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A number of Everton fans were livid with the performance of Mason Holgate during their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United in the Premier League on Sunday night.

The Toffees had been in with a chance of qualifying for European competition next term prior to this match and, although it is still mathematically possible for them to do so (Sky Sports), they are now rank outsiders. Daniel Jebbison scored his first-ever goal for the Blades (Transfermarkt), who are already relegated to the Championship, to give his side the three points.

The performance of Holgate will have been particularly disappointing for Carlo Ancelotti. He was partly at fault for the goal and, having won just two duels, he was taken off at half-time for Gylfi Sigurdsson as Everton tried to salvage something from the match. Performances such as this from some usually reliable players have cost the Goodison Park outfit throughout the season.

These fans were far from happy with what they saw from the £16.2m-valued Holgate (Transfermarkt), and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts on his “atrocious” performance.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Holgate below

“So drop the shockingly useless Holgate?”

Credit: @lesterverton80

“Holgate is atrocious mate”

Credit: @fergolos

“Holgate is a liability and wouldn’t be in our best side, and our midfield has been out for majority of the season, I get what you’re saying about best side, but it’s hardly fully fit and firing on all cylinders is it. It’s a lot easier for Sheff Utd playing with no pressure.”

Credit: @efctoffee77

“Get rid of Holgate”

Credit: @OfficialDaraKev

“It’s worrying that this new team under Carlo can’t even beat Sheffield and can’t even get Europe. Mason Holgate obviously doesn’t care after that mistake yesterday not even a sorry to the players just strolled back in the end. Not the attitude I want at my club”

Credit: @JayWilloEfc

“Holgate’s back pass last night……again…..never learns”

Credit: @Byrdsman75

In other news, Everton are monitoring this 12-goal Premier League striker.

Many Everton fans have been left to fume as the Goodison Park faithful have announced a kick off time for their game at home to Wolves.

As per the official website of the Merseyside club, the match, which is set to take place on Wednesday 19th May, will kick off at 6pm.

This will be the only fixture of the 2020/21 term that Toffees will be allowed into their stadium to watch Carlo Ancelotti’s team, but several supporters have voiced their rage at the decision to make it a 6pm kick off.

The ground may be a struggle to get to given fans’ situations with work and their families, and so it has come as a big disappointment given Blues have not been able to go to Goodison Park for a long time.

Everton fans on Wolves kick off time

These EFC supporters fumed as the update was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it was ‘absolutely ridiculous’:

“First game back with fans and it’s been moved it 6pm proper thinking of the fans there”

Credit: @Fordy1EFC

“Awful times again….”

Credit: @nickgartland

“All these stupid kick-off times best binned when grounds can be full again.”

Credit: @IanG1878

“Allow supporters back then schedule a match for 6pm on a weekday. Absolutely ridiculous @premierleague”

Credit: @NeilSolan

“6pm kick off. How the hell are fans getting to that game midweek? Joke.”

Credit: @80sEFC

“6pm midweek kick off when fans are allowed back is a poor decision. TV before fans again”

Credit: @kev83mav

In other news, find out what transfer update has left Toffees buzzing here!

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just been handed a huge boost at Manchester United, as Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Edinson Cavani will sign a new deal at Old Trafford that will keep him at the club for the 2021/22 campaign.

The Uruguayan forward joined United on a free transfer in October on a one-year deal, although some superb recent displays have clearly proved enough to convince Solskjaer that he is deserving of another year at Old Trafford.

After rumours in recent weeks, Romano has today confirmed on Twitter that the negotiations are complete and Cavani will be a Manchester United player next season, which is undoubtedly a huge boost for Solskjaer.

The 34-year-old’s recent form has been nothing short of sensational, as he has contributed eight goals and two assists in just seven appearances, demonstrating that he still possesses his deadly instincts in front of goal.

In total, the former PSG man has managed 15 goals and four assists in his first season with the Red Devils, which is even more impressive when you consider that he had to build up match fitness in his first few months with the club.

He also brings a wealth of experience with him into the United dressing room and even if he doesn’t maintain this form next season, he will surely still be a great mentor to younger forwards such as Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.

Although the Premier League title looks out of reach, United have sealed a top-four finish and a spot in the Europa League final during Cavani’s first season at the club and given that he has averaged a superb 7.93 rating for his performances in the Europa League this season, he has clearly been a huge part of United reaching the final in Gdansk.

Therefore, he definitely warranted a new deal at Old Trafford and Solskjaer will surely be buzzing that he has committed to staying, as earlier in the season, it had seemed likely that he would leave at the end of the current campaign, but his and United’s recent strong form was clearly a factor in convincing him to extend his stay.

