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Everton have appointed Frank Lampard as their new manager, and he wasted no time using his only opportunity of the transfer window on Deadline Day to bring in two players to work with him in his efforts to save the side’s season.

Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli joined the Toffees in the final hours of the January transfer window, becoming the fourth and fifth signings of the month, suggesting that the ex-Chelsea boss has plans to overhaul the midfield and attacking threat of the team which has currently failed to make a significant impact, scoring 11 fewer goals than the side has conceded in the Premier League this season.

With that being said, the first player that Lampard can ruthlessly axe from his team is Alex Iwobi, who has been with the club since 2019, scoring just six goals in 80 appearances from his forward position.

That’s one more goal than he has had managers, with Lampard remarkably becoming the fifth permanent manager that the 25-year-old has worked under in his time at Goodison Park.

The left-winger was branded “embarrassing” by Everton journalist, David Prentice, back in 2020 and things haven’t improved for the Nigeria international, with his most recent indiscretion at AFCON where he was brought on to save his nation from crashing out of the competition in the last 16 knock out clash against Tunisia.

Iwobi was sent off within five minutes of coming off the bench after a red card decision went against him when he made a tackle with his studs up on his marker who went straight to the floor. That eventually led to Nigeria crashing out of the competition.

If the Premier League midfielder turned manager deploys his most favoured formation of 4-2-3-1, it would push Iwobi out of the team completely as Richarlison would presumably go out onto the left side of the three to accommodate the new addition Alli, who could play in one of his favourite positions behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and as a result, would see Iwobi unlikely to start for the Toffees in the future.

Lampard has always been a big fan of the £22.5m-rated former Spurs star claiming he is “ahead of the game” in a complimentary analysis of the player back in 2017, so there is no doubt that he will want to integrate the attacking midfielder in his starting line up as soon as he can to get the very best out of him to pull Everton away from a relegation battle.

Combine that with the fact that Darren Anderton once called him a “freak of a talent” and it’s evident there is plenty more that Dele could offer than the former Arsenal forward.

Everton will return to action this weekend at Goodison Park in the FA Cup, where the 43-year-old Toffees manager will lead out his first squad selection in front of the home fans and it will be interesting to see what direction he goes in to secure progression in the domestic competition for the side.

In other news: Lampard already enduring major dilemma at Finch Farm

West Ham may potentially be able to sign Basel attacker Arthur Cabral for ‘less than €20m (£16.8m)’, according to a fresh report which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Hammers linked with Cabral move

The Hammers suffered a second consecutive Premier League defeat on Sunday, losing 2-1 away to Manchester City, in what has been a slight reality check since the win over Liverpool.

David Moyes’ side must still believe that they challenge for a top-four finish, though, following an excellent start to the season.

It may be that January signings are made to bolster the squad, and one player who has been linked with a move to east London is Cabral, with a report claiming that a transfer has been discussed.

The Latest: New update emerges

Another update has quickly arrived regarding the situation, with Blick stating [via Sport Witness] that ‘nothing is concrete yet’ regarding Cabral leaving Basel, but he could be available for less than €20m (£17m).

That is described as a ‘bargain’ signing, with the 23-year-old already scoring 14 times in 13 starts in the Swiss Super League this season.

The Verdict: Mid-season depth

The arrival of Cabral could give West Ham a much-needed injection of attacking quality midway through the season, as they look to ensure that legs don’t tire with domestic and Europa League commitments to tackle.

Furthermore, Michail Antonio has had his injury problems in the past, and if he were to miss a chunk of action, the Basel hero could be an ideal alternative.

Cabral could also represent the future, rather than a short-term fix, with his early potential exciting and his all-round game likely to mature further in years to come.

In other news, some West Ham fans have slammed one player’s performance against Manchester City. Find out who it is here.

Antonio Rudiger could be a perfect signing for West Ham if a transfer manages to materialise, according to Irons legend Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: West Ham linked with Rudiger move

The Hammers may have stumbled a bit in recent weeks, failing to win any of their last three Premier League games, but their start to the season has still been very promising.

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However, one major setback for David Moyes has been the injury to Angelo Ogbonna, with the Italian ruled out for the rest of the campaign with cruciate ligament damage.

