‘Don’t Need That Aggro’ – Pundit reacts as Liverpool ace linked to Everton move

We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…

Kevin Cambell has dismissed outright the reported interest from Everton in Liverpool midfielder James Milner, saying there is “no chance” he makes that move.

A report from 90min on 4 May that focused on Brighton pushing to sign the 37-year-old on a free transfer, claimed the Toffees were joined by Leeds United and Nottingham Forest in hoping he would reassess his options.

But Sky Sports pundit and former Goodison captain Campbell has shot the suggestion down in flames, and backed the former England international to complete a move to the Amex instead.

“Not happening. No chance,” he said, speaking exclusively to Goodison News.

“I think it’s a done deal him going to Brighton.

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“He’s not going to make that move. Struggling Everton, going from Liverpool, he don’t need that aggro.”

It has been done, but the last figure to cross the Merseyside derby divide was Rafael Benitez and his appointment was never accepted by the Everton fanbase.

There was over a decade between the Spaniard leaving Anfield and arriving at Goodison Park, so Milner is hardly going to go straight from one to the other.

And while the midfielder has plenty of the hallmarks of a player who would do well in this side, and also the profile of player that Sean Dyche would go for, it is just not realistic.

Free transfers are going to be necessary if the club is again short on cash this summer, and the manager has proven that he values experience and physicality in his side.

Amadou Onana may be set to leave a sizeable hole in the midfield, but the chances of Milner helping to fill it seem vanishingly remote since any logical interest in getting a deal done goes out the window when his recent history is considered.

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Ben Doak on Steve Clarke Scotland radar as boss namechecks Liverpool star and second big star…

Steve Clarke has named former Celtic and Rangers youngsters Ben Doak and Rory Wilson as two big Scotland hopes for the future.

Doak has been on the fringes of the Liverpool first team with manager Jurgen Klopp very complimentary of his skills and progress and it seems only a matter of time before he gets more opportunity with the Reds. Many have questioned whether his prodigious talent should have him in the national squad already but for now he has to be content with the under-21s.

However, Clarke’s comments show that the former Hoops starlet has not gone unnoticed as he hinted that once he gets more regular minutes, the 17-year-old will earn a call-up. He’s also talked about Wilson who has thrived at Aston Villa since making the move from Rangers’ academy.

The Scotland boss said: “They tell me the young boy Wilson is doing very well at Aston Villa. He has grown a little bit and is in good shape. I watched him for the Scotland Under-17’s in the Euros tournament recently where he got another goal. He’s only a youngster and is probably a couple of years away.

“But if he continues to develop, without putting too much pressure on his shoulders, he’s one who is maybe going to come through. The more the merrier. Doak is similar. He’s an attacker and probably a really difficult player to play against. Because he just runs. He’s so quick and he can go either way.

“You could probably play him as a striker. Just ask him to run in behind teams and stretch them. Again, at 17 he’s just a youngster. But he’s been in and around the Liverpool first team, without making the breakthrough. That’s not a criticism because it’s difficult to do at a club like that. Hopefully going forward those two boys can be a big part of our future.

“Let’s not put too much pressure on them. But if someone is playing regularly somewhere and scoring goals, they can be in Scotland’s first-team squad. I don’t think Ben is quite at that level yet but he’s working towards it. If he shows he’s good enough to be involved, he can be, for sure.”

For now, Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet are in the squad alongside Lyndon Dykes while Che Adams is injured.

Both have been very prolific in the Scottish Premiership for Hearts and Hibs and do have an international goal each on their records. Clarke knows what they bring and is adamant they can do a job for him.

Asked why the country hasn’t produced an elite number nine to date, he said: I’m not sure, that’s probably above my pay grade. It would be nice to get one or two more.

“We just have to keep looking to find these guys who can eventually come through. But both Nisbet and Shankland can score goals. Kevin had a tough spell with an injury and he’s taken a little bit of time to get back up to speed. But he looks closer now to the Kevin Nisbet pre-injury. He certainly has an eye for a goal.

“And Lawrence has shown he will score goals in the Scottish Premiership. Hopefully they will come away with us and, if required, contribute up front to take a load off Lyndon. There’s no reason for them to be fazed by it because they have both been involved with Scotland before. Kevin scored against Holland. It was friendly but he scored against the Dutch, which is not a bad thing to do.

“Lawrence nearly scored off the bench against Spain recently and if I’m being critical, I thought he should have! He gets into goal scoring positions and so does Kevin. They have shown they can handle it.

“Hopefully if we need to use them we can create chances for them. It’s disappointing to lose Che, who has been a vital part of the team. But don’t forget the contribution Lyndon made in the last game. Dykesy played up front against Spain and was excellent. He did a marvellous job for the team, so we have good options up front.”

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