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Rangers have been handed a hefty blow as it has emerged that their succession plan for one of their stars now lies in ruins.

Barisic set to leave Ibrox

Though a longtime servant at Ibrox, it appears that Borna Barisic's time with Rangers is coming to an end. The Croatian defender is out of contract this summer and is yet to pen fresh terms at the club he has spent the last six seasons with, meaning that he will be a free agent come the end of the season.

He has appeared only 15 times in the Scottish Premiership this season and racked up just over 1000 minutes in the competition, far less than the 2500 he managed last campaign. Indeed, he has fallen down Philippe Clement's pecking order, with Ridvan Yilmaz often preferred to the 31-year-old, but he too has been linked with an exit.

Though it has been a successful campaign to date for the Ibrox outfit, it has been far less impressive for Barisic, who has spent much of that season among the substitutes.

Rangers have an exciting young Barisic replacement waiting for a chance

Rangers may have an ideal Barisic replacement already at the club

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 13, 2024

It seems clear that the club are preparing for life without their longtime left-back, and with Yilmaz also not certain to be at Ibrox next season, the Gers were already planning to recruit another left back, but were looking for ways to outsmart the market to get a deal done cheaply.

However, that hope has just been scuppered.

Gers target has already chosen his next club

One of the reported replacements was FC Twente left-back Gjis Smal, who is set to be out of contract with the Dutch side this summer.

This would have allowed Rangers to pounce and sign the 26 year old on a free transfer, allowing them to keep their financial muscle for other deals in the transfer market. They had been interested in the Dutchman in January, but ultimately opted to wait rather than splash out to sign him.

As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Smal has already agreed a move away from Twente this summer, but he isn't headed to Ibrox.

Instead, he has opted to stay in the Netherlands, where he will sign for Feyenoord. Though no official confirmation has been given, Romano has taken to X to explain that there is a "verbal pact in place" and that the agreement for him to join as a free agent is "almost done" after Smal "turned down a proposal from abroad", which could well be from Ibrox.

The news will come as a blow to Clement, who will now have to return to the drawing board in search of a left back or make a belated offer for Barisic to stay.

Crystal Palace are now thought to be in "advanced" talks with a player over joining them this summer, as the Eagles seek to back new manager Oliver Glasner.

Glasner set for Palace backing this summer

The Austrian took over from Roy Hodgson last month, and his arrival brought plenty of anticipation with it.

Crystal Palace chiefs believe they can agree deal for Premier League ace

The Eagles need to bolster certain areas.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 13, 2024

Glasner, a Europa League winner during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, possesses experience coaching at a very elite level. The tactician has been tipped to bring a sense of physicality and intensity to Selhurst Park, but that won't come overnight, as explained by journalist Dean Jones to GiveMeSport recently.

Palace will spend in an effort to back Glasner this summer, as club chiefs aim to build a winning project around their head coach.

"I think Glasner will assert himself by bringing a sense of physicality to Crystal Palace and also probably more of a modern approach to their attacking set-up than they perhaps had recently," said Jones.

"That won't come overnight. This squad isn't really capable of changing too much in the short term, but it'll get funded in the summer. Judging by what he's done so far in Germany, and judging by what he's capable of from a coaching perspective from people I've spoken to over there, they seem to think that actually, this is a really good appointment for Crystal Palace. After all of the protests from fans and accusations of them lacking ambition, this could actually prove to be a good appointment."

Reports suggest that Glasner is keen to sign a new defender for Palace this summer as one specific goal, and they appear to be making real headway with that, according to West Ham insider ExWHUemployee.

Crystal Palace in advanced talks to sign Ben Johnson

Hammers defender Ben Johnson is out of contract as things stand, with Ex claiming that Palace are leading the way.

It is also believed that Palace are in "advanced" talks over signing Johnson and bringing him on a Bosman deal – which is seen as a real shame for West Ham.

“Talks with Johnson have proven unsuccessful,” stated Ex on The West Ham Way Podcast.

