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Former Everton star Michael Ball has lauded Demarai Gray after his fine start to the season at the Toffees.

The club brought the winger in during the summer transfer window, securing his signature from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

The deal cost around £1.7m and Gray is already providing to be one of the biggest bargains of the summer transfer window.

He has made a total of six appearances in the Premier League and has already scored three goals, while also registering one assist.

The winger is already one of the first names on the team sheet under manager Rafael Benitez and the Toffees are currently fifth in the Premier League table.

Ball has been mightily impressed with Gray’s first few appearances for the Toffees and believes that the winger operates in such a way that he is constantly trying to make things happen.

He said: “£1.7m, it seems an absolute bargain right now. There were question marks over the signing when we were first interested but he’s proved straight away why.

“It was the type of player we were missing, he’s got energy, he gets the ball, he goes forward, he tries to break the lines, he’s trying to create and scoring goals, he’s making three man runs. He’s doing everything. He looks like a guy who wants to be at the football club and wants to impress every time he’s on that pitch.”

Gray may have something of a chip on his shoulder, having previously played for Leicester City in the Premier League, making 169 appearances for the club.

Former Nottingham Forest striker Nigel Jemson is certain that Harry Kane will be a Manchester City player on September 1, with The Athletic’s Sam Lee claiming the Premier League holders are confident Tottenham will sell.

The England striker’s potential move to the Premier League champions took a major twist last week when he was absent from training.

Kane has already expressed his feelings about wanting to leave to challenge for major trophies and play in the Champions League.

However, chairman Daniel Levy is set to demand a Premier League record fee to prise the 28-year-old away from north London, which will test City’s finances following the £100m signing of Jack Grealish.

Kane is set to report back to Hotspur Way to resume training and undergo all the regular medical tests after returning to the UK following his break from the EUROs.

Daniel Levy could to dig his heels in further to keep Kane at Spurs after the recent events, but Jemson exclusively told Football FanCast that he can only see one outcome:

He said: “Harry Kane has been a great servant for Tottenham, he seems a really popular fella and his record is second to none.

“He wants to win trophies, but something has obviously happened. He’s got a verbal agreement with Daniel Levy about leaving this season. But I think if they can get £120m, that’s good money, and, it’s good for Harry Kane.

“Daniel Levy isn’t going to be a popular man anyway, he’s going to leave it until the last minute, but I can’t see anything else apart from him going to Manchester City.”

West Ham will have to spend around £11m on FC Copenhagen striker Jonas Wind if they want to sign him in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Wind linked with West Ham move

The Hammers may be flourishing in the Premier League currently but that doesn’t mean that new signings aren’t needed to take the team forward.

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David Moyes’ side have been linked with signing Wind in recent times, with the 22-year-old scoring four times in 12 caps for Denmark at senior level and reportedly impressing West Ham scouts.

Copenhagen are clearly keen to keep hold of one of their most prized assets, however, and a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

The Latest: Hammers learn Wind asking price

According to Ekstra Bladet [via Sport Witness], West Ham ‘will probably have to go up close to DKK 90-100 million’ to sign Wind, which equates to approximately £11m.

Only Premier League clubs are thought to be able to afford that amount in January, and although a mid-season move is possible, a summer exit looks more likely.

Wind’s current Copenhagen deal expires at the end of the 2024/25 season.

The Verdict: Much-needed attacking depth

At 22, Wind is someone who could come in as a squad player at West Ham initially – he has scored 45 goals and chipped in with 25 assists in 111 appearances for Copenhagen – and eventually become a more pivotal figure over time.

He has matched Antonio’s tally of six league goals so far this season and he has 10 goals in all competitions, further highlighting his pedigree.

Moyes’s team sit fourth in the league at the moment, but in order to remain in the thick of the Champions League race, another striker could do with being signed, especially one as prolific as the Danish youngster.

That would help ease the burden on sole centre-forward Michail Antonio, especially with the Hammers battling in the Europa League as well, making for a hectic schedule in the early months of next year.

In other news, a journalist has dropped an exit rumour regarding one West Ham player. Find out who it is here.

An update has emerged on Newcastle target Dean Henderson, regarding Manchester United’s stance on his future.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Red Devils are willing to allow the shot-stopper to leave on an 18-month loan to stop him from wasting his career on the bench at Old Trafford.

Newcastle are reportedly interested in a January swoop for the England international as they look to bolster their squad in the upcoming transfer window, with United now opening the door to a potential deal.

Get it done

Eddie Howe must sanction a Newcastle deal to sign Henderson following this update on United’s plans for him, as it could be a shrewd piece of business for the club moving forward.

