Leeds United are finalising a move for Hamilton Academical teenager Josh McDonald, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news involving McDonald?

The Whites currently find themselves in free fall on the pitch, with Sam Allardyce the man tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League. He has three games to do just that following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to league leaders Manchester City, with Leeds now in 19th place and two points off safety after Everton and Nottingham Forest picked up wins on Monday.

However, despite the possibility of Championship football on the horizon, it looks as if the club, now without a sporting director after Victor Orta departed Elland Road, are still looking to add to their academy ranks, with McDonald seemingly on his way to Yorkshire.

Football Insider stated in the last 48 hours that Leeds have reached a full agreement to sign McDonald worth around £150,000. The midfielder has accepted a scholarship which will turn into a professional contract and was at Elland Road last week.

The report states that the 16-year-old has had a medical and ‘completed the formalities in a deal which is seen as a major coup by Leeds.’

Bigger fish to fry for Leeds right now…

McDonald is regarded as an ‘exceptional talent’ and one of the best in his age group in Scotland, and it appears as if the Whites have pipped Rangers to his services and are happy to do just that.

A transfer could well be looked back on in years to come as a shrewd piece of business, should McDonald break into the first-team ranks at Leeds, but right now, the club have a number of pressing issues.

It looks set to be an extremely busy summer off the pitch over the coming months, with another new manager likely after Allardyce's interim stint. A new director of football will also be on the agenda to replace Orta, whereas a full takeover for the 49ers from Radrizzani could also be about to materialise.

McDonald may well be a name to keep an eye on further down the line alongside another young midfielder in Archie Gray, with the teenager recently penning a professional contract with Leeds and making the bench against Manchester City last time out.

Given Sri Lanka’s growing injury concerns, the national selectors will pick a squad ahead of each Test for their upcoming three-match series against Australia, which begins on July 26

Sa'adi Thawfeeq17-Jul-2016

Given Sri Lanka’s growing injury concerns, the national selectors will pick a squad ahead of each Test for their upcoming three-match series against Australia, which begins on July 26.Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya and co-selectors Romesh Kaluwitharana, Eric Upashantha and Ranjith Madurusinghe face a dearth of fast-bowling options after injuries to several first XI players. Dhammika Prasad’s shoulder injury is likely to keep him out of the Test series, while Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal, who will undergo a fitness test on Monday for a hamstring strain, will be assessed later. Shaming Eranga’s suspect action leaves Nuwan Pradeep as the only seamer available for selection from the recent tour of England.”It is very difficult times as a selector to pick a balanced squad with so many injuries,” Jayasuriya, who is in his second stint as chief selector, said. “It’s a bit tough but we will try and pick the best possible team. I hope the players picked also know what is expected of them and that they will do their best.”Whoever is fit and whoever is doing well in the Sri Lanka A team, we’ll have to give them the opportunity. It is the feeding place for the senior side. If we feel there is somebody who is very good in the Sri Lanka A, emerging or Under-19 squads, we will not hesitate to pick them.”I am really happy the way some of the Sri Lanka A players have been performing in England. Fast bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando, batsmen Dhananjaya de Silva and Roshen Silva are quite a few players.”When we play in Sri Lanka we have a better chance of performing than when you are overseas. I am confident they can do well. But it’s a lot of hard work to come out and show their character.”Jayasuriya said despite the bowling concerns, Sri Lanka’s young batting core is headed in the right direction.”Our main concern is the bowling but this is also a good time for a youngster to put his hand up and perform and show his character,” he said. “The batting line-up is a fairly good one and stable. If you see the way they progressed in the Tests the batting was really good. It’s the one key department we can think that we are on the right direction.”With players like Kusal Mendis, Kaushal Silva, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, the batting line-up did really well. Some of the innings of 20s and 30s, I would like to see them go and get a big 100 or 200.”The unfortunate thing about the Test series in England was that we had a very good bowling line-up but we started getting injuries from the first Test onwards and before long our main three fast bowlers – Prasad, Chameera and Eranga – were out of the scene. We were basically left with only another two fast bowlers Pradeep and Lakmal to run through the rest of the games. If not for those injures we would have done really well. But injuries are part and parcel of cricket and you have to face them.”Jayasuriya also felt the increased workload of international cricket was responsible for Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling injury crisis.”At the moment, they are playing a lot of cricket – Tests, ODIs and T20Is. In our days, our cricketing life span would have been about 15 years but now it has come down to about eight years.”In the present context if you play for 10 years you will have played more than 150 Tests and almost 300-400 ODIs on top of T20Is. A human body cannot take such a workload. The main thing is how the player manages and rehabs himself. It is easy to come and say ‘I am injured’. To play with the pain is the key. No fast bowler can play without any pain. They have to play with niggles here and there. We are currently working on the players with one of the best trainers, Michael Mann, who has been trying to get them into shape.”Jayasuriya said Chandimal will continue to be Sri Lanka’s designated wicketkeeper during the Test series with Kusal Perera as a middle-order batsman.”At the moment Chandimal is the better keeper, Kusal is a bit out of touch. Chandimal normally bats at No. 4 but because of the conditions in England, we pushed him to No. 6 and it was successful. We will discuss with him what position he is comfortable batting, he is flexible.”Although many Australian players have not played a Test in Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya warned against complacency.”They (Australia) have come early and started practice to get to know our conditions and they have hired (Muttiah) Muralitharan to get information about Sri Lankan conditions and pitches. They are very smartly doing their homework. At the end of the day they are also professionals, their coach has played here. We can’t take things lightly.”

