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Theo Walcott may have played his final Everton game already, having hinted at a move into coaching during his spell on loan with boyhood club Southampton.

The attacker returned to St. Mary’s on Deadline Day after the Saints struck a deal with Everton that sees the Goodison Park natives continue to pay £45,000 of the 31-year-old’s £100,000-per-week contract.

His terms are set to expire at the end of the season, though, and it is unlikely that a new deal is tabled having fallen down the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti, with just 950 minutes of action handed to the former Arsenal star since the Italian’s appointment.

Walcott is yet to fully establish himself in the first-team fold at Southampton following his return to the south coast, with Ralph Hasenhuttl starting the attacker against Chelsea and seeing him assist in the 3-3 draw only to then be without the ex-England ace in victory over Everton.

But Walcott has revealed that he has been working closely with Hasenhuttl off the pitch since his homecoming, and could continue working with the Saints boss beyond his one-season loan.

“The manager has pulled me to one side a few times and put me in a room to go through a lot of tactics, which is nice to see, just to get my coaching head on, because that’s something in the future I might want to look at,” Walcott told the Saints’ website.

“It’s very interesting. I’m really enjoying my short time working with the manager at the moment and hopefully it can be a long-term thing.”

Along with working with Hasenhuttl, Walcott has been working with Southampton’s young talents and, given his comments, could look to move into a coaching position at the end of the season.

“I want to help the academy graduates coming through now,” Walcott added. “I’m sure they’ve got a lot of questions to ask – quite a few of them have already been asking me things.

“A lot of them have been saying, ‘I watched you at Arsenal and now I’m playing with you’, so that’s a nice touch. I feel like everyone’s a really hard worker.”

Should Walcott not be offered a new contract for next season and leaves Everton, his record at Goodison Park will not be as fruitful as he would have liked when signed for more than £20million by Sam Allardyce in 2018, having scored just 11 times and offered nine assists in 85 games.

He is clearly now looking at the bigger picture, though, and the forward maestro would be a superb addition for Southampton in a player-coach type role given his 47-caps for England, experience competing in the Champions League and 348 career Premier League appearances.

Walcott also has a superb footballing brain, and was hailed by Arsene Wenger during their time at the Emirates Stadium with the former Arsenal boss once noting via Sky Sports: “He has all the ingredients to be a great striker, because of the quality of his runs. He is an intelligent player, a good finisher.”

AND in other news, Marcel Brands can repeat his summer masterclass by landing an Everton-linked £76k-p/w powerhouse.

Danny Welbeck would be the perfect late addition to David Moyes’ squad as West Ham United reportedly court the former England international following his release by Watford.

What’s the word?

According to Irons icon Frank McAvennie, while speaking with Football Insider, West Ham are looking into the potential of luring Welbeck to the London Stadium following the 29-year-old’s departure from Watford.

The Hornets agreed to mutually terminate Welbeck’s £100,000-per-week contract following their relegation to the second-tier through a dire need to cut their wage bill, having not written a pay reduction clause into his three-year terms.

Welbeck’s lucrative salary had made Watford’s quest for potential buyers challenging and ultimately had to pay the forward off, which could come to West Ham’s aid should the Irons indeed be interested.

“I have heard, and I am not sure whether it is true or not, that they are looking to sign Welbeck,” McAvennie has claimed.

The Irons icon is not confident that Welbeck would be the right signing, however.

“They have just let one sick note go in Jack Wilshere, why would you want to get another one in?” he added. “There is no doubting the boy’s ability, but he is off the field more than he is on.

“It is a bit like Andy Carroll. They have just got rid of Jack Wilshere, why do they want another one who is not there every week. People get injuries, but some get more than their fair share and, unfortunately, Welbeck is one of them.”

Welbeck featured in 18 of Watford’s Premier League games as they were ultimately relegated last season, scoring twice and assisting once while missing three months through a hamstring injury sustained in October.

The perfect Anderson replacement?

While injuries have stuck with Welbeck for much of his career, having missed 27 of Arsenal’s Premier League fixtures through a broken ankle during his final campaign at the Emirates in 2018/19, the former England forward could be the perfect addition to strengthen Moyes’ offence now that the international transfer window has closed.

