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Everton fell to a 5-2 defeat at home to Watford on Saturday afternoon, with former Toffees striker Josh King netting a hat-trick on his return to Merseyside.

Tom Davies gave Rafa Benitez’s side the lead early on and Richarlison netted in the second half to put the Toffees back in front, but a crazy final 15 minutes saw the hosts concede four times and leave Goodison Park with nothing.

As to be expected with the result, a number of Everton starters disappointed, as The Transfer Tavern dives into the three worst-rated outfield starters by statistical specialists SofaScore…

Allan

The Brazilian midfielder kept up his record of starting every Premier League fixture so far this season, partnering Davies in a 4-4-1-1 system.

However, he had an afternoon to forget, recording a SofaScore rating of 6.1/10. Allan lost six ground duels and one aerial duel, while losing possession 13 times and being dribbled past on five occasions.

Seamus Coleman

Coleman also received a SofaScore rating of 6.1/10 – the joint-worst when it came to outfield starters alongside Allan.

The right-back lost the ball on 16 occasions, lost four ground duels and two aerial duels and was dribbled past three times.

He also only made one tackle all game, compared to Lucas Digne at left-back who made seven.

Salomon Rondon

Summer signing Rondon is still awaiting his first Toffees goal, and like Allan and Coleman, he failed to have a single shot on goal against the Hornets.

He had just 26 touches all afternoon, lost the ball eight times and struggled in the air, losing eight of his 12 duels and three of five on three ground.

It seems as if the quicker Dominic Calvert-Lewin can return from injury, the better, following the much-maligned Venezuelan’s SofaScore match rating of 6.5/10.

In other news: ‘Don’t make me cry’ – Many Everton fans buzz over ‘great news’. 

Everton have had one of the most impactful January transfer windows in the Premier League this month, making five signings and sacking Rafa Benitez, to replace him with Frank Lampard in a clear effort to improve and give the club the turn-around in their season that they desperately need.

It has been a season of nightmares for Toffees fans, with the side currently just four points off the relegation zone and Lampard’s first few Premier League games in charge will surely determine if Everton find themselves in a battle again the drop or whether they can turn the tide, pulling away from the bottom of the table with a run of winning form over the next few games.

One area that has been a major concern for the Merseyside club is their defence, albeit adding two new defenders to their squad in January.

The central defensive positions have been the focus of poor performances, with Yerry Mina only just returning from a long injury spell, the side has relied on Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey, who have been unable to stop the side from leaking goals with 35 conceded so far and only three clean sheets kept, with only Newcastle United recording less this season.

Holgate in particular has proven time and time again that he is incapable of offering performances that can be positively impactful in the team, and Lampard should be looking to axe the £64k-per-week dud from starting line ups if he wants to improve the defence in the remainder of the season.

From a red card in a dangerous challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after just ten minutes on the pitch against Tottenham earlier this season to numerous poor performances that have left the centre back as the worst rated defender in the entire Everton squad this season according to SofaScore.

Lampard masterclass

With that being said, the new Everton boss could drop his first masterclass at Goodison Park by axing Holgate who was criticised for being “lethargic” by Everton journalist, David Prentice, and could form a dynamic defensive duo in Mina and Godfrey instead, with Godfrey offering more positive attributes in his position.

According to Squawka, the 24-year-old has made more tackles, more blocks, won 33 more ground duels and produced over twice as many clearances for the Toffees this season compared to Holgate, so it seems like he would be the best option for building a reliable partnership with Mina over the remaining months of the season.

Lampard will lead his updated Everton side out for the first time in their FA Cup clash against Brentford this weekend, and it will be interesting to see if he includes any of the new signings in his starting lineup and where he will make changes in the previous line-ups we have seen struggling under Benitez.

Either way, it is unlikely to include Holgate, someone let the former manager down on a regular basis.

In other news: Rafa Benitez struck gold with Demarai Gray

Graham Roberts believes Tottenham Hotspur have been been frustrated in their efforts to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu because Bologna increased the defender’s price tag.

Spurs have been heavily linked with Tomiyasu throughout the transfer window and respected football journalist Fabrizio Romano has alleged the Japan international wants to join the north London club.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Spurs remain in pole position to sign Tomiyasu. However, the report suggests Premier League rivals West Ham United and Leicester City have also been keeping tabs on the centre-half.

Despite Spurs’ long-term interest in Tomiyasu, he remains on the books of Serie A outfit Bologna and has just returned from the Olympic Games, where he made three appearances for host nation Japan.

Mike McGrath, a journalist at the Daily Telegraph, has claimed Tomiyasu could still move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the closure of the transfer window.

