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Farhad Moshiri is an ambitious man. He wouldn’t have brought Carlo Ancelotti to Everton if that wasn’t the case.

A highly decorated manager, the Italian had the lofty goal of taking Everton into the Champions League.

Despite his honours list, this would have been one of his biggest achievements yet. Not since the era of David Moyes have the Toffees qualified for Europe’s top table, but their wait for a place in the group stages goes way beyond that.

Sadly for everyone associated with Goodison Park, Ancelotti will not have the opportunity to finish what he started.

He departed for Real Madrid and left Everton behind in mid-table obscurity. It’s a worrying trend for the Toffees who despite spending plentiful sums on transfer fees, can’t break into the top six.

Not since the 2013/14 campaign when Roberto Martinez was at the helm have they fended off some of the biggest clubs in the country.

Therefore, they need to bring in a manager who knows how to finish above expectations. Rafa Benitez and David Moyes have both been linked but speaking to Sky Sports this week, former Lille director Luis Campos spoke of Christophe Galtier’s qualifications.

The 54-year-old beat the might of PSG to the Ligue 1 crown and has now been touted to take over at Everton.

Campos commented: “Christophe has all the qualities to coach in England, technically he is very astute and is extremely detailed in his planning when preparing a team.”

It’s simple to see why he’d be such a good fit at Everton. He knows how to build players for the future and act shrewdly in the transfer market to achieve his goals.

When he first took over, the club finished 17th in the French top-flight, meaning a fourth consecutive year outside of the top four.

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However, he led a phenomenal revival. Lille ended 2018/19 in second, finished fourth in 2019/20 and then won the league this term.

To defeat a team as wealthy as PSG deserves enormous credit, especially when you consider the way he developed players.

Arsenal stars Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel rose to prominence under Galtier while Renato Sanches got his career back on track with Les Dogues in 2020/21.

Lille have had a tendency to lose their best players throughout the years; think Eden Hazard, Yohan Cabaye and Gervinho but after Pepe and Gabriel departed, Galtier replaced them astutely.

Jonathan David has been a revelation under the Frenchman, scoring 13 times since penning terms last summer.

Though, systematically he’d also suit Everton perfectly. Campos added: “He likes a 4-4-2 system, which would fit with the Premier League and he is a fantastic motivator in the dressing room.

“He likes to build a side with quality and youth, he is someone that can develop a team ethic, and he is also a fantastic human being.”

One of the most impressive aspects of Lille’s title win was their defensive organisation.

Everton’s backline was shoddy at times under Ancelotti with Mason Holgate guilty of making several mistakes towards the end of the campaign. They shipped 48 strikes this term, the third-worst record in the top half of the table.

Lille, on the other hand, had the best record of any side in Ligue 1.

They conceded only 23 goals thanks to the experience of Jose Fonte and the youth of Sven Botman, a defender who made for a wonderful Gabriel replacement.

Galtier is improving as a coach all the time and has now proven himself capable of beating the oil-rich clubs that dominate modern football. Moshiri and Kenwright should be all over him.

AND in other news, Kenwright begins talks with “exceptional” 58 y/o boss, he’s Everton’s best candidate…

Glasgow Rangers could reportedly now sign Billy Gilmour on loan once the summer transfer window opens.

The Lowdown: Norwich struggles

Gilmour’s loan spell at Norwich City from Chelsea has not quite worked out how both clubs would have hoped.

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The central midfield player has not always been a starter for the Canaries, and has only managed a mere two assists in 24 games in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

There is no doubting the ability he has, having previously been dubbed an ‘exceptional talent’ by fellow Scotsman Steven Naismith, while former Scottish Premiership striker Noel Whelan has called him a ‘diamond’, but it seems as if another loan move away from Stamford Bridge is now likely in the summer, assuming that Norwich get relegated from the Premier League.

The Latest: Rangers bound?

Co-writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that sources have told the news outlet that another loan ‘beckons’ for Gilmour, as he has ‘not done enough’ to nail down a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next campaign.

