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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.

Southampton managerial front-runner Jesse Marsch is desperate to prove himself in the Premier League, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Marsch close?

In the wake of Nathan Jones’ dismissal, The Athletic claimed that Marsch was under consideration for the manager’s job, given that he has recently lost his job at fellow Premier League side Leeds United.

The Southampton board look to have taken that initial interest one step further, with The Telegraph reporting that the former Leeds boss has already been interviewed and The Athletic even saying a deal is practically done on Tuesday morning.

The Latest: Jones reacts

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Jones claims that the 49-year-old has been a subject of interest from the Saints for a substantial period of time, also revealing the manager ‘fits’ what the club wants and has a ‘passion’ to test his mettle in England.

“We know Jesse Marsch has long been admired. He fits the criteria that they look for in a manager and they’ve considered him before.

“I think Jesse Marsch still, more than ever, has a passion to show that he can succeed in European football and particularly in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

The American was lauded as ‘brilliant’ by the media at the back end of the 2021/22 campaign, and although he may have been sacked from his last job, there are indications that he would still be a good appointment for Southampton.

Given that the former Red Bull Salzburg boss has so recently managed in the Premier League, he will possess a good knowledge of the opponents that the Saints are set to come up against, and a deal may not be difficult to orchestrate, as he is said to have remained in England.

While things did not work out on a long-term basis for Marsch in west Yorkshire, he did manage to keep Leeds in the top flight last season, so he has the experience and know-how required in a relegation dogfight.

Whoever Southampton choose to bring in, they should look to complete the deal as soon as possible, with a tough fixture away at Chelsea to contend with next weekend, which could leave them cut adrift if they suffer another defeat.

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.

Glasgow Rangers are close to completing the signing of Nicolas Raskin, according to reports on Saturday.

The Lowdown: Rangers’ pursuit of Raskin

The Ibrox giants have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old since last summer, with the Premiership club said to be locked in talks with Standard Liege at the end of August. However, no agreement was reached, as the Light Blues wanted the Belgian club to lower their expectations about the size of the bid.

In recent days, it has emerged that Rangers are ‘serious’ about signing the midfielder ‘in the next few days’, and the deal is now believed to be edging towards completion.

The Latest: Deal close…

According to a report from Glasgow Live, Rangers boss Michael Beale is close to bringing in the 21-year-old, who could be available on a cut-price deal, given that his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Light Blues’ manager has been keen to bolster his midfield options this month, with the report also claiming that Todd Cantwell is set to be unveiled as a Rangers player next week after a deal was agreed with Norwich.

The Verdict: Make it happen

Journalist Bob Faesen has hailed Raskin as ‘technically gifted’, while he also praised the 21-year-old’s versatility, stating that he is able to ‘play in every position in the middle of the park’.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Belgian has not featured further forward than central midfield, playing in a more defensive role on five occasions. He has still managed to display his playmaking talents, though, weighing in with four assists in the Jupiler Pro League.

With Steven Davis on the treatment table for the remainder of the season, Rangers could do with another option in the midfield engine room. Raskin would be a viable long-term replacement for the Northern Ireland veteran, capable of offering attacking contributions but also able to chip in defensively when necessary.

He has notably averaged 3.3 tackles per game this season, which far outstrips the averages of every Rangers player in that regard, so Beale needs to try and make this deal happen before the transfer window closes in nine days’ time.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte would now be open to allowing Matt Doherty to leave the club in the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

This has been suggested by the Sky Sports editor Lyall Thomas who now believes Spurs would be open to offers for the Irishman, who has now spent the last two and a half years in north London.

The Ireland international has had a turbulent time since joining Spurs with game time uncertain among the list of managers he has had since making the move to the capital from Wolves.

Under Conte, Doherty – who was hailed “sensational” just a number of months ago – has made just five starts in the Premier League this season with two of those coming in the two games since the Premier League return following the World Cup break.

But despite making a promising return to the starting XI – in terms of back-to-back starts – Thomas believes Conte would still green light his sale if a sufficient bid was to arrive this month:

“I think they’d be open to offers for Matt. I think they were open to offers for him in the summer.

“He’s not quite done it at Tottenham in general. I don’t think he’s quite hit the promise that they would have hoped that he would. And there’s various reasons for that,” said Thomas.

Conte conundrum

It does feel as if Spurs have a real conundrum on their hands as to what they do at right wing-back as Conte continues to chop and change his starter.

