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Journalist Paul Brown believes Everton centre-back Conor Coady's future could be in doubt, following rumours of a contract extension for Yerry Mina.

How has Coady fared this season?

The £55,000-a-week-earning Englishman joined the Blues on loan from Wolves last summer, with the club having an option to sign him permanently this summer. Having been a key man to begin with earlier in the campaign, Coady has struggled to be a regular during the business end, with injuries admittedly not helping matters.

The 30-year-old has started 22 Premier League matches in 2022/23 to date, but his last appearance came back in February and he is unlikely to feature prominently between now and the final game. Mina's return to full fitness has made that even less likely, with the Colombian coming in and playing all 90 minutes of the 5-1 win away to Brighton.

A recent report suggested that Coady could leave Everton in the summer transfer window, with his future at Goodison Park believed to be "uncertain". At the same time, Mina could reportedly be set to be offered an extension, with Sean Dyche impressed with him.

Could Coady be sold by Everton?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown admitted that Coady's Blues future is up in the air, with a permanent deal potentially not coming his way:

"For Dyche to suddenly bring Yerry Mina in does not bode well for Coady. I would say that Coady is renowned as a leader in the dressing room and a brilliant influence around the teams he's in, whether he's playing or not."

Everton have a big decision to make with Coady at the end of the season, with positives and negatives surrounding keeping hold of him. On the plus side, he is an experienced head who possesses great leadership – Frank Lampard called him "hugely important" earlier in the campaign – and his all-round influence at the club cannot be underestimated.

That being said, he is now 30 years of age and he arguably isn't as good as Mina – the Colombian averages 5.5 clearances and 2.8 tackles per game in the league this season, compared to Coady's 3.7 and 0.6 respectively – so keeping hold of him could be risky in a financial sense.

Ultimately, the decision should lie with Dyche, who will have to weigh up whether he thinks the 10-cap England international is worthy of a permanent deal, or if better, younger options are out there, Mina included.

With takeover talks ongoing over the sale of Manchester United, Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire has reacted to the latest rumours from Old Trafford in an interview with Football Insider.

What is the latest on Man United's potential takeover?

The Red Devils are on the market, with several parties interested in potentially buying the Premier League outfit. A sale has been on the cards for months now too, with current owners the Glazers allowing the team to go through three stages of a bidding process so far in order to see any further offers for the side.

The two frontrunners to takeover at United are currently Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani from Qatar. Both have made bids to be handed the reins at Old Trafford but, as of yet, neither has officially been confirmed as being accepted by the Glazers. However, recent reports suggest that it is the offer from the Qatar-based group that is the "preferred" offer.

If Al Thani was to buy the Red Devils, it would be a "full takeover" from the new owners. If Ratcliffe was to buy the Premier League outfit, he could leave the Glazers on the board, with this latest report stating he may buy only just over 50 per cent of the team. That is an option that is likely to "anger" Man United supporters according to Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire via Football Insider, who stated that it could "allow the Glazers to have an element of input".

He said: "If they’re [The Glazers] allowed a 20 per cent threshold, there’s no obligation from Sir Jim Ratcliffe to give them a seat on the board. But that could be part of the negotiation strategy by the Glazers to demand that they stay in the boardroom. However, having a voice on the board isn’t the same as controlling the board.

"Ultimately, that would be by Sir Jim’s team, but it would allow the Glazers to have an element of input. I have a suspicion that it would anger quite a few Manchester United fans."

Would either takeover option be better for Man United?

The Red Devils supporters have displayed their annoyance at current owners the Glazers on several occasions since their tenure began, with fans even angry at them taking over before any deal had been completed.

Their ire has only increased since, with protests regularly arranged at Old Trafford in order to show their unhappiness at the Americans. It would therefore be a better option for the businessmen to have no further involvement with the club when they do decide to sell up, as supporters have recently demanded a complete sale. Whilst Ratcliffe's ownership would take some power away from the Glazers, they could still have some involvement – and therefore the Qatar bid seems the better option for everyone involved at Old Trafford.

West Ham United chiefs have been 'alerted' to Ligue 1 boss Will Still as they kickstart the process of considering replacements for David Moyes.

What's the latest on Moyes and West Ham?

The Scotsman has been a pivotal figure at the club over these last two Premier League seasons, guiding West Ham to consecutive European qualification campaigns and making supporters dream again.