And, in other news… United dealt huge injury blow to Solskjaer favourite

Everton are expected to sanction the sale of Jonjoe Kenny this summer, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

The report claimed that Carlo Ancelotti is unconvinced by the young right-back, who has spent the second half of the season on loan at Celtic

Burnley apparently ‘retain an interest’ in Kenny, who is valued at £6.3m by Transfermarkt.

Reflecting on Kenny’s Everton career

Kenny has made almost 50 appearances for Everton after coming through their academy, 35 of which have come in the Premier League.

When the defender made his breakthrough in 2018, Jamie Carragher hailed him as ‘your typical Scouse full-back – very aggressive, takes no prisoners, but he also has quality going forward’. The Sky Sports pundit added the ‘traditions of Everton are that they always have those types of players’.

Kenny’s tackling average of 2.1 per game in that season would appear to back up Carragher’s compliment about his controlled aggression.

Aarons is the right-back Everton really want

The Daily Mail claimed that the Blues want competition for an eventual right-back successor to current captain Seamus Coleman.

However, rather placing their faith in Kenny, they have their eyes on Norwich City’s Max Aarons, who could cost £30m. England international Kieran Trippier is also named as an alternative.

Transfer Tavern verdict

The fact that the Daily Mail’s report makes no mention of interest from Celtic in a permanent transfer speaks volumes for Kenny’s future.

The 24-year-old has failed to kick on in the manner that Everton would have hoped, with some of his performances in Scotland drawing the ire of the Parkhead faithful.

He could still go on to forge a good career for himself in the lower reaches of the Premier League, but the Toffees are right to look elsewhere for their heir to Coleman, with his current backup seemingly having no future under Ancelotti.

In other news, Alan Myers delivered this update on Everton’s pursuit of Max Aarons. 

Leicester City have potentially been handed a huge blow in their pursuit of Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard with a fellow Premier League club having jumped up the queue for his signature.

According to Football Insider, West Ham United are now in pole position to capture the Frenchman and are confident of signing him during the transfer window.

The Foxes have long been linked with a move for Edouard, with The Telegraph recently revealing that the East-Midlanders are set to battle with Arsenal for his signing ahead of the 2021/22 season with the striker having expressed an intention to leave his current employers.

However, with West Ham now having elbowed their way to the front of the queue for Edouard, it is a big blow for Leicester.

Rated at £13.5m, the former Paris Saint Germain man would have been excellent competition for current Foxes’ forwards Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Whilst the Nigerian has been in hot form in recent months, Vardy has been drastically off-form having scored just once in his last 14 Premier League appearances.

A failed move would also be a huge disappointment particularly for current Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, who worked with the 23-year-old during his tenure at Celtic Park.

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Bringing him to the club initially on-loan before agreeing a permanent deal a year later, Edouard plundered a huge 27 goals in 68 appearances under the Northern-Irishman, helping the Hoops to two Scottish Premiership titles during Rodgers’ time at Celtic.

In all, Edouard’s record at the club is hugely impressive having netted 81 goals in just 163 appearances.

However, it is now looking like Leicester and Rodgers will not be able to call upon that eye for goal with West Ham now reportedly taken a huge step towards signing Edouard in the summer in what is certainly a huge blow for the Foxes.

AND in more news, remind yourself of a bargain transfer that has gone bad for Leicester…

After Brendan Rodgers swapped Celtic Park for the King Power Stadium, there were bound to be a number of current Hoops linked with a move to Leicester.

Amongst those apparent names interesting the Foxes have been Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer, whilst Callum McGregor has reportedly been on the club’s wishlist for some time.

Those rumours have reappeared again with The Sun suggesting that Leicester are eyeing a summer swoop for the £5.85m-rated midfielder.

The Foxes really should seal a long-awaited reunion between Rodgers and his former player.

Ever since he graduated from the youth set-up at Paradise, the 27-year-old beast has been one of the key names on the Celtic team sheet.

The 29-cap Scotland international has made 320 appearances for the club in that time, scoring 53 goals and notching 63 assists.

It was under Rodgers when he arguably played his best football though. Appearing 149 times under the Northern Irishman, he contributed to a goal every 2.8 games.

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For comparison, current Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans contributes to a goal, whether that be scoring or assisting, every 2.9 matches at the King Power Stadium.

It is clear then that the former Celtic boss is aware of the quality that his former midfielder possesses, even hailing him as “tactically brilliant” in his time North of the border.

