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Everton manager Frank Lampard is running out of time and could be sacked in the next few weeks, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Everton in dire form

The Blues are increasingly having a season to forget, with results proving to be hugely disappointing on either side of the 2022 World Cup.

Everton are hovering ominously above the Premier League relegation zone, having not won since October, and Lampard is under big pressure to keep his job.

However, a new update suggests that his time at Goodison Park may have slightly longer left to run after Saturday’s draw at Manchester City.

The Latest: Lampard timeline

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips claimed that Lampard probably has a couple more weeks to save his future at Goodison:

“In terms of the amount of time I think he’s got, I think if things don’t get better in the next few weeks, then you might see him in some real trouble then.”

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The Verdict: Time for a change?

With each passing game, the more it does feel as though Lampard has taken this Everton side as far as he can, with performances and results both not good enough even despite the impressive fightback at the Etihad.

The 44-year-old is struggling to get the best out of too many players, with last season’s bright sparks like Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi now struggling, and having had support from the fans for some time, the tide is definitely turning now.

A new manager with fresh ideas may be the sensible option or Everton could find themselves in a second consecutive relegation battle come the spring.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that there is a ‘possibility’ that Liverpool sign a defender and central midfielder after completing the signing of Cody Gakpo.

The Lowdown: Gakpo signs

The Reds have already completed the signing of Gakpo from PSV for a reported transfer fee of £37m plus add-ons.

Jurgen Klopp has claimed that there is a ‘chance’ that the winger could feature in their Premier League game away at Brentford this evening, but it seems he may not be the only signing that comes through the doors at Anfield in this window.

The Latest: Defender and midfielder next?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that there is a ‘possibility’ that the Merseyside club sign a defender and central midfielder alongside Gakpo in January:

“We know there’s a possibility of a defender, there’s still the possibility of a central midfielder. Now they can really focus on those two things.

“For all we know, they might have already been making headway. They keep these things so quiet, you never know what might already be going on.”

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The Verdict: Exciting

The thought of Liverpool potentially making three signings in this window – including Gakpo – should come as music to the ears of supporters.

For midfielders, they have been linked with the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo, while Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar has been touted as a possible defensive addition.

However, Klopp has recently insisted that the club will not be ‘splashing the cash’ after the signing of Gakpo, so perhaps only one of these signings is realistic come the end of January.

Nonetheless, the Reds could do with reinforcements in order to help them get back into the UEFA Champions League spots.

Liverpool are ‘not actively pursuing’ a deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Midfield targeted

The Premier League giants have reportedly set aside cash to make a big-money central midfield signing this month, and the 21-year-old has been name-checked as a potential target.

Sky Sports have credited the Reds with an interest in the Ecuadorian, although the club are set to face stiff competition from rivals Chelsea, with Graham Potter keen on a reunion with his former Seagulls playmaker.

The Latest: Caicedo move unlikely this month

Speaking to GiveMeSport, however, Jones revealed that whilst Liverpool have been monitoring Caicedo for a long period, he believes that they aren’t currently looking to strike an agreement.

The journalist said: “We know Caicedo’s been on the radar for a long time. I still think that that midfield position is one they are looking at.

“But, as it stands, Liverpool seem pretty firm on the fact that they are not actively pursuing Caicedo, and I would be surprised if he left Brighton this month anyway.”

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The Verdict: Correct decision

Liverpool definitely need to sign a new midfielder to increase their chances of making the top four, but taking the decision for Caicedo not to be that man is the right one.

The Seagulls star has only registered one goal so far this season and supplied one assist, lacking that creative spark in the final third that Jurgen Klopp loves his central players to have.

One of the biggest concerns about Liverpool’s existing midfield is the lack of output in terms of goal contributions, and it’s not something that the Ecuadorian seems likely to resolve based on his figures.

The Anfield outfit would also need to cough up a hefty sum as a result of Caicedo‘s contract not expiring until 2025, which could financially have an impact on the Reds’ reported pursuit of Jude Bellingham.

Newcastle United head to Hillsborough this evening for their clash against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round, and Eddie Howe will surely be full of confidence ahead of the match as his team has been in phenomenal form this season.

The Magpies are third in the Premier League after 18 matches and are in contention for a Champions League qualification place as it stands, which will be a dream come true for the St James’ Park faithful if they can achieve it. However, a major piece of silverware would also be warmly welcomed after going without one for almost seven decades.