Moyes' side reached the semi-finals of last year's Europa League and could yet reach the same stage of the Europa Conference League this year with victory tonight against Gent.

West Ham supporters have been gifted fond memories since he replaced Manuel Pellegrini in December 2019, yet this campaign has been a disappointing one overall.

The east Londoners have fell far below expectations despite spending around £160 million last summer and a further £10.5 million in the signing of Danny Ings mid-season (Transfermarkt).

West Ham are still in the relegation dog-scrap despite picking up form of late, losing just once in their last five league games, but this won't be enough to save Moyes as the club apparently start considering replacements.

According to The Daily Mail, sources have indicated that the task of weighing who will succeed Moyes has 'begun', and there are a few candidates.

There is apparently a 'growing sense' Moyes will leave before the start of 2023/2024, with Reims boss Still firmly in the running. Indeed, West Ham chiefs have apparently been 'alerted' to the tactician who also has family ties to the club.

Still's side went on a headline-grabbing unbeaten run earlier this season, a period which seriously rose his stock in the footballing world and him one of this season's fairytale stories.

Should West Ham turn to Still?

The 30-year-old is hugely inexperienced for a job this big in England, which could count against him as the West Ham board measure their most suitable candidates.

That being said, Still has been revered for his work at Reims this season, and could even be considered one of Europe's most promising young coaches.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe certainly thinks so, recently hailing the 'incredible' job he's done whilst calling it very impressive – explaining (via Chronicle Live):

"I'm not sure on Will's background and how he's built his career to this point but very impressive to be managing at his age.

"The success he's had has been incredible. Are managers getting younger? I'm not sure if that's a fact or not. But certainly it is a very demanding job."

Arsenal were dealt a hammer blow in their Europa League clash with Sporting CP last month, not only as they exited the competition on penalties, but as William Saliba was forced off with an injury.

The Frenchman had been ever-present at the back for Mikel Arteta alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, with the two having featured in every Premier League game before his enforced absence.

However, the 22-year-old has now missed their last three games and his return date remains unknown.

As such, Rob Holding has had to deputise in his absence, much to the worry of fans.

For someone who had not made a single start in the league all season to instantly have such pressure heaped upon him was a big ask, but in their wins over Leeds United and Crystal Palace, the 27-year-old 'deputised well' in the words of Goal's Mark Doyle.

However, in what was his toughest test yet at Anfield, the defender looked hopelessly out of his depth. Surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2, it marked a vital two points dropped that could have been even more not for the heroics of Aaron Ramsdale.

How did Rob Holding play vs Liverpool?

Starting in his third successive league match, his 6.3 Sofascore rating was the lowest of any who started for the Gunners that afternoon.

This was a figure largely upheld by his lazy challenge on Diogo Jota, which conceded a penalty. Fortunately for him, Mohammed Salah shot wide, but it only heaped further pressure onto a side that was struggling to contain the rampant hosts.

Journalist Josh Bunting even labelled the act “clumsy”, lambasting him for the “gift” he had presented to the Reds.

This was not all that Holding would perpetrate, as the £40k-per-week dud also made an error that led to a shot, as well as losing five of the nine duels he competed in, as per Sofascore.

Not only was the stalwart defensively lacking, but his lack of competence on the ball often led them into compromising situations. The former Bolton Wanderers ace maintained an underwhelming 73% pass accuracy, and just four of his 12 long balls attempted hit the mark.

Perhaps this gives credence to the fact that Arteta should now abandon his failing experiment, and instead start his £20m January signing Jakub Kiwior.

The Polish defender was brought in to bolster their back four for such an occasion as this Saliba injury, yet the Spanish boss seems intent on omitting his new purchase

With this recent Holding disasterclass, perhaps the manager might have had his hand forced for the coming weeks until his starting centre-back returns.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota leaving to join Premier League rivals Newcastle United is ‘out of reach’, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

The Lowdown: Magpies interest

The Portuguese forward only put pen to paper on a new deal last summer, meaning that his contract at Anfield isn’t set to expire until 2027, but he’s recently been linked with an exit having struggled to find form since returning from injury.

Football Transfers revealed earlier this month that the Magpies are considering a move for the 26-year-old later in the summer having identified him as someone that Eddie Howe would like to bring to St. James’ Park.