Club legend Roberts believes Spurs’ pursuit of the 22-year-old has similarities to Manchester City’s frustrations in trying to acquire Harry Kane.

He exclusively told The Transfer Tavern: “He’s been away with Japan. Obviously, someone has been in touch with the agents he has but it’s not them we need to worry about.

“All of a sudden the figure has gone up and they want more money, but they’re not going to get it. 

“It’s like Manchester City and Tottenham. Tottenham had a price for Harry Kane and it was a case of you either meet that or you don’t get him. Bologna have a price and if we don’t want to match it, we won’t get him. That’s it.”

In what has undeniably been an exciting 18 months or so as an Aston Villa fan, one of their big success stories since making their return to the Premier League has been the rise of Ezri Konsa.

Dean Smith’s side signed the defender from Brentford in a £12m deal back in the summer of 2019, and he has since then enjoyed a meteoric rise, even getting touted with a potential England call-up.

At just 23, Konsa still has the peak years of his career ahead of him, but when you look at Villa’s academy, Smith could find another player who is remarkably like the former Brentford ace.

Lamare Bogarde joined from Dutch giants Feyenoord just last year and is seemingly already making a big impression behind the scenes at Villa Park.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans even recently claimed that Villa fought off intense transfer competition from a number of big Premier League rivals, and added: “Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa have both taken the hard-working teenager under their wing. They immediately warmed to the bright, polite youngster and recognise his potential. The youngster is calm and composed in possession and likes to play out from the back. “

Speaking after his arrival, academy manager Mark Harrison, raved: “We are delighted to welcome Lamare to the club. He is a player with immense potential and the commitment that will go into fulfilling that starts now.”

Already this season, Bogarde has shown his temperament when it comes to dealing with more senior players, handling himself well in the victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for The Birmingham Mail, Ashley Preece gave him a seven, saying: “The Dutch youngster is highly thought of at Villa and he did well once again here as he got Appiah out of jail on occasion with a string of brave blocks.”

That ability to recover and help out his teammates, but also be cool, calm and collected in possession, is exactly what Konsa brings to the table when playing alongside Tyrone Mings.

The 6 foot ace looks set to have a bright future in the game, and could well develop into Villa’s next Konsa.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have another exciting academy starlet in this teenager…

Manchester United extended their winless run in the Premier League to four games in dramatic fashion over the weekend after they were thrashed 5-0 by fierce rivals Liverpool.

The Red Devils were picked apart by their far superior opponents during a dreadful 90 minutes, increasing the pressure on under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Naby Keita opened the scoring after just five minutes at Old Trafford after the visitors ruthlessly exposed the gaping holes in United’s defence, and it was a sign of things to come.

Before half-time, a Diogo Jota tap in and a Mohamed Salah brace had already put Jurgen Klopp’s charges out of sight, but things got even worse following the interval.

The Eygpt international completed his hat-trick on the 50-minute mark, and Paul Pogba’s red card ten minutes later rounded off a humiliating afternoon for the 20-time English champions.

It’s a result and performance that ultimately puts Solskjaer’s position in the dugout under intense scrutiny, but the players on the pitch also have to take a share of the blame.

And arguably nobody was more underwhelming on Sunday than club captain Harry Maguire. He clumsily collided with left-back Luke Shaw for the second goal – who also had a nightmare against the Reds – and was unable to prevent the onslaught as he failed to lay a glove on Liverpool’s ruthless attack.

The England international was slow to react to almost every situation throughout the 90 minutes and was outwitted by Roberto Firmino on numerous occasions.

As a result of his below-par display, Maguire was awarded a match rating of just 4.8 out of 10 by FotMob, the lowest total received by any outfield player.

And when looking at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to see why. The 28-year-old attempted just one tackle which he lost, failed to block a single shot or make an interception, and made just two clearances, highlighting his hugely ineffective performance.

Since returning from a calf injury following the international break, the usually dependable centre-back has put in three calamitous showings against Leicester City, Atalanta and Liverpool, and Solskjaer will be hoping his leader can return to form as soon as possible.

And, in other news…Forget De Gea: Man Utd liability who lost possession 13x had a shocker against LFC

According to Foot Mercato, West Ham are back ‘in the running’ to sign Montpellier striker Gaetan Laborde – coming after The Evening Standard reported a rejected January offer for the player.

The Lowdown: West Ham hunting strikers…

Time is fast running out for manager David Moyes to add to his attacking options for what is set to be a more congested 2021/2022 campaign.

West Ham’s involvement in the Europa League means more games and the need for new additions, with signing a new forward thought to be one of Moyes’ top priorities all window (Claret & Hugh).

