Crystal Palace have submitted a bid worth £8.5 million to sign a 21-year-old rising star who wants to move to Selhurst Park, according to a recent report.
Crystal Palace chasing two new midfielders for Glasner
While the Eagles continue to wait for clarification on whether they will be playing in the Europa League or not next season, people behind the scenes are working hard on potential transfers, as Oliver Glasner and co. plan to improve many areas of the team regardless of how many fronts they are asked to compete on.
Crystal Palace make approach to bring in £20m midfielder along with Diomande
Crystal Palace already have their eyes on their next transfer target amid talks with Diomande.
ByBrett Worthington Jun 23, 2025
Midfield appears to be the priority for the South Londoners at this moment in time, as they work on not just one but two new midfield signings. Last week, it was reported by Alan Nixon, via TBR Football, that Palace had made an approach to RC Lens over signing Andy Diouf.
Despite potentially having European football, Palace are aware they could lose Adam Wharton in this transfer window and therefore want to have a replacement ready. It would cost the Premier League side just £20 million to get a deal wrapped up.
As Palace weigh where to go next with a deal for Diouf, reports also claim the Eagles have made contact with Brighton & Hove Albion player Igor Julio over a potential move to Selhurst Park. The South Londoners are not the only Premier League team chasing a deal, as Wolverhampton Wanderers are also interested in signing the midfielder, but he is said to be prioritising a move out of England at this moment in time.
Crystal Palace submit £8.5m striker bid
Despite the excellent form of Jean-Philippe Mateta last season, the Eagles are in the market for a new striker as well as new midfielders. According to Africa Foot, Crystal Palace have made a 10 million euros (£8.5m) bid to sign Oumar Diakité from Stade de Reims.
The report states that given Stade de Reims’ relegation to Ligue 2, Diakite is among the players attracting interest across Europe. But Palace are the ones who have made a concrete move to sign the young striker, and the Eagles are in a good position to complete a transfer, as Diakite is keen on the move to Selhurst Park.
As well as making a bid, Palace have also offered the player a five-year contract and are ready to pay him 3.5 million euros a year, which is roughly £2.9 million. The concern Palace do face is that Stade de Reims are not rushing to sell the player and are waiting for more ‘miraculous’ offers to arrive.
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Palace’s interest in the 21-year-old is not new, as back in November it was reported that the Premier League side had identified Diakite as a long-term replacement for Mateta. The Ivory Coast international has shown in the last couple of seasons he knows where the back of the net is, but the hope will be for him to learn under the French star, not replace him.
Newcastle United have lost one of their first-team regulars to injury ahead of the trip to Milan, and a fresh report has revealed the exact number of games that he’s expected to miss.
Who is injured for Newcastle United?
Joe Willock, Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth are all currently sidelined with injuries, but Eddie Howe did receive a boost with a few of his stars having returned from the treament room over the weekend.
During Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Brentford, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali all staged their own individual comebacks which is helpful considering that the northeast outfit are set to compete in their first Champions League fixture vs AC Milan at the San Siro this week.
However, Joelinton won’t be able to participate under the bright lights of Europe's elite competition because of a recurring knee injury that he first sustained during last month’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, which saw him missing from the matchday squad for the recent win over Thomas Frank’s side.
The Magpies’ central midfielder was named as part of Brazil’s team during the international break alongside Bruno Guimaraes and he even featured as a substitute during both matches, but upon returning to the northeast, the 27-year-old has suffered a setback due to continually playing with his problem.
How long is Joelinton out for?
According to Newcastle World it goes from bad to worse, as Joelinton is expected to be on the sidelines for at least the “next six matches” after sustaining a knee injury during international duty for Brazil.
Speaking to the media, Howe previously said: “Joe had a recurrence of his knee injury playing for Brazil in the second game so he won’t be with us for a few weeks”, and the outlet claim that the earliest he’s expected to return to action is for the Premier League game vs Crystal Palace on October 21.
Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton.
How many goals does Joelinton have for Newcastle?
Following his arrival at Newcastle, Joelinton has posted 33 contributions (22 goals and 11 assists) in 161 appearances, form which has previously seen him described as “immense” by journalist Josh Bunting, so the fact that he’ll be missing for over a month will be a massive blow to Howe.