Moyes is without West Ham’s former club-record signing Felipe Anderson after the £36m attacker joined FC Porto on a one-season loan deal, further weakening the ranks after Grady Diangana joined West Bromwich Albion earlier in the window.

That leaves Jarrod Bowen, Andriy Yarmolenko and Robert Snodgrass as the only natural wide players at the London Stadium, though only Bowen has proven a regular starter in the league so far this season and is best accustomed to playing on the right.

Welbeck, on the other hand, is best set on the left – where central midfielder Pablo Fornals has been tasked with holding down duties for 93.06% of all minutes in the top-flight – having scored a goal every 3.1 games in the role for Arsenal compared to one every 3.4 matches at striker.

Once described as a “special guy” by ex-manager Arsene Wenger, his numbers will not make him a starter over Fornals, but will make the £4.95m-rated ace a strong understudy if personal terms are not outrageous.

AND in other news, GSB’s floundering in the transfer market ensured West Ham failed in a late pursuit of a £30million target.

According to fresh reports, Aston Villa are facing stiff competition for one of their mooted summer transfer targets, but they should probably let him move elsewhere…

What’s the word?

As per Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur (via the Mirror), Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce have made the first move to sign Liverpool outcast Divock Origi this window.

They want to sign the 25-year-old on loan but it could involve an obligation to buy of around £14m.

He also claims that Villa are one of the Premier League sides keen on signing Origi, along with Fulham, Brighton and Newcastle United.

Steer clear

The Belgian is a bit of a cult hero over at Anfield following his 2019 Champions League exploits, but aside from that, he’s done very little to warrant this interest.

Last season, Origi featured in 34 matches, though only eight were starts. He bagged four goals in the league and averaged a disappointing 0.5 shots and 0.4 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

These are figures well below that of Wesley in terms of goals and even Mbwana Samatta, who fired off over double the number of shots as the Reds backup.

In the past, there has been high praise for Origi, ranging from former Wolfsburg sporting director Olaf Rebbe claiming he’s “dangerous” and “quick” to fellow compatriot and Premier League legend Vincent Kompany describing him as a “monster.”

However with four strikers now on the books following the arrival of Ollie Watkins, a swoop for Origi at £14m reeks of being a nightmare as he could well struggle to get into Dean Smith’s XI let alone Jurgen Klopp’s.

The 25-year-old is also on £45k-per-week in Merseyside, so it’s not a cheap move at all and it is one that Johan Lange must absolutely avoid unless he wants to walk the club into another striker disaster.

AND in other news, Smith can complete his attack with £23m move for the next Alexis Sanchez…

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers are still interested in Jacob Murphy – but Newcastle may not let him go until very close to the end of the transfer window.

The Gers have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old, who cost the Toon £12m in 2017.

Now, this latest report says the Ibrox outfit are still interested – but the Magpies may not let him leave until the end of the window.

After eight goals and eight assists for Norwich in 37 games in the Championship, Newcastle decided to take him to St. James’ Park, but he has so far managed just one strike in 41 games for the north-east outside. He did manage nine goals in 39 games on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last term, but again, that is far from eye-catching.

The case for Murphy, though, is squad depth and versatility. He can play on both the right-wing and the left-wing, meaning that his presence in the side could allow Ianis Hagi to move into attacking midfield, whilst he could also provide cover for Ryan Kent.

Currently valued at £3.15m by Transfermarkt, the Gers need to be careful they do not overstretch themselves financially – it is reported that Steve Bruce and co want a £1m loan fee for the campaign, whilst they also want any club that signs him to cover his £40,000-a-week wages. Having said that, Murphy could be an important addition in the Gers’ quest for the title.

Let us know what you think below!

West Ham United could be on the verge of ending their centre-back pursuit as they enter the race for an experienced Premier League colossus…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Irons are keen on poaching Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea as he faces uncertainty over his future at the club having been left out by Frank Lampard in recent weeks.

The Telegraph’s reliable Blues correspondent Matt Law claims the 27-year-old is now effectively their fifth-choice centre-back and has been frozen out since the arrival of free-agent Thiago Silva.

Moyes is in the market for a new central defender and he could swoop in for the £36m-rated German on loan.

