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Everton have a steady and rich flow of talent cascading from Finch Farm academy and could have their latest gem in homegrown centre-back Jack Tierney.

Notably, Anthony Gordon rose from the youth ranks and recently played a starring role in Everton's past several seasons, subject to a £45m transfer to Newcastle United last January.

Similarly, Ross Barkley was heralded for his early performances on Merseyside before completing a £15m transfer to Chelsea in 2018, while a certain former star named Wayne Rooney also commenced his illustrious career at Goodison Park.

The club might be floundering at present, two points and two places above the Premier League relegation zone after avoiding the drop in the closing weeks last season, but the assurance of further talent continually cropping up provides manager Sean Dyche with comfort that he can craft a team capable of flourishing higher up the table over the coming years.

Dyche is renowned for his defensive organisation and structured managerial approach, and as such he will be paying close attention to the exploits of Tierney, who will be pushing for an increase in his role at the club as he continues his development.

Who is Jack Tierney?

The 18-year-old Tierney has made 12 appearances for the U18 outfit this term to continue from an impressive preceding breakout year that saw him forge 16 outings, scoring one goal and wearing the captain's armband on two occasions.

According to Everton's official website, Tierney is a "commanding" defender and a lifelong Evertonian, hailing former Toffees captain Phil Jagielka as his footballing inspiration.

Such a 'commanding' approach will be one of the main attractions in the eyes of Dyche, who recently explained to the Coaches Voice the principles of his philosophy and provided insight into his man-management and prowess in tactical awareness from a defensive standpoint.

Effectively, there are scant few managers an aspiring centre-back would wish to kickstart their career under, and Tierney must absorb the fruits of his boss' labour to set himself in good stead to flourish among the seniors at Everton when the time comes.

Praised by reporter Jack Beesley for his "crucial" reading of the game earlier this season, Tierney has the tools for a successful Blues career, and as the cogs fall into place he could even surpass the expectations of Everton centre-back Jarrard Branthwaite, who is flourishing out on loan with PSV Eindhoven.

Signing for the Toffees in January 2020 for just £1m from Carlisle, the 20-year-old has made 13 appearances for his outfit, scoring one goal, before being loaned out to the Eredivisie last summer, where he has enjoyed a fruitful spell and forged 29 displays thus far, scoring four goals and registering an assist.

Hailed by former manager Carlo Ancelotti as a "really skilful defender with a lot of ability", Branthwaite will be pushing for a role in Dyche's set-up next season, and while he looks to be a genuine prospect, Tierney could surpass his potential by harnessing his 'commanding' leadership skills and becoming the centrepiece of the Everton project.

Tottenham Hotspur's search for a new manager has been a strange one, considering how Antonio Conte remains in his post as the season nears its climax.

The Lilywhites still have plenty to play for in the Premier League, but can feel aggrieved in the way in which they exited all three knockout competitions as they fell to teams that on paper they should have beaten.

That has been a theme of the Italian's side, often stumbling when the road ahead seems so clear. It is likely why the likes of Daniel Levy are seemingly keen to find his successor, as his future remains up in the air after a string of recent comments.

After their frustrating Champions League exit, he spoke to the Italian media (via The Guardian) and claimed:

"I’m under contract at Tottenham, then we will decide at the end of the season with the club. My contract expires in June, we will see – they might sack me even before the end of the season. Perhaps the expectations were higher and they may be disappointed?"

Although since claiming this to be a joke, fans and the media are sceptical about whether the ex-Chelsea boss remains committed to his role. That could explain the list of replacements that have been drawn up, according to The Athletic, with Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim one of the standout names.

What kind of football does Ruben Amorim play?

The Portuguese boss might just be the perfect man to replace Conte, given how his style contrasts the often dull brand fans have been subjected to without altering the structure too much.

He also favours a three-at-the-back system, which allowed the likes of Pedro Porro to thrive under his stewardship. This reunion could be imperative in future successes that the north London outfit might earn.

But it is not a philosophy that sits off and watches the game go by; the 38-year-old has forged one of the most intense teams in Portugal, with an emphasis on pressing high to cause chaos in the opponent's attacking third. In this vein, his ideals are very much aligned with former Spurs favourite Mauricio Pochettino, whose style captured the imagination upon first joining.

The similarities between these two are extended to their potential youth at the time of joining the club, thus making them somewhat more progressive than older coaches who might be stuck in their ways.

Writer and podcaster Nicolas Vilas Boas did suggest that Amorim's teams are always made in his image, noting "intelligent" as an outstanding characteristic for the manager and his Sporting side.

