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It's no secret that Everton have to work on a tight budget given their FFP troubles in recent months, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

Players such as Youssef Chermiti, Jack Harrison and Beto have joined the club this season, with the latter the only one to have cost a transfer fee north of £10m.

The club have often bought erratically in the transfer market, with the club spending big money on players such as Davy Klassen and Jean-Phillippe Gbamin, with both players failing to make an impact. The latter notably endured a period of injury hell at Goodison Park.

The subsequent spending in recent years before Sean Dyche's arrival has seen the Everton boss rely on youth, putting trust in some of his younger first-team members, such as Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner – with the pair both cementing their places in Everton's starting eleven.

However, one senior player the club signed last summer has unfortunately failed to cut it in the Premier League, with the player looking past his best despite successful spells elsewhere in England's top flight.

Ashley Young's record at Everton

Former Manchester United winger Ashley Young joined the Toffees on a free transfer last summer after leaving Aston Villa, with the 38-year-old penning a one-year deal at Goodison Park.

The winger, who has mainly featured at right-back for Dyche's side, has only managed 20 appearances in the Premier League – including the Merseyside Derby, in which he was sent off for two yellows in the space of 15 minutes.

He's often featured ahead of young right-back Nathan Patterson, who has huge potential with Young disrupting the Scottish defender's progress at the club.

The 38-year-old hasn't registered a goal or an assist so far this campaign, with the defender only achieving an average rating of 6.6 – as per Fotmob.

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How much Ashley Young has cost Everton

The signing of Ashley Young was seen as a solid addition at the time, with his wealth and experience crucial in what has been a turbulent season on and off the field for the Toffees.

Young currently earns £40k-per-week, with the 38-year-old currently on a higher wage than talented defender Branthwaite – an insanely low figure for a player of the defender's ability and potential. He has, after all, been touted at a jaw-dropping £100m in some circles.

Up to now, the club have forked out £960k on Young's wages, with the club paying him £1.6m by the end of his contract, which expires on the 30th of June this year. That isn't a staggering amount of money but someone who has hardly offered a great deal during their time on Merseyside, isn't ideal.

Indeed, his current weekly wage sees him rank 16th in the Everton squad, with the 38-year-old currently earning more than the likes of midfielders Garner and Dwight McNeil.

Although he's previously succeeded in the Premier League, the move for Young hasn't worked out as both parties expected, with Everton losing a lot of money on a player who clearly isn't able to match the demands of the Premier League in 2024.

With his contract up at the end of the season, the club shouldn't be looking to extend his deal – casting their eye on the future and giving Patterson more game time from next season.

Lamine Yamal could reportedly follow Lionel Messi's lead at Barcelona as agent Jorge Mendes pushes La Liga giants to value the wonderkid fairly.

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• Yamal has emerged as Barcelona's latest prodigy
• Was a crucial player for Spain in their Euro 2024 victory
• Jorge Mendes wants higher wages for his client

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Mendes has opened dialogues with the Blaugranas urging them to re-evaluate Yamal's current contract and update the financial terms of the deal per his meteoric rise and unprecedented achievements at the club and international level. His recent success, culminating in the 2024 Euro Cup win, marks a season of explosive growth and the player has emerged to become a central ambassador for the club’s brand.

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  Yamal's rising influence has led to inevitable comparisons with club legend Messi. It is noteworthy that the Argentine World Cup winner was awarded five contract renewals, each time with a better pay slip, when he was just 22. And it is not surprising that Mendes is pushing for a similar recognition for Yamal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Yamal’s initial professional agreement, signed shortly after he turned 16, was for a three-year term, adhering to regulatory limits. Although Barcelona have already planned a follow-up contract extending to 2030, Mendes is still advocating for an early update to Yamal’s terms, reflecting his exceptional performance and growing market value.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Although a new contract was initially set to be negotiated closer to Yamal’s 18th birthday, the club recognizes the need to expedite this process in light of his impressive performances. However, this will force president Joan Laporta to make necessary financial readjustments elsewhere on the balance sheet as the club finds themselves in dire financial health.

Chelsea's business since the arrival of Todd Boehly has been nothing short of erratic, with the Blues not afraid to splash the cash on new signings.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the club had made a loss of £90.1m in the financial year ending 30th June 2023, with the club's dealings in the transfer market playing a huge part in the finances.

The club have spent over £1bn since Boehly's arrival, with players such as Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo arriving at Stamford Bridge for fees over £100m – with the latter breaking the English transfer record.

