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Leeds United are an impressive force in the Championship and could now be set for a huge boost away from the pitch regarding one of their star men, according to BBC pundit Carlton Palmer.

Leeds United's impressive recent form…

Since suffering relegation last term, Leeds United have managed to stabilise themselves to some extent and have produced some commendable form in England's second tier, winning six of their last seven matches on league duty. Daniel Farke has proven himself to be a shrewd appointment by the Leeds United hierarchy based on current evidence and will be hoping his side can improve on their current league position of third, with 31 points taken from their opening 16 fixtures.

The Whites travel to face Rotherham United at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Friday evening, as they return from international duty with designs on cutting second-placed Ipswich Town's eight-point advantage down to five ahead of the weekend's round of matches.

Pascal Struijk, Stuart Dallas, Jamie Shackleton, Joe Gelhardt, Djed Spence and Sam Byram have all had recent injury issues and it remains to be seen who is fit enough to return to contention for Leeds United's away clash in South Yorkshire, as cited by Leeds Live.

It was hoped that the former four would return to training at some point. At the same time, former Norwich City full-back Byram was taken off in the Whites' victory over Plymouth Argyle before the international break owing to a hamstring problem.

Entering a congested period of fixtures, Leeds United will hope to keep pace with the chasing pack for promotion and could now receive a major boost involving one of their star players.

Leeds United's upcoming fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Sky Bet Championship

Rotherham United (A)

AESSEAL New York Stadium

Sky Bet Championship

Swansea City (H)

Elland Road

Sky Bet Championship

Middlesbrough (H)

Elland Road

Sky Bet Championship

Blackburn Rovers (A)

Ewood Park

Sky Bet Championship

Sunderland (A)

Stadium of Light

Carlton Palmer drops Archie Gray verdict

Speaking to Football League World, BBC pundit Palmer has delivered some exciting information he has heard out of Elland Road involving Leeds United star Archie Gray.

Recent reports have linked Gray with a big-money move to Premier League giants Liverpool. At the same time, Everton and Crystal Palace are said to be keen on the 17-year-old midfielder, as per The Daily Mail.

Palmer told the outlet in light of rumours indicating Leeds United could be set to open talks over a new contract for Gray: "Leeds United are confident that Archie Gray – the 17-year-old prodigy – will commit his future to the club, despite interest from top clubs at home and abroad.

"Leeds have slapped a whooping £30-40m price tag on the young man's head. But in a massive boost for the club in their quest to reclaim their Premier League status once again, Gray has given the club the indication that he's happy where he is, and wants to continue his footballing education at Leeds United under Daniel Farke. This is great news for the manager, the club and the supporters."

Having made 17 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24 for Leeds United, Gray looks to be a player with a massive future in the game and keeping him at Elland Road would provide a major boost for everyone connected with the club (Gray statistics – Transfermarkt).

Manchester United are reportedly looking to sign a "perfectionist" and a "magnificent player", according to a new report.

FC Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd

The Red Devils’ season went from bad to worse on Wednesday evening after a chaotic Champions League defeat to FC Copenhagen. Things started well for Erik ten Hag’s side after two early goals from Rasmus Hojlund, although Marcus Rashford’s red card seemed to change the game.

Copenhagen drew level before half-time, but when Bruno Fernandes put the visitors in front again from the penalty spot, it looked as if United could pull off a crucial victory. However, two late goals ensured a third defeat from four group games, leaving them bottom of the table.

It is not just in the Champions League where United have struggled, with five defeats from 11 in the Premier League, while also being knocked out of the EFL Cup last week. As a result of their poor start, it looks as if new signings are being looked into by those behind the scenes at Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ractliffe is expected to be in control of sporting decisions when he completes a 25% investment, and it looks as if a double deal is being eyed up.

Man Utd transfer updates

According to 90min, Man Utd are interested in AS Monaco pair Vanderson and Youssouf Fofana, with right-back and central midfield are areas that Ten Hag wants to improve. Former Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell is viewed as a target to take up an Old Trafford role, so it is interesting to see the Red Devils’ interest in both players.