“He’s been linked now with an exit and Crystal Palace are leading the way. Ledley King though, who is a relative of Johnson’s, is trying to engineer a move to Spurs.

“At this stage though it appears an agreement between the player and the south London club is at quite an advanced stage, which could sadly see Johnson head south of the river this summer, after 17 years at West Ham.”

Called a "wonderful" professional by former West Ham coach and England legend Stuart Pearce, the 24-year-old has many years ahead of a potentially promising career, so he could be ideal for Glasner.

Niclas Fullkrug has reportedly been encouraged to leave Borussia Dortmund by Julian Nagelsmann as West Ham come calling.

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• Fullkrug pursued by West Ham
• German striker keen for a fresh challenge
• Nagelsmann tells him to get regular game time

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the Hammers have entered the race to sign Fullkrug, and the 31-year-old forward now seems open to the idea of joining the Premier League side. West Ham have proposed a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year. This would allow Fullkrug, to potentially extend his career longer at West Ham than at Dortmund, where his current contract runs until 2026. West Ham's contract includes a salary comparable to his earnings at Dortmund, around €2.5 million (£2.1m/$2.7m) net per year.

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  It has been reported that Fullkrug was initially hesitant to respond to West Ham's offer as it would mean giving up on Champions League football. However, the allure of playing in the Premier League, coupled with the long-term contract and the promise of a starting role, has forced him to give a second thought. The striker had harboured hopes of a move to AC Milan, but the Italian club was unable to meet the financial demands for a permanent transfer and subsequently withdrew from the negotiations. This development has left West Ham as the frontrunner for his signature.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Sky report also mentions that Fullkrug had reached out to Germany's coaching team, including Julian Nagelsmann, Sandro Wagner, and Benjamin Gluck. They have reportedly advised him to make the move to London, emphasizing the importance of regular minutes in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

  Dortmund are reluctant to part with Füllkrug, as they plan to rely on two top strikers – the other one being Serhou Guirassy. However, they have set a price tag of €30m (£25m/$33m) on the player and will be ready to offload him if any suitor matches that amount.

  It is believed that West Ham have already submitted an offer of approximately €25m (£21m/$27m), including bonuses. While this offer is below Dortmund's asking price, it puts pressure on BVB bosses Sebastian Kehl and Lars Ricken to ponder over it. If Dortmund insist on the €30m, West Ham may withdraw and focus on signing 20-year-old striker Jhon Duran from Aston Villa.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  A decision on Fullkrug's future could be made soon, possibly as early as Thursday evening, as West Ham prepare to engage in further talks with Dortmund. Encouraged by Nagelsmann and enticed by a lucrative contract, Fullkrug must weigh the benefits of playing in the Premier League against the sacrifices of leaving Dortmund and the Champions League. As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen where Fullkrug ends up playing next season.

The Blues have appointed a new boss following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino – here's everything you need to know about their pre-season.

Chelsea will begin life under new manager Enzo Maresca following Mauricio Pochettino's decision to leave Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after just one year in charge.

In 2023-24, the Blues finished the Premier League season in sixth spot and, besides a semi-final exit at the FA Cup, they were runner-up to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

They will compete in the Europa Conference League play-off round this season, having failed to qualify for the Europa League after Manchester United won the FA Cup.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about Chelsea's pre-season plans ahead of the 2024-25 season, plus ticket information, where to watch games live and more.

• Chelsea 2024 pre-season fixtures & results

  Date	Game	Kick-off time	Venue
  Wed, Jul 24	Chelsea 2-2 Wrexham	10:30pm ET (3:30am BST)	Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
  Sat, Jul 27	Chelsea 1-4 Celtic	4pm ET (9pm BST)	Notre Dame Stadium, Indiana
  Wed, Jul 31	Chelsea 3-0 Club America	7:30pm ET (00:30am BST)	Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
  Sat, Aug 3	Chelsea 2-4 Man City	5:30 pm ET (10:30 pm BST)	Ohio Stadium, Columbus
  Tue, Aug 6	Chelsea 1-2 Real Madrid	7pm ET (00:00am BST)	Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
  Sun, Aug 11	Chelsea vs Inter	3pm BST (10am ET)	Stamford Bridge, London

  Chelsea once again made the trip to the United States for their 2024-25 pre-season tour, having visited North America for a number of friendlies over the past two years.