For that reason, a new centre-back is needed in January, and Rudiger has been linked with a move to the Hammers despite being a key figure for Chelsea this season, starting 13 league matches.

The Latest: McAvennie wants transfer to happen

Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie claimed that Rudiger would be the perfect addition for Moyes’ squad next month. He said:

“Rudiger’s a good player, he’s David Moyes’ kind of player. No airs and graces, he goes and wins the ball, he’s a hard-working player.

“He would fit right into the West Ham way of playing at the moment. I’m all for bringing good players and Rudiger is definitely a good player.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Hammers

In truth, it is hard to see why Rudiger would suddenly want to leave Chelsea at a time when he is an undisputed key player under Thomas Tuchel and potentially on track for winning the Premier League title in May.

That being said, if he decides that he wants to join West Ham, he could be a wonderful addition, having been hailed as ‘amazing’ by Rio Ferdinand earlier this year.

He could slot in alongside Kurt Zouma and help fill the Ogbonna-shaped void, with his average of 2.7 clearances per game in the league superior to the injured Irons centre-back’s tally (2.4).

Not only that, but Rudiger’s experience could also be invaluable, having won 49 caps for Germany to date as well as a plethora of trophies with Chelsea, most notably the Champions League earlier this year. McAvennie is quite right to talk him up.

In other news, some West Ham fans have flocked to a transfer claim regarding an attacker. Read more here.

Despite only managing to win three of their 18 Premier League games so far this season, drawing seven and losing eight along the way, one figure at Leeds United that has been rather crucial for the Yorkshire club is Raphinha.

With eight goals, one assist and an overall performance rating of 7.21/10, making him Leeds’ highest-rated player according to WhoScored, this shows just how much of a key player he is for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

After ending his debut season with Leeds as their highest-rated player according to WhoScored last season, the Brazilian was linked with a move away from Elland Road last summer with the likes of fellow Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly interested in him.

A recent report from TNT Sports claims that German club Bayern Munich are closing in on a deal to sign the attacker in January and while this may not be as bad as selling him to another Premier League side, it would still be an unforgivable disaster if the winger were to leave Leeds in January.

It would certainly be a big blow for Bielsa given how important Raphinha has been to his side since arriving from Rennes back in October 2020, scoring a total of 14 goals and providing ten assists in 47 appearances across all competitions.

Labelled as a “relentless” player due to his work on the pitch by Noel Whelan, it would surely be a scary thought for a lot of Leeds fans to think about how this season could end if the forward leaves next month.

Taking into account his goals and overall performances this season, it’s safe to say that Raphinha has the ability to keep Leeds away from the relegation zone and in the Premier League next season if he can continue playing well and scoring goals.

If he ends up staying at Elland Road for the remainder of the season, it should be one of the club’s top priorities to secure the winger, who is currently valued at £36m according to Transfermarkt, with a new deal to keep him in Yorkshire beyond 2024, which is when his current contract expires.

After all, losing him is an eventuality that Leeds simply cannot face given their perilous position in the league table. If Raphinha leaves and they fail to beat the drop, the whole scenario will border on unforgivable from Victor Orta.

In other news: Bielsa can finally axe Leeds’ “absolute disaster” by signing “spectacular” 5 ft 9 gem…

Southampton have reportedly been scouting Bristol City midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson recently and the 22-year-old could prove to be the ideal long-term replacement for Oriol Romeu at the south coast club.

According to the Bristol Post, Southampton scouts have been in attendance in recent Bristol City fixtures as Ashton Gate and have been admiring the young midfielder’s performances, although the likes of Wolves, Bournemouth and Norwich City are also credited with an interest.

It has been something of a breakthrough season for Bakinson at Bristol City, with previous campaigns having seen him spend time on loan at Newport County and Plymouth Argyle.

The 22-year-old has made 33 appearances in all competitions for the Robins this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist, averaging a 6.49 WhoScored match rating for his performances in the Championship.

WhoScored suggests that Bakinson’s strengths are in his ability to make interceptions and play through balls, as well as his excellent concentration, which immediately marks him out as a potential long-term replacement for Romeu in Southampton’s line-up.