Timm van der Gugten and Michael Rippon led the demolition job as Netherlands crushed Nepal by seven wickets in their World Cricket League Championship match

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2016
ScorecardFile photo: Michael Rippon wrecked Nepal with 3 for 21 as Netherlands crushed Nepal by seven wickets in their WCL Championship clash•IDI/Getty

Pace bowler Timm van der Gugten and chinaman bowler Michael Rippon led a demolition job to help Netherlands crush Nepal by seven wickets in their World Cricket League Championship match on Saturday.Van der Gugten and Rippon returned identical figures of 3 for 21 as Netherlands shot Nepal out for 94 after electing to field at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen. Stephan Myburgh then guided Netherlands’ small chase with an unbeaten 33, and along with wicketkeeper Wesley Barresi, who slammed 37 off 33 balls, completed the win in 16.5 overs.Apart from Nepal’s top three – Gyanendra Malla, Anil Mandal and Sharad Vesawkar – only Sompal Kami managed to get into double figures. Malla and Mandal’s 23-run opening stand was the highest Nepal could manage as they were dismissed in 38.1 overs.Van der Gugten and Rippon found support from left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe, who took 2 for 12, while Mudassar Bukhari and Paul van Meekeren took a wicket apiece.Netherlands lost Rippon in the fourth over with just 13 on the board but Myburgh and Barresi then came together for a second-wicket stand worth 57 that shut out any early advantage Nepal may have hoped to attain. Both batsmen struck five boundaries each, before Basant Regmi had Barresi bowled with Netherlands 25 away from a win. Ben Cooper could not hang around for long, but van der Merwe and Myburgh saw the team through to the finish line.Both teams face off again on Monday at the same venue. Netherlands are perched on top of the table with 12 points, while Nepal are sixth with four points after seven games.

ScorecardCraig Overton needs three more runs for a maiden Championshop hundred•Getty Images

Craig Overton was left three runs short of a maiden first-class century when play ended four overs early on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Hampshire at Taunton.He faces an anxious overnight wait to see if Somerset captain Chris Rogers declares before he has the chance to achieve the landmark.He said: “I honestly don’t know what we are going to do. Of course, I would like the chance to bat on, but in the end the team must come first and I’ll go with whatever the skipper decides. I was disappointed when we came off, but the umpires had made it clear the previous over that there would not be much more play.”Overton and Roelof van der Merwe, who was also seeking his first hundred for Somerset, were unbeaten on 97 and 91 respectively, with their unbroken eighth wicket stand worth 164, and Hampshire were looking at a last day survival mission.Half-centuries from Overton, van der Merwe, Lewis Gregory and Jim Allenby batted Somerset into a strong position. By the close, the hosts had reached 534 for 7 in reply to 338, having begun the day on 257 for 5, and led by 196 for on a pitch still offering turn and occasional bounce for the spinners.After morning drizzle had forced an early lunch, play got underway at 1pm, with Allenby unbeaten on 37. He went on to a 116-ball half century before the second new ball was taken at 291 for 5.Nine runs had been added when Allenby, on 56, looked to pull a leg-side bouncer from Ryan McLaren and either edged or gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Lewis McManus.Gregory and van der Merwe were soon making further inroads into Hampshire’s first innings total, with Gregory hitting seven fours in moving to a handsome fifty off 79 deliveries.The pair were almost involved in a comical run out with the score on 302, first both racing in one direction and then the other after van der Merwe had called for a quick single. Sadly for Hampshire, the ball was fumbled and they failed to capitalise.It proved costly as Somerset moved on to 370 before Gregory edged a drive to slip off leg-spinner Mason Crane and departed for 61.Overton survived a chance to first slip off David Wainwright early in his innings, but in general the Hampshire spinners lacked the consistency in line and length to profit from the dry surface.There were no more opportunities as van der Merwe reached his half-century off 78 balls, with 2 fours and 2 sixes, and Overton followed from 93 deliveries, with 5 fours and a six.It was van der Merwe’s best first class score for Somerset and Overton’s best of the season. By the time bad light interrupted play at 4.50pm both were batting with consummate ease.A resumption at 5.35pm saw Overton smash Will Smith for 4,4,6,6 in an over that cost the off-spinner 21.Hampshire looked likely to be spared more fireworks when the umpires decided the light was too poor after just three of the 15 overs they had decreed were left in the day.But at 6.10pm the players took the field again, with six overs due to be bowled. When their stand reached 132 Overton and van der Merwe claimed a Somerset record partnership for the eighth wicket against Hampshire, beating the 131 stand of Ernie Robson and Lionel Palairet at Southampton in 1896.The day ended strangely as van der Merwe summoned the 12th man onto the field with four overs to go. As they were talking, the umpires decided no further play would be possible and Overton was left standing with head bowed so close to an important personal milestone.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to bolster their squad heading into the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Thierry Small to Rangers?