Should they breach any FFP rules, the club could face multiple punishments, with the Blues potentially needing to sell players in the near future to have any chance of staying within the limits of the Premier League's rules.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will be looking to raise funds where necessary with a Cobham academy graduate potentially on the way, but he would bring in a significant fee given his rapid increase in market value.

Conor Gallagher's stats at Chelsea

Conor Gallagher joined the club as an eight-year-old, spending the majority of his youth career in the academy before finally getting his opportunity to impress.

During the 2018/19 season, the midfielder won the club's academy Player of the Year award, signing a new three-year deal in the summer of 2019 ahead of joining Charlton Athletic on loan for the 2019/20 season.

He was an instant hit at The Valley, winning the EFL's Young Player of the Month award in his first season as a professional footballer at senior level. He then moved to Swansea in a move that would take him to the next level.

His impressive first season in the Championship saw him jump to the Premier League, joining West Brom on loan in a season the club suffered relegation back to England's second tier.

The relegation was a blow, but Gallagher still impressed, with the Blues allowing him to leave on loan once more, this time to Crystal Palace – a move that would see him burst onto the scene.

He made 34 appearances for the Eagles in England's top flight, scoring eight times, with Gallagher earning his first-ever senior England call-up during the 2021/22 season.

He's since been crucial to Chelsea, making 60 appearances in the Premier League for his boyhood club, taking the captain's armband on multiple occasions.

Conor Gallagher's market value in 2024

The "fantastic" midfielder, as dubbed by Thomas Tuchel, cost the club nothing as he came through their academy, with the Blues currently reaping the rewards of their fantastic youth setup.

In 2024, the 24-year-old is now worth £35m as per Transfermarkt – a figure that is more than Chelsea teammate Ben Chilwell, who is now only rated at £25m just under four years after his £45m move from Leicester City. It's also more than their star striker Nicolas Jackson, whose value according to Transfermarkt sits at just £30m.

Gallagher has made 25 appearances under Pochettino, with the Englishman playing in a more advanced role ahead of Fernandez and Caicedo.

With rumours about a potential departure, the club will have to weigh up all options. Gallagher will command a decent fee to prise him away from Stamford Bridge, but they would be losing a player who possesses a lot of qualities and has a huge future ahead of him.

Aston Villa’s revival since Unai Emery arrived at the club in October 2022 has been nothing short of remarkable, especially considering where they were under Steven Gerrard.

The former Rangers manager was widely expected to take them to the next level, with his success in Glasgow key to him getting the job, but he turned out to be a poor appointment in the end.

Not only has Emery managed to get the better of the likes of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola this season, but the Spaniard has shown diligence in the transfer market, improving his squad piece by piece, making some excellent signings.

This has not always been the case at the Midlands outfit, however, as previous managers spent lavish sums of money on players who either rinsed the club dry or failed to live up to expectations.

On rare occasions, a player would fit both of these criteria and one name which springs to mind is that of Ross McCormack, who failed to build upon his initial hype upon his arrival during his spell at Villa.

Ross McCormack’s career statistics

The Scottish striker started off his career by working through the youth system at Rangers, finally earning his big break towards the end of 2003/04, scoring in the last match of the season against Dunfermline Athletic.

It wasn’t until the 2005/06 season that he began to make more appearances under Alex McLeish, with the youngster scoring against Porto in the Champions League, and it looked as though he could be a useful option for the Gers.

The striker ended up joining Motherwell and eight goals during 2007/08 convinced Cardiff City to take a chance on the Scot, and it turned out to be a wise choice, as he scored 30 goals in 88 appearances for the Welsh side, enhancing his reputation in England.

A productive spell at Leeds United meant Fulham shelled out a transfer fee in the region of £11m to secure the services of the former Light Blues striker in 2014, and he continued his fine scoring rate in the second tier, netting 42 goals for the Cottagers in just 100 appearances, while it looked as though he was ready to make the step-up to a team who held Premier League ambitions.

In the summer of 2016, Aston Villa began to show interest in McCormack and, given that they had just been relegated from the Premier League, they clearly wanted to spend as little time in the Championship as possible.

How much Aston Villa paid to sign Ross McCormack

The club were relegated at the end of the 2015/16 season, their first-ever relegation during the Premier League era, and it meant big changes for the club.

Roberto Di Matteo took over the club in the summer and was looking to build a squad which would secure promotion at the first time of asking.

