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Hello and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Thursday live blog for all your very latest Everton news, rumours and transfer gossip.

The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Goodison Park as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.

Everton reportedly explored a deal for Rafael Leao during the summer transfer window, but may have missed their chance to sign the AC Milan striker.

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Must-read stories

Here's a round-up of some of the must-read Everton stories of the past 24 hours.

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Richarlison makes major strides after rare behind-the-scenes clip shared

Richarlison of Everton looks on

Everton striker Richarlison has shared a rare clip of him speaking in English as his weekly online lessons in the language continue, writes Adam Jones.

Everton striker Richarlison has shared a video of him speaking in English as his lessons to learn the language continue.

The Brazil international made the move to Goodison Park in the summer of 2018 having spent a season with Watford, and has been learning his new language ever since.

The Blues forward's understanding has progressed during that time although it is still rare to hear him speaking in English.

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Five Everton players could be handed boost by Premier League rule change

A rumoured change to the amount of Premier League substitutes would have benefitted five Everton players if it were in force now.

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Virginia thrilled to make Sporting debut

Joao Virginia has joined Sporting Lisbon on loan (Image: Getty)

On-loan Everton goalkeeper Joao Virginia was thrilled to make his debut for Sporting CP.

The 22-year-old made his bow in the 2-1 victory over Famalicao in the Portuguese League Cup.

Inside Futbol quotes Virginia as saying on Instagram:

“Very happy for my debut at home and then with a victory that brings us closer to one of the goals of the season.

“The feeling of wearing the Sporting shirt in front of our fans is indescribable.

“Now it’s time to focus on the next game.“

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Campbell: No one can escape the blame

Kevin Campbell, Everton

Nobody in the Everton camp can escape the blame for last Sturday's 5-2 capitulation at home to Watford says former Goodison fans' favourite Kevin Campbell.

He told Goodison News:

"You win as a team and you lose as a team.

“Manager included – at the end of the day, Everton are doing well, you bring on Richarlison, he gets a goal.

“There was some poor defending, but sometimes, it’s easy to put a finger on what happened, I just think, that’s the way in panned out – you defend poorly in the Premier League, you get hurt.”

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Demarai Gray makes Everton transfer claim and names 'crazy guy' in dressing room

Demarai Gray has opened up on what made his transfer to Everton so smooth and how Rafa Benitez has managed to bring the best out of him.

The winger was the Spaniard's third signing after being confirmed as the new Blues manager in the summer, joining for £1.7m from Bayer Leverkusen following the arrivals of Andros Townsend and Asmir Begovic.

The 25-year-old has wasted no time in proving himself to his new supporters, bagging three goals among a string of impressive performances on his return to the Premier League.

And the forward believes that Benitez's man-management style has worked wonders with his initial form after praising former side Leverkusen for helping his transfer run smoothly.

MORE HERE.

Demarai Gray in an interview (Image: Football Daily/YouTube)
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Salomon Rondon 'big worry' identified as Everton struggles continue

Despite starting a number of matches in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, Salomon Rondon is still yet to find the net for Everton.

The Venezuela international made the move to Goodison Park in the summer, joining the club on transfer deadline day as Rafa Benitez searched for options to bolster his front line.

However, the 32-year-old probably would not have expected to have so much game-time this early in his Blues career.

Rondon was used from the start of proceedings again on Saturday at Goodison Park as Everton were disappointingly beaten by Watford thanks to a late collapse.

And our latest Royal Blue Podcast panel believe the game opened up some issues that need to be addressed about the striker.

Host Adam Jones was joined by Gavin Buckland and Dave Prentice to get their thoughts on the summer arrival and the issues that need to be resolved up front.

MORE HERE.

Salomon Rondon has struggled at Everton (Image: Getty)
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Harry Souttar interest

Everton have been scouting Stoke City's Harry Souttar, writes Phil Kirkbride.

Ahead of next summer, there is interest there and Duncan Ferguson was sent to watch him recently.

But the Blues, should they decide to act, would face competition from a number of Premier League rivals and Stoke's asking price is expected to be high for the 23-year-old.

MORE HERE.

Harry Souttar of Stoke City. (Image: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Barcelona manager situation leaves Everton in strange position

Almost four years to the day since Ronald Koeman was sacked by Everton, the Dutchman was relieved of his duties once more, writes Adam Jones.

On the day he left Goodison Park, it's doubtful anyone could really have predicted the next club side he would join.

Barcelona ignored the warning signs from their former player's stint on Merseyside and instead chose to focus on the respectable job he'd conducted in international football shortly after his Everton exit.

Koeman took over the Dutch national side and was progressing well until Barca came calling, and you don't ignore an opportunity such as that.

