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Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth could well be set to make a move for Everton forward, Anthony Gordon, this month, with the Magpies having been linked with the Englishman during the summer.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the northeast side appear to have rekindled their interest in the 21-year-old, having reportedly made contact over a possible move for the winger in the previous window.

The report suggests that a ‘fresh’ approach is now on the cards, with the Goodison Park outfit potentially open to a sale in order to help fund their own market moves this month.

The piece goes on to add that the Toffees could also be inclined to sell after Gordon was ‘targeted’ by Toffees supporters last week, with Ashworth and co seemingly hoping for a reduction on the previous £50m valuation.

Bye Bye Fraser

Although it has proven a frustrating campaign thus far for the England U21 international – having scored just three goals in 16 Premier League games – the £10k-per-week maestro is still a player of undoubted potential, having been dubbed an “absolute beast” in the recent past by writer Jeff Wallner.

The one-time Preston North End loanee notably enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign last term for the Merseysiders, with four goals and two assists in the top flight after being thrust into the fray by both Rafa Benitez and current boss, Frank Lampard.

Such standout form ensured that the 6 foot speedster also caught the eye of Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, with the iconic striker having described Gordon as a “fearless” talent.

As his inconsistency this season has shown, the Kirkdale-born starlet still has a way to go before he can truly be considered an elite asset, although the hope would be that he could enjoy a rapid improvement under the tutelage of Magpies boss, Eddie Howe.

Should Gordon be snapped up in the coming weeks, it could also allow the St James’ Park outfit the chance to finally move on struggling dud, Ryan Fraser, with the Scotland international having been tipped for an exit of late.

The diminutive wideman has failed to provide a single goal or assist in the league this season, while his total tally for the club stands at just three goals and six assists in 53 games to date across all competitions.

Those woes have ensured that the 28-year-old is now seemingly surplus to requirements under Howe, having been unable to enjoy a consistent run in the side since his free transfer move from Bournemouth in 2020.

It could well be an opportune time to replace the former Cherries man with a young, up-and-coming gem such as Gordon, with the latter man also able to offer the benefit of his remarkable work ethic, as he ranks in the top 2% among his European peers for tackles made, while Fraser ranks in just the bottom 3% in that regard.

With it hard to see just what the Scotsman is offering Howe’s side at present, the signing of the Everton sensation could well prove the final nail in the coffin for his time at Newcastle.

The future of Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is under scrutiny following a recent run of bad form, but there are some in Italy who think he will want to lift silverware before potentially leaving the club.

What’s the latest?

It has been a turbulent few months for the Lilywhites in the Premier League, with their grasp on the top four loosening after their defensive frailties saw their form take a tumble.

And this has seen major questions emerge over Conte’s tenure in north London, with some suggesting the pressure has grown enormously over the Italian.

Some reports from Italy have even suggested that if he is not sacked, he could potentially look to part ways at the end of the campaign to return to his homeland, closer to his wife and daughter.

However, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Sky Sports man Dharmesh Sheth has shared the opinions of some in Italy over the future of the 53-year-old in north London:

He said: “I think that Conte was brought in because Tottenham decided to go down that route that he’s a winner. He can bring a trophy.

“Now, people I speak to who [spoke] to him a lot when he was in Italy have relayed to me that they don’t think he would leave unless he won something because he wants to win everywhere he goes.

“I’m not saying that’s going to be the case at Tottenham whether they win something or not this season. But that’s the view of the people who have worked with him and interviewed him on a regular basis when he was in Italy.”

Possible cause for optimism?

There is certainly some logic in these opinions with the Italian having won silverware at all of the major clubs he has managed over the years.

However, the reports suggest he could look to part ways with Spurs at the end of the season citing personal reasons over issues with the club as the potential deciding factor.

And as Spurs are frequently mocked for, they are not a club who have a strong trophy-winning record over the last 10 years with their last piece of silverware coming back in 2008.

But history would suggest that should Conte stick around in north London he may get the opportunity to manage in a final with the Lilywhites having made four finals and six semi-finals since winning the League Cup in 2008.

The Lilywhites turn their attention to the FA Cup on the weekend with a real opportunity of landing a spot in the final 16 of the competition when they face Championship side Preston on Saturday.

