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Any chances Everton had of signing Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on a permanent basis this summer have surely ended following news of the west London outfit’s two-window transfer ban from FIFA, but it could be good news for Yerry Mina.

What’s the word, then?

Well, it was announced on Friday that the Blues won’t be able to bring any new players to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2020 for breaching rules in relation to youth players, which will have a big impact on their squad.

Zouma was sent out on a season-long loan deal to Goodison Park last summer as he looked for more regular football following his return from a serious injury, and he has certainly got it after striking up a strong partnership with Michael Keane at the heart of the defence, making 23 Premier League appearances.

Even if the Merseyside outfit were considering an attempt to bring the 24-year-old north permanently, those hopes are surely over given Maurizio Sarri’s men’s struggles recently and the fact that the soon-to-be out of contract Gary Cahill and David Luiz are getting no younger.

Good news for Mina?

It certainly is.

The Colombia international would have been expected to hit the ground running when he signed in a big-money deal from Barcelona following his impressive showing for his country at the 2018 World Cup, but he simply hasn’t got going yet.

Injuries have played a part but the 24-year-old hasn’t looked convincing or dominant when he has been on the pitch, and Keane and Zouma are clearly Marco Silva’s preferred partnership right now even if the latter was dismissed against Watford.

Without the France international next term though if Chelsea choose to keep him, the South American would have the perfect opportunity to finally kick-start his Everton career.

Kenny Dalglish had dropped a promising claim on Ange Postecoglou’s future at Celtic.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by Football Scotland, the Celtic legend stated his belief that, despite the reported interest in Postecoglou’s services from the Premier League, there is no problem with the 56-year-old’s one-year rolling contract at Parkhead – as the Greek-Australian coach has no intention of leaving Glasgow just yet.

Speaking about the future of the Bhoys boss, Dalglish said: “If it works then why change it? If they want to give him a bonus, then give him a bonus. He can’t do anything more than win cups and leagues. So [Celtic] have to do what they think is best and he’s got to do what he thinks best.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with Ange wanting to go anywhere. So there’s no problem. If he’s under contract, then he’s under contract. If he’s happy, then he’s happy. I don’t think his contract is an issue. I think it’s his work that people should be talking about, not his contract.”

Great news for Celtic

Considering the quite extraordinary results Postecoglou has already achieved following his arrival at Celtic Park last summer, Dalglish’s suggestion that the 56-year-old does not want to leave the club is undoubtedly great news for the Hoops.

Indeed, after a campaign in which Celtic finished 25 points behind Rangers in the Premiership standings – with the Bhoys ending 2020/21 closer to Aberdeen in fourth than their Old Firm rivals in first – Postecoglou has overseen a dramatic transformation in the Hoops’ results on the pitch – with Celtic winning 26, drawing four and losing three of their 33 league fixtures so far this season, leaving the club six points clear of Rangers with just five games left to play.

The Greek-Australian coach has also changed the way Celtic operate in the transfer market, spending minimal fees on lesser-known talents from previously untapped leagues – such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda from the J1 League, as well as Liel Abada from the Ligat ha’Al and Josip Juranovic from the Ekstraklasa – to great effect.

As such, with Celtic currently on course to secure the Scottish title once again this season – something that would see the Bhoys entered directly into the group stage of the Champions League in 2022/23 – it is clear for all to see that losing the services of Postecoglou this summer would be something of a disaster for the Hoops – which is exactly the reason why Dalglish’s recent comments are sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

AND in other news: Sold at £11m, now worth £1.35m: Celtic hit the jackpot on 25 y/o “mini Messi”

According to a report from The Scotsman, Wolves are among the clubs interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers in the summer. 

The lowdown: Big hit up north

The 24-year-old has spent the season on loan at Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic and has suitably impressed in Scotland, ranking as Celtic’s fifth best player with four Man of the Match performances this season, per Whoscored.

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Having shone north of the border, the Glasgow giants are hoping to land the USA international on a permanent basis by triggering a reported £6million option to buy at the end of the season.

However, as per the latest report, Celtic may face a battle to keep the talismanic defender as Wolves and others watch on…

The latest: Three teams join Celtic in race

The Scotsman claims that the Scott Sellars and co, along with Burnley and Leicester City, are all ‘weighing up’ whether or not to make a summer swoop for Carter-Vickers.

The report states that the eight-cap ace – who is likely to be part of Gregg Berhalter’s World Cup squad at Qatar – is ‘enjoying life’ and cites the possibility of a permanent stay at Celtic despite interest from Molineux.