Vanderson is regarded by some as the best young right-back plying his trade in Europe, with former Monaco manager Phillipe Clement labelling the player as a “perfectionist”.

“He had an exceptional adaptation here [last season]. We have already spoken about that. He is also a player who is and continues to interest lots of big clubs. That can possibly do something to the mindset, not that he didn’t have his feet on the ground, but Vanderson is very ambitious and a huge perfectionist.

“Every day he wants to be better than the last. That can give him a lot of pressure, lots of stress with all of the ambition that he has. We need to manage that more for him. If I left him to it, he would train for 18 hours a day. He is like that.”

Meanwhile, Fofana, a central midfielder who can play in a holding role or on the right, has recently caught the eye of a number of Premier League sides. The recent report suggests that Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United all have the Frenchman on their radar.

The 24-year-old has been hailed as a "magnificent player" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and he appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.

Therefore, moves for both players could be shrewd ones with Ten Hag wanting to bolster his right-back and midfield ranks, and it looks as if the pair could be Ratcliffe’s first serious move in charge of sporting calls at Old Trafford.

After last season's successful top four finish in the Premier League, Newcastle United have been left to balance Champions League football on top of any domestic action. And, so far, Eddie Howe's side have coped fairly well. They sit four points adrift of the Champions League places and have lost just one European game, which came in their recent outing against Borussia Dortmund.

As it turns out, too, that loss came with an even greater blow, with Alexander Isak limping off through injury, leaving Howe with just one striker to call on in the form of Callum Wilson. The injury exposes Newcastle's lack of depth when it comes to attacking options, especially with two wingers now out in the shape of Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy, turning their attention towards the January transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

Now at the end of October, Newcastle's summer business is looking less and less spectacular by the day, with Barnes missing through injury and Sandro Tonali set to serve a ten-month ban. That said, the Magpies have the ideal opportunity to set things right in January, and that could result in the arrival of a new forward, especially after Isak's injury along with Wilson's persistent problems.

The latest Serhou Guirassy transfer news certainly suggests that may be the case. According to The Shields Gazette, the Vfb Stuttgart striker could find himself on Newcastle's shortlist of potential options when the January transfer window swings open. It comes as little surprise to see Guirassy's name mentioned when it comes to a top side, given that he has got off to a blistering start in the Bundesliga this season.

It remains to be seen whether Newcastle decide to make their move for the in-form striker, who will undoubtedly have several admirers when it comes to a potential winter exit – he would definitely solve the Magpies' depth issue, that's for sure.

Serhou Guirassy's stats

To say that the Stuttgart man has enjoyed an incredible start to the campaign would be an understatement. Guirassy's stats show that he is having one of the best goalscoring seasons in the entirety of European football, with his focus firmly fixed on winning the Bundesliga golden boot ahead of the likes of Harry Kane. He has even outperformed Newcastle's Isak and Wilson, as per FBref.

Player

Goals

Assists

Progressive Passes

Serhou Guirassy

14

1

13

Callum Wilson

5

0

2

Alexander Isak

6

0

10

It comes as no shock, then, that Guirassy has been the centre of praise this season, with Seb Stafford-Bloor taking to X to post: "Goals 11, 12 and 13 for Serhou Guirassy this season and now approaching an average of two goals/game. An outrageous hot streak."

The January transfer window can make or break a season, and for Newcastle, it could be the difference between a place in next season's Champions League or what will be a frustrating spot in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League. Guirassy would play a large part in helping the Magpies to avoid the latter, but at this stage, it remains to be seen whether they'll pursue the forward.

