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Time is running out for special purpose acquisitions firm LAMF to complete a partial takeover of Everton, according to football finance guru Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: Financial Fair Play

In recent years, with the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium build ongoing, the Toffees have struggled to avoid breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Consequently, this has led owner Farhad Moshiri to seek external investment for the Merseyside club.

Understood to be in talks with club officials with a view to a deal is LAMF; a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) co-fronted by Jeffrey Soros, nephew of George Soros, one of the richest men in the world.

The Liverpool Echo recently reported that an 18-24 month deadline for a takeover was set when the group raised £226m in funds last November.

The Latest: Maguire’s claim

Maguire believes that a deal will go through before the deadline is reached, although time is rapidly running out for Everton.

Speaking with Football Insider, the finance guru claimed: “We have seen a rise in SPACs in recent years.

“They have become the darling of Wall Street. These are special companies which are set up to make acquisitions in particular industries. If they fail to make an acquisition, the money tends to go back to the investors.

“The sands of time are starting to disappear as far as this particular SPAC is concerned.

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“Everton does tick a lot of boxes in the sense that it is a very vibrant and iconic city. Football is seen by American investors as an industry which is undervalued by the traditional markets.

“I think the new owners want to develop the game in ways that might challenge the traditional fanbase. But there is certainly an opportunity and there is no reason why they can’t get a deal over the line. When lawyers and accountants have to work quickly, they are capable of putting in 24-hour shifts.

“The deal could easily be mid-season. We saw Newcastle acquired just over 12 months ago. The timings from an investment perspective don’t have to be aligned with the football season itself.”

The Verdict: Everton need investment

Having accumulated a net spend of £18.2m this summer despite an initial £52.2m coming in from the departure of Richarlison to Tottenham, Everton need outside investment if they are to continue investing in building a squad capable of finishing in the top half of the Premier League table without breaching FFP regulations.

Everton made some shrewd signings this summer with the free transfer of James Tarkowski and the season-long loan of Conor Coady from Wolves, illustrating better habits in the transfer market as opposed to previous years.

However, if the club did not receive and sanction a big-money offer for Richarlison, they would have been under huge financial pressure.

Therefore, Toffees fans will surely be hoping for a partial takeover to go through as soon as possible, as strict penalties continue to loom over the club’s head.

Manchester United return to Premier League action this evening, taking on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and they will be looking to build on from an impressive 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The performance against Spurs was arguably the finest under Erik ten Hag so far and if they are to continue on building momentum, a win against Chelsea, who seem rejuvenated under Graham Potter, would be welcomed.

One thing is for certain, Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be part of the matchday squad against the London side. Ten Hag has dropped him after it emerged that the forward had refused to come on against Spurs in midweek.

With that in mind, we at Football Fancast predict the starting XI that the Dutchman will go with tonight under the Stamford Bridge floodlights…

David De Gea will start in goal and he will be aiming to record his fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Diogo Dalot will start again at right back, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, who are building a solid partnership, forming the heart of the defence. Luke Shaw completes the back four by featuring in his usual left-back position.

Brazilian duo Fred and Casemiro will make up the core of the United midfield, with the two receiving SofaScore ratings of 8.2 and 7.4 respectively for their impressive performances against Spurs.

This is where it gets a bit tricky for Ten Hag. Summer arrival Antony will start on the right wing, with Bruno Fernandes reprising his role against Spurs by slotting in behind the striker. With Ronaldo not in the matchday squad and Sancho’s form being hit or miss of late, Anthony Elanga will be given a start on the left wing.

Marcus Rashford, dubbed “very sharp” against Spurs by the UtdFaithfuls Twitter account will lead the line, despite failing to score from three shots on target against Spurs.

The £200k-per-week forward – who Manchester Evening News writer Rich Fay once dubbed  “a joy to watch” – has been in good form, however, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists in ten Premier League matches this season and will fancy his chances of adding to this tally against Chelsea.

Ten Hag will be hoping to replicate the midweek performance and secure another three points to bolster his side’s Champions League ambitions.

