With two stars leaving and Messi presumably staying, Miami can build a younger team around their main man – even if it they lose chemistry
It was a pretty dramatic video, all said. But it was a good one. The key moving moments were all there.
Jordi Alba looks up at a camera in slow motion (because things can never be done at full speed when you're trying to be dramatic). He walks towards the camera, does the thing where he looks around his stadium. Pictures flash up on the screen. We get videos of Alba, the academy kid; Alba, the Valencia misfit; Alba, the Barcelona star; Alba, the Inter Miami stalwart. There are pictures with his glut of football celebrity friends, coaches, and teammates: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Luis Enrique. The whole thing is played out in Spanish with English captioning. Alba thanks his clubs, his country, his family: 'This is yours, too.'
It ends in a perfect manner. Alba says and the screen fades to black.
Nicely done, Jordi. He's nailed the cliches here. And it's a little deserved slice of self-indulgence to end what was a wonderful career. But in the scope of this season, it simply begs a question:
It certainly appears that significant change is coming to Inter Miami. Alba has followed Busquets out the door in Miami. He, too, will leave South Florida – in a footballing capacity, at least – at the end of the season. The first retirement made sense – Busquets was slowing down on the pitch at 37. But Alba just signed a new contract and he's arguably played like the best left back in MLS's history this season, with five goals and 14 assists to his name. But instead, we're left with the Barca boys leaving Miami one by one. Luis Suarez may be next. And even if the rumors are true and Messi will stay, this feels like the end of an era. Messi's Miami 1.0 is coming to an end. Time for its new version to begin.
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A wonderful career
One former Inter Miami staffer used to call Alba "the little engine that could." And that's a fair summary of this all. His generation of Spanish players was littered with stars, who by divine right were going to play international soccer. It was not a question, for example, if Xavi would be a fully fledged international, but .
Alba wasn't like that. He had a significant physical issue. Alba never got his growth spurt. He was 5-7 as a teenager, and didn't get any taller. That made him positionally awkward. Blessed with the pace and trickery of most wingers, but a defender at heart, no one could quite figure out what to do with him. The early solution was to stick him at left wing and see what happens. In his early 20s, the national team seemed so, so far away – even if Spain had a glaring hole on the left side of defense.
Valencia unlocked him. Moving an attacking player into a defensive role was not a new concept at the time, but Alba seemed the perfect fit. He had the undeniable technical skill. But he also had the grit. There was a bite to him. He seemed to like to defend. Besides, Spain had already been captivated by a similar ilk of player with Brazilian fullback Dani Alves dominating on the right side of the pitch for Barcelona. Why couldn't Spain have their own version of that other wing with Alba?
Turns out, they could. Left back was his perfect spot. He got his move from Valencia to the club he supported as a kid, Barcelona, and it took off from there: La Liga titles, Champions Leagues, and Copas Del Rey. He became a stalwart for the national team, scored the winning goal in the Euro 2012 final, and captained La Roja on numerous occasions.
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Connection with Messi
It is a compliment of the highest order when Alba is referred to as Messi's running mate. This was, in effect, what kept Alba ticking over. Even as his defensive and athletic skills waned in his early 30s, Alba stayed relevant because he had an understanding with Messi like no other. You've seen the goal countless times. Messi drops into a central position and fires an angled ball into Alba's path on the left. The full back either pings it back first time for Messi to finish, takes a dribble, and then serves Messi to finish. Or, he dribbles forward a few yards, and then cuts back for Messi to finish. The two have connected for 33 goals over the course of their career. It's impossible to count how many times that move has been foiled, too.
Messi summed it up best on Alba's retirement post:
"It's crazy how many assists you've given me over all these years. Who is going to give me those passes from behind now?" he wrote.
This is just about as much emotion as Messi has ever shown.
Alba made the jump to Miami after it was clear Messi would. There were some doubts about his Barcelona future as early as 2022. But he stuck around.
Once Messi announced he was joining the MLS club on July 16, 2023, Busquets announced the same day and Alba did so four days later. The Blaugrana boys just to unite, and Alba completed the trio (Suarez, of course, would follow in December).
