Patrick Boyland has revealed a fresh injury blow for Everton on Ben Godfrey ahead of their match at home to Manchester City in the Premier League this evening.
The Lowdown: Godfrey making progress
Earlier this week, the Goodison Park club tweeted that the 24-year-old was ‘making progress’ as he looks to step up his recovery from injury.
The former Norwich City ace has not played since the 4-1 win at home to Brentford in the FA Cup earlier this month, and he had rarely missed a match this season before then (Transfermarkt).
Nonetheless, Frank Lampard will be hoping to have him back in the squad as soon as possible.
The Latest: Godfrey injury update
Taking to Twitter on Friday, The Athletic journalist Boyland revealed that Godfrey is still “a couple of weeks away” from returning to action.
There was better news on Abdoulaye Doucoure and Demarai Gray, though, with both players back in training and “with the Everton squad” ahead of this evening’s match.
The Verdict: Blow for Everton
It is certainly a blow to hear that Godfrey is still a fortnight away from being fully fit, despite making progress in training.
The defender is currently ranking highly among his team-mates in terms of average tackles, clearances and blocks per game in the top flight so far this season (WhoScored), so Everton could certainly have done with his defensive fortitude against Pep Guardiola’s men.
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Nonetheless, he will now miss the Man City clash, and probably their FA Cup tie against Boreham Wood and forthcoming Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur, which will no doubt come as a disappointment to Lampard and the Toffees’ fan base.
In other news, this Everton player has been slammed as ‘awful’ at one thing
Wolves will be facing off against Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace this afternoon in their latest Premier League fixture.
Having lost their two previous league games on the road against Arsenal and West Ham United, the Old Gold are back at Molineux today to try and secure all three points against the south London club.
On the chalkboard
In terms of which players Bruno Lage could pick in his starting XI to take on the Eagles today, one man who didn’t start against West Ham last weekend but who we think should be in from the beginning this time around is Daniel Podence.
With Lage picking Hwang Hee-chan and Francisco Trincao on the wings at the London Stadium, who both failed to test opposing goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with even a single shot on target throughout their time on the pitch, this could persuade the manager to put Podence back into the team.
Despite netting just one goal and providing two assists in the league so far this season, Podence has still proved to be an attacking threat by averaging 1.2 shots per game (surpassed only by Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves), along with the highest average of key passes per game in Lage’s squad with 1.3.
Taking all this into account, it could be the best option for the 45-year-old to make some changes to his team this afternoon, particularly in attack, to see if this would give the home side a better chance of securing victory at Molineux and putting their disappointing run of form behind them.
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Having been previously labelled by Michael Kightly as a player who is “exactly what Wolves need”, today could be another opportunity for Podence – who is currently earning £52k-p/w according to Salary Sport – to show everyone how important he can be for his side, especially if he can add another goal or assist to his record for the campaign and help the Old Gold to a timely victory.
In other news – 49 tackles won: “Phenomenal” Wolves gem has been Lage’s “standout” player this season
Celtic have been handed a huge injury boost concerning attacking midfielder David Turnbull.
What’s the latest?
In recent comments cited by The Scotsman, Ange Postecoglou revealed that the 22-year-old, who has not featured for Celtic since damaging his hamstring in the Scottish League Cup final against Hibernian back in December, finally looks set to rejoin first-team training, although the 56-year-old did suggest that the Dundee United game next Monday will come too soon for the Scotland international.
Speaking about Turnbull’s return from injury, the Greek-Australian coach said: “The plan for him is, all going well, he will probably train with us post-Monday and we will see how we go from there. I don’t know if he will be available for Ross County but he will be training with the team.”
Supporters will be buzzing
Considering the astonishing form Turnbull had been in for Celtic prior to his injury, the news that the midfielder looks set to make a return to the Hoops squad in time for the run-in of the Scottish Premiership season is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.
