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Everton are close to tying down midfielder Lewis Warrington to a new contract, The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland reports.

The lowdown

Warrington’s deal had been due to expire at the end of the 2021/22 season, meaning he could have left as a free agent in a matter of weeks.

The Birkenhead-born starlet spent the second half of the season on loan at Tranmere Rovers in League Two.

And he’s attracted interest from a number of clubs who were aware of his contract situation.

Warrington is yet to make a senior debut for Everton, but he has played 20 times for them at Under-23 level.

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The latest

Boyland understands that Warrington is about to put pen to paper on a fresh deal, and the process could be completed ‘as early as next week’.

Frank Lampard will take an opportunity to run the rule over the youngster in Everton’s pre-season friendlies.

They will then decide what’s best for his development, with another loan at Tranmere a possibility.

The verdict

Warrington’s loan at Prenton Park has to be considered a resounding success.

He earned the trust of Micky Mellon almost instantly, starting the final 17 matches of the campaign.

The manager has described him as a ‘very highly rated’ and ‘very talented lad’ and marvelled at his technical ability.

It’s no surprise, then, that Rovers would be keen to take him back for 2022/23, and they’ll be keenly awaiting the results of Everton’s deliberations.

The Toffees may well decide that the step-up to the senior side is too great at this moment in time and sanction another temporary departure.

But will they want him to be playing at a high level than the fourth tier so that he’s better prepared? That may be a concern for Mellon and co.

In other news, an injury expert drops a big claim on Yerry Mina.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a late setback ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by London World this afternoon, who claims that, despite Mikel Arteta revealing that both Ben White and Bukayo Saka were injury doubts for this evening’s north London derby, the duo are now expected to be given the all-clear to feature at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Concerning the centre-back, the report claims that the 24-year-old “should be back” in Arsenal’s starting XI to face Spurs, while, regarding the winger, it is said that the 20-year-old “should pass a fitness test” ahead of the 19:45 kick-off.

That news turned out to be true when journalist Charles Watts spotted the pairing arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening,

Conte will be fuming

Considering just how much is riding on the outcome of tonight’s meeting with the Gunners, the news that White and Saka look as if they will both make a return to Arteta’s starting XI is sure to have left Antonio Conte fuming.

Indeed, over Saka’s 35 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, the £58.5m-rated forward has bagged 11 goals, registered six assists and created eight big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.5 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £30k-per-week attacker average a rather extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.09, ranking him as the Spaniard’s best performer in the top flight of English football.

Meanwhile, over White’s 31 Premier League outings this term, the £36m-rated centre-back has helped his side keep 13 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, 3.1 clearances and winning 4.4 duels – at a success rate of 59% – per game.

These metrics have seen the £120k-per-week defender average a SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as the Gunners’ joint tenth-best performer in the league.

As such, it is clear to see that the respective returns of both England internationals will come as a huge blow to Tottenham’s chances of securing a victory over their rivals this evening, with anything but a win all but ending Spurs’ chances of finishing above Arsenal in fourth place come the end of the season.

AND in other news: Conte starts duo who have “been huge” in big call ahead of Arsenal: Predicted Spurs XI

West Ham bowed out of Europe last night at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals as a historic opportunity escaped from their grasp.

David Moyes had steered the Premier League side to a first European semi-final since 1976 and despite a 2-1 defeat in the first leg, there were genuine hopes that they could turn it around.

The Hammers got off to the worst possible start, though, with Aaron Creswell receiving his marching orders following a VAR check in the 19th minute, leaving his team to play for more than an hour with ten men.

Three minutes later, Manuel Lanzini had to be taken off and replaced by Ben Johnson. Frankfurt took full advantage of this opening 25 minutes of chaos from the away side to score a splendid goal which put them in pole position to secure a place in the final.

The goal seeped any life out of West Ham, but some performances were poor. Lanzini was particularly off-colour before he was replaced.

The £69k-p/w dud barely contributed during his time on the pitch, losing 100% of his duels and taking only seven touches. His 22-minute spell also saw the Argentine lose possession twice, make only four passes and get dribbled past on one occasion.

All in all, it was a forgettable performance from the player on a night when Moyes needed everyone to step up and make themselves heroes. Although Lanzini was taken off after only 22 minutes, this was a time in which West Ham really needed to take advantage and score an early goal to give themselves some degree of hope.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Moyes and his team, but he can be proud of the European run and how much it meant to the supporters, even if the 29-year-old Argentine let his side down last night.