Not only is his style thrilling, but he boasts tangible success to boot. He has won five major honours across his short time in management and has most recently knocked high-flying Arsenal out of the Europa League at the Emirates.

His style is bold and brave and could revolutionise a club that has recently stalled under Conte's management.

Manchester United have reportedly met with the agent of Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, according to reporter Patrick Berger.

The Lowdown: Kobel profiled

Kobel is 25 years of age and made the move to Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021. Since then, the Switzerland international has made 65 appearances for Dortmund, keeping 23 clean sheets.

He is valued at a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and is under contract with the Bundesliga side until 2026. Kobel has also come in for praise from Dortmund goalkeeping coach Matthias Kleinsteiber, who said:

“I think the fans realised very quickly that he’s a really good goalkeeper. But he still has a lot of room for improvement, he can improve in all areas.”

“Gregor can handle the pressure, I’ve seen that with him. In Augsburg, he had real pressure on the kettle, as it was about staying in the Bundesliga, and also with Stuttgart as the next step, he didn’t have it easy.”

The Latest: United interest

Berger, chief reporter for German outlet Sport1, took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to provide an update on Kobel. He said that both the Red Devils and Premier League rivals Chelsea ‘have met with an agent of the Swiss goalkeeper’.

However, Berger added that Kobel ‘wants to stay at least one more year with BVB’ and that ‘the Bundesliga side has no intention to sell.’

The Verdict: Good to see

It is good to see that United are making moves ahead of the summer window, looking to build on the overall success during Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford.

A new striker and midfielder appear to be the main priority over the coming months, but a new goalkeeper could also be beneficial to rival David de Gea.

Dean Henderson is ‘unlikely to be welcomed back to Old Trafford when his loan at Nottingham Forest expires after criticising Ten Hag’, with Brentford’s David Raya another keeper linked with a move to Manchester.

Kobel could be a name to keep a close eye on following this update of a meeting held between United and the player’s agent, however, the club may find it tricky given his current stance.

As a result, the Red Devils may need to look elsewhere for another high-quality ‘keeper to challenge De Gea next season, potentially Raya who is waiting for a ‘big move’ in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur could ‘look at’ Roberto De Zerbi to replace Antonio Conte as manager, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge recently told GiveMeSport.

The Lowdown: De Zerbi targeted

Last month, Football Insider reported that Tottenham are ‘hugely impressed’ by De Zerbi as a result of the excellent impression he has made as Brighton & Hove Albion manager since replacing Graham Potter earlier this season.

The Seagulls boss could be a man in demand, with pundit Robbie Mustoe recently tipping West Ham United to make a move, although the Hammers’ current position in the Premier League table may deter him.

Prior to Potter’s recent turnaround at Chelsea, the Blues were also linked with the Italian, which goes to show just how well he has done during his very limited time managing in the Premier League.

The Latest: One to watch

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Bridge provided an update on who the Spurs hierarchy may target to replace Conte at the end of the season.

The reporter said:

“I personally had Brentford down for relegation this year when Christian Eriksen decided not to stay.

“I thought they were going to miss him, but they’ve been phenomenal this year. There will come a time when Frank will get an offer or an opportunity, whether it’s Tottenham though, I’m not so sure.

“I think if we’re looking at managers of a club of that size, I think Spurs will look more towards De Zerbi. Obviously, I think every so called Big Six club admires what Brighton do.

“You only have to look at Newcastle and who they’ve recruited from Brighton. They’re a club people really are aspiring to be, so I think maybe De Zerbi would be one to look at.”

The Verdict: Exciting news

Since his arrival in England, the 43-year-old coach has not been short of compliments from his peers, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola lauding him for his ‘incredible’ style of play.

In the Brighton dugout, the Brescia-born tactician, who favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, has averaged 1.65 points per match to lead his side up to seventh in the Premier League table, while they are also through to the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup.

After building up his resume with the Seagulls, De Zerbi has proven he is ready to take the next step by moving to a club vying for the Champions League places, and he should be near the top of Fabio Paratici’s list of targets at the end of the season.

France and AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud ‘would be a good fit’ for Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Giroud linked with Palace move

The Eagles have struggled for goals at times so far this season, only scoring 21 times in 25 Premier League matches, with Wilfried Zaha leading the charts with six strikes despite missing time through injury.

One player who has been linked with a summer move to Selhurst Park is Giroud, who is France’s all-time record goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 caps.

The 36-year-old is out of contract at Milan at the end of the season, meaning other clubs could snap him up as a free agent.

The Latest: ‘Would be a good fit’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke talked up the idea of Giroud joining Palace at the end of the season:

“I think it would be a move he would consider. If he doesn’t agree a new contract at AC Milan, I’m sure a move back to the Premier League would be right up there among his top priorities.