Indeed, over his 18 Premiership appearances this season, the £5.85m-rated dynamo has scored five goals, provided four assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 4.1 key passes – the most of any player in the top flight – and taking 3.7 shots – the second-most in the league – per game.
These metrics have seen the £14k-per-week 22-year-old average a quite extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.87, ranking him as the best player in the top flight of Scottish football.
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As such, with a potentially season-defining fixture at Ibrox coming up for Celtic on April 3, it is clear for all to see that getting Turnbull fully fit and firing ahead of the Old Firm clash would come as a huge boost to the Bhoys’ chances of leaving Govan with all three points – something that would all but seal the Hoops the Premiership title.
In other news: Ange must finally unleash “superb” Celtic sensation who’s “rightfully getting praise”
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is keeping an eye on Liverpool defender Joe Gomez ahead of a potential move in the summer transfer window.
What’s the story?
The England international has struggled for game-time this season at Anfield, and according to 90min, it appears his future on Merseyside could be coming to an end, with Spurs one of the clubs interested.
They revealed: “Despite Klopp’s hopes that Gomez will stay, 90min understands the defender wants to move, although he does have two years left on his current deal and will carry a hefty price tag.
“One man who is desperate for Gomez to see more action, whether it be at Anfield or elsewhere, is England boss Gareth Southgate, who believes the Liverpool defender is one of his best options at the back.”
He’s a major Davinson Sanchez upgrade
Here on FFC, we’ve looked at how Sanchez’s career at Spurs has gone awry since his move from Ajax a few years ago, and there’s no questioning that Gomez would be a serious upgrade on the Colombian.
Jurgen Klopp, the 24-year-old’s manager at Liverpool, has waxed lyrical about the kind of qualities he possesses and why that marks him out as a superb central defender.
He said: “Since he is playing as a centre-half again – his natural position – together with (Virgil van Dijk) there is exceptional. He is a sensational footballer, which is good.
“He has outstanding speed, which helps us a lot to keep our last line high; he is a really good challenger; good in one-on-one situations; football-wise, I said already, good. The package is really nice.”
Given that Gomez has only played 102 minutes of Premier League football this season, with a mixture of injuries and the form of others keeping him out of the team, it’s no surprise that he is looking for a fresh start.
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As a Premier League and Champions League winner, the English ace would bring some much-needed title-winning experience to this Spurs squad and a winning mentality that Conte would surely crave.
The £22.5m-rated star would surely fancy his chances of staking a claim for a first-team spot at Spurs.
AND in other news – Sold for £18m, now worth under £1m: Levy played a blinder with shocking Spurs disaster
Rangers won 2-1 in their last Premiership match ahead of the international break on Sunday as the Ibrox giants remain in the race to win the title this season.
The Gers are currently three points behind their arch-rivals in the table as it stands and face off against them in their next league outing in just under two weeks.
Gio van Bronckhorst’s side let a lead slip at the Premiership summit in recent months but still have a chance to turn it back around before the end of the campaign.
Difference-making
One player who played a part in the club dropping off the top of the table was veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who has been at fault in the league of late.
Ross Wilson played a disasterclass in January as he failed to provide van Bronckhorst with a replacement for the experienced Scot. The club were linked with a pre-contract swoop for Benjamin Siegrist, who could have then been signed on a bargain deal in the winter market, but failed to secure a deal for his services.
He has only made one error leading to a goal in the entire campaign for Dundee United and has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.96 across 27 appearances – making 3.0 saves per game at a success rate of 72%.
McGregor has, meanwhile, made three errors leading to goals and one error leading to a shot whilst averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.80. He has made 1.8 saves per game at a success rate of 68%, which suggests that the United man has been the superior – less error-prone – shot-stopper out of the two.
Although, it is also worth noting that these statistics do not encompass all aspects of goalkeeping. For example, Dundee FC’s goal on Sunday would not go down as a direct mistake by the 40-year-old despite some fans potentially seeing it as one as he watched a cross sail across his six-yard box before being bundled in as he watched on.
