are keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest starlet, Brennan Johnson, with the Wales international having enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League last time out.
How much would Brennan Johnson cost?
According to The Athletic’s Paul Taylor, the Lilywhites are said to be “interested” in signing the 5 foot 10 speedster this summer, amid claims that Forest have rejected a bid from top-flight rivals Brentford for the 22-year-old.
Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: “Another bid rejected from Brentford, other clubs – including Spurs – still interested but #NFFC value him at £50m. Informal discussions have been held with Steve Cooper over Brennan Johnson’s future and he remains an integral figure at the CG.”
In his attached piece for The Athletic, Taylor adds that while the Bees are the only club to have lodged a ‘significant offer’ for the Nottingham native, Spurs are said to be ‘monitoring Johnson’s situation carefully’.
How good is Brennan Johnson?
While that reported £50m price tag may appear rather steep for a player who has just one season under his belt in the top flight, the one-time Lincoln City loanee certainly made his mark as Steve Cooper’s men successfully staved off relegation, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 38 league outings.
Lauded as “a real handful” by journalist Antonio Mango, the £30k-per-week sensation was a devastating weapon in his attacking role on the flanks or through the middle, notably ranking among the top 12% among his fellow forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries as an indication of his dynamic threat.
For Ange Postecoglou and co to be able to poach Johnson from his current home could prove to be a wise, long-term investment, with the Forest ace having also showcased his talent the year prior after recording 26 goal involvements in the second tier as part of his side’s successful promotion charge.
The hope would be that the 19-cap international could replicate the success that another exciting forward enjoyed after trading the City Ground for N17, in the form of Teddy Sheringham.
The now-retired marksman was snapped up by Spurs back in 1992 amid the start of the inaugural Premier League campaign, with the north Londoners forking out what was then a relatively sizeable fee of £2.1m.
Having scored 14 goals in total during his year-long stint with the Garibaldi, the ex-England international made an instant impression in his new surroundings after finishing as the league’s top scorer in that 1992/23 season with 22 goals in total.
As it proved, the Highams Park-born ace would go on to score a further 54 league goals over the next four seasons, before being snapped up by Manchester United ahead of the 1997/98 campaign.
Having later returned to White Hart Lane in 2001 – after a glittering, trophy-laden spell at Old Trafford – the experienced striker would ultimately score over 100 goals in all competitions across his two spells at the club, having more than proved value for money.
With Sheringham’s first stint at Spurs, in particular, having been so successful after leaving Nottingham behind, perhaps young Johnson can follow in his footsteps in the near future.
Tottenham Hotspur are keen on a summer deal to bring Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel to the Premier League, according to reports.
Who is Mathys Tel?
Tel is naturally a centre-forward who only arrived at the Allianz Arena last summer from Ligue 1 side Rennes, but there’s a strong possibility that he could be once again on the move after just one season having failed to make a significant impact.
The France youth international was handed just one start last season in the Bundesliga and spent the majority of his time on the bench having been introduced as a substitute on 21 occasions, so he’s clearly out of favour and extremely low down in Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order.
Despite still having another two years to run on his contract, the 18-year-old could therefore be wanting to start a new adventure elsewhere in order to get more regular minutes under his belt, and should that be the case, it’s believed he has admirers in N17.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano reported that one unnamed member of the Lilywhites board “appreciates” the teenager, though the journalist made it clear that Ange Postecoglou and Daniel Levy have not yet made any kind of “direct approach” for their target.
According to The Guardian, Spurs are “interested” in a swoop for Tel ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Bayern manager Tuchel recently admitted that whilst he plans to keep the attacker, he could leave “if something changes very late in the transfer window”.
Levy is set to meet with a number of top executives in Germany next week to talk about a potential deal for Harry Kane, and should the England skipper seal his exit, the chairman could use negotiations to discuss a swap deal which would see Tel coming the other way.
Tottenham will be aware that Tel is still only 18 years of age, so he could definitely be seen as more of a signing for the long-term future of the club, but having been hailed a “huge talent” by football scout Jacek Kulig, the striker would be an exciting recruit should he put pen to paper.
The Sarcelles native has scored 15 goals in 47 appearances throughout his career, six of those coming last season at Bayern despite receiving limited opportunities to play, as per Transfermarkt, and he’s also a threat even when the ball doesn’t hit the back of the net.
Tuchel’s £66k-per-week earner ranked in the 97th percentile for shots and most touches in the attacking penalty area, highlighting his constant desire to create chances for himself and his fellow teammates in and around the opposition’s box.
Furthermore, Tel has the ability to operate out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside through the middle when leading the line so he would provide the boss with wonderful versatility if any unexpected injuries were to occur, making him a player that ticks a lot of boxes and a promising candidate to be targeting during the ongoing summer transfer window.
What’s the latest regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Tapsoba and Van de Ven?
Cited by Kicker via Football London, Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has revealed that the Bundesliga outfit doesn’t plan to sell Tapsoba this summer despite heavy interest from Tottenham.
Rolfes stated in an interview quoted by the German outlet when asked if Tapsoba would leave Bayer Leverkusen: “No, not under normal circumstances. It’s clear that there will always be limits at some point. But Edmond is a very important player. He’s one of the top players in our team, without a doubt. He still has a long contract, so there’s no reason for us to think about letting him go.”
Tapsoba, who earns £37,000 per week on the books at the BayArena, featured 47 times in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season, registering two goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.
In the case of Van de Ven, CaughtOffside report that there is a gap in valuation between Wolfsburg and Tottenham regarding a potential fee for the £22k-a-week ace, which has led to Spurs widening their search for a new central defender.
Clement Lenglet, Tosin Adarabioyo, Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi are all under consideration as alternative targets in the event Van de Ven doesn’t pitch up at Hotspur Way this window.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown has indicated that Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou could act to sign two defensive reinforcements between now and the close of play in the market.
Brown told FFC: “We were told that Spurs would quite like to sign two centre-backs this summer. I think it’s pretty certain you will see one of those two names come in and then one other. I think Spurs are still deciding which one to press the button on first, frankly.”
Who else could join Tottenham Hotspur this window?
Spurs are in the market for several reinforcements as Postecoglou looks to revive fortunes at the club following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani is on Tottenham’s radar this window in the event that Harry Kane leaves the club, with a figure of €80 million being mentioned as a potential fee for the France international.
Pedro, who plies his trade for Flamengo in Brazil’s Serie A, is also under consideration for the Lilywhites as a potential alternative to Kane this window, as per The Independent.
Atalanta rising star Rasmus Hojlund could’ve come into the conversation; however, Manchester United’s ‘advances’ to try and secure the signature of the Danish sensation are likely to put to bed any notion of a late offensive from Spurs.
Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is believed to have held talks with both Tottenham and Chelsea over swapping Ligue 1 for the Premier League and his representatives jetted into London recently to discuss his potential next move, according to FootballTransfers.
La Liga giants Real Madrid are ‘long-term’ admirers of the 19-year-old, who has also garnered attention from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
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