Furthermore, with the possibility of guaranteed UEFA Champions League football on the horizon, Celtic are said to be putting together a ‘substantial package’ in order to convince the man contracted to Spurs to return next season.

The verdict: a bargain buy

Albeit a potentially difficult deal to pull off given the purchase agreement already in place, adding Carter-Vickers to Bruno Lage’s squad for anything close to the mooted £6million fee would be a superb piece of business.

The Southend-born star has earned invaluable experience this season, making 39 appearances overall – including five Europa League outings, scoring the winner in last weekend’s Old Firm.

As Wolves potentially prepare for life in European competition next season, singing the likes of the man once hailed as ‘immense’ by Chris Sutton would be a worthwhile move, especially given his price tag would relieve any pressure to become an immediate sure-fire starter, adding depth in a position Lage desperately needs it.

In other news, Wolves eyeing move for dazzling Premier League star. Read more here.

Everton youngster Anthony Gordon ‘wants to remain’ at the Toffees ‘for as long as he possibly can’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Gordon’s performances for Everton

The winger made his debut for the Toffees during the 2019/20 season; but it has been during the current campaign that he has risen to prominence within the Everton squad.

The 21-year-old has made 24 appearances in the Premier League this season and has been labelled as one of the few brightest sparks in a struggling Everton team, plundering three goals and three assists.

His importance to Frank Lampard’s side has been illustrated by his underlying statistics as a winger – among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, he has ranked in the 99th percentile for tackles, the 97th percentile for blocks and the 93rd percentile for pressures (via FB Ref).

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The Latest: Jones’ claim on Gordon

Transfer insider Jones has revealed that Gordon hopes to remain with his boyhood club for a very long time, despite Everton’s current battle for Premier League survival.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the reporter claimed: “From everything that I can gather from speaking to people, he wants to remain at that club for as long as he possibly can. And so, I’ll be very surprised if Everton tried to cash in on him, that’s not the route to go down right now.”

The Verdict: Depends on their PL finish

Everton currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, just three points ahead of the relegation zone. As a result, a plethora of rumours have arisen linking the Merseyside club’s star players with moves away from Goodison Park.

If the Toffees fail to remain in the top flight, we could see the likes of Gordon being sold to another Premier League club in a bid to generate much-needed funds for the Toffees, who are already operating within limited Financial Fair Play parameters.

However, if Lampard can keep Everton up, Gordon should definitely be playing in a Blues shirt next season, particularly if he is keen on staying at the club for the foreseeable future.

In other news: Everton are reportedly willing to sell this first-team stalwart

Everton will make the short trip across the city to play their most fierce rivals at Anfield in the Merseyside derby tomorrow afternoon, and Frank Lampard’s side finds themselves in an extremely vulnerable position.

When the game kicks off, Burnley will have already played their fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Turf Moor, and should they take all three points, Everton will drop into the relegation zone if they do not beat their title-challenging rivals.

Liverpool have lost just once in their last 22 Premier League meetings with Everton – winning 11 and drawing nine – and with the Kopites battling with Manchester City for the league title, it will be a hugely difficult challenge for Lampard and his team.

With that in mind, the Toffees boss must select a team that has proven to be reliable, can offer a threat and perform to the highest quality to ensure they can take something from the game.

As a result, Abdoulaye Doucoure should be selected to start the clash.

The 29-year-old has been a consistent threat in the league this season, with four assists and two goals scored, creating two big chances and being successful in the majority of his dribbles (55%).

The £22.5m-rated man has also been impressive in a defensive capacity, making an average of 2.3 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 1.1 clearances per league game this term, proving he is a complete player in the centre of the pitch who can cause problems at both ends.

Indeed, the £75k-per-week Doucoure was hailed a “complete” midfielder by former Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, with the Italian stating: “Abdoulaye is a fantastic midfielder, a complete midfielder. He can defend well. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can bring energy to the club and a different quality.”

The Frenchman was initially a favoured player under Lampard, playing the full 90 minutes over six games, but has recently not seen as much game time – playing just six minutes in the victory over Man United and being on the bench against Leicester City.

However, there is no doubt that Lampard must unleash Doucoure – who was dubbed a “bundle of energy” by Joe Parkinson – against Liverpool tomorrow afternoon, as he would certainly improve the Toffees’ chances of causing an upset at Anfield.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Everton dealt fresh injury setback ahead of Liverpool, Lamps will be gutted

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford’s latest injury is something of a “mystery”…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to reliable LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, who provided supporters with a fresh update on the striker’s situation during a recent Q&A.