Aside from the FA Cup, Tottenham’s only other possibility of landing some silverware this season is the Champions League given the Premier League race has well and truly left Spurs behind.

There are seemingly an interesting few months ahead for the future of Spurs and Conte so it will be intriguing to see how any potential opportunities at silverware may affect his decision-making amid his contract situation.

Aston Villa ‘might’ bring in a striker before the deadline and have already enquired over a move for Lyon’s Moussa Dembele, according to Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Three more wanted

Villa have brought in two players this month in Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran but Unai Emery seemingly wants more before thee month is out.

Villa reporter John Townley said last week that Emery is still after another striker, winger and midfielder before the deadline, something which you could now say is unlikely with time ticking until tomorrow evening’s deadline.

The Latest: Crook’s comments

Crook was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa’s hunt for a striker, name-checking Dembele following speculation of a move to the Midlands earlier in the month.

He said that an approach has already been made for the Adidas-sponsored player, and although a transfer may have to wait until the summer, the journalist thinks Villa might be able to sort something in the final third before the deadline.

“They enquired about Dembele but I think if he goes it’s likely to be in the summer now. They’ve definitely got some feelers out and I think they might do one before the deadline.”

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Duran and Ollie Watkins are the only centre-forward options available to Emery after Villa decided to move Danny Ings on and loan out Cameron Archer, so a new striker could be a wise move.

Ings was actually the top scorer at Villa Park before leaving for London, and you could argue that Duran is more of a long-term project than a ready-made replacement at the age of 19.

Therefore, signing someone like Dembele, who is actually out of contract in the summer, could be a really smart piece of business, especially as he is now 26 years of age and has plenty of experience for the likes of Fulham, Celtic and Lyon, scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals last season.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has said that ‘multiple’ bids are expected from several clubs in the Premier League and Europe for Arsenal transfer target Ivan Fresneda.

The Lowdown: Arsenal moving ‘behind the scenes’

It has recently been reported that the Gunners, along with Borussia Dortmund, are moving ‘behind the scenes’ to try and sign Fresneda and are ‘leading the race’ for the Real Valladolid right-back.

Both clubs have reportedly already ‘agreed terms’ with the 18-year-old, with the deal expected to cost €15m (£13.1m) and the Spaniard set to be loaned back to Valladolid for the rest of the campaign.

However, it now looks as if that duo will not be alone in their pursuits of Fresneda in the final days of the January transfer window.

The Latest: ‘Multiple’ bids could be incoming

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sheth says that ‘multiple’ bids are expected from a ‘number’ of clubs in both the Premier League and in Europe for Fresneda in the final days of the month, which suggests that Arsenal and Dortmund could be dragged into a bidding war for the teenager.

The Sky Sports reporter stated: “I’m told that there are going to be multiple bids from a number of European clubs and Premier League clubs in what remains of this transfer window. I think Fresneda will need to make a decision if an interested club meets the €15m valuation simply because he’s playing at the moment for Valladolid – he’s getting first-team action, he will want to play.”

The Verdict: Urgency needed

If Mikel Arteta’s team are serious about signing Fresneda, then there needs to be some urgency in terms of getting this deal done, given that Transfer Deadline Day is tomorrow and other bidders are expected to come in for him.

Hailed by journalist and La Liga presenter Juan Arroita for his “beastly” ability to maraud forward and put in crosses, the teenager currently averages one key pass and 0.4 crosses per match in the Spanish top flight, ranking highly among the Valladolid squad in both metrics (WhoScored).

Fresneda also ranks in the top 11% for tackles, clearances and interceptions per match among full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year (FBref), showing how impressive he is defensively as well, and he already looks like the complete right-back at the tender age of 18.

Perhaps Arsenal’s bullish pursuit of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo is holding up a deal for the Spaniard, or possibly the fact that Cedric’s expected move to Fulham has not gone through yet, but the north Londoners simply cannot let their Fresneda pursuit fall through the cracks.

Nottingham Forest are ‘pushing’ to complete a late loan move for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas, journalist Fabrizio Romano reports.

The Lowdown: Forest linked with Navas signing

In recent days, the Reds have been linked with an ambitious move for the former Real Madrid stopper, following an injury to key man Dean Henderson.