The Spanish midfielder will turn 30 this year and, although you imagine that he can play for a few more years at the top level, it would be good for the Saints to have a replacement lined up.

Ibrahima Diallo has filled in for the former Chelsea man when the latter has been injured this season, and whilst the 21-year-old Frenchman has done a solid job and is strong in the tackle, he lacks the natural height of a defensive-minded midfielder, whereas Bakinson stands at 6 foot 3.

Bakinson also averages more blocks, clearances and interceptions per game than Diallo has done so far this season, which suggests that he could be a more natural replacement for Romeu in this Southampton side.

Therefore, Martin Semmens should consider bringing him to St Mary’s this summer, as he could be an excellent homegrown addition to Hasenhuttl’s squad.

In other news… Bye-bye Jankewitz: Semmens should seal Saints swoop for £3.6m-rated beast

Sky Sports News journalist Ben Ransom has shared some worrying footage of Manchester City training ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid.

The Lowdown: City’s UCL run

An ill-tempered draw in the second-leg of the Sky Blues’ quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid sent Pep Guardiola’s side through to the last four of the Champions League.

Kevin De Bruyne’s second half goal in the first-leg was enough to secure the win for City, who now face Real Madrid in the semi-finals later on tonight at the Etihad.

When questioned in yesterday’s lunchtime press conference about the availability of Kyle Walker and John Stones following, Guardiola responded:

“They are doubts, they didn’t train for the last week to ten days and John since Brighton. We’ll see how they feel, we’ll speak to them tomorrow and then make the decision.”

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The Latest: Footage emerges

Taking to Twitter just 24 hours before kick-off, Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom has shared footage of Man City’s training session.

Captioning the video, he claimed: “No Walker nor Stones on the training pitch for Man City ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.”

The Verdict: Huge blow

This injury news will come as a huge blow for Guardiola’s selection, if indeed both players have not miraculously recovered in the hours since the footage was leaked.

With Joao Cancelo already suspended, City now do not have a player available who has been utilised at right-back before.

This suggests that one of Oleksandr Zinchenko or Nathan Ake will have to step up in Walker’s absence.

This will see to a makeshift back-line which Guardiola will hope can keep a strong Madrid side out, before his squad can recuperate for the second-leg.

In other news: Manchester City: Daily Mail makes Declan Rice claim

Liverpool earned successive 3-1 away wins in the capital as they triumphed against West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A brace from Mohamed Salah and a goal from Georginio Wijnaldum were enough to seal the win before Craig Dawson’s late consolation earned a touch of credibility for David Moyes’ side.

Whilst Salah will rightly get a lot of credit for his two world-class goals in the second half, it was perhaps Jordan Henderson’s performance that will delight Klopp the most, as he produced another solid display in an unfamiliar position.

As per SofaScore, the Liverpool captain would earn a strong 7.0 rating for his display, with only Wijnaldum, Xherdan Shaqiri, Thiago and Salah rated higher.

The 31-year-old was featuring as a centre-back once again on Sunday, following the injuries to Joel Matip and Fabinho earlier in the week, but he showed that he can be relied upon when needed.

During the game, Henderson would contest four duels with West Ham players. He would win all of them.

This is even more impressive when you consider the physical nature of Moyes’ side, which boasts the likes of Tomas Soucek, Dawson and Michail Antonio, to name just a few.

The 30-year-old would enjoy 95 touches of the ball against West Ham, which was 55 more than Hammers centre-back Angelo Ogbonna, whilst 80/89 of his passes would find a Liverpool shirt, resulting in a solid 90% pass accuracy – more than his season average of 87.2%.

Despite playing at the back, Henderson was still able to showcase his passing ability, as he contributed one key pass, which was more than both of West Ham’s central midfielders and more than his average of 0.6 in the Premier League so far this season.

Last year, Klopp was full of praise for his captain, saying:

“He is exceptional; he is outstanding.”

Therefore, whilst Salah was the hero for Liverpool with his brace, Henderson’s near-perfect display against an in-form West Ham side means that he should earn a lot of plaudits too.

And, in other news… LFC dealt big transfer blow as reported bid for “natural leader” CB rejected

Many Everton fans have been left reacting to the confirmed Transfer Deadline Day exit of Jonas Lossl to FC Midtjylland.