The Reds, however, do not wish to lose their attacker to one of their top-four chasing rivals as stated by the same outlet, but it appears that a move is off the cards anyway.

The Latest: Talbot’s verdict

Speaking during an exclusive interview with LFC Transfer Room, Talbot confirmed that Newcastle do indeed hold an interest in Jota, but suggested that any kind of deal is unlikely to happen due to a £70m price tag:

“He (Diogo Jota) is liked by the club (Newcastle) but it is probably out of reach. You can see why (Newcastle target him) he ticks a lot of boxes in terms of versatility, Premier League proven. It will be around £70m for that to happen.”

Expanding on his comments, the reporter continued to state that a move is ‘not going to happen’ as a result of Jurgen Klopp not wanting to let any other of his attacking options leave alongside Roberto Firmino at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Keep hold of him

Jota has been hailed a ‘superb player’ by journalist Josh Bunting and Liverpool need to do everything they can to keep hold of him beyond the upcoming summer window.

The Adidas-sponsored star has clocked up 49 goal contributions in 101 appearances since joining the Merseyside outfit, helping them get their hands on both the FA and League Cups along the way.

The Massarelos native also currently ranks in the 99th percentile for total number of assists and the 97th percentile for most touches in the attacking penalty area, showing just how much he contributes in the final third (FBRef).

Jota’s versatility to operate in five various positions and the fact that he’s comfortable being fielded anywhere across the frontline will be an attractive attribute to Klopp, and is yet another reason why the Reds shouldn’t let him go.

Southampton’s most recent outing against Leeds United in the Premier League was perhaps the golden opportunity for their crumbling campaign.

Having completed a monumentally tenacious victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge the week before, The Whites got the better of the south coast club in the latter stages of the affair, with left-back Junior Firpo latching onto the ball and striking through the hapless Gavin Bazunu’s legs between the sticks.

The result now means that Southampton are five points adrift of safety after 24 matches, whereas clinching a successive victory would have veered Ruben Selles’ men outside of the relegation zone.

And with a massive fixture against Leicester City, who are only three points clear of danger themselves, up next, Selles must consider tinkering with his team to ensure past mistakes do not creep in once again, with every match pivotal in ensuring a climb up the table is forthcoming.

Should Selles ditch Bednarek?

At the start of the campaign, Bednarek was signed by Southampton’s divisional rivals Aston Villa on a one-year loan deal to combat the long-term injury to Diego Carlos, but after making just four appearances he was recalled before the close of the January transfer window.

However, since returning to the St. Mary’s Stadium to help his parent club preserve top-flight status across the second half of the campaign, Bednarek has started the past four Premier League matches in succession.

And against Leeds, with the match finely balanced heading into the closing stages of the contest, former Barcelona star Firpo found space in the box after latching onto Jack Harrison’s ball, with Bednarek failing to assert his authority and repel the danger.

Detailing his thoughts on the strike that could prove detrimental to Saints’ survival bid, The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell said: “Bednarek actually makes himself smaller so Bazunu has a clear sight of the shot and it goes under him. Really poor all-round.”

Granted, in the previous week, the Polish titan produced a massive display to ensure the backline held the unwavering resolve that prohibited Chelsea from finding the back of the net in their own backyard, recording a match rating of 7.6, as per Sofascore, but given that one week later his faltering presence resulted in a loss in a definitive fixture, Selles might well be considering dropping the ace.

One week prior, during an inexplicable home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers despite the away side contesting most of the match with ten men, Bednarek was at fault again, diverting the ball into his own net to restore parity for his opposition before they secured a late winner.

Tanswell was also on hand to lament the dud, saying: “That is an absolute howler of an own goal from Jan Bednarek. He has a penchant for them.”

And with Armel Bella-Kotchap recently returning from injury and Mohammed Salisu poised for a comeback from his own setback, Bednarek might find his inclusion in the starting fold less frequent over the coming months.

Mistakes and lapses of concentration are simply inconceivable in Selles’ mind right now; the fight to stave off the threat of tumbling into the second tier will soon appear insurmountable if the outfit cannot maintain a touching distance to the periphery of the bottom three.

And with Leicester travelling to St. Mary’s next time out, anything other than three points could result in a hurdle too great for Saints.