Emerson Royal has taken on the majority of the minutes so far this season with 11 starts to his name in the Premier League alone as well as a further four in the Champions League (via Transfermarkt).

However, there has been reports suggesting the Brazilian has been involved in a training ground bust-up with a member of Conte’s staff which has now seen him fall out of favour.

The same report suggests Spurs would now be willing to sell Emerson in January, there have been reports that Djed Spence could also be sent out on loan and now Thomas believes Spurs would listen to offers for Doherty.

Obviously, all three will not leave the club in one window and leave Conte without an option at right wing-back, but it is apparent the club are also not willing to go out and spend on their main reported target in Pedro Porro.

Sky Sports claimed on Monday night that the Lilywhites’ interest in the Sporting CP wing-back has now cooled having learnt the price tag put on the Spaniard.

So with this in mind, it does feel as if Spurs find themselves at a real crossroads with Conte seemingly unwilling to offer Spence an opportunity from the starting XI despite impressing when he has featured off the bench.

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Nicolas Raskin to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Belgian publication Voetbal Nieuws (via Sport Witness), who claim that Victor Orta has ‘showed interest’ in a move for the Standard Liège central midfielder this winter, while the Jupiler Pro League side are said to be open to the sale of the 21-year-old should an ‘interesting offer’ arrive in January.

However, the report goes on to suggest that the Whites are not alone in the race for the Belgium U21 international, with Club Brugge, SC Braga, Genoa, ACF Fiorentina, Marseille, LOSC Lille and Glasgow Rangers all named as ‘potential buyers’, however, it is claimed that Raskin himself ‘prefers’ the idea of a move to the Premier League.

The next Kroos

Considering how exciting a prospect Raskin very much appears to be, it is not difficult to understand why Leeds would be interested in a deal to bring the deep-lying midfielder to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

Indeed, over his 16 Jupiler Pro League appearances so far this season, the £6.1m-rated talent has been in astonishing creative form, having already registered four assists and created four big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.1 key passes, playing 2.8 long balls and completing 39.7 total passes – at a success rate of 84% – per game.

The 21-year-old has also caught the eye in more workmanlike metrics, making an average of 3.3 tackles – the most of any player in the division – 0.4 interceptions, 0.2 clearances and winning 5.8 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per match.

These returns have seen the youngster – who Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig compared to Real Madrid and Germany legend Toni Kroos – average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.01, currently ranking him as Standard’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of Belgian football.

Furthermore, speaking about the €5.5m (£4.8m) valued Raskin back in 2019, Het Belang van Limburg journalist Bob Faesen heaped a considerable amount of praise on the midfielder in an interview with The Herald, stating:

“He is still only 19, but he has really shone. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can play in every position in the middle of the park. He is technically gifted, but he is also a bit of a pitbull.

“He can run a lot, is powerful and has a good shot. He has been one of the big surprises in Belgium football this season and will be a key player for Liege who Rangers will need to be wary of.”

As such, with Raskin looking to be a midfielder who is strong in the tackle, boasts an eye for a killer pass and is deadly going forwards, it is not hard to see why Kulig compared the Liège starlet to Kroos, nor is it difficult to understand why Orta would be keen on a move for the 21-year-old, as “the future of Belgian football” would undoubtedly be a brilliant signing for the Whites.

Everton manager Frank Lampard could give the Merseyside club an advantage in their chances of securing a transfer deal for Matheus Cunha according to journalist Simon Phillips. 

The Lowdown: Everton linked with Cunha

Earlier this month, it was reported that Everton, alongside Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, as well as Wolves who have reportedly been in contact with Atletico Madrid over a potential move for the Brazilian, have an interest in signing Cunha.

The 23-year-old was linked with a move to Manchester United during the previous summer transfer window, with a price tag of £42m reportedly being put on him by Atletico.

Now that the next January window is around the corner, Phillips has identified one advantage that Everton have that could increase their chances of signing the attacker.

The Latest: Everton’s advantage in Cunha chase

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Phillips had this to say when asked if he thinks a move to Everton would be more appealing for Cunha over Wolves.

He said: “Oh, for sure. Everton have got a good history as a club anyway, and I think what’s more important is Frank Lampard’s pulling power.

“If a player is picking between Everton and Wolves, I think Lampard is going to be the standout decision-maker for any player really. We saw it at Chelsea, he single-handedly got players to sign for the club like Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz just with his influence.