The ex-Hull ‘keeper’s failure to keep out a low shot at his near post in a recent 2-2 draw with Motherwell – costing the Gers two points – would also not count as an error, despite his mistake letting the side down.
Although, another game in which he cost the club two points did consist of two ‘errors’ leading to goals. He gifted two strikes to Ross County in a 3-3 draw at the end of January, which suggests that Rangers could be four points better off – and top of the table – with a better goalkeeper between the sticks.
This is why it was a disaster from Wilson in opting against a deal for Siegrist and deciding to keep 40-year-old McGregor as the club’s number one in both the Europa League and Premiership, as his displays in the latter have been letting the side down.
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The statistics suggest that the 6 foot 4 Swiss stopper would have been a difference-making signing that would have the Gers at the top of the table, as his form for United suggests that he would not have made the point-costing errors that the current Gers first-choice has made.
A costly one that got away but they will have the chance to swoop the SPFL gem, who Micky Mellon dubbed a “monster” and “one of the best in the country”, up for nothing at the end of the campaign if he does not sign a contract extension with Dundee United.
AND in other news, Gvb must brutally axe £14k-p/w Rangers liability, he’s one of Wilson’s big “let downs”…
Liverpool are reportedly among a number of top clubs set to ‘position themselves’ for a possible summer move for Porto midfielder Vitinha.
The Lowdown: Vitinha impressing for Porto
The 22-year-old is maturing into a formidable player in his homeland, proving to be an increasingly crucial figure for a table-topping Porto side.
Vitinha has made 20 Primeira Liga starts this season, along with six appearances in the Champions League, averaging a 90.2% pass completion rate in the Portuguese top flight. The youngster also enjoyed a loan spell at Wolves last season, appearing 19 times in the Premier League.
The Latest: Reds linked with Vitinha move
According to O Jogo [via Sport Witness], the ‘siege begins to tighten’ regarding interest in Vitinha this summer, with Liverpool one of the clubs keen on a move for the 22-year-old.
The Reds’ assistant manager Pep Lijnders is ‘keeping a close eye’ on the midfielder, whose variety of suitors has ‘skyrocketed’ in recent times.
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The Verdict: Could be ideal
Midfield seems to be the one area of the pitch where Jurgen Klopp could do with refreshing this summer, with James Milner rapidly approaching the end of his career and both Jordan Henderson and Thiago also now in their 30s.
Vitinha could be an ideal option to come in and become a strong squad player, boasting a better ball retention rate than any regular starter at Anfield this season and also offering a long-term option in the Reds’ midfield.
As mentioned above, has experience of playing in the Premier League which would be an added bonus, and he has been hailed by Porto manager Sergio Conceicao as ‘fabulous’ and a player with ‘fantastic technique’.
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There are plenty of good reasons for Liverpool to explore the possibility of bringing the 22-year-old back to England.
In other news, Liverpool are reportedly not in the race to sign one player. Find out who it is here.
Celtic will sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers on a ‘simple’ permanent deal, Lilywhites insider John Wenham has claimed.
The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers having a fine season
The 24-year-old made his mark on Sunday after scoring the winning goal in the Old Firm derby as Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 at Ibrox.
The defender has played 27 times in the Premiership this season and has become a crucial component of the Hoops’ backline. The American averages a phenomenal 4.4 clearances per league game, considerably more than any of his teammates (via WhoScored).
Sky Sports have now reported that Celtic can make the defender’s loan a permanent move for a £6m fee, and talks are already underway about the structure of the deal.
Tottenham insider Wenham is backing the deal to go through. Speaking with Football Insider, he claimed:
“Yeah, it’s simple, it just requires Celtic to transfer Tottenham £6million, it’s as simple as that. The player would want it and both clubs want it so there shouldn’t be any problems.
