All posts by h716a5.icu

Aston Villa have had a memorable season in the Premier League during Unai Emery's first spell at the club.

The Spaniard has taken the Villans from lurking around the relegation zone to pushing for a top-six finish with just three games remaining in the league this season.

With the end of the season in sight, a lot of speculation regarding the club's off-field activity has surfaced, surrounding potential summer signings and the pending arrival of Mateu Alemany, who has been director of football at FC Barcelona.

Ranging from Real Madrid ace Marco Asensio to in-demand midfielder Manuel Ugarte, the Midlands side have had their name stamped on several players ahead of the summer transfer window and to tailor Emery's desires to take the squad to the next level in the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Brennan Johnson to Aston Villa?

Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson has been the subject of a lot of speculation leading up to the summer, as the attacking midfielder faces an ongoing relegation battle with his current club.

As per FootballTransfers, Aston Villa are one of the clubs monitoring the future of the Wales international, who is contracted to Forest until 2026, with other potential suitors including Arsenal, Newcastle United and Manchester City.

However, Forest are reportedly against letting the forward leave the club, and according to the report, they will 'refuse offers' for the homegrown gem. As such, it also remains to be seen how much Johnson would command in the current market, although the aforementioned site estimates his worth to be around £36m.

What could Brennan Johnson bring to Aston Villa?

Villa Park is an exciting place to be as the season comes to a close, with European football still a possibility and Emery getting the best out of his squad, the club look to be on the up ahead of the summer break.

The Spaniard has been open to his ideas of strengthening the team through new signings, as revealed by The Athletic last month.

Having contributed to 11 goals this season in 34 league appearances for Forest (scoring eight and assisting three), via Transfermarkt, Johnson has cemented himself as a key player for the club, hence their reluctance to let him potentially vacate this summer.

The City Ground's homegrown talent has even been likened to Villa's Leon Bailey – in terms of statistical profile – by FBref, as the versatile forward has found himself playing as both a winger and advanced central midfielder this season.

He could be a significant upgrade for Emery's budding Villa side, with him outperforming Bailey in many key metrics that will catch the Spaniard's eye.

The "unbelievable" Welshman, as described by his national team coach Rob Page, has averaged more expected goals and assists during the campaign, as well as more goal-creating actions per 90, more tackles won per 90 and more shots on target per 90, via FBref.

Also hailed as an "almost finished article" by Page, the forward has impressed in his first season in the top-flight. At just 21 years old, the eye-catching forward could be a worthy addition to Emery's side, and a player that could flourish under the Spaniard's expertise.

Given the evidence above, he could well be a considerable upgrade to Bailey, who cost a whopping £30m back in August 2021.

Callum Jackson answered Kent’s emergency call for a wicketkeeper in Cardiff. He travelled from Kent on Tuesday night to deputise for Adam Rouse who has a broken finger which needs an operation

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2016
ScorecardAneurin Donald made runs during a dreary final day•Getty ImagesCallum Jackson, who was released by Sussex last year because of financial cutbacks, answered Kent’s emergency call for a wicketkeeper in Cardiff. He travelled from Kent on Tuesday night to deputise for Adam Rouse who has a broken finger which needs an operation.There was little prospect of a result to the game once 104.1 overs had been lost during the first two days, with both teams content with bonus points, although Glamorgan, despite their 12 points, remain at the bottom of Division 2.Had the weather not intervened, there could have been an interesting final day, with Kent chasing a target on a pitch that favoured the seamers.Callum Jackson•ECBGlamorgan resumed on 22 for 0 on the final morning, but added only seven runs before Jacques Rudolph again failed, pulling a short delivery from Mitchell Claydon to the fielder stationed on the long leg boundary. Mark Wallace, another senior batsman in need of runs, mixed caution with aggression to add 52 with Will Bragg- before Bragg was bowled by Matt Coles for 22. Wallace went on to score 52 with seven fours, until he touched one to Jackson.Callum Jackson•ECBChris Cooke quickly followed, leg before playing across a delivery from Claydon, who then dismissed David Lloyd three balls later with the combined efforts of three fielders; the batsman edged the ball to fourth slip who diverted to third slip and eventually to Tom Latham at second slip who held on to spare his colleagues’ blushes.Aneurin Donald and Graham Wagg then averted a total collapse by adding 80 for the sixth wicket, with Donald, scoring an attractive 67- his third championship fifty of the season- from 68 balls with nine boundaries. Wagg went on to score his second fifty of the game, exceed 500 runs for the third successive season, being particularly severe on James Tredwell’s off spin whom he struck for 22 in one over.He was undefeated on 64, and now needs only 42 more runs to become Glamorgan’s leading run scorer in the championship this season .Both teams shook hands at 4.55pm when Glamorgan declared at 279 for 6- a lead of 348.Rudolph was pleased by his team’s overall performance- especially the two seamers Michael Hogan and Timm Van Der Gugten- and felt that” had we not lost so much time because of the weather, we could have won the game. But we are on an upward curve, and we are not far away from that championship win.”Kent captain Sam Northeast said that “after two weeks of white ball cricket, we found it tough to adjust, and we were not clinical enough after reducing them to 137 for 6 in the first innings but I was happy as they progressed from then on”.

