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Rafa Benitez is reportedly keeping a ‘close eye’ on Gabriel Barbosa ahead of a potential move to Everton in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Barbosa catching the eye

Barbosa is only 24 years of age but already has 116 senior goals to his name combined for both club and country, having broke into the Brazil national side (Transfermarkt).

Brazilian legend Adriano has recently been singing his praises, dubbing him as a ‘decisive’ striker, which will surely interest the Goodison Park faithful.

The Latest: Benitez interested

As per football journalist and transfer expert Ekrem Konur, Benitez is keeping a ‘close eye’ on Barbosa ahead of a potential move.

The Spaniard clearly wants more competition up top for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and feels as if ‘Gabigol’ would fit the bill.

The Verdict: Sign

The Merseyside club certainly need a player who can ease the goal-scoring burden off of Calvert-Lewin, and Barbosa has proven throughout his career so far that he knows where the back of the net is.

A potentially mouth-watering link-up with Brazilian teammate Richarlison could well be on the cards too, as he could really help bring some real South American flair to the Toffees, considering that they also have the likes of James Rodriguez, Allan and Yerry Mina already on their books.

Nonetheless, the Flamengo star would certainly be an exciting new addition for the Blues, providing that they can get a deal over the line.

In other news, find out what club update has Evertonians buzzing here!

Portsmouth have potentially been handed a transfer boost, regarding their pursuit of West Brom’s Josh Griffiths.

What’s the talk?

Cheltenham Town have officially confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Owen Evans from Wigan on a two-year deal this week. This could come as a boost to Portsmouth, as Cheltenham were interested in signing West Brom goalkeeper Josh Griffiths following his excellent spell with the club in the 2020/21 campaign.

Portsmouth are thought to be looking at Griffiths as Danny Cowley attempts to bolster his squad this summer to launch a promotion push in League One. Yorkshire Live has claimed that Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Lincoln are all eyeing the starlet.

Earlier this year, Cheltenham boss Michael Duff labelled Griffiths as top drawer following a string of strong performances for the club. He told the Express and Star:

“He’s at a Premier League club and the reason why they send him out on loan is so that he makes his mistakes with teams like us rather than in the Premier League.“He’s been top drawer for us, he kept us in the game on Saturday against Bolton, and he’s got a chance of going right to the top. He’s got a good presence and good demeanour and he’ll learn from it.”Fans will be buzzingPortsmouth fans will be buzzing with this development as it could lead to the club sealing a deal for Griffiths ahead of next season. The club has a gigantic hole to fill in the coming months as they are set to lose Craig MacGillivray on a free transfer.MacGillivray is out of contract at the end of the month and is poised to depart from Fratton Park as Portsmouth are unable to match his wage demands, which means that Cowley will be losing his number one goalkeeper.Griffiths could, therefore, step in this summer and take over the number one spot. The 19-year-old could join on loan and provide a stop-gap for the next 12 months before Portsmouth are able to invest in a long term number one option if they are able to secure promotion to the Championship – rather than signing a cheaper goalkeeper who may not be able to make the step up if they achieve their goals.

The West Brom starlet was excellent for Cheltenham in League Two as they won the title last season. He kept 21 clean sheets and conceded 37 goals in 44 appearances in the league, which shows the consistency and quality he was able to provide Cheltenham in spite of his young age.

This suggests that he could be a great addition to Portsmouth’s team.

AND in other news, Major transfer news emerges on “aggressive” £4.3k-p/w dud, Pompey fans will love it…

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing a transfer reunion with Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi this summer.

What’s the story?

The Whites were heavily reliant on Patrick Bamford to score the bulk of their goals up top, and while the Englishman rose to the occasion with 17 goals to his name in the Premier League, it’s perhaps no surprise that Bielsa has his eye on reinforcing that area of the pitch.

And, according to The Telegraph, Bielsa is keen on landing Batshuayi from Stamford Bridge, with the Belgium international spending last season on loan at fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace and struggling for game-time.

The forward managed just two goals and two assists in 18 appearances, with many of those outings coming as late game cameos.

He was left stunned by Bielsa

During his time at Selhurst Park with Palace, former Celtic striker John Hartson claimed that Batshuayi has “clearly got genuine quality”, while he also has a staunch admirer in Frank Lampard, who of course managed him at Chelsea.

He said: “He’s positive, hard-working, loves scoring goals. That might sound simple for a striker but I’ve seen some who don’t love it quite as much. He loves scoring in training, he always stays out to do extra practice. I’m thankful to have him in the squad.”

