Everton transfer news recap - 777 latest, Arnaut Danjuma decision, Kalvin Phillips future

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Thank you for tuning in tonight.

Before you go, be sure to read our top stories tonight.

• Lewis Dobbin opens up on private Jude Bellingham messages after Everton goal against Chelsea
  

• Sean Dyche shares Everton injury update as four players could miss Tottenham

• Sean Dyche makes Everton transfer admission as January plan confirmed

• 777 Partners-owned team hit with transfer ban as Everton deal seeks conclusion

Paul Merson makes Tottenham vs Everton prediction

Paul Merson reckons Everton's winning run will come to an end against Tottenham this weekend.

The Blues have won their last four games to become the Premier League's form team but Merson is predicting Spurs to beat Sean Dyche's side on Saturday.

Predicting a 3-1 scoreline, he told Sportskeeda:

Everton are flying in the Premier League. The midweek Carabao Cup loss to Fulham in the quarter-final was unfortunate. Tottenham also have their frontline firing right now. Richarlison is playing well and so is Dejan Kulusevski. Son Heung-min is enjoying a revival of sorts.

Spurs are going to suffer next month when some of their biggest stars will leave for AFCON and the AFC Asian Cup. However, I think they have enough firepower to pull through.

I think Tottenham are going to use their home advantage to go on and secure all three points against The Toffees despite the latter’s upturn in form in recent weeks.

777 Partners-owned team hit with transfer ban as Everton deal seeks conclusion

One of the clubs owned by prospective Everton owners 777 Partners has been hit with a transfer ban.

Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege have been placed under a transfer embargo by the Royal Belgian Football Association over a failure to meet transfer payments for two players.

In a published decision of the Licensing Commission on the Belgian FA website, the two transfer fees in question are for the signings of Ilyes Ziani from fellow Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise in May of this year, as well as the addition of Aron Donnum, now at Toulouse, who was signed by Standard Liege in 2021 from Norwegian side Valerenga, a deal done before 777 Partners took control of the club.

The report also states that there has been a failure to provide proof of payment to the Belgian Department of Social Security.

Sean Dyche shares Everton injury update as four players could miss Tottenham

Everton will be without Abdoulaye Doucoure, Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young for Saturday's Premier League visit at Tottenham Hotspur.

Doucoure was substituted at half-time of Everton's 2-0 win over Burnley last weekend with a hamstring issue and, as a result, missed Tuesday's League Cup quarter-final defeat to Fulham.

Coleman, on the other hand, made his return to action in the defeat of Newcastle United earlier this month but was withdrawn midway through the second half after suffering a foot injury. Young, meanwhile, lasted just 41 minutes of the 2-0 victory over Chelsea on December 10 before being replaced by Nathan Patterson.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Blues boss provided an update on the trio, saying: "Touch and go with Seamus because of the involvement side of things, he needs a few more days of training. Youngy is making progress but I don't think he'll make this one. And Douc, not for this one."

Pushed on when Doucoure, who is Everton's top scorer with six goals this season, could make a return to action, Dyche said: "We'll see, he's making good progress. I think I mentioned it in the week, he's a good healer from what I gather from his past here. So we're hoping it settles quickly as it is doing."

However, Dyche was able to provide a positive update on the fitness of Vitalii Mykolenko, who has missed his side's last two outings against Burnley and Fulham. The Everton boss admitted that the Ukrainian defender is "back in the thinking" and could feature at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Victory in North London would make it five consecutive Premier League wins for the Blues, who have climbed out of the relegation zone since being hit with a 10-point deduction last month.

Sean Dyche press conference LIVE

We'll be hearing from Sean Dyche at Finch Farm shortly.

Follow all the live updates in our blog, here.

Premier League rejects European Super League idea

The Premier League says it will hold "open and constructive" dialogue on how best to "protect and enhance" domestic and international football after new plans for a European Super League were announced.

On Thursday, plans for a new 64-team, three-tier European competition were announced after the European Court of Justice ruled both UEFA and FIFA to have breached EU laws by blocking the inception of the European Super League in 2021.

Liverpool were one of 12 clubs - including Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal - that signed up for the failed breakaway league that lasted less than 48 hours before a succession of U-turns led to all clubs - bar Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid - withdrawing.

Following the ruling from the European Court of Justice, Super League backers A22 announced new proposals for a new European competition that would see Europe's top teams compete across the Star League, Gold League and Blue League. It is proposed that the competition will be open and teams can be promoted and relegated based on their performance.

On Thursday afternoon, though, the Premier League released a statement rejecting the concept of an idea similar to the 2021 European Super League. The statement also underlined the league's commitment to "open competition" and insisted the league's chiefs will now aim to enhance the domestic game.

"The Premier League notes today’s judgment in the European Court of Justice case involving the "European Superleague Company", FIFA and UEFA. This is a significant ruling and we will now fully examine its implications for the game," read a Premier League statement.