Ferdinand-like colossus

Ever since the likes of James Tomkins and James Collins departed east London, the centre-back position has been a rather troubling conundrum, even more so with Winston Reid perpetually on the treatment table.

You could argue that the club lack the presence of a Rio Ferdinand-type, someone who can influence from the back in an imposing nature and there were none better than the former fan-favourite.

Rudiger can give the Hammers that and more – ESPN describe the 31-cap international as a “tall, quick and athletic defender who is capable of turning out at centre-back or full-back” who is “comfortable with the ball at his feet and has all the necessary physical attributes to become a top-level centre-back.”

Perhaps the 27-year-old has been unfairly treated across the river as last season he averaged 2.9 aerials won, 2.8 clearances, 1.4 tackles per game, and even managed a passing accuracy of 86.8% from over 70 passes per match too, via WhoScored.

The 6 foot 3 monster has even been likened to Ricardo Carvalho by Garth Crooks, which isn’t a bad one to make given his influence in Chelsea’s title-winning sides.

Although Ferdinand himself isn’t a huge fan of Rudiger having slammed him for “appalling defending” in the past, though Moyes needs a quick solution and bringing him in on loan could provide that.

AND in other news, Hammers could find their new Payet in Serie A wizard…

As Everton head into the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, Carlo Ancelotti will surely already have one eye on how he can look to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign in September.

And according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the Toffees have recently registered their interest in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.

The report claims that prior to the Frenchman’s latest injury setback, both Everton and fellow Premier League side West Ham contacted Barcelona about Umtiti’s situation, with the defender himself being made aware of the interest.

How big of an Everton fan are you? Can you spot Mikel Arteta from Graham Stuart? This quiz will test your knowledge, try it if you’re brave enough…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Whilst before it was suggested the 6 foot star would not be sold, Mundo Deportivo now suggest that Umtiti’s exit from the Camp Nou is inevitable.

And after hearing about the latest update on the France World Cup winner’s future, Everton fans flooded to Twitter to share their reactions.

Some Everton fans took issue with Umtiti’s injury record, with him missing 63 games in just four seasons with Barcelona.

A couple of Toffees fans urged the club not to go after another Barcelona “flop”, a reference to how the club signed Yerry Mina from the Catalan giants for a reported £27.1m.

Unsurprisingly, some Everton fans are concerned by the prospect of signing Umtiti, given his injury record.

But whilst his fitness is certainly is in question, his ability cannot be. Eric Abidal called him a “world-class” player, whilst his fellow French compatriot Andre-Pierre Gignac said he has the “quality to start for Barcelona”.

If Everton snatch him up this summer, then it could be a major coup.

Leeds United may be on the verge of signing Illan Meslier to a long-term deal, but they appear to have their eyes on another goalkeeping option, according to emerging reports.

What’s the word?

AlAireLibre claim that Marcelo Bielsa is lining up a move for Manchester City veteran Claudio Bravo, who is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

The 37-year-old has won the Premier League, two League Cups and two Community Shields since he joined the Citizens in 2016.

His deal at the Etihad Stadium is reportedly a whopping £80k-per-week, which puts him earning more than first-choice stopper Edersonm Phil Foden and the same as Joao Cancelo, as per Spotrac.

Repeat mistake

Leeds and overpaid veteran goalkeepers, we’ve been here before right?

This feels all too similar to the swoop for former Real Madrid man Kiko Casilla, in the end, it has cost the club £40k-a-week in wages and it probably hasn’t been worth it.

Throughout the season he was lambasted for mistakes before it culminated in an eight-match ban for racial abuse, leaving many, including The Athletic’s Phil Hay, believing his time is done at Elland Road.

During his absence, Meslier stepped up and proved worthy of the number one jersey, managing to keep six clean sheets in nine appearances, per Transfermarkt.

Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta must be smart with their transfer business this summer as Leeds simply cannot afford to follow the same path of the likes of Fulham and Norwich in recent seasons.

Their move for Casilla was a financial gamble, just the same as it was with Jean-Kevin Augustin and his obligatory £19m fee.

A move for Bravo just doesn’t make any financial or footballing sense whatsoever.

AND in other news, Phil Hay reveals how many players Leeds CEO thinks they’ll sign this summer…

Celtic are officially the Scottish Premiership champions after the SPFL cut short the season.