Tottenham Hotspur’s £60million forward Richarlison has not lived up to the hype that was expected of him surrounding his summer move, according to journalist Paul Brown.

THE LOWDOWN: A TOUGH START

Mustering his way into a Spurs side with a front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski was always going to be a tough ask for the Brazilian.

Add in the likes of increased competition in the form of Lucas Moura and Bryan Gil and the task is made that bit more difficult, with Tottenham possessing some deadly attacking options that have seen them assert themselves as the third-highest goalscoring team in the league from their first 12 Premier League games.

Whilst signs have been there in the nine league games we have seen him feature in, Richarlison has ultimately failed to score in the 369 minutes he has played in England’s top flight this season – though he has mustered up two assists.

THE LATEST: A UNIQUE ASSET 

According to journalist Brown, Richarlison has not been “the kind of electric signing” that Spurs were hoping for, but does indeed offer Antonio Conte something different in attack.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown said: “I don’t think he’s been the kind of electric signing they were hoping for. He hasn’t scored the sort of goals that they thought he might, but I think he still does give them something a little bit different.

“He gives them a spikiness and he goes into areas that I think perhaps Kane and Son don’t always, so I just think he’s an option that’s been really important for Spurs at times and they will miss him while he’s out.”

THE VERDICT: UNIQUE & UNDERRATED?

In the case of 25-year-old Richarlison, his offering to Spurs is unique, with his hard-working ability both in and out of possession an aspect that will be greatly appreciated by Conte.

The Brazil international’s efforts off the ball up top are incredible and see him average 21.56 pressures per 90 (as per FBref).

It could be argued that Richarlison has a major influence on his team’s pressing play, with an incredible 18.07 pressures asserted across the attacking and middle third combined over the past year.

Interestingly, an average of 3.49 of these pressures occur in the defensive third, despite his identity as a forward, which is a testament to his work rate for the team.

Having struck double figures in three of his five full Premier League seasons, we know there are goals in his game, and this has been underlined by the two Champions League goals he has scored thus far.

But it’s his consistency in his work off the ball that makes him such a vital threat in the forward positions, so Spurs could well miss him as he spends time out with injury.

Alex McLeish must surely go down as a legend amongst the Glasgow Rangers supporters for his four-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Ibrox side.

He led the team to seven major trophies during that time, all while fighting constant financial restraints which limited his spending severely, meaning he had to largely rely on free transfers and a variety of loan moves.

The likes of Dado Prso, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Nacho Novo all arrived for either nothing or small transfer fees, and contributed towards McLeish’s second title triumph in 2004/05 as they pipped Celtic on the final day of the season in dramatic circumstances.

Along with these aforementioned signings, he also made one of his biggest blunders in the transfer market by shelling out £1.1m on Serbian midfielder Dragan Mladenovic, which proved to be a disaster.

How did Dragan Mladenovic perform at Rangers?

The player arrived from Red Star Belgrade having clearly impressed McLeish to fork out that sum during a time when money was tight, and Mladenovic had also proved his credentials on the international stage, winning seven caps for his country (he would win 17 overall), and it looked as though he could improve the midfield.

Despite the hype and early promise upon his arrival, the Serb went on to make just nine appearances for the Light Blues, failing to record any telling contributions in front of goal.

He moved to Real Sociedad on loan in January 2005, making 12 La Liga appearances for the club in a bid to try and force his way into the Rangers side ahead of the 2005/06 campaign, but it clearly wasn’t enough.

Mladenovic eventually forced a move back to Red Star before jumping ship to join South Korean side Incheon United, where he enjoyed much more game-time compared to his spell in Europe.

Overall, his nine Rangers appearances cost the club over £120k per match – and this was money the club could not afford to throw away.

It was an unmitigated disaster of a signing and one McLeish could look back on and say it was potentially up there as one of his worst while in charge of the Glasgow side.

Mladenovic is currently back in his homeland occupying the role of director of Red Star’s youth academy, and despite injuries not helping his cause, he will perhaps be largely forgettable when it comes to players of that era, as well as a colossal waste of money.

Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is unlikely to join Manchester United despite reported transfer interest from the Red Devils, and the Whites cannot afford to lose him anyway.

That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who was speaking to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Adams linked with Man Utd

The American has been a successful signing since arriving in the summer transfer window, bringing bite and quality to Jesse Marsch’s midfield. Indeed, his match average of four tackles is the second highest in the squad.

Adams’ form for Leeds appears to have attracted the attention of Man United, though, with a recent update claiming that Erik ten Hag is an admirer of the 23-year-old.

It appears as though the Red Devils’ interest isn’t going away, following a new claim.

The Latest: Bailey has his say

While Bailey has been impressed with Adams so far in the Premier League and acknowledged Man United’s interest, he doesn’t believe that the American will exit for Old Trafford, nor that Leeds would be willing to entertain any such move.

The journalist said to TEAMtalk: “I think Adams and [fellow summer signing Marc] Roca have been pretty good since coming in. They look a really nice partnership in the middle. And Adams has been good enough to attract attention for a move in January from Manchester United.

“But I am told this will not happen. Leeds could do business in January, and they are potentially in danger of losing a big name. But that will not be Adams.

“Leeds are battling at the wrong end of the table and face another fight for survival. They can’t afford to lose a player like Tyler Adams and I don’t see this happening at all.”

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The Verdict: Far too soon to sell

To sell Adams in January would be ludicrous from Leeds’ perspective, considering that he only joined in the summer and hasn’t even had time to fully make his mark yet.

For that reason, it would be a huge surprise if the 23-year-old suddenly ends up at Old Trafford that soon, although it is easier to envisage a summer transfer happening, especially if he continues to impress in Yorkshire.

The hope is that this is only the start for Adams at Elland Road, having been hailed as ‘excellent’ by TEAMtalk editor James Marshment in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Liverpool, in which he won five duels and three tackles for the Whites.

Chelsea are currently monitoring a winger who is making a big storm on the continent so far this season…

What’s the word?

Journalist Simon Phillips was speaking to GIVEMESPORT about Napoli sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, saying: “Chelsea are definitely one of many clubs that are watching him closely. I know for a fact that Chelsea have scouted him in recent games, so they’ve done fresh scouting missions on him.

“He’s certainly a player being talked about more and more at Chelsea as a potential target in the future.”

Chelsea aren’t the only team interested, fellow Premier League side Liverpool are also keen on the player. His agent Christian Emile recently stated that the Georgian’s price tag is likely to be €100m (£87m).

Raheem Sterling upgrade?

There is no doubt that Kvaratskhelia would be a major upgrade on Sterling, especially since the summer arrival has struggled so far this season.

The 27-year-old has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.67/10 in the league this term, contributing just three goals and one assist in 12 matches.

The nadir of his campaign to date was undoubtedly in the Blues’ defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, with the England international being pocketed by Oleksandr Zinchenko down the flanks. Indeed, Sterling endured a torrid time, failing in five of his six attempted dribbles.

Compared to the Serie A winger, who has netted six goals and registered five assists in the same number of matches, it’s clear who would be the better option for Graham Potter right now.

The 21-year-old has generated nearly double the amount of shot-creating actions than Sterling this season (6.01 per match to 3.22) while also taking more shots per game too (3.52 to 1.71) proving that he is adjusting to life at the highest level with remarkable ease.

Potter will be aiming to strengthen the team he inherited from Thomas Tuchel in January, and while a move for the Georgian then might seem unrealistic, a summer move might well be on the cards.

Kvaratskhelia is clearly ready to test himself in the Premier League, and with plenty of European heavyweights sniffing around the youngster, Chelsea will be looking to enjoy a solid second half of the season and secure Champions League football.

Without it, they will have next to no chance of landing a player who the Napoli faithful fondly refer to as ‘Kvaradona’, a fitting homage to their prodigal son, Diego Maradona.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ‘may walk’ at the end of the season having not signed a new contract, according to Sky Sports pundit Kevin Campbell.

