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Everton produced an epic comeback in their Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last night and Sean Dyche will be thrilled that his perseverance with Ellis Simms finally paid off in the dying moments of the game.

The Toffees academy graduate has had a rollercoaster season after becoming a key player whilst on loan with Sunderland in the Championship over the first half of the season with his impressive displays ultimately leading to his recall to Goodison Park in January, although his opportunities remained limited until the appointment of the former Burnley boss.

Over Dyche's eight games in charge of the Merseysiders, Simms has featured four times and his faith in the striker finally paid off in west London as the youngster earned his team a crucial point with a goal scored in the 89th minute of action.

Indeed, there is still plenty of work to be done for both Everton to survive in the Premier League this season and Simms to become a prolific presence in front of goal but the draw with Chelsea will surely instil some belief and confidence going into the remaining ten league fixtures.

If Dyche does manage to retain the Toffees' top-flight status it could be a great opportunity to give more academy graduates opportunities to prove their worth in the senior team and Tom Cannon could be the perfect addition to the attacking threat when he returns from his loan with Preston North End.

How is Tom Cannon doing on loan?

Cannon made the move to the Championship club back in the January transfer window and is earning the important first-team football needed to give a better insight into his capabilities.

Over 12 appearances so far, the 20-year-old ace – hailed a "bright spark" by journalist Tom Sandells – has scored three goals, registered one assist and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 successful dribbles, two shots on goal and winning four duels per game, proving that he is a huge attacking presence on the pitch.

It seems that Cannon has captured a lot of attention during his short time in the Championship with Hull City manager Liam Rosenior hailing the forward when the club came up against PNE last month:

"I thought Tom Cannon was outstanding, one of the best we've played against by far."

The former Everton U18s and U21s striker penned a new three-year deal in August 2022 after tallying up 97 appearances, 51 goals and 14 assists in the youth set-up, as well as earning three senior appearances in the first team before his temporary move to Lancashire at the turn of the year.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Cannon and if he can continue to produce a solid output on loan over the remainder of the season, it would put him in good stead to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned Simms.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for PSG central midfielder Renato Sanches this summer.

The Lowdown: Previous interest

Newcastle also reportedly held an interest in Sanches dating back to his time at Lille, where he was part of a team that won the Ligue 1 title in the 2020/21 season.

He has always shown plenty of promise as a youngster at Bayern Munich, where his former team-mate Niklas Sule once even claimed that he was often the ‘best player in training’.

The Latest: Still interested

Co-writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says that the St. James’ Park outfit are among a number of clubs that ‘appreciate’ Sanches, and are being ‘kept informed’ of his situation at PSG.

Aston Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and AC Milan are also all thought to be keen, as PSG are happy to let him go after just one season.

Indeed, he has only made injuries.

The Verdict: Approach with caution

The Magpies must approach this potential deal with caution, given Sanches’ injury record and the fact that he has Premier League before with Swansea City.

He is also on €174,000-per-week (£154,000-per-week) at the Parc des Princes, which would make him the highest-paid player on Tyneside.

Once dubbed a ‘special’ player by his former Lille team-mate and now Toon central defender Sven Botman, and a ‘powerhouse’ by pundit Kevin Campbell, the 25-year-old would clearly still have a lot to offer, and so the North East club must weigh up whether a deal would be worth pursuing.

While the international break is still in full swing, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will already have one eye on the return to club action this weekend, with the Red Devils set to take on top-four rivals Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.

The major selection headache at present for the Dutchman, ahead of the trip to St James' Park, will be the enforced absence of influential midfielder, Casemiro, with the Brazilian still having three games left to serve of his four-game ban after being dismissed in the most recent league meeting against Southampton.

The loss of the 31-year-old will come as a notable blow for United such has been the £70m man's impact in recent times, having been hailed as the "glue" in the side by club legend Rio Ferdinand due to his undoubted importance.

Although there is an argument that the former Ajax boss could look to fill that void by pushing usual centre-back Lisandro Martinez further forward, there are other members of the squad who could also be pushing for a role.