In terms of injuries, Jonjo Shelvey, Emil Krafth and Paul Dummett remain unavailable for selection due to long-term issues, with Matt Targett joining them as he is currently being assessed for a heel injury.

Howe took to his pre-match press conference to deliver an update on Alexander Isak’s potential return to action today and has hinted at a late fitness test to determine whether the Swede will be ready to take part in the FA Cup clash.

The Newcastle boss said: “Let’s get him through training today. I’m not clear because I just don’t want to put pressure on him. We’ll introduce him at the right time and he’s getting closer all the time. He’s trained with the team so we’re pleased with his process. Let’s wait and see.”

With that being said, this is how Football FanCast expects Newcastle to line up against Sheffield Wednesday…

Martin Dubravka (GK), Kieran Trippier (RB), Jamaal Lascelles (CB), Sven Botman (CB), Jamal Lewis (LB), Bruno Guimaraes (CDM), Joelinton (CM), Sean Longstaff (CM), Miguel Almiron (RW), Chris Wood (ST), Allan Saint-Maximin (LW)

We predict that Howe will make five changes to the team which drew at Arsenal earlier this week, with the manager combining first-team experience with some rotation to give opportunities to fringe players.

The first two changes we expect to see is Jamal Lewis and club captain Jamaal Lascelles joining Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier in the back-line, providing Dan Burn and Fabian Schar with a rest after the congested Christmas period.

In midfield, Joelinton will reprise his place in a more central role in the heart of the team alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff, after playing on the left wing in the stalemate against Mikel Arteta’s side. Joe Willock drops out as a result.

In the final third, Allan Saint-Maximin returns to action on the left flank whilst Miguel Almiron retains his spot on the right and Chris Wood comes in for Callum Wilson, who is likely to be rested for the cup fixture.

The £46k-per-week England international – who was dubbed “selfless” by journalist Harry Roy – has not only had a busy few months both for Newcastle and for his country at the World Cup in Qatar, but is also notorious for his injury issues, so a much-needed rest against Sheffield Wednesday will be welcomed.

The final change we predict is Martin Dubravka returning to the starting line-up in place of Nick Pope after returning to St James’ Park from being on loan with Manchester United for the first half of the season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a hugely important three points on Saturday afternoon as they beat West Ham 1-0 at Molineux to leapfrog David Moyes’ side and move out of the relegation places.

Daniel Podence earned the Old Gold a hard-fought win as he smashed the ball past Lukasz Fabianski for the only goal of the game, while Ruben Neves and Rayan Ait-Nouri were both denied by the woodwork as Julen Lopetegui’s side were extremely unfortunate not to score a second.

However, the Midlands club showed some of their defensive steel from the first half of last season as they held on to a clean sheet, with Wolves now looking up the table rather than over their shoulder at the relegation places.

While Podence will grab the headlines after his goal, it was arguably Max Kilman who was Wolves’ star performer at Molineux.

As per Sofascore, the centre-back would earn a superb 8.1 rating for his performance at Molineux, which ranked him as the best player on the pitch from both sides.

The 25-year-old produced a mammoth performance to keep West Ham’s frontline of Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio quiet in the final stages, contributing a remarkable eight clearances, five tackles and three interceptions during the 90 minutes.

Considering he has averaged 4.5 clearances, 1.2 tackles and 1.1 blocks per game in the Premier League so far this campaign, via WhoScored, it is clear just how impressive he was in the win against the Hammers.

WhoScored has also awarded the former Futsal star a 6.68 average rating for the league campaign thus far but his 7.98 rating from them was ranked as his best performance of the season, so he certainly deserves the plaudits for his part in the win.

Wolves needed to be strong defensively against West Ham’s two physical striker options and Kilman was certainly that, as he won all five of his ground duels in the game, and five out of his eight aerial duels, with an overall success rate of 77%.

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He was also consistent with his passing, registering an 86% success rate which again was an improvement on his 83% average in the Premier League so far this campaign.

If the English titan can continue to produce performances such as that during the remainder of the season, then Lopetegui’s side shouldn’t have to worry too much about the threat of relegation.

Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel would be open to talks with Tottenham, should the club part ways with Antonio Conte, according to The Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella.

