Everton will find it ‘difficult’ to land new sponsorship deals ahead of the opening of Bramley-Moore Dock, according to finance expert Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: Business collaborations wanted

The Premier League outfit have made significant progress in the construction of their new 52,888-seater stadium, recently offering a view into the business opportunities that will come with it.

Farhad Moshiri is also on the hunt for an investor to help fund the rest of the ground project that he was unable to cover after being dealt a blow following the withdrawal of Alisher Usmanov.

The Latest: Maguire’s update

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that Everton wanting to collaborate with local businesses expresses their desire to generate external income, but they may not find it easy.

“Everton certainly want to have a good relationship with prospective partners in the city.

“But at a time of economic downturn and existing macroeconomic challenges, it will be difficult to persuade sponsors to pay top dollar.

“Hopefully, they will be impressed by the facilities on offer to business partners at Bramley-Moore Dock. That is vital.

“This is part of a much longer-term in terms of focusing on commercial revenues that are significantly lower than the peer group that Everton want to be associated with.

“They have taken a huge hit with the withdrawal of Alisher Usmanov.”

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The Verdict: Start of a new era

Everton must avoid relegation between now and the opening of Bramley-Moore Dock because they can’t risk suffering financially even more than they already are.

The Toffees have recorded combined losses of over £370m in the last three years, and the bank would only feel the effects further should they drop down to the second tier over the next couple of seasons.

Goodison Park has been the home of Everton since 1892, but Frank Lampard and Co will be hoping that their side’s move will signal the start of a new era both on and off the pitch.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are deep in negotiations with Atletico Madrid defender Felipe.

The Lowdown: Wolves target defender

Owing to Wolves’ very disappointing start to the Premier League season, new manager Julen Lopetegui is looking to bring in his own signings to instigate a turnaround in fortunes at Molineux.

While scoring goals has proven to be more of an issue than conceding them, as indicated by the Old Gold only shipping the eighth-highest amount, the Spaniard has still identified the need for a more experienced figure at the heart of the backline.

The Latest: Felipe negotiations

According to a new update from Marca, the Wanderers are deep in negotiations with Atletico regarding the centre-back, with a transfer fee all that’s left to be agreed upon by the two clubs.

Wolves’ chances of acquiring the target are boosted by the fact that his current club are happy to part with him and he wants to go, so there is ‘optimism’ a deal is now close.

The Verdict: Get it done

Sports correspondent Simon Evans has lauded the enforcer as ‘superb’ as a result of his performances for Atletico, highlighting his ability to perform at the very highest level, given the standard that is set at the perennial Champions League qualifiers.

Although he has not got much of a look in with the La Liga side this season, making just two outings in the league, the 33-year-old would still be a worthwhile purchase for Lopetegui, given his level of experience, which would be a vital asset to have in a relegation battle.

The Brazilian’s quality is also highlighted by an average of 4.94 clearances per 90 minutes over the past year, which places him in the 89th percentile compared to his positional peers.

Signing Felipe would be a very astute piece of business in the January window.

Liverpool have reportedly shown the ‘greatest interest’ in signing RB Leipzig and Croatia central defender Josko Gvardiol.

The Lowdown: World Cup star

Gvardiol has been a star for Croatia at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, having played in every single minute of the tournament on the way to his country reaching the semi-finals, where they were eventually knocked out 3-0 by Argentina.

His performances have been so impressive, with journalist Zach Lowy deeming him the ‘best player on the pitch’ when Croatia knocked out Belgium in the group stages, labelling him ‘sensational’ and a ‘Rolls-Royce’.

Nonetheless, Gvardiol is sure to attract plenty of suitors when the January transfer window comes along.

The Latest: Liverpool show ‘greatest interest’

As per transfer expert Rudy Galetti, the Anfield outfit have shown the ‘greatest interest’ in Gvardiol, despite reported interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid:

“Liverpool is the club that – to date – shown the greatest interest in Gvardiol. The contract of the centre-back with RB Leipzig was extended in September and expires in 2027.”

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The Verdict: Van Dijk successor?

At just 20 years of age, Gvardiol is a player who could take on the baton from Virgil van Dijk, who turns 32 in July.