  The Blues drew 2-2 with League One Wrexham in their first friendly across the pond and named a strong starting XI against Celtic, who beat reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in a 4-3 thriller to kick off their summer tour of the States.

  However Enzo Maresca's side were shocking throughout as Celtic ran riot 4-1 after a rubbish defensive display from the Blues, who bagged a late consolation through Christopher Nkunku.

  Chelsea did clinch a comfortable win at the third attempt, firing three unanswered goals against reigning Liga MX champions Mexican side Club America. Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu, and Noni Madueke all scored as the team cruised to victory.

  There were more defensive issues against Manchester City as the Premier League champions raced into a 4-0 lead thanks to a Erling Haaland hat-trick. Chelsea did offer late resistance, but they were defeated 4-2 in Ohio.

  The Blues played their final leg of the tour against Real Madrid on August 6 in North Carolina, losing narrowly 2-1 in an entertaining, end-to-end encounter. There will be one final pre-season friendly at home, with Stamford Bridge hosting Italian giants Inter on August 11.

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  Chelsea 2024 pre-season tour tickets

  Buy Chelsea tickets at Ticketmaster USCheck availability

  Tickets for Chelsea's pre-season tour USA 2024 are available to buy now.

  • Tickets for Chelsea vs Wrexham @ Levi’s Stadium
  • Tickets for Chelsea vs Celtic @ Notre Dame Stadium
  • Tickets for Chelsea vs Club America @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • Tickets for Chelsea vs Man City @ Ohio Stadium
  • Tickets for Chelsea vs Real Madrid @ Bank of America Stadium

  Read our comprehensive guide to buying Chelsea tickets here.

• How to watch Chelsea pre-season games on TV & livestream online

  Chelsea's game against Real Madrid will be shown live on Premier Sports in the UK.

  The friendly game against Wrexham and Real Madrid will be shown live on ESPN+, Fubo and Sling TV in the US.

  The game against Celtic and Club America will be shown live on ESPN+ in the US.

  The preparatory game against Manchester City could be watched on CITY+.

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• When does the 2024-25 season start for Chelsea?

  Chelsea will kick off the 2024-25 Premier League season against defending champions Man City on August 18, 2024. It will be the second meeting with City in a matter of weeks, with Pep Guardiola's team providing pre-season opposition too.

  Once the season begins, the Blues will see themselves involved in the Carabao Cup and the Europa Conference League subject to qualification.

  Check out the Blues' Premier League fixture list here.

Given the fact Nottingham Forest have signed 34 new players since promotion back to the Premier League back in 2022, not all of their new additions would turn out to be a success.

The club spent hefty fees on players such as Emmanuel Dennis and Remo Freuler, with both players struggling to make an impact at the City ground since their respective moves.

Both players have since left the club on loan, with the club unlikely to make any sort of money back on the transfers that cost the Reds upwards of £30m.

The owners have also invested well in the transfer market, with Morgan Gibbs-White being worth every penny of his £25m price tag that the club paid for him from Wolves in 2022.

However, one of the club's best pieces of business since promotion was the free transfer of one player who has excelled beyond all imagination since his move to the Reds.

Ola Aina's stats for Nottingham Forest in 2023/24

Forest signed full-back Ola Aina on a free from Serie A side Torino after the Nigerian's release after the end of his contract in June 2023.

The 27-year-old originally agreed a one-year deal at the City Ground, but Aina is set to be rewarded with a new deal after his impressive displays under Steve Cooper earlier this season.

He's made 14 appearances in the Premier League this campaign, scoring once in the brilliant 2-0 win over Champions League-chasing Aston Villa in November.