Getty Images Sport
A surprise exit?
And now he is gone. It would not be an overstatement to say that this is a shock. Miami have been linked with former Tottenham full-back Sergio Reguilon for a while now – a deal that will now surely get over the line. But Alba signed a new contract 147 days ago. Back then, he seemed eager to keep playing:
"I’m happy to renew my contract because I have the desire to continue competing, and because of how I feel at the club, with the affection I receive from fans at every match,” Alba said at the time. “We have that desire to continue competing, to continue winning, and, hopefully, win as many titles as possible."
Those were not the words of a footballer eager to hang them up. The new deal, in fact, was set to keep him in Miami for two full seasons. It was, in effect, a sign that Messi, too, would stay. Alba is sticking around? Messi would surely follow.
Yet he left all the same. It is entirely possible, of course, that things have changed. Alba is 36. He will turn 37 right after next year's MLS season starts. Even after 28 matches at left back and left wing this year, his body may be giving up on him. These things happen to athletes, especially those who rely on running.
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Changing of the guard
A word on that Reguilon thing. He is nowhere near the caliber of football Alba is. But he is also 28 years old, more than good enough for MLS, and, crucially, a free agent. Sure, he will command a signing-on fee and a few trimmings here and there. But Reguilon is an absolute bargain who will no doubt make an impact at this level. Yes, it is peculiar that no one has picked him up since his Spurs contract expired on June 30. Perhaps it is possible that, in the small world of soccer, his pending Miami move was common knowledge. Why waste money on a footballer who was going to be elsewhere in six months, anyway?
He is also, more broadly, representative of a change. Look at Miami's decisions over the past few months, and everything seems geared up to a bit of a refresh. Busquets is soon to be gone, which is fairly unsurprising. Rodrigo De Paul's signing, completed three months ago, basically signalled that Busquets would leave at the end of the year. A little salary cap shifting here and there, and Miami might now have a bit more flexibility heading into the offseason.
If Suarez looks in the mirror, ponders his future, and realizes that he might be actively harming his body by playing soccer at this point, there might be even more wiggle room.
O Botafogoreoganizou sua rota na busca por um lateral-direito no mercado. De acordo com o “ge”, o português Wilson Manafá, que atuou no Porto e era cotado no Alvinegro, passou a ficar distante de um acordo.
A expectativa no Glorioso é para contratar um jogador que tenha características defensivas, com o intuito de equilibrar mais o elenco. O reforço será uma alternativa a Di Plácido e suprirá tanto a baixa de Rafael, que se recupera de lesão grave, quanto a saída de Daniel Borges para o América-MG.
+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Líder!
Manafá tem como característica mais forte ser um jogador mais ofensivo e chegou a atuar como ponta em alguns momentos quanto defendeu o Porto. No entanto, como o Alvinegro tem um lateral-direito que também avança com frequência ao ataque como Di Plácido, o clube o descartou.
A diretoria também se assustou com os valores pedidos pelo atleta e sequer formalizou a proposta. O Lance! confirmou esta informação com o empresário de Manafá.
O Botafogo é cauteloso na busca por jogadores para a posição. Outro jogador na mira é Mateo Ponte, do Danubio, que também não chegou a receber uma proposta do clube alvinegro.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot revealed why star winger Federico Chiesa was left out of the Reds squad for their upcoming Champions League fixture against Galatasaray this week. The Italian displayed impressive performances in the club's last couple of matches. After starring with two assists in the win over Southampton, he scored the Reds' solitary goal against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Chiesa's impressive run of form
Chiesa enjoyed an impressive run of form last week as he scored a goal and provided two assists for the Reds. He first starred with a couple of assists in the club's 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup and then scored the only goal for Liverpool in their 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportChiesa dropped from Liverpool squad for Galatasaray clash
Earlier on Monday, Liverpool announced a 21-member travelling squad to Turkey that will face Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday. While Slot named a star-studded roster, Chiesa was a notable absentee from the list of players.
