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Reported Everton target Luis Diaz pulled off an ‘outrageous’ piece of skill during Colombia’s World Cup qualifying clash with Brazil on Sunday.

Diaz was under challenge from Marquinhos and Fred and shuffled the ball from his right foot onto his left, which he used to dink it between the two players.

The game would end up finishing 0-0, with FC Porto’s Diaz playing the full 90 minutes.

He was otherwise marshalled pretty effectively, winning only two of his nine ground duels (via SofaScore).

Diaz could have been a Blue

Everton tried to sign Diaz in the final knockings of the transfer window as part of a deal that would have seen James Rodriguez go the other way. Ultimately, James’ salary was an insurmountable hurdle (via Carlos Aleman).

It remains to be seen whether the Blues revisit their interest in subsequent windows. Manager Rafael Benitez ‘clearly wanted more options out wide’.

Portuguese football feed Proxima Jornada posted the footage, and here’s what Everton supporters had to say.

Everton fans flock to Diaz clip

“If only James hadn’t got greedy, Diaz would be at Everton now!”

Credit: @MaxyMj3669

“I’m on my knees Brands”

Credit: @Adam_1878

“Get him in, he’d have Trent all over the gaff in the derby.”

Credit: @Joel_1878

“Get him signed up @Everton ASAP”

Credit: @gflan02

“Get to r’s x”

Credit: @MainManMina

“Feel sick”

Credit: @lucas1878_

In other news, Everton fans will be encouraged by what Greg O’Keeffe said about January.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have begun talks with AS Roma over a potential loan move for Amadou Diawara, according to Ekrem Konur. 

The lowdown

Diawara actually made more starts in the Europa League (ten) than he did in Serie A (seven) last season. Admittedly Roma made it all the way to the semi-finals of the continental tournament, with the defensive midfielder averaging 2.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game (via WhoScored).

The 24-year-old has previously been heralded as a ‘phenomenon’ and likened to France legend Marcel Desailly.

Wolves have already done business with Jose Mourinho’s Roma in this summer’s transfer window, agreeing to sell goalkeeper Rui Patricio to the Giallorossi for £9.8m.

The latest

Konur tweeted that Wolves had opened discussions over a loan move for Diawara ‘at the request of Bruno Lage’.

The Midlands outfit are said to ‘have offered’ to take the Guinea international on a ‘one-year loan’, but it’s not clear if that arrangement would include an option or obligation to buy.

The verdict

It doesn’t look like Paulo Fonseca’s departure will open the first team door for Diawara, who’s competing with the likes of Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo for a place in Roma’s starting XI.

On the other hand, Lage is clearly a fan of the Guinean and might see his signing as a means of putting his own stamp on the Wolves midfield. That’s one area where they have not made any additions so far this summer – indeed, it’s worth noting that Lage is also said to be keen on FC Porto’s Sergio Oliveira.

A one-year loan move for Diawara could be well worth pursuing, giving Wolves a robust midfield option without the big commitment of a permanent signing if the temporary spell doesn’t work out.

In other news, this Wolves star could leave Molineux before the window is out.

It is no secret that West Brom have every intention of taking advantage of the upcoming January transfer window, but there is now one reported target that the Baggies have been speculated to sign who could be off the cards, after Dwight Gayle’s new manager Eddie Howe spoke out about the player this week.

What’s the story?

The Newcastle United striker has been said to have “an important role” at the club according to Howe, which will likely flatten the chances of Valerien Ismael being able to tempt the 32-year-old away from Tyneside.

The Magpies boss spoke to Chronicle Live about Gayle’s future with the club, saying: “What I have seen is someone who can certainly score goals, is a brilliant finisher. So Dwight will have an important role.

“He’s very well respected by the group and a well-liked member of the team. I’m going to enjoy working with him, for sure.”

These kind of numbers are exactly what West Brom are looking to add to their side as they head into the second half of the season, as they have struggled to score and finish their many chances over the last few months in the Championship, leading to a seven-point gap from table toppers Fulham currently.

These comments from Howe come after Albion continue to be heavily linked with securing the signature of the £40k-p/w striker, who proved to be a prolific scorer in the Championship during the 2016/17 season, when he scored 23 goals and claimed four assists in just 34 appearances for Newcastle.

What are WBA’s chances of getting Gayle?

West Brom fans could be gutted to hear that Dwight Gayle may not make a return to the club, as many have taken to social media to discuss the highly-speculated move.