Sam Curran will be England’s third seamer, with Dawid Malan to bat in the middle order while India will confirm their XI on Wednesday

Preview by Andrew Miller31-Jul-2018Big PictureSeven years ago, at the start of another Indian Test tour of England, another notable Test landmark was reached. It will be England’s 1000th Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday; at Lord’s in the first Test of the 2011 series, it was the 2000th Test all told.Such landmarks can be trite, but every now and then they can have a galvanising effect too. That 2011 Test proved to be an epic, life-affirming affair, lit up by queues all down the Wellington Road on the final morning, as fans piled in for the chance to witness a grandstand finish, and maybe even (or not, as it transpired) a 100th hundred for the inimitable Sachin Tendulkar.The ECB, and Edgbaston, can but pray that this week’s Test will be amplified by its additional layer of history. Ticket sales for the much of the series have been sluggish, undermined no doubt by an England team that may include three players – Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Stuart Broad – who have contributed to more than a tenth of that English Test history, but which is currently performing at a similar fraction of its potential.In theory, everything this summer ought to have been building towards this climax. The logic of the India itinerary certainly implied that the Tests would be the biggest deal – with the T20Is and ODIs loaded into the top half of the tour before clearing the calendar for a full five-Test showdown. And yet, India chose to reduce their solitary warm-up at Chelmsford from four days to three, while England’s non-white-ball players have been hampered by a lack of Championship cricket in which to fine-tune their own preparations.In particular, the new-ball veterans, Anderson and Broad, are about to be asked to go from 0 to 100 in double-quick time. Having both played a solitary county fixture in the whole of July, they are now embarking on an itinerary of five Tests in six weeks, an ask that even an arch-combatant such as Broad has admitted he may struggle to complete without factoring in rest and rotation.It’s a state of affairs that will surely alarm the ECB, who have been banking on the windfalls from this bumper summer to replenish their coffers, and who must be wondering, if not India, then who can keep the crowds coming through the turnstiles for Test cricket?That’s not to say, however, that the status of the series has been diminished before it has begun. The era of the Big Three was consigned to the ICC’s official history books some time ago, but the sentiments that drove that agenda continue to hold sway in on-field engagements. England v India has taken its time to catch up with India v Australia as one of Test cricket’s blue riband battles, and it hasn’t yet produced the sort of see-sawing contest that would lift it alongside the Ashes in the public’s affections. But in terms of spice and animosity, there’s history aplenty between these teams, and scope in the coming weeks for so many additional plotlines.Virat Kohli himself gave short shrift to the notion that his team are favourites, but either way this is looking like India’s best-drilled squad for a tour of England since 2007, when Rahul Dravid’s team emerged as 1-0 victors in a three-Test series, having shed their previous reticence in a gripping tussle under Sourav Ganguly five years earlier.The more recent trips in 2011 and 2014 showed promise in the early exchanges, not least at Lord’s four years ago when Ishant Sharma pushed Cook to the brink of resignation by sealing a remarkable win. But by the end of both series, the captain MS Dhoni had the air of a man who no longer needed the hassle as India’s shortcomings against the moving ball pushed him into reverse.One thing you can be pretty sure of in 2018 – there will be no retreat under Kohli, a man on a mission to cement his own place as one of the sport’s all-time great cricketers. He has no material need to push himself any more than he already does, but like Tendulkar and Dravid before him, he recognises that Test cricket, even in its habitual state of flux, remains the format by which you book your place in the pantheon. If he can inspire a few of England’s own flatlining stars to match his resolve, we could yet be in for the classic that the format so desperately needs.Graphic: Adil Rashid will play his first Test for England since December 2016•ESPNcricinfo LtdForm guideEngland WLDLL
