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Everton have suffered a big injury blow ahead of their Premier League encounter with West Ham United on Sunday week after Lucas Digne picked up a hamstring injury on international duty.

What’s the word?

The 28-year-old was called up to Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the Nations League finals but will now return to Merseyside after playing no part in their semi-final victory over Belgium.

A club statement read: “Lucas Digne has withdrawn from the France squad due to a minor hamstring injury. The Everton left-back will return to USM Finch Farm to be assessed by the Club’s medical team.

“Digne was on the bench for France’s 3-2 Nations League semi-final victory over Belgium in Turin on Thursday night and will now miss the world champions’ final clash against Spain on Sunday.”

Rafael Benitez will be gutted

Although the severity of Digne’s injury has not yet been confirmed, it seems likely that he’ll miss the Toffees’ next clash against high-flying West Ham on Sunday 17 October.

If the left-back is deemed unavailable for selection, Everton manager Rafael Benitez will be left feeling gutted at his enforced absence given the defender’s importance to the club. Digne has played every minute of the Merseysiders’ top-flight campaign so far this season, captaining the side in their last three matches.

His magnificent form has played a pivotal part in Everton’s impressive displays of late, with Benitez’s men sitting pretty in fifth position after collecting 14 points from seven games, and his attacking influence is evident in his match average of 1.9 key passes, the joint-highest in the Toffees’ squad.

The visit of the Hammers is set to be one of their toughest tests yet, though, and they’ll be hoping that Digne recovers in time to play some part against the capital club. If he misses out, Everton will be deprived of one of their main attacking outlets and most trusted players.

In other news…Brands must sanction Everton swoop for £12.6m-rated gem, he’s an “outstanding technician” 

Aston Villa confirmed on Monday that a road at Bodymoor Heath will be permanently named Withe Way following an $AVL Fan Token vote.

And a number of Villa supporters have been reacting to the news on social media.

Villa revealed details regarding the launch of the $AVL Fan Token last month, with fans offered the opportunity to vote for a road name at Bodymoor Heath in celebration of the club’s 40th anniversary of the 1982 European Cup Win.

Season ticket holders and members were entitled to receive a free token, whereas it would cost others £2 to get involved.

The choices were Withe Way, Mortimer Avenue and Rotterdam Lane, with Withe Way winning in reference to the match-winner Peter Withe.

Villa fans react

Villa shared the news regarding the winner of the fan vote on their official Twitter page.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with a mixed response and one calling it ‘crazy’.

“Wow I’m sure the three currency speculators who voted are really pleased with their decision. Just cancel this total disgrace of a partnership”

Credit: @dvtavfc

“Erm”

Credit: @LeoAVFC82

“Crazy that the man who nearly missed the tap in reaps the rewards”

Credit: @EllisHines27

“Didn’t realise one player won the trophy.”

Credit: @LeeJClark76

“Love it.”

Credit: @MemoryL66809557

“Rotterdam Way is so much better than the winning name.”

Credit: @IngeniousVillan

In other news: Villa now ‘in the queue’ to sign £14.4m-rated striker; he wants to leave. 

West Ham United are reportedly interested in making a swoop for Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, as reported by Tuttosport.

Contributing effectively last term for the Old Lady, the American registered nine goal contributions in 46 appearances for his current employers; six goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Now, he could be on his way to East London if reports in the Italian media are to be believed.

Tuttosport claim that McKennie is garnering attention from Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

Juve are open to replacing the United States international, with Borussia Dortmund man Axel Witsel identified as a more suitable fit for new manager Massimiliano Allegri’s system.

In light of the Hammers’ alleged interest in McKennie, loads of West Ham United supporters took to social media to comment on the latest news.

West Ham United fans react:

Replying to West Ham Central as well as various Hammers news outlets, here is what some fans had to say about the rumours:

“Weston McKennie on a loan to buy would be absolutely incredible business! A 3 of McKennie, Rice & Soucek to choose from would be fantastic”

Credit: @WhufcSloth”JAJAJAJAJAJAJAAJA NO WAY THEY DON’T MENTION TOTTENHAM”Credit: @SaidTalks”100% YESSSS”Credit: @leestirling17″This geezer is unreal, defo won’t happen will cost too much”Credit: @olliebruton”The speed with which I will buy a West Ham McKennie jersey”Credit: @JesseLarch”PLEASE”Credit: @danielluker10In other news, West Ham United fans react as their club rejects the opportunity to sign a striker. Find out more here.

Steven Gerrard was appointed the brand new Aston Villa manager during the international break after Dean Smith was sacked following three years at Villa Park due to a run of bad form with the side losing five games consecutively.