The Ibrox faithful are one of three clubs named as ‘possible destinations’ for the Scotland international, along with both Fulham and AFC Bournemouth.

The Verdict: Welcome return

Of course, Gilmour came through the youth ranks with the Teddy Bears, but never played a senior match for them before joining Chelsea.

He has since gone on to play for Scotland and in the Premier League, at just 20 years of age.

Gilmour has the potential to completely rip up the SPFL should he move, and just needs another manager like Giovanni van Bronckhorst to install that confidence back in him, as he looks to make a name for himself once more ahead of his country potentially qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

In other news, find out which Premier League club are now eyeing up this Gers star here!

Leeds United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Saturday lunchtime to move up to ninth in the Premier League.

Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo were all on target as they returned to winning ways following their disappointing defeat at Brighton last weekend.

And it was only Dallas (7.6) and Bamford (7.5) who earned higher SofaScore ratings than Robin Koch (7.4).

The numbers behind Koch’s Tottenham display

Koch was deployed in front of Leeds’ centre-backs Diego Llorente and Pascal Strujik, and the German won five of his seven ground duels and two of his four aerial battles, via Sofascore.

He also contributed two clearances, two blocks and three tackles and wasn’t dribbled past during the game.

Overall, Koch touched the ball 50 times and completed 29 of 35 attempted passes, an accuracy of 83%.

He had Leeds analyst Josh Hobbs backtracking – Hobbs tweeted that, in light of Koch’s ‘glorious’ performance, he may have to retract his argument that centre-backs shouldn’t play in the defensive midfield role.

Koch himself tweeted a celebratory message after the game, and here’s how supporters reacted to his six-word post which read: “Who you gonna call? Leeds United!”.

Leeds fans buzzing with Koch’s performance against Spurs

“Absolutely unbelievable performance from you today big man. Love having you back in this team. What a win”

Credit: @TonyLUFC28

“Can’t wait for that chant ringing out around Elland Road next season.”

Credit: @Anguini

“Love you big fella, class today”

Credit: @callumlufc

“You were Man of the match for me, had a great game in that role, long may it continue”

Credit: @CasperEngland

“You were absolutely immense today big man”

Credit: @Guysley

“Unbelievable in CDM mate”

Credit: @Olijhulme

“Top game Robin, looked a natural there”

Credit: @petewoodhead99

“Never leave”

Credit: @lufcliam_

In other news, fans were less than pleased with this player’s efforts.

An update has emerged on Rangers and their deal to bring John Souttar to Ibrox at the end of the campaign.

What’s the talk?

The Gers have already agreed a pre-contract deal with the defender and Hearts boss Robbie Neilson has now admitted that there are no talks to make the transfer happen immediately instead of in the summer.

He told the Glasgow Times: “There’s been nothing new with John. Although I saw they lost three goals today so I might get a phone call!

“But at this moment in time there’s been nothing.

“He’s fine. He’s left here and he’ll be back in tomorrow. And I expect he’ll be available for Tuesday if he’s still here.”

Fuming

Rangers fans will surely be fuming with this news as it suggests that Ross Wilson is not trying to secure a deal to sign the defender before the window closes.

Souttar could be a sensational addition to the squad and improve the side’s chances of winning the Premiership title this season. He has proven his quality at this level for Hearts and could replace one of Gio van Bronckhorst’s current options, strengthening the team in the process.

The Scotland international has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.40 in the league this term – showing that he can perform to a high level on a consistent basis. He has won 70% of his duels in the division, making 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game.

Meanwhile, no Rangers centre-back has averaged a score higher than 7.18. This suggests that Souttar would come in and be an upgrade on what van Bronckhorst currently has to work with, which is why he could increase the club’s chances of securing the title ahead of Celtic for a second successive season.

Therefore, Gers fans will be gutted with Neilson’s comments as they indicate that Souttar will not be coming to Ibrox this month and they will have to wait until the summer to see him in a light blue shirt. They will be fuming with the club for not trying to negotiate a deal with Hearts to bring him in during the current window.