The ROGON client, who earns £85k-per-week, has also recorded 12 shot-creating actions so far this season which is the second-highest total throughout the squad, via FBRef, not to mention the different dimension that he adds to the centre with his height and physical presence, standing at 6 foot 1.
In addition, Alianca’s native is a versatile operator having been deployed in seven various positions since the start of his career, including three roles in the midfield and even everywhere across the frontline, though this is another attribute that the manager will have to cope without having at his disposal.
Joelinton was named the club's Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season so it’s clear to see how much he’s appreciated by his fellow teammates, the staff and supporters, therefore, everyone associated with the club will be hoping for his return to action as soon as possible.
There was some initial worry about Newcastle United this season, especially after they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. Since then, however, Eddie Howe's side have put an end to any doubts by defeating Brentford, putting eight past Sheffield United and knocking Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup.
That's not to say the Magpies couldn't do with further reinforcements, though, which could result in a busy January transfer window for those at St James' Park despite some FFP constraints, with reports they could sell several players to fund signings.
And that could see them complete a move for one particular player that they already had a go for, having failed in their pursuit during the summer.
What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?
Spending a reported €153m (£133m) during the summer transfer window, Newcastle welcomed the likes of Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento, and Sandro Tonali to hand Howe a squad capable of potentially making it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League. And after a slow start, the Magpies now look back on track to compete alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool, who are all gunning for Champions League qualification.
The January transfer window could yet make all the difference, too, especially if Newcastle secure the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz. According to Football Transfers, those at St James' Park are eyeing a move for the Southampton star, who they reportedly approached in the summer, only to be put off by the Saints' £30m price-tag.
Whilst Howe remains an admirer, AC Milan and Benfica also reportedly made an approach for the midfielder in the summer, handing Newcastle plenty of competition if they are to pursue his signature come the winter transfer window.
Considering their spending power, if Newcastle are keen on Alcaraz, then it will be interesting to see how Southampton fare when it comes to the battle to keep hold of their star.
Should Newcastle United sign Carlos Alcaraz?
Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
At 20-years-old, Alcaraz opted to stay put at Southampton despite their relegation to the Championship, and a solid start by Russell Martin's new side has quickly turned disastrous, with a run of four straight defeats in the Championship.
If that form continues, Alcaraz, who, it must be said, has played his part in what has been a dismal run, may start to consider his immediate future, especially if the right offer comes in during the January window from Newcastle.
Statistically speaking, the midfielder was certainly a standout in a poor Saints side last season. According to FBref, in 13 starts, Alcaraz made 20 progressive carries and 28 progressive passes, whilst also making 14 blocks and 11 clearances in a showing of great potential in a short period in the Premier League.
He has earned deserved praise during his time at St Mary's, too, including from former manager Ruben Selles, who said, via the official Southampton website: "That was the idea – to put him in that position as a 10 or as a striker, to be more aggressive in the pressure, to understand the triggers and to have some situations in front of the centre-backs but also in behind, as [with] the goal.
“That was the game plan, Carlos played good. He understands everything – I am helping him also, giving him some instructions so it’s easier for him to understand. He did really well, unfortunately for only 45, 46 minutes."
The Slovakian national football team, or The Falcons as they are sometimes called, are an interesting side to talk about, as there have been some brilliant Slovakian footballers over the years, and yet, the country has only made it to one World Cup since the dissolution of the Czechoslovakian football team.
Czechoslovakia made it to eight World Cups – coming second in two of them – and three European Championships – coming third twice and winning one. And so, when creating a list of the ten greatest Slovakian footballers, we had to include a few Slovakian stars who reached the pinnacle of their careers under the banner of Czechoslovakia – you’ve got to love geopolitics, right?
With that, here’s our list of arguably the ten greatest Slovakian footballers!
10 Martin Dubravka
Kicking off the list is Slovakia’s current number one goalkeeper, Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka. Now, it could’ve been Fulham’s Marek Rodak in here instead, as he was, for a while, claiming the number one spot in the national side, but since he lost the gloves at Fulham to Bernd Leno, Dubravka has become Slovakia’s number one.
In all, the Zilina-born shot-stopper has played for seven clubs – including a loan stint with the Magpies – with his most successful spell coming with the Magpies, where he has made 179 appearances. He was named Player of the Year at Newcastle for his contributions in the 2019/20 season.