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League games on May 26, 2016

Mohammad Isam26-May-2016Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club jumped from eighth to fourth place in the Dhaka Premier League 2016 points table after their 11-run win over Brothers Union in an absorbing game at the BKSP-3 ground. Brothers too had the chance to go to fourth place, but slipped to ninth place instead.Mahmudullah, the Dhanmondi captain, struck 107, his second century of the season, to carry them to 252 for 8 after being inserted. In reply, Dhanmondi’s bowlers showed fight to restrict Brothers to 241 for 8 in 50 overs.Brothers were cruising at 184 for 3 in the 41st over after Imrul Kayes, and captain Tushar Imran had struck half-centuries. Muktar Ali, the right-arm medium pacer, removed Milind Kumar at that stage, after which the required rate crept and wickets tumbled regularly.Shafiul Islam was particularly good towards the last few overs, and finished with 3 for 40. Mahmudullah too finished with three wickets, including Zakir Hasan and Nur Alam, at a critical juncture.Earlier, Mahmudullah struck five fours and three sixes in his 114-ball knock. He added 119 runs for the third wicket with Marshall Ayub, who contributed 54 off 84 balls. Offspinner Sanjit Saha took 3 for 69 from his 10 overs.At the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Kalabagan Krira Chakra hung on for an eight-run win against Victoria Sporting Club in a nail-biting contest.Mehrab Hossain jnr’s unbeaten 86 had carried Kalabagan to 213 in 49 overs after they had elected to bat.In reply, Al-Amin top-scored for Victoria with 67 off 77 balls, before Jubair Ahmed’s unbeaten 35 nearly took them home.Victoria lost their ninth wicket in the 45th over with 36 runs still required for victory. The last-wicket pair of Jubair and Kamrul Islam Rabbi then got the equation down to 12 off the final over, sent down by Dewan Sabbir, the right-arm pacer, but couldn’t knock off the requisite runs. After a single by the more settled Jubair off the first ball, Rabbi played out a dot ball. He then ran two, but Sabbir bowled him with the fourth ball to give Kalabagan their third win, and some breathing room from the relegation zone, occupied by Kalabagan Cricket Academy and CCS.The loss prevented Victoria, who remained at nine points from eight games, from keeping pace with Rupganj.Offspinner Sharifullah took 3 for 32, while Abdur Razzak and captain Mashrafe Mortaza picked up two each.Earlier, Mehrab almost ran a one-man show and struck four boundaries in his pugnacious 112-ball knock. With Kalabagan 174 for 9, Mehrab added 39 runs in an unbroken tenth-wicket partnership of 39 – the second highest of the innings after the 44-run opening stand between Shadnam Islam and Jashimuddin – with Sabbir to take Kalabagan past the 200-run mark. Mehra’s efforts earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.Mahbubul Alam, the right-arm medium pacer, playing his first match for Victoria this season, took 3 for 54, while Rabbi, Chaturanga de Silva and Al-Amin took two each.At the Fatullah Cricket Stadium, Mohammad Mithun crunched 90 off 114 balls to manoeuvre Legends of Rupganj’s chase of 243 and help them to a six-wicket win over Cricket Coaching School.Asked to bat, CCS rode on captain Rajin Saleh’s unbeaten 106 – his first century of the season – to put up 242 for 7. Half-centuries from Mithun and Asif Ahmed, who scored an unbeaten 72, steered Rupganj to 243 for 4 in 48.2 overs.The win took Rupganj, on 11 points, to third place, while CCS remained rooted at eleventh place after eight games.Mithun’s knock, which contained four boundaries and two sixes, pulled Rupganj out of trouble after they had been reduced to 45 for 2, with Soumya Sarkar and Junaid Siddique, the two openers, dismissed. Mithun added 44 for the third wicket with Ishank Jaggi, the Jharkhand middle-order batsman, before adding 127 more for the fourth wicket with Asif, who struck six fours in his unbeaten 75-ball knock.Saif Hassan, the offspinner who opened the bowling, took 3 for 38.Saif, however, didn’t score too many after CCS had been asked to bat. But Rajin guided them to a respectable total.Rajin added 99 for the third wicket with Amit Majumder who made 56. CCS suffered a wobble thereafter, slipping from 144 for 2 to 162 for 6. Rajin stopped the slide by adding 55 with Saeed Sarkar for the seventh wicket.Mosharraf Hossain, the Rupganj captain, took 3 for 32, while left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took two wickets in an economical spell.