Although, it is worth saying that anything can still happen heading into deadline day and Rangers could pull a surprise in the final hours of the window to get a deal done. At this point, though, Souttar appears set to remain at his current side until the end of the campaign.

AND in other news,  Talks set: Rangers now eyeing key deal for “important” £16k-p/w beast, GVB needs it…

Celtic may have scored ten goals in their last two games but that hasn’t stopped Ange Postecoglou from considering attacking recruits.

The Hoops have already signed Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada who have hit the ground running at Parkhead but there is further work required in the transfer window.

What’s the word?

A player that Celtic have considered signing for a while now is Gorica forward Kristijan Lovric.

The Bhoys were interested in recruiting him during the winter window of 2019/20 but nothing materialised.

A further attraction in the player has been registered this summer but they may have to pay in the region of £4.2m to prise him away from Croatian shores.

Now, according to the Daily Record, they understand that Lovric is indeed on Celtic’s radar ahead of a possible switch.

Must sign him

Postecoglou’s side hasn’t struggled for goals this season but with the threat of Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard departing still hovering over their shoulders, they must consider adding Lovric to their ranks.

Possessing tricks, creativity and more importantly goals, he’d be an excellent signing for the Australian if the manager can secure a deal.

He already has two goals in four appearances for Gorica this term, taking his tally for the club to 46 strikes in just 100 outings.

On top of that, the winger has racked up a haul of 24 assists on his way to being linked with Celtic.

Speaking about Lovric’s style of play, HNTV commentator Damir Petravic once said: “He dribbles and scores in the style of Robben, shoots free throws like Pirlo or Pjanic, and knows how to sprint like Mbappe.”

That’s a particularly glowing review for a player who has been capped just once by his country.

At the age of 25, he is rapidly approaching his prime and if he can show this type of form in Scotland, he’d be a roaring success.

Abada has hit the ground running with two goals and two assists in five outings while Furuhashi already has a hat-trick to his name since signing.

Add a player with Lovric’s qualities to the equation and they’d surely be in the conversation to win the Premiership crown again.

After all, Postecoglou loves an attacking brand of football and the Croat would undoubtedly improve Celtic’s ability to play that in that manner.

AND in other news, Celtic prepare bid to sign “very gifted” £4.5m beast, fans must be buzzing…

Ex-Leeds United hero Noel Whelan has tipped Rodrigo to shine in a No.10 role next season, dropping deeper but still scoring plenty of goals.

The Lowdown: Signs of life from record signing Rodrigo

The Spaniard arrived for £27million from Valencia last summer, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Rodrigo has endured a difficult first season at Elland Road, partly due to injuries, but he finished the campaign well, scoring four times in as many games at the end.

The Latest: Whelan talks up role change

Although Rodrigo has often been used as a No.9 by Marcelo Bielsa, someone who believes who could thrive more in a deeper role is Whelan.

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker tipped him to be hugely effective in that position, putting his all-round game to good use:

“There are a lot of different aspects to his game. We saw that against Southampton with that pass over the top to Bamford. That was very much a number 10 type of pass.

“That’s the kind of brilliance you expect to see from your number 10. But then you see the goals he scored at Burnley, a natural finish after a great first touch.

“Then again yesterday, he was in the right place at the right time. He had that hunger and instinct to get in the box and on the end of a cross.

“There is a possibility that he could play a number nine role, yeah. But I think with [Pablo] Hernandez going, that number 10 role is his.

“He could still get into double figures from that position, easy. Even when he has an interview he says he’s a number 10 rather than a number nine.

“He’s very good at finding pockets of space and linking up play. He does have that forward-thinking attitude and instinct where he wants to get into the box. But he’s got too much intelligence just to be a number nine.”

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The Verdict: Big things next season?

There is no denying that Rodrigo’s first year at Leeds has been disappointing, but these last few weeks have shown the quality he possesses.

