BRUCE FEARS THIERRY IS NEW VILLA BOSS
MARCO SILVA is lining up further young stars for Everton after last night completing the £40million signing of Richarlison.
The 21-year-old Brazilian winger (above) sealed his mega-money switch to Goodison from Watford on a five-year deal.
It is understood Toffees boss Silva has been scouting Denis Zakaria, 21, (below), who is a holding midfielder with Borussia Moenchengladbach, and Caen winger Yann Karamoh.
Richarlison said: “I want to have a lot of success with Everton. It is going to be important for me here to be with Marco again.
“I developed really well with him while he was with me at Watford. It was really good working with him and, one day, I believe he can help me to be selected for Brazil.”
Boss Silva added: “The player is fast, strong, very good technically and can play in three positions across the front line. He can also score goals.”
STEVE BRUCE is taking seriously the threat of Thierry Henry replacing him as Aston Villa boss – as he knows the new owners are big Arsenal fans.
Bruce, 57, faces an uncertain future at the Championship club, following a takeover by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
London-based Sawiris and his US partner are understood to be massive admirers of the Emirates club, and of their legendary ex-striker Henry (right). Bruce (below) has a meeting with them scheduled for today before a friendly against West Ham at Walsall tonight. He intends to take training as usual before the game. He was given initial reassurances when Sawiris and Edens bought a majority shareholding last week from embattled Chinese owner Tony Xia. But Bruce is yet to meet the pair and has admitted his concerns that the club’s new majority shareholders will want their own man in. His rolling contract is worth £1.5million, which would be paid in full if he were axed.
Villa came fourth last season and lost the play-off final, but Sawiris – the richest Egyptian in the world, worth £5billion – is considering changes to push for promotion.
Belgium assistant coach Henry, 40, quit as a Sky TV pundit last week – citing his wish to “fulfil my long-term ambition to become a football manager”. WOLVES have given up on trying to persuade Oleksandr Zinchenko to join them from Manchester City and are now targeting Bristol City’s Joe Bryan.
Ukrainian international Zinchenko (above) has rejected Wolves despite them agreeing a club-record £16million fee with City.
The Premier League new boys, who yesterday completed the £5million signing of Portuguese international midfielder Joao Moutinho on a two-year deal, still want another left-back and have joined Newcastle, Bournemouth and West Ham in the scrap for Bryan. BIRMINGHAM are in a race to get their transfer embargo lifted after promising new-boy Kristian Pedersen, 23, he will be eligible to play.
Championship Blues have fallen foul of Financial Fair Play rules and the EFL have refused to register Danish defender Pedersen (above).
But City are working to ensure the embargo is lifted before their opener against Norwich on August 4.