At the international level, he has won 52 caps and looks to have – for now, anyway – cemented his place as the team’s number one.
9 Peter Pakarik
The second name on our list might be one unfamiliar to those who don’t watch much of the Bundesliga: Peter Pakarik. 38-year-old has had an incredibly long and successful career in the German top flight.
He made his way to the league via Wolfsburg in 2009 and played every game in the second half of the season, bar one, as the club won the first league title in their history. After another couple of years with the club, he would eventually join fellow Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, where he remained until his exit in 2024, 231 appearances and a second-division title later.
He has won 134 caps for the national side, playing in the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
8 Martin Skrtel
Up next is someone many consider to be something of a Premier League cult hero, Martin Skrtel. The often intimidating centre-back has played for seven clubs across six countries in his career, but he will always be best remembered for his eight-year stint on Merseyside for Liverpool.
Skrtel joined the team in 2008 from Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg and ended up making 320 appearances for the Reds, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in the process. His time with the club saw him win three Slovakian Footballer of the Year awards, one Liverpool Player of the Year award and one League Cup in 2012.
On the international scene, he was a vital member of the team that played at the 2010 World Cup and the one that made it to the 2016 European Championships. In all, he won 104 caps for his country and scored six goals.
7 Stanislav Lobotka
Slovakia'sStanislavLobotkareacts
Another player who’s still playing, and if anything, is still firmly in his prime years at the age of 30, Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka. Before the club’s remarkable league title in 2022/23, Lobotka might’ve been a name relatively unfamiliar to many fans outside of Napoli, but not anymore.
The 5 foot 6 midfielder was a central pillar to the team’s hardworking and tenacious midfield, well and truly establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier central midfielders and following in the footsteps of national icon Marek Hamsik.
He has also won 67 caps for the national side, having made his debut just a few months after the country’s involvement at Euro 2016.
6 Milan Skriniar
The next name on the list has been one of the best defenders in Europe for over half a decade now and is showing no signs of slowing down, Milan Skriniar. Despite playing for three clubs beforehand, it was his time with Italian giants Inter Milan that truly caught Europe’s attention.
In total, he made 246 appearances for I Nerazzurri, scored 11 goals, provided five assists, and never once got a straight red card. During his time with the club, he won one Scudetto, two Italian Cups, two Italian Super Cups, and was voted Slovakian Footballer of the Year four times.
On the international scene, Skriniar has won 79 caps since his debut in 2016, while featuring at three major tournaments.
5 Marián Masný
Born on the 13th of August 1950 in the Slovakian village of Rybany, Marián Masný has to go down as one the country’s greatest ever footballers for both his exploits at international level and club level.
In all, he earned 81 caps for Czechoslovakia between 1974 and 1982, scoring 20 goals and playing a vital role in helping the side emerge from the 1976 European Championships as champions.
The team beat West Germany on penalties in the final after the match ended 2-2, with Masný stepping up first and scoring to set the tone.
Masný would spend the majority of his club career in his home country, ending up with two league titles and two national cups. He may have been at his best before a lot of fans were even watching the game, but he is still certainly deserving of a place on this list.
4 Peter Dubovsky
Peter Dubovsky was a player who could’ve gone on to further cement himself as one of Slovakia’s all-time greats were it not for his unfortunate death in 2000, aged just 28. The Bratislava-born forward was a real talent during his early years playing for Slovan Bratislava, and Real Madrid must’ve thought the same.
Los Blancos signed Dubovsky in 1993 off the back of his 59 goals in 94 appearances for the Slovakian side. However, while he wasn’t a flop in Madrid, nor was he a runaway success, after two years, he moved on to fellow La Liga side Real Oviedo, where he would make 120 appearances before his untimely death.
Alongside a club career many dream of, he was also excellent for the national team, earning 14 caps for Czechoslovakia and 33 for Slovakia. He was the country’s top scorer with 14 at the time of his passing and would remain so until it was broken in 2003 by Szilard Nemeth.
3 Jozef Adamec
Another of Slovakia’s greats from the past, Jozef Adamec, enjoyed an incredibly successful domestic career in his home country and shone for Czechoslovakia whenever he was called upon.