The Lowdown: Big few weeks ahead

The Premier League boss has now entered the final 12 months of his deal at the Etihad, but so far has refused to commit to extending his stay beyond the 2022/23 campaign.

The Daily Mail have recently claimed that the 51-year-old is set to make an official decision on his future during the upcoming World Cup break, with his wife expected to have a big influence on the outcome he delivers.

The Latest: Campbell’s comments

Asked by Football Insider whether it was obvious that Guardiola would put pen to paper on fresh terms, Campbell said:

“I’m not sure it is.

“It has gone quite quiet. He should not be allowed to get down to the final seven months of his contract. If I was a Man City fan I would be worried.

“At the end of the day, he may walk at the end of the season. Guardiola is the key to everything. Right now, he is not secure.

“From a player’s and a fan’s point of view, it is a concern. There is an element of doubt.

“Listen, he might sign a new deal in the break. But there is a serious risk of things being unsettled.”

The Verdict: Tie him down

Guardiola is undoubtedly the one who holds all the power when it comes to this decision now, but the hierarchy have got to table him the best offer possible in a bid to tie him down.

The Spaniard’s numbers have been simply unbelievable during his time in the top flight, winning 276, drawing 43 and losing just 54 of his 373 matches in charge, averaging 2.34 points per game (Transfermarkt).

The Santpedor-born coach has also led his side to 11 titles, and this will only increase should he reaffirm his commitment to the Sky Blues in the weeks ahead.

Arsenal are yet to make contact with the representatives of Robert Renan ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Brazilian media outlet Gazeta Esportiva (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite a number of recent reports suggesting that Edu has already made contact with the centre-back’s agent ahead of a potential move for the 19-year-old this winter, there has been no ‘official’ approach made by the Premier League side thus far.

However, Sport Witness went on to suggest that, with the Gunners’ technical director boasting a good relationship with his former club Corinthians, perhaps Arsenal could hold the edge over the likes of Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the race for the Brazil U20 international’s signature.

Edu must move

Considering just how exciting a talent Renan very much appears to be, should Edu wish to give Mikel Arteta’s side the best possible chance of securing the defender’s signing in January, it would seem a wise move for the Brazilian director to begin laying down the groundwork of a move for the 19-year-old at the earliest possible opportunity.

Indeed, the youngster has been in extremely impressive form over his ten Serie A appearances so far this season, helping Corinthians keep four clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.9 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, 4.9 clearances and winning 3.1 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per game.

The defender has also caught the eye when in possession, playing 3.1 long balls, completing 43.9 passes – at a success rate of 85% – and succeeding with 0.2 dribbles per outing.

These returns have seen the £1.7k-per-week sensation average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 6.96, currently ranking the teenager as Timão’s tenth-best performer in the top flight of Brazilian football in 2022/23.

Perhaps surprisingly, Renan’s performances have drawn a considerable amount of praise, with Brazilian journalist Rodrigo Fragoso stating of the Corinthians starlet in a post on Twitter earlier this year:

“Observation made here from the lawn of the Neo Química Arena: Robert Renan has a lot of potential. I really liked the posture of the Corinthians left-footed defender. He anticipates well, he’s cold in the moves. Looks like he’s going to make a very quality defender in the professional.”

Meanwhile, Total Football Analysis went as far as to compare the 6 foot 1 Brazilian to the likes of Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos and Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martínez, as, according to the analytical website, “Renan makes up for a lack of height with a complete defensive profile.”

As such, considering all of the above, it would indeed appear as if Edu simply must launch an official move for the youngster who boasts a €50m (£44m) release clause this winter, as not only would the 19-year-old make an extremely exciting addition to Arteta’s defensive options, but he could well go on to become the next version of the PSG stalwart at The Emirates.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a shock move for West Ham United skipper, Declan Rice, with the Magpies believed to have joined the battle for the Englishman’s signature.

What’s the word?

According to West Ham insider, Claret and Hugh, PIF are believed to be keen on landing the 23-year-old next summer, with the report suggesting that the northeast side views him as a player who could be the ‘cornerstone of their project’ for the long term.