When The Baggies Podcast asked on Twitter if fans would like to see Gayle back at The Hawthorns, the response was unanimously positive. One fan replied; “Yep, don’t even have to think about it! Natural poacher who can’t get a game at Newcastle. Bring him home!!”

However, with Howe’s comments suggesting that he still sees the striker as an integral part of the squad on Tyneside, those Baggies fans wanting Gayle back in the Midlands could be left gutted as their hopes of a reunion appear dashed.

Despite the Magpies manager’s verdict on the 32-year-old, though, there is every chance that Newcastle could sign another striker in the January transfer window, thanks to their mega-money takeover.

Gayle doesn’t get much game-time for the Magpies, as Callum Wilson continues to thrive in the centre-forward role for the club, meaning that the temptation to get regular first team football with West Brom could actually be a way for Ismael to secure the 32-year-old’s signature in January.

Either way, the Baggies must find a reliable striker in the upcoming transfer window if Albion want to catch up with Bournemouth and Fulham to secure automatic promotion back into the Premier League next season.

In other news: Valerien Ismael drops transfer window hints

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira will believe his squad is relatively light on numbers as the January transfer window approaches, according to Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.

What’s the story?

The 45-year-old oversaw an extensive squad rebuild over the summer, with several young, exciting acquisitions replacing multiple experienced campaigners.

However, Bridge stated in a recent interview that Vieira is likely to want further reinforcements over the coming months despite their strong start to the season.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “How much they do in January, I don’t know. I think Palace look pretty settled at the moment, but if Patrick Vieira was on this call, he’d say he was probably a bit light.”

Crystal Palace fans will be intrigued

Although it’s unlikely that the Eagles will add extensively in January, Bridge’s latest revelation will be an intriguing one for the club’s supporters.

Gaps at right-wing, central midfield and right-back are evident throughout Vieira’s first-team squad, especially with Conor Gallagher expected to return to parent club Chelsea at the end of the campaign and age to finally catch up with the likes of Joel Ward and James McArthur.

Therefore, the capital club’s fanbase are likely to be eager for additional acquisitions over the next couple of transfer windows as they look to continue their recent progression.

Although Palace have only won three of their 12 Premier League fixtures to date, their performances have been extremely promising, and famous victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have illustrated their potential.

Securing the signatures of two or three more talented stars would have the potential to propel Vieira’s charges even further up the top-flight table and provide hope of a top-half finish for the first time since 2014/15.

It remains to be seen whether chairman Steve Parish can find enough room in Palace’s budget to dip back into the transfer market over the winter, but the fanbase will be eagerly anticipating their next move. The club’s chairman and Vieira simply have to act to propel them to the next level.

And, in other news…Forget Kouyate: Palace’s “clever” £6.3m-rated maestro must be unleashed amid big blow

An update has emerged on reported Leeds United transfer target Matheus Cunha regarding Hertha Berlin’s valuation of the Brazilian.

What’s the talk?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, via Sport Witness, Leeds have a concrete interest in Hertha Berlin attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha heading into the final few weeks of the window.

The report claimed that £21m (€25m) would be enough to tempt the Bundesliga club to part ways with the Brazilian, with AS Monaco and Zenit St Petersburg also hot on his trail.

Get it done

Victor Orta must sanction a deal to bring Cunha to Elland Road before the end of the transfer window. The midfield maestro could be a terrific addition to the squad and significantly strengthen Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking options.

Firstly, his versatility could be a useful asset to the Argentine coach. He played in a plethora of positions for Hertha in the Bundesliga last season, filling in six separate roles – including on the wing, through the middle as a striker, in the number 10 position and as a central midfielder. This means that Bielsa could use him in a variety of ways and would not be limited in what he could do with him in the Premier League.

Secondly, Cunha has proven that he has the quality to make an impact in the final third at the top level. The forward provided seven goals and four assists in 25 league starts last term, having managed five goals and nine starts in the previous campaign. This suggests that he could arrive in England and be a reliable option for Bielsa in attack.

Only three Leeds players scored more goals than him in the 2020/21 campaign, whilst no-one from the Whites was able to match Cunha’s sublime average WhoScored rating of 7.33. Therefore, he could improve their current squad and add some extra quality in the wide and central attacking roles.

He also comes highly recommended. Last year, former Hertha head coach Bruno Labbadia lauded the attacker and claimed that he is capable of “individual brilliance”. He said: “Matheus has something special. He can always produce something with a moment of individual brilliance.”