According to Football Insider, the Ibrox outfit have made contact over a possible move for left-back Thierry Small.

The report claims that the Gers have registered an interest in the young defender as Michael Beale is pursuing a deal to add the prospect to his defensive options for next season.

It is stated that Tottenham Hotspur had a bid of £800k rejected by Southampton for the player in January as they held out for a fee in the region of £1.2m.

Who is Thierry Small?

He is an 18-year-old left-back – signed from Everton for £5m in 2021 – who is currently on loan at St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

With his positional ability in mind, he could well be the ideal heir to current first-team ace Borna Barisic.

The Croatian defender, who turns 31 later this year, is heading into the final year of his contract at Ibrox and Beale could bring Small in with a view to him replacing the full-back in the future.

Since arriving in Glasgow in 2018, the 30-year-old has scored nine goals and assisted 48 in 200 competitive appearances for the club in all competitions.

In the Premiership this season, Barisic has made 2.4 key passes and 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game, showcasing his ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

Small is not quite at that level yet, with 0.9 key passes and 1.4 tackles and interceptions per match for St. Mirren, but he has shown promise with his performances in the top flight at the age of just 18 by creating chances and making defensive interventions week-in-week-out.

The Englishman, who does not turn 19 until August, has played 13 matches in the league this season and this experience in Scotland could allow him to make a seamless transition should he move to Rangers as he now knows what it is like to perform at this level.

Small's form at youth level for Southampton and Everton also suggests that he has the potential to make a huge impact in the final third from a left-back position. He scored 11 goals and assisted four in 51 matches for the two academy sides combined and as a result, could grow into a Barisic-esque defender who can burst forward to be a difference-maker in attack.

The youngster has plenty of time left on his hands to grow and develop and the Light Blues could invest in his potential instead of signing a ready-made and established player in that position.

Once hailed as a "very enjoyable" player to watch by ex-boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, he could be a future star for Beale if he is able to kick on and translate his academy form over to first-team level.

At the SSC, Sri Lanka will have the chance to push for a rare series whitewash, while Australia will be desperate to end a horror streak in Asia