Aina's been unable to carry on his brilliant form for Forest, with the defender featuring in the African Cup of Nations over January and February, with the Nigerian suffering an injury during the final defeat against the Ivory Coast.

The former Chelsea youngster has excelled in his latest opportunity in England's top flight after a previous spell at Fulham, with the 27-year-old looking to be an excellent bit of business by the Forest hierarchy.

Ola Aina's market value in 2024

Upon leaving the Italian side in June, Aina had a market value of just £3m with Forest taking a risk on a player who hadn't featured in the Premier League for over three years.

However, the full-back has seen his market value soar after impressing for the Reds, with the Nigerian now worth €10m (£8.5m) – a figure that is more than £15m signing Chris Wood, who – despite scoring ten goals this season – is said to be worth just €7m (£6m).

Hailed as "excellent" by Cooper last year, Aina is more than deserving of a new deal given his performances in the Premier League for the Reds this season.

His rapid increase in market value over the last seven months since his arrival is nothing short of remarkable, with the Nigerian excelling in England's top flight after his three-year absence.

The club have missed his presence at left-back, with Harry Toffolo doing a solid job – but Aina's energetic playstyle is hugely needed, with the full-back being perfect for Nuno's system.

Chelsea have confirmed that Joao Felix has joined the club on a permanent transfer from La Liga side Atletico Madrid.

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• Felix joins Chelsea for second spell
• Moves on permanent transfer from Atletico
• Portugal star 'happy to be back'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Felix has returned to Chelsea for a second spell with the Blues after spending time on loan with the Premier League side during the 2022-23 season. The Portugal international has arrived on a six-year deal, with the option for one more, and a fee thought to be in the region of £45.5 million (€53m/$59m). Felix has said he is happy to be "home" and has vowed his best years are still to come.

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• WHAT FELIX SAID

  He told the club's official website: "It’s a chance for me to find a home. After two loans, Chelsea and Barca, I needed to stay permanently in one place. There is no better place for me to be than Chelsea. I see a perfect place to shine. It was a little bit of a lot of things that made me want to come back: the project, the club, the league, the fans, the time I spent here that I loved. I felt really good when I was here, despite the results we had. I’m really happy to be back.

  "I’ve developed as a player in a lot of ways: the perception of the game, and the spaces the ball can arrive easily where I can make more impact. I try to figure it out by watching some videos of me of my games. I’ve kind of changed since I was last here. I’m 24 now. I’ll be 25 in November. I feel like I grew up as a player. That’s normal with age. I’m more prepared for the Premier League. I feel like my best years are ahead of me. I have no doubt about that. The best years are still to come. And this year is going to be a good year, because now I am permanently at home, and I can enjoy home."

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  Felix becomes Chelsea's 10th signing of a hectic summer and he will hope that he can finally make an impact after a tough few years. The Portugal international failed to live up to his lofty price tag after signing for Atletico in a club-record deal and was sent out on loan to Chelsea and Barcelona. Felix failed to find a regular spot in the starting XI with the Catalan giants last season, but will aim to make an impact at Stamford Bridge amid intense competition for a place in the the starting XI.

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• DID YOU KNOW

  Felix was sent off on his Chelsea debut against Fulham in his first spell with the club, but went on to score four times in 20 appearances.

Former Rangers chairman Dave King has dropped a worrying claim over Philippe Clement’s future as manager, following an impressive start to life at Ibrox.

Clement's excellent Rangers prepare for Old Firm

The Belgian has come in and done an excellent job as Gers boss, only arriving last October but immediately making them a force again, following the disappointing reign of Michael Beale.

Clement has ensured that Rangers are right in the thick of a Scottish Premiership title battle with Celtic, trailing their biggest rivals by one point but boasting a game in hand, giving them a slight edge in the race.

On Sunday afternoon, the Gers host the Hoops in the biggest game of the season so far, and victory would be a huge step towards Clement guiding his side to glory in his first season in charge.