Slot revealed why Chiesa was left out
Speaking to reporters, the Liverpool manager said: "He got a little niggle, I think it is the word you use here in England, in the last game against Palace. He tried it today, he was on the pitch in the beginning but he couldn't end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it's Chelsea again."
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Getty Images SportChiesa important for key Premier League away fixture
Chiesa has proved to be a key member of Slot's first-team in the 2025-26 campaign and the Dutch coach will hope that he recovers from his injury soon and be ready to take the field in their crucial away fixture of Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal are beginning to turn a Liverpool target’s head as we enter the final few weeks of this summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta’s side making an approach for the player amid their long-winded pursuit of Eberechi Eze.
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Sporting director Andrea Berta has already made quite the impression in his first summer operating as Edu’s replacement, spending north of £200 million on the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star striker Viktor Gyokeres.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£208m
The Gunners are seemingly determined to end the club’s two-decade-long wait for another Premier League title, and despite their need to offload surplus squad members right now, Arsenal could still sign Eze before the window closes.
They view the England international as a more potent playmaker in terms of goals, and who could complement club captain Martin Odegaard in a central role (Sky Sports).
Eze is Arsenal’s top target from now until the transfer deadline on September 1, and they’re expected to make a formal bid for the Palace star after holding extensive talks with his representatives.
The 27-year-old has also spoken directly to both Arteta and Berta about joining Arsenal, according to Ben Jacobs for talkSPORT, with some initial talks taking place with Palace as the north Londoners aim to get his signing done for around £55 million.
However, Eze may not be there only signing in the next few weeks, with Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet believed to be a target as well.
The promising Ligue 1 sensation only signed a new deal until 2029 in May, but some reports suggest Jacquet is increasingly tempted by the prospect of a move to Arsenal, with Fabrizio Romano also reporting that an approach has been made.
Jeremy Jacquet debating future with camp as Arsenal and Liverpool eye moves
According to journalist Graeme Bailey for TBR Football, Jacquet is holding talks with representatives over his future amid this contact from Arsenal, while it is also believed that Premier League champions Liverpool have registered an interest.
While Rennes insist that he’s not for sale, the 20-year-old is still speaking to his camp about what could be next for him, so Jacquet’s head may be turning amid this attention from England.
There is a feeling among the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool that he could still be attainable despite Rennes’ stance, with the idea of a ‘buy-to-loan’ type move, similar to how Arteta’s side got William Saliba from Saint-Etienne, not ruled out.
Even in that scenario, Rennes would keep Jacquet in France for at least another season, but Arteta would have to wait before fully integrating him into the squad.
His price tag is rumoured to be around £25 million, which could be a savvy investment for the future considering his already-glowing reputation across the channel.
Jacquet has been dubbed the “technical leader of his generation” by his former development coach at Rennes, Pierre-Emmanuel Bordeau, and football writer Phil Costa believes he’s “one of the best defensive prospects in France” in a similar mould to Ben White.
يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة اليد رجال بالنادي الأهلي، لخوض مباراة هامة أمام فيزبريم، في ثاني مبارياته ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد.
وتقام البطولة على صالة نادي النادي بالعاصمة الإدارية الجديدة، تحت شعار “مصر تستقبل العالم من القارات للعاصمة الإدارية الجديدة”.
ويتواجد فريق كرة اليد بالنادي الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية من البطولة، والتي تضم ناديي فيزبريم المجري وسيدني الأسترالي.
طالع أيضاً.. موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة الزمالك وبرشلونة اليوم في كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد.. والمعلق
واستهل الأهلي مشواره بالبطولة بفوز كبير على نظيره جامعة سيدني بنتيجة 41-14، بالمباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء الجمعة الماضية.
ويدخل الأهلي المباراة محتلاً المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة الثانية برصيد نقطتين، متساوياً مع نظيره فيزبريم المتصدر بنفس عدد النقاط. موعد مباراة الأهلي وفيزبريم في كأس العالم لكرة اليد
تقام المباراة اليوم الأحد في تمام الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي وفيزبريم اليوم
تنقل المباراة عبر قناة أون سبورت 2. معلق مباراة الأهلي وفيزبريم اليوم
يتولى خالد خيري مهمة التعليق على المباراة.
ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا
Manchester United now want to sign a “crazy” Viktor Gyokeres alternative who scored 31 goals in the 2024-25 campaign, a report has revealed.
Gyokeres edging closer to Emirates move
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has now expressed a desire to wrap up a move for Gyokeres as soon as possible, having travelled to Portugal to discuss the terms of the deal.
The Swedish striker joining the Gunners could be viewed as a major blow for United, given that he scored a remarkable 54 goals in all competitions last season, and Ruben Amorim was known to be desperate to reunite with his former player.
United’s striker options are woefully thin, with Joshua Zirkzee and Matheus Cunha not out and out number nines, Chido Obi very inexperienced and Rasmus Hojlund still struggling to find his feet.
Thankfully, there are a number of alternative options on the shortlist, with the Red Devils believed to be in pole position for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who was prolific in front of goal on loan at Galatasaray last season.
According to a report from Spain, Man United may also be willing to take a punt on more of an unknown quantity, with it being revealed they now want to sign Almeria striker Luis Suarez, off the back of an impressive campaign in the Spanish second tier.
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United have joined several Premier League and Serie A clubs in the race for Suarez, with Almeria likely to find it difficult to keep hold of their star player beyond the summer, given that they failed to achieve their goal of promotion to La Liga.
A deal would not break the bank for the Red Devils, however, with the Spanish club believed to be holding out for a fee of at least €25m (£22m), amid the widespread interest in his signature.
Signing "crazy" Suarez could be gamble for Man Utd
The Almeria star undoubtedly had a very impressive 2024-25 campaign, netting a total of 31 goals in all competitions, but there are doubts over whether he is at the level to lead the line for Amorim’s side.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
La Liga
41
27
8
Copa del Rey
2
4
0
Notably, the Colombian hasn’t exactly set the world alight in his previous La Liga campaigns, netting just four goals for Almeria in the 2021-22 season.
At 27-years-old, the centre-forward could now be entering his prime, but having never proven himself at the top level, it would be a real gamble for Man United to make a move this summer.
Almeria's Luis Suarez
That said, Suarez has been lauded for his “crazy” quality by scout Jacek Kulig, and at £22m he would be an affordable signing for Man United, so it could be worth bringing the Almeria in alongside a more proven striker.
Nottingham Forest now want to sign a “great” £8.5 million ace as a possible replacement for Anthony Elanga, according to a new report.
Newcastle still chasing Elanga 12 months on
During the 2024/25 season, Forest had many players step up and perform at a very high level on a consistent basis, with one of those players doing just that being Elanga. The Sweden international bagged five goals and registered nine assists in 36 Premier League games in his debut campaign with the club, but he found a new level last season, scoring six goals to go with 11 assists.
He was a big contributor to Forest reaching the Europa Conference League, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed, as teams from around the Premier League begin to circle – it was revealed last week that Newcastle United had made contact with the Reds over a possible deal for Elanga.
The Magpies were interested in a deal last summer, and now Eddie Howe has returned in the hope of getting his man this time around. Howe is said to be a big admirer of the winger and has made him his number one target this summer.
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However, they are not alone in their pursuit, as Arsenal have now joined the race to sign Elanga. Journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed the Gunners are one of several sides interested in the Forest attacker ahead of the transfer window reopening next week.
The report adds that teams such as Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been watching the Swedish international ‘closely’. Forest are determined to keep hold of Elanga, but have reportedly placed a £60 million price tag on his head.
Forest want to sign £8.5m Moro as possible Elanga replacement
The mounting interest in Elanga will have the board worried, and according to Spanish outlets, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing winger Raúl Moro from Real Valladolid.
Raul Moro
The Spanish side suffered relegation from La Liga last season, but despite his team’s struggles, Moro had a breakout season, netting four times in 33 La Liga games. The report states his ‘impeccable’ form hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Forest as well as AFC Bournemouth keep a close eye on his situation.