Using him as a No.10 could be a shrewd move by Bielsa, allowing him to dovetail with Patrick Bamford and wreak havoc with both his creativity and eye for goal, having averaged 1.2 key passes per game in the Premier League.

It is hard to envisage anyone ousting Bamford as the main striker for the time being, so this change in role could also guarantee Rodrigo more regular playing time.

In other news, one Leeds player has been named in a pundit’s Team of the Season. Find out who it is here.

If reports are to be believed then Rafa Benitez means business as the new manager of Everton.

Gone are the days of the measly budgets he entertained when he was last in the Premier League as the Toffees aim to spend big once again.

On the chalkboard

One area of concern for Everton this summer could be James Rodriguez.

The Colombian signed on a free transfer 12 months ago but could be heading for the exit door already.

Jorge Mendes has reportedly held conversations over his client with AC Milan so Benitez will need to be on the lookout for a replacement.

One player who was being targeted was Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho, someone who like Benitez, has a strong attachment to Liverpool.

Barca need to significantly reduce their wage bill and shipping on the Brazilian could be one way of doing so.

He has lit up the Premier League on plenty of occasions, contributing to 99 goals for the red side of Merseyside.

Any alternatives?

If a move for Coutinho cannot be concluded, then it would appear as though Benitez is targeting a deal for Real Madrid star Isco.

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That’s according to reports in Spain (via Sport Witness) who suggest that Coutinho has rejected the Toffees with Everton now identifying the Madrid midfielder as a target instead.

The new manager ‘wants to sign him’ but he may have to take a salary reduction with the 29-year-old earning £225k-per-week at the Bernabeu.

Isco has endured a significant drop off in his performances in the last few years, scoring just one goal and providing four assists in the last two campaigns.

However, James was hardly in the form of his life before joining Everton last year. The Colombia international was involved in only two goals throughout his final season with Madrid before contributing to ten Premier League strikes in 2020/21.

Therefore, Benitez and the supporters needn’t worry about Isco’s qualities. All the Spaniard needs is more game time to improve his fitness and rediscover his form.

At his best, he once produced 2.2 key passes and 2.1 dribbles per game for the European heavyweights.

Crucially, he’s also a player that Benitez knows well and rates. The experienced attacking midfielder has played 20 times under the new Everton boss, scoring three goals and assisting a further six strikes.

Speaking about his game back in 2015, the 61-year-old said: “Isco is a great footballer and what he needs to do is to carry on doing what he has been this whole time. Work, work with intensity and dedication and beyond that make the most of the quality he has to score the odd goal more.”

Benitez left just a matter of months later so perhaps at the second time of asking, he could extract more goals from Isco’s play.

If Rodriguez does head for the departure lounge, signing the Madrid gem would be quite the coup.

AND in other news, Everton could discover their new John Stones by signing “exceptional” £55m ace…

Sunderland made their way through to the fifth round of the League Cup on Tuesday night as they beat QPR on penalties away from home.

The Black Cats fought hard to secure a 0-0 draw in normal time, with the Rs having a goal wrongly disallowed for offside and attempting four more shots than the visitors.

Astonishingly, two QPR players completely missed the target from the spot, with Lee Burge saving Charlie Austin’s penalty to allow Sunderland to win the shootout 3-1. Aiden McGeady, Alex Pritchard and Ross Stewart converted their spot-kicks.

Whilst Burge saved a penalty and intimidated the other two enough to miss, it was another player stole the show for Lee Johnson’s side on the night – Carl Winchester.

The versatile Northern Ireland international lined up at right-back and put in an impressive display, full of endeavour and hard work. He was constantly bombing up and down the pitch to provide an outlet for the Black Cats down the right and played an important part in the victory.

Earlier this season, Sunderland journalist James Copley hailed him as a cult hero for the club, saying: “Carl Winchester – fast becoming a cult hero, he got the winner, he’s made that right-back spot his own.”

On the ball, he was heavily involved. – as per SofaScore, he had 75 touches and completed 75% of his passes from the right-back position. He also had two efforts on goal and alleviated pressure from his side by winning an impressive four free-kicks throughout the match.