The Lowdown: Tuchel in England

Tuchel, who likes to play a 3-4-2-1 formation, made the move to Stamford Bridge back in 2021 and was in charge of 99 games. The 49-year-old averaged over two points per game with the Blues, winning the Champions League during his time in England.

The German also won the FIFA Club World Cup and the World’s Best Club Coach Award at Chelsea, and it looks as if might be open to a return to London.

The Latest: Tottenham links

Kinsella took to Twitter on Wednesday, saying that Tuchel ‘would be open to Tottenham talks’.

The Evening Standard reporter said that despite his Chelsea connection, the manager would be interested in the Spurs job, should Conte depart.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Conte’s future in north London appears to be uncertain at this stage, with Spurs losing both of their home Premier League fixtures since the restart following the World Cup.

Therefore, should the club decide to make a change in 2023, a move for Tuchel could be one to keep an eye on, should he still be out of work, following this update.

He’s had relative success in England and has also managed the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, winning trophies in both countries, so who knows, he could be the man to finally end Spurs’ long wait for silverware, although a lot needs to happen in the meantime for that to have any chance of materialising.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer priorities seem to have shifted of late, perhaps spurred on by recent performances.

Whilst Antonio Conte initially seemed keen on signing additional wing-backs and perhaps even another attacker, ever since their loss in the north London derby, rumours have shifted to surrounding the future of club captain Hugo Lloris.

In fact, journalist Sami Mokbel even claimed after the defeat to Arsenal that it had sped up the process of engineering his exit, with the 36-year-old having seen his powers wane dramatically of late.

Three of his last five matches have resulted in a Sofascore rating of 6.0 or lower, exacerbated by the mammoth four mistakes he has made leading to a goal this season.

In his seniority, it seems frequent blunders are creeping in, and perhaps to save his legacy would be to find his replacement sooner rather than later.

One of those being touted to overtake the mantle is Brentford shot-stopper David Raya, who encapsulates everything needed to be a successful modern goalkeeper and could be available for just £20m.

The Spaniard’s acquisition could bear resemblance to the initial signing of Lloris in 2012, who joined in a £13m deal having impressed at Lyon.

Signed as a 25-year-old, just two years Raya’s junior, he was bought with the intention to hold down the spot for the foreseeable future. He has starred for the Lilywhites and France ever since, announcing himself as a “hero” in the eyes of journalist Jonathan Johnson for the latter.

This move could be a repeat, with the 27-year-old showing all the hallmarks of someone who could thrive in the Premier League for the next decade.

Averaging a 7.13 rating this campaign, he has played an integral role in the Bees’ sensational form in England’s top flight. He pairs impressive saves with composure beyond comparison, which culminates in a 74% save success rate and 22.9 passes per game.

Also boasting a competency as a sweeper keeper showcased through his 100% run-out success rate, there are seemingly very few outstanding flaws to his game.

His form has even spurred manager Thomas Frank to dub him “one of the best in the league” at what he does.

Finally a viable Lloris replacement seems to have come onto the market, with the qualities needed to thrive in the modern game. Spurs must not waste time in their pursuit, with the other Premier League clubs sniffing around. It is a deal they must make to secure the best possible successor, repeating their initial masterclass to sign him in the first place.

Manchester United are eyeing up another signing as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his first-team squad…

What’s the news?

According to the Express, Man United could land a dream Jude Bellingham alternative in Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who is struggling for game time at the Bundesliga giants this season.

The Old Trafford side were keen on reuniting Ten Hag and the youngster not long after he had taken the United job, but he ended up moving to Bayern for a bargain fee of £21m.

The Dutchman is keen on adding Bellingham to his star-studded squad during the summer, however, with a £130m price tag and plenty of competition for his signature, Gravenberch might be the best alternative.

“World-beater”

Ten Hag is extremely familiar with the 20-year-old, handing him his debut at Ajax back in 2018 and he made a total of 103 appearances for the club, becoming one of the most sought-after talents in the Eredivisie.

Indeed, last season, Gravenberch was superb, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.17 as he scored twice and grabbed five assists as Ajax won the league title by just two points ahead of PSV Eindhoven.

His creative talents were evident from the centre of the pitch as he created six big chances, made 1.1 key passes, and took 66.5 touches per match and his performances led to Bayern eventually landing the youngster.