When the final whistle blew following Liverpool's enthralling 2-2 draw against title-challenging Arsenal last month, Diogo Jota's goalless run stretched to 32 matches.

The Echo's Ian Doyle stated that the Portuguese was a man 'desperately in need of a goal', with the barren run sandwiching a lengthy tussle with injuries that had hampered his progress and ruled him out of 23 matches this season.

His deserted cutting edge was not for want of trying; over the past year, the £140k-per-week star has taken an average of 2.87 shots per 90, as per FBref, putting him among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues for that statistic.

His creativity has also been invaluable to Liverpool when he has been fit, ranking among the top 1% for rate of assists and registering eight across all competitions this term, despite only starting on 13 occasions.

Jota has now plundered five goals from his past five matches, starting just three of those contests, instrumental with braces against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest and defying logic with his 94th-minute strike to defeat Tottenham Hotspur – who had clambered back from a three-goal deficit at Anfield.

Who could Jota replace at Liverpool?

Liverpool have certainly not been at the races this season and have fallen well below expectations with their lack of cohesion and dismal away form, failing to clinch any major honours and unlikely to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

Despite this, recent fortunes have been promising and Jurgen Klopp's Reds currently ride a five-match win streak in the top flight; with four matches left to play, ceding territory is simply not an option and pressure must be placed on Newcastle United and Manchester United, who occupy third and fourth place in the table and have both played fewer matches than Liverpool.

With Erik ten Hag's Red Devils fell to defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in the dying embers of their Thursday night clash, the situation both improved and became all the more concerning for Klopp's men.

United, fourth and four points above the Reds – having still played one game less – can be caught, despite the odds, but the Seagulls' victory is a telling reminder that if Liverpool are to cede ground, they would not only fall from Champions League contention but fall prey to a possible furtherplummet down the rankings.

Because of this, Jota, who has been lauded as a "pressing monster" by Pep Lijinders, must be unleashed with regularity in the place of Luis Diaz, who has recently returned from a long-term injury and has, understandably, fluctuated somewhat with his performances.

Having been a "livewire", as remarked by Pete Hall, for Klopp's team since his arrival from Porto last year in a £37m deal, Diaz has scored 11 goals and supplied eight assists from 43 appearances and been praised for his fleet-footed brilliance by his manager, who called him "exceptional".

However, with no margin for error at this vital stage of the campaign, the 30-cap Jota, who has scored ten goals for his nation, would be the better option to place into the starting fold given his recent return to goal-scoring form.

There is no doubt that Diaz is one of the most talented and exciting wingers in European football, let alone the Premier League – valued at £79m by CIES Football Observatory – but with the slightest slip-up perhaps detrimental for Liverpool at this stage, Jota simply has to start.

Liverpool are targeting Mason Mount for a summer transfer and have prepared an offer for the Chelsea midfielder, according to a report.

What's going on with Mason Mount?