Lauded as a “real goal-scorer” by former Borussia Dortmund boss, Peter Stoger, the £9m-rated Belgian has got history with Bielsa having worked with him at Marseille, and while it was a tough period for him, it’s something he acknowledges now that was absolutely necessary for his development.

Batshuayi himself said: “But looking back, I tell myself he knew who to do this with. Some needed this support. Me, he understood my personality, he knew that I could draw on my resources.

“I’ll tell you something. One day he told me something shocking. For several months, he hardly spoke to me. And the time he came to talk to me, he just said, ‘When you go out of here, you’re gonna go for 40 million’. He just told me that. In my head, I said to myself, ‘But he’s crazy’. In the end, he was right.”

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Given their previous history, it’s understandable that Bielsa is keen on reuniting with the Belgian this summer.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing a record-breaking swoop for this Brazilian star…

Manager turned pundit Alex McLeish is gutted for Leeds United defender Diego Llorente, who is set to miss out on Euro 2020.

The Lowdown: Llorente initially selected over Sergio Ramos for Spain’s EURO 2020 squad

Following a fine first season back in the Premier League for Leeds United, the Spaniard was selected ahead of Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos for Spain’s upcoming EURO 2020 Championship squad [Yorkshire Post].

An important squad player for the Whites, Llorente made a total of 15 appearances for the Elland Road side in 2020/21 and was scheduled to be a key player in the summer tournament [Transfermarkt].

However, these ambitions may need to be halted following this latest development.

The Latest: Leeds man tests positive

Reported on Wednesday afternoon, Llorente became the second Spanish player within their camp to test positive for Covid-19 after Sergio Busquets last week [Sky Sports].

Set to miss a portion of the tournament through mandatory isolation, McLeish was quick to offer his condolences to Llorente following the news, stating:

“To miss out on something like the European Championships, then it’s part of your life that is gone.

“Obviously he’s got time on his side and he can make it up.

“But that is a big, big blow for him. A big blow.” [Football Insider].

Fellow Leeds United teammate Rodrigo has received a late call-up to the squad, owing to the coronavirus outbreak [Leeds Live].

The Verdict: Hopefully Llorente can swiftly make a full recovery

Undoubtedly, it is hard not to share the disappointment the 62-year-old pundit feels for the ball-playing centre-back. On the verge of competing at the highest level, it is a shame he will not take part in his nation’s quest for tournament glory.

Making around 2.3 tackles on average per game this season, the 27-year-old would’ve added some solidity to the Spain rear-guard in their early tournament fixtures [WhoScored], and perhaps could have found some confidence and form to take into the next campaign in Yorkshire.

As for his manager Marcelo Bielsa, he will hope that the 6 foot 1 ace is able to bounce back in a fit and healthy state as the Whites look to hit the ground running in 2021/22.

In other news, a La Liga expert drops their verdict on a potential Whites target.

Ange Postecoglou has finally touched down in Glasgow and it would appear that Celtic are targeting all the right areas of improvement.

The Hoops shipped 16 more goals than the eventual league winners last term so evidently need to sign fresh faces to bolster their backline.

What’s the word?

Fortunately for Bhoys supporters, the club is ramping up their business in terms of defensive recruitments.

They’ve reportedly made offers to sign Sporting Lisbon’s Valentin Rosier while Aaron Hickey looks set to be the subject of an offer from Postecoglou’s side.

According to the managing editor of SBI Soccer, Larry Henry Jr, Celtic are interested in signing Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The American centre-back spent last term on loan at Bournemouth but has now returned to Tottenham ahead of a potential permanent move away.

Fulham and Cardiff have also been attracted by the 23-year-old but their interest has quietened down.

Bye-bye Ajer

Celtic’s aerial colossus Kristoffer Ajer is edging ever closer to a move to Norwich City but fans should rest easy if they bring Carter-Vickers in as his replacement.

Although the centre-back stands 6 inches shorter than Ajer at just 6-foot, he is imperious in the air and he also knows how to play out from the back.

When analysing the Norwegian’s game, those are two of the more outstanding qualities in his armoury.

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Last term, the Celtic defender was the beating heart of their backline and without him, their defence would have been significantly worse.

Ajer won 3.2 aerial duels per match while completing an eye-catching 88.2% of his passes in the Premiership.

If we compare that to Carter-Vickers, you’ll notice instant comparisons. The United States international prevailed in 2.8 aerial battles per game last term, a number that was slightly down from the 3.8 he won with Luton Town in 2019/20.