Navas has found himself on the substitutes’ bench for much of this season, with Gianluigi Donnarumma now the first-choice keeper at PSG.

Now, it looks as though a switch to Forest could still potentially be on the cards, following a fresh update.

The Latest: Romano drops late update

Taking to Twitter, Romano said that the Reds are looking to Navas in on loan before deadline day ends on Tuesday, with the player himself keen on joining:

“Nottingham Forest are pushing again to get Keylor Navas deal done on loan. It’s still on with Paris Saint-Germain now to make final decision on salary share

“Keylor wants the move, it’s up to PSG.”

The Verdict: Get it done

This would feel like a significant piece of business by Forest, with Navas a goalkeeper of genuine pedigree, having won three Champions League titles during his Madrid days.

Admittedly, the Costa Rica legend is now 36 years of age and not quite the force he was but he could fill the void left by the absent Henderson, having appeared three times at the 2022 World Cup.

Navas has been hailed as a ‘great professional’ by Mauricio Pochettino in the past and his vast experience could be key in Forest’s Premier League relegation battle.

Former Celtic forward Andy Walker has claimed on Sky Sports that Ange Postecoglou will want to stay at the club amid reported interest from elsewhere.

The Lowdown: Postecoglou in high demand

As of late, Postecoglou has been heavily linked with moves south of the border, with Premier League clubs registering an interest in the Australian boss after working wonders at Celtic.

Postecoglou has managed to push Celtic beyond their league rivals after missing out on the title back in the 2020/21 season and has assembled a nine-point lead this campaign as he looks to win back-to-back league titles.

As well as managing Celtic in the Champions League, his achievements in Glasgow certainly haven’t gone unnoticed, but the lure of winning silverware on a regular basis and becoming a hero in Glasgow could be what sees him reject any forthcoming proposals, amid links to the likes of Everton and Leeds United in recent weeks.

The Latest: Celtic boss looking to win many more trophies

Walker believes that Postecoglou won’t be looking to jump ship just yet, as he wants to be managing in Europe’s elite competition and winning games after a disappointing campaign on the continent this term.

He said: “I think he’s got a lot of unfinished work to do in Glasgow before he would make the next step to the Premier League.

“I think he wants to rack up some titles, some trophies. Celtic are in pole position to get the title again next year, and as you well know, it gives Ange Postecoglou and Celtic direct access to the Champions League.

“And I think that’s where he would like to put together a team that can get some notable victories, because the financial gap when Celtic go in with the big boys of the Champions League is pretty big, but without getting a lot of points this season, I thought they competed really well, so I think that’s where his focus is.”

The Verdict: Staying in Glasgow would be a sensible move

While the lure of the Premier League, its money and the calibre of players that would come with a move to England would be tempting for Postecoglou, it would perhaps tarnish his legacy at Celtic if he was to leave mid-season.

He only has to look at how the Celtic fans reacted when Brendan Rodgers left them for Leicester City in February 2019 – and he’d won far more trophies and accolades than Postecoglou has done during his current tenure.

If Postecoglou continues to win silverware and play a ‘beautiful and aggressive style of football’, there will arguably be many more suitors, not just in England, but across Europe in the near future, so staying at Celtic, where he can build the team he wants with a less intense media spotlight will be best for him in the short and long term.

Leeds United could be set to replicate their appointment of Marcelo Bielsa, should they lean towards one managerial candidate in particular to fill the vacancy at Elland Road…

When was Knutsen linked to Leeds?

Partaking in a Leeds Live Q&A earlier this week, journalist Beren Cross was questioned about the possibility of Kjetil Knutsen making the move to Yorkshire. 

He wrote that the Bodo/Glimt boss would be interested in the position, but as it stood he was not one of the frontrunners on the Premier League club’s shortlist.

However, given the ever-changing situations of the various managers that Leeds have considered as Jesse Marsch’s successor, there remains a strong possibility that Andrea Radrizzani could come back around to secure his signature.

Can Knutsen emulate Bielsa at Leeds?

The shades of Bielsa are there for all to see with Knutsen, both in terms of playing style and squad building.

When the Argentine took over at Leeds in 2018, his first season saw them narrowly miss out on promotion as he slowly bolstered his squad. Then, in the following campaign, he blitzed the Championship as the Whites returned to the Premier League at a canter.