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A loan for 18 months could be an ideal agreement for the Magpies given their current situation in the goalkeeping department. Freddie Woodman, Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow all remain on the books at St. James’ Park and having Henderson on loan for 18 months would provide the club with ample time to shift one or two of them on to fund a permanent move for the young Englishman.

Newcastle could sign him on a permanent deal if he impresses enough in the year-and-a-half, using money they rake in from the potential sales of Woodman, Darlow and/or Dubravka. However, if they paid for Henderson in full straight away instead of landing him on loan, they could have four permanent goalkeepers at the club at the same time.

This could cause issues both in terms of the finances and the mood on the training pitch. A loan deal means that Newcastle can pull the plug on him if they are unable to shift others on, or if his arrival brings the best out of one of the three shot-stoppers already at the club.

In terms of his quality, Toon legend Alan Shearer previously gave a glowing endorsement of the £120k-per-week beast following his spell on loan at Sheffield United, naming him in his Premier League Team of the Season. He said:

“It was tough to leave out Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, but Sheffield United’s season has been one of the best stories of the campaign and Henderson has been key to their success.

“The Manchester United loanee has kept 10 clean sheets and his bravery and confidence beyond his 23 years. He is a star in the making.”

This suggests that he could also have the quality to come in and be a success on the pitch, whilst also helping the club financially, as he impressed Shearer enough to name him as the best goalkeeper in the 2019/20 campaign. Therefore, Howe must ensure that he can seal a loan deal for Henderson when the January window opens in under two months.

AND in other news, Howe could win over NUFC fans by axing £41k-p/w dud and landing “magnificent” beast…

Aston Villa journalist Luke Hatfield has told Football FanCast that he can see Jack Grealish signing a new deal at the Villans amid interest from Manchester City.

According to The Athletic, the Premier League champions are determined to sign both Grealish and his England team-mate Harry Kane this summer.

Getting him out of Villa Park, though, will not be easy. The Telegraph reports Villa have no intention of selling their captain in this transfer window, while the same outlet also states that the Midlands club are hopeful of him putting pen to paper on fresh terms.

And the longer this saga drags on, the more likely it is that Grealish does indeed sign a new contract, says Hatfield.

“I think the longer it goes on, the more you think that this deal could eventually be signed between Villa and Grealish,” the Express & Star reporter told FFC.

“If I had to put my money on the table now, I’d probably side to him signing a new deal at Villa, but we just don’t know what’s going to happen.

“You never know, in a week’s time, he may end up being signed by City. But I’m certainly kind of tempted toward him sticking around for another season.”

While Grealish does seem to be high on City’s list, if he does sign a new deal and remains at Villa Park for another season, it is not the end of the world.

Depending on whatever agreement Grealish and Villa come to, they could perhaps sign him next summer. In the meantime, Pep Guardiola still has the likes of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez as attacking options, so the Spaniard is hardly lacking in that area of the pitch.

Crystal Palace could form a dream duo at Selhurst Park this summer after being linked to both Frank Lampard and Conor Gallagher.

What’s the story?

The former Chelsea manager has been identified as a potential candidate to succeed Roy Hodgson in south London for several weeks, while Blues midfielder Gallagher is a transfer target following a successful loan spell at West Bromwich Albion last season.

According to The Sun, Palace are poised to make a £15 million bid for the highly-rated England Under-21 international.

Imagine him and Lampard

Whoever eventually replaces Hodgson at the capital club will be faced with a huge task. Over a dozen first-team players are set to become free agents at the end of the month, meaning a substantial squad rebuild will have to be carried out on a shoestring budget.

The task at hand, therefore, arguably requires a more experienced head than Lampard’s, but the 42-year-old tactician’s potential appointment does have some attractive elements.

Throughout his short time in the dugout, the retired box-to-box ace has already developed an enviable reputation of developing young talent and advancing their careers through regular game time.

The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori have previously benefitted from Lampard’s faith in inexperienced stars, and Gallagher could be next to receive such treatment if the pair joined up together at Selhurst Park.

After making 30 Premier League appearances for the Baggies last season, scoring two goals and laying on a further two assists for his teammates, the 5 ft 10 gem has attracted the attention of several top-flight sides.

Once described by former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan as being a “different class” to his fellow Championship colleagues throughout the 2019/20 campaign, Gallagher has made himself a wanted man in England’s top division.

Pairing the youngster with Lampard could be a dream scenario for Palace over the coming months as they look to progress in this post-Hodgson era.

Former West Brom boss Slaven Bilic previously compared Gallagher to the Chelsea record goalscorer, claiming “you can’t help but notice” the similarities between the pair, and if anyone could maximise the midfielder’s potential, then surely it’s Lampard.

And, in other news…Romano provides CPFC update on “extraordinary” £14.4m-rated gem, fans will be buzzing 

Leeds United pundit Joe Wainman insists that the club need to bring in two more signings before the transfer deadline.