And so that left Evertonians in a very strange position last weekend watching El Clasico with two former Blues managers in each dugout - who left the club in different circumstances, granted.

While Carlo Ancelotti has only just re-taken the reins at Real Madrid and, at the time of writing, has them sat atop the La Liga table just barely - Koeman has had anything but a comfortable ride.

MORE HERE.

Roberto Martinez greets Ronald Koeman at Goodison Park
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Everton make approach for Brazilian striker

Everton have reportedly made an approach to sign talented striker Yuri Alberto.

According to Brazilian news outlet Torcedores, the Blues have made a move to sign the Internacional forward.

However, the report states that Everton are unlikely to sign the 20-year-old, with the striker looking more likely to join AC Milan.

The report adds that Alberto is likely to turn down a move to the Premier League, in favour of instead joining the Serie A giants.

Everton manager Rafa Benitez. (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Carlo Ancelotti sends message to sacked former Everton manager Ronald Koeman

Carlo Ancelotti has commented on the sacking of Ronald Koeman as the El Clasico rivalry between the two former Everton managers has come to an end.

Barcelona were beaten on Wednesday night by Rayo Vallecano, with former Manchester United and Chelsea man Radamel Falcao bagging the only goal of the match.

Shortly after the defeat, with the La Liga giants sitting in ninth place in the league table, Barca released a statement confirming the departure of Koeman after just over 14 months in charge.

The search is on for a new man to take over at the Catalan club, with another former Everton manager in Roberto Martinez reportedly in the running.

However it was Ancelotti's turn to have his say on the decision to sack Koeman, and he believes that losing your job as a boss is part of football.

MORE HERE.

Carlo Ancelotti has his say on Ronald Koeman's sacking (Image: Football Daily/Twitter)
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Everton fixture rescheduled for second time

Everton's fixture with Leicester City has been moved back a day after the Foxes advanced to the Carabao Cup fifth round on Wednesday.

Leicester needed penalties to get past Brighton & Hove Albion after a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium in normal time. Former Toffees winger Ademola Lookman was on the scoresheet for the hosts.

With Everton out out of the competition there is a knock-on effect for the Blues, as they were originally pencilled in to play Brendan Rodgers' side at 8 p.m. on Monday, December 20.

Now that game will be played a day earlier, with the festive clash set to kick off at noon on Sunday, December 19 with Sky Sports broadcasting the game, per the Everton website.

The match had originally been scheduled for December 18 at 3 p.m.

MORE HERE.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Richarlison of Everton misses a chance from a header during the Premier League match between Everton and Leicester City at Goodison Park on January 27, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Jason Cairnduff -
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Everton miss chance to sign AC Milan striker

Everton did show an interest in signing AC Milan striker Rafael Leao, it has been claimed.

According to Calciomercato, the Blues wanted to bring the forward to Goodison Park during the summer transfer window.

However, a deal was never close to completion, and now the report says that Everton have missed their chance to sign Leao.

The 22-year-old has scored five goals this season, including four in the league to help move Milan to the top of the Serie A table.

Borussia Dortmund were also linked with Leao, who would have fetched a fee in the region of £25m had he decided to leave Milan in the summer.

Rafael Leao of AC Milan (Image: Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Ronald Koeman sacked by Barcelona

Former Everton manager Ronald Koeman has been sacked by Barcelona.

The Catalan giants confirmed in a statement they had parted ways with the Dutchman, bringing an end to his 14-month spell in charge at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona currently sit in ninth in La Liga after a disastrous couple of months and the final straw for their decision-makers came on Wednesday after they suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano.

The defeat came three days on from a home loss to Real Madrid - manager by former Everton coach Carlo Ancelotti - at the Camp Nou.

MORE HERE.

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 27: Ronald Koeman the coach of Barcelona during the LaLiga Santander match between Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas on October 27, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Latest Royal Blue podcast

Host Adam Jones is joined by Dave Prentice, Chris Beesley and Gav Buckland to try and understand what happened at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Everton were beaten 5-2 at the hands of Watford thanks to a disgraceful collapse in the final moments of the match, in which the hosts conceded four goals in 13 minutes.

Set pieces were again a problem for Rafa Benitez's side, but the gaping defensive issues didn't stop there. Our panel also discussed the effectiveness of Salomon Rondon and how poor the Blues looked in midfield without the influence of Abdoulaye Doucoure. Some harsh truths needed to be told.

Enjoy!

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Must-read Everton stories

Before we get started, why not have a read of our must-read Everton stories from over the past 24 hours.

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Good morning and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's live Everton news and transfers blog.

Stick with us throughout the day for all the latest Everton news and transfer gossip.

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