Everton To Swoop For Niang?

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Premier League club Everton are to turn to Senegal International Mamadou Niang at Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, when the transfer window reopens in January as manager David Moyes looks to add some much needed firepower to an injury ravaged frontline at the Merseyside club.

The Toffees had been heavily linked with a move for Brazilian International Vagner Love at Russian side CSKA Moscow, who reportedly almost joined the Premiership club on loan in the summer, but after making a fresh approach have been priced out of any opportunity to land the Brazilian striker by CSKA.



This has led Moyes to 29-year-old Niang, who has been at the Stade Velodrome since joining from RC Strasbourg in 2005, with the striker scoring 45 goals in 109 appearances during his time at Marseille. Niang has also scored 13 goals in 27 caps for Senegal.

Everton have a severe shortage of forwards at Goodison Park, with Yakubu and James Vaughan both out with long-term injuries and summer signing Louis Saha suffering from persistent hamstring troubles. In addition to this Victor Anichebe is out with a back problem, which means Moyes having to push midfielder Tim Cahill into a more forward role against Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday.

Whether Les Phoceens are willing to part with Niang remains to be seen, with the striker finishing as the second highest goal-scorer in the French league last season and was an integral part of the Marseille side, which finished 3rd and qualified for the Champions League.

Everton v Chelsea Premier League Preview: Can The Toffees Turn Around Poor Home Form Against The Blues 100% Away Record?

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Everton play Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea in the Premier League at Goodison Park on Monday.

Toffees boss David Moyes will have cause for concern ahead of this clash with Chelsea, having seen his Everton side manage only one win at home in the Premiership this season in eight matches. The only team in the league with a worse home record is Blackburn Rovers and had it not been for the Merseyside clubs away form could easily have found them in a relegation battle instead of 7th in the Premier League. Everton’s only win at home came against Fulham at the beginning of November, which is something Moyes is hoping the Toffees can put right at Goodison on Monday.

Like Everton, Chelsea have also not been their best at Stamford Bridge this season, having lost twice after a four-and-a-half year unbeaten run that went back to 2004 and Claudio Ranieri and drawing four times. However, the Blues have also been superb away from home, winning all eight matches on their travels, scoring 21 goals and conceding just the once. Scolari must surely fancy Chelsea’s chances of extending this winning run. Given Everton’s poor form at Goodison as the Blues continue to push for the Premiership title in 2nd place, just a point behind leaders Liverpool.

As if Everton’s poor home record wasn’t enough to contend with ahead of the visit of Chelsea. Moyes also has no fully fit strikers available, with Victor Anichebe (back), Yakubu (calf) and James Vaughan (knee) all ruled out. In addition to this Louis Saha (hamstring) is also a doubt for the visit of the Blues, which might force Moyes to push Tim Cahill upfront as a makeshift striker or use 16-year-old Jose Baxter. Everton will also be missing defenders Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) and Nuno Valente (knee) for the clash on Monday.

Scolari has less injury worries, with defender Ricardo Carvalho (knee) still a week away from a return to action, while Florent Malouda (hamstring) is struggling to be fit in time to face Everton. Chelsea will also be without long-term injury Michael Essien (knee).

Everton: (from) Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Neville, Baines, Lescott, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Saha, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Osman, Nash, Fellaini, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Irving, Kissock, Baxter

Chelsea: (from) Cech, A Cole, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Bosingwa, J Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Mikel, Drogba, Kalou, Anelka, Cudicini, Bridge, Sinclair, Deco, Malouda, Di Santo, Ferreira, Mineiro, Belletti, Stoch, Woods

Everton Look To Pancrate To Ease Striker Crisis

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Everton manager David Moyes has been linked with a move for Paris St Germain striker Fabrice Pancrate in the January transfer window, with the Toffees boss desperately in need of some more firepower upfront at Goodison Park due to injuries.

The Merseyside club face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday at Goodison, but Moyes only has one fit striker in Victor Anichebe available, with Yakubu and James Vaughan both out with long-term injuries and summer signing Louis Saha suffering from persistent hamstring problems.



28-year-old Pancrate had been a summer target for Premiership debutantes Hull City and could leave PSG on loan in January or for a modest fee of around £1million due to his present deal at the Parc des Princes running out at the end of the season.

Pancrate has been at PSG since joining from Ligue 1 rivals Le Mans in 2004 and has made 68 league appearances for the French side. However, Pancrate is not what you would call a natural goalscorer and has only scored 9 goals in the French top-flight for PSG since he left Le Mans, with the striker spending a short loan spell at La Liga side Real Betis in 2007.

Moyes is also reportedly interested in Manchester City summer signing Jo, who has struggled to make an impact at the Eastlands Stadium since his move from CSKA Moscow. However, it is understood that while City manager Mark Hughes may let the Brazilian International go out on loan. Hughes would be reluctant to loan Jo to another Premier League club.

Everton Target Larsson Open To Premier League Return

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Swedish International striker Henrik Larsson has revealed that he would be open to a return to the Premier League, with Everton linked to the former Manchester United and Barcelona player.

Larsson is currently a free agent after his deal with Swedish club Helsinborg ended, but despite reports suggesting the 37-year-old would retire from football, Larsson is tempted to have another crack at the Premiership.

Toffees boss David Moyes is desperate to bring a striker into Goodison Park in January, with Yakubu and James Vaughan out with long-term injuries for the Merseyside club and is understood to have made veteran Larsson a main winter transfer target.

Larsson has claimed that he is considering his options, but might favour a similar short-term deal at Everton to the one that took him to United on loan in 2007.

“I am a free agent and have not yet decided what to do next,” Larsson told the Daily Star.

The former Celtic player also revealed that he will not sign a new deal with Helsingborg unless there is a change in the way the club is run.