With the Hammers sitting seventh in the Premier League table, there is hope that the Scot can deliver Europa League football again next season.

AND in other news, Forget Rice: Moyes now set for West Ham disaster on “remarkable” £125k-p/w giant

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has claimed that Mark Lawwell is already having a positive impact on Celtic’s transfer plans.

The Lowdown: Lawwell takes on role

The Hoops are riding high at the moment, standing on the cusp of a Scottish Premiership title triumph with three games remaining this month.

Behind the scenes, the club are also thriving, with Lawwell taking over as the new head of first-team recruitment and scouting earlier this week.

He will work alongside Ange Postecoglou with regards to new signings moving forward, as Celtic look to go up another gear next season.

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The Latest: McLeish hails impact

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish suggested that Lawwell’s influence is already shining through after such a short space of time:

“Now that you that transaction going through, of Mark joining the backroom staff, it makes me think that they’ve had dialogue even since Postecoglou’s come to Celtic.

“Regardless of Postecoglou’s knowledge about players abroad and that part of the world, who he’s brought in, I was thinking they were Postecoglou’s choices.

“But maybe he’s has assistance from Mark Lawwell already? It would surely have come from the manager’s approval for Mark Lawwell to come in there.

“Working at Yokohama, that’s what makes me think he would already have been in dialogue with Mark. On phone calls when Mark wasn’t on Celtic’s payroll.

“I’m sure that Postecoglou chose a lot of those players themselves with a bit of help from others over in those countries. Those with the knowledge of those players in those countries.”

The Verdict: Hoops in strong hands

The key to a successful club is having everyone pulling in the same direction and it certainly feels that way at Celtic currently, from the boardroom and manager to the playing staff and supporters.

Lawwell could prove to be an excellent addition to the staff, putting his expertise to good use and building an effective relationship with Postecoglou, ensuring the right players are signed.

Some may point to the fact that his father, Peter Lawwell, has helped him get the job, but McLeish’s comments suggest that the early signs are promising.

In other news, a pundit has made a double Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.

Arsenal are set to be minus an “underrated” star for their looming North London derby against Tottenham and far beyond that, following some injury news out of the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side host Spurs on Sunday in imperious form, but the manager is being made to sweat over several key players. The Gunners remain in pole position at the top of the Premier League table after a fantastic start to the campaign, which is made all the more impressive by the absences of numerous big-name attackers lately.

Arsenal currently sit top with eight wins, two draws and one loss from their opening 11 matches, boasting a phenomenal defensive record. They’ve conceded just five goals all season, the best of any team in Europe’s top five leagues, which has formed the backbone of their title challenge.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

However, the international break has brought fresh concerns.

Left-back Riccardo Calafiori returned early from Italy duty due to hip pain, but encouragingly, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Arsenal’s medical checks confirmed that Calafiori will be available for the derby with no injury issues, just overload.

Calafiori has become an undisputed starter this term, chipping in with one goal and two assists from 11 games, even thwarting Myles Lewis-Skelly for a consistent place in the starting eleven.

Meanwhile, captain Martin Odegaard is continuing his recovery from a knee injury that has plagued him since October. The Norwegian, before his country’s 4-1 win over Italy, told TV2 that his recovery is progressing and he “will hopefully be back soon” — though it remains to be seen whether that could be against Tottenham.

His creativity has been sorely missed in Arsenal’s midfield, and elsewhere in the squad, Viktor Gyokeres has been struggling with a hamstring injury sustained at Burnley. He’s missed their last two matches against Slavia Prague and Sunderland, as a result, with Gyokeres believed to remain a doubt ahead of Spurs.

Noni Madueke is approaching a comeback after being sidelined for almost two months due to a knee problem, while Kai Havertz continues his recovery from knee surgery with a potential return on the cards “towards the end of the year”, according to Julian Nagelsmann.

Gabriel Martinelli is racing to be fit for this weekend, but the game comes too soon for his compatriot, Gabriel Jesus, who’s expected to be the last to return after his ACL injury at the start of 2025 (Simon Collings).

Amid this wave of Arsenal team news, it is another Gabriel who’s been making the headlines recently.

Indeed, star defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who’s been equally vital going forward as well as at the back, was taken off with a thigh problem during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates, and the early signs aren’t exactly cause for celebration.