At the age of 22, the midfielder also has plenty of growth left in him. He could be a player who Bielsa is able to develop on the training ground to increase his value, which is why picking him up now for £21m could be a shrewd piece of business from the financial side over the long run whilst also improving the playing squad immediately.

AND in other news, Orta must avoid £45m Leeds blunder over “unplayable” beast, fans would be livid…

talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has delivered a promising update on Southampton’s interest in Stade Brest defender Romain Perraud, which will surely leave Saints fans excited.

The South Coast club have regularly been linked with the French defender in recent weeks and now it seems as if a deal is close to completion, as Crook confirmed on Twitter that a deal is now close to reaching a successful conclusion for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, who have seemingly seen off interest from Leeds United and Newcastle United to sign the 23-year-old.

Perraud enjoyed an excellent campaign with Brest in Ligue 1 last season, making 36 appearances in the French top-flight, in which he contributed three goals and seven assists, earning a solid 6.84 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Hasenhuttl is in desperate need of a left-back ahead of next season, after it was confirmed that Ryan Bertrand would leave the club following the expiry of his contract, whilst Jake Vokins’ lack of appearances on loan at Sunderland in League One emphasised that he is not ready for a starting role in the Premier League.

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Therefore, it is great news for the Austrian that Southampton are close to confirming their first signing of the summer transfer window, and if Perraud can replicate his performances with Brest in the Premier League next season, then he will surely prove to be a shrewd acquisition.

We may well see a change in shape in order to accommodate Perraud next season, as last season saw Kyle Walker-Peters regularly bomb forward down the right-hand side from right-back, whereas Bertrand would play a much more conservative role and effectively become part of a back three.

However, Perraud very much seems to be an attacking full-back, so it seems unlikely that he will be utilised in a similar role, which could prove to be a good thing for the Saints when you consider their lack of attacking impetus in a number of games towards the end of the season.

Considering the dire need for defensive reinforcements, particularly at full-back, Southampton fans will surely be absolutely delighted with this update from Crook, and hopefully, Perraud’s signing will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

And, in other news… Southampton handed huge boost with “explosive” star, Semmens must deliver

According to RMC Sport, Marseille chiefs have been left angry with defender Duje Caleta-Car after he refused to join West Ham United or Wolverhampton Wanderers before the deadline.

The Lowdown: West Ham summer completed…

As the Irons have completed their summer business, it’s safe to say most supporters will be fairly happy with the outcome given they had just Alphonse Areola to show for a majority of the window.

In the end, manager David Moyes came out with Aroela, centre-back Kurt Zouma, midfielder Alex Kral and attacker Nikola Vlasic – with only the lack of another striker being a sour point.

The central defensive area was a big topic for much of the window, and before West Ham landed Zouma, they were apparently in the mix to land Caleta-Car from Marseille.

The Latest: Marseille chiefs angry with Caleta-Car…

As per RMC Sport, chiefs at the Ligue 1 giants are angry with Caleta-Car after he refused to join West Ham a few weeks ago, or Wolves before the deadline.

Marseille apparently needed to ‘lift some of the constraints’ weighing on the club in this transfer market and were desperate to find a solution to sell the player.

Valencia came forward in the last minute but to no avail, with the 24-year-old now set to stay at the Stade Vélodrome in January.

The Verdict: Blessing in disguise?

Despite Caleta-Car having perks of his own, standing at a colossal 6 foot 4 and possessing the physicality for Premier League football, Zouma stands out as the better option.

The latter man has a wealth of experience both in Europe and the English top-flight – all while being a calm and composed option at the back for West Ham.

He averaged an impressive 90.9% pass accuracy out from the back over 22 league starts for Chelsea last season and even pitched in with five goals going forward (WhoScored).

Missing out on the £22.5 million-valued Caleta-Car could actually come as a blessing in disguise.

In other news: ‘Yayyyy’, ‘Ooooo’, ‘Actually mental’…West Ham fans rave over ‘fantastic news’, find out more here.

According to David Ornstein, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set for crunch talks with Mikel Arteta in an attempt to push through a move to Everton.

The Lowdown: Late drama

The Toffees have been pushing to sign Maitland-Niles, who is currently being frozen out with Premier League strugglers Arsenal.

The Gunners have refused to let him depart, and the 24-year-old even took to Instagram to share his anger with not being allowed to leave (The Guardian).