Academy graduate Scott McTominay will likely be hoping he has staked a claim for selection after netting twice off the bench in Scotland's 3-0 win over Cyprus on Saturday, with that clinical double proving vital in getting Steve Clarke's men off to a perfect start in their Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

That being said, however, the fact that the 26-year-old wasn't even selected from the start for his country should be something of a warning sign to Ten Hag, with the 6 foot 4 man – who has been linked with a move to Newcastle this summer – having also been hooked early in the second half during the FA Cup triumph over Fulham last time out.

Instead of looking to the Lancaster-born colossus as the answer to the Casemiro problem, United could be wise to hand a chance to January arrival Marcel Sabitzer in that deep-lying role, with the Austria international having also thrived for his country in recent days.

Should Sabitzer start for Man United?

The on-loan maestro scored twice and registered an assist for Ralf Rangnick's men in what was a thumping win over Azerbaijan on Friday evening, with the 29-year-old recording a monstrous 10/10 match rating, as per Sofascore, after also laying on three key passes and creating two big chances on the day.

Although that creative prowess may ensure that Sabitzer is better suited to a more advanced role, the Bayern Munich man could replicate the forward-thinking and progressive approach that Casemiro has taken on in his defensive-minded berth this season, with the latter man having created five big chances in the league this term.

Equally, while the former Real Madrid ace has been an effective screen in front of the back four this season as he ranks in the top 6% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for tackles made, Sabitzer also possesses the credentials to mirror that destructive style, as the 5 foot 10 gem actually ranks in the top 5% for that same metric.

A player who can seemingly make an impact at both ends of the pitch, the recent, temporary addition notably bagged his first goal for the club against the Cottagers just over a week ago, with that hopefully the first of many in a United shirt.

With recent reports claiming that the £13m-rated ace would be "happy" to stay in Manchester beyond the end of the season, the upcoming top-flight fixtures should allow him the chance to prove why he would warrant a permanent deal.

The exciting playmaker does appear to have been carrying something of a knee problem of late, although the aforementioned Rangnick does appear to be "optimistic" regarding the extent of the injury, ensuring that Sabitzer could still be in line to feature against the Magpies.

If the one-time RB Leipzig star – who has been branded a "monster" by Statman Dave this season – can showcase his ability to ease the loss of Casemiro, then such flexibility and versatility may well only enhance his chances of being snapped up for the long term by Ten Hag and co.

Leeds United could achieve great things with the 49ers Enterprises owning the club if they avoid relegation from the Premier League, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Do Leeds look likely to go down?

The Whites have once again struggled in the top flight, having survived late in the day last time around after a tense end to the campaign. It looks likely to be similar in 2022/23, with Javi Gracia's side currently 17th in the table and only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Off the pitch, it feels like a matter of time until the 49ers gain a majority share in the club, at which point Leeds could become a greater financial force, possibly allowing them to spend more on new signings and also potentially develop Elland Road. For that to happen, however, the Whites need to be in the Premier League, which as things stand, is far from a given.

That highlights the importance of these remaining 10 matches this season, starting with a massive home clash with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening.

How bright could Whites' future be?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that the "sky is the limit" for Leeds, as long as they stay up this season:

"It feels like the sky is the limit for Leeds if they stay up this season. There could be a massive turnaround if they can ride this wave, but I don't know if they will.

"But, certainly, from the dugout to the playing staff, I think they're looking at it so closely, and they will step up their ambitions for next season in every single area."

This is an encouraging claim and it only further highlights how vital it is that Leeds retain their Premier League status beyond this season. If they don't, their long-term future could take such a hit, with the 49ers' grand plans immediately affected and the club going backwards again.

Should the opposite happen, however, Whites supporters should have every right to feel excited about what could happen in the coming years, as the club look to go from being relegation fodder in the top flight to steadily pushing further up the table and eventually becoming a true force again.

If Leeds hold their nerve and stay up, then the 49ers complete a summer takeover, the Whites could genuinely be in their most promising position for many years, following such a long period in the footballing wilderness.

Manchester United are thought to be plotting a £150m double deal for Brighton & Hove Albion stars Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils are hoping to be busy in the transfer window this summer, with a new midfielder and forward their transfer priorities ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge.

Ten Hag met with director of football John Murtough, technical director Darren Fletcher and chief executive Richard Arnold during the international breaks for talks on transfer plans.