Bielsa was afforded time to implement his philosophies, which are now well-known, and the club would reap the rewards.

Knutsen endured a similar task with Bodo/Glimt, as his first season in 2019 also saw him finish second before romping to the title a year later in record-breaking fashion.

His outfit had been transformed from a relegation-threatened side into a team which won the most points in a season, won the title by the largest margin, lost just one league game all year, scored the most goals and recorded the highest-ever goal difference in the history of the division.

Although time is of the essence, many of the foundations are already in place at Elland Road for Knutsen to implement his philosophy with ease due to the similarities that he and Bielsa share.

His high-pressing system often sees his teams throw plenty of bodies forward in an effort to strangle the opposition into relinquishing the ball. The team would operate high up the pitch in a style which was befitting of the “kamikaze” label that Bodo/Glimt captain Irick Saltnes bestowed.

Indeed, Chris Sutton used that exact word to describe Bielsa’s system during the Argentine’s tenure at Leeds. His gameplan requires a similarly exhausting amount of work as Knutsen’s, hence one of his training sessions being dubbed “murderball” by Patrick Bamford.

There are marked similarities between the way in which these two managers view how the game should be played, and how to recruit effectively. 

Should the 54-year-old be appointed by the Leeds hierarchy, there will be hope that the foundation left by Bielsa will be strong enough to ensure that the Norwegian could hit the ground running in order to cement the Whites’ top-flight safety.

Crystal Palace will once again be without Wilfried Zaha for this afternoon’s trip to Brentford, Matt Woosnam reports.

The Lowdown: Hope earlier in the week

Zaha has missed Palace’s last two Premier League games with a hamstring injury but was pictured back out on the grass earlier in the week.

The Evening Standard’s Dom Smith described it as a key boost and said the forward could be in contention to return this weekend. However, it looks as if that won’t be the case, which is a blow for the Eagles.

The Latest: Woosnam’s post

Woosnam took to Twitter to share news from Patrick Vieira’s pre-Brentford press conference on Friday.

He relayed the update on Zaha, claiming he will be unavailable against Thomas Frank’s side, with Ben Dinnery adding that Vieira has suggested he could still be a couple of weeks away.

The Verdict: Bad news

The Eagles are still without a Premier League win in 2023, so knowing that Zaha is out of action for a little longer isn’t ideal. Described as ‘absolutely outstanding’ by Ally McCoist, Zaha has scored more goals than any Palace player and has been key in the final third by also topping the dribbling charts at Selhurst Park, as per WhoScored.

Jeffrey Schlupp has filled in for Zaha on the left-hand side, scoring his first goal of the season against Manchester United, so Vieira could once again turn to the versatile Ghanaian with his star forward still out.

The Premier League very much looks like the richest league in world football; clubs seemingly have the ability to splash the cash to no end each and every summer, as talent around Europe. 

The money involved in English football right now is bigger than ever, with an incredible inflation of prices. 13 years ago, £80 million got you Cristiano Ronaldo – one of the best players in the world. Now, it gets you Harry Maguire. The difference is staggering. 

With that said, we’ve listed the 20 most expensive Premier League signings of all time, via TransferMarkt. 

20) Mykhalo Mudryk to Chelsea: £62.1m

One of the most recent signings on this list.

Chelsea, led by their new owner, Todd Boehly, spent huge sums in the summer and Mudryk was one of the big-name acquisitions.

He appeared to be heading to Arsenal but the Blues intervened at the last minute to secure his signature.

So far, he’s only played three times in the Premier League but he’s got a huge price-tag to live up to.

19) Alexander Isak to Newcastle United: £62.1m

Isak is perhaps the cornerstone signing of this new Newcastle United team.

Having been bought out by hugely wealthy owners, the Magpies splashed the cash on the Sweden international.

He scored 44 goals in 131 appearances for Real Sociedad and is already on the goal trail in black and white.

Thus far, Isak has scored three times in 10 games for Eddie Howe’s high-flying side.

18) Casemiro to Manchester United: £62.7m 

Snapped up from Real Madrid as United searched for a defensive midfielder who could prove transformative to the club.

And the Brazilian has already delivered.

In the Premier League, United have only lost once when Casemiro has started; he’s a truly elite midfield player.

