Good evening, Everton fans. Here are your evening headlines for Monday, October 26.
Former Everton stalwarts have their say on Digne red card
Tim Cahill and Leon Osman, who between them made over 700 appearances for Everton, were in the pundits on Match Of The Day 2 last night.
The duo analysed the first defeat of the season for Ancelotti’s men after their 2-0 loss at Southampton, and had their say on Lucas Digne’s red card.
The Frenchman was shown a straight red card for catching the calf of Saints full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, a decision that Ancelotti questioned, hinting that the club may appeal.
"He could have slowed down,” assessed Cahill.
"It’s an accident and it doesn’t look great but I can understand why Ancelotti is unhappy. It comes down to interpretation."
"I can see why it was given but I do think it’s an accident and he catches him,” added Osman.
"He is running back and Walker-Peters’ foot is just in the way Lucas Digne is running.
"But you can’t argue it isn’t dangerous.”
Here’s what they said in full.
Everton to battle Tottenham for Napoli striker
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad at Everton could soon be bolstered by another attacker, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via Sports Mole ).
Polish international striker Arkadiusz Milk is into the final year of his contract at the Stadio San Paolo and will be free to enter negotiations with potential suitors in January.
The 26-year-old has scored 48 goals in 122 appearances for the Serie A giants, but is said to favour a move away.
Perennial Italian champions Juventus, who have established a strategy of signing proven quality free agents in recent years, and Tottenham are also said to be closely monitoring Milik.
Here’s all the latest Everton transfer news and rumours from today’s live blog.
Missed opportunity to sign Gareth Bale revealed
Everton came close to bringing Gareth Bale to Goodison Park back in 2008, according to former defender Joleon Lescott.
The winger went on to become one of the most in-demand players in European football after hitting sensational form at Tottenham, earning a world-record move to Real Madrid in 2013, going on to win four Champions League titles with Los Blancos.
But things might have gone differently, with former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said to have been keen to swap him for Blues left-back Leighton Baines.
"I remember that time, it was around when he [Bale] was getting stick for his first 20 appearances or something like that ending in a loss!” Lescott reminisced.
"Coming in after the game Bainesy, who I was really close with, we were talking and Harry Redknapp wanted to swap them.
"He pulled Baines to one side, had a conversation with him, so I asked, 'What was going on there?'
"He said they were interested in doing a swap for Bale.
"One of the main reasons that didn't happen was because Bale's record was so bad and David Moyes didn't want to swap."
Here’s that story in full.