Whilst the quality of the Scottish Premiership is some way off that of the Premier League, if McGregor can get anywhere near those numbers again under Rodgers, he would be a fantastic arrival.

Just imagine him alongside Tielemens and Ndidi.

That would certainly give the Foxes’ midfield a different dimension as they potentially head into a UEFA Champions League campaign next season, a competition in which McGregor has played on eight occasions, as well as a further 28 in qualifying.

Still with three years on his contract at Celtic Park, it might well be tough for Leicester to prise the midfielder away but if they can convince him to make the same swap that Rodgers did then he would be a fantastic addition.

AND in more news, why a new deal for Kelechi Iheanacho came too soon…

Rangers youngster Stephen Kelly has spent this season on loan at Ross County and is winning a lot of plaudits for his displays, so Steven Gerrard should consider unleashing him at Ibrox next season.

The 20-year-old joined John Hughes’ side on loan for the season last summer and has been a regular in the side throughout the 2020/21 campaign, making 25 appearances in all competitions, contributing two assists in that time.

The Scotland under-21 international, who is a product of Rangers’ youth academy, has previously spent time on loan with Ayr United in the Championship, where he also impressed, managing six goals and four assists in 33 appearances.

The young midfielder has shown this season that he can cut it at the top level of Scottish football and he could prove to be an important part of Gerrard’s squad next season, especially if we see fellow midfielder Glen Kamara depart as a result of the interest being shown in him by several Premier League clubs.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell recently sat down with Ross County manager John Hughes, who waxed lyrical about Kelly’s talent, comparing him to Rangers regular Steven Davis.

The Staggies boss said: “He’s as brave as a lion and has the courage to get on the ball. He’s my type of player: someone who wants the ball and keeps it ticking over. He understands the game. He’ll look at you and say, ‘I don’t quite get that’. He knows if he grasps and implements it, he’ll be better for it.”

Meanwhile, former Ayr manager Mark Kerr was also full of praise for the young midfielder after his excellent performances last season, saying: “I love him to bits. He’s a manager’s dream and (was) one of the best professionals at the club. He wants to be the best that he can be.”

Therefore, after proving himself in both the Championship and the Premiership on loan in the past two seasons, the next natural step for Kelly would surely be to build on the one senior appearance he has managed at Rangers so far in his career by establishing himself in Gerrard’s first team next season.

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Certainly, if his performances over the last two seasons are anything to go by, it looks as if Kelly could have a bright future at Ibrox.

In other news… Rangers could sign their ideal Kamara heir in 20 y/o wonderkid

A discussion within the Leeds camp over Pablo Hernandez’s potential successor has been going on for a considerable period of time.

On the odd occasion last season, it was thought that the Spaniard’s performances were dwindling. At the age of 35, you can hardly blame those assessments. He’d lost a yard of pace and it was difficult to envisage him playing two games a week in a demanding Championship campaign.

However, once all was said and done, Hernandez walked away with his third successive Player of the Year award.

The attacking midfielder is a cult-hero at Elland Road but this season really has been the one where he’s struggled.

Hernandez has started just twice in the Premier League and despite Rodrigo suffering from an injury over the last few weeks; he’s still struggled to get in the side.

The reason behind that has been Tyler Roberts, someone enjoying somewhat of a rejuvenation in Yorkshire.

In January, he was on the cusp of leaving. Bournemouth were interested in his services but ultimately, the Welshman stayed. His decision to do so has immediately been vindicated.

He has gone from Leeds outcast to the man now looking like the most likely to leave Hernandez in his wake.

Roberts might not have the mouth-watering numbers that Leeds’ Spanish dynamo has recorded in recent seasons but his performances of late have been impressive.

He has had two goals ruled out against West Ham and Chelsea, strikes that would have been fine rewards for his displays.

The West Brom academy product is improving all the time and nothing typifies that more than his performance against Chelsea last weekend.

The 22-year-old was named BT Sport’s Man of the Match and was even included in Alan Shearer’s official Premier League Team of the Week.

Against Chelsea, he was rather wasteful in possession, something he needs to work on to really succeed Hernandez. That being said, he is beginning to make all the right noises.

In offensive areas, he was excellent. Roberts was unlucky to have a goal from close range ruled out while he also struck the bar with a lovely dipping effort from the edge of the box. Roberts completed three dribbles during the contest; the same number as Raphinha and had a further two shots on target.

This was an eye-catching performance, especially against a Chelsea side with five consecutive clean sheets to their name.