India WWLLDIn the spotlightJames Anderson v Virat Kohli is England v India in microcosm. Two giants of the game, drawn together once more to add another chapter to a storied rivalry. It would be grossly simplistic to say that the winner of this duel will decide the fate of this Test, and ultimately the series, but no two men are more fundamental to the fortunes of their teams.Kohli’s performance in England in 2014 – 134 runs in five Tests – remains a stain on his otherwise spotless world-class record, but his desire for retribution could not be more plain. Had it not been for an injury sustained at the IPL, he would have warmed up for this tour with a county stint with Surrey, but he’s had ample sighters in the course of India’s month-long build-up, including the limited-overs series, and no Indian captain since Ganguly has been more expressive in his desire for victory. His massive haul of 655 runs 109.16 on home soil paved the way for India’s 4-0 win in their last encounter with England in 2016-17.Anderson turned 36 on Monday, and while age is but a number, it’s still a pretty large one for a fast bowler who has been around the block for his 540 wickets over the course of a 15-year career. The economy of his run-up, allied to the magic in his wrist, means that there are no questions about his enduring quality – in many respects he is better now than ever before – but the challenge of five Tests in six weeks will require careful management, especially given his recent history of shoulder trouble. Anderson defied injury to rush himself back for the latter stages of that 2016-17 tour – to no great avail, he claimed four wickets at 53.5 in the last three Tests. But that willingness to put himself back in the frame showed how fiercely his fires still burn, as did his rather churlish end-of-series comments about Kohli’s record in England. The subtext was clear, but whether he’ll find his usual prodigious swing in the midst of England’s heatwave is another matter.Team newsAdil Rashid’s recall to the Test squad spawned a chapter of Yorkshire in-fighting not seen since Geoff Boycott was in his pomp – and Boycott himself hasn’t been shy on the subject either – but he will now be making his first Test appearance since December 2016. A grassy deck and a slight easing in the Saharan heat of this most atypical of English summers dissuaded England from fielding two spinners at Edgbaston for the first time since 1993, although Moeen Ali might have been considered ahead of Dawid Malan as a batsman. After playing his part in the series leveller against Pakistan, Sam Curran’s left-arm line complements the veteran pairing of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dawid Malan, 5 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Sam Curran, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson.Kuldeep Yadav’s potential inclusion persuaded England to recruit a trio of club left-armers to replicate his unusual angles in the nets this week. But with R Ashwin a shoo-in, Ravi Jadeja’s established qualities are the likelier second-spin option if India decide to stick to their strengths rather than lean on the extra seamer in Mohammad Shami. Shikhar Dhawan’s place at the top of the order is under pressure following his pair at Essex last week. KL Rahul is itching for an opening, and might well open alongside Murali Vijay.India 1 Shikhar Dhawan/KL Rahul, 2 Murali Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 R Ashwin, 8 Hardik Pandya, 9 Ravindra Jadeja/Mohammed Shami, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsIt has taken some diligent input from the Edgbaston groundstaff – and several million litres of water – to keep their wicket from turning to a dustbowl in the midst of an improbable English heatwave. And they have succeeded against the odds, but presumably in keeping with their brief from the ECB, in producing a wicket that looks markedly similar to those from the 2015 Ashes and 2016 Pakistan series. And seamers dominated in both of those games.Stats and Trivia After playing each of his first ten Tests overseas, Rashid is set to make his home Test debut, and play for the first time as a solitary spinner. Jos Buttler has been promoted to England’s vice-captain after just two matches of his Test comeback. He takes over from James Anderson, who in turn stepped up after Ben Stokes missed the Ashes. India’s last visit to Edgbaston was one that they’d rather forget. Alastair Cook’s highest Test score of 294 was more than the visitors made in either innings, as they slumped to defeat by an innings and 242 runs.Quotes”Looking at the surface, we’ve decided we only want to go with one spinner, and that’s going to be Adil. With the amount of right-handers in what we think is going to be India’s team, he gives us a very attacking option.” Joe Root explains the thinking as Rashid’s Test recall is confirmed.“You need professionalism more than feeling like an underdog or starting as a favourite. That is something we want to do as a team: we want to be consistent and professional.” Virat Kohli is focussed only on on-field matters