The England international looks set to depart Stamford Bridge in the summer following a breakdown in negotiations over a new contract. With just one year left on his deal and Chelsea needing to sell in order to balance the books, it seems that the midfielder will be moved on.

The 24-year-old has had an injury-hit season, managing 20 starts in the league, and has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, there is plenty of interest in Mount, with Arsenal and Liverpool both preparing offers, whilst Bayern Munich are also keeping an eye on the Englishman.

The report states that Liverpool have prepared an offer as they want to strengthen their midfield this summer. With a move for Jude Bellingham now looking unlikely, Mount could be someone targeted to strengthen in the middle of the park at Anfield.

Could Mount go to Liverpool?

Liverpool look set to miss out on Champions League football next season barring a miracle, as a disappointing campaign has seen them struggle for most of the season, and they are in seventh place ahead of their weekend clash with Tottenham.

With Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to depart for free in the summer, midfield recruitment is a priority, and there have also been links to Matheus Nunes of Wolves.

Although he has had a difficult campaign, Mount could bring a lot of experience to the Liverpool midfield, as well as quality in the final third.

With 33 goals and 37 assists for Chelsea in 195 appearances, the Cobham graduate has been an impressive performer over the years, with Joe Cole even referring to him as "unbelievable", and given his contract situation, Liverpool may be able to pick him up at a cut price.

However, it is thought that the stumbling block over a new deal at Chelsea has been his wage demands, and Liverpool may not want to break their wage structure to bring in a new signing. Additionally, if the reported interest from Arsenal and Bayern is true, then they may face a battle to convince him to join without Champions League football.

Securing a deal for Mount early in the window could provide a huge boost for the Reds ahead of what will be a busy summer of rebuilding the squad in order to compete at the top of the table again.

Chelsea have internally “discussed” a deal to bring Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What's the latest on Kobel to Chelsea?

Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has reported that whilst Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga both aren’t out of contract for another two years, Todd Boehly is looking to recruit a new first-choice shot-stopper this summer, with the 25-year-old identified as a potential candidate.

The Swiss international first arrived at the Signal Iduna Park back in July 2021 and has made 70 appearances to date, and his recent form has caught the eye of the hierarchy, who are already making behind-the-scenes transfer moves for whoever might succeed Frank Lampard, widely expected to be Mauricio Pochettino.

German outlet Bild (via Sport Witness) recently revealed that the Blues are showing an interest in the 6 foot 4 Kobel and have added him to their wishlist for the upcoming window, where it would appear that they have already developed their admiration one step further.

Taking to Twitter, Sky German'ys Plettenberg claimed that Chelsea are in active negotiations with the representatives of Kobel, although a move this summer is unlikely at this time. He wrote:

“News #Kobel: Chelsea is monitoring the goalkeeper market & Kobel is one of the names they have discussed internally. They are also in a good contact with his agents. But not more at this stage. It’s not hot. Kobel is very likely to stay at #BVB in summer and #CFC has other candidates on their list.”

Would Kobel be a good signing for Chelsea?

Boehly might have various different goalkeepers that he wants to pursue, but having been labelled a “top class” player by journalist Josh Bunting, Kobel has to be up there with one of the best on the market, so he would be a fantastic addition at Stamford Bridge.

The £34k-per-week colossus has kept 75 clean sheets in 239 appearances throughout his career, including 13 in 30 across all competitions this season, as per Transfermarkt, not to mention that he ranks in the 97th percentile for penalty saves, a rare but sensational trait to possess for a club who expect to be competing for trophies and in cup finals regularly.

The World Cup participant also has a strong range of passing having completed 127 of 127 short passes this season, giving him a 100% success rate, and 386 of 390 medium distance passes, with a 99% success rate, via FBRef.

Finally, Kobel loves to get himself behind the ball and isn’t afraid to come out and clear the danger having made 74 saves from 100 shots on target against this term, so is a well-rounded keeper and would excel between the sticks in SW6.

While Tottenham Hotspur are yet to decide just who will be the permanent replacement for Antonio Conte in the dugout, one major issue that any new appointment will have to sort is with regard to the goalkeeping ranks, with uncertainty mounting over Hugo Lloris' position at the club.