Described as “very talented” by Leeds guru Phil Hay, there is evidently a future for Roberts at Elland Road. In January, that didn’t look like the case.

Of course, he still has a considerable way to go to really cement his place in this Leeds team. However, in the absence of Rodrigo he has thrived.

Bielsa has entrusted him ahead of one of the club’s greatest players in the last few years; that is telling. He could just be Hernandez’s replacement.

AND in other news, Forget Gelhardt: Leeds must finally unleash rarely-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “box of tricks”…

After beating Rotherham 1-0 in mid-week, Nottingham Forest are back in Championship action when they take on Derby County at Pride Park on Friday night.

Chris Hughton’s side are beginning to pick up some much-needed momentum as they really begin to pull away from the relegation places, with an impressive four wins and just one defeat in their last seven league games.

The Forest boss made a couple of changes for the victory over Rotherham, resting a few key players and bringing some old faces back into the fold – one of them, Ryan Yates, struck the all-important goal to seal three points.

Hughton is likely to go full strength for the trip to Derby, and with that in mind, below is a look at how Forest might line up.

In goal, Bryce Samba will keep his place in between the sticks, and there are unlikely to be any changes to the back-four either. Yuri Ribeiro was left out of the match-day squad for the victory over the Millers, and that may be a hint that his replacement, Gaetan Bong, will once again be the side’s starting left-back.

The midfield area gives Hughton a major headache, with Yates of course scoring the winner in mid-week. But, Manchester United loanee James Garner may be pushing for a recall to help offer Forest a bit more control with his passing.

Further ahead, Alex Mighten was dropped to the bench against Rotherham after netting the only goal of the game against Blackburn a week prior, and the 18-year-old starlet could provide the injection of pace and trickery to cause Derby problems. That could see 28-year-old Luke Freeman drop to the bench.

Predicted XI: Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, Worrall, Bong; Garner, Cafu; Knockaert, Krovinovic, Mighten; Murray.

West Brom have turned their attentions to Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

The Athletic’s Steve Madeley and Charlie Eccleshare claim the 21-year-old is a target for Sam Allardyce ahead of tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline.

It’s claimed that the Baggies want to make the most of their final domestic loan spot as they battle for survival in the Premier League, and after being dealt a blow in their pursuit of ‘top choice’ Ainsley Maitland-Niles, they are eyeing the Spurs youngster.

Though, they face competition from Italy and Scotland, of which SPFL giants Celtic are said to be keen.

Defensive boost

It’s no secret that Albion need defensive reinforcements and whilst the defensive midfield addition of Okay Yokuslu from Celta Vigo is one step in the right direction, it simply isn’t enough.

Indeed, the Midlands outfit have leaked a whopping 50 goals from their 21 league outings, 14 more goals than any other top-flight team at this stage. In the five home games under Allardyce alone, West Brom have shipped 19 goals.

The 66-year-old has an almighty task to turn things around as they sit nine points adrift of safety, so fixing that abysmal backline is a good decision ahead of the deadline this evening.

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At 6-foot, Tangana offers some much-needed versatility as he’s able to play centrally as well as on the right, the latter of which is probably where he would play as Spurs boss Jose Mourinho sees him as a future full-back.

“Tanganga for me, is a full-back. A multi-functional defensive player but firstly a full-back” said the Special One earlier this campaign, via football.london.

The Hotspur academy graduate is relatively inexperienced having only featured 18 times at a senior level, but he has shown glimpses of his potential as seen by his contribution towards clean sheets against Man City and Watford last term.

He’s even caught the eye of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who was hugely impressed by Tanganga in his debut against them. Spurs fell to a 1-0 defeat that day, but the 21-year-old excelled at right-back when coming up against the enigmatic Sadio Mane.

Indeed, Tanganga graded as Spurs’ best player with a 7.4 SofaScore rating. He made eight clearances, two tackles and won five duels. After the game Klopp waxed lyrical, he told reporters:

“I didn’t know about him and it was a surprise. Our matchday analyst told me about him. He played well. It was nice when the crowd cheered his name. It was his first Premier League game? Very impressive.”

Whilst Darren Bent lauded him as a “very exciting prospect” to Football Insider, so there is certainly a gem to be unearthed here.

Given he’s only on a reported £25k-per-week in north London, the £7.2m-rated titan could be a decent bargain for that final domestic loan spot. You’d imagine Spurs would love him to get regular game time at this level too.

West Brom chief Luke Dowling must secure this move before 11pm tonight.

AND in other news, Exclusive: West Brom backed to seal PL striker before deadline…