The report states that no offers have arrived for the 22-year-old as of yet, and despite Valladolid suffering relegation, they have placed a €10 million asking price on the winger, which is roughly £8.5 million.
Apps
33
Starts
26
Goals
4
Shots per game
1.4
Assists
5
Touches
34.7
Big chances created
8
Key passes
1.3
Succ dribbles
1.7 (45%)
Ground duels won
2.9 (48%)
This isn’t the first time Moro, who has been dubbed “great” by scout Jacek Kulig, has been linked with a move to England. Back in December it was revealed that both Liverpool and Manchester City were interested in signing the former Spain under-21 international, but it remains unclear if they are both keeping an eye on his situation.
Spinner will be available for five Blast matches and Championship fixture with Surrey
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jun-2024Shoaib Bashir, the England Test offspinner, has joined Worcestershire on a short-term loan that includes five Vitality Blast appearances, starting with Friday evening’s clash with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, and a County Championship match against the table-toppers Surrey.Bashir, 20, enjoyed a breakthrough winter with Ben Stokes’ England team, claiming 17 wickets in three appearances against India in February and March, including two five-wicket hauls.However, his selection had come off the back of limited playing time at his home county of Somerset, for whom he had claimed just 10 previous wickets in six matches since making his professional debut in June 2023.With Jack Leach established as Somerset’s premier first-class spinner, the club had long been realistic about the prospect of a loan move to enhance his chances of playing. In March, Jason Kerr, the head coach, said he would not “stand in the way of anyone’s opportunity”.The knee injury that curtailed Leach’s involvement on the India tour meant that Bashir played as Somerset’s premier spinner for three County Championship matches in April. However, he took just four wickets at 74.75 in the early-season conditions and has not featured since.Most recently, he has been playing alongside Leach in the county 2nd XI T20 competition, but now he has a chance to add his five senior T20 appearances – most recently Somerset’s victory in last summer’s Blast semi-final over Surrey, in which he didn’t bat or bowl.”We are delighted to have Shoaib Bashir join us on loan,” Alan Richardson, Worcestershire’s head coach, said. “Shoaib is a player of immense talent and potential, and we believe his presence will significantly strengthen our squad for the Vitality Blast and our next Championship fixture against Surrey.””We’re confident that he will make a positive impact from tonight’s game against Northamptonshire. We’re excited to welcome him, and we are looking forward to seeing him in action.”Worcestershire are currently fifth on net run-rate in the Blast North Group, albeit with the same number of points as the teams above them, after two wins and a loss in their first three games. In the Championship, they have yet to win any of their seven Division One matches, and their most recent match at New Road was abandoned as a draw after three washed-out days.
Of all Mikel Arteta’s signings as Arsenal boss, there has perhaps been none as controversial as Kai Havertz.
Since the German joined the club for £65m in the summer of 2023, he has faced his fair share of criticism from fans and pundits alike, and considering his slow start to life in North London, scoring one goal and providing one assist in his first 12 Premier League games, it’s wasn’t hard to see why.
However, once he moved up top, things started to look much, much better, and before his hamstring injury in February, the German international had amassed a tally of 32 goal involvements in 47 appearances there for the club.
Yet, if recent reports are to be believed, even a rate of return such as that might not be enough to keep him in the starting lineup, as the club are now confident of signing one of Europe’s most exciting strikers.
Arsenal's striker search
Before getting to the striker in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other top poachers Arsenal are reportedly interested in ahead of the summer transfer window, such as Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian international could be available for around £58m at the end of the season and with a tally of 20 goals and six assists in just 41 appearances, that could prove to be value for money.
Closer to home, the Gunners have kept Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins on their shortlist.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Englishman is a player liked by new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, and, with a haul of 29 goal involvements in 49 games this term, it’s not hard to see why, although he’s still some way off the club’s most exciting target: Viktor Gyokeres.
According to a recent report from Spain, the North Londoners have maintained their strong interest in the Sporting CP monster and are now ‘confident’ of securing his signature.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
However, there is still the small case of his fee, which, according to the report, would be around €70m, which comes out to about £60m.