“I like Helsingborgs, but I want to see a change of attitude and in the way the club is run before I sign again,” he added.

“I have not completely closed my mind to the idea of going abroad again, so we will see what happens.”

Everton To Reignite Interest In Marseille's Cana?

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Everton are set to reignite their interest in Albanian International Lorik Cana at Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, with Toffess boss David Moyes still keen on Cana after being linked with the Marseille captain during the summer, according to The People.

Everton along with Premier League rivals Arsenal had been heavily linked with 25-year-old Cana during the summer, but Marseille stuck a £12million price tag on their captain, which cooled interest from the Merseyside club.

Cana had appeared to be off the radar of Everton after Moyes opted to sign Marouane Fellaini from Standard Liege, but is now believed to have sent his assistant Steve Round to watch the midfielder in action against Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield last Wednesday, with a move to bring Cana to Goodison Park in January being mooted.

Cana has been at the Stade Velodrome since joining from Paris St Germain in 2005 and has made over 100 league appearances for the French side, with the central-midfielder being capped by Albania 31 times.

Everton Lead Spurs, Man City & Real In Race For Podolski?

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Everton are reportedly favourites ahead of Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to sign want-away striker Lukas Podolski from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, according to The News of the World.

23-year-old Podolski, despite being a regular for the German national team has found limited opportunities this season under coach Jurgen Klinsman, who has preferred to play Miroslav Klose and Italian Luca Toni upfront for the Bundesliga giants.

Spurs and City along with La Liga Champions Real Madrid have all been heavily linked with a move for 23-year-old Podolski. Bayern chief, German legend Franz Beckenbauer declared last week that Podolski would be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena if the German clubs valuation of €15million was met.

Beckenbauer told Bild: “Everything in life has its price.

“Two and a half years ago, we paid €10 million. Now, the fee is €15 million.

“You cannot keep a professional if he is unhappy, on the bench, and not playing.

“Poldi does not quite fit into our way of playing. He is a top-class striker when he has space in front of him as he has the pace to run clear.

“But the teams we play against are usually very defensive, so we need players who can get into the penalty area – Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni in particular.”

Now the Sunday tabloid claims that the Toffees have entered into the frame to sign Podolski, with Everton manager David Moyes desperate to add some firepower at the Merseyside club in January after injuries to strikers Louis Saha and James Vaughan.

€15million would not be prohibitive for all three of the Premier League clubs, with it looking certain that Podolski will leave the Bundesliga club in January. However, whether Podolski chooses Goodison Park over the Eastlands, White Hart Lane or the Bernabeu remains to be seen.

Another option for Podolski could be a return to his former club Cologne, who have first option on the striker and have expressed an interest in bringing Podolski back to the Rhein Energie Stadion.

Everton Boss Moyes Rejects Meteb Agent's Claims

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Everton manager David Moyes has revealed that he is completely in the dark over recent reports that Egyptian International Emad Meteb is set for a January switch to Goodison Park, with the Toffees boss claiming to have never heard of the striker, who plays for Al-Ittihad.

Meteb’s agent Mohamed Hamid had recently claimed that his client was to join the Merseyside club in a £2million deal in January, with it claimed that talks had already been held between the two parties about a proposed move to the Premier League.

Hamid said: “I travelled to England a week ago to agree on the final details of the contract with Everton. We agreed on everything. Emad was informed about the course of negotiations, and he is glad about it.”

However, Moyes is stunned by the comments made by Meteb’s agent and has declared that although he might have seen Meteb play there are no talks ongoing to bring the Egyptian to the Premiership.

“I don't know anything about it. I've never heard of him,” Moyes said in the Liverpool Daily Post.

“I might have seen him play, but the name doesn't mean anything to me.”

Everton To Make £6million January Move For The 'New Alessandro Nesta'?

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Premier League club Everton are reportedly lining up a £6million bid for Napoli defender Fabiano Santacroce when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The News of the World.

Toffees boss David Moyes struggled to attract players to Goodison Park during the summer and has made no secret of the fact that he will need to strengthen the squad at the Merseyside club in January, with 22-year-old Santacroce top of his list to shore up a defence that has conceded 19 goals in 11 games so far in the Premiership this season.

Central-defender Santacroce only arrived at Napoli in January after impressing at rival Italian club Breschia in the previous two seasons, with the young defender’s performances for the Azzurri this year earning Santacroce a recent call up to Marcello Lippi’s Italian squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro.

However, it remains to be seen if a reported £6million offer from Everton in January will be enough to persuade Napoli let the defender dubbed the ‘New Alessandro Nesta’ leave the Stadio San Paolo, with coach Edoardo Reja reluctant to let Santacroce leave a side that is amongst the early pacesetters in Serie A.

Everton To Beat Spurs To Swedish Legend

Everton have made an official offer for Swedish veteran Henrik Larson at Helsinborgs, according to reports in Scandanavia.

36-year-old Larsson has attracted the attention of a lot of clubs since he reportedly fell out with the hierarchy at the Swedish club. With Tottenham Hotspur also believed to be interested in bringing the former FC Barcelona player to the Premier League.

However, it is thought to be the Toffees that have made a firm offer to bring the Swedish International to Goodison Park, with manager David Moyes desperate to recruit more new faces before the transfer window shuts.

Larsson was flattered by the interest from the Premiership, where he spent a short loan spell with Manchester United in 2007.

“It is flattering that there is interest,” Larsson told Expressen.

The strikers agent Rob Jansen revealed that Larsson will make his decision on Joining the Merseyside club this weekend. With it understood that Helsingborgs will allow the forward to end his stay at the Olympia.

“It's up to Henrik to decide now. If he wants to join this club,” Jansen stated.

“He will make his decision during the weekend.”