The only issue that Rangers have is that the more he impresses, the higher the probability there is that interest could emerge from elsewhere, as proved to be the case with Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.

Dave King drops worrying Philippe Clement claim

Speaking to Rangers Review [via The Daily Record], King warned that Clement could potentially leave Rangers in the near future.

"I really think we have got a platform now and I Just hope we are able to keep the manager. If you look at it right now and the international market for managers, I am watching it a lot with the Liverpool situation and I say: 'Where is the quality of manager?' Liverpool are looking for a manager, I think (Manchester) Utd will be looking for a manager, we have Barcelona looking for a manager, Bayern looking for a manager. You look out there and ask : 'Where are these managers?'

"I would think that our present manager, particularly given that Postecoglou has done so well with Spurs as well, I think that we are going to have to work hard to hold on to him becasue there is a dearth of really good managers out there."

The idea of Clement leaving so soon is clearly worrying for anyone associated with Rangers, considering the impact he has made since arriving last autumn. Granted, he hasn't always been perfect, but to be arguably the favourites to win the title currently says so much about the job he has done in recovering Beale's disastrous reign.

The hope is that the 50-year-old sees his future at Ibrox for a long time to come, feeling that he is at the start of his journey, but sudden interest from a Premier League club, for example, could turn his head.

The European transfer window closes Friday, and the 22-year-old American is the subject of a big-money move to the North London club

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• Tottenham agree $33M fee for USMNT's Cardoso
• Deal is for future transfer
• Unknown if Spurs will trigger before window deadline

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Johnny Cardoso could be bound for the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly agreeing a transfer fee with Real Betis for the U.S. national team midfielder. Spurs are prepared to pay $33M for the 22-year-old, according to GIVEMESPORT.

  The agreement, however, is a prearranged fee for a future transfer. It's unknown when or if the North London club will trigger the agreement.

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  Johnny has been linked with top clubs from all over Europe this summer, including La Liga giants Barcelona.

  The U.S. international represented his nation at Copa America 2024, where he featured in two of their three Group Stage matches at the tournament. In total, he has 15 caps for the USMNT, and is widely-seen as one of the most important dual-national recruits from the Gregg Berhalter era, as he was born in New jersey to Brazilian parents, and grew up in the South America.

  His meteoric rise in 2024 has caught the attention of the footballing world, with Spurs now the latest suitor.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  AC Milan were also a rumored destination for Johnny this summer. The Rossoneri were in the market for a midfielder, and if the move were to have come to fruition, he would have been the third American at the club alongside Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JOHNNY?

  It remains to be seen if Spurs sign a deal with Betis for the 22-year-old before the end of the European transfer window.

Some West Ham United chiefs have told chairman David Sullivan to part company with manager David Moyes at the end of the season, as a few believe it is possible to bring in an "unbelievable" replacement for the Scotsman.

Moyes contract expiring as West Ham face difficult decision

Moyes will undoubtedly go down as a Hammers legend for what he has already achieved since taking over for a second stint as head coach in 2019/2020.

West Ham table out-of-window £13 million bid with transfer stance clear

The east Londoners are moving very early.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 16, 2024

The 60-year-old arrived at West Ham again when they were in the thick of a relegation battle again four years ago, with Moyes guiding them to safety and later doing the unthinkable.

Since that campaign, they've enjoyed three successive seasons in Europe after surprisingly high league finishes and won their first major trophy since the 1980s last year as they beat Fiorentina to win the Conference League final.

Moyes has overseen the most successful era of West Ham's recent history and deserves enormous credit for the job he's done. However, it hasn't all been rosy over the last 12 months or so. The east Londoners' league form has been questionable at points, finishing 14th last campaign, and there are some complaints from supporters over their side's pragmatic style of play.

The former Everton manager's contract expires very soon, specifically on June 30, and West Ham are set to make a decision on official Moyes' future at the end of the season. West Ham have been doing some groundwork on a replacement for Moyes, and have been linked with a few interesting names like Graham Potter, Paulo Fonseca and even Thomas Tuchel.