Aside from his World Cup heroics, he has also established himself as a key player at Bundesliga heavyweights RB Leipzig, having played 65 times for them over the last two seasons, including ten appearances in the UEFA Champions League (Transfermarkt).

Hailed as a ‘beast’ by Bundesliga journalist Manuel Veth, Gvardiol ranks in the 99th percentile for passes attempted and dribbles completed of all centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year, as well as in the 95th for progressive passes and 89th for shot-creating actions (FBRef), showing how much of an attacking threat that he can possess as well as defensively being solid.

Nonetheless, with other big clubs sniffing around for his signature, signing him would be a real coup for the Reds.

It is easy to see why Manchester City have reportedly submitted a bid for Josko Gvardiol given his incredible performances at the World Cup with Croatia.

Reports have suggested that City are embroiled in a transfer battle with some of Europe’s elite for the RB Leipzig defender, with Pep Guardiola’s side having already offered £85m for the 20-year-old wonderkid.

The former Dinamo Zagreb man was already catching the eye with his performances for the Bundesliga side, averaging an impressive 7.08 rating for his displays in the Champions League, with the youngster seemingly performing best on the big stage.

He has been one of the stars for Croatia in Qatar as they earned a bronze medal after beating Morocco in the third-placed playoff on Saturday afternoon, and if Txiki Begiristain was watching him, it will surely have increased City’s interest in Gvardiol ahead of next month’s transfer window.

As per SofaScore, the centre-back would earn a strong 7.4/10 rating for his performance against the Atlas Lions, with only four players rated higher.

Gvardiol gave Croatia an early lead as he benefitted from a clever set-piece routine to send a flying header into the top corner for his first World Cup goal.

He also played his part defensively in the win, contributing three interceptions and four clearances, which almost ensures that the young defender will finish the tournament with the most clearances of any player, as he currently leads the way with 37, while he is also currently second for interceptions with 11.

This emphasises just how impressive he has been for Croatia and at the age of 20, it seems as if the RB Leipzig man is only going to get better and is destined for a career at the top.

As you would expect from any player linked with a Guardiola side, Gvardiol’s passing was also exemplary again on Saturday, as he completed 60/66 passes and five out of eight long balls, losing possession on just seven occasions in the 90 minutes.

After another eye-catching display, the defender earned plenty of praise from the pundits on BBC (via TEAMtalk).

Alex Scott said: “We’ve seen the 20-year-old centre-back again, the performance. His potential is just limitless. We’re seeing every aspect of his game and that’s what you always need.”

Jurgen Klinsmann added: “And also getting his moment with Messi. Okay, best player in the world! Take that lesson and then move on and he showed that today.

“He shook it off and had a brilliant game again so there’s a lot more to come from Gvardiol.”

Therefore, the defensive brute has already shown that he can perform at the very top, and Manchester City should do all they can to ensure that he makes the move to the Etihad in 2023.

Julen Lopetegui has a huge job on his hands if he is going to keep Wolves up this season and the January transfer window will undoubtedly be vital to the Spaniard’s hopes.

The Old Gold sit bottom of the Premier League ahead of the return of domestic football later this month, having scored just eight goals and conceded 24 in just 15 top-flight fixtures so far this season.

After impressing defensively last season but struggling in front of goal, with only the relegated sides scoring fewer, Wolves have managed to abandon their security at the back but look even worse going forwards, so it is no surprise that Bruno Lage was sacked.

Interim manager Steve Davis did little to stem the tide and Lopetegui will have to hope that Wolves start to look far more like their old selves once the World Cup break is over, otherwise, he risks taking them back down to the Championship.

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke suggested what he feels Wolves need in order to move up the table.

He said:

“We all know that Wolves have struggled so far this season, finding themselves bottom of the table. I think a good January transfer window, with the squad that’s already there, they can quickly move up the table and get themselves out of trouble.”

Reports have suggested that Loptegui is set to be backed by the Wolves board in January, as it seems clear that several signings are needed if they want to avoid the drop.

A striker and a centre-back must be a priority for the former Sevilla boss considering the lack of depth in those positions, as injuries to Sasa Kalajdzic and Raul Jimenez proved disastrous in the first half of the campaign, while Nathan Collins’ red card vs Manchester City left Ruben Neves in defence, such is the quality of alternative options in the heart of Wolves’ backline.