Gerrard is already making an impact in his short time with the club so far, as he guided the side to their first win in a handful of matches against Brighton last weekend and will be hoping to continue his confident start.

Dean Smith has also got a new job as Norwich manager, where he was appointed late into the international break, and has had a great start in his first fixture as the Canaries boss, with a 2-1 win over Southampton at the weekend, that gave them a crucial three points as they sit at the bottom of the Premier League table.

The former Villa boss has been tipped to dip into his old club’s squad to strengthen his own team, with former Villa player, Gabriel Agbonlahor speaking to Football Insider. Responding to whether Smith will take a look at some of the players from his time at Villa, he said:

“Conor Hourihane would be a good one.

“But it’s all going to depend on where Villa are. If results don’t go Villa’s way then they’re not going to let players go to a team that is also fighting relegation.

Aston Villa are expected to make moves in the upcoming transfer window as Johan Lange has confirmed the club are “identifying players” to add to the side in an attempt to avoid the drop into relegation in the second half of the season;

“I think we’re always working every day of the year to identify players with the potential of coming in to strengthen Aston Villa.

“We will work closely (with Steven) over the next six weeks to analyse the situation and we will be well prepared as we always are, if we find it is relevant to go into the market in January.”

If Smith did come to take some of the fringe players off the hands of Gerrard, it could really help to boost funds for the new manager to add the players he wants into the team. That’s without asking too much of the board to provide the funds or to have potential signings put on hold, especially in such a fragile time for Aston Villa where a relegation battle is quite possible.

Secondly, it might give Villa an advantage in freeing up space on the wage bill, something that will certainly help when it comes to the freedom of signing new recruits.

Gerrard will be hoping to relieve more pressure off the Villans this weekend in their fixture away at Selhurst Park, with another three points to push them further away from any relegation worries leading up to the New Year. At that point, their former boss might just be able to give them a hand in the market.

In other news: Gerrard handed double injury boost before Palace clash

Fulham have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Matt Grimes to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that both Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion have joined the race to sign the Swansea City midfielder ahead of the new season.

It was previously reported that Fulham looked close to securing a deal for the 25-year-old, with a medical at Craven Cottage having been scheduled for this week.

It is also claimed that Southampton and Newcastle United are thought to be keeping a close eye on the situation of the former England U21 international, who would be available to sign for as little as £1.5m due to having just one year remaining on his contract at the Liberty Stadium.

Silva will be gutted

Considering just how close Tony Khan appeared to be to securing the signing of Grimes this summer, should the midfielder eventually go on to seal a move elsewhere, it would undoubtedly leave Marco Silva gutted.

The 25-year-old has played a key role in Swansea City’s Championship success in recent years, and would have made a fantastic addition to the Portuguese manager’s options in the middle of the park next season.

Indeed, over his 45 Championship appearances for the Swans last term, the £6.3m-rated man scored two goals, registered three assists and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of one shot and making 0.8 key passes per game.

The £10k-per-week midfielder also made an average of 1.5 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 1.3 clearances and won 5.3 duels in each league appearance.

These metrics saw the man Steve Cooper dubbed an “excellent” player earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.04, ranking him as the club’s fifth-best performer in the English second tier.

As such, with Grimes demonstrating that he is something of a complete midfielder, his signing would have given Silva a huge boost to his chances of going on to secure an immediate return to the Premier League with Fulham next season.

However, with Watford and Brighton now sniffing around the 25-year-old, Grimes may well be playing Premier League football a lot sooner than the Cottagers.

In other news: Khan must axe Fulham’s “fabulous” £35k-p/w flop, he’s stealing a living

Former Premier League defender Steve Howey thinks Jerome Boateng could have a Thiago Silva-like impact at Tottenham if he joined the north London club this summer.

Boateng is currently a free agent after leaving Bayern Munich at the end of his contract and The Athletic recently suggested a move to Tottenham would make a lot of sense.

Last summer, it was Spurs’ London rivals Chelsea who decided to snap up a high-profile centre-back on a free transfer when they signed Silva and it paid dividends.

The 36-year-old, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain, went on to help Chelsea win the Champions League and secure a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.

For Howey, if Tottenham brought in Boateng this transfer window, then they could be getting their own Silva.

“Look what Chelsea did with the lad at the back, Thiago Silva,” the ex-Newcastle central defender said in an exclusive interview with TT. “Very experienced and I thought he did quite well for Chelsea at the back end of the season.

“Boateng, we all know what he’s about and how good he is. So, of course, it could certainly be an option for Tottenham.”