West Ham chiefs urge Moyes sack as they hold Tuchel belief

According to HITC and journalist Graeme Bailey, a number of West Ham chiefs have urged Sullivan to sack Moyes, and some believe ambitiously appointing Tuchel is genuinely possible after he departs Bayern Munich.

While feelings behind the scenes are made clear, hiring a big name like Tuchel would certainly turn many heads, as the Champions League-winning tactician would be considered an elite Moyes replacement.

Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has even called Tuchel an "unbelievable" coach.

"[Tuchel's continuity] can only be a good thing. As players we have full confidence in the manager – we know we’re not going to get a better manager here. I’m not just saying it. He’s an unbelievable manager in all aspects and I think he has a lot of trust in us as well," Chilwell said.

"This is Chelsea, we want to win the big trophies. And of course, we're positive going into this season, like we are every season. We've got a strong team. Hopefully, we can add to that strength with some good players. We've got a great manager. New ownership. A great training ground. Good backroom staff. So everything's in place to have a good season."

Everton's awful financial situation has been well documented in recent months, with the club being hit with an eight-point deduction during the current campaign for breaching the Premier League's PSR rules.

Whilst boss Sean Dyche has done a sensational job in leading the Toffees clear of any relegation threats by securing survival with three games to spare despite the deduction, the off-the-field issues have overshadowed his excellent work.

The former Burnley manager has instilled a brilliant defensive foundation, that has made his side tough to break down and doing so on a shoestring budget as the club tries to avoid any further sanctions.

During his time at Goodison Park, Dyche has spent less than £100m, with the Toffees relying on selling key players before any potential new additions.

In recent times, Richarlison and Anthony Gordon have departed the club, for fees of £60m and £45m, respectively – huge figures in the club's battle to undo multiple awful signings from the last decade.

The club have made their fair share of awful signings, with one in particular costing a hefty fee, before departing the club for free just five years after his move to Merseyside.

Yannick Bolasie's stats at Everton

After forking £25m for his signature, winger Yannick Bolasie arrived at Goodison with high hopes of transforming the Toffees' attack under boss Ronald Koeman.

However, the move would be a disaster for everyone involved, with the DR Congo attacker failing to justify any of his hefty price tag during his time at the club.

Bolasie started all 13 of the Toffees' opening Premier League fixtures, before suffering an ACL tear that would rule him out of action for 12 months.

The former Crystal Palace was a shadow of his former self after his injury, only managing to make 32 appearances for the club in his two seasons as a first-team member.

In a bid to regain his form, he was sent on various loan spells to the likes of Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting CP, but only managed ten goals over his three stints away from Goodison.

The attacker would subsequently leave the club at the end of the 2020/21 season upon the expiration of his deal on Merseyside, ending his five-year stint at the club.

Despite his horrid luck with injuries, the club made the right call by offloading the winger, with his huge wages bleeding the club dry for many years, putting the club into a mess financially.

Yannick Bolasie's wage at Everton

During his time with the Toffees, the 34-year-old pocketed £71k-per-week, as per Salary Sport, with the misfiring winger receiving full pay despite missing a year with injury.

It's unclear how much of his wage the club were paying during his respective loan moves away from Goodison but during his two campaigns alone on Merseyside, the former Palace attacker bagged himself nearly £7.3m in wages alone.

When combining his extortionate wages with his £25m fee, Bolasie cost the club £32.3m – over £1m per appearance after only featuring 32 times in the blue of Everton.

The "disaster" signing, as described by former boss Sam Allardyce, was once a promising addition, but it's unfortunate that an injury ruined his time at the club.

It's unfair to blame the club's current financial situation on the Congolese attacker, but his huge weekly wage and transfer fee have certainly played a part in Everton's recent setbacks.

Everton were bled dry by Allardyce flop who pocketed £11m in wages

He proved himself to be a huge waste of money.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 20, 2024