IDRISSA GANA GUEYE RETURNS: EVERTON BOOST BEFORE CHELSEA; BRANTHWAITE UPDATE
Everton gets a major boost as midfielders Idrissa Gana Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam return from suspension for the Chelsea match. Gueye will soon depart for AFCON duty.
Here's the latest from Everton as they prepare to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their next Premier League game.
Manager David Moyes gave an update on Jarrad Branthwaite, saying the defender is recovering well from his hamstring injury.
Branthwaite, a key player in the centre-back position, hasn't played this season. He was hurt just before the season started and had surgery in October.
Michael Keane has been playing well in his place; Moyes is eager to have Branthwaite back at total strength. Although Branthwaite won’t be ready for Saturday’s game against Chelsea and still needs a few weeks to get back in shape, he is back training on the field. Merlin Rohl, who joined the team this summer, is also recovering well after hernia surgery last month.
Moyes mentioned in his press conference before the game, “Jarrad and Merlin are back outside, doing some drills. Merlin is further along in his recovery than Jarrad, but both are training on the field. We’re hoping to see them back soon.”
Everton is heading to Chelsea with a good record, winning four of their last five matches, including a solid 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest. They're currently seventh in the Premier League.
Good news for the Toffees, as midfielders Idrissa Gana Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam will be available again for the Chelsea game. Gueye was suspended for the last three games, and Iroegbunam was out against Forest due to suspension.
However, Gueye’s return will be short. He and Iliman Ndiaye will be joining the Senegal team.
Moyes added, We fully respect the Africa Cup of Nations. The players will be playing for their countries in the tournament, as they should. It's fantastic that they've been chosen to represent their country, and we hope they play well.
Of course, no manager wants to lose players to international duty, but we have them for this weekend, and then we'll wish them the best.
It seems Seamus Coleman (hamstring) will be the only player unavailable for Moyes against Chelsea.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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