In all, Adamec won 44 caps for his homeland, scored 14 goals, and was part of the legendary side that finished as runners-up in the 1962 edition of the World Cup. Another of his greatest moments for the national side came in a friendly against Brazil in 1968, a friendly Czechoslovakia won 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Adamec.
On a domestic front, the Vrbove-born forward never left his homeland, moving between four clubs over a 22 year spell, winning seven league titles, three cups and one Mitropa Cup.
He may not be a name all that well known outside of Czechia or Slovakia, but Adamec was a genuine great of football in his time.
2 Jan Popluhar
The last of our old-school picks here and certainly one of the very best. Jan Popluhar was an extremely talented Slovak defender with a career spanning three decades from 1955 to 1979. While he spent the majority of that career in his homeland with sides like Slovan Bratislava, Ruda Hvezda Brno, and Zbrojovka Brno, he also enjoyed a fruitful two-season spell with French giants Lyon from 1969 to 1970.
He was also a vital member of the national side that made it to the 1958 and 1962 World Cups – finishing as runners-up on both occasions – and the 1960 European Championships, where they placed third.
He was named the UEFA Slovak Golden Player in 2003 and was named in the World Soccer World XI on three occasions: 1962, 1963, and 1968.
1 Marek Hamsik
Come on, who else was it really going to be in top spot? When you ask the modern football fan to name a Slovakian footballer, we would be willing to bet that the vast majority answer with the same name: Marek Hamsik.
Hamsik was undoubtedly one of Europe’s greatest cult heroes in the 2010s for how much he gave to Napoli, becoming both talisman and captain for the side during his 12-year stint with the Italians.
In all, he made 520 appearances for I Partenopei, scored 121 goals, provided 103 assists and even earned himself two red cards for good measure. He might’ve left Naples without a league title to his name, but he did help the club win two Italian Cups, an Italian Super Cup, and he played in the Champions League 36 times.
So intertwined is Hamsik with the Napoli of the 2000s and 2010s that former teammate and Chelsea player Dalla Bona likened the situation to Steven Gerrard and Liverpool, saying:
“He is a legend for Napoli. He is a big legend. He is like Steven Gerrard in Liverpool. He is parallel to Gerrard, he is a top player and a leader. I played against Gerrard and with Hamsik.
“He had offers but he never wanted to change clubs. Napoli became a very big team with him.”
It wasn’t just about club football for Hamsik, though, as he also holds the record for most caps for Slovakia – 138 – and the most goals – 26. He also played a crucial role in getting the national side to the 2010 World Cup, where he would be captain, and the 2016 and 2020 Euros, where he would remain captain.
Ultimately, Hamsik will go down as not just one of the greatest Slovakian footballers of all time but one of Europe’s best footballers of all time.
And there you have it, Slovakia’s top ten footballers of all time.
Chelsea have taken "serious steps" for a major signing with manager Mauricio Pochettino giving his green-light to the move.
Who have Chelsea signed?
The west London club spent nearly £400 million over the 2023 summer transfer window; sealing an array of incomings in a serious statement of intent by Todd Boehly and his co-sporting directors – Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. Chelsea put pen to paper on deals for Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Angelo and Deivid Washington before deadline day, but their impressive business hasn't exactly translated to good results on the field.
Chelsea managerMauricioPochettinoand AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola
Pochettino's side have won just two games so far this season, coming against Luton Town and west London rivals Fulham. Chelsea dropped points against West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with a trip to Burnley up next before another international break. They haven't been helped by injuries to star players, though, with Nkunku, Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcus Bettinelli and Benot Badiashile all sidelined recently.
Chelsea transfer news
There are clearly still gaping holes to fix in Pochettino's squad and one of the most obvious ones is signing a new striker. Chelsea are among the division's lowest scorers; going without a goal since late August before their recent 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
As a result, it has been reported that a new centre-forward signing could be on the cards for 2024. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Brentford star Ivan Toney are two names repeatedly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, with a report by TEAMtalk sharing news on the latter.
According to their information, Chelsea are one of two clubs who've taken "serious steps" to sign the Englishman in January as they attempt to work out the conditions of a January deal. This comes after Pochettino's personal "approval" for the transfer, and Chelsea are willing to get it done despite Toney being outside their usual target age range.