On top of that, he knows how to play in a team that play with the ball on the floor. The defender completed 84% of his passes for Bournemouth last season, a team renowned for playing more vibrant football.

One of his best spells was under Graham Potter at Swansea City. Carter-Vickers completed 91.6% of his passes in the English second tier, the best tally of any player in the entire division.

Following his time in Wales, Luton boss Graeme Jones hailed not only his ability on the field of play but his mentality off it after he sealed a loan spell with the Bedfordshire club.

“Graham Potter is one of my best friends and I spoke to him about Cameron, having had him on loan at Swansea last season. He said the character he’s got is incredible, so I’m looking forward to working with him,” Jones commented.

Carter-Vickers has always had potential but it’s yet to be completely extracted following numerous temporary stints away from Tottenham.

A move to Celtic could be profitable, however. The £20k-per-week earner suits their style of play and would fit seamlessly into their defensive line with Ajer potentially departing.

AND in other news, McKay must complete Celtic swoop for “tireless” 16-goal ace who can “destroy” teams…

With the Premier League season set to finish on Sunday afternoon, Dean Smith will have one final line-up to put out when Aston Villa take on Chelsea.

The Midlands club picked up an impressive three points away from home against Spurs in mid-week, with an own goal from Sergio Reguilon and a strike from Ollie Watkins enough to turn things around after they had initially fallen behind.

While a number of Villa’s players enjoyed some standout performances, one man who really struggled to get to the pace of the game was Anwar El Ghazi.

As per Sofascore, he finished with a 6.5 match rating, which was the lowest of any Villa player, and there were a number of times where he looked off the pace and a bit too lightweight.

He lost 13 duels on the day, which was by far the most of any player, and also lost possession 16 times, again the most of anyone who featured. The Dutchman also failed to complete any dribbles and committed three fouls as his frustrations got the better of him.

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The £9m-rated El Ghazi has been in good form in recent weeks, with three goals in the five games prior to the win at Spurs, but with this being the final day and Villa guaranteed to finish 11th, Smith has the perfect opportunity to experiment with his starting line-up.

With Jaden Philogene-Bidace waiting in the wings for Villa, it’s surely the perfect time for Smith to drop one of his usual first team players and hand an opportunity to one of the club’s brightest young talents.

Villa have nothing to lose, and it’s about time Smith makes some brave decisions and looks towards the club’s future.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a summer move for this Scottish star…

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is reportedly keen on making a move for Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports over the summer last year suggested that Villa were very much interested in landing the Argentine before the end of the deadline, but a deal failed to materialise.

Now, The Sun (via The Birmingham Mail) claim that Smith is keen on getting his man the second time around, especially with Ross Barkley almost certain to return back to Chelsea after his loan spell ends at the end of the Premier League season.

Dean Smith would love him

Given the kind of reliance Villa have placed upon Jack Grealish as their main source of creation, it’s unsurprising that Johan Lange appears to be eyeing another wide play-maker in the shape of Buendia.

The £20k-a-week star has enjoyed a remarkable campaign thus far for the Canaries this season, firing them straight back to the Premier League at the first time of asking – he’s scored 14 goals and provided a whopping 17 assists in the league alone.

His teammate, Max Aarons, has meanwhile raved about the kind of creative genius that he is, saying: “He’s not really a player who will get on the ball and take you on as a full-back. His game is more about getting into pockets, playing neat passes and creating things.

“When you’ve got someone, who wants to run at you, then it’s easier to lock them down whereas someone like him is quite intricate so it’s hard to get near him. He’s tenacious and very strong. He’s got a lot of attributes.”

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Given his bucket-load of assists and goals this season, Smith would no doubt love to have Buendia in his squad to really ease the pressure on Grealish’s shoulders, whether he’s playing or not.

Meanwhile, Villa are monitoring this star who just starred against them…

After an impressive season on loan with Ross County, Stephen Kelly could prove to be the heir to Glen Kamara in Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side next season, with the Finland international continuing to be linked with a move away from Ibrox this summer.

The 21-year-old Rangers academy graduate has spent the season on loan at Victoria Park and has established himself as a regular in John Hughes’ side, making 23 appearances in the Premiership and averaging a solid 6.55 WhoScored rating for his performances, with two assists to his name.

Last year saw Kelly commit to a new deal at Ibrox which sees him contracted until 2023, so Rangers clearly believe in his ability and his potential to become a regular with the Bears in the future.

After his new contract was announced, sporting director Ross Wilson had this to say about the young midfielder: “It was part of our development plan for him to now test himself at Premiership level and Steven Gerrard has made clear to Stevie that we expect him to make a strong impact in the league at Ross County.”