He said:

“Bamford remains something of a mystery after [Marcelo] Bielsa’s doubtful comments on the striker being back for the Villa game.”

The 28-year-old talisman has missed 17 of their last 18 league matches with a string of problems and it doesn’t seem likely of making a return against Aston Villa in the Premier League next week.

Before the break, the Whites boss expressed his doubts over Bamford featuring down at Villa Park on Wednesday.

“I have my doubts. I’m not sure,” he said (via BirminghamLive). It’s not just about being able to count on him, it’s that he arrives in conditions to develop his game.

“A player who’s gone so long without playing, it opens up a question mark, after he is healthy, [about] how long he needs to show his regularity.”

Worrying news

This will come as a huge cause for concern for many around west Yorkshire as Leeds have really missed his presence in the final third, having finished last season as their top goalscorer on 17 goals.

To make matters worse, Raphinha – who has scored more than anyone in his absence this term – limped off during Brazil’s win over Paraguay late on Tuesday night after opening the scoring.

In the six appearances that Bamford has made in the Premier League this term, he’s proven to be a big influence, scoring twice and also laying on a further two assists but he has played only 22 minutes since mid-September.

The Yorkshire giants are in a fairly comfortable position, sitting seven points clear of the relegation zone, but things can quickly change in this division and many of the sides below them hold games in hand.

Only six teams have scored fewer goals than Leeds this season, four of which are below them in the table. A worrying trend as they rank inside the top five for shots per game (14). That suggests they cannot convert their chances and that’ll be no surprise as they do not have a senior striker fit to slot them home.

The likes of Daniel James, Tyler Roberts and Jack Harrison have all been deployed up front in his absence, to not much success, especially the former two.

So the absence of the man who Liverpool’s title-winning head coach Jurgen Klopp once dubbed an “exceptional player” is certainly a big blow for United heading into their return to action.

Cross’ claim only adds further doubt on whether we will see Bamford back on the pitch anytime soon and that surely will leave many supporters fuming heading into a vital run of games.

AND in other news, Bielsa made a huge January transfer howler at Leeds over £22.5m-rated “special talent” – opinion

Leeds United reporter Conor McGilligan was left shocked by Junior Firpo’s yellow card record this season as the Whites close in on unwanted Premier League history.

The Lowdown: Two away

Jesse Marsch’s side are in a real relegation battle heading into the final five games of the season. They picked up what could prove to be a valuable point away to Crystal Palace on Monday evening, leaving them five points clear of Everton and three clear of Burnley.

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Dan James and Diego Llorente both received yellow cards at Selhurst Park in the 0-0 draw, taking Leeds’ total in the Premier League this season to 93.

As per LUFCDATA, the Whites are now just two away from setting a new Premier League record for the most bookings by a club in a single season, which is currently held by Sunderland (94) set in 2014/15.

The Latest: McGilligan reacts

LUFCDATA broke down the 92 bookings in the Leeds squad on Twitter, with Firpo, who has only just returned from injury, topping the list with nine.

Leeds Live’s McGilligan couldn’t quite believe the numbers, labelling what he’s just seen as ‘quite remarkable’. This is because, as the reporter points out, the left-back has actually only made 19 Premier League appearances, just 15 of which have been starts.

Supporters agreed, lambasting the Spaniard as a ‘terrible signing’ in response to McGilligan’s post.

The Verdict: A season to forget for Firpo and Leeds

Firpo hasn’t had the impact he would have been hoping for after joining from Barcelona in the summer, making it a season to forget on both an individual and team level.

He returned to the bench on Monday after missing four games due to injury, with Stuart Dallas keeping his place at left-back.

Only Kalvin Phillips ranks higher than the Spaniard when it comes to fouls committed per 90, as per WhoScored, while Firpo also ranks near the bottom for blocks made, suggesting his defensive aggressiveness is not paying off in the ways that actually matter.

Hopefully, Leeds will remain in the top flight over the coming weeks and Firpo can put his first year in Yorkshire behind him ahead of a more positive injury-free season in 2022/23, where we may get to see the best of the 25-year-old.

In other news: Radz and 49ers will now reward Marsch if he keeps Leeds up by moving for 29-goal forward. 

Leeds United will be ‘desperate’ for this season to come to an end after an endless string of injuries, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Season to forget

The Whites enjoyed a brilliant first year back in the Premier League, finishing ninth, but the 2021/22 campaign has undoubtedly been one to forget.

Leeds find themselves in a relegation battle as we head towards April, with their safety far from secured and ongoing injury problems continuing to hold them back.