However, some at Old Trafford feel that the ongoing takeover process could impact the club’s ability to act quickly in the transfer market. It appears as if the Red Devils are still making plans, though, with Mac Allister and Caicedo seemingly two potential summer arrivals.

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours, claiming United are plotting a £150m double deal for the Brighton pair.

He said that Ten Hag is looking to improve his midfield options with Scott McTominay set to leave and Marcel Sabitzer only on loan from Bayern Munich. A £70m offer for Mac Allister and an £80m bid for Caicedo could be enough for the pair to move to Old Trafford.

What would each player bring to Man United?

Caicedo, dubbed a ‘machine’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is primarily a defensive midfielder, ranking third in the entire Premier League for tackles completed so far this season.

The Ecuador international would therefore provide Ten Hag with another holding midfield option alongside the likes of Casemiro. Caicedo is still just 21 years of age, so he could represent a long-term addition, potentially becoming the Brazilian’s successor over time.

Meanwhile, Mac Allister would bring plenty of versatility to Old Trafford, as he has moved forward as the season has progressed, recently turning out in an attacking midfield role under Roberto De Zerbi after beginning the campaign in a holding role when Graham Potter was in charge.

The Argentinian, described as a 'golden boy' by journalist Ryan Adsett for his performances at the World Cup with Argentina, would provide a threat in the final third after contributing to 12 goals this season.

Both players will be out to take Ten Hag and United down next weekend in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but by the looks of it, they could possibly be turning out for the Red Devils next season.

Everton are currently scrapping for their lives with relegation a very real possibility come the end of the season, with new boss Sean Dyche having been tasked with steadying the ship amid what has been another turbulent campaign at Goodison Park.

While Saturday's 2-0 loss to Manchester United was something of a setback, the Toffees have enjoyed a mini-revival since the former Burnley man walked in the door, after going four games unbeaten prior to the trip to Old Trafford.

The 51-year-old has only been brought in to clear up the mess following a dismal first half of the season under Frank Lampard, with the Englishman having been relieved of his duties back in January with the club 19th in the table at the time.

That brought to an end a mixed year or so for the former Chelsea man on Merseyside, with the legendary midfielder having steered the club to safety last term after walking in the door in January 2022, albeit while winning just 12 of his 44 games in charge in all competitions.

It would appear, however, that there was little animosity from supporters directed toward the 44-year-old, with much of the anger still aimed at the club's board and owner, Farhad Moshiri.

With Lampard having briefly managed to unite the home crowd behind him, it is fair to say that his appointment was a far greater success than the dismal, brief spell of his predecessor, Rafa Benitez, who lasted just over six months in the dugout.

Why did Everton appoint Rafa Benitez?

It always seemed inevitable that Moshiri's decision to appoint the former Liverpool boss would backfire, particularly with Benitez having previously irked the Everton support with his 'small club' jibe during his days at Anfield.

As The Mirror's Colin Millar noted last year, the Spaniard always looked an "awful fit" and frankly "should never have been appointed", with the experienced coach's Reds connections having unsurprisingly ensured he was doomed to fail from the outset.

The one-time Real Madrid boss had been handed the reigns in the summer of 2021 after Carlo Ancelotti had made the decision to return to the Bernabeu after two years in the hot seat, leaving behind a team that had finished tenth during his second season in charge.

Few could have anticipated at the time that Benitez's arrival would spark such a nosedive that would turn the club into contenders for the drop, even if the former Inter Milan head coach was not aided by a summer spend of just £1.6m.

Even despite that limited investment, the Toffees had still been "massively underperforming" in relation to the quality of the squad, as per the aforementioned Millar, with Benitez ultimately losing half of his 22 matches in charge.

Although the latter man's points per game record of 1.14 was actually superior to that of Lampard (1.0), the former England international was hardly dealt the best hand after being left to pick up the pieces due to his predecessor's shortcomings.

While in hindsight keeping Lampard on board for the current campaign may have been something of an error, the Stamford Bridge hero's appointment was nowhere near as big a mistake as the head-scratching capture of Benitez.

The vast majority of Todd Boehly's additions at Chelsea have been exciting talents signed for the long-term benefit of the club.

While David Datro Fofana has not featured as often as most, despite the Blues' woes in front of goal, his potential and previous goalscoring record suggests that he is destined for a big future at Stamford Bridge.