As per the official website of the Goodison Park faithful, the Denmark international has signed for the club where he started his footballing career.

It leaves the Merseyside club still with Jordan Pickford, Robin Olsen and Joao Virginia, and so the departure of Lossl will not really hurt them too much going into the rest of the 2020/21 term.

The 32-year-old did not even play in a single senior game for the Toffees since his signing from Huddersfield Town (Transfermarkt), and so it was a good idea for Carlo Ancelotti’s team to get him off of the wage books knowing as well that they are very well-covered already in the goalkeeper department.

Everton fan reaction to Lossl exit

These Blues reacted to the exit of Lossl on Twitter, as it seemed as if they were happy to see him leave:

“Weirdest signing in our history”

Credit: @Alexash1878

“Thanks for looking after the bench”

Credit: @efc_cain

“Two more free spots on the bench!”

Credit: @SteveDow1

“Luckiest guy in the world. Made about £3m off Everton for doing absolutely nothing.”

Credit: @danholling

“83 weeks @ 40k a week. That man took £3.2m off this football club…”

Credit: @matti_bigley

“Another one gone!”Credit: @kmatthews17In other news, find out what transfer blow EFC have been dealt by Fabrizio Romano here!

Liverpool are willing to sell striker Taiwo Awoniyi this summer if they receive an offer of £8m, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce.

The lowdown

The Reds signed Awoniyi from his homeland Nigeria back in 2015 for just under £1m but they have been forced to sanction a succession of loan moves while they waited for him to secure a work permit. His switch to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin ahead of the 2020/21 campaign was his seventh temporary exit.

Awoniyi finished the campaign as the team’s third highest-scorer with five goals, helping them to a seventh-place finish in the German top flight and qualification for next season’s Europa Conference League.

Mergim Vojvoda, a former team-mate of Awoniyi at Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium, hailed him as “an excellent player with great qualities”, adding that “Taiwo is a forward who needs to showcase his power”.

Earlier this month, the Nigerian was finally able to obtain his work permit, meaning he could be part of the Liverpool squad next season, while he has two years left on his contract at Anfield.

The latest

Fulham, West Bromwich and Stoke City have ‘already shown interest’ in the 23-year-old, according to Pearce for The Athletic, and he is seen as one of the club’s more valuable assets after impressing in Germany.

Pearce added that the Reds will listen to offers for a whole host of returning loanees, including Harry Wilson, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius.

The verdict

Awoniyi may never have featured for the Reds’ first team, but he could still make an important contribution to Liverpool.

Having sealed the signing of Ibrahima Konate on Friday, The Athletic claimed that further coming incomings will be ‘influenced by how much is generated from player sales’.

An £8m influx is not to be dismissed. It could represent a decent chunk of the fee for a backup forward or a midfielder, while the potential sale of Awoniyi could be similar to how Liverpool yielded big fees for rarely-seen strikers such as Dominic Solanke and Rhian Brewster in the last couple of years.

In other news, could interest from Turkey see this Reds player sold to raise funds?

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who made 18 appearances for West Ham, believes it is just David Moyes’ agent who will be putting his name in the hat for the Celtic to try and get him a better contract at the London Stadium.

Moyes has taken West Ham from relegation candidates last season to top four contenders this season as they currently sit fifth, just two points behind Chelsea in fourth.

However, it has been reported by GIVEMESPORT that Celtic are considering Moyes to be a strong candidate to take the job from the start of next season, and the longer his contract situation rumbles on at West Ham the stronger those rumours will grow as Celtic look to bounce back against Rangers next season.

Speaking on where the links have come from regarding the 57-year-old and what mistake the West Ham owners made last time around, Lee told FFC:

“No chance he’ll take the Celtic job. It’s probably just David Moyes’ agent trying to get a better contract for him at West Ham.

“Why would he leave West Ham? David Moyes has really done a good job of organising this team and he’s always been a good organiser of every team he’s managed and now he’s got players in the side that can score goals.”

Celtic’s interest in Moyes always looked a little farfetched given his success in London this term, but with no new contract agreed with the Irons the rumours may linger on for a while yet.