Arsenal star Gabriel to miss "minimum four weeks" after thigh injury

According to journalist Sami Mokbel of The BBC, Gabriel could now miss a “minimum four weeks”, and some sources suggest that he could be out until January as the club wait for further scan results.

Gabriel has been the linchpin of Europe’s most water-tight defence, partnering both William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera to devastating effect and making him irreplaceable in Arteta’s system.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Arsenal face a crucial run of fixtures beyond just Tottenham, with Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Chelsea awaiting them right afterwards.

Beyond defensive stability, Gabriel already boasts five goal involvements in all competitions this season, including a vital late winner away to Newcastle in September, highlighting his importance at both ends of the pitch. The 27-year-old gifts Arsenal a major outlet, and has been a significant part of their outstanding set piece record this season.

With Gabriel set to miss this weekend, Mosquera or Piero Hincapie will likely come in to replace him, with the summer signings now given a baptism of fire.

When England hired Thomas Tuchel, they knew they were about to steal several headlines. Not only did the former Chelsea boss become the first foreign manager to take the role since Fabio Capello, but he also instantly stood out as a manager who has achieved great things at club level.

Gareth Southgate didn’t steal those headlines and for all his experience, neither did Roy Hodgson. Tuchel, however, is a Champions League winner who entered the Three Lions’ den with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich on a CV packed with moments to remember. Now, many believe that he could be the England manager to finally stop the world in its motion and end the men’s side’s wait for silverware.

Naturally, with such an illustrious career, Tuchel has coached some of the best players around European football. At Chelsea, he had N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva. At PSG, it was even more absurd as he took charge of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar – arguably becoming the last manager to truly get the best out of the latter.

Appearances

67

Goals

51

Assists

34

His time as England manager has only continued the trend of top players. The German now has the chance to mold a golden generation into long-awaited winners in a squad which is likely to include Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka at the 2026 World Cup – just to name a few.

Kane has already been full of praise for the manager too, telling reporters: “Thomas Tuchel is fantastic, he has settled in straight away. He is a pleasure to work for, he has brought the passion.”

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Not even Kane’s praise has been enough to soften Tuchel’s stance, however, as the veteran coach named a former Borussia Dortmund star as the best player he’s worked with.

Tuchel: "Outstanding" Dembele is best player I've worked with

Not Neymar, not Kane, not Saka and not even Mbappe could take the crown away from Ousmane Dembele as Tuchel listed off the best player that he’s worked with. Speaking to Sky Sports, Tuchel name-dropped Dembele and described the Frenchman as one of “the craziest natural talents” that he’s ever seen.

A year ago, that answer would have received a questionable response. Dembele looked like a player destined to fall below his potential and instead suffer a career summarised by injury struggles. But then things finally clicked.

From a struggling star, Dembele is now among the Ballon d’Or favourites after leading PSG to Champions League victory for the first time in their history.

Whilst others began to look past his ability, Tuchel always believed. He had the chance to work with the PSG star during the early days of his career at Dortmund and shaped a player who joined Barcelona for a staggering £135.5m. Now, years on and in the middle of a long-awaited Parisian romance, Dembele is finally proving Tuchel right.

Everton’s transfer window has been a fascinating mix of ambition, pragmatism, and sentiment.

Under David Moyes, the Toffees are working hard to reshape their squad following the departures of several key figures, including Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium has already seen fresh faces arrive, with Moyes bringing in talent such as Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, Tyler Dibling from Southampton, and Jack Grealish from Manchester City.

The latter made an immediate impression, providing two assists in the club’s 2–0 Premier League victory over Brighton.

Momentum has slowly begun to build.

Everton recovered from an opening-day defeat at a raucous Elland Road with back-to-back wins: the triumph against Brighton and a professional 2–0 dispatch of Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup.

For Moyes, however, the task of reinforcing his midfield remains urgent.

The Scottish manager has never hidden his preference for industrious, disciplined footballers who combine physicality with tactical intelligence.

It is no surprise, then, that his latest target happens to be a player with whom he shares a deep personal and professional bond.

This towering talent could well be cast in the role once played so effectively at Goodison by Marouane Fellaini.

Everton plotting move for Moyes reunion

Reports from Football Insider suggest Everton are preparing an improved bid for a player Moyes knows better than most: Tomáš Souček.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Czech Republic international, now 30, was first introduced to English football by Moyes during his second spell at West Ham in 2020.

