Everton transfer news - Duvan Zapata race, Rafa Benitez claim (2023)

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Everton respond to Fan Advisory Board questions as 'further clarity' sought

Everton’s Fan Advisory Board remains concerned over a lack of communication and engagement after receiving responses to the points they raised with the club.

Everton's Fan Advisory Board issued a detailed list of questions to club officials last month after a series of public meetings with supporters. More than 200 fans were involved in the process, designed to collect opinions on the club's 'current predicament'.

At the time, concerns over the performance of Everton's board, the club's financial situation and over who makes key decisions were all raised by supporters, with those concerns then being passed onto the club by the FAB.

And although the club, via its board of directors, its executive leadership team and senior leadership team, have responded to every point raised, the FAB remains concerned about the 'lack of proactive visible leadership, communication and engagement with the supporter base at a time when it has been needed most'.

For the full story, click here.

BT Sport change coming

Premier League matches will be shown on a new channel next season as BT Sport begins its new partnership with Eurosport.

It was announced back in May BT Sport had agreed to form a joint venture with Warner Bros Discovery, who own Eurosport, bringing together television rights to show the Premier League, Champions League and the Olympics in the UK and Ireland.

This change will see the creation of several new channels, which the Daily Mail is due to be announced tomorrow. The article adds 'it is unclear at present' how much fans will be expected to pay to acquire channels or how many will be on offer.

Benitez 'on standby' for West Ham job

Rafa Benitez reportedly 'wants' the West Ham manager's job and is on 'standby' amid speculation over David Moyes' future.

The Hammers dropped into the bottom three at the weekend after losing to Tottenham Hotspur, with Everton moving out of the relegation zone courtesy of beating Leeds United.

The Daily Mail have claimed West Ham's hierachy will be 'forced into a decision' over Moyes' position should they lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

Ex-Everton boss Benitez 'is interested' in becoming the new manager of the Hammers should the London club lose their patience with Moyes.

Seamus Coleman makes honest Everton atmosphere claim and names two qualities fans 'relate' to

Seamus Coleman believes last season’s narrow escape from relegation can have a positive effect on Everton and has told his team-mates what they must do to keep fans behind them.

Everton stayed up by the skin of their teeth last season, with a 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace in their penultimate game of the campaign enough to secure their top-flight status. The Blues had trailed 2-0 at the break at Goodison Park.

However, less than a year on and the Blues are once again mired in another battle to avoid drop. Although Coleman’s goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leeds United did move his side out of the drop zone.

And the Republic of Ireland international feels that the experiences of 12 months ago offers a fresh perspective on the club’s current struggles this time around and has explained why the feeling is different.

He said: “Unfortunately, having been through it before, it does feel different this time. Maybe last year you’re carrying it so much on your shoulders and you’re thinking ‘Oh my God, this club can’t be where it is’.

Connor O'Neill has more, here.

Leeds United enter talks with Javi Gracia

Leeds United are making moves to appoint a new manager, it would seem.

The Yorkshire club is reportedly in talks with former Watford boss Javi Gracia about the vacant post.

Fabrizio Romano Tweeted: "Leeds United are now in talks with Javi Gracia as potential new manager, he’s serious candidate for the job to replace Jesse Marsch. #LUFC Club will make internal decision soon on the manager situation — there are two names in the shortlist."

Simon Jordan backs Everton to stay up

TalkSPORT presenter and former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes that everton will beat the drop this season, after beating Leeds United at Goodison Park.

But the Blue's opponents last Saturday could be playing in the Championship next season instead.

Speaking on air this morning about the Premier League relegation battle, Jordan said: “I think it’ll be Bournemouth, Southampton and possibly Leeds. When I look at it and see Sean Dyche, I think he’s a component part that takes Everton away. I think Lopetegui and Wolves are good enough to get out of it, I think Moyes is the answer so far at West Ham. The question is why are they underachieving?

“So who does that leave then? Bourneouth, Leeds and Southampton, unless you’re going to drag Leicester, Forest and Villa back into it and I don’t think you’re going to.”

Jordan Pickford reveals what Sean Dyche has done in training to transform Everton

Jordan Pickford believes Everton are reaping the benefits of a back to basics approach under Sean Dyche and has spoken about the importance of keeping clean sheets.