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale12-Aug-2016Match factsAugust 13-17, 2016
Start time 10.00 local (04.30 GMT)The SSC pitch bore a dry look on the eve of the Test•ESPNcricinfo LtdBig PictureLike a villain in Peter Falk’s old detective show, Australia’s undoing could be completed by one more thing: Colombo. Crushed near Kandy, gutted in Galle, Steven Smith’s men now move on to the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground for the final Test of their tour. Their No.1 ranking is at stake although, having lost the series already, even a surprise win in the third Test might not be enough to save their position.Make no mistake: this is Sri Lanka’s chance to create history. That rarest of cricket achievements – a whitewash against Australia – is theirs for the taking. In nearly 140 years of Test cricket, Australia have played 177 series of three or more matches and only four times have they been whitewashed: 0-3 to England in 1886; 0-4 to South Africa in 1969-70; 0-3 to Pakistan in 1982-83; and 0-4 to India in 2012-13. Smith arrived on this tour never having lost a Test as captain. Now he is in danger of joining Tup Scott, Bill Lawry, Kim Hughes and Michael Clarke in sharing an unwanted page in the record books.The achievement is similarly rare for Sri Lanka who, prior to this campaign, have played 50 series of this length. Only three times have they swept teams 3-0, and two of those came against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The other was against a declining West Indies in 2001. To complete such a rout against Australia, who were presented with the ICC mace before this series began, would count as one of the finest achievements in Sri Lankan cricket history. Angelo Mathews could be on the verge of joining Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene as the only Sri Lanka captains to lead such 3-0 sweeps.Of course, such talk is getting ahead of proceedings. Australia have one more chance to defend their honour. They would, though, need to show vast improvement in both playing and bowling spin in order to turn their results around, and none of the evidence from the first two Tests suggests that is probable. Having lost their past eight Tests in Asia, Australia have moved on to their ninth life. Chances are that when they head to India next February the cat will be dead, and unlikely even to bounce.Form guideSri Lanka: WWDLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: LLWWD
In the spotlightNominally it is spin that has troubled Australia during this series, but often their problem has been the ones that don’t turn. Between them, Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera have served up more sliders than a hipster café. Perera has 11 wickets at 15.63 in this series and, remarkably, 10 of them came in Galle, where he became the first Sri Lankan to score a fifty and take 10 wickets in a Test. Also during that match he became the fastest Sri Lankan to reach the milestone of 50 Test wickets, getting there in his 11th Test. Between Perera, Herath and left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan, Australia’s batsmen can expect no let-up in Colombo.Australia have played two spinners in each of the Tests so far, yet it is Mitchell Starc who comfortably leads their wicket tally with 17 at 13.47. Starc’s speed, accuracy and ability to gain reverse swing have made him a weapon on these Sri Lankan pitches. Australia’s batting has been their major issue, but with a little more assistance from the spinners Starc might at least make a contest of it. His 11 for 94 in Galle were the best figures ever by an Australian in Sri Lanka, and the best by an Australian fast bowler in Asia since the 1970s.Team newsDimuth Karunaratne’s poor run of form – he has scores of 5, 0, 0 and 7 this series – could leave his place in jeopardy, although as the SSC is his home ground and the series is already won, the selectors might give him one more chance. If Karunaratne is dropped, a possible scenario is that Dhananjaya de Silva could move up to open and Roshen Silva slot into the middle order. Suranga Lakmal is set to play his first Test of the series, in place of Vishwa Fernando, who was required for only two overs on debut due to Sri Lanka’s spin strength.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Kusal Perera, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Suranga Lakmal.Shaun Marsh appears a likely inclusion for Australia, though whom he replaces is up for debate. Adam Voges has carried hamstring tightness but trained fully on Thursday, although a decision on whether Voges would play in Colombo was not going to be made until after training on Friday. If Voges is passed fit, it is not out of the question that Usman Khawaja could make way for Marsh. An unchanged attack is probable, given the likely need for two spinners again.Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Usman Khawaja/Shaun Marsh, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Jon Holland.Pitch and conditionsThe SSC pitch might have a reputation as a draw wicket, but that is based on old evidence. In 2014, the top layer was re-laid and the surface has had a little more character. Since then three Tests have been played there for two results and a rain-affected draw. The pitch this year will be dry and is expected to provide plenty of turn.Stats and trivia Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers have sent down only 30 overs in this series, compared to 221.2 overs from their spinners In the past decade, Australia have played 17 Tests in Asia for just a single win: against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2011 So far in this series, Australia’s batsmen have collectively averaged 16.32. By comparison, in the UAE against Pakistan in 2014, Australia averaged 25.65 and in India in 2013 it was 25.89Quotes”We’ve got to prove to ourselves that we can play in these conditions. To win the last Test match, that will give us a little bit of confidence. We’re going to hopefully play with a little bit more freedom and courage, and be willing to take the game on.”

يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب يورجن كلوب، لخوض مباراة بيرنلي، اليوم السبت، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويخوض ليفربول مباراة بيرنلي في الجولة الرابعة والعشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2023/24، على ملعب “الأنفيلد” ضد بيرنلي.

وخسر ليفربول مباراته في الجولة الماضية أمام آرسنال، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف.

ويتصدر ليفربول حاليًا جدول البطولة برصيد 51 نقطة، بفارق نقطتين فقط عن مانشستر سيتي الذي يمتلك مواجهة مؤجلة.

ويواصل ليفربول افتقاد خدمات النجم المصري الدولي محمد صلاح، في ظل معاناته من الإصابة التي تعرض لها مع منتخب مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا، الشهر الماضي. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام بيرنلي اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: أليسون بيكر.

خط الدفاع: ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، كوانساه، فان دايك، روبرتسون.

خط الوسط: كورتيس جونز، واتارو إندو، مالك أليستر.

