Hello and welcome to the ECHO's latest Everton news and transfers blog for Thursday, May 11.
James Rodriguez has been tipped with a remarkable return to Goodison Park this summer just weeks after he left Olympiacos. The Colombian spent just one season with the Blues between 2020 and 2021 - but it has now been mooted Everton are among Premier League sides to have enquired about his services.
Elsewhere, PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy admits that he would love to keep on-loan Jarrad Branthwaite at the Eredivisie club, but the former United striker understands the complications in doing so. Napoli are also claimed to be interested in Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a proposed replacement for Victor Osimhen.
In other transfer news, developing reports from The Daily Star say Manchester United will set their sights on signing Jordan Pickford this summer if long-serving number one David de Gea leaves the club. Pickford, 29, is under contract at Goodison Park until 2027.
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Key Events
Scroll below for Everton transfer updates
So that brings our latest Everton transfer blog to a conclusion.
Scroll below for news, rumours and updates from Goodison Park.
Final three Premier League fixtures
Everton gave themselves a massive boost in the ongoing relegation battle on Monday afternoon when they swept aside European contenders Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Here are their remaining Premier League fixtures this season;
Sunday, May 14 vs Man City (H) at 2pm
Saturday, May 20 vs Wolves (A) at 3pm
Sunday, May 28 vs Bournemouth (H) at 4.30pm
Manchester United 'eye' Jordan Pickford move - reports
Manchester United are reported to be in the market for Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
However, that would-be pursuit depends on whether or not David de Gea remains at Old Trafford.
Pickford, 29, committed his future to Everton when recently penning a contract until 2027.
But the Blues are still poised for United to come calling this summer if they lose their own number one. Reports from The Daily Star highlight interest in Pickford and suggest Erik ten Hag personally added him to the shortlist of potential replacements for De Gea.
Tottenham listening to Richarlison offers - reports
Tottenham are reportedly willing to listen to offers for former Everton forward Richarlison.
Richarlison, 26, only departed Goodison Park for north London last summer in a £60m switch.
However, it has been a real struggle for him with only three goals scored this season.
Reports from Team Talk - via AS - state European heavyweights Real Madrid and Inter Milan are interested in a cut-price swoop for the Brazil international. Richarlison made 152 appearances for Everton between 2018 and 2022 - scoring 53 goals.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Napoli's shopping list - reports
Napoli have been linked with a move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
It comes as the Scudetto champions prepare to lose Victor Osimhen in the summer.
As such, they have started to note down possible replacements for him.
Reports from Italian publication Calciomercato argue Calvert-Lewin, 26, could be an option for Napoli should they - as expected - cash in on £100m plus Osimhen when the market reopens. No fee has been suggested for the fit-again Everton talisman.
Betting odds vs Man City via Bet365
Everton returned to winning ways in style against Brighton on Monday afternoon.
Here are the latest betting odds - from Bet365 - for their showdown with Man City;
Everton win - 8/1
Draw - 15/4
Man City win - 4/11
*Odds were correct at 16:00 on May 11. Subject to change.
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Will Everton survive?
Here is your chance to have your say on whether Everton will survive the relegation battle in the Premier League. The Blues are currently 17th and two points clear of Leeds in 18th after the 5-1 win over Brighton.
Up next for Everton is the toughest of all tasks as they welcome Manchester City to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues then face Wolves away, Bournemouth at home and then finish off the season with a home match against Bournemouth.
The ultimate challenge?
Is stopping Erling Haaland the ultimate challenge in football at the moment? The Manchester City striker has set a new record in the Premier League after scoring 35 goals so far.
Everton face the task of stopping him on Sunday as he looks to further add to his tally. The Blues maanged to come away from the Etihad with a point in December after a 1-1 draw thanks to Demarai Gray's second half goal cancelling out the Norwegian's opener.
Who starts?
Who should Sean Dyche start against Manchester City on Sunday? After the thumping 5-1 win over Brighton, it's hard to see where changes would be made, but you never know what the Everton boss has up his sleeve.
Yerry Mina returned to the starting XI and was brilliant for the Blues. Is he fit enough to keep his place in the defence?
Everton plot reunion
According to journalist Christian Martin, Everton are amongst the clubs interested in signing James Rodriguez on a free transfer from Olympiacos.