What followed was a highly productive partnership.

Under Moyes’ guidance, Souček became a mainstay in the Hammers’ midfield, making over 200 appearances and establishing himself as one of the most reliable performers in the Premier League.

West Ham, however, are reluctant sellers.

Having already rejected Everton’s opening offer, the East London club are holding firm at a valuation of £19 million.

With his contract running until 2028, they retain leverage, though the recent arrivals of Mateus Fernandes from Southampton and Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco have added considerable depth to their midfield department.

That recruitment drive, coupled with a poor start to the campaign which has seen the Irons lose heavily to Sunderland and Chelsea, could create circumstances in which a deal becomes feasible.

From Everton’s perspective, the move would represent a deliberate attempt to reintroduce a profile of player Goodison Park has missed since Fellaini left for Manchester United in 2013.

Reports suggest the player himself is keen on the move, eager for another spell under Moyes in what could be one of the more emotive transfers of the summer window.

Why Soucek can be Moyes' new Fellaini

The parallels between Souček and Fellaini go well beyond stature.

Moyes’ Everton sides of the late 2000s were built on work ethic and tactical discipline, but they were also elevated by Fellaini’s unique capacity to blur the line between midfield and attack.

The Belgian was capable of breaking up play, bullying defenders, and popping up with crucial goals – qualities Souček has replicated at West Ham.

During his West Ham tenure, the towering midfielder was trusted implicitly by the Scottish coach.

Souček has netted 42 times and registered 13 assists across 248 games for West Ham, while also writing his name into the club’s history books by helping them win the Europa Conference League in Prague – his hometown – against Fiorentina.

Matches Played

35

Goals

9

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

9

Progressive Passes

74

On a purely footballing level, the Czech international looks an excellent addition to Moyes’ evolving side.

His statistical profile underscores exactly why Everton are pressing to secure his services.

Standing at 1.92m, Souček has long been regarded as one of the Premier League’s most dominant aerial presences.

According to FBref, last season he averaged 3.47 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, a figure that places him among the most effective midfielders in Europe when it comes to contesting the ball in the air.

For an Everton side that relies on set-piece opportunities, this could prove invaluable.

His influence, however, extends far beyond his heading ability.

His work rate is exceptional, as reflected in his defensive and transitional metrics.

He recorded 1.61 tackles per 90, complemented by 1.44 blocks, providing reliable cover in central areas.

Where Fellaini once provided an outlet for direct balls, shielding possession and driving his team forward, Souček offers the same avenue in a modernised form.

He is adept at progressing the ball through carries, averaging nine progressive carries per 90, which speaks to his ability to break lines and drive his team forward.

While his passing accuracy of 73.8% is not elite, his 74 progressive passes per 90 underline a willingness to take risks and move play vertically, something Moyes has historically encouraged.

In the final third, Souček continues to be a consistent goal threat.

Averaging 1.93 shots per 90, with 0.60 of those on target, he boasts a shot accuracy rate of nearly 31%.

That productivity translated into ten direct goal involvements last season, impressive numbers for a player often tasked with the less glamorous defensive side of midfield work.

His ability to time late runs into the penalty area remains one of his defining attributes, as highlighted by Joe Cole’s description of him being “on fire” when he netted in three consecutive games for the Hammers in 2023.

For Everton, this mixture of stamina, power, and goal threat would offer a dimension currently missing in their midfield.

The loss of Doucouré, who combined industry with forward penetration, has left a void that needs filling.

Souček is one of the few realistic options who can provide comparable output while also bringing proven Premier League pedigree and leadership qualities honed across more than 80 caps for the Czech Republic.

The emotional element should not be overlooked either. Moyes is not simply chasing a functional squad piece; he is targeting one of his most trusted operators.

The Fellaini comparison may feel nostalgic, but it is apt.

Both players are midfielders who thrive when trusted as disruptors rather than facilitators, who can dominate aerially and arrive late in the box to devastating effect.

Everton fans know better than most how valuable that can be. Souček’s familiarity with Moyes’ tactical demands means the adaptation period would be minimal.

The Everton manager has always valued loyalty and understanding, and in that respect, the midfielder is a tailor-made signing.

The new Barry: Everton chasing late move for another "special" English star

Everton are interested in signing an England U21 star.

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Glasgow Rangers’ next managerial appointment at Ibrox is the most important decision in the club’s recent history.