The report suggests that the Tynesiders could well make a move at the end of the campaign if their stunning early season form continues, with the hope being that the potential prospect of Champions League football could tempt the 34-cap superstar into a move to St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side are certainly not the only suitor for the midfielder, however, with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City having been heavily linked of late, while recent speculation has suggested that the London Stadium outfit would be open to a sale.

Any move for the Hammers academy graduate – whose current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2024 – won’t come cheap, however, with the Three Lions star potentially set to command a fee north of £100m.

“Another level”

At present, Newcastle are seemingly not in major need of additions amid their rampant start to the Premier League season, having lost just once in their opening 15 games to put them firmly in the mix for a top-four berth.

That being said, however, the signing of a player such as Rice could well help take the club to even greater heights, with pundit Paul Parker previously stating that the Irons’ talisman is the type of player who can take a team to “another level”.

Lauded as the “best central midfielder in the country” by Parker, the £60k-per-week sensation has been in truly stunning form in east London in recent years, having developed from being a promising talent into something of a “force of nature”, according to journalist Rob Blanchette.

The mature figure – who has already racked up 215 appearances for his current side to date despite his youth – could well be the answer to Howe’s prayers, with Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope only recently suggesting that a new central midfield asset could be a “priority” for the club.

Slotting in Rice to the base of the midfield would add even greater quality to the Newcastle ranks, with the 6 foot 1 colossus able to offer something of a unique asset as a result of his strength both in and out of possession.

The Kingston-born machine notably ranks in the top 6% in Europe for interceptions made as a sign of his ball-winning knack, while he also possesses a gift for being able to drive his side up the pitch with a surging, line-breaking run, having notably finished first in the division for successful dribbles during the 2020/21 campaign.

With David Moyes’ side currently in a relegation battle after an underwhelming start to the season, Rice could well be tempted to jump ship if things do not improve in the New Year, with the ambitious project on offer at St James’ Park likely to be an attractive prospect.

Indeed, he could just take the Magpies to another level, one West Ham are unlikely to reach anytime soon.

Another name has emerged in the battle to become the new Glasgow Rangers boss, with Sinisa Mihajlovic having reportedly put himself into the mix to fill the vacancy.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Record, the 53-year-old is one of those who is said to be ‘keen to hold talks’ with the Old Firm outfit regarding the managerial position at Ibrox, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst having been sacked earlier this week.

The report suggests that the Glasgow side are weighing up six or seven candidates in their bid to find a successor to the departed Dutchman, with the plan to then ‘whittle that down’ in the next few days.

The report also adds that one name who seemingly won’t be taking charge is former Southampton man Ralph Hasenhuttl, while Yokohama F. Marinos boss Kevin Muscat and ex-Middlesbrough man Chris Wilder are also ‘unlikely to make the final cut’.

Revive the ‘desire to win’

A change at the helm had seemingly been on the cards for the Light Blues amid what had been a frustrating last few weeks both domestically and in Europe, having notably slipped nine points behind rivals Celtic in the title race after also recording the worst Champions League group stage showing in the competition’s history.

Despite building up a bank of goodwill after his leading his side impressively in cup competitions last term, the pressure was unsurprisingly cranked up on Van Bronckhorst amid the current rut, having notably lost to St Johnstone and been held by St Mirren in two of their last three league games before the World Cup break.

That halt to proceedings has, however, allowed the Gers the time to carefully plot just who they want to replace the 47-year-old in the hot seat, with the experienced Mihajlovic potentially one solution to revive the club’s fortunes.

While something of a left-field choice, the former Yugoslavia international has enjoyed a lengthy career coaching at the top level, notably taking on the top job at the likes of AC Milan, Torino and Sporting Lisbon, as well as most recently with Bologna.

That latest role – which came to an end back in September – saw the one-time Serbia boss notably lauded by winger Emanuel Vignato, who said of his manager’s talents: “I was struck by his desire to win. A desire that motivates everyone.”

That ‘desire’ could well be the lift that Rangers are in need of at present heading into the second half of the campaign, with Mihajlovic certainly not a candidate to be ignored.