Dyche made it two wins from two at Goodison Park on Saturday as Seamus Coleman’s second-half strike handed the Blues a huge 1-0 win over Leeds United. The win moved Everton out of the relegation zone.

Pickford also recorded a second successive clean sheet on home soil, after the Blues beat Arsenal in Dyche’s first game in charge earlier this month. The former Burnley boss replaced the sacked Frank Lampard at the end of January.

And when asked about life under Dyche, Pickford, speaking to evertontv, said: “It’s been a refresh. Back to basics, in some respects, and it’s important we're defending our goal well and being hard to beat.

“We need to keep building our form now. We’ve been working extremely hard on the training pitch and that will continue because we want more. Aston Villa are a good side, but we'll put the work in and we'll be ready for the challenge.”

Read the full story HERE.

Louis Saha: Dyche has proved that sacking Lampard was right call from Everton

Former Everton striker Louis Saha has heaped praise on new Blues boss Sean Dyche, insisting that he has already shown that the decision to replace previous manager Frank Lampard was the correct one.

Dyche has won two of his first three games in charge, helping to lift the Toffees out of the relegation zone.

Speaking to Lord Ping, Saha said: "Everton made the right decision sacking Frank Lampard, you can see that by the results.

"The defensive side was very important but that’s not solely down to the manager. Overall, the team and squad needed a change and the easy one was the manager, but it has the impact they wanted.

"They beat Arsenal which was fantastic, but then the big one against Leeds was huge.

"I think it was the right decision because this manager is brilliant in terms of his honesty and his communication was right on point."

Double boost for Everton Stadium in week of dramatic progress

Another hectic week of activity at Everton Stadium produced a double installation of roof trusses to ensure two thirds of the sections have now been put into place.

The steel roofing structure at Everton's 52,888 capacity future home at Bramley-Moore Dock took two big steps closer to completion following a double installation in the past seven days. The penultimate 100-tonne section has been hoisted into place in the centre of the north stand, leaving just one section to complete the second and final full-span truss.

Similarly, the south stand saw the central section of the second full-span truss lifted into position. This larger stand, which will eventually house 13,000 Evertonians, supports three trusses in total.

Read the full story HERE.

Everton back in Duvan Zapata race, reports suggests

The search for a new forward will be back on for Everton as soon as the current season comes to a close and a familiar name is back in the running.

That's according to Tutto Atalanta who are suggesting thatthe Blues are back in for Serie A's Duvan Zapata.

The Colombian is under contract with Atalanta unil 2024, but is considered to be someone the Italian oufit could be prepared to dispense with.

Tutto Atalanta's report said: “Toro tested the waters for Duvan Zapata. The Colombian’s contract also expires in 2024, for Gasperini it is no longer indispensable and the price tag is affordable. But watch out for competition from Everton.”

Zapata is hardly a spring chicken at the age of 31, but he has been with Atalanta for the past five seasons, scoring 80 goals in 174 appearances.

Everton relegation rival launch appeal after 'surprising' Premier League squad rejection

One of Everton's likely relegation rivals have been dealt a blow by the Premier League itself.

Nottingham Forest had been confident of registering Steve Cook in their 25-man-squad, after suffering a defensive crisis, but their application has not been approved by the league.

But according to manager Steve Cooper, that two-times European Cup winners will now appeal the decision in the hope of getting an agreement for the former Bournemouth player over the line.

Cooper had hope to have been able to include 31-year-old in his squad for Forest's 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Saturday, but was unable took after the application was rejected. However, Forest have not given up on their quest.

Read the full story HERE.

Sean Dyche names two new Everton inspirations for Amadou Onana

Sean Dyche believes the performances of Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure against Leeds United will have provided Amadou Onana with valuable inspiration.

The Blues boss hailed Gueye and Doucoure as "outstanding" in the crucial relegation battle at Goodison Park on Saturday. Each played a key role in helping Everton to a 1-0 win that lifted them out of the bottom three at the expense of Leeds.

Dyche has been impressed with Onana since he began working with him at the end of last month but feels there is work that can be done to continue the progress of the 21-year-old.