The decision was taken at a board meeting earlier today after all 12 top-flight teams agreed last week that ending the current campaign was unfeasible.

Average points-per-game has been used to decide the final standings, which sees Hearts relegated to the Championship and Rangers finish some 13 points behind the Hoops.

SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan congratulated Celtic and sent considerations to the Jam Tarts, claiming there was “no realistic option but to call [the season]”.

Bhoys skipper Scott Brown has been celebrating the triumph on social media after he posted a 12-word message to Twitter – and much of the Celtic Park faithful have been going nuts in his replies.

The 34-year-old has captained the squad to each of their nine titles in the historic run and many would love to see him make it ten next season.

He had featured in a whopping 50 matches this season, potentially showing that he’s still got plenty in his locker.

The greatest rivalry in world football: Test your Old Firm derby knowledge below…

Here’s how fans reacted to his tweet…

AND in other news, Celtic fans are missing this former Parkhead star…

According to Corriere dello Sport, AS Roma are very close to keeping Manchester United ace Chris Smalling in the summer, via @utdreport.   

The Italian newspaper claims Roma are only ‘one step away’ from signing Smalling on loan, which could become a permanent deal next year.

It seems likely Smalling will leave Old Trafford on loan again for another season and the Italians will be obliged to sign him permanently in 2021.

Although the defender’s first spell in Italy was brought to an abrupt halt as a result of the pandemic, he has still managed to play 20 games in Serie A this season (Transfermarkt).

Roma boss Paulo Foncesca has been impressed by the England international’s work ethic, as he has averaged 2 interceptions per game, completed 4.5 clearances on average, scored 2 goals, and created 1 assist so far (WhoScored).

In comparison, Phil Jones has struggled for form this season and the defender is now in a vulnerable position. It is worth pointing out Smalling has earned a higher WhoScored rating than his teammate at the time of writing.

After arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Fulham for £7.2m in 2010, the 30-year-old has made over 300 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the Premier League twice, the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup. He is currently valued at £14.4m via Transfermarkt.

United initially priced the centre-back at €25m, which equates to £22m, but it appears Ed Woodward has lowered the asking price to somewhere in the region of €12m-€15m.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted he is a fan of the veteran in the past, but Smalling wants to be playing regular football in order to improve his chances of being named in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad, and this is something the club legend cannot guarantee.

Indeed, Solskjaer has frequently used the pairing of captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof at the back this season, and it is hard to imagine the Englishman would be given a place in the starting lineup if he returned to Old Trafford.

Naturally, many United fans reacted to the transfer news on social media, with one supporter urging the board to “cash in ASAP,” and another adding “take Jones instead.”

Have a read through the rest of the mixed reactions so far…

United fans, should the board sell Chris Smalling permanently in the summer? Let us know down below!

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Back in 1999, John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish were building their defence for Scottish side Celtic, and picked up defender Rafael Scheidt for £6.48 million from Brazilian side Gremio, per Transfermarkt. This is currently the eighth most expensive signing the club has ever made, and emphasises the expectations the player had when he joined.

There have been some poor signings at the club, but Scheidt ranks up there as one of the worst, and will be a player that fans are quick to forget.

The Brazilian was signed in July, yet only managed to make his debut in March the following year due to injuries, via Football Insider. This wasn’t the start of a great career at the club, as during his spell in Scotland he only went on to make two appearances, per Transfermarkt.

Whilst he was contracted to Celtic, he was shipped back out on loan to the Brazilian league, with Corinthians taking him for two years until 2002. During this time, it was revealed by the player that Martin O’Neill had some pretty scathing things to say about him, suggesting that the Northern Irishman had said: “I like footballers who are not like you. I like footballers who play well.”

It was clear for all associated with the club that he was not wanted anywhere near the first team after his loan spell ended. In fact, he was no longer eligible for a UK work permit by this point and they wanted him off their books so bad that they paid up the remainder of the contract so he could move to Atletico Mineiro. This would have costed the club a fair chunk of money.

The defender will be remembered by many of the Hoops faithful as one of the worst signings in the club’s history, and a huge waste of over £6 million.

Do you remember the club signing Scheidt? Comment below!