Pochettino is apparently "determined" to strengthen his attack in the winter window, and Toney is somebody he would like to work with this season. Super-agent Jonathan Barnett signed the forward to his agency recently, and Chelsea apparently have a very good relationship with him.
How good is Ivan Toney?
Before his ban for alleged gambling breaches, which is set to end mid-way through January, Toney was in fine form for Brentford. He scored 20 goals last season in the league alone, with his manager Thomas Frank calling him a "remarkable" player.
"Ivan is amazing in many, many aspects,” Frank said earlier this year. “The way he copes with pressure and distractions is amazing. He’s been scoring goals, performing for the team and driving the team. He’s remarkable. I can only talk about the Ivan that I see every day around the place and he’s a fantastic person around the group. He’s got that unique emotional intelligence to be aware of all the players, and every staff member."
West Ham United intend to open talks to sign an exciting player soon after meeting with his agents, and it is believed they're already frontrunners.
West Ham form and results
The Irons are in very good shape, having enjoyed an excellent month prior to this ongoing international break. David Moyes' side have won four out of their opening eight Premier League games so far, all while maintaining their excellent run in Europe where they have gone 17 games unbeaten since the Conference League last term. West Ham have collected some pretty good results recently, despite losses to both Man City and Liverpool, but they can arguably be forgiven considering the two sides could be contending for title glory by the end of 2023/2024.
Their 2-2 draw against high-flying Newcastle, stopping Eddie Howe's side dead in their tracks following the Magpies' pretty incredible run of games, perhaps highlights just how difficult West Ham can be to beat when playing at full potential. Moyes, speaking after West Ham's last game before internationals, praises his side for going toe-to-toe against a "top side" like Newcastle.
"I’m quite pleased with a lot of bits of the performance, especially in the first half when we got in front and we defended well when we needed to. But I think we played a top side and the level of some of the teams in the Premier League at the moment is really, really high and Newcastle are one of those teams," said Moyes after their match against the Magpies to West Ham's official website.
Moyes then went on to hail West Ham's last month, saying he was quite pleased with the outcome of their matches overall.
"I always knew in between the international breaks that we had four games which were Manchester City, Liverpool, Sheffield United and Newcastle, so it was always going to be hard to take too many points. In my head, I thought ‘if we can get four points from those games, that won’t be too bad’, but obviously I was hoping to get more. In between, we had a couple of cup wins as well, which helped, so I’m quite pleased with the way the last month has gone."
Who are West Ham linked with?
Off the field, technical director Tim Steidten and sporting director Mark Noble will be plotting ways to bolster Moyes' overall ranks while adding more strength to the West Ham side. Media rumours suggest they're after a central defender, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and AC Milan's Malick Thiaw linked.
Physically strong
At ease when dribbling
Technically gifted
However, a report from Premier League Brasil and journalist Guilherme Ramos has now claimed that they want to "open negotiations" for Palmerias starlet Luis Guilherme before the Under-17 World Cup in less than a month, It is believed the east Londoners and Chelsea in particular have an "upper hand" over competitors, making them frontrunners, with West Ham already meeting the player's agents. It's added that they're "new competitors" to sign the midfielder called by the report one of Brazil's most promising gems.
Making his first move as sporting director, Ross Wilson and Newcastle United have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign a young defender ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Eddie Howe backs "great" Ross Wilson appointment
With the focus now firmly back on domestic football after the conclusion of the October international break, Eddie Howe has had his say on Wilson’s Newcastle arrival.
The former Bournemouth boss, who has worked with both Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell at the club, has now backed the new sporting director ahead of the Magpies’ trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.
The former Nottingham Forest man arrives to calm the storm in Newcastle’s transfer department, which endured the most chaotic summer window. Whether that means reinforcements for Howe remains to be seen.
Having broken their transfer record to welcome Nick Woltemade and replace one of the world’s best strikers in Alexander Isak, PIF certainly proved that they’re willing to spend without PSR issues in the way and that has reportedly seen Wilson spring into action from the off.
Newcastle agree deal to sign Kenchington
According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle have now agreed a deal to sign Josh Kenchington from Barnsley in Wilson’s first move as sporting director. The England U15 centre-back also had interest from Tottenham Hotspur, but is seemingly set to make the move to Tyneside in the near future.