That includes the Belgium midfielder receiving advice from Steven Defour, who also played for Belgium and worked under Dyche at Burnley. Dyche has detailed his belief the KV Mechelen manager can provide useful advice to Onana on how to adapt to the Premier League. Onana was substituted late in the game against Leeds and Dyche later explained he had been dealing with a knee issue that would be assessed further but which he believed was "manageable".

Read the full story HERE.

Everton could face second FA probe in a week after Leeds showdown

Everton could face a second FA charge in a week following a mass brawl against Leeds United.

Twenty one players were involved as chaos erupted in front of the away supporters near the end of the first half at Goodison Park. The incident concluded with each side receiving two bookings.

The scale of the incident is likely to lead to scrutiny from the Football Association, which charged the Blues over a similar altercation at Anfield on Monday.

Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil were shown yellow cards by referee Andy Madley after trouble broke out with the game heading towards half-time. It started with McNeil and Tyler Adams hustling eachother for the ball but quickly escalated into an incident that dragged in players from both sides - including both goalkeepers. Adams and Weston McKennie received bookings for Leeds. The match retained its edge for the rest of the game, with heated arguments breaking out at both half-time and full-time.

Read the full story HERE.

'One of the best' - Everton loanee Tom Cannon given glowing review by opposition coach

Hull City manager Liam Rosenior has heaped praise on Everton loanee Tom Cannon for his performance during the Tigers' 0-0 draw with Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.

Cannon, who was handed his Premier League debut by former Blues boss Frank Lampard earlier this season, joined Preston in January on a loan deal until the end of the campaign.

The Republic of Ireland youth international started Saturday's outing at the MKM Stadium and although Ryan Lowe's side were unable to find a way past their Championship counterparts in a game that eventually finished goalless, the Blues loanee proved to be a handful for the Hull City defenders to deal with.

Speaking after the game, Rosenior, who was appointed manager of the Tigers back in November, labelled the 20-year-old forward as "outstanding" and admitted he was one of the toughest marksmen his side have faced in the Championship this season.

Read the full story HERE.

Amadou Onana gives update as Sean Dyche explains Everton plan for 'knee injury'

Amadou Onana will have a knee issue explored but neither he nor Sean Dyche believe it is likely to be serious.

The midfielder was taken off in the second half during Everton's win over Leeds United at Goodison Park. He had earlier gone down with an injury and received treatment on the pitch but carried on until being replaced by Tom Davies in the 74th minute.

The Belgium international later took to social media to both celebrate a significant win for the Blues and reassure supporters by writing: "I‘ll be back no worries."

Read the full story HERE.

Florentino Luis 'watched' by Everton

Everton are set to rival Liverpool and Arsenal for the services of Florentino Luis.

That's according to Portuguese newspaper Record, who claim that Sean Dyche has already sent a scout to check on the Benfica midfielder in the Eagles' Champions League match against Club Brugge.

Florentino played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 Benfica win, operating as a defensive midfielder in a solid display.

The 23-year-old could be seen as a replacment for Amadou Onana, should he leave Everton this summer. But the Blues will face stiff competition from other Premier League clubs.

Goal have already linked the 6ft midfielder with a move to Arsenal, who failed to land Moises Caicedo in January, and Record claimed back in October that Liverpool were interested too, with the Reds said to have initiated talks with representatives about a possible move.

Amadou Onana gives update as Sean Dyche explains Everton plan for 'knee injury'

Amadou Onana will have a knee issue explored but neither he nor Sean Dyche believe it is likely to be serious.

The midfielder was taken off in the second half during Everton's win over Leeds United at Goodison Park. He had earlier gone down with an injury and received treatment on the pitch but carried on until being replaced by Tom Davies in the 74th minute.

The Belgium international later took to social media to both celebrate a significant win for the Blues and reassure supporters by writing: "I‘ll be back no worries."

Read the full story, here.

Good morning, Blues!

Well, what a weekend that was, then!

Sean Dyche continued his impressive 100 per cent record at Goodison Park with a 1-0 victory over fellow Premier League strugglers Leeds United, courtesy of an incredible strike from Seamus Coleman. How did he manage that? Me neither.

We'll have all the transfer rumours, reaction and news from Goodison Park over the course of the day - stick with us for all the updates.