Burnley have opened talks with an overseas club regarding an exit for one of their senior squad members in January, according to a reliable reporter.

Burnley form under Vincent Kompany this season

The Clarets have had an extremely disappointing start to the new campaign having won just two, drawn two and lost 13 of their opening 17 games, meaning that they currently find themselves second from bottom in the Premier League relegation zone.

In order to survive the drop at the end of the season, Vincent Kompany will know that he may need to enter the market next month to find reinforcements who will strengthen his squad, but to do that, the manager could first have to make room by getting rid of some of his existing players.

Burnley boss Kompany now lining up "amazing" season-changing signing

He’s out of contract in 2024 and could be available on a cheap deal…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Dec 19, 2023

Someone who appears to have been placed on the chopping block is Darko Churlinov, with the left-winger having made just 13 appearances since completing his move to the top-flight from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart last summer (Transfermarkt – Churlinov statistics).

The North Macedonia international is yet to feature in any competitions this season because he has been unavailable for selection due to contracting blood poisoning which left everyone at the club worried for his health, and it sounds like the 23-year-old could soon be moving onto new pastures elsewhere to secure a fresh start.

Burnley in talks to sell Churlinov

Taking to X, Sky Sports Germany reporter Dirk Schlarmann revealed that Burnley are in discussions to sell Churlinov to FC Schalke, though as it stands, there is yet to be a significant development in negotiations.

He wrote: "Schalke – small update on possible transfers: Contact between Burnley and S04 regarding #Churlinov is close, as we reported, but there is no breakthrough yet. There is currently no contact with Patric Pfeiffer – I would rate it as rather “cold” at the moment."

Clarets need to keep "exciting" Churlinov

While Churlinov hasn’t been given a regular chance to prove what he’s capable of yet at Burnley, mainly due to recent health issues, Kompany seemingly has a player with excellent qualities on his hands, therefore, the club could be making a mistake if they were to sanction his sale in January.

The Skopje native has clocked up 59 involvements (41 goals and 18 assists) in 159 appearances since the start of his career, showing what a positive impact he can have in the final third, but he’s also comfortable playing in several other areas.

Sponsored by Adidas, the forward is a versatile operator having been deployed in ten different positions over the grass following his arrival on the professional scene, including everywhere across the frontline, four roles in the midfield and two in the defence.

As claimed by Josh Bunting, Burnley were making an “exciting” recruit when they signed Churlinov, so allowing him to leave without properly having the opportunity to showcase his talents could be the wrong decision to make at Turf Moor.

ESPNcricinfo presents the pivotal clashes to watch out for during the Sri Lanka-England Test series, which kicks off in Galle on Monday

Andrew McGlashan in Galle25-Mar-2012Andrew Strauss v Chanaka Welegedara
The England captain needs a strong series with the bat. He has not scored a Test hundred since Brisbane in November 2010, but if he is to get one on this trip the challenge will not just come from the spinners. Chanaka Welegedara removed Strauss in three innings out of four during the series in England last year, restarting the debate on whether technical issues existed against left-arm quicks. Zaheer Khan’s injury during the India series that followed removed an enticing battle. Opening batsmen falling to opening bowlers should not come as a surprise, but Sri Lanka will see it as an opportunity to make an early opening in conditions where new-ball wickets are so crucial.Kevin Pietersen v Graham Ford
This is a pairing between one person who will be in the middle and another who will be in the dressing room. Graham Ford is now the Sri Lanka coach but has been a huge figure in Pietersen’s career, a mentor he has sought out during times of struggle. Following a poor 2010 season, Pietersen went to South Africa and worked with Ford prior to the 2011 Ashes, during which he proceeded to score a double-hundred in Adelaide. Now Ford is in charge of the opposition and will have the inside track. Pietersen, for his part, is brimming with confidence. Will the pupil or the teacher come out on top?Graeme Swann v Mahela Jayawardene
To call Graeme Swann’s current situation a slump in form shows what high expectations there are of him – even being below his best, he took 13 wickets at 25.07 against Pakistan. He remains England’s No. 1 spinner, though, his hold on that title is now a little more tenuous. It hasn’t been a particularly easy start in Sri Lanka for him, either, firstly with the strong comments about an opposition batsman not walking, then match-figures of 1 for 132 against the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI. Things will not get any easier. Swann is about to bowl against one of the finest players of spin around. Mahela Jayawardene put huge dents in Monty Panesar’s confidence four years ago, and his nimble footwork allied to deft touch will pose Swann a huge challenge.England v the heat
It may be clichéd to talk about England cricketers coping in hot conditions – as much as commenting on an overseas player wearing a few sweaters in May at Lord’s – but the temperature will play a key role for them in this series. It is why there is such debate about four bowlers verses five. Do such stifling conditions demand an extra option? And the heat does not just take a physical toll … England’s players have already lost their cool once in the middle when they were not impressed by an umpiring decision and it’s easy to crack.