New targets are entering the frame on a consistent basis, with 90min recently revealing that Netherlands striker Luuk de Jong has now emerged as an option for West Ham.

The Latest: West Ham re-join Laborde race…

As per Foot Mercato, another name is now being targeted by the Irons as they re-join the race to sign Laborde – coming after The Evening Standard revealed a failed January offer.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-3/” title=”West Ham latest news…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The French striker formed a brilliant Ligue 1 partnership with Andy Delort last season with the duo scoring a combined 31 goals whilst also registering 17 assists between them (WhoScored).

West Ham are now again ‘in the running’ to sign him this summer alongside Rennes and it is believed that he will not be selected for Montpellier again in the event of a suitable offer.

The Verdict: Solid option?

Valued at around £13.5 million by Transfermarkt, Laborde’s impressive 16-goal French top flight haul last season is overshadowed only by his career total of 83 in all competitions.

The 27-year-old is still yet to enter the prime of his career and particularly proficient in the air, coming as a real strength and, potentially, a different option for Moyes.

He could be one to watch out for as the end of the transfer window creeps ever closer, offering the manager a potentially cheaper option and a different style of play as a traditional target man.

In other news: Bid tabled: West Ham make offer to sign ‘unbelievable’ player for Moyes, find out more here.

An update has emerged regarding Rangers’ efforts to add a new signing to their ranks at Ibrox during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Gers are in advanced discussions over a deal for New York City midfielder James Sands.

The report claims that Rangers are poised to land the 21-year-old on loan until the end of the current campaign, before then re-signing him on another season-long loan.

Masterstroke

Giovanni van Bronckhorst could land a masterstroke by securing this deal to sign Sands on an initial 18-month loan. Financially, it appears to be a fantastic deal for Rangers, as they are able to enjoy his talents for a season-and-a-half before deciding whether or not he is a good fit in the long run.

This means that they will not be out of pocket significantly if Sands is unable to make an impact in Glasgow. If it doesn’t work out, the club can send him back to New York and cut short his loan, instead of potentially losing out on a transfer fee and struggling to find a buyer to take him off their hands. This is why the deal could be a masterstroke from a financial point of view.

In terms of what happens on the pitch, his performances in the MLS are extremely promising. His former coach Patrick Vieira previously hailed him after he handed the youngster a first-team debut at the age of 16, saying: “We wanted to give him an experience because he’s been doing really well in the academy.

“We wanted to see him to see how he would cope with the intensity and the level of tactical, mental and physical demand. I’ve been really impressed with him – he’s really calm, composed and good on the ball. He’s really smart as a footballer.

“I think we have a special talent in our football club.”

The 21-year-old averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.91 in MLS last year, having averaged a score of 7.01 in 2020 and 6.88 the year before. This shows that he has been consistently delivering good performances across three campaigns despite his young age, suggesting that he has the potential to come in at Rangers and become a solid performer for the Light Blues if he is able to adapt to Scottish football.

Sands is also hugely versatile and could help plug the gap left by the departure of Nathan Patterson to Everton today. He is capable of playing at right-back, centre-back, defensive midfield and central midfield, which could make him a valuable asset for Van Bronckhorst to use in a variety of ways on the pitch.

Along with the financial aspect of the deal, this is why a loan move for the 21-year-old could be a masterstroke from the Rangers coach. It is now down to him and Ross Wilson to ensure that they can get it over the line so that the American can come in and start playing straight after the winter break.

AND in other news, Rangers can brutally axe £5.6k-p/w dud if Van Bronckhorst signs beast who’s a “nightmare to mark”…

Everton’s Premier League status ahead of next season still hangs in the balance as they continue to flirt with the chance of relegation in 17th, however it has not stopped the club being linked with signings this summer, as fresh interest emerges from Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, Newcastle United are ready to sell their star player Allan Saint-Maximin this summer, with Everton joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in the pursuit to secure the signature of the French winger.

90min reports that they understand Everton are ‘keeping tabs on the situation’ although their interest is likely to only gain more traction if Frank Lampard can seal another Premier League season for the Toffees.

Other reports claim he could be worth somewhere in the region of £50m.

Richarlison replacement

Due to Everton’s disastrous season, Richarlison has been linked with a number of moves away from the club with both Arsenal and Manchester United being tipped to sign the Brazilian winger this summer, and if it was the case that the Everton star did leave come the end of the season, Saint-Maximin could be a worthy replacement.

The £93k-per-week Newcastle wizard who has scored five goals this season, has been highly praised during his time on Tyneside, with Gary Neville even hailing the 25-year-old “breathtaking” after his performance against Leeds United earlier in the season.

Neville told Sky Sports: ‘To see his speed, his movement, it’s absolutely breathtaking.”