The Latest: Maitland-Niles set for Arteta talks

Now, as per Ornstein, it seems £14.4m-valued Maitland-Niles (Transfermarkt) is to make one last attempt to move to Goodison Park.

He ‘plans to meet’ for talks with Arteta ‘this afternoon’, hoping to seal a dramatic late switch before the end of the deadline.

The Verdict: Desperate

There is no doubt about it – Maitland-Niles is desperate to leave the Emirates Stadium. That is hardly surprising – he made just 11 appearances across the first half of last season for the club, and has only come on from the bench twice this time around (Transfermarkt).

Given his versatility – he can play on either side of the back four and can feature across the midfield – he is a very interesting option for Rafael Benitez, especially given Stuart Pearce called him “outstanding” last season.

The Spaniard will be hoping those discussions with Arteta go the right way, as this move could add depth behind Seamus Coleman and some extra quality in midfield too.

In other news, Everton fans react to this big striker news.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has been nominated for Premier League player of the season, as confirmed by the Aston Villa official website [Aston Villa FC].

In what was an outstanding Premier League season for the England international, he notched six goals and ten assists catapulting his boyhood heroes to an 11th placed top-flight finish [Transfermarkt].

Up against some fierce competition, Grealish will need to see off the challenge of fellow nominees Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Mohamed Salah and Tomas Soucek, with Kane and Dias likely to be frontrunners.

Pitching up against some of the best individuals in the country, few could argue against the creative midfielder achieving such a prestigious accolade. Averaging 3.1 key passes and 2.5 dribbles per game for the Villains [WhoScored], his ability to open up space has been a thorn in opposition backlines this campaign.

Loads of Villa fans have been sure to back up Grealish for the award and who could blame them! One supporter called the news ‘amazing’…

Villa fans joyous at Grealish recognition

“He won’t win it because of the time out injured but a total class act. If he’d stayed fit all season, firmly believe villa would be in Europe now. Onto next season for hopefully a higher finish providing we can keep hold of him and strengthen the squad UTV”

 Credit: @craigta64695079

 “Can you imagine the scenes if he wins this”

 Credit: @LawsAVFC

 “Some player”

 Credit: @coley_avfc

 “Amazing”

 Credit: @TAJ20_UTD

  “Player of the season nominee and missed 13 games guys different gravy”

 Credit: @jackscastleton2

 “Wow congratulations Jack”

Credit: @gillevilla

In other news, Celtic have earmarked a former Aston Villa man to spearhead their rebuild.

Leeds United will target a new centre-back this summer, according to fresh claims…

What’s the word?

The Yorkshire giants appear to have narrowly avoided the drop this campaign after they replaced the iconic Marcelo Bielsa with Jesse Marsch back in February but their defensive problems still remain as one of the Premier League’s leakiest backlines.

However, come the off-season, it appears that a new central option will sit high on the agenda, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke, who told GIVEMESPORT:

“It’s definitely a position Leeds will be looking to strengthen this summer. We all know how many goals they’ve conceded this season, it’s been way too many.

“That’s not just down to injuries, they’ve been way too open as well, so they’ll be looking to bolster their defensive options in the summer transfer window.”

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Good news for Marsch

Indeed, the Whites’ struggles defensively this campaign have been no secret.

With four games left to play, Leeds sit five points clear of the relegation zone and prior to the weekend’s games, no team had conceded more goals (68) than Marsch’s side.

Even rock-bottom Norwich City had kept out more goals before their defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Things have started to improve recently, coinciding with the return of club captain Liam Cooper, who had missed the bulk of their matches from November through to March.

Diego Llorente’s form has also somewhat transformed in recent outings, whilst the American’s only other options in the role are Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch – the latter has been something of a sicknote ever since his arrival.

At times, their injury list has been so severe that vice-skipper Luke Ayling has gone into the middle to help out the team.

Therefore, it is certainly great news to see the Yorkshire side mooted with a move for a new option as Marsch is certainly going to need further quality in the area heading into next season, where they absolutely cannot flirt with the drop once again.

Leeds have already been linked with some interesting names, including the manager’s former Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol and fellow Bundesliga colossus Timo Hubers.

It’s a sign of encouragement heading into what should be a busy summer of business for Victor Orta and co.

AND in other news, Orta must launch Leeds bid for “complete” £72k-p/w gem, he could be their Luis Suarez…