Likened to Manchester City star and multiple-time Premier League winner John Stones by Hope, Kenchington now has the chance to follow in the England international’s footsteps from Barnsley to the top flight.
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Comfortable on the ball and already over 6ft, there is understandable excitement around the young defender’s arrival. Those at St James’ Park aren’t afraid to hand young players opportunities when they’re ready, either, with the likes of Lewis Miley already benefitting from that.
Although he is unlikely to be in and around Howe’s first-team for a few years yet, Kenchington is certainly one to watch at youth level. If he proves to be anywhere near as talented as England star Stones, then Newcastle will have an undeniable gem on their hands. As first moves go, Wilson may have just pulled off an inevitable bargain.
Everton have suffered some howlers over the years, but the Friedkin Group’s forthcoming club takeover will hopefully signal a new era and indeed a fresh take on transfer activity.
It sure is needed, with Farhad Moshiri failing to match the fanbase’s expectations with the performances on the pitch – indeed, the Toffees have been stuck in a bog of struggle for the past several years, and though results have recently improved under Sean Dyche, big change is needed to sculpt a future of promise in the Premier League.
Everton manager Sean Dyche.
The strategy needs changing, to be sure. Let’s take a look at some of the worst signings since Moshiri took the head seat back in 2016, and remind ourselves why.
Everton's decline under Farhad Moshiri
Iranian businessman Moshiri acquired a 49.9% stake in Everton back in February 2016, having previously owned a minority slice in fellow Premier League club Arsenal.
The deal was soon ratified, and the 69-year-old’s role as principal shareholder was projected as a watershed moment for Roberto Martinez’s side, which had found comparative success over the years but wanted to ascend to a regular position in and around the Champions League spaces.
What happened was the inverse. Slowly, Everton’s lifeblood has trickled away, with the success of recent years merely that of preserving top-flight status, pitted against the relegation fodder.
There have been some pretty notable howlers. Cenk Tosun joined in a £27m deal after Romelu Lukaku was sold for what is still a club record, but flattered to deceive and scored just seven times across his two full seasons at the club – having promised so much upon his January 2018 arrival, notching four Premier League goals from his opening 14 fixtures.
Davy Klaassen’s another, moving from Ajax for £24m in 2017, billed as one of the most talented midfielders in the Netherlands. He failed to adapt and started just seven league games before fleeing to Germany and joining Werder Bremen after one lonely year.
Chuck in Sandro Ramirez, Salomon Rondon, Yannick Bolasie and more. If TFG can succeed in purchasing Moshiri’s majority stake, getting the venture over the line, then there’s every chance that the slate will have been wiped clean and Everton can begin anew.
There are too many blunders to count with two hands, but undoubtedly the deal at the nadir of Moshiri’s transfer failures is that of Jean-Philippe Gbamin, who endured a wretched spell at Goodison Park.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin's cost to Everton
Later down the line, Gbamin’s agent would describe his client’s time at Everton as a “nightmare”, which is probably an apt summation of a wholly forgettable time for all parties involved.
Alex Iwobi
Arsenal
£35m
Moise Kean
Juventus
£25m
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
Mainz
£25m
Andre Gomes
Barcelona
£22m
Fabian Delph
Man City
£9m
Dijibril Sibide
AS Monaco
Loan
Jonas Lossl
Huddersfield
£0
Branded “the worst signing of the Moshiri era” by journalist Paul Brown, the Ivorian midfielder was purchased from German club Mainz for a £25m fee, with the whole ordeal at least financially mitigated by Idrissa Gueye – who he was replacing – transferring to Paris Saint-Germain in a £30m deal.
Gbamin had certainly made a good impression with Mainz, featuring 95 times for the Bundesliga outfit and leading the club’s sporting director Rouven Schröder to declare that the centrepiece was totally unsellable, such was his importance.
Earning a reported wage of £75k per week, Gbamin was supposed to bring steel and dynamism to the centre of the park, but his catastrophic injury failure led to the most miserable of fringe roles, scarcely showing his face on the Premier League pitch at all before seeing his contract cut short in 2023, then joining French Ligue 2 club Dunkerque later that year until the end of the campaign.
Gbamin had reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the lead-up to Everton’s acquisition, illustrating the calibre of prospect that Marco Silva had attracted to his project.