Who is David Datro Fofana?

Chelsea would sign the 20-year-old from Norwegian outfit Molde in the January transfer window, with the youngster signing a typically long deal until 2029 with the west London outfit.

It is easy to see why Boehly was keen to bring the Ivorian striker to Stamford Bridge, given he managed an impressive 24 goals and ten assists in just 65 appearances for the Eliteserien side, which saw him labelled as an "incredible talent" by journalist Hrach Khachatryan.

For context, Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who also started his career at Molde before going on to become a star with Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and subsequently City, would manage just 20 goals for the club before moving on to bigger things.

This certainly bodes well for his future in the Premier League, although he has been limited to just three first-team appearances thus far, despite the likes of Kai Havertz, Joao Felix and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all failing to deliver consistently in a goal-shy Chelsea attack with just 13 goals between them.

Unsurprisingly, the young Ivorian has already drawn comparisons with Drogba because of his nationality and position on the pitch, while Fofana also revealed that he idolised the Ivorian legend in an interview with Norwegian outlet TV2 before joining Chelsea.

He said (via Evening Standard): “Chelsea have been my favourite club since I was little. Drogba played there, so they have always been my club. So it’s my dream."

Could Fofana be Chelsea's next Drogba?

If Fofana proves to be even half the player that Drogba was at Chelsea, the Blues will have signed themselves a gem.

The powerful striker, who signed from Marseille in 2004, went on to establish himself as a club legend at Stamford Bridge, hitting an impressive 164 goals and 86 assists in 381 appearances for the west London club.

Crucially, that included the equalising goal and subsequent winning penalty in the Champions League final win against Bayern Munich, which well and truly secured Drogba's place in the history books.

Fofana will be well aware of the striker's impact at Chelsea and if he is given more opportunities by the new manager next season, then perhaps he could emulate Drogba in the future.

Indeed, with a goal record better than Haaland at his previous club, the forward has every chance of being a huge success in the future. He just needs the platform to succeed.

Chelsea are reportedly monitoring Neymar's situation at Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a potential summer move for the Brazilian legend.

Is Neymar leaving PSG this summer?

The 31-year-old has arguably been one of the leading footballers of his generation, not managing to reach the heights of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but sitting in that bracket of truly elite players below them. He is Brazil's record goalscorer of all time, scoring 77 times in 124 caps, while for PSG, he has 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 appearances.

Neymar's current deal at the Ligue 1 giants expires in the summer of 2025, but there has been some speculation suggesting he may depart at the end of the season. Chelsea have been linked with a move for the world-renowned forward, as they look to do some serious business in the summer transfer window.

It is a rumour that is refusing to go away, with the Blues still seemingly eyeing up an audacious move for the attacker, as Todd Boehly looks to work his magic in the coming months.

Could Chelsea make audacious move for Neymar?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are "monitoring" Neymar ahead of a "potential summer move". PSG are thought to be "considering a major squad overhaul in the summer and could look to sell the 31-year-old Brazilian at the end of the season."

Their lack of success in the Champions League is reportedly now becoming a major issue to the point that they are willing to "completely change the direction of the club by selling a number of their superstar players."

That's where Chelsea come into play, with the Blues "particularly interested" in Neymar, even their financial problems "could make a move hard to complete."

There is no denying Neymar's pedigree as a footballer – he has been called "one of the best players on the planet" by PSG boss Christophe Galtier – but Chelsea should avoid moving for him at this stage in his career. At 31, there is an argument to say that his best years are behind him, and he continually picked up more injuries in recent times, too. He was also labelled as a "joy to coach" by Mauricio Pochettino, who could turn out to be the next Blues boss.

Considering the money he would cost, and the wages he would demand, the Blues would be better off signing a younger alternative – someone who can be a mainstay of the team for many years, rather than a quick fix who may produce some magic for a shorter period.

If a move for Neymar came to fruition, it would certainly be exciting for Chelsea given his standing in the game, but it is a move that has too many negatives to it overall.

Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount are transfer "priorities" for Liverpool in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Are Liverpool signing midfielders this summer?

Once this season comes to an end, the Reds will put much of their focus on new signings, with midfield additions desperately needed. The likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have really struggled throughout the campaign, and with the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones injured too often, it has become clear that two or three new signings are required, in order to turn their fortunes around.