German journalist Christian Falk reported back in April that Spurs were interested in signing Boateng going into this transfer window, so perhaps that is one they revisit if they cannot sign their other centre-back targets and the German is still available.

After the latest news surrounding Jesse Lingard, West Ham boss David Moyes could ease the pain by swooping for an alternative target this summer…

What’s the word?

It’s thought that West Brom playmaker Matheus Pereira is seen as a potential target for the Irons should they not manage to secure the Manchester United loan sensation on a permanent basis, via the Express.

The Sun have recently claimed that Lingard would like to stay at Old Trafford in a stunning new twist, so Moyes may want to turn his attentions to the relegated star, especially after a fresh update emerged this weekend.

According to the Daily Star (print edition, 13th June, p41), the Baggies have reduced their asking price to just £15m amid interest in his signature from promoted duo Norwich City and Brentford.

Forget Lingard

Whilst Pereira isn’t Lingard, he certainly is not a bad second choice to sign this transfer window.

He was one of the few shining lights in what was an abysmal season at the Hawthorns. He provided 11 goals and six assists, which accounted for 48.5% of all their goals scored in the league during the 2020/21 campaign.

Only Harry Kane was of more importance to his Spurs side than Pereira at West Brom in terms of being involved in the highest percentages of a team’s goals.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-gossip-rumours-staff-gsb-moyes-updates-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

The 25-year-old finished as their joint-top highest-rated player, being graded at 6.96 by WhoScored, whilst his 1.8 key passes per game would see him comfortably clear of the Hammers’ most creative options, including Lingard (1.1).

Moyes will know all too well about Pereira’s ability considering two of his goals came against West Ham this season, and whilst the Hammers won both encounters, the Brazilian magician was above and beyond their standout performer.

It’s no wonder he has been hailed as a “genius” by his former coach Nate Weiss and a “special talent” by Spanish football journalist Colin Millar.

Valued at £18m by CIES Football Observatory, the Baggies’ new asking price seems to be an absolute bargain as it’s below his perceived worth and if the East London outfit are to miss out on Lingard, then there aren’t many better that could repeat his exploits than the Brazilian maestro.

GSB should look to sanction this deal, but only if a move for their loan star is dead in the water.

AND in other news, Moyes could secure West Ham’s next Antonio in £20m swoop for “explosive” goal machine…

It seems that football has been around for ever and has come along way to the multi-million pound transfers that we see now. The game has its roots firmly stuck in mid-nineteenth-century England. Earlier versions of the game do exist but are not quite the same as the game that we have all grown to love today. The precursors to what would one day become football originate in Mesoamerican cultures more than 3,000 years ago. The ancient Aztecs used the word “tchatali” to describe the game, which by 1600 BC had spread far and wide across the Americas. Some Mesoamerican cultures conducted elaborate rituals of sacrifice and splendour. In their ancient traditions the football represented the sun, so in order to appease the gods, a sacrifice was made – in most cases the losing team’s captain!

One of the reasons why Mesoamerican culture had such an appetite for football goes far beyond chance. The landscape at the time was covered by vast swathes of rubber trees, which gave the indigenous cultures everything they needed for a sustained exploration into the game. It was only after first contact was made by European colonists that they discovered the staggering benefits of the rubber tree and along with it the football.

Let’s Not Forget China

China has records dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC that detail a popular kicking game. It was called “cuju” and like the Mesoamerican version seemed to have religious and cultural importance. The ball was made out of a type of stitched leather and was generally stuffed with animal fur or feathers. The game consisted of a small square, usually etched onto an elaborately decorated paving stone, with the objective being to “score” a goal. The Chinese Han dynasty is credited with inventing the first goalpost-like openings, providing the basic structure and netting practises we see today.

One of the reasons why European civilisations of the time were not holding football with significant cultural importance is likely because the Ancient Greeks prohibited ball games in their amphitheatres. So the humble ball was banned from the larger arenas and was confined to the back alleys of the burgeoning city of Athens. The problem was the stigma attached to football; the game was seen as a sport for the lower classes. The fall of Ancient Greece saw the rise of Roman dominance in Europe. The Romans had an affinity for football and found the game amusing. They exported the game to Britain, along with much of Europe, who all developed their own versions. Surviving Roman texts and manuscripts speak fondly of the game and described epic matches taking place on palace grounds. These matches are described as lavish occasions with the whole family taking part in the fun. The game would have been played on top ornate mosaic tiles, which depicted the grandeur of the families playing their own versions of ancient football.