It hasn’t been plain sailing in Munich this term however, with the midfielder making just ten Bundesliga appearances, totalling 177 minutes as he has struggled to break through and gain regular game time and this could lead to Ten Hag sensing an opportunity to lure him to Old Trafford.

His underwhelming spell in Germany shouldn’t deter United from making a move, with Gravenberch ranking in the top 15% compared to positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues with regards to total shots, shot-creating actions, touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received per 90.

Journalist Marcel van der Kraan has lauded Gravenberch previously, saying: “This is maybe why he stood out so early and why Ajax picked him, with his great skills and technique, and brought him to the academy. They could easily put him three or four years above his own age. That’s when people started to find out this kid was only 12. They thought he is going to be a world-beater.”

The £155k-per-week sensation could continue his development at United and forget about his spell in the Bundesliga, reuniting with Ten Hag in the process.

Bellingham may be the ideal option for the Old Trafford faithful, but Gravenberch could be the dream alternative, and for a fraction of the price too.

Tottenham Hotspur are targeting Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar as they look for a new centre-back, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs leaking goals…

Spurs have leaked more Premier League goals than any team in the top eight so far this season, a statistic which will undoubtedly frustrate Antonio Conte.

While the north Londoners boast three clean sheets in their last six matches, Tottenham have also leaked eight goals in the same timeframe.

The numbers suggest that Spurs could be in need of more central defensive quality, and recent reports have claimed that Conte is eager to strengthen his backline.

The Latest: Tottenham targeting Skriniar…

Taking to Twitter, Rudy Galetti claims that Spurs are indeed ‘looking’ for a fresh centre-back option and Skriniar, who has been targeted before, is at the top of their wish list.

He explained: “Tottenham are looking for a new centre-back: Milan Skriniar is one of the names at the top of the list. Confirmed.

“As it stands, the Inter player won’t renew his contract – expiring at the end of the season.”

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The Verdict: Get it done…

The Slovakia international could be a major upgrade for Conte at Spurs if they can beat Paris-Saint German to his signature. The Ligue 1 giants have also been heavily linked with a move for Skriniar, who has yet again starred for Inter as a colossal central defensive presence.

According to WhoScored, the defender has played more Serie A minutes than anyone under Simone Inzaghi this season whilst averaging a cool 91.7% pass accuracy, the best in the Inter squad.

Skriniar stands out as a composed, reliable asset for the Nerazzurri who has also blocked more shots at goal per 90 for Inter than any other player.

Called a ‘sensational’ defender by members of the press and a ‘proper’ player by Spurs legend Graham Roberts, the former Sampdoria star has certainly attracted plaudits for his performances.

Even on a pre-contract ahead of a possible move later in 2023, the 27-year-old would come as a fine option at N17.

Manchester United could possibly look into signing Isco, who is currently a free agent, claims Manchester Evening News’ Kyle Newbould.

The Lowdown: Isco profiled

Isco has been without a club since December after parting ways with Sevilla. The 30-year-old, who is primarily an attacking midfielder, is best known for his nine-year stint at Real Madrid, where he made 353 appearances, contributing to 110 goals.

The Spaniard won five Champions League titles at the Bernabeu and can still sign terms with a new club despite the winter window closing earlier in the week.

The Latest: Old Trafford claim

MEN reporter Newbould shared a story on Wednesday, looking at three free agents United could possibly sign.

One of those is Isco, who saw a deadline day move to Union Berlin fall through. It’s claimed that interest in the player from the Premier League is gathering pace, and the Spaniard ‘could provide more than capable cover for the creative Bruno Fernandes’.

The Verdict: Handy?

You could say that there is space for Isco in Erik ten Hag’s squad, especially as Fernandes is the only out-and-out attacking midfielder on the books at Old Trafford, as per Transfermarkt.

United are still in four competitions during the second half of the season so have plenty of football to play. They recently lost Christian Eriksen for the foreseeable future through injury, although Marcel Sabitzer was brought in as his replacement.

Isco can also play in central midfield and out wide if required, and his experience at the highest level over the years for club and country could make him a shrewd backup option to Fernandes.

Even despite his dip in form which led to his release in December, the former Malaga prodigy still ranks highly in a number of possession-based and defensive metrics on FBRef, implying he has the work rate and technical quality to thrive in a Ten Hag midfield.