Plays of the day from second day of the second Test between India and Australia in Bangalore

Sidharth Monga at the Chinnaswamy Stadium10-Oct-2010The cruelty
Sreesanth must have done something really awful to Ian Gould some time in the past. The revenge act was one of the worst possible. When finally Sreesanth put a good spell together, he thought he had been rewarded when Tim Paine chased a wide delivery and edged. Sreesanth was done thanking the heavens, the relief was writ large on his face, when Gould asked Paine to wait. For the second time in two Tests, an umpire was not sure about the legitimacy of the ball he had not called immediately. The replays showed the suspicion was well founded, and that Sreesanth had overstepped. Just to rub it in further, Paine drove Sreesanth through the covers and midwicket later in the over.The inexplicable field
A man trying to save his career had just moved from 95 to 99 with a streaky boundary past slip. He would obviously be anxious about that hundred. The Indian field settings suggested otherwise. Three men waited on the on-side boundary, and singles were there to be taken everywhere. Sure enough North did that, spending no time on 99.The turnaround
The Bangalore crowd came in for a fair share of criticism on day one after their random booing of all Australians. Today, though, they were going to make up for it. Paine’s fifty, the partnership’s fifty and hundred, and North’s hundred were cheered heartily. When a disappointed North was walking off after holing out to deep midwicket, he acknowledged the full house’s appreciation. All was well again.The message
Sachin Tendulkar may have become the first man to reach 14,000 runs today, but that doesn’t quite make today his day. However, there are other reasons that do. As pointed out by a spectator, and displayed on the big screen, it is October 10, 2010 today, which is conveniently written as 10-10-10: 10dulkar will want to score big and make tomorrow his day too, never mind the date.The repeat offence
Rahul Dravid has, for no explicable reason, developed a weakness against left-arm seamers of late. And it’s not the ones that swing the ball in, and create doubt. It’s the ones that angle it across, and get him chasing. Chanaka Welegedara has had his share of success against Dravid, and so had Doug Bollinger in the first Test of the series. Australia were ready to exploit that chink. As soon as Dravid came to bat, Ponting called back Mitchell Johnson, put in three slips, and asked his main fast man to bowl full and wide. Six balls later, the edge was induced, and the catch taken at third slip.

Leeds United's attempts to secure an automatic promotion place in the Championship this season have left a little bit to be desired so far.

The Whites are seven points adrift of Ipswich Town in second place and four points behind Southampton in third, whilst they are a staggering 17 points off Leicester City in first.

Daniel Farke's side have only won two of their last six league matches and failed to score more than one goal in all four of the games they failed to win.

This suggests that the Yorkshire-based outfit have lacked a cutting edge at times and it has cost them in the race to secure a top two position in the division.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

They lost three games by one goal in that run and would have been in second place had they managed to turn those defeats into wins with two more goals in each match.

Latest Leeds transfer news

The Whites appear to have acknowledged their need for additional firepower as Fabrizio Romano has named them as one of the clubs in the race to secure the signing of Fabio Carvalho this month.

Leeds are said to be pushing to sign the talented attacking midfielder on loan until the end of the season, but they are not the only team in the running.

Fellow Championship high-flyers Southampton and Hull City are also trying to win the race to land his signature in January as they look to bolster their respective attacks.

However, Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen on the Liverpool starlet and this could make it a difficult deal for any of the second tier sides to complete.

Leeds could attempt to persuade Carvalho that a move to Elland Road is his best option to play regular football, which may not be available to him at a top-flight team.

Farke's reputation with young talent, particularly at Championship level, could also play a key role as the German tactician was pivotal in the development of James Maddison and Emiliano Buendia during his time at Norwich City.

Both of those players, albeit Buendia is currently out injured, have gone on to become impressive Premier League performers after shining in the second division as attacking midfielders or wide attackers for the now-Leeds boss at Carrow Road.