“They could have done it in the summer but the loan has been perfect for Tottenham. We would have let him go for £2million but we have trebled that price based on his performances.
“I couldn’t be happier with how it has gone because he plays pretty much every game up there. Cameron just isn’t at the level to play for Spurs so I am more than happy to move him on and bank that £6million fee.”
The Verdict: Good move for all involved
Having made just five senior appearances for Tottenham, it seems clear that Carter-Vickers is not going to have a long-term career with the north London club. This may come as a disappointment to some fans, as in 2016, Spurs hero Jan Vertonghen hailed the centre-back as an “absolute beast” during the American’s emergence into the first team.
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As a result, it would be in the best interests of Spurs and the 24-year-old to part ways on a permanent basis. This would also suit Celtic, who have enjoyed success with the defender leading their backline.
Therefore, this would no doubt be a good move for all parties involved.
In other news: Italian report delivers update on Antonio Conte’s future at Spurs
Crystal Palace are tracking FC Koln defender Timo Hubers ahead of a possible summer move, according to The Daily Mail.
The Lowdown: Hubers profiled
Hubers stands at 6 foot 2 and made the move to FC Koln last summer on a free transfer from Hannover 96. The 25-year-old has established himself as a regular in recent months, starting 12 of the last 13 Bundesliga games.
He currently holds a career-high £2.7m Transfermarkt valuation and will be entering the final 12 months of his contract in the summer, with Palace possibly looking at a summer swoop.
The Latest: Palace interest in Hubers
The Daily Mail shared a story on Monday afternoon, name-checking Palace, Leeds, Fulham, Newcastle, Southampton and West Ham with an interest in Hubers.
A £6m fee was mentioned in the report, with a host of Premier League clubs tracking the player.
The Verdict: Possible Guehi replacement?
Palace could well be short of centre-back options ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Patrick Vieira currently has five at his disposal, although both James Tomkins and Jaroslaw Jach are out of contract at the end of June.
Reports have also recently revealed that Chelsea could re-sign Marc Guehi after a hidden clause emerged in the move which brought the 21-year-old to Selhurst Park over the summer.
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Hopefully Guehi will still be a Palace player in Vieira’s second season, but amid that worrying revelation about his transfer status, it seems as if Hubers could be a name to look out for over the coming months.
In other news: ‘Will get worse…’ – Matt Woosnam fumes as ‘appalling’ Crystal Palace news is now confirmed
Upon promotion back to the Premier League ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, it was vital that the Leeds United board handed Daniel Farke the funds needed to make the changes he craved at Elland Road.
The gap between the two divisions has widened significantly in recent seasons, as seen with each of the last six promoted teams, who all suffered an immediate return to the second tier.
Despite splashing over £100m on new additions during the summer window, many fans had feared that the side would struggle to provide the star quality needed in the final third.
However, after the first 16 league outings of the new campaign, Farke’s men have already found the back of the net on 20 occasions, with six teams in the division currently registering fewer.
Such a record is evidence that the side can produce the goods in front of goal, but that’s not to mention that numerous players haven’t struggled over the last couple of months.
Leeds prepare move for big-money striker
Joel Piroe endured a year to remember during the promotion-winning campaign, as seen by his tally of 19 goals – the highest of any player in the Championship.
However, the Dutchman has featured in eight matches so far this campaign, but has currently been unable to find the back of the net for Farke’s side.
The same could be said for Dan James, a player who ended the 2024/25 campaign with a remarkable tally of 21 combined goals and assists.
Like Piroe, he’s currently been unable to provide a single goal or assist in 2025/26, which has led to rumours over a move for new attacking options in January.
Over recent days, a report in Italy has stated that Leeds chiefs, the 49ers, have already made an approach to Manchester United over a potential deal to land Joshua Zirkzee this window.
The report states that the Whites are just one of a number of top-flight clubs who are interested in a possible move for the Dutchman during the upcoming market. He once cost around £36m but his future at Old Trafford looks over.