McCormack was high on the list of transfer targets and, considering he had scored 116 goals in the second tier during his spells at Cardiff, Leeds, and Fulham, snapping him up would give the Italian the best chance of success.

Indeed, the former Chelsea manager spent £12m to secure his services ahead of the 2016/17 season and with the hope of matching the sort of numbers he had enjoyed at Fulham, this move had the potential to be a stunning bargain.

"He is a player whose goalscoring record has been excellent everywhere he has been and we feel he can be an important addition," said Di Matteo upon his arrival, yet the move soon turned sour and McCormack would fail to live up to these lofty heights.

Ross McCormack’s statistics at Aston Villa

The Scottish hitman got off to a decent enough start in his new surroundings, scoring twice and grabbing an assist in his first seven Championship matches for Villa.

They only managed to win one of these, however, losing two and drawing the other four as the drop-down into the second tier was proving harder than first anticipated.

It took McCormack until Boxing Day to score his third Villa goal, yet just over a month later, he was sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest following a strained relationship with Steve Bruce, the new manager.

This was the beginning of the end for the player, and he never scored for Villa again, costing the club millions in wages and his transfer fee.

How much Ross McCormack cost Aston Villa

The striker eventually terminated his contract at the club in the summer of 2019, three years after joining for £12m.

After his loan to Forest, McCormack endured another three loan spells away from Villa over the next two years to clubs such as Melbourne City, Central Coast Mariners, and Motherwell, yet failed to hit the lofty heights he had achieved earlier in his career.

Combining his transfer fee with the £38.5k-per-week wages that the player had earned during his spell at Villa, he cost the club £17m in total in what proved to be a total waste of money.

This was at a time when big-money signings could not be afforded due to their status as a second-tier side, yet he rinsed the club of nearly £20m for three paltry goals.

Bruce criticised him during his spell in charge at Villa Park after he missed training due to an excuse about an electric gate, saying: “In my opinion, he is not fit enough to play, and he will not play unless his attitude towards training and missing training improves. If that improves then I will reconsider him but if he continues to miss training, as he has done, that will be the situation."

Simon Jordan also got in the act, dubbing McCormack a “lazy slob” in February 2017, and it was clear the move was a failure for all parties involved.

Emery, meanwhile, has spent millions in the transfer market, but his signings have been calculated pieces of business that can either improve Villa immediately or come good in the future.

Chelsea are under more pressure over Enzo Fernandez, after David Datro Fofana became the latest player to condemn his team-mate on social media.

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• Fernandez allegedly sang racist song
• Midfielder in hot water
• Already been called out by Wesley Fofana

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea have issued a strong statement after Fernandez allegedly sang a racist chant on Argentina's team bus after their Copa America triumph. The song was allegedly aimed at the French national team, and Wesley Fofana has already criticised his team-mate on social media.

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  While Fernandez has apologised, he has now been criticised by striker Fofana, who posted a message insisting that racism "has no place in football".

  @datro_9

• WHAT DATRO FOFANA SAID

  Fofana wrote: "The football that I like is multi-ethnic. Racism in all its forms should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. These acts have no place in football or even anywhere else. This fight really needs to be taken seriously by everyone involved in this sport."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen what kind of disciplinary action Chelsea may take against Fernandez once he returns from the Copa America, although he is likely to be fined. The Blues play Wrexham in a pre-season friendly on July 25.

Arsenal are monitoring Julian Alvarez's situation and could make a move after his fallout with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

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• Arsenal could make effort to land Alvarez
• Man City reportedly set huge asking price
• Guardiola unimpressed amid exit rumours

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  reported on Friday that Atletico Madrid are being considered the favourites to sign Argentina international Alvarez as the Spanish side look to replace Alvaro Morata, who left for AC Milan earlier this summer. Now, though, it appears that Arsenal have joined the race to sign the 24-year-old.

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  Indeed, the states that the young forward could move to north London from Manchester as the Gunners look to bolster their attack. The report further claims that the reigning Premier League champions are expected to demand a transfer fee in the region of £80 million ($102m), and it remains to be seen if Mikel Arteta is willing to spend that much.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Per ’ German Garcia Grova, Paris Saint-Germain have also emerged as one of the candidates who are keen on bringing in the 24-year-old. The French champions are in search of a quality attacking option after the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid on a free transfer last month. According to Gaston Edul, PSG's bid is superior to that of Atletico and it seems likely that the attacker will leave City this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JULIAN ALVAREZ?