“Crystal Palace would tick a lot of boxes because I think Giroud, ideally, would prefer to move back to London having lived there and played for Arsenal and Chelsea. Palace would be a good fit for him.”

The Verdict: Is he too old now?

There is no denying Giroud’s pedigree as a footballer, with his aforementioned record for France outstanding and a tally of 262 goals at club level also highly impressive.

At 36, there is certainly an argument to say that the £73,000-a-week striker is well past his best, however, and that Patrick Vieira should look at younger, longer-term options to bring in.

It could be that Giroud has one more season in him at a high level, having been hailed as ‘world class’ by Simon Kjaer earlier this season, but it would come with a risk element.

Reach PLC Journalist Sean McGinlay has been left shocked at Steven Gerrard’s latest move to bring Neil Critchley to Aston Villa.

The Lowdown: Critchley joins

Gerrard brought assistant Michael Beale with him from Rangers when he took over at Villa Park back in November. However, Beale has now been appointed as the new manager of QPR, penning a three-year contract with the Championship side.

Villa haven’t wasted any time in bringing in Beale’s replacement, with Blackpool manager Critchley next to pen terms in the Midlands. The Villa Park outfit have of course been impressively busy in these last few weeks, securing deals for Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos.

Critchley and Gerrard crossed paths at Liverpool’s academy, with the latter describing Critchley as his ‘number one choice when looking for a new assistant head coach’.

The Latest: McGinlay reacts

McGinlay, a Blackpool reporter for Lancs Live, took to Twitter to share the news and his reaction.

He said he ‘can’t quite believe’ that Critchley has left his post as Blackpool boss to become Gerrard’s assistant, with fans echoing McGinlay’s reaction, saying it’s a big ‘shock’ and ‘absolutely wild’, while talkSPORT called it a ‘surprise’.

The Verdict: A coup for Villa

Critchley has plenty of experience as an academy manager and a first-team manager, with Villa set to be his first assistant position.

The 43-year-old was seemingly persuaded by Villa’s long-term plans to leave a managerial role for a number two position, and you’d expect that this could be a real coup for the club.

Villa have already made a number of exciting additions on the pitch and have acted quickly to replace Beale, showing plenty of positive signs ahead of Gerrard’s first full season in charge.

In other news: Villa and NSWE now want to sign ‘stand out’ forward after Suarez; Gerrard not hanging around. 

A big Rangers claim has emerged on Ibrox loanee Aaron Ramsey and his future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst heading into the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has hinted that the midfielder will not be returning to Rangers for the 2022/23 campaign.

Speaking about the Ibrox loanee, he told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m sure Aaron Ramsey looked like he enjoyed his time at Rangers.

“But a deal would have to be subsidised because of his wages at Juventus if Rangers were to bring him back. As it stands right now, it looks like he might have played his last game for the club.”

Gio van Bronckhorst will be gutted

The Ibrox boss will be gutted by this claim as it suggests that Ramsey will not be in his squad next season due to financial constraints.

Whilst the midfielder’s time at the club will be marred by his penalty miss in the Europa League final, he showed glimpses of quality throughout the second half of the campaign.

In the Premiership, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.93 in seven appearances. He found the back of the net twice, including one against Celtic, and set up another as he created seven chances for his teammates.

The gem also registered one assist in three games in the SFA Cup as he helped the club to win the competition. His statistics, albeit limited, show that he has the quality to pop up with goal contributions from midfield, which is in line with what he has done throughout his career.

He produced 130 goals and assists combined during his time with Arsenal – playing 371 matches – and 12 in 70 games for Juventus. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic career and has proven that he can make a big impact in the final third.

Therefore, with a full pre-season under his belt and more time to adjust to playing with his teammates, Ramsey could have been a huge player for the Gers. The quality – as shown by his statistics – is there and that is why van Bronckhorst will be gutted that he will be unable to work with him again next season.

O’Rourke has not completely ruled out a deal, as the situation may change, but it appears unlikely at this moment in time that he will be pulling on a light blue shirt again.

Hopefully, he can get his career back on track elsewhere if he does not return to Rangers.

AND in other news, GvB can find Kemar Roofe 2.0 in Rangers swoop for “clinical” gem who “rarely misses”…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has now dropped a ‘big’ Newcastle United claim involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Lowdown: Two-horse race?

It has been reported that Calvert-Lewin is a target for the St. James’ Park faithful this summer, and talks have already taken place with his representatives over a potential move.

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However, he would allegedly prefer to sign for Arsenal, if the opportunity came to light.