And if Bednarek cannot maintain his focus in key moments, all the clearances and interceptions will do little to calm the turbulent waters that roil into life upon each conceded goal, and for that reason, the 26-year-old must be dropped.

Leeds United could see the takeover from 49ers Enterprises concluded within the next few months, with it thought to be preferable that they are in charge during the summer, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Leeds takeover

Current Whites owner Andrea Radrizzani has been the majority shareholder at Elland Road since 2017 and may look to relinquish control of the club six years on.

Under the Italian, Leeds returned to the Premier League for the first time since 2004 when they won the Championship in 2020 with Marcelo Bielsa at the helm.

But it seems the club are set to move onto its next chapter, with The Times reporting in November that 49ers Enterprises are set to take over in West Yorkshire.

The Latest: Imminent takeover?

The Athletic more recently reported that a £400m takeover by the San Francisco 49ers-related investment group could come to fruition by January 2024, with the option to purchase the club in full.

But speaking to GiveMeSport in light of this, CBS reporter Jacobs stated his belief that full control may happen soon to allow for a full maiden season at the reins of the club.

He said: “Radrizzani has made no secret of a proposed sale. He’s been the majority shareholder since 2017 and 49ers Enterprises have always held an option to buy Leeds United in January 2024.

“Therefore, progressing towards the summer shouldn’t be seen as a surprise, because if you’re going to take over a football club and you plan to activate an option that exists in January 2024, it’s more preferable as a new majority owner to come in during the off-season and have a full season than joining mid-season.

“It’s no real surprise to me that if they always planned, strategically, on taking that option in January 2024, if the summer is deemed to be more preferable by all parties because it’s perhaps a more stable way of handing over the ownership.

“That’s why I think things are moving towards a summer resolution, in all likelihood, regardless of whether Leeds stay up or go down.”

The Verdict: 49ers impact

The full takeover of the 49ers Enterprises would be an exciting situation for Leeds, with improved finances allowing a bigger budget and ultimately resulting in a higher calibre of players available – provided they make the right decisions in the transfer market.

Radrizzani has so far been able to keep Leeds afloat in the top flight, with a nail-biting final day last season the closest they’ve come to the drop so far.

But with Jesse Marsch’s side potentially in bother again this year – only a point separates them from the relegation zone – larger investment could be required to sustain and eventually propel the Whites up the table.

With current interest in Azzedine Ounahi maybe slipping through their fingers – amid reports in Italy reporting the Serie A leaders’ interest potentially dwarfing Leeds’ attempts – there would be hope that fresh owners could flex more muscles than Radrizzani and wrap up deals such as this one earlier and more effectively.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made a move to sign Roma midfielder, Nicolo Zaniolo, as sporting director Fabio Paratici once again looks set to turn to the Italian market for potential recruits.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Lilywhites are believed to have made a bid to sign the 23-year-old on loan this month, with the Serie A giants said to be willing to sanction a temporary exit so long as the deal includes an obligation to buy.

The report adds that the north Londoners are currently working with a ‘limited budget’ hence the desire to pursue a loan agreement, with the Italy international valued at around £35m by Jose Mourinho’s side.

This follows previous speculation during the summer window which claimed that Antonio Conte’s side were interested in the 11-cap dynamo, with both the serial-winning coach and compatriot Paratici seemingly keen admirers of the playmaker.

Lamela 2.0

The Tottenham hierarchy notably enjoyed great success with the signings of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Italian giants Juventus a year ago, with the hope being that Zaniolo can also aid in securing a top-four finish for Conte and co this time around.

Bringing in the 6 foot 3 sensation from the Giallorossi may well evoke memories of another man to have arrived at Spurs from Rome in the form of Erik Lamela, with the Argentine forward joining as part of the post-Gareth Bale signings back in 2013.

The current Sevilla man went on to spend the next eight years in English football, eventually racking up 37 goals and 47 assists in 257 games in all competitions in that time.

That lengthy stint saw the 5 foot 11 maestro undoubtedly produce notable moments of magic but also flatter to deceive in equal measure, with his time at the club perhaps encapsulated by his derby display in March 2021, as the one-time River Plate man scored a stunning ‘rabona’, only to then somewhat sour his performance by getting sent off.

