Everton have made contact with Premier League rivals over a move for a striker, according to Football Insider, as the club aim to give some fresh options to David Moyes.

It comes as the Toffees look to improve on last season’s 13th-placed finish, which saw the team in the conversation for European football, but falling away late in the campaign.

Several areas could be addressed in the market to help give Everton a fighting chance of landing a return to Europe next time, but the forward ranks remain the most prominent in the club’s focus for this summer.

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According to the report from Football Insider, Everton have made contact with Chelsea in an effort to sign Liam Delap, as work for a deal accelerates.

The 23-year-old is expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks, following a difficult debut campaign with the club last time around.

A mixture of injuries and poor form meant the striker looked a shadow of the player he was in his time with Ipswich Town the season before, having been described as a “beast” when at top form.

Everton are looking to take advantage of Chelsea’s decision to try and get Delap back to his very best, with plenty of potential clearly there.

The forward could offer a presence at the top end of the pitch, which would suit Moyes’s style of play, where the strikers often have to fight for the right service towards them.

It’s unclear exactly how much Everton value the striker at, with other reports claiming that £40 million could be enough to persuade the Blues to part ways this summer for the star who has been described as a “beast”.

That switch could prove to be the first deal of many for the Toffees, which could bring about some change in the forward departments.

Everton’s Forward Changes

Everton are expecting a few ins and outs when it comes to the forward areas, with some possible deals being lined up in both directions this summer.

RB Leipzig have made contact over a deal to sign Thierno Barry, which may open up the possibility of Delap making the switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Beyond the French striker potentially leaving, reports have stated that Everton are interested in Jarrod Bowen following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship.

It would see Moyes reunite with the forward following their time together in the capital, which had plenty of success for the forward and the head coach.

Lionel Messi has a strong understanding of what separates the very best players from the rest, and his eight Ballon d’Or titles underline that better than most. Across more than two decades as a professional, he has faced plenty of England’s biggest football names. However, it is not Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane or Ashley Cole who the Argentine regards as the country’s finest ever talent.

Instead, Messi – one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game – chose Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard as England’s “greatest ever player.”

Back in 2016, the Argentine superstar was discussing the Liverpool legend shortly after his retirement. He made it clear just how much he admired the midfielder, wishing him “a happy retirement” and saying:

“Personally, I think [Steven] Gerrard is England’s greatest-ever player.”

Although he was not specifically weighing in on the famous Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes debate involving three of England’s most celebrated midfielders, Messi’s comments still make his preference for the Liverpool star over his former international teammates pretty clear.

The former Reds captain has a glittering list of individual honours to his name, having been selected in the PFA Team of the Year a record eight times and included in the FIFPRO World 11 on three separate occasions. That is the second-highest tally of any Englishman, behind only Chelsea great John Terry, who made the side five times. Gerrard was also named alongside Messi in UEFA’s “Team of the Century”, standing as the only English player included and one of just two members of the XI not to have represented either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Gerrard Feared Messi

Gerrard, meanwhile, named Messi alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as the only two players he was ever “afraid” to play against. The pair met just twice during their long careers, facing one another in both legs of the 2006/07 Champions League last-16 tie. Liverpool progressed on that occasion, eliminating the Catalan giants on away goals after a 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou and a 1-0 defeat at Anfield. Messi did not find the net in either match.

Messi endured a similar outcome on his only other visit to Anfield, when Liverpool memorably wiped out a three-goal first-leg deficit in the 2019 Champions League semifinal to send Barcelona crashing out. The Merseyside outfit appeared to be among the few clubs capable of getting the better of Messi’s star-packed Barca sides.

Messi yet to Face England

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Against English clubs outside of Liverpool, the Inter Miami star generally had little trouble leaving his mark, producing 27 goals and seven assists in 36 matches against Premier League opposition. What stands out is that, even with relatively few direct meetings against Gerrard, Messi still selected the Liverpool man as England’s greatest. He shared a pitch with Frank Lampard on nine occasions and came up against Paul Scholes four times.

For all his admiration of Gerrard, Messi has surprisingly never faced England on the international stage. Argentina have not played the Three Lions at senior level since David Beckham’s penalty earned Sven Goran Erikson’s team a 1-0 victory at the 2002 World Cup. That match came three full years before Messi made his international debut. Their paths may yet finally cross at the 2026 World Cup in North America. “`

Manchester United are set to miss out on a deal for a midfielder this summer, as Mundo Deportivo claims that one target has rejected an exit from his club.

It comes as the Red Devils are considering their options in the central areas, with as many as three signings expected in the middle of the park in the coming weeks of the transfer window.

Ederson is set to join from Atalanta as the first signing in that position, but the other two options remain open, as Man United position themselves for some impressive players.

Mateus Fernandes has been a key target, along with Sandro Tonali, but there is a battle for the pair as Premier League rivals Tottenham have muscled their way into discussions for the midfield duo.

However, there are other options being assessed, though one of those now appears to be off the cards.

Marc Bernal Rejects Barcelona Exit

Manchester United have been among a whole group of teams monitoring a potential move for Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The 19-year-old, who has been described as a “special” talent, has impressed since making his breakthrough into the senior team from La Masia.

The midfielder has shown plenty of potential, making 33 appearances over the past season for the Blaugrana, which has caught the attention of the Red Devils.

That said, a deal looks almost impossible now, as the report claims that Bernal has fully committed his future to Barcelona and has rejected the motion of an exit.

The youngster has a €500 million release clause in his deal, which runs until 2029, meaning any move is unlikely to be completed for him in the near future.

It may leave Man United rocked, with another midfield option taken away from them, albeit one who is likely to be a long-term option for the club.

It shows how tough the market is for the stars in the central areas, as the merry-go-round continues.

Man United’s Future-Proofing Plan

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In the past, Man United have been caught in awkward situations by landing players who are in the latter part of their career. It has tied them down to expensive options without the longevity that comes with having a younger star.

This summer’s approach has certainly shifted away from that, with Fernandes still only 21 years old, while even Tonali is at the start of his peak at just 26 years old.

Throwing either alongside the likes of Kobbie Mainoo could create a pairing that will serve Man United for years to come. That strategy is clearly underlined in the club’s interest in a youngster like Bernal.

There is a long-term plan that the Red Devils have planned out. There is some hope that once all the pieces fall into place, there will be no need to change the central areas, and future windows can focus on adding quality elsewhere.