"The ruling does not endorse the so-called "European Super League" and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept. Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a "breakaway" competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.

"The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.

"Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football.

"These principles are enshrined in the Premier League Owners’ Charter, introduced in June 2022, which aims to improve the collective strength and competitiveness of the League in the best interests of the wider game.

"Since 2021, the Premier League, alongside other football bodies, has also strengthened its rules and governance in this area.

"The Premier League will continue to engage in an open and constructive dialogue, with all relevant football stakeholders, on how best to protect and enhance the complementary balance of domestic and international club football."

Dobbin opens up on Bellingham friendship

Everton forward Lewis Dobbin has described Jude Bellingham as an inspiration after opening up about the pair's friendship.

Eagle-eyed Evertonians spotted that Real Madrid superstar Bellingham was one of the many to message Dobbin after he netted his first Premier League goal against Chelsea earlier this month. The young forward's maiden strike for the Blues sealed a superb 2-0 victory at Goodison Park.

Chelsea had piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser after Abdoulaye Doucoure's opener. But when replacement goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic flapped at a corner in stoppage time, Dobbin drilled the ball home in to wrap up all three points for his side and spark wild celebrations.

Taking to Instagram after the game, the 20-year-old wrote: “Dreams Really Do Come True," to which Bellingham replied: “Congrats bro.”

And opening up on his friendship with the England international, Dobbin revealed to the club’s matchday programme: “I played with Jude from the age of 14 until I was around 16 or 17 - he was our England captain.

“He messaged me individually as well, so it’s nice to stay in touch with him and it shows the kind of guy he is because he is absolutely smashing it at the minute. He’s an inspiration to a lot of players in our generation. A lot of people got in touch and the reaction of everyone was crazy and humbling as well.

“Evertonians are unbelievable. They have always been good with me over the past few years but the reaction after the goal against Chelsea was crazy. I’m just extremely thankful and grateful to them. It just makes me want more and to contribute to a team they can be proud of.”

Confirmed: Everton fixture changes

Three of Everton's February fixtures have been selected to be broadcast on television. Both home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace have been rearranged, while so has that month's trip to the Etihad.

| Three of our games in February have been rescheduled... pic.twitter.com/fErczFKthY

— Everton (@Everton) December 21, 2023

Further European Super League plans announced

A22, the company behind the European Super League in 2021 have announced new plans for 64 teams to be involved in three new European Super Leagues.

A22 has unveiled its plans for a breakaway European competition. It will involve 64 teams across three tiers with annual promotion and relegation.

The three tiers will be the Star League, Gold League and Blue League.

Knockout competitions will determine champions and promotion

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) December 21, 2023

European Super League verdict

UEFA and FIFA rules hoping to ban clubs from joining a breakaway European Super League are unlawful, a European court has ruled.

A ruling on Thursday from the European Court of Justice sided with the European Super League and its backer A22, claiming that it was unlawful to sanction clubs and players who joined the breakaway league.

Back in 2021, six Premier League teams - Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea - all signed up for a 12-team league breakaway league.

Kalvin Phillips to leave Manchester City

Kalvin Phillips will seek assurances over his game time as he prepares to leave Manchester City in January, according to a new report.

The Telegraph claims that the England midfielder currently has interest from Newcastle United and Juventus, who are said to be at the "front of the queue" for the former Leeds United midfielder.

Would you like to see Everton make a swoop for Phillips?

Arnaut Danjuma decision to be made?

According to reports in Spain, Villarreal could look to recall Arnaut Danjuma in the January transfer window after the forward's lack of minutes at Goodison Park.

The 26-year-old signed a season-long loan at Goodison Park in the summer but has found minutes under Sean Dyche hard to come by and played just 386 minutes in the Premier League this term.

According to Cadenaser, Villarreal are looking to bring in attacking reinforcements in the New Year but could recall Danjuma instead.

Would you be disappointed to see Danjuma leave Goodison Park, Blues?

Confirmation: Bournemouth vs Luton Town to be replayed

On Wednesday, the Premier League confirmed that Bournemouth's postponed game with Luton Town will be replayed in full at a later date.

The game, which took place at the Vitality Stadium, was postponed after Luton's captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during the second half with the score at 1-1.

Premier League table

Here is how the Premier League table is looking ahead of the latest round of fixtures...

16. Everton, 16 points (+2 GD)

17. Nottingham Forest, 14 points (-13 GD)

18. Luton Town, 9 points (-15 GD)

19. Burnley, 8 points (-20 GD)

20. Sheffield United, 8 points (-31 GD)

Spurs up next

Everton's next Premier League match is against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.

This will of course see the Blues reunited with Richarlison, who has been in fine form for his new club of late.

Hopefully the Brazilian's scoring streak will not continue this weekend...

Good morning, Blues

Hello and welcome to today's Everton live blog.

We will be bringing you the latest news on the Blues throughout the day, so stay tuned for the latest on any developments.