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Former Newcastle and England midfielder Rob Lee has told Football FanCast that Everton’s signing of Josh King has served to bring the best out of Richarlison.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been in excellent form this season and are currently eighth in the Premier League table.

They are just five points off fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand, meaning there is some genuine excitement on the blue half of Merseyside as they consider the possibility of qualifying for Europe.

King arrived at the club in January and has played eight times in the league, with all of his appearances coming as a substitute.

Since the Norway international’s debut against Leeds United, Richarlison has scored four goals in nine games, nailing down his starting spot in Ancelotti’s XI.

And Lee thinks the arrival of King may well have inspired that form.

He told FFC: “I think he’s started well. I think they’ve got a good team, if you look around at their team and their squad, they’ve got some good people that don’t get in the team as well. He’s [Ancelotti] got them playing. They’ve been really, really good.

“King’s a good signing, it seems to have spurred Richarlison on.

“Sometimes Richarlison can seem not interested, but he seems to be thinking ‘someone might take my place here’ and it’s spurred him on. I think you need them extra players.”

Lee also thinks that King will help ease the burden on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been enjoying one of the best seasons of his career.

The England international has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season but he has scored just once in his last five games and Lee thinks King’s presence will prove beneficial for Calvert-Lewin.

He added: “Calvert-Lewin has been brilliant all season but he’s in a bit of a lull at the minute.

“It’s his first proper season where people will expect things from him now, at the start of the season they probably didn’t, but now they expect him to score every game.

“He’s only young, he’s going through a bit of a lull so it’s nice to have other players who can take the pressure off you and score goals. I think they’re a good team.”

In an exclusive with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who scored 306 goals during his career for Wolves, has claimed that Pedro Neto is easily worth more than £75 million.

It has been reported that Manchester United are interested in signing the Portuguese winger for £50 million, with his current Transfermarkt value standing at £31.5 million.

Neto just signed a new contract at the end of last year which will keep him at Molineux for another five years as Wolves hope to fend off any interest this summer.

Speaking on how much Pedro Neto is worth in today’s market as well as his thoughts on the £50 million links to Man United, Bull told FFC:

“£50 million is absolutely shocking you know, I think you’ve got to be looking at £75 million-plus for him, easily.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/exclusive-andreas-sondergaard-wolves-premier-league” title=”Exclusive! Andreas Sondergaard talks all things Wolves”]

“I think he’s a skilful and talented player who is very young and it’s certainly up to him now in terms of how high he wants to go.”

Pedro Neto has been Wolves’ most productive payer this season registering five goals and five assists which sees him as the club’s top scorer.

Next season may see the £50k p/w winger come on leaps and bounds if he has Raul Jimenez to get on the end of his through balls and crosses next season.

As per Hampshire Live, Southampton are interested in signing defender Leo Hjelde.

Southampton eye Hjelde

Southampton are said to be interested in signing 17-year-old Hjelde, who currently plays for Ross County in Scotland, on loan from Celtic.

Ralph Hasenhuttl stated last week that the Saints will have to be clever in the transfer market and will therefore be looking to sign players for under £10m rather than for £20m or £30m. Hjelde, therefore, is a realistic target given his inexperience.

Van Dijk successor?

Hjelde is currently on loan at Ross County, where he has made nine appearances since making the move from the Bhoys in January (Transfermarkt). Ross County manager John Hughes recently told the BBC that the teenager is the next Virgil van Dijk – high praise indeed and comments that have only led to increased interest in the Norwegian.

Whether Hjelde is comparable to the £63m-valued Liverpool star (Transfermarkt) is up for debate, but it is clear the centre-back has plenty of ability, with Hughes hailing him as ‘absolutely fantastic’.

As Hasenhuttl and co look to play their cards right, Hjelde could be a realistic option for them in the transfer market. The Saints have a good working relationship with Celtic, with several players moving in both directions in recent seasons. They may be able to make use of that partnership to secure this signing.

In other news, Southampton fans slammed this man against West Brom.