Since August, they have been without a host of key names at various points, whether it be Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips or Patrick Bamford, to name just a few.

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The Latest: O’Rourke makes key claim

Speaking to Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke claimed that Andrea Radrizzani, Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch will be ‘desperate’ for this season to finish before drawing a line under it:

“The injuries do pile up and they do count against you come the end of season and for Leeds, they’ll just be desperate for this season to end and to ensure they’re still in the Premier League.”

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The Verdict: Just avoid relegation now

O’Rourke’s assessment is spot on, in truth, with the campaign feeling increasingly tiresome for fans as the weeks and months have passed, with injuries holding them back but performances also proving to be poor at times.

The goal between now and May shouldn’t be playing good football, but instead simply remaining in the Premier League under Marsch, prior to rebuilding in the summer.

They have to just get the job done even if it’s in an ugly fashion, as was the case in the recent dramatic late wins against Norwich City and Wolves, before resetting ahead of 2022/23.

In other news, Phil Hay has discussed Leeds’ interest in one player. Find out who it is here.

Rangers could make a ‘huge’ move for Sam Johnstone after Steve Bruce confirmed that the England goalkeeper is likely to leave his current club. 

That is according to Mark McDougall, a journalist for Football Scotland.

The lowdown

The Daily Mail recently reported that Rangers have ‘expressed an interest’ in signing Johnstone from West Brom, whose manager Steve Bruce admitted that the English ‘keeper is probably ‘going to leave’ The Hawthorns when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Sky Sports have claimed that two of the Premier League’s top seven in Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are in the frame for the 29-year-old’s signature.

Rangers are looking to bring in a new goalkeeper, with Allan McGregor soon to be out of contract and potentially contemplating retirement.

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The latest

In Football Scotland, McDougall named some of the ‘keepers with whom Rangers have been linked, such as Martin Fraisl, Benjamin Siegrist and Zander Clark, but he feels that Johnstone stands out on the list, adding that signing him could be a ‘huge’ boost to the club’s prospects for next season.

He also believes that the Gers may have an advantage over United and Spurs because the Premier League duo may struggle to offer him first-team football.

That’s exactly what the 29-year-old wants as he looks to secure a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup.

The verdict

It’s hard to disagree with McDougall’s assessment. Johnstone would be quite the coup for Rangers, based on the glowing praise he has received in recent times.

For instance, Micah Richards, for example, has dubbed him an ‘outstanding’ player and a ‘wonderful professional’.

He has also produced big-game stops which leave onlookers stunned. His former Baggies manager Sam Allardyce called one save against Liverpool ‘magnificent’, while Gary Lineker’s jaw dropped after an ‘unbelievable’ piece of goalkeeping against Manchester United last year.

Whereas he would have to dislodge Hugo Lloris or David de Gea if he joined one of his Champions League-chasing English suitors, there would potentially be a clear vacancy to fill in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side if McGregor exits the scene.

In other news, this Rangers trio struggled on Sunday

Swedish side IFK Goteborg have made an enquiry for Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, Anthony Joseph reports.

The Lowdown: Breakdown with the Blades

Barkas appears to be surplus to requirements at Celtic Park and could become the second shot-stopper to leave the club this month after Conor Hazard.

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The Greece international has featured just twice under Ange Postecoglou and was recently linked with a move to Sheffield United.

However, talks broke down between the two clubs due to Celtic’s demands over a loan move, with the Blades going on to sign Adam Davies instead.

The Latest: Joseph’s post

Joseph took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to share a fresh update on Barkas and a possible late exit.

He revealed details of Goteborg’s enquiry and admitted that Celtic are open to offers for the 6 foot 4 colossus.

“IFK Goteborg have made a loan enquiry for Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas.

“It’s understood the Swedish club would need Celtic to pay for the bulk of his wages, if the move was to go ahead.

“The Hoops are open to offers for the Greece international.”

The Verdict: Time to go

Barkas, thought to be on £9,000-a-week, has featured in just two Scottish Premiership matchday squads all season. He clearly isn’t fancied by Postecoglou, so moving him out on loan for the remainder of the campaign could be a good idea.

Allowing him to play regular football could then help the club when it comes to selling him permanently, with Barkas still under contract in Glasgow until 2024.

Celtic may not recoup the £4.5m they spent on the 27-year-old, with his Transfermarkt valuation dropping to just £1.35m, but a solid second half of the season in Sweden may benefit all involved.

In other news: In the coming days – Celtic now eye ‘very clever’ teenager who could go out on loan – journalist.