Everton vs Wolves pre-match centre

Manchester City's £80m bid for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is close to collapse after Liverpool failed to land a replacement winger despite spending up to £123m on Bradley Barcola. City have pivoted to Everton's Iliman Ndiaye, a move that could derail Tottenham's own pursuit of the forward.

Richarlison's public refusal to accept Everton's personal terms blew up a planned swap deal with Iliman Ndiaye, handing Manchester City a smash-and-grab opportunity to sign the Senegal winger for up to £65m. The collapse has triggered a chain reaction involving Tottenham's Mudryk pursuit and Liverpool's Gakpo situation with deadline day closing in.

Nottingham Forest have bid a reported £40m for Everton's teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong, and David Moyes says the sale would be 'a club decision' rather than his own. With Forest also agreeing a £22m deal for Crystal Palace's Daniel Muñoz, the episode has become a test of Everton's ownership credibility.

Thierno Barry's header sealed Everton's 2-0 opening-day win over Crystal Palace, offering the clearest sign yet that the £27m striker could shed a 14-game goalless run and become David Moyes' first-choice frontman. But Everton have been burned before by single-goal breakthroughs.