News about Lewis Dobbin

LEWIS STEELE: This is a mistreated club where time has stood still - certainly off the pitch with a carousel of chaos at board level in recent years - but one for whom a brighter future awaits on the horizon. On this particular morning there are blue skies but, still, gloomy clouds often congregate above the stunning new docklands stadium. While there are green shoots of positivity - which we will come on to - Everton are still the Premier League's most uncertain club.

After finishing fourth in last season's Premier League, Villa have had a busy summer in the transfer market. Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana, Jaden Philogene, Ross Barkley, Enzo Barrenechea, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin and Cameron Archer have all arrived at Villa Park as part of a summer spree costing more than £135m. Villa have recouped a similar amount through player sales, with the likes of Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz and Omari Kellyman all moving on for significant fees. Fulham have been much less active in the summer window so far. Three players have joined the Cottagers, in Ryan Sessegnon, Emile Smith Rowe and Jorge Cuenca, while Joao Palhinha, Tim Ream and Kieron Bowie have departed.

West Ham have signed Argentina midfielder Guido Rodriguez. The 30-year-old joins the Hammers on a free transfer after his previous deal with Spanish side Real Betis expired earlier this summer.

Chelsea have completed the signing of Aston Villa forward Omari Kellyman in a deal worth £19million.  Mail Sport revealed last week that the two Premier League sides had reached an agreement for the Blues to bring Kellyman to Stamford Bridge. Now, the deal has been completed after Chelsea announced on Saturday morning that the 18-year-old has penned a six-year-deal, with the option of an extra year, in west London. 

Aston Villa have announced the signing of Netherlands international Ian Maatsen from Premier League rivals Chelsea for a reported £37.5million. The 22-year-old left-back was part of the Borussia Dortmund team beaten by Real Madrid in last season's Champions League final during a loan move from Stamford Bridge. Maatsen, who is currently with his country at Euro 2024 in Germany, becomes Unai Emery's second summer signing following the arrival of forward Lewis Dobbin from Everton.

Swap deals, or at least multiple transfers between the same teams, appear to be back in fashion among some Premier League clubs. Everton and Aston Villa exchanged Tim Iroegbunam for Lewis Dobbin last week, with both clubs paying a transfer fee in the region of £10 million. Villa were then said to be close to signing Ian Maatsen from Chelsea with Omari Kellyman set to move in the opposite direction, but that has not yet materialised. Although it is understood that none of the aforementioned clubs have breached any rules, at least one other club has raised concerns about 'exchange' deals potentially being used to exploit a potential loophole in the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

LEWIS STEELE: The Premier League will monitor every transfer this summer to ensure clubs are not circumventing rules after a spate of unusual transactions.  Several 'swap deals' have occurred between top-flight clubs in the last weeks, including academy products being traded in separate transactions which are designed to aid both parties' balance sheets. As an example, midfielder Tim Iroegbunam signed for Everton from Aston Villa on Saturday for around £9million, while winger Lewis Dobbin has completed a move the other way in a separate deal believed to be worth £10m.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Lewis Dobbin from fellow Premier League side Everton. Villa confirmed Dobbin's arrival on Sunday via a 68-word statement published on the club's official website. Dobbin's move from Everton to Villa was announced just 24 hours after 20-year-old midfielder Tim Iroegbunam had moved in the opposite direction for a transfer fee of £9 million.

LEWIS STEELE: Everton are closing in on signing young Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam for around £9million, with forward Lewis Dobbin in advanced talks to go the other way in a separate deal that would help both club's financial fears. Mail Sport reported on Monday how the Toffees were keen to step up interest in Iroegbunam, 20, and it has now emerged that Villa are reciprocating interest and want to sign Dobbin in the coming weeks. Iroegbunam made 15 appearances for Unai Emery's side last season and is now keen to get more regular first-team football, with Everton seen as a perfect destination to do so. The Toffees are ready to wrap up a £9m deal and a conclusion could be swiftly reached, pending a medical.

Chelsea's stars reportedly held a Christmas night out just hours after losing to Everton in an attempt to raise team spirit and morale. Mauricio Pochettino's team was second best on their ride to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon, but lost the match 2-0 after goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin. The defeat was the seventh of the Blues' Premier League campaign, as they continued to struggle throughout the calendar year.

Everton has been praised for their reaction to rival supporters''very sad' chants in Liverpool that seemed to mock the issue of food poverty. Chants were reportedly heard from sections of Newcastle and Chelsea supporters, causing the hosts to flash the 'Fans Supporting Foodbanks' campaign logo over the big screen at Goodison Park.

During Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Everton, Chris Sutton said Mauricio Pochettino looked 'bewildered' and slammed the Blues' progress under him. After Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin struck for the hosts, Pochettino's team suffered their seventh loss of the Premier League season on Sunday. It was the latest bad show for the west London giants, who are yet to recover under new Tottenham and PSG boss Nick Clegg's leadership.

LEWIS STEELE AT GOODISON PARK: Everton has never lost being a grand old team to support, as their famous song goes, but the Toffees were far from being a grand old team to play for for a few years. Sean Dyche's greatest legacy, of which there will be many more if he continues to play in this manner, will be restoring this team's pride. Dyche took over Frank Lampard 11 months ago and inherited a team that stunk of mediocrity at all levels. There is no new word to be said about the team's off-the-pitch difficulties, but it is time to focus on the important work that the former Burnley boss is doing with this team.