Since Rangers won league title number 55 in the 2020/21 season, the Gers have gone from coach to coach with no real identity, winning just two trophies in the process.

With the 49ers Enterprises takeover reportedly edging closer to completion, whoever comes in to manage at Ibrox next must be the man who can end years of their Old Firm rivals’ dominance.

Of course, this is easier said than done, especially considering the magnitude of the challenge faced by the next manager. Can a team be built over the course of a single summer that could change the future of the Light Blues?

It will be difficult, but there is no doubt that it can be done. Martin O’Neil signed players such as Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson upon arriving at the club in the summer of 2000.

A year later, he led the club to a treble success, reinvigorating the Parkhead side within a single transfer window.

Fast-forward 20 years and Ange Postecoglou did a similar sort of thing when he took the reins ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Rangers must bring in their own Postecoglou this summer

During the summer of 2021, Steven Gerrard was looking to kick on from the club’s Premiership title success and turn them into the dominant force in Scotland.

A lack of backing by the board – which ultimately culminated in his departure that November – meant the Light Blues didn’t make much progress on the field, domestically anyway.

Postecoglou was deemed a risky appointment by Celtic, despite enjoying success in Japan during his previous role. Signings such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Jota provided the springboard for the Parkhead side to eventually overtake their rivals, although it did take a few months for things to gel.

The following year, they won another treble, and it was evident that the Australian manager had built something special in the space of just two years.

His style of play ensured Celtic had an identity, and they regularly got the best of the Gers during this period, losing to the Ibrox side just three times under the current Spurs manager.

Perhaps this is the direction that Rangers should be heading in this summer? Bringing in someone with a distinctive style of play that will appease the supporters and, in turn, achieve positive results.

As such, a shortlist has reportedly been chosen by the club for whom the next manager could be.

Rangers search for a new manager

The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath has reported recently that a quartet of names are being considered for the vacant managerial role. Gerrard is being ‘considered’ for the job, despite the board wanting to go in a new direction. Elsewhere, Rob Edwards, Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin are the other three names which are mentioned in the report.

McGrath states that there is ‘no clear favourite’ and there are several foreign coaches also on the current longlist.

With news that Athletic Club were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, Rangers now enter the second round of Champions League qualifying, with the first leg either on July 22 or 23.

This indicates that the club need to make a decision on a new manager as soon as possible, especially with competitive fixtures starting so soon after pre-season.

With so many names being linked or on a shortlist, could the club bring in their own Ange by appointing Martin to the role of first-team manager?

Why Rangers must hire Russell Martin

Martin’s name may not stand out with regard to several other of the potential candidates, including the likes of Marco Rose or even Gerrard, but his attacking style of play could be key in getting him the role.

Indeed, respected analyst John Walker has regularly lobbied for Martin to secure the job ahead of next season and has praised him on numerous occasions of late.

Goals

87

Goals per game

1.9

Ball possession

66%

Big chances per game

2.8

Clean sheets

12

Goals conceded per game

1.4

Walker said that Martin “improves younger players” while promoting “exciting attacking football” that could see Rangers begin to thrive in domestic competition once again.

Even greater praise has come from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who said earlier this season: “He’s proven that his philosophy is extremely successful, what he did with Southampton and last year they were 25 games unbeaten. It was a joy to watch that team play, they deserve much more than what they have already.”

Indeed, Southampton may have struggled in the Premier League under the Scot, but in the second tier, they were incredible.

The Saints ranked in the top three out of all Championship clubs for chances created, shots at goal and big chances missed, while also completing the second-fewest long passes in the division.

This last statistic is particularly important. His teams love building up the play and focus on weak spots in the opposition defence. At times, under Philippe Clement, the back four regularly punted long balls up the pitch for the likes of Cyriel Dessers to chase, a tactic which did the coach no favours at all.

Judging by this, Martin has an approach which would fit with the direction Rangers wish to go in, especially with some of the players he will have at his disposal next season.

Operating with a 4-3-3 system, this could work wonders for the likes of Nico Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane going forwards.

Although he hasn’t won anything during his coaching career thus far, his style of play has been evident across spells with Southampton, Swansea and MK Dons. That much is certain.

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Will the board and new owners wish to appoint him, however? Especially given his lack of success. Or will they take a gamble this summer?

With the way things have gone recently, perhaps a gamble wouldn’t be a bad idea. He might just turn out to the club’s very own Ange.

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