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“So, I think he can use that again at Everton, especially for a player like Cunha. I think they’ve got a better chance of signing him than Wolves.”

The Verdict: A big decision for Everton

Despite being previously described as a “beautiful” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Cunha has not been particularly proficient in front of goal this season.

However, this could be a bad patch of form, with his numbers for previous clubs indicating that the talent is certainly there.

As per WhoScored, the South American was a standout performer for Hertha Berlin during the 2020/2021 season before his move to Atletico

One thing is for certain, Everton need goals, so perhaps Cunha could be motivated to provide that under a huge name like Lampard.

Celtic will consider offers for right-back Josip Juranovic in the January transfer window, according to Stephen McGowan.

The Lowdown: World Cup call-up

The Croatian arrived in Glasgow last year and has gone on to make 50 appearances under Ange Postecoglou.

The 27-year-old caught the eye of Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United over the summer but he remained at Parkhead.

He is currently in Qatar with his nation ahead of the World Cup, where he looks set to be first-choice right-back ahead of Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanisic.

The Latest: Celtic braced for Juranovic offers

Reliable reporter McGowan shared an update for The Mail+ on Tuesday regarding Juranovic.

He reported that, following unsuccessful negotiations over a new contract, Celtic are braced for offers for the full-back and will consider bids in the New Year.

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The Verdict: Big-money exit?

Having been dubbed a ‘beautiful footballer’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting, Juranovic has impressed in the Premiership and is still under contract until 2026.

Therefore, Peter Lawwell and the Hoops are still in a strong position and won’t need to accept the first offer that they receive for his services.

Celtic may well be hoping that more than one club would make a move for the defender in January, which could result in a bidding war and possible big-money exit yielding a profit after he joined the Hoops for around £2.5m in August 2021.

Michael Keane is reportedly set to leave Everton on loan in the January transfer window and has even secured an Irish passport to increase his chances of exiting Goodison Park.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

The 29-year-old has fallen out of favour under Frank Lampard this season, having made just two first-team appearances and none since August (Transfermarkt).

The Goodison Park outfit signed Conor Coady and James Tarkowski from Wolves and Burnley respectively in the summer, which has left Keane very limited in terms of his minutes on the pitch.

The Latest: January exit?

As per The Daily Mail, Keane is ‘set to leave’ Everton on loan in January and could make a move to Europe after securing himself an Irish passport, for which he qualifies through the birthplace of his father.

The EU passport means that Brexit regulations can be swerved, although a move to another club in the Premier League is not ruled out.

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The Verdict: Get rid

Having brought in Coady and Tarkowski, Everton have six senior centre-back options in the squad at the moment including Keane, so they can afford to let him go in January given his lack of game-time.

The England international is currently earning £80,000 per week at the Toffees and is one of the higher earners in the squad.

Getting Keane off of the wage bill would help Everton in terms of increasing their budget to bring in other players in January too, and if he impresses at his loan club, a potential permanent deal could then be negotiated in the summer.

Finance expert Daniel Plumley has been reacting to off-field news that will impact Leeds United during the World Cup.

The Lowdown: £189m

The World Cup is fast approaching, with Leeds having just five Premier League fixtures left to fulfil before the break in domestic action.

Jesse Marsch may be without a number of first-team players during the break, but it turns out Leeds and other clubs will receive £9,000-per-day for each player from their squad remaining in the World Cup. FIFA have put aside £189m to help clubs during the tournament in Qatar, and Plumley has given his thoughts to the news.

The Latest: Plumley’s comments

Plumley, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to MOT Leeds News regarding the World Cup payments. He labelled it as ‘a bonus for Leeds’ and news that will be welcomed by Whites chiefs.

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“Every little helps. It’s absolutely a bonus for Leeds in this regard. It’s just a nice little windfall to get and in this example as well, they have the benefit of getting that money from those players who have since moved on and also, they’re not worried about them injured and not being available to play when they get back as they’re at someone else’s club.

“When you look at those numbers, it’s a welcome boost to the coffers and every little bit of revenue you can get is a bonus in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: How many?

Leeds may have a number of representatives at the World Cup, with Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson almost certain to be on the plane to Qatar with their respective countries. Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk and Mateusz Klich may also get the nod for their nations, which could result in a nice windfall for Leeds.

You’d expect that Leeds would be happy if players return from the major tournament early, and although squad members making it into the latter stages of the competition will result in a financial benefit for the club, Marsch will simply be hoping none of them come back injured.