Speaking on the El Futbolero Youtube channel, Martin claimed: "The English clubs have the money, the greats of Scotland too. No one would be deprived of at least evaluating the possibility of repatriating James to the UK. From our sources, the inquiries have been, through intermediaries, by Crystal Palace, by Bournemouth, by Everton itself."
Of course, Rodriguez has already donned the blue of Everton, but Sean Dyche is reportedly keen on bringing the Colombian back to Merseyside.
Big game coming up
Everton have to wait until Sunday until they are next in Premier League action when they welcome league leaders Manchester City to Goodison Park.
City are a point clear at the top and have a game in hand over Arsenal while the Blues are fighting for their lives. The 5-1 win over Brighton at the weekend has lifted them to 17th and they now have a two point cushion over Leeds. However, the Yorkshire side play Newcastle on Saturday so Everton could start Sunday's match in the bottom three.
After this weekend, Everton face Wolves at Molinuex.
Have your say!
Have your say on where Everton will finish in the Premier League. The Blues have just three games left as they look to avoid relegation to the Championship.
The Blues are now 17th after their 5-1 win at Brighton at the weekend pushed them two points clear of the bottom three.
Up next though is the biggest of tests as Manchester City visit Goodison Park.
James Rodriguez return?
Everton are said to be one of three Premier League clubs to have made an enquiry over the possibility of signing former Blue James Rodriguez.
Most recently at Olympiacos, the Colombian recently saw his contract terminated and is again a free agent. Discussing where the 31-year-old could end up next, journalist Christian Martin has told El Futbolero the Blues have registered an interest in bringing the midfielder back to Goodison Park.
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also understood to have taken steps to explore a potential deal.
Beto boost
Udinese striker Beto is likely to leave his current employers at the end of the season, it has been claimed.
The Portuguese star was strongly linked with a move to Everton during the January transfer window, though his club held firm amid interest from the Blues.
This could soon change, however, with his departure now described as 'very probable'. Everton are said to be 'at the top of the list' and a similar offer to the one sent during January 'should be enough' to get a deal done on this occasion, according to Mondo Udinese.
Read part one of Michael Ball's column
I woke up on Tuesday morning – perhaps like many other Evertonians – wondering whether it had all been a dream!
It was the perfect performance from Sean Dyche and the Everton team against Brighton & Hove Albion and while totally unexpected, it was a fantastic result. I wouldn’t say it makes up for all the pain that the travelling Blues supporters have had to endure this season but it was much-needed for the fanbase to finally get some kind of return for all the money, travel and time they spend as following Everton Football Club has mostly not been an enjoyable experience over the past couple of seasons.
We’ve got to give credit to the manager because even though he’d been under a bit of pressure from the fans for his decision-making over the last few games, he’s seen things that the majority of the supporters haven’t and has been pretty happy with the displays. Getting the early goal set the tone for us as goals change games but we’ve been on top against teams in the past but haven’t been productive enough when it comes to putting our chances away and have been sloppy in the final third to let teams off the hook, only for them to go down the other end and put the ball in the back of the net.
It’s often come from our own unforced errors and had resulted in our heads dropping. But at Brighton we got the goal and it gave the players belief and seemingly an extra yard.
Brighton had the majority of possession – we only had the ball 22% of the time – but we were productive when we received the ball. The way we executed the counter-attacks and our decision-making was spot on.
I think Dwight McNeil has probably been the standout player since Dyche came in. There had been question marks throughout the season over what he was actually good at but I think the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been brilliant for him, as he’s now got options like he didn’t have in the past as he knows his centre-forward is going to be in the area and he can cross it in and Abdoulaye Doucoure is pushing up from midfield as a second striker, getting himself into the box.
Read the first part of Michael Ball's column, here.
Good morning, Blues
Hello and welcome to the ECHO's latest Everton news and transfers blog for Thursday, May 11.
James Rodriguez has been tipped with a remarkable return to Goodison Park this summer just weeks after he left Olympiacos. The Colombian left the Blues after just one season in the summer of 2021 but it has now been claimed that Everton are one of a number of Premier League sides to have enquired about his services.
Elsewhere, PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy admits that he would love to keep on-loan Jarrad Branthwaite at the Eredivisie club, but the former United striker understands the complications in doing so.
Stay tuned as we will also bring you all build-up ahead of the Blues' next Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