After putting his faith in Fraser Forster against Sheffield United last weekend, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl reverted back to Alex McCarthy for the trip to Manchester City in midweek; and after shipping another five goals, it seems clear that Forster should be back in between the sticks against Brighton at the weekend.

McCarthy has been the first-choice ‘keeper at Southampton for the majority of the season but there were rightly questions asked of him during the awful run of form which saw the Saints pick up just one point from a possible 27, with the shot-stopper also conceding nine in a galling defeat at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Forster had been impressing in the FA Cup, in which kept three clean sheets out of three, whilst he also stood out in Southampton’s 1-0 win against Liverpool in January, when McCarthy missed out after testing positive for the current viral outbreak.

The 32-year-old, who was out on loan at Celtic last season, was given the nod for Southampton’s trip to Everton, where Hasenhuttl’s side lost 1-0, and kept his place for the all-important 2-0 win at Bramall Lane, which brought an end to the Saints’ torrid run of form.

However, the Austrian opted to make plenty of changes for the game against Pep Guardiola’s league leaders, which included McCarthy starting in goal.

It has been suggested that the former Reading and QPR man has been selected ahead of Forster because of his ability with the ball at his feet, but he was extremely fortunate not to give away a penalty when he let the ball slip under his foot before bringing down Phil Foden in the penalty box.

He also conceded five goals in the defeat and, whilst it is difficult to dispute that he could have done much more with any of the goals, you can’t justify keeping him in the side ahead of Forster when considering his clean sheet record this season (just seven shutouts in 26 games).

Therefore, Hasenhuttl should axe the £5.85m-rated McCarthy ahead of the game against Brighton at St Mary’s on Sunday and instead put his faith in Forster – hailed as “outstanding” by another former Celtic ‘keeper in Rab Douglas – for the rest of the season.

In other news… Saints’ four-year nightmare looks set to continue after update on £5.4m-rated disaster

Lots of Everton fans have been reacting to an injury update from Alan Myers about Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

As per a tweet from the sports news editor, the former Sheffield United ace is set to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the injury to his hamstring that he picked up in the 5-4 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

The update has left several members of the Goodison Park faithful biting off their fingernails given just how important he is to the Merseyside club.

The England international has scored no fewer than 18 goals and made a further four assists in just 25 games in all competitions in total so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt), and was highly influential again against Spurs as his goal got Carlo Ancelotti’s side back into the tie. He scored a goal, grabbed an assist and won a penalty for the Blues before he hobbled off.

Everton fan reaction to Calvert-Lewin injury update

These Toffees reacted to the injury update on the 23-year-old on Twitter, with one Blue even going as far as to call it ‘worrying’:

“That’s not great news. If he’s having a scan then he’s definitely out for a few weeks minimum. If it was minor then he’d be feeling better today anyway, but obviously it’s more than that. Gutted.”

Credit: @Geof17773624

“Keep us updated when you hear anything on this! Worrying…”

Credit: @comradecoxy

“Sounds bad”

Credit: @_Aadil_23

“That doesn’t sound good”

Credit: @Barlow281

“Not looking good then”

Credit: @Harrys1878nsno

“Every year we have to go through a season with injuries to key players at key times. Just once, I would love to see us get through with a full compliment of players”

Credit: @andyjsb

In other news, find out whose FA Cup display was blasted by EFC supporters here!

After making the decision to drop Jack Harrison to the bench against Aston Villa in the Premier League, Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa will no doubt have been hoping, and even expecting, Helder Costa to make good on his rare opportunity.

It was the Portuguese man’s first start in the top-flight since the 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace back in November, and he’s found himself on the side-lines as both Harrison and Raphinha have nailed down the starting wide positions.

But after Harrison’s poor form in recent weeks, it was the perfect time for Bielsa to unleash Costa. Sadly for both the manager and the player himself, he cut a completely anonymous figure and let his manager down with a woeful display.

He completed just one of the four dribbles that he attempted (only Mateusz Klich had a worse success rate with zero from two), provided no key passes whatsoever (the only starting midfielder/winger not to do so), and won just three out of his eight duels.