But he didn’t so much fall as was thrown with force to the wayside, shockingly featuring just six times for the Premier League side.
Though he sought to bring himself back from the ditch, the Argentina-born midfielder was simply unable to meet the rigours of the Premier League, beset by injuries that prevented him from finding his feet across two loan spells while at Everton too – with Russian side CSKA Moskow and Trazbonspor in Turkey.
Indeed, it proved to be a total calamity. When considering the now 29-year-old Gbamin’s wages, alongside that lofty transfer fee, it can be seen that he drained Everton of £33m, something that really puts into perspective how dreadful Moshiri’s deal was – claiming around £4m from the Merseysiders for each appearance made.
It’s somewhat ironic that Everton re-signed Gueye in a £2m transfer in 2022, something that proved a good financial venture but contextualises the gravity of the whole thing – Moshiri effectively swallowing his pride and moving back to his erstwhile number six, who had by that point turned 32.
Fans don’t mind running the gamut of emotions. Football is like that, cyclical, up and down. But Everton need to reach a level beyond that which has been provided to them over the past several years; it’s not befitting of the raucous Goodison Park crowd.
Blundered transfer moves like that of Gbamin must not be repeated. A little more due diligence would be good, with a revised take allowing the Blues to sign players who will actually raise the bar on the blue side of the River Mersey.
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Newcastle United have been pushed forward as if by a steel spring in recent days, defeating Arsenal in the Premier League after dumping Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup.
Alexander Isak is alive, putting a slow start to the season behind him and reminding Europe that he is one of the finest centre-forwards around. Eddie Howe must be delighted.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
However, the contractual concerns regarding the Swede are inescapable and must be resolved.
Alexander Isak's contract situation
Isak is 25 years old, approaching the prime years of his career. He’s into his third campaign on Tyneside, having overcome injuries throughout his first year to post 25 goals from 40 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24.
There’s no immediate concern: Isak is contracted at St. James’ Park until 2028. Even so, interest in his signature is incipient but fierce, and if he does not follow Anthony Gordon in penning new terms, he and his suitors will have increased leverage as time goes on.
Callum Wilson is out of contract at the end of the campaign, and thus, club legend Alan Shearer feels that the Magpies should move to bolster their frontline with a first-class signing, one who might even be more talented than Isak.
Newcastle could sign new striker
Newcastle could do with some added firepower up top, and who better to sign than Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, who is one of the hottest commodities in Europe right now?
With Ruben Amorim leaving Sporting Lisbon imminently to turn the ship around at Manchester United, Premier League supporters will inevitably look at the Sweden international as the natural star to follow to Old Trafford.
However, Newcastle’s financial power and growing need for another striker could see them rival their divisional competition, and Shearer believes that indeed they must.
Discussing Newcastle’s probably transfer plan in a Q&A with The Athletic, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer suggested that Gyokeres should be the first-choice target:
Amorim has already allayed the Portuguese champions’ fears that they will suffer a winter exodus by stating that he will not be bringing any players with him in January.
Given that, as Guillem Balague claims, Sporting wish to cash in on Gyokeres, Newcastle – who were linked with the centre-forward back in January – must surely be contemplating lodging a bid, with his team rumoured to be ready to field official bids worth £60m.
Gyokeres would be an Alexander Isak upgrade
Gyokeres once sat in the Brighton & Hove Albion reserves, and after failing to earn a single appearance in the Premier League, routinely out on loan, joined Coventry City in the Championship.
Viktor Gyokeres for Sporting Lisbon
Prolific endeavours under Mark Robins culminated in waves of interest from some rather high-profile suitors, but it was Sporting who he chose to sign for in 2023, an avenue that has proved to be most auspicious for a player now regarded as “one of the most feared strikers in Europe” – as said by reporter Harry de Cosemo.
Last term, as Sporting conquered the Portuguese top flight, Gyokeres was utterly mesmerising in his efforts, posting 43 goals and 15 assists across 50 matches in all competitions. This year, it’s not even December, and he already has 23 goals to his mountainous pile.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
Many Magpies supporters will indeed feel that their outfit is blessed with a singular attacking talent, but everything suggests that Gyokeres is riding a level that surpasses even that of his compatriot at the moment, which truly is quite a thing.