The long-serving Frenchman is undoubtedly something of a "legend" at N17 having spent almost 11 years in north London, according to writer Seb Jenkins, although it remains to be seen just how much longer the veteran will be the first-choice option, with just over 12 months left to run on his existing deal.

According to reports, the Lilywhites are scouring the market to find a suitable successor to the 36-year-old, with the former Lyon man currently ranking first in the division for most errors (four) leading to goals in the Premier League this season.

While Daniel Levy and co are understandably looking to find a high-profile figure to fill the void of the £100k-per-week skipper – amid links to the likes of Brentford's David Raya – the club may well already have a possible heir to Lloris on their books in the form of teenager Josh Keeley.

Who is Tottenham's Josh Keeley?

The 19-year-old – who was signed from St Patrick's Athletic during Conte's tenure last summer – may still be in the early days of his time England, although he has already caught the eye at senior level, having only recently been included in first-team training.

The promising Irishman has earned rave reviews from club insider Superhotspur, with the respected source labelling him as a 'commanding goalkeeper from set-pieces' and describing him as being 'so quick off of his line'.

Those traits are also bolstered by the Republic of Ireland U21 international's 'good and impressive distribution' – as per the same source – with that quality on the ball making him an ideal fit for the modern game.

After sealing a "dream move" to Spurs back in July – as per St Patrick's technical director Alan Mathews – young Keeley has already established himself as the leading figure at U21 level, making 19 appearances at that age group this season.

The £910-per-week starlet has already enjoyed a taste of life at first-team level after featuring twice for his former club, having also featured twice against senior opposition for Spurs in the EFL Trophy earlier in the campaign.

While a chance to impress under Conte was always likely to be hard to come by due to the Italian's unwillingness to look to the youth set-up – a fact that left academy staff at the club frustrated – the arrival of a new man at the helm could bolster Keeley's chances of succeeding the ageing Lloris next term or in the years to come.

One area that Newcastle United currently appear particularly strong in is in the centre-forward ranks, with both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak having begun to hit form in recent weeks after setting aside their respective injury woes.

In the case of the latter man – who missed a fair chunk of the campaign with a hamstring issue – the Sweden international has five goals in his last five Premier League appearances, while his experienced teammate – who has also had his fair share of fitness woes this season – boasts three goals from his last three league games.

That deadly duo are truly beginning to thrive for manager Eddie Howe, with it looking as if the Magpies have finally solved what has previously been a problem area for the club in the recent past.

The northeast side have seemingly seen a spate of strikers come and go with limited success since the heady days of Alan Shearer, with one such failed addition having undoubtedly been that of Japanese marksman, Yoshinori Muto.

How much did Yoshinori Muto cost Newcastle?

The 5 foot 10 speedster was snapped up by Rafa Benitez back in the summer of 2018, having previously made his mark in European football following an encouraging three-year spell at Bundesliga side FC Mainz, scoring 23 goals in 72 games for the German outfit.

The 29-cap dynamo – who had also previously scored 26 goals in only 61 games for FC Tokyo prior to that – was said to be a player the Tynesiders had been "following for a while" according to Benitez, with the Spaniard likely having hoped that his new addition would make an instant impact in his new surroundings.

As it proved, however, Muto would prove yet another wasted signing for the St James' Park outfit after scoring just twice in 28 games in all competitions, with his solitary Premier League goal coming in the defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2018.

That lack of impact ensured that the misfiring forward ultimately cost the club £4.7m per goal in relation to his initial £9.5m transfer fee, with that a marker of just how much of a blunder it was for Mike Ashley and co to sanction the deal.

It can even be said that such a move was a bigger mistake than the signing of another goal-shy forward – Emmanuel Riviere – with the Frenchman at least managing to reach three goals in all competitions, with that equating to around £2m per goal after initially arriving on a £6m deal in 2014.

That showcases just how "disappointing" Muto's three-year stay in England was – as per Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas – with it seemingly having been something of a relief to see the striker depart for Vissel Kobe in 2021, after leaving by mutual consent.

Everton have emerged as a serious contender to sign Brondby goalkeeper Mads Hermansen this summer, according to reports.

What's the latest on Hermansen's future?