Whether his transfer can inspire the club to silverware, though, remains to be seen.

17) Ruben Dias to Manchester City: £63.5m

One of the biggest hits you’ll find on this list.

Dias came in from Benfica and has gone on to make 112 appearances for the club, becoming a bedrock of Pep Guardiola’s defence.

The Portugal international has already won two Premier League titles, and is on the hunt for a third this season.

A superb defensive signing.

16) Angel Di Maria to Manchester United: £67.5m

Now at Juventus, having moved to the club from PSG in the summer, Di Maria was an undoubted flop at United.

Signed as a marquee acquisition, he made 32 appearances for the club and while he did involve himself in 16 goals – an involvement every other game – he fell off a cliff at the club.

He wanted to leave and was allowed to move on, at great loss to United’s finances.

Not a good signing in any way, but we’ll always have that gorgeous lobbed finish against Leicester City.

15) Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City: £68.4m 

One of the greatest signings of the Premier League era.

De Bruyne was heavily doubted by onlookers after arriving from Wolfsburg, having struggled at Chelsea.

How wrong they were. De Bruyne has won four Premier League titles at City and has scored 90 goals, while providing a staggering 139 assists, in 337 games for the club.

A bargain of a deal for City.

14) Kepa Arrizabalaga to Chelsea: £72m

Kepa is a rather odd one.

He became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when he made the move to Chelsea but he has been in and out of the team under different managers.

In total, he has made 145 appearances for the club and has kept 56 clean sheets.

He’s clearly a good player, but it is unclear if he is actually a better player than Edouard Mendy.

13) Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal: £72m 

It’s not even an argument: Pepe is a huge flop.

Arsenal flexed their financial muscle to secure his signature from Lille but he struggled immensely during his time at the Gunners.

In 112 games, he scored just 27 goals, which simply isn’t a good enough return.

It’s no surprise he was loaned to Nice, simply to get him away from the first-team.

12) Kai Havertz to Chelsea: £72m 

The Germany international is a superb player, clearly.

Havertz has made 122 appearances for the club and has scored 29 goals, while registering 15 assists.

Best deployed as a No.10, Havertz can unlock any defence with his silky passing and his turn of pace.

He’s yet to truly explode, but he is clearly a top player in waiting.

11) Darwin Nunez to Liverpool: £72m

The jury is firmly out on Nunez.

Signed at huge expense for the Reds, he’s yet to truly find his feet, and he’s been more famous for missing chances than burying them at Anfield.

Nunez has scored 10 goals in 27 games but just five of them have come in the Premier League.

The Reds need him to start scoring goals at a clinical rate very quickly.

10) Wesley Fofana to Chelsea: £72.4m

This is another one where it’s really hard to judge if this is a good or bad signing.

Fofana developed into a superb centre-back at Leicester City and they received a huge fee for him from the Blues.

However, he’s played just six times for the club due to a serious knee injury.

It remains to be seen if he will get the chances he needs at Stamford Bridge under Graham Potter.

9) Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool: £76.19m 

One of the most undisputed successes on this list.

Liverpool spent big to sign Van Dijk from Southampton and he proved transformative as Jurgen Klopp’s side entered a golden era.

He’s won the Premier League and the Champions League and is clearly one of the best defenders in the world.

His form since his serious injury has been less than world-class, but he is a truly elite centre-back.

8) Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United: £76.23m

Lukaku’s first entry onto this list.

The Belgium international was meant to fix United’s centre-forward woes for a decade, but it just didn’t quite work.

In 96 games, he did score 42 goals but he always felt like an awkward fit for United’s playing style, and he was eventually moved on.

A disappointing signing at a time when United really needed a major success.

7) Jadon Sancho to Manchester United: £76.50m

This is another one where the jury remains out.

Sancho has not managed to replicate the form he showed at Borussia Dortmund at United yet.

In 55 games, he’s been involved in a grand total of 13 goals, which is coming very close to flop territory.

Under Erik Ten Hag, though, he could receive a new lease of life. He needs to.

6) Harry Maguire to Manchester United: £78.3m

Can we say now that this didn’t work?

United paid a huge sum to Leicester City – the Foxes really are very good at extracting big fees for their best players – and Maguire is now the club captain.