Such was Costa’s poor performance that Bielsa took him off after the hour mark, with Leeds Live’s Beren Cross noting in his post-match player ratings that it was “very much like the displays we have seen from the Portuguese across his time in West Yorkshire. Entirely ineffectual.”

And, speaking after seeing his anonymous display against Villa, former Leeds man Noel Whelan tore into Costa, saying: “Costa was given his opportunity and once again he did not take it.

“We are talking about a £16m player here who did not effect the game in any way shape or form. He needs to show consistency. You need to make that position your own when your manager puts his trust in you from the start.

“I saw absolutely nothing from him against Aston Villa. Nothing suggested to me that he has given Marcelo Bielsa a headache with that performance.”

The £70k-a-week earning ace made a mockery of Bielsa’s decision to place his trust in him, and while the Leeds boss has come to be known as someone who is fiercely loyal to his players and doesn’t just chop and change his starting line-up that often, Costa’s shocking display surely warrants him being axed from the team.

Being dropped to the bench may have just given Harrison the proverbial kick up the back-side to get his tail up again, and would also have given him a much-needed breather too after playing so many games this season – he’s missed just one Premier League game all campaign.

It would certainly be a ruthless call to drop Costa just after one game after putting him back into the team after such a long time away from it, but it’s the one Bielsa simply has to make.

Nottingham Forest ill take on Brentford in the Championship this afternoon. A win could take them further away from the dangers of relegation, with them currently nine points above the drop zone.

However, Forest haven’t won in either of their last five matches, and suffered a 2-0 loss to Norwich City on Wednesday. Goals from Teemu Pukki and Kieran Dowell inflicted another defeat as stand-in goalkeeper Jordan Smith was forced to make a number of saves to keep them in the game.

It seems as if Chris Hoghton will still be without a few long-term absentees, with Harry Arter, Joe Lolley and Joe Worrall all sidelined. Goalkeeper Brice Samba is still a doubt for this fixture, as is the influential Anthony Knockaert.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Hughton to line his side up against Brentford, with three changes from the team which started against Norwich City in midweek…

Smith is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup for the second game running, with first choice keeper Samba an injury doubt. He performed well against the league leaders in midweek, making five saves, and will be a crucial member of the squad on Saturday.

There’s one change in defence, as Gaetan Bong comes in at left-back. Tyler Blackett didn’t perform too well against Norwich, and Bong provides the team with a bit more experience in the back four.

The central midfield partnership of James Garner and Ryan Yates is expected to continue, but a poor display from Cafu on Wednesday means that he misses out in the attacking midfield position. Filip Krovinovic is expected to come back in after being rested, and should add more creativity to the team.

Luke Freeman continues on the left and Sammy Ameobi should start on the right. Both players have been struggling for goals and will be looking to find better form against Brentford this weekend.

Lyle Taylor replaces the £27,500-a-week earning Lewis Grabban in attack, and he could be vital if Forest are going to end this bad run. Taylor is their top scorer this season with four goals, and the Reds need to start finding themselves on the scoresheet if they are to come away with three points.

West Brom are quickly running out of time to bolster their squad in a desperate attempt to save their season.

Indeed, the Baggies find themselves second from bottom, some six points from safety at the half-way stage of this current campaign and with one available striker, no senior holding midfielder and the Premier League’s leakiest defence, Sam Allardyce needs additions – fast.

The 66-year-old, who took over from Slaven Bilic in mid-December, claimed that Albion would make “250 enquiries” before hopefully signing “three or four good players,” as per the BBC.

Although a lack of finances could curtail any major moves – the Telegraph’s John Percy revealed any deals in excess of £2m are improbable.

Less than ten days are remaining before the transfer deadline on February 1st.

We’ve taken a look at how West Brom could lineup should Big Sam secure some of his reported targets, here’s our predicted XI post-window…

The Baggies are in a tight spot over domestic loan deals, as Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher is here for the season, the Midlands outfit can only sign one more homegrown player temporarily.