The 24-year-old could be open to a move away from Old Trafford in the coming months, after starting just three times this campaign.
Why Zirkzee would be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin for Leeds
As part of the summer recruitment drive, Leeds landed the signature of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, after the Englishman was released by Everton at the end of his contract.
The 28-year-old spent nine years at Goodison Park before his departure at the end of June, but he’s been in tremendous form in the Premier League during the last few weeks.
He’s already made 15 appearances for the Whites in England’s top-flight, scoring on five occasions, with four coming in each of his last four appearances for Farke’s side.
Calvert-Lewin has arguably cemented himself as the club’s most important player at present, an impressive feat after making the move to Elland Road on a free transfer.
However, that could be about to change after the upcoming January window, especially with a move on the horizon for United star Zirkzee in the weeks ahead.
Whilst the Dutch star has been limited to mostly substitute appearances, he’s still managed to produce some respectable numbers, many of which are better than the current number nine.
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Zirkzee has been labelled “one of the most interesting young strikers” by Mateo Moretti in recent times, with his all-round stats highlighting such a statement.
He’s been outscored by Calvert-Lewin this season, but has posted more shots on target per 90, which highlights the threat he poses within the final third of the pitch.
The Dutch star has also completed more passes this campaign, with more of which per 90 being key passes – which could help provide Farke’s men an added creative option.
How Zirkzee & DCL compare in the PL (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Zirkzee
DCL
Games played
9
15
Goals & assists
1
5
Shots on target
1.2
1.1
Pass accuracy
73%
61%
Progressive passes
2.8
0.9
Key passes
1.8
0.7
Take-on success
50%
33%
Aerials won
45%
38%
Stats via FBref
Zirkzee has also won more of the aerial duels he’s contested in 2025/26, subsequently showcasing his all-round nature, which no doubt makes him a bigger talent than the current Leeds ace.
However, the Man Utd star does love to drop off the centre-back and operate in deeper roles, which could arguably make him the perfect partner alongside the Whites’ talisman.
The prospect of the pair lining up alongside one another at Elland Road is one to get excited about, with such a duo potentially having the quality to save the club from relegation.
Leeds flop is becoming a bigger waste of money than Rodrigo & Sinisterra
Leeds United now has a bigger waste of money than both Rodrigo and Luis Sinisterra in this shaky summer signing.
Arsenal fans have gathered in the Transfer Tavern and are excited to see who new boss Unai Emery may bring to the club this summer.
It seems Arsenal are moving quickly to sign some new faces to the Arsenal squad. Emery has already secured two signatures and is still on the hunt to bring in a few more. In somewhat surprising news, the latest name to be linked with a move to the club is Marseille’s Florian Thauvin.
The Breakdown
The former Newcastle forward has been linked with a move to Arsenal according to Italian publication StadioSport. The report states that Emery is a fan of the 25-year-old French international and wants to make him a central figure in the team following the departures of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere – both of whom left on free transfers.
During his six-month spell at St James’ Park, Thauvin only managed 16 appearances where he scored a single goal and registered two assists in all competitions for the Magpies. The 25-year-old, who’s valued at £45 million by Transfermarkt, has enjoyed a career rejuvenation since he returned to Ligue 1. Since his return, Thauvin has scored 39 goals in Ligue 1 for Marseille and has helped the club return to prominence.
Although Thauvin has had a career rebirth since his return to the French league, at the price quoted it would seem unlikely that Unai Emery would want to add him to the squad. Moreover, it seems that Arsenal are primarily concentrating on finalising a deal for Uruguay’s Lucas Torreira.
Still, if they can lure Thauvin to North London at a reasonable price, he could prove to be quite a wonderful addition. A thrillingly incisive forward, he’d go some way into converting the Gunners’ mighty possession stats into shots at goal.
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So Arsenal fans – would you welcome Thauvin to the Emirates?