خط الهجوم: ديوجو جوتا، داروين نونيز، لويس دياز.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا

Chelsea will look to spend big on a striker this summer to help solve their goalscoring woes that have dogged them this season, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news involving striker targets?

As per Football Insider, Chelsea are 'keen' on Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez and have assessed the possibility of bringing the Argentina international to Stamford Bridge.

Incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino is said to have spoken with the Blues in negotiations about signing Martinez, who will be available for around £70 million in the off-season.

talkSPORT report that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is also a target for Chelsea and he is believed to be at the 'head of their summer shopping list.

ESPN understand that Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic is also someone being considered by Chelsea and state that the Premier League giants have made an offer worth €80 million (£69.4 million) to try and lure the Serbia international to England.

Harry Kane's current employers Tottenham Hotspur are also 'anticipating' that Chelsea will be part of the race to sign their talisman amid uncertainty over his future in N17, according to 90min.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has backed Chelsea to throw some significant cash around to land a new striker this summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "The one thing that of Vlahovic, Osimhen and Martinez have got in common is that they're all capable of getting you 20-plus goals a season. If they settle and succeed in the Premier League, then the likelihood is that they would do that with regularity. That's what Chelsea ultimately are looking for as an urgent priority. At the time of recording, which is before the game against Manchester United this evening, they've scored 36 Premier League goals, which is a goal a game and last season, they scored 76. There's 40 goals difference at the moment between Chelsea last season and Chelsea this season. What they need is to be able to rely upon one name to add, at worst, 20 goals, because that 20 goals might make all the difference from being in mid-table mediocrity to being back in the Champions League. If that's worth paying a bit extra for as long as Chelsea can balance the books and get a deal done, I would expect them to do that because they know how important that goal scorer has become."

Do Chelsea have anyone in-house who could help to solve their striking issue?

One topic of conversation that has hit the headlines in recent times is the notion of loanee Romelu Lukaku potentially returning to Stamford Bridge next term from Inter Milan and playing a part in 2023/24, with The Telegraph claiming that Pochettino would be 'open' to re-integrating the Belgium star if he was keen to do so.

Nevertheless, Lukaku looks to have signalled his intention to stay at San Siro next season, telling Het Laatste Nieuws via The Daily Express: "I was good at Chelsea last season. But I knew then that if it didn’t work out at Chelsea, I still had Inter. When I signed again, I knew: I belong here. I had that too at Anderlecht. I take this club seriously. I want to do my best. The people here see that. Being encouraged here is the best thing there is."

German outlet SPORT BILD also report that RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku is on his way to west London, which may offer some hope to Chelsea fans given that he has bagged 20 goals and seven assists in 34 appearances in 2022/23, as per Transfermarkt.

The Blues have a very busy window ahead and it wouldn't be a surprise to see even more high-profile names linked to the club as it draws ever closer.

Everton have given the green light to sell Amadou Onana during the upcoming transfer window, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Will Amadou Onana leave Everton?

The Toffees midfielder only arrived on Merseyside from Lille last summer and has become a regular feature during his debut season with 34 appearances to date, though despite his contract not expiring for another four years, he’s already been linked with an exit.

Back in April, Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea were both credited with an interest in the 21-year-old and are believed to be weighing up bids, whilst TEAMtalk has since reported that Manchester United have also joined the race to secure his services during the upcoming window.

The Belgium international currently pockets £100k per week at Goodison Park, making him the joint-third-highest earner on the books, as per Capology, and Sean Dyche will know that he may have to cash in on some of his most prized assets should relegation occur – meaning that the talented prospect could be one of the first to go.

Are Everton selling Onana?

According to Football Insider, Everton are “planning to sell” Onana for a fee in the region of £60m this summer. The Merseyside outfit have no money available to them to purchase new signings and are therefore operating on a sell-to-buy policy, while they are “confident” that they will be able to receive a sizeable sum for the midfielder.

Everton will understandably have to raise cash to fund new signings over the coming months, but having been dubbed a “one-man army” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Onana is a key player whose services should be retained ahead of the start of the 2023/24 term if at all possible.

The 6 foot 4 colossus, while able to be a presence in defensive situations – only Idrissa Gueye tops him among Everton's regulars for tackles and fouls won per game – is capable of contributing to his team’s efforts at the opposite end of the pitch on occasion, having posted three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) since putting pen to paper last summer.

Onana is a great versatile option for Dyche to have at his disposal having operated in six various positions across the pitch since first bursting onto the professional scene, so losing him would surely be considered a huge blow, which is why the board need to do everything they can to maintain their status in the top division and keep him for the foreseeable.

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.