Leeds pushing to sign "special player" with contact made

Daniel Farke is keen to take him to Elland Road…

BySean Markus Clifford Jan 7, 2024

If Leeds and Farke can convince Carvalho to make the switch to Yorkshire then they could land a similar attacking talent to those two Championship superstars, whilst also landing the German boss' own version of Pablo Hernandez.

Marcelo Bielsa had the mercurial Spanish wizard at his disposal to carve open opposition defences on a regular basis in the club's last promotion to the top-flight and the Liverpool youngster has the potential to be a similar creative force from an attacking midfield or wide position

Pablo Hernandez's Championship form under Bielsa

The impressive magician played two seasons in the Championship for the Argentine head coach and caught the eye with his terrific contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Hernandez played 39 matches and started 37 during the 2018/19 campaign, which was Bielsa's first at Elland Road, and racked up 12 goals and 12 assists.

He also created 16 'big chances' for his teammates and this shows that the exciting whiz was a consistent creator who could open up opposition defences for his teammates.

The magical Spaniard followed that up with nine goals, nine assists, and 13 'big chances' created in 36 Championship appearances during the 2019/20 campaign, which ended in promotion to the Premier League.

He ranked within the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) with 0.32 per 90, along with being in the top 1% for shot-creating actions (6.67) per 90.

Appearances

16

Goals

Zero

Assists

Two

Big chances created

One

Sofascore rating

6.75

As you can see in the table above, Hernandez was not able to translate his immense Championship form over to the Premier League the following year, as he entered the final throes of his playing career.

However, there is no doubt that the now-38-year-old was a sensational operator in the second tier with his ability to score goals and create chances from a number ten or wide position for the Whites, and Carvalho could follow in his footsteps at Elland Road.

The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Carvalho

The 21-year-old dynamo has struggled at the top level since Liverpool decided to sign him from Fulham in the summer of 2022 after his second tier exploits.

Carvalho made 13 appearances for the Reds in the Premier League throughout the 2022/23 campaign and contributed with two goals, zero assists, and zero 'big chances' created.

His inability to make the step up led to Jurgen Klopp making the decision to send him out on loan during the first half of the current term.

He spent time on loan with RB Leipzig in Germany but was not able to provide a single goal, assist, or 'big chance' created in nine Bundesliga matches.

However, his form for Fulham in the Championship, prior to his move to Anfield, suggests that the quality is there for him to be Farke's own version of Pablo Hernandez during the second half of this season.

Carvalho was instrumental in the Cottagers' promotion to the top-flight during the 2021/22 campaign as the young ace showcased his attacking capabilities.

The £41k-per-week ace, who was hailed as a "real gem" by talent scout Jacek Kulig that term, racked up ten goals and eight assists in 36 league outings for Fulham.

Chris Willock

1

Harry Wilson

2

Morgan Gibbs-White

3

Callum Robinson

4

Bobby Reid

5

This means that, like Hernandez did in the 2019/20 promotion campaign, Carvalho produced 18 direct goal contributions in those 36 matches – one every other game on average.

The former Fulham star also created 13 'big chances' for his teammates and ranked within the top 4% of attacking midfielders and forwards within the division for xAG (0.31) per 90.

These statistics suggest that the Reds youngster is a player who has the ability, having proven it at Championship level, to be a Hernandez-esque figure for Farke as both a scorer and a creator of goals from midfield, which is why Leeds must push hard to win the race for his signature.

Manchester United have struggled for consistency at both ends of the field this campaign, but particularly in attack, where they’ve netted just 18 goals in 17 Premier League matches.

In turn, this poor form in attack has put Erik ten Hag’s side seventh in the table with 28 points.

With that in mind, the boss will look to bolster his attacking options in January in an attempt to increase his side's output in the final third.

Man Utd transfers latest – Donyell Malen

Christian Falk took to X (formerly Twitter) earlier this month to announce that a meeting between Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund took place regarding a swap deal between Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen.

If the English side does not agree to the player exchange, then the Bundesliga side will demand £26m for their Dutch winger.

A move in January is possible, with Malen looking to leave Dortmund and the club not opposed by his potential departure.