The Latest: Jones claim

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has claimed that it would be ‘big’ for the Magpies to beat a top-six team in the Gunners to Calvert-Lewin, and it is ‘one to consider’:

“We’ll have to see whether it’s realistic because he’s been linked to other clubs like Arsenal, who are probably more likely to be in that top-six conversation. And then Newcastle, no matter how ambitious they are, it’s still a big step to actually get there. But certainly, it’s one to consider.”

The Verdict: Wait and see

The kind of striker that the North East club will be able to attract will depend on Arsenal and others that can offer European football in terms of what business they do in that area.

They have also been strongly linked with a move for Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus as well as Calvert-Lewin, and so could sign him instead.

That could pave the way for the Tynesiders to sign the Toffees talisman, dubbed ‘one of the best‘ in his position by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Nonetheless, with the added Premier League experience that he has, Calvert-Lewin would be a great addition to make alongside Callum Wilson and Chris Wood as Eddie Howe’s forward options for next campaign.

In other news, find out which Thierry Henry favourite NUFC are now ready to sign here!

A Newcastle United claim has emerged on PIF’s plans for the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards has revealed that the club are attempting to do some business early on in the market ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He Tweeted: “There is a desire to bring at least one signing in early but no stress if that’s beyond them. Progress being made but it was hard going in January too. We do know they are being very proactive #nufc.”

This comes after the Premier League outfit struggled toward the end of the January transfer window. Deals for Hugo Ekitike and Jesse Lingard both fell through on deadline day – despite a £33m bid for the former – and they did not have the time to bring in any alternative targets.

Supporters will be excited

This claim will excite the supporters for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it suggests that they may not have long left to wait before they have more Newcastle content to enjoy. The season ended on a high with a 2-1 win over Burnley – thanks to a double from Callum Wilson – on Sunday and the fans will now be without any competitive football to enjoy for a couple of months, which is why the prospect of an early signing will excite them.

With no Premier League action to sink their teeth into, supporters will be keeping a close eye on the club’s off-season business and Edwards has hinted that PIF will give them something to celebrate in the coming weeks. They will be able to look forward to seeing a new signing, or signings, playing for the team and that is an exciting prospect.

The fans will also be buzzing to learn that the owners are aware that they need to be proactive in the market. Ekitike and Lingard not coming through the door in January was a lesson for PIF as it showed them that they need to get as much of their business done as possible in the early stages of the window, as you otherwise run the risk of deadline day mayhem.

This shows that they are not stuck in their ways and are self-aware of any errors they made earlier this year. The supporters will be excited by this as it is a great sign for the future development of the club as they have owners who are seemingly desperate to progress on and off the pitch.

AND in other news, PIF plotting Newcastle swoop for “scary” £30m “freak”, he’s a major Almiron upgrade…

Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed details surrounding Pedro Porro’s transfer to Sporting CP from Manchester City.

The Lowdown: Porro’s City career

The 22-year-old joined Man City from sister-club Girona in the summer of 2019 for a reported fee of £10.8m.

However, rather than training with the Sky Blues’ first-team, the right-back was immediately loaned out to La Liga side Real Valladolid.

After spending a season in the Spanish top-flight, Porro was sent out on loan again. This time, he joined Sporting CP in Portugal, where he has remained for nearly two years.

When Sporting drew City in this year’s Champions League, the player annoyed Pep Guardiola by joking that the Spaniard didn’t even know who he is, something which drew a prickly reaction out of the boss.

He is still yet to play a single game for Manchester City.

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The Latest: Romano’s update

After a quiet announcement, Romano has confirmed that Sporting have now signed Porro on a permanent transfer from City, after triggering the £7.2m clause in the loan deal.

Taking to Twitter, Romano leaked more details, including an option for Txiki Begiristain to bring the player back for just £16.9m.

“Official, confirmed. Sporting have now signed Pedro Porro, permanent deal from Man City for €8.5m clause triggered. Contract signed until June 2025.

“Manchester City will have a buy back clause for €20m. Release clause for all the other clubs will be €45m. MCFC”

The Verdict: Good deal for both sides

The highly rated 22-year-old will be a great permanent addition to the Portuguese side.

According to FB Ref, Porro ranks in the 97th percentile for non-penalty goals as a full-back and in the 94th percentile for shots totalled, drawing praise as

Thus, this attacking threat would have fit well into Guardiola’s style of play, and perhaps with the implementation of a cheap buy-back clause, City will be able to bring Porro back to Manchester if he continues to perform well

Sporting meanwhile will have a talented player on their hands for the next few years, so this feels like a good move for both sides.

In other news: Manchester City: Kieran Maguire reveals latest twist in FFP saga