However, they still have highly-regarded Premier League players such as Neves, Pedro Neto and Matheus Nunes at their disposal, so it seems fair to suggest that a few signings and the new manager bounce could just get Wolves out of trouble, but Jeff Shi must be willing to spend the necessary money.

Queens Park Rangers interim boss Paul Hall has provided a promising injury update on Chris Willock after he missed the friendly game against Livingston earlier this week.

With the Championship set to resume next weekend, with QPR facing a tough game against table-toppers Burnley at Loftus Road, some teams have opted to have friendly fixtures to try and get their squads back to full fitness.

The Hoops defeated the Scottish Premiership outfit 2-1 on Thursday but the influential Willock was missing from the squad, which will have left supporters worried, as he had only just recovered from a hamstring injury ahead of the World Cup break.

However, Hall has put any fears at rest and suggested that the attacking midfielder will be fine for the visit of Burnley next weekend. He said:

“They were just not ready at this moment and it just a case of working them back fit and hopefully they will be ready to return to training in the next few days.

“Chris has just come back and he is not just quite ready so we didn’t want to risk him in a game like the Livingston one, but he is back in training, but this is just one step towards the Burnley game. I just need to get these boys all ready for that, that is what I have been asked to do.”

Whoever takes over from Michael Beale as QPR’s new manager will undoubtedly be delighted to hear that one of the most talented players at the club will be raring to go for the second half of the season.

The 24-year-old is currently the joint-top scorer at Loftus Road with six goals to his name, while only Ilias Chair is ranked higher in terms of average rating according to WhoScored, which emphasises just how important he is to the Hoops.

Willock has also averaged the second-most shots, most dribbles and third-most key passes per game in QPR’s squad, which highlights his attacking ability, so he will surely be crucial under the Hoops’ new boss.

Considering the west London outfit managed just one goal in five games ahead of the World Cup break, it can only be good news that the “fantastic” Willock will be fit for the Championship’s resumption, as he and the new manager will both be hoping to turn that woeful form around and get QPR back in the promotion mix-up.

Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a move to sign Wilfried Zaha at the end of the season, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Zaha set to leave

Zaha’s current deal with Crystal Palace is set to expire in June 2023, opening the door for a move away from Selhurst Park in the near future.

Spurs did explore the possibility of a move for the 30-year-old in the latter stages of the last transfer window, but it failed to materialise, and they may now be in a race with plenty of other Premier League suitors for his signature.

There is a great deal of interest from English clubs, with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also named as potential destinations, while the likes of Marseille and Borussia Dortmund headline the interested parties abroad.

The Latest: Conte plotting move

According to a new update from Football Insider, there is set to be a major battle for the Ivorian’s signature, amid him rejecting multiple contract offers from Crystal Palace.

Any deal is not likely to transpire until the end of the season, but it is claimed that Tottenham are now plotting a move for the former Manchester United man, who it is detailed that Mauricio Pochettino tried to sign twice during his reign as manager.

The Verdict: Make it happen

The opportunity to sign a player with the quality of Zaha on a free transfer does not come around too often, and although there is set to be a lot of competition, Spurs could be a tempting proposition, given that they are on track to qualify for the Champions League again.

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has insisted that the winger is ‘incredible’, while ex-teammate Andros Townsend believes he ‘deserves to be playing at the highest level’, and he has finally got his opportunity to do so.

While he could flourish even more in a better team, the £130k-per-week earner has impressed considerably for the Eagles in his extended stay since rejoining in 2015, striking a minimum of ten league goals in three of his last four campaigns, and well on course to do so this term, having scored six already.

Tottenham are already blessed with an array of options in attack, but the Palace forward’s dribbling ability is unmatched, averaging 2.35 per 90 minutes over the past year, compared to a figure of 1.21 posted by Son Heung-min, and 1.87 from Dejan Kulusevski.

With no transfer fee required, a move for Zaha makes perfect sense, and Tottenham should prioritise finally getting a deal over the line for their long-term target in the summer.

Newcastle United made a positive return to competitive action with victory over Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, with Eddie Howe’s side running out 1-0 winners to clinch their place in the last eight of the competition.