If you compare Saint-Maximin to Richarlison it’s clear to see who is having the better impact on his team this season, with the Magpies winger more successful in his aerial duels, tackles and dribbles, as well as offering a higher shot and pass accuracy according to Soccerment.

With that being said, although the loss of Richarlison would be a shame as he has become a fan favourite, if Farhad Moshiri could fetch an eye-catching transfer fee for the Brazilian and then follow up by signing Saint-Maximin as a replacement in the same window, it could be a huge upgrade for Everton.

The signing could turn out to be a superb piece of business for the club, especially if they can convince Dominic Calvert-Lewin to stay, giving the Toffees boss the opportunity to form a fierce attacking partnership between the Frenchman and their current star striker.

Ultimately, Lampard must focus on maintaining top-flight football at Goodison Park over the rest of the season if the club have any chance of attracting players of Saint-Maximin’s calibre and keeping hold of some of the key players in their current squad.

In other news: “Pretty likely…”: Insider drops huge Everton claim that’ll have Frank Lampard fuming

Liverpool are set to lose Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the rescheduled tournament set to begin on 9 January and conclude on 6 February.

Liverpool are hopeful that the trio won’t have to join up with their countries until after their clash with title rivals Chelsea on 2 January, but the associations are entitled to demand that the players be released on December 27.

Discussions are ongoing, but there’s a possibility that Salah, Mane and Keita could miss up to four Premier League matches. That could be a huge blow for the Reds given the sensational form of the Egyptian in particular, who leads the Premier League charts for both goals and assists.

Mane has chipped in with nine goals himself, while Keita is a valuable squad option, having started seven games in the Premier League and Champions League.

Doubts about wisdom of holding AFCON?

At a meeting on Thursday, the Executive Board of the European Club Association (ECA) ‘expressed its deep concerns about player safety and welfare’ ahead of the tournament. This is ‘in light of the worsening public health situation’.

The ECA will work with FIFA to ‘ensure all necessary precautions are in place’ for the protection of players and ‘club interests’.

Fan feed Anfield Edition relayed their statement, and here’s how some Reds supporters reacted.

Liverpool fans flock to AFCON latest

“I totally agree !!! AFCON SHOULDNT HAPPEN”

Credit: @lewedwards12

“AFCON must be cancelled for the sake of everyone’s safety”

Credit: @AngelDiMezzala

“I hope they just cancel or at least postpone it. Risks are huge and we would like to see empty stadiums again. Football without fans is nothing”

Credit: @SH13895102

“Can’t see it going ahead”

Credit: @deedna00

“There’s hope?”

Credit: @lewis20

“If they cancel it we might win it all…”

Credit: @PrinceTrent66

In other news, many Liverpool fans hailed this pre-Wolves injury update

According as per Aguilas Monumental, West Ham transfer chief Rob Newman may have set his sights on a new target as news emerges on midfielder Pedro Aquino.

The Lowdown: Newman eyeing moves?

Since Newman’s appointment at Rush Green, there have been no shortage of links to players who could seriously bolster manager David Moyes’ chances of maintaining the Irons’ excellent start to 2021/22.

Indeed, West Ham are apparently in the mix to sign a plethora of targets in Jesse Lingard, Andrea Belotti and Adam Hlozek, according to Eurosport reporter Dean Jones.

Meanwhile, Football Insider believe that Burnley defender James Tarkowski is very much on the radar of both Newman and Moyes.

In another update, news has come from the South American continent involving a new name.

The Latest: Aquino news emerges…

As per Aguilas Monumental, Peruvian sources note that West Ham and Newman have set their ‘sights’ on Peru international midfielder Aquino.

The Hammers are also ready to ‘present an offer’ for the 26-year-old, whose contract expires in 2023, but the Club America player’s stance will disappoint them.

It is believed that Aquino is focused with the Liga MX Apertura giants and ‘extremely happy’ where he is currently.

The Verdict: What West Ham need?

The 33-cap defensive midfielder, who appeared at the 2018 World Cup for his nation, isn’t exactly what West Ham are crying out for at the moment, so it’s doubtful that many supporters will lose sleep if this link leads to nothing.

Moyes already has the likes of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Alex Kral to protect the back four, whilst Manuel Lanzini in a makeshift role can also reinforce his options in that sector.

After Angelo Ogbonna’s cruel injury blow, not to mention the lack of a backup option for Michail Antonio, we believe that Newman and West Ham should focus all their efforts on signing a new centre-back and a capable striker – maybe even Manchester United ace Lingard (The Evening Standard).

In other news: Italian source leaks transfer news out of West Ham involving ‘extraordinary’ £22.5 million-valued beast, find out more here.