  The World Cup-winning striker recently had a what's being described as a falling out with Guardiola after the City manager said that he would not force an unhappy player to stay at Etihad Stadium. Alvarez had earlier claimed that he remains unsure about his future and would only take a decision after the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Ipswich Town continue to defy expectations by still being in the Championship automatic promotion picture, the Tractor Boys only a point behind Daniel Farke's Leeds United despite losing in dramatic fashion to Cardiff City last match.

The Suffolk-based outfit would concede two goals in stoppage time right at the very end of the 90 minutes, a gut-punch of a final scoreline for Kieran McKenna's men to process at 2-1 in favour of the Bluebirds.

Losing in the manner in which they did would have been obviously heartbreaking, but McKenna would have been happy in some capacity to see Harry Clarke come away from the game without any bruises and cuts after being sidelined through injury in the games before coming back into the side for the collapse in the Welsh capital.

Clarke's absence had been felt arguably, with the former Arsenal youngster now coming in as one of the most valuable players in the Ipswich camp when it comes to transfer value off his continued excellent displays at Portman Road.

Harry Clarke's transfer value at Ipswich Town

Clarke being out of the side was very obvious for Ipswich spectators to see when their side faced off against Bristol City earlier this month, with Axel Tuanzebe struggling at right-back filling in for the injury-stricken 23-year-old.

Tuanzebe would win just four of his nine duels against the Robins before being hauled off by McKenna, with the ex-Man United assistant manager turned main Tractor Boys boss despondent at the fact he couldn't pick a reliable figure like Clarke over the below-par Ipswich number 40.

When Clarke has started this season, Ipswich have often been better off for it – the Tractor Boys number two averaging four ball recoveries per game this campaign from 30 appearances, a tireless and energetic presence at the back as well as going forward.

It's resulted in Clarke – who was described as possessing a "fantastic" attitude by his manager when first signing – coming in now at an estimated worth of €6m (£5m) as per Football Transfers which impressively puts him ahead of his full-back partner on the left-hand side Leif Davis who comes in at €5.2m (£4.4m) and, rather staggeringly, the rest of his teammates in Suffolk.

Harry Clarke's value at Ipswich Town compared to the squad

Davis' 17 assists in the Championship this season only sees him come in as the third most cherished asset at Portman Road according to Football Transfers' expected transfer value model, with Clarke shining bright at the top of the list.

George Hirst comes in just below Clarke at €5.6m (£4.7m) despite also suffering with his own injury demons of late, the former Leicester City man firing in the goals when fit earlier in the campaign with six strikes managed from 23 second-tier games.

McKenna and Co will hope Clarke's reemergence into the first team fold will coincide in Ipswich gunning for automatic promotion glory with more ferocity, having won their last six games in the Championship before losing away at Cardiff right at the death.

McKenna could soon bin Ipswich man who earns double Leif Davis’ wages

Ipswich Town will look to get rid of this high earner who pockets a better wage than Leif Davis.

By
Kelan Sarson

Mar 12, 2024

Clarke will just be thankful that he's found a home to call his own in Portman Road – away from all the talk about promotion – after leaving the Gunners behind in 2022, with the Tractor Boys potentially even having to bat away clubs trying to go after their 23-year-old defender soon.

Chelsea are “following the situation” of a £60m-rated defender ahead of a potential summer move.

Chelsea transfer rumours

The Blues haven’t had the best of campaigns under Mauricio Pochettino, despite Todd Boehly backing the Argentine in the summer transfer window with a number of new signings.

Chelsea currently sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table, 17 points adrift of the top four with 11 games to go. There is still the chance of Pochettino winning silverware in his first Stamford Bridge season, although the Blues are taking on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Following another tricky year, attention could soon be on the upcoming transfer market, with Boehly and co seemingly wanting a new striker to rival Nicolas Jackson.

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen appears to be top of the wishlist when it comes to forwards, with Chelsea reportedly leading the race to sign the Nigeria international. Meanwhile, contact has also been made for RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Dani Olmo, but according to Fabrizio Romano, there could also be additions at the back.

Chelsea eyeing centre-back Leny Yoro

Romano, talking to Caught Offside, said that Chelsea are keeping their eye on Lille defender Leny Yoro, although there are yet to be any talks over a transfer.

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen to do a deal, with Romano expecting the Blues to be “busy” when it comes to centre-back signings this summer.