How Donyell Malen compares to Marcus Rashford

The Dutch forward has featured 15 times for BVB this season in the Bundesliga, scoring five goals and registering two assists, with his goal tally being one more than Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund combined, based on Premier League stats.

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Erik ten Hag wants to sign a centre forward in January.

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Malen is a versatile forward who can play across the front three with ease, but this season he was featured mainly off the right, which is where he has scored each goal.

The right-wing role is currently a problem position for Ten Hag, which makes the interest understandable. The ex-PSV player would bring goals to the side, with his goal-scoring instincts making him “simply unstoppable” at times, according to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

The 24-year-old is more of an inverted forward who focuses on scoring goals rather than creating them, using his pace and movement to get into dangerous positions, which is very reminiscent of Marcus Rashford. The table below shows how the two attackers compare based on their stats from the last year across the top European leagues.

Goals

0.55

0.46

Assists

0.20

0.15

Key passes

1.02

1.10

Touches (Att pen)

5.76

6.14

Shots total

3.96

3.34

As you can see by the low completed passes and key pass statistics, Rashford and Malen are goal scorers who rarely create or get involved in build-up using passing. They are both direct, like to shoot at any given opportunity, and thrive inside the box, which most likely stems from years as centre forwards throughout their youth careers.

#1 Marcus Rashford

#2 Moussa Diaby

#3 Samuel Chukwueze

#4 Raheem Sterling

#5 Rafael Leao

Data via FBRef's 'similar players' model

United’s number ten on the left and the Netherlands international on the right would provide a balanced attack that has goals on both sides, not just the left, and with Bruno Fernandes drifting over to the left and Luke Shaw at left-back, Malen would often find himself drifting to the back post to get on the end of crosses.

With Antony failing to score all season in 18 appearances, it is no wonder that Ten Hag wants to sign an attacker who can feature off the right. If the deal was to go through, Malen and Rashford could become one of the most prolific duos in the Premier League, and £26m does seem like a bargain for the BVB star.

Tottenham are now "battling" to keep a player who is "keen to move on" as injuries expose manager Ange Postecoglou's lack of depth in the squad.

Spurs injury list in full

In the last 11 days, Spurs' absentee list has grown to such an extent that it's brought into question their ability to truly contend near the top of the Premier League table. Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and young goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman were already on the treatment table before killer blows for both Micky van de Ven and James Maddison really gave Postecoglou a problem.

The star summer signings were both hauled off in Tottenham's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea the week before last, with Maddison suffering ankle ligament damage and van de Ven pulling up with a serious hamstring issue. The latter has formed an incredible partnership with Cristian Romero at the heart of Spurs' defence, and his pace is seen as pivotal to Postecoglou's high line. Meanwhile, Maddison's creativity in midfield has been a god-send since his £40 million move from Leicester City.

Tottenham's star duo are both expected to be back in early 2024, by the time January's transfer window will be open, but you could still make a very serious argument that sporting director Johan Lange needs to back the Spurs boss with more options in key areas.

Ahead of a long season, the Lilywhites may not be able to rely on their traditional starting eleven all of the time. Indeed, when Postecoglou's favoured stars aren't available for selection, it is imperative that the Australian has quality alternatives to choose from.

Tottenham now "battling" to keep Hojbjerg

Contrary to recent reports, which stated that Spurs are open to the possibility of selling midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in January, TEAMtalk now believe the north Londoners have pulled a U-turn on this decision.

The outlet shares that Tottenham are now "battling" to keep Hojbjerg in January, coming amid their real lack of squad depth. Both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will also be off to the Africa Cup of Nations early next year, which would leave Postecogloiu with just Rodrigo Bentancur and Oliver Skipp as senior options in midfield if Hojbjerg does depart.

The Denmark international, though, is "keen to move on" after only being used sparingly before a succession of Tottenham injuries handed him more game time.

Passing

Through balls

Concentration

Ball interception

Called "sensational" by members of the press (Seb Stafford-Bloor), Postecoglou has said that Hojbjerg is a "very important" player at Tottenham.

"It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg last month.

"He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us."