Another somewhat frustrating feature of the creative gem’s spell at N17 was his inability to stay injury-free for a consistent period, having regularly endured bouts on the treatment table over the years.

Zaniolo could follow in Lamela’s footsteps in being something of a mercurial talent for Spurs, with the towering ace having also been regularly struck down by injury in his career to date.

The former Inter Milan asset is undoubtedly a “special player” – in the words of journalist Carlo Garganese – although that has not always translated into an end product, as he has just five goals and assists to his name in 17 games this season.

The £79k-per-week menace did, however, chip in with 17 goal involvements during the previous campaign, with it perhaps hard to determine just what to expect from the Italian on a consistent basis.

As such, there could well be a feeling that Tottenham would be landing Lamela 2.0 if they are to bring Zaniolo to England before the end of the window.

Glasgow Rangers have been told who they should be looking to bring to Ibrox during the current January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Speaking on Sky Sports, via Glasgow Live, formers Gers forward Kris Boyd has urged the club to swoop for Sheffield United’s John Fleck to help with their issues in the middle of the park.

“I think Michael Beale has spoken about it that the central midfield area is one he wants to strengthen. He’s lost Stevie Davis and it’s not ideal but I wouldn’t be rushing in and just grabbing players for the sake of it, especially in January.

He added: “There’s players out of contract and I think the obvious one for me would be John Fleck at Sheffield United.

“Michael Beale has spoken about it like I’ve said before and I think John has been at Rangers before and knows and has been brought up on it. He is a different player from the one that left Rangers but people like that would be on my radar.”

John Lundstram 2.0

Ross Wilson struck gold for Rangers in the summer of 2021 as he brought John Lundstram in from Sheffield United on a free transfer and he could now repeat that masterclass by reuniting him with his former teammate Fleck.

Since arriving in Glasgow, the English midfielder has scored nine goals in 78 competitive appearances for the Gers – including two goals in the Europa League last term.

He has established himself as a regular in the side, with 20 Premiership outings this season, and Fleck, who started his career at Ibrox, could follow in his footsteps.

The Blades midfielder is a creative player whose invention on the ball would provide a big lift to Michael Beale’s team when they are attempting to break down low blocks.

Fleck, who was once hailed as “incredible” by his former boss Chris Wilder, has created 1.5 chances per match in the Championship this season – creating four ‘big chances’ for his teammates in total.

Meanwhile, no Rangers central midfielder with more than one start has averaged more than 1.1 key passes per game and this suggests that the Scotland international would be an upgrade on Beale’s current options in that regard.

The £23k-per-week gem has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.95 across 11 appearances in the second tier of English football this term, a score that only Lundstram (7.13) can beat out of his positional peers at Ibrox.

This indicates that he has the potential to make the switch to Scotland and be a useful player for Beale in the Premiership if he is able to adapt to playing back in his home country.

Therefore, Rangers could repeat their Lundstram masterclass by using Boyd’s advice to pursue a deal to sign Fleck before the end of the month.

Newcastle United have reportedly submitted a ‘very big offer’ for Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy ahead of a possible January move.

The Lowdown: Newcastle looking at January signings

The Magpies may be excelling at the moment but that doesn’t mean that they won’t be putting their new-found financial power to good use and trying to upgrade the squad even further.

Eddie Howe will be aware that he needs to keep improving his squad if they are to finish in the top four, with a few sprinklings of quality potentially making all the difference.

While Newcastle have been linked with numerous attacking additions, a rumour regarding a defender has also emerged.

The Latest: Offer submitted for Mendy

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Newcastle have actually ‘already submitted a very big offer‘ to Real Madrid for the services of left-back Mendy.

The Magpies are ‘very interested’ in acquiring the Frenchman’s signature, having tracked his progress ‘for a little while’.

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The Verdict: Immediate left-back upgrade

Mendy could be a fantastic signing by Newcastle in January, coming in as a clear upgrade on Dan Burn, even though he is doing a brilliant job in an unconventional role.

The 27-year-old has made 12 starts in La Liga for Madrid this season, and won the Champions League last term, and he would provide more natural attacking quality than Burn, currently creating one chance per game for Real.

It is signings like these that could help Newcastle reach that next level and snapping up someone who has played regularly for one of Europe’s biggest clubs would feel like a major coup, if Madrid are willing to sell.