While that’s a sizable sum of money, this is still a transfer Arsenal should do all they can to get over the line, as Gyokeres could be transformational for them, even if he’d be bad news for Havertz.
How Gyokeres compares to Havertz
Should Arsenal get this transfer over the line and bring Gyokeres to the Emirates next season, it would undoubtedly be with the intention of having him start as many games as possible.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal
So, that would also mean that, when fit again, Havertz would be his primary competition for regular game time, but who comes out on top when we compare them?
Well, despite his decent rate of return in the last year or so, the Sporting CP star wipes the floor with the former Chelsea ace when it comes to their raw output, which is, of course, the most important metric for a number nine.
For example, in 46 appearances, totalling 3700 minutes, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 47 goals and provided 11 assists.
That means he’s currently averaging 1.26 goal involvements per game or one every 63.79 minutes, which only lends credence to ESPN Head Writer Mark Ogdan’s claim that he’s “the hottest striker in Europe.”
Appearances
46
34
Minutes
3700′
2776′
Goals
47
15
Assists
11
5
Goal Involvements per Match
1.26
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
63.79′
138.8′
In comparison, prior to his injury, the former Bayer Leverkusen star had amassed a tally of 15 goals and five assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2776 minutes, which comes out to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.70 games or one every 138.8 minutes.
There is an argument to be made that the Portuguese league is an easier level, but given the extent to which the former Coventry City gem is outperforming the Gunners ace, we reckon he’d still be more prolific in a top-five league.
Ultimately, if Arsenal have the chance to sign Gyokeres this summer, they have to take it, even if it spells the end of regularly starting games for Havertz.
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Everton are believed to be interested in signing a player who is a “massive favourite” of David Moyes in the summer transfer window, a new update has claimed.
Moyes plans summer signings at Everton
The Blues’ Premier League season is starting to peter out a little in terms of important matches, with survival all but secured for another season. Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal was another good result under Moyes, though, with the Scot continuing to do an excellent job during his second stint at Goodison Park.
There will now be lots of focus on possible new signings for Everton this summer, with contact reportedly made with the representatives of SC Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl over a move to Merseyside. The 22-year-old has been affected by injuries in 2024/25, but he is a versatile player who could be a long-term signing.
Feyenoord defender David Hancko has also been mentioned as an option for the Blues once the current season reaches its conclusion, following another impressive campaign for the Eredivisie giants.
Lorenzo Lucca has been linked with a move to Everton as well, with the Udinese striker a towering 6 foot 7 inches tall, which is the same height as Peter Crouch. The Italian has scored 10 goals in 25 starts in Serie A this season, also picking up nine yellow cards, highlighting a tenacious side to his game.
Everton fighting West Ham for "very clever" Sunderland star Neil
According to a fresh report from Football Insider, Everton are in the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil at the end of the season.
West Ham are thought to be providing competition for the signature of the Black Cats skipper, but the 23-year-old is a “massive favourite” of Moyes.
Sunderland are “bracing themselves for ample bids” from Premier League clubs, assuming the Championship side fail to earn promotion.
Luton Town's Elijah Adebayo in action withSunderland's DanielNeil
Neil may not be a top-flight player currently, which could naturally put some Everton fans off, but he could be a shrewd addition to Moyes’ squad. At 23, the Englishman has already become one of Sunderland’s most important players, captaining them at a young age, and Black Cats manager Regis Le Bris lauded him back in January.
“I think he did well during the first part of the season, but it wasn’t so obvious for the observers maybe, because he was really important in adjusting all the behaviour of his teammates. He’s very clever, very important to adjust the formation and balance the team.”
This season, Neil has started 39 of Sunderland’s 40 Championship matches, outlining his availability, and his quality and energy in midfield could be a real asset for Everton.
Everton struck gold on “constant threat” who’s worth more than Longstaff
Everton made a good investment with the signing
ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025
He could be seen as a long-term replacement for Idrissa Gueye, who is now 35 years of age and whose contract expires at the end of this season.