It's time for your Everton morning headlines on Monday, December 12.
Tactics, progress and transfers - Frank Lampard's take on the big Everton questions
Everton return to action in the Premier League a fortnight today.
With the club’s senior players back in training at Finch Farm and none of the Blues involved at the World Cup having reached the semi-finals, all eyes are now on that Goodison Park clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. After the disappointment of the final week before the break, which saw defeats to Leicester City and Bournemouth in the league and to Bournemouth, again, in the Carabao Cup, some supporters have found comfort in the break caused by the action in Qatar.
For those tuning back in, the ECHO was the only outlet to travel to Australia to cover Everton’s involvement in the Sydney Super Cup - securing an exclusive interview with Frank Lampard while Down Under. He had plenty to say on a host of topics - from where he believes his squad is currently at, to the club’s plans for the January transfer window.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard 'to do' list at Everton - Two new signings, contract talks and Amadou Onana dilemma
READ MORE: 'I cannot say' - Cenk Tosun reflects on Everton career with honest assessment
Everton endured highs and lows during the first part of the campaign but finished it one place and one point above the relegation zone. Revealing his views on progress at the club, Lampard said: “My feeling is that the team absolutely was improving in terms of we'd beaten [Crystal] Palace, played probably our best game of the season. We drew at Fulham and I wasn't mad on the performance but we showed an element of resilience. But Leicester, in terms of when you look at the basic elements of the game, we could have easily got a draw in different circumstances. So at that point I'm pretty happy with the direction we're going in and then we get two poor performances against Bournemouth and I do feel that's just part of where we're at in reality.”
Read Lampard's interview with the ECHO interview HERE.
Everton among 'admirers' of Empoli defender as favourites named in transfer battle
Everton have been named as one of several admirers of Empoli full-back Fabiano Parisi, according to a new report in Italy.
The Blues are looking to strengthen their squad in January as Frank Lampard looks to move his inconsistent side further up the table and away from a repeat of last season's nervy relegation battle.
As per Torino Granata, La Stampa claim that the Blues are one of several clubs who are showing an interest in the 22-year-old but they face serious competition from Torino and Wolfsburg for his signature.
Lazio are also believed to be interested, but it is Torino who are seen as the front-runners thanks to their 'very good relations' with Empoli that saw midfielder Samuele Ricci move to Torino in a €2million loan deal that was eventually turned into an €8million permanent switch.
Read the full story HERE.
READ NEXT:
Gary Lineker was 'tapped up' about Everton exit on his way to winning World Cup Golden Boot
- Why Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has flown out to World Cup as 'meeting' explained
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina hit the gym as Everton return to training
- Dele Alli backed to make 'great contribution' at Besiktas by ex-Everton team-mate
- David Moyes left fuming after Everton signed wrong World Cup star before beating Arsenal to future captain