Two players who Liverpool have been continually linked with are Mac Allister and Mount, both of whom are seen as individuals who could provide quality and legs in the middle of the park. The former has shone for Brighton this season, scoring 11 goals, in all competitions, and while the latter has arguably been below-par, he still has five goal contributions (three goals and two assists) in the Premier League.

With each passing week, the more it looks as though the Reds will go all in for the pair, and a new update has now emerged regarding potential moves for them.

Could Liverpool sign Mac Allister and Mount?

Taking to Twitter, Romano dropped a short but key update on the futures of Mac Allister and Mount, saying that Liverpool see both as primary summer transfer targets in the coming months:

"Mac Allister & Mount, priorities."

It is simply imperative that major additions are made to Liverpool's midfield, and in Mac Allister and Mount, the Reds have two potentially strong options to bring in. Both are only 24 years of age, meaning they would likely be coming in ahead of their peak years, and the energy and technical ability they would add could completely transform the Reds as a team.

If Jurgen Klopp can nail that area of the pitch this summer, the rest of the team still generally picks itself – Alisson -Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo are all arguably in Liverpool's strongest XI – so they could be Premier League title challengers again if they can become the force they once were in the middle of the park.

Whether or not Mount signs a new deal at Chelsea remains to be seen, but Mac Allister's exit does look likely, and a switch to Anfield could be a perfect match.

With reports surfacing that West Ham are set to demand over £100m for Decan Rice, it casts our minds to a former wonderkid, who catapulted himself into the global limelight with a wondrous performance at the Emirates Stadium in August 2015.

A then 16-year-old Reece Oxford excellently kept tabs on World Cup-winning Mesut Ozil to announce his limitless potential.

However, since this, his career has unravelled into an underwhelming spiral of disappointment as the prodigy remains one of the Premier League’s greatest anti-climaxes.

What did Reece Oxford achieve at West Ham?

The Englishman joined the Hammers academy from city rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2011 and expertly rose through the ranks.

Whilst he was still a U15 schoolboy, the youngster regularly appeared for the U18 team and made the bench for the senior side for a League Cup encounter in 2014 to underline his monstrous pedigree.

As a result, the coveted talent signed a long-term professional contract with the east London outfit in 2015 and was crowned the Academy Player of the Year later.

Reverberations of his quality were unavoidably permeating through Upton Park and Oxford make his competitive, first-team debut in the summer of 2015, starring in midfield in a 3-0 win against Andorran club Lusitanos in a UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first-leg tie.

On the opening day of the 2015/16 season, the pivot made his infamous Premier League debut in a 2-0 victory over the Gunners to become the second-youngest top-flight starter of all time.

His manager Slaven Bilic was astounded at his introduction but warned that the player must be protected in order to unlock his career, saying: “He’s definitely going to be a big player but the risk is not over. He’s 16 and that is his only disadvantage. He’s going to have ups and downs. We have to manage him now not only on the pitch but off it too.

“The boy has got everything. Everything. Let’s be fair. Ozil, Cazorla, and Ramsey are world-class players. It’s not easy to minimize their game. He’s definitely going to make it if he progresses and keeps his feet on the ground.”

Throughout the rest of that campaign, Oxford would make another six Premier League appearances, and ahead of the next season, he was named in the Daily Telegraph’s list of the best youth prospects in English football.

To solidify his experience, the gem was sent out on loan to Reading and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Max Eberl, the sporting director of the latter, described Oxford as one of England's "best young defensive talents."

However, in four different loan spells, he failed to ever nail down consistent game-time and was released by Manuel Pellegrini, cementing himself as one who never truly made it, permanently transferring to Augsburg in 2019.

This term, he has been limited to just three Bundesliga appearances due to injury and has drifted into mediocrity – light years off where he was predicted to be back in 2015.

Considering that one month separates the ages of Rice and Oxford, and the frightening trajectory that the club captain is currently on, it is an immense shame that the latter hasn't fulfilled expectations.

Indeed, he and Rice could well have been a starring combo, one that would have earned the club a sizable sum had they both met their potential.

Instead, while the latter has gone on to become a fully-fledged England international, the other is struggling to make a name for himself elsewhere in Europe.