It seems as if Kelly’s loan move to Ross County has had the desired effect, and with Premiership experience under his belt, there seems no reason why he can’t challenge for a spot in Gerrard’s side next season, especially if Kamara departs in the summer.

The former Dundee man has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with his former club Arsenal reportedly at the front of the queue, with recent reports suggesting that the Gunners were willing to offer him a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium.

It is definitely a possibility that the Finland midfielder could leave, but Gerrard may already have his ideal replacement in Kelly. The youngster scores impressively when it comes to tackles, interceptions and key passes per game, which marks him out as an all-round midfielder in the mould of Kamara.

Kelly’s current manager Hughes was full of praise for the Rangers academy graduate earlier in the season, saying: “He’s as brave as a lion and has the courage to get on the ball. He’s my type of player: someone who wants the ball and keeps it ticking over.”

Therefore, there seems no reason why Kelly can’t establish himself in the Rangers first team next season and step up as Kamara’s long-term replacement, especially if the current Ibrox ace moves south.

In other news… Ross Wilson can solve big problem in Gerrard’s side with swoop for “unbelievable” £1.8m-rated gem

After seeing him shine out on loan last season, Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa must finally look to unleash Alfie McCalmont in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old was in impressive form for Oldham Athletic in League Two, scoring ten goals in 41 games in all competitions, and providing a further five assists too, being a key reason behind why they avoided relegation to non-league.

After seeing him make waves at Boundary Park, former Leeds man Noel Whelan waxed lyrical about the midfielder, saying: “He is a player that is immensely talented and he will do very well for Oldham. The way he plays the game is very intelligent.

“This is not a loan with a view to a permanent move from Leeds, this is a learning process. You have to be mentally tough to go out on loan, especially in League Two because it is more direct and robust compared to what you would get in the Premier League and Championship. He will be learning a lot about his game.”

And, speaking after he saw the 21-year-old put pen to paper on a new long-term deal to stay at Elland Road, Whelan insisted that Bielsa should be looking to utilise him more often.

He said: “A very good player, great on the ball and a good football mind. He is one that is learning his trade from watching Kalvin and being in and around that first-team setup.

“It is important that these young lads are integrated. It is vital for their progression and to give them confidence to step in when needed because there will be injuries and suspensions. Use them – that is why you have an academy and youth policy.”

A season away at Oldham, where he’s had regular football and developed into a real goal-scoring midfielder, will stand the youngster in good stead and will give Bielsa another option in the middle of the park.

And given he has already been involved in Bielsa’s set-up, he could go onto make a real impression and potentially even partner Phillips in the engine room and give Leeds that vital source of goals from central midfield – compare to McCalmont’s ten, the best a midfielder for the Whites managed was the four Mateusz Klich netted.

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The Leeds starlet may feel that next season offers him the perfect opportunity to show Bielsa that he’s deserving of a chance in the first-team.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing this Raphinha-like star…

Naby Keita’s Liverpool career hit what could be perceived as new low on Tuesday evening.

The Guinian midfielder, signed from RB Leipzig in 2018 to great excitement, was granted a start against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League but lasted just 42 minutes before being hauled off for Thiago Alcantara.

Linked to Leicester City over the past few days by Football Insider, it now might be time for Michael Edwards and Liverpool to take a hit on the midfielder and get him sold.

Having cost the club an eye-watering £54m, the third-highest fee in the Reds’ history, Keita has not justified that considerable outlay at all.

Due to a combination of poor form, competition at Anfield and injury problems, the 26-year-old has played just 76 matches for the club in all competitions, with just 47 of those being starts.

Even when he has been on the pitch, he has barely contributed. Keita only has seven goals and four assists to his name at Anfield.

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For context, the midfielder managed the same amount of goal contributions in his final season at the Red Bull Arena.

Considering that sheer lack of involvement, Liverpool really seem to have wasted a considerable fee on Keita. However, it takes on a completely different complexion considering the wages that the midfielder has earned at Anfield so far.

Paid approximately £6.2m per year, this means that he has already scooped £18.7m in wages since his arrival at Anfield, producing a total cost of £62.7m.

Even worse, Keita’s value only continues to plummet. Since his signing, he is now rated at just £34.2m.

With just two years left on his contract, Liverpool must sell in order to avoid any more depreciation on the player.

Considering the new low he hit in Madrid, it would potentially be wise to take advantage of Leicester’s interest in the 37-cap midfielder.

AND in more news, take a closer look and Andrew Robertson’s awful performances against Real Madrid…