Having overcome Crystal Palace in the last round via the dreaded penalty shootout, the Magpies were able to settle matters in 90 minutes this time around at St James’ Park, with an own goal from opposition defender Adam Smith ultimately proving the difference on the night.

Howe had seemingly been vindicated in his decision to name a strong starting lineup for the visit of his former employers, with it looking as if the Tynesiders could well be serious contenders to end their 53-year barren run with regards to silverware.

One notable figure who particularly impressed following his return to the side from World Cup duty was Bruno Guimaraes, with the midfield maestro recovering from his Brazil heartache to produce a typically eye-catching performance in the centre of the park.

The former Lyon man was yet again the real engine for the hosts having won 12 of his 19 ground duels and earned four fouls, while also offering a real threat in an attacking sense after completing five of his seven dribbles.

The 25-year-old was not the only figure to have produced a standout performance against the Cherries, however, with summer signing Sven Botman having once again illustrated his growing importance to the team.

A player who is already making a “huge difference” in the northeast – according to journalist Josh Bunting – the towering Dutchman has helped to solidify Newcastle’s backline this term, shipping just 11 goals in the Premier League to date.

That impenetrable nature was again evident last night as the 22-year-old produced arguably his “best game” yet with regards to his strength in the air, according to his manager, having won two of his three aerial duels.

That “dominant” showing – as lauded by Howe – saw the former Lille ace also showcase his talents on the ball as the 6 foot 4 colossus completed six of his seven long balls, while also enjoying a remarkable 96% pass accuracy rate from his 56 touches – losing possession only twice.

Such a performance also saw him named as the Man of the Match by journalist Craig Hope, while the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder was also effusive in his praise, awarding the player a 9/10 match rating and writing:

‘So composed. Read the game like an old pro, it’s hard to believe he’s still just 22.’

Having seemingly shown no ill-effect of his recent Netherlands snub, it looks as if Botman has simply picked up where he left off prior to the recent halt to proceedings.

Tottenham Hotspur have been ‘offered’ the chance to sign versatile attacker Tete for manager Antonio Conte, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs make January plans…

The winter transfer window is looming after Christmas and sporting director Fabio Paratici will be looking for opportunities to strengthen behind-the-scenes.

Conte himself has hinted at activity and claims that they will at least attempt to be active if an opportunity too good to resist comes around.

Spurs are attempting to qualify for the 2022/2023 Champions League campaign with a top four Premier League finish, much like last season.

The Latest: Spurs ‘offered’ Tete signing chance…

According to journalist Toby Cudworth and 90min, the north Londoners have now been ‘offered the chance’ to sign Tete from Shakhtar Donestk.

The current Lyon loanee has a contract at his parent club which expires in 2023, meaning Shakhtar could prefer offering him out to English sides in an attempt to recoup transfer fees for the player.

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Tottenham are one of the sides who have been handed a chance to sign Tete, with Cudworth explaining (via Twitter):

“A number of Premier League teams have been offered the chance to sign Tete – West Ham, Tottenham, Newcastle & Arsenal among them.

“Lyon going in another direction, Tete’s contract up at Shakhtar end of Dec 2023.”

The Verdict: Do it?

Depending on the fee, Shakhtar’s winger could offer something different from the bench under Conte.

Sergei Palkin has heaped praise on Tete’s versatility and ‘serious’ technique with those in Brazil giving him the nickname ‘hurricane’.

Still just 22-years-old, he would also fit chairman Daniel Levy’s transfer criteria of buying young with sell-on value.

Aston Villa fans! It’s Christmas Day which means that 2023 is just around the corner, and with the New Year comes yet another exciting transfer window. 

The Midlands outfit will surely be active given their recent improvement in performance and results since the change in the dugout, with Unai Emery set to enter his first transfer market at the helm. 

The Spaniard will be given the ideal opportunity to bring in some of his own players as he aims instil his identity and guide his side to a Premier League top half finish, with NSWE reportedly planning ‘huge’ backing. 

That being said, sit back, enjoy the festivities and take on this transfer quiz from players past and present ahead of what could be a compelling few weeks under the leadership of Emery at Villa Park. 

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023 from all of us here at The Transfer Tavern – good luck!