The club have been relatively quiet in this transfer window, with Junior Firpo, Jack Harrison, and the goalkeeper Krisoffer Klaesson.

Wainman, though, insists that more depth is needed in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad if they are to properly compete at the highest level of the Premier League.

Bielsa has previously claimed that he does not expect the club to do any more business.

But Wainman believes that both a central midfielder and a winger are required, especially after Ian Poveda was allowed to move to Blackburn Rovers on loan.

Wainman has previously claimed that a new left-back was also required, but he believes that the signing of Firpo from Barcelona has gone some way to plugging that gap.

Asked about whether the club still needed new acquisitions ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline, he said: “Central midfield and winger, in that order. I think left-back, we’ve brought Firpo in, my worry is obviously if we were to get an injury but we can move people about, which isn’t ideal, but we definitely need another midfielder and another winger option now that Poveda’s gone on loan to Blackburn.

“We do need something there.”

Shamrock Rovers defender Liam Scales will undergo a Celtic medical on Friday ahead of a move to Parkhead, The Irish Examiner report.

The Lowdown: Scales’ versatility

Scales, 23, is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a left-back or as a left midfielder.

He’s made 51 appearances for his current employers and has been described as ‘brilliant’ by manager Stephen Bradley.

Celtic see the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international’s versatility as crucial, and it appears as if he will become the club’s ninth summer signing over the coming days.

The Latest: Deal confirmed

The Irish Examiner shared a story on Thursday afternoon, hours before Celtic’s Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar.

They claimed that Scales will undergo a medical on Friday, with all other aspects of the deal completed.

Personal terms have been agreed and Celtic will pay Shamrock Rovers an initial fee of €600,000.

Celtic have since confirmed that an agreement has been reached for Scales on Friday morning, subject to usual conditions and international clearance. Whether those “conditions” are indeed a medical or simply dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s is not clear.

The Verdict: Shrewd signing

Scales was described as the hottest property in the League of Ireland earlier this summer, so it seems as if the Hoops are getting themselves a promising player for a reasonable price.

He’ll be able to provide cover at left-back and further forward if required while also challenging Ange Postecoglou’s centre-backs.

Dominic McKay looks to have got this transfer wrapped up, so he may now turn his focus to other signings late in the window.

In other news: Cheaper than Juranovic: Details of another Celtic agreement emerge on Thursday. 

Roy Hodgson has been touted with a sensational return to West Brom following his departure from Crystal Palace, but former Premier League striker Brian Deane doesn’t see that happening.

Having guided Palace to safety for a fourth year in succession, after much uncertainty regarding his future, the 73-year-old decided to end his four-year stay at Selhurst Park.

Remarkably, just more than 24 hours later, Sam Allardyce also decided to call time at West Brom, just six months into his 18-month deal at the Hawthorns.

And reports believe that the Baggies are keen on reappointing Hodgson, nine years after he left to become England manager.

Hodgson done an excellent job during his short spell with West Brom, guiding them to their first ever top-half finish in the Premier League – coming 10th in 2011-2012.

But despite his impact at the club, and relationship with the fans, Deane believes that the Baggies will go be trying to get someone slightly younger through the door.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“I’d be surprised if he went to West Brom at his age, because West Brom will look for someone with more energy.”

Whilst this would be a brilliant appointment for West Brom, it’s unlikely that Hodgson would walk away from his post at Palace to drop down into the Championship.

Andrew Dickson was left slamming Glen Kamara after his part in a goal conceded by Glasgow Rangers in their Scottish Premiership clash at lunchtime.

The Lowdown: Early setback

After going 1-0 up early on at Motherwell, the Ibrox faithful were dealt a setback when Leon Balogun was given a straight red card just before the half-hour mark.

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The hosts then equalised through Ross Tierney, before Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team eventually got a grip on the game in the second half.

The Latest: Kamara slammed

Taking to Twitter, Scottish football journalist Dickson slammed Kamara after Tierney’s goal, claiming that it was an ‘all-round shambles’ from him as he put unnecessary pressure on his side:

“That was an all-round shambles from Glen Kamara. Rangers have gone from being very comfortable to on the ropes in five minutes.”

The Verdict: Not his best

That moment from Kamara was certainly not his best in a Light Blues shirt, as he was guilty of dwelling on the ball when he should have really just cleared his lines.

That was one of eight occasions that he gave the ball away cheaply, while he also lost three of his duels, made no clearances and failed to block any shots on his goal (SofaScore).

Lucky for the Finland international, the Teddy Bears won the match anyway, but van Bronckhorst will surely be concerned about his midfield maestro going into their first leg against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League.

In other news, find out what ‘huge blow’ has now emerged for the Gers here!