Sean Dyche will have been extremely pleased to have secured the long-term services of Jordan Pickford, who signed a new deal in February that keeps him at the club until 2027, and it’s obvious that he will always be No 1 going forward, but the manager is lacking strong options on the bench in the Premier League.

The Toffees’ second-choice shot-stopper, Asmir Begovic, isn’t getting any younger at 35, and neither is their third-choice in 39-year-old Andy Lonergan. With the pair both out of contract at the end of the season, the need for more youthful reinforcements is clear.

The Denmark U21 international has a deal in the Superliga that runs until 2025, but Hermansen has already publicly confirmed that he’ll be leaving and looking for his next destination during the upcoming window. Having made 22 appearances this season, he has caught the attentions of the hierarchy on Merseyside.

According to Danish outlet Bold (via Sport Witness), Everton and Burnley are two of the “hottest suitors” in the race to sign Hermansen. The Brondby keeper is attracting “massive interest” from England, with the Toffees specifically mentioned as one of the clubs “particularly” keen to complete a deal.

Clarets manager Vincent Kompany has already been spotted in attendance at one of Hermansen's games, so could be moving faster, but it’s stated that his future isn’t set to become clearer until the conclusion of the current term, with Dyche’s outfit still looking to preserve their top-flight status.

Should Everton make a move for Hermansen?

Hermansen is still very much in the early stages of his career and is yet to have competed at the highest level, but his performances at Brondby have been promising and could be the ideal backup for Pickford at Everton.

The 6 foot 2 star has kept five clean sheets in 22 appearances across all competitions this season, with a total of 12 in 61 outings since making the step up to the senior team, as per Transfermarkt. Elsewhere, he has recorded a save percentage of 68.7%. This season, the £900-p/w talent has also made 69 saves from a total of 99 shots faced on target, which highlights one of his key strengths.

Therefore, Hermansen – hailed as a “jewel” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – arguably deserves an opportunity to show Dyche what he’s capable of, with a move potentially in the works should he decide that Everton is his preferred destination.

Everton have found themselves in a Premier League relegation battle once again this season and Sean Dyche now just has ten games remaining to save the club from a spell in the Championship.

The Toffees are currently only two points clear of the bottom three following their 2-2 draw with Chelsea ahead of the international break and will need to pick up more crucial points over the coming weeks to secure survival.

Dyche took on the task of saving the Merseysiders back in January and has since picked up 11 points out of a possible 24 in his first eight fixtures so far, with many of his tweaks already improving performances.

The Everton boss has leaned on some of his former players like Michael Keane and Dwight McNeil who both found themselves out of favour under Frank Lampard, but it's not just his Burnley alumni that have seen their opportunities increase.

One player who has revived his Everton career is midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure after it was reported he was banished from the squad's training sessions and matchday squads following a fractured relationship forming with Lampard, however, has thrived under Dyche.

As it stands, the £120k-per-week Frenchman will be out of contract this summer and after playing a crucial part in the improvements seen on the blue side of Merseyside over a short time, there is no doubt that a new deal could be on the horizon.

Will Doucoure stay at Everton this summer?

The talented midfielder joined the Toffees back in 2020 in a £20m deal after impressing at Watford and has tallied up 88 appearances, seven goals and nine assists over his time at the club so far.

Dyche spoke out in February about his decision to give the 30-year-old a second chance at Goodison Park after becoming a fringe player ahead of his arrival:

"He's certainly someone that could help the club going forwards. I think he has done very well. Different managers see different things, different managers want different things.

"He has just responded very well so far – but I want him to continue in that vein. I agree, he has played very well. He keeps working in both boxes, driving with his running that's for sure. The signs are good."

Doucoure – who writer Peter Guy claimed has been "reborn" – has scored twice and assisted his teammates on two occasions in the last three games, proving to be a crucial and hard-working asset in Dyche's team and more importantly, proving that he is worthy of a spot in the starting eleven.

Despite reportedly being close to a move away in January, Everton now have an option to extend the Mali international's stay for another 12 months and if he continues to put in the performances he has displayed so far there is no reason why that won't be triggered.

With that being said, Doucoure's contributions could be absolutely crucial to Everton beyond their relegation battle this season and should the side survive he will be a valuable asset to Dyche in the future.