Oh for sure, he’d do well to dislodge his countryman Isak from the number-one spot in Newcastle, but Gyokeres’ efforts over the past few years suggest that he could hold the quality to do just that.
Matches (starts)
8 (8)
10 (10)
Goals
3
16
Assists
1
1
Touches*
30.1
41.2
Shots (on target)*
2.9 (1.3)
4.9 (2.6)
Big chances missed
4
7
Pass completion
72%
80%
Key passes*
0.9
2.0
Dribbles*
0.6
2.5
Total duels won*
2.5
6.3
Those statistics speak for themselves, for Gyokeres is outstripping Newcastle’s talisman across almost every metric. Of course, the Premier League carries a higher level than that of Liga Portugal, but crane yourself back to midweek, when Amorim’s side defeated Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League, Gyokeres bagging a hat-trick.
As per FBref, the 26-year-old ranks among the top 1% of forwards across divisions similar to Liga Portugal for goals scored, shot-creating actions, progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, highlighting just how frightening his threat really is.
Isak is a top player in his own right, riding a colourful purple patch right now, but it’s hard to argue against his Sweden teammate being the man of the moment right now, with free-scoring performances that set him apart from all but a smattering of strikers across Europe.
Described as a “powerhouse” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Gyokeres has the athleticism, muscular physique, sharp movement and natural finishing to rival the likes of Isak and Erling Haaland for power as the star striker in the Premier League.
Even if Isak remains with the Toon over the coming years, this would surely be the optimum move to make, allowing Howe’s project to reach new heights and solidify a place in the Champions League, pushing for the shiniest silverware too.
The next Lewis Miley: Howe has a "huge prospect" brewing at Newcastle
Howe could find the next version of Lewis Miley in Newcastle’s “huge prospect”.
It's safe to say, that before the takeover by the Saudi PIF, Newcastle United made some bizarre signings, with many of the arrivals failing to make an impact at St James' Park.
Joselu, Jack Colback and Matz Sels all arrived on Tyneside during the darker years for the Magpies, with the trio failing to add anything to the squad – with Colback in particular subject to scrutiny after joining the club from arch-rivals Sunderland.
The midfielder went on to make over 100 appearances for the Magpies, with Joselu and Sels finding game time harder to come by. None of the aforementioned players remain at St James', with the club doing a good job of clearing the deadwood in recent years.
However, one signing made by Steve Bruce is somehow still on the books with the club needing to brutally part ways with him this summer after a horrid time in recent seasons.
Jeff Hendrick's stats at Newcastle United
After joining on a free transfer during the summer of 2020, midfielder Jeff Hendrick raised some eyebrows with the former Burnley man a surprise signing, to say the least.
The Republic of Ireland international penned a four-year deal on Tyneside, in a move that would be an absolute disaster for the player and the club.
However, he looked to be an astute piece of business after scoring and assisting on his debut in the 2-0 win against West Ham United, but that would be as good as it got for the former Derby County talent.
Hendrick would make 22 Premier League appearances in his first campaign for the Magpies, before rapidly falling down the pecking order after the takeover.
He would only make three league appearances during the first half of the 2021/22 season, before being shipped out on loan to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.
West Brom target Jeff Hendrick in action for Reading.
After failing to make an impact at Loftus Road, he's rapidly declined, suffering relegation to League One with Reading last season, before being excluded from Sheffield Wednesday's 27-man squad and not featuring for the Owls since the 2nd of December, before being re-added ahead of their final eight Championship games.
Jeff Hendrick's market value in 2024
Although he joined Bruce's side as a free agent, the 32-year-old had a market value of around £7.6m when he arrived at St James', with his value significantly dropping over the past couple of years.
October 2020
£7.6m
June 2021
£7.6m
May 2022
£4.2m
June 2023
£1.2m
March 2024
£600k
His rapid decline has seen his value drop 92% in just under four years, with Hendrick now worth 31x less than current Newcastle star Lewis Miley, with the 17-year-old currently worth £18.8m – as per Transfermarkt.
Hendrick also earns a staggering £40k-per-week, with the midfielder bleeding the club dry having earned over £4m since he last played a game for the Magpies.
With his contract expiring this summer, it's about time the club parted ways with the 32-year-old with both parties needing to forget about what has been a complete disaster.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?