However, he doesn’t really seem fancied by Erik Ten Hag at all, and has been dropped.

Thus far this season, he’s made just five Premier League starts. For the investment, it’s not good enough.

5) Antony to Manchester United: £84.3m

Signed in the summer from Ajax, Antony has gone on to make 23 appearances for the club.

The Brazil international has scored three Premier League goals but it’s far too early to make any sort of judgement on the transfer.

Still, United clearly believe in him, having paid an immense figure to secure him from the Dutch club.

Under Ten Hag, he may well become the next great United right winger, or, as the evidence on this list suggests, he might well be offloaded in a summer or two.

4) Paul Pogba to Manchester United: £94.50m

This was meant to be the big one.

Pogba was meant to come in and fix United’s midfield for years.

Instead, his spell was marred by rows with managers, injuries, and a lack of silverware.

The Frenchman was subsequently offloaded to another one of his former clubs, Juventus, in the summer.

3) Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea: £101.70m

We did say that Lukaku would appear again.

Lukaku came back to Chelsea ahead of the 2021/22 season, having previously played for their academy.

He scored eight Premier League goals in 26 games and was shipped back to Inter Milan in the summer.

One of the biggest Premier League flops you’re going to find.

2) Jack Grealish to Manchester City: £105.75m 

City had to pay through the nose to get Grealish into the club from Aston Villa.

The winger and attacking midfielder has clearly adapted to life under Pep Guardiola and has been involved in six goals thus far this season in the Premier League, including what could prove to be a vital strike against Arsenal in a top-of-the-table clash.

He’s also already won the Premier League, and Guardiola clearly thinks highly of him.

Still, it’s hard not to be wistful for the time when he was absolutely destroying teams single-handedly at Villa.

1) Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea: £107.4m

The most recent signing on the list is also at the top of it.

Chelsea spent an immense figure to sign Fernandez from Benfica.

It should be said here that the Portuguese club bought the Argentina international for around €18m, or just over £15m.

That means Benfica made a profit of £91.5m after he played 29 times for the club. We can’t help but think his performances for Argentina, as they won the World Cup in Qatar, contributed to the hugely inflated fee.

He’s got a lot to live up to.

Everton have developed a bad reputation for poor transfer business since the arrival of Farhad Moshiri at Goodison Park, so much so that is often overlooked whenever the club gets it right.

Indeed, the amount of money spent by the Toffees’ recruitment powers has rightly come under fire, with roughly £600m spent and little to show for it other than multiple relegation scraps, poor performances and financial strain.

However, there have been occasions when the club have made the right decision on a player’s future and earned a profit in the process, with Tom Cleverley the perfect example of a rare transfer masterclass from the Merseysiders.

The English midfielder joined the Toffees in 2015 when Roberto Martinez held the reins at Goodison Park, penning a five-year deal as a free agent after his contract at Manchester United expired.

Cleverley’s stint on Merseyside was far from a success despite costing Everton absolutely nothing to acquire, ultimately scoring two goals and registering seven assists in just 42 appearances and averaging a mere 67 minutes per game before he was sold for £8m to Watford just two years later.

It was Ronald Koeman’s arrival at Goodison Park which cost Cleverley opportunities to cement a place in the Everton team as Martinez was sacked just under 12 months after signing the Englishman, who was shipped off on loan to Watford six months ahead of his permanent move to Hertfordshire in 2017.

What happened to Tom Cleverley after Everton?

Now 33, Cleverley remains at Vicarage Road since his move six years ago, signing a new three-year contract in 2020 to extend his stay until at least this summer.

Over the past six years at his current club, the 5 foot 9 midfielder has tallied 181 appearances, 19 goals and 15 assists, but within a year at Watford he began suffering with consecutive long-term injury issues.

The former Man United flop has struggled with five separate injuries ruling him out for between 40 and 175 days, accumulating 602 days in total as he has faced more than 19 months out of action and missed 86 matches.

The former England international is now set to be out of contract at the end of the season, with Watford unable to take anything from the player’s departure after spending millions on him.

As a result, Everton had a very lucky escape by selling the midfielder when they did in 2017, as Cleverley’s poor injury record has left the recent years of his career in a state of inconsistency, and it can be said without doubt that Moshiri struck gold on selling him to the now-Championship club.