Yoro has also been heavily linked with Manchester United and is thought to be valued at £60m. The 18-year-old has already made more than 50 appearances at senior level for Lille and has been dubbed an “immense” talent by scout Antonio Mango, who has compared Yoro to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk.

A move to Stamford Bridge could therefore be one to watch, however, with some of Europe’s biggest clubs also pushing for a deal, Chelsea may need to act fast.

Carlo Ancelotti has joked about how Kylian Mbappe "ruined' his summer as the Real Madrid boss faces a "very big problem" after a busy transfer window.

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• Mbappe & Endrick enrich Real Madrid squad
• Ancelotti facing a problem of plenty
• Yet he is determined to chalk up an effective blueprint

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The long-anticipated move of the French superstar from Paris Saint-Germain to the Spanish capital finally materialized this summer and since then the the spotlight has been firmly on Ancelotti as the fans are eager to know how the prolific forward will integrate into Real Madrid's already star-studded lineup. The Italian manager now faces a problem of plenty as he alongside Mbappe, Brazilian teen sensation, Endrick, has also joined Los Blancos which has further spiked competition for places.

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  Ancelotti confessed that the inclusion of Mbappe and Endrick had turned his summer into a period of constant contemplation, as he grappled with the question of how to utilize his new star players effectively without disrupting the balance of his team. Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Arda Guler are also vying for starting berths which might lead Ancelotti to rotate the players and keep them fresh for the business end of an extremely busy campaign which could potentially see Real Madrid play up to 70 games.

• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking to reporters, ahead of the UEFA Super Cup clash against Atalanta, Ancelotti said: "I have a very big problem. All summer I have been thinking about who to put in and who not to. It has ruined my holidays. It’s simple. They are all good. This problem doesn’t exist. We have a lot of games. I can’t think that the same eleven will play 70 games. Last year, those who played less contributed a lot. This year could be a key.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe missed all of Real Madrid's preseason matches, as he was given an extended break following his participation in the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. This absence has only added to the intrigue surrounding his debut for Los Blancos, with fans eagerly awaiting his first appearance in the famous white shirt.

  “He has arrived very well, like everyone else," Ancelotti said. "We are doing very well. He is adapting very well and everyone can play tomorrow. He has extraordinary quality.”

Journalist Tom Barclay has shared a transfer wish of manager Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham look to secure a quick deal this summer.

Spurs transfer plans as Ange prioritises long-term project

Postecoglou has expressed that finishing in the top four isn't a priority, and he's instead more concerned with how his team are progressing on the pitch overall.

26-year-old open to summer move to Tottenham, Ange wants him as well

Postecoglou is very keen on strengthening one key area.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 13, 2024

“Couldn't care less about the race for fourth mate,” said Postecoglou after a recent win over Nottingham Forest.

“What I care about is the way the team is progressing. Pleased with today. It had a little bit of everything. We started the game well, not just the goal, I thought we controlled the game well.

“Then we conceded from a counter-attack which was obviously disappointing. I thought we lost our way a little bit towards the back end of that first half, but a super reaction and the whole second half we were really dominant."

Regardless of whether or not they secure Champions League qualification, the signs are arguably positive overall, but Postecoglou will need to be backed with his desired summer transfer targets if they're to elevate any further.

Spurs are looking to bring in another centre-back, as confirmed by Postecoglou himself in recent weeks, while there have been reports suggesting they could upgrade on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The Denmark international could leave Spurs this summer (Fabrizio Romano), with his contract expiring and having endured a season mostly relegated to the substitute's bench.

Tottenham are targeting potential replacements more suited to Postecoglou's system, according to recent rumours. Atalanta star Ederson is apparently on Spurs' radar heading into the next transfer window, and they remain linked with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher.

The England international's contract expires in 2025, and there have been suggestions that Chelsea will put Gallagher up for sale if he doesn't extend, despite him being a key player for Mauricio Pochettino this term.

Tottenham looking to secure "quick deal" for Gallagher

According to reporter Barclay, writing a piece for The Sun and sharing news on X, Postecoglou's transfer wish is for Spurs to do their summer business in quick fashion.

It's added that Spurs are "keen to secure a quick deal" for Gallagher, who could apparently cost around £40 million given his contract situation.

The former Crystal Palace loanee has scored three goals and registered six assists in 29 league starts for Chelsea this season, leaving little wonder why Tottenham are so keen.