With that in mind, the best decision would be to focus that on a new centre-back. Let’s face it, it’s their biggest need right now. Albion have conceded a whopping nine more goals than any other team in the top-flight.

Some of Big Sam’s former players such as Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins emerged as contenders early in the window, but instead, a swoop for Phil Jones, who he unearthed at Blackburn Rovers makes the most sense.

The 28-year-old is yet to feature for Manchester United this season and according to the Daily Star could be free to leave on loan this window with the Old Trafford side contributing a sizeable amount to his £120k-per-week wages – that’s got to be a win-win for Albion, who are said to be interested.

As someone who has won the Premier League, FA Cup and the Europa League, his experience could be vital in any relegation battle.

It means, when fit, Allardyce’s backline could be Sam Johnstone in goal, a central defensive pairing of Kyle Bartley and Jones, with Conor Townsend on the left and Darnell Furlong on the right.

One defensive midfielder linked with a move to the Hawthorns has been versatile Celta Vigo enforcer Okay Yokuslu. The Daily Mail claim the Midlands side have already opened negotiations for the Turkey international.

He’d be an ideal replacement for Romaine Sawyers in that Baggies midfield as he’s an actual holding option.

Sawyers was a favourite of Bilic’s having started 42 of their 46 league games last term, only missing three of those four absences through suspension. However, he’s failed to live up to the standard of the top-flight – managing a WhoScored rating of just 6.21, the second-worst in the squad.

It means Yokuslu could come in with Gallagher and club captain Jake Livermore slightly ahead in the engine room, whilst on the wings, both Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana get the nod.

Finally, Big Sam clinches that striker he’s longing for. Galatasaray frontman Mbaye Diagne seems most likely given the Lions’ entering negotiations for a replacement.

While Turkish football journalist Ali Naci Kucuk claims a loan move would only cost an €800k (£715k) fee, which is in line with what Percy revealed earlier this month.

As summer signing Karlan Grant is on the treatment table with a broken foot, he completes the starting XI, in time for that crunch-match with rock-bottom Sheffield United on February 2nd.

AND in other news, West Brom man once dubbed “fearless” on verge of becoming the next Berahino…

Glasgow Rangers fans have been reacting to another update from the club and Castore in regards to their pro shirt that is now available.

The Gers’ partnership with Castore has not been without its problems since the deal was signed earlier this year. Although the pre-sale for the home shirt was sold out within 36 hours, fans complained of their purchases arriving late, while others were far from happy when they were damaged when they eventually did make it to their destination.

Castore have continued to release a number of new products, though, one of which is the availability of the Pro shirt. Not only can it exclusively be bought in the club shop, which plenty of people cannot visit because of the global pandemic we are living through, it will also retail at £90.

The Gers fans, it is fair to say, are far from happy with this update, and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Castore below

In other news, Rangers could make a move for this free agent compared to Neymar.

Aston Villa could land one of the signings of the January transfer window by bringing in Bournemouth striker Josh King.

Johan Lange’s priority

With Ollie Watkins starting life at Villa Park like a house on fire – he’s bagged eight goals in 15 games this season – Dean Smith’s side have seen the kind of success a proven finisher can bring.

And having been linked with a move for him in the summer, Villa could add yet more firepower to their attack with a swoop for King. The Athletic’s Gregg Evans claims that the Norway international “is likely to be considered again”, and if Johan Lange can seal a move for him in the January transfer window, that could set Smith and his team up nicely for the rest of the season.

Imagine him and Ollie Watkins

Whilst King can play through the middle by himself, his ability to play just off the striker (like he did with Callum Wilson), or even out wide on the flanks, means he’s the kind of versatile option that Smith could really come to love.

Described as a “complete package” by former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, King could dovetail with Watkins and build up the kind of partnership and relationship that he did with Wilson at the Vitality Stadium in seasons gone by.

The £45k-a-week ace’s Premier League experience also makes him a perfect January signing as he can come in and hit the ground running at Villa Park, and it’s a move Lange should surely be putting all his eggs into.

Meanwhile, Villa must offload this outcast who’s robbing Sawiris and Edens blind.