The defender was not without his faults, though. Winchester only completed two of his seven attempted crosses and long passes and was unsuccessful with his one dribble attempt. However, this gives him something to work on ahead of his next appearance to continue his development as a player.

Defensively, he was very impressive.

Again, as per SofaScore, he won nine duels in the game, including seven of his 13 ground battles.

In addition to that, he made an eye-catching four tackles, three interceptions and one block against the Championship side, proving that he can be a solid defender for the club.

The 28-year-old was also able to get through the 90 minutes without committing a single foul, showing the excellent timing of his challenges.

Therefore, he stole the show for Johnson as he put in an energetic, impressive, performance at right-back as Sunderland booked their place in the next round of the cup.

Burge saved a penalty, but Winchester put in 110% throughout the game and his individual drive typified the spirited display by the club. Hopefully, he will be able to maintain a high level throughout the campaign and become an important member of the starting XI.

Swansea City are considering a move to bring Eddie Howe to the Liberty Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Times, who claimed that, following Steve Cooper’s surprising departure from the club earlier this week, Howe has emerged as one of the leading candidates to take over from the 41-year-old at the Championship side.

The report goes on to mention that, after failing to land the Crystal Palace job earlier this summer, it was felt that the relationship between Cooper and the Swansea hierarchy had run its course, although the Welshman nevertheless remained at the club.

However, with just two weeks remaining until the start of the new Championship season, it was mutually decided that Cooper and the club would go their separate ways.

Howe would be Cooper’s perfect replacement

With Swansea’s parachute payments from the Premier League ending this year, co-owner Jason Levien is believed to be interested in appointing a manager who will continue Cooper’s impressive work of developing youngsters. However, as a result of the club’s financial situation, this is now a requirement rather than a choice of style.

With Howe having both a history of developing a club’s youth prospects, as well as boasting the record of having taken a cash-strapped Bournemouth side from League Two to the Premier League via three promotions in six seasons during his time in charge of the south coast club, the 43-year-old dubbed an “exciting” coach by Jurgen Klopp would very much appear to be Cooper’s perfect replacement at the Liberty Stadium this summer.

However, with it being widely reported that John Eustace now looks set to be named as the new Swans manager, it would appear unlikely that Howe will indeed be making a move to Wales this summer. Levien’s rather rapid decision to make a move for the Queens Park Rangers assistant manager very much seems to be a decision which has the potential to come back to haunt the co-owner, particularly with a candidate such as Howe freely available on the market.

In other news: Swansea handed transfer boost over “unbelievable” £9m-rated gem, Cooper surely buzzing

Rumoured Leeds United transfer target Lewis O’Brien is reportedly in talks with Huddersfield Town over a new contract at the Championship club.

The Lowdown: Constant summer target

The Whites were continually linked with a move for the midfielder throughout the summer transfer window, but it never came to fruition.

Instead, O’Brien stayed put at Huddersfield, where he could continue to be a key presence during their 2021/22 Championship campaign.

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The Latest: O’Brien could sign new deal

According to Yorkshire Live, the 22-year-old is now in talks with the Terriers over a new deal as they seek to tie him down for the foreseeable future.

It is stated that ‘both parties would now like to ensure O’Brien’s deal is reflective of his value’, potentially allowing Huddersfield to receive a hefty fee if the player does move on in the coming years.

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The Verdict: No great blow

While O’Brien is a young player with plenty of ability – he has been hailed as ‘excellent’ by former Huddersfield defender Calum Woods and lies second in WhoScored’s rankings of the Terriers’ squad with 7.12 – Leeds may not see it as a massive blow if he extends his contract at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Granted, it means they may now have to spend more if they still want to sign him, but if they feel he is overpriced, it may be that Marcelo Bielsa looks at alternative options with greater top-level experience than what O’Brien can boast.

In other news, Phil Hay has made a key prediction ahead of Leeds’ Premier League clash with Liverpool. Read more here.