Punching Not Kicking

It is more than likely that the first versions of football saw players using their fists to punch the ball. The game saw dramatic development during the 12th century and was most likely played on streets and meadows before a designated pitch would become the norm. Football during this period was a lot more hands-on than it is today. Without many rules, the game often spun into complete chaos, with multiple football-related brawls recorded throughout the ages. The resulting violence of the daily brawls may have been a direct reason why using hands would eventually be outlawed. The lawmakers at the time often associated the sport with drunkenness and tomfoolery, so removed the use of one’s hands to provide some much-needed respite.

Football as we know it today was conceived by Charles Goodyear in 1844, after filing a patent for the invention of vulcanised rubber. For a while, there was no formal difference between football and rugby. This caused a problem for both the football association and the rugby union who wanted clear distinction to be made between the two sports in order for them to happily coexist. The guidelines at this time were sparse, which resulted in several different versions simultaneously hitting the streets of eighteenth-century England. There was a call for proper rules to be developed during a meeting in Cambridge during the winter of 1848. The administration set out to establish the fundamental rules and principles that would go on to govern the game. Everything from ethics, game length, and team size were all discussed, and a uniform structure was agreed upon.

Some of the first bets to take place in England during the 1800s were likely to have been informal in nature. This means that these bets took place between friends, with little or no securities for their wagers. This soon developed into often illegal back-alley bookmakers who would happily take bets on upcoming football matches. Fixed-odds sports betting wasn’t legal during this period and could land you a hefty fine and significant jail time. The football odds and bets we place today, and so love by the way, evolved over time, just as football itself has done over the course of many centuries.

According to The Daily Mail, Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing Oli McBurnie this summer from relegated Premier League side Sheffield United.

The Lowdown: Gers eye new targets

With the 2020/21 campaign now over, the Gers can prepare for next season, which promises to be a big one as they target a run in the Champions League.

Upfront, they have already confirmed the free transfer signing of Fashion Sakala from Oostende (rangers.co.uk), and it now seems they are interested in another forward.

The Latest: Gers have McBurnie on radar

It is now being reported the 55-time Scottish champions are interested in McBurnie, who is known to be a Rangers fan.

The report says the Blades would be looking for around £15m for his services.

The Verdict: Waste of money

McBurnie really made his name at Swansea during the 2018/19 season, when he scored 22 times in 42 games in the Championship (Transfermarkt). At the age of 24, that remains the stand-out season of his career – in 65 appearances for Sheffield United, he has managed a paltry seven goals, far from what you would expect from a £20m signing (BBC). He has not had the best of times of it off the pitch recently, either – he was arrested for assault earlier this month (talkSPORT).

£15m would make him Rangers’ record signing (The Daily Record). Even as they chase the increased finances of the Champions League, any purchase made for such a fee would need to be a surefire success at the club. In the case of £10.8m-valued Scotland international McBurnie (Transfermarkt), it is hard to imagine such a scenario.

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this journalist’s tweets.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Stade Reims gem Hugo Ekitike…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies are set to pursue a deal for the French centre-forward at the end of the season.

PIF came close to sealing a swoop for the youngster in the January transfer window only to fall at the last hurdle on deadline day.

They reportedly agreed a fee of £33m with the Ligue 1 side, but the player decided that he was better off waiting until the summer before making a decision on the next step in his career.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Ekitike, I think they’re going after him no matter what. So, I’d say that he is the most likely striker that they’ll sign.”

Eddie Howe will be buzzing

The Toon boss will surely be buzzing by this update as the attacker would be a fantastic addition to his squad heading into the next Premier League campaign.

Goalscoring has been a cause for concern throughout the season for the Magpies in the sense that they have not been able to rely on one, or two, players to find the back of the net on a regular basis. Callum Wilson has not kicked a ball in anger since December and leads the charts for the club on six strikes in the division, with Allan Saint-Maximin’s tally of five the next best.

Chris Wood was brought to Tyneside in January to bolster Howe’s depth at the top end of the pitch and he has been unable to showcase the best of his abilities. He has scored twice in 14 starts, once from open play, as he failed to hit the ground running in front of goal.

Ekitike, meanwhile, has scored nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 starts for Reims this season, whilst also contributing two assists. He has been able to show off his finishing ability in the French top-flight and Howe would surely love to have a player with that level of quality in the final third as an option next season.

The ex-Cherries coach will also be excited by the gem’s potential. At the age of 19, he is in the infancy of his career and is already proving that he can make an impact in a top European league. This suggests that he has the scope for a vast improvement in the years to come and Howe will want to be the one who helps him explode in Europe as a striker.

AND in other news: Howe can unearth his own Ginola in Newcastle’s rarely-seen 19 y/o “bright talent”…