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Beren Cross has dropped a Leeds United transfer update which will surely excite fans about this summer’s window.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have had a relatively slow start to the transfer window, with Birmingham City starlet Amari Miller and a permanent deal for Manchester City’s Jack Harrison the only pieces of business being done so far.

And now, in a Q&A for Leeds Live, Cross has delivered a new update on what the Whites might be looking to do in the rest of the transfer window.

He said: “Bielsa has always said he’s happy for new players to arrive at Leeds United if they are better than what he already has. They’re going to need to be pretty special to have a chance of supplanting Dallas/Rodrigo/Klich in the middle, or even Raphinha/Harrison down the flanks.

“When I last checked at the weekend, Nandez was not even on Orta’s shortlist, let alone in advanced talks with Leeds on a transfer. They like Cunha, but it’s not down the track and there are a lot of other interested clubs. It’s impossible to say how many they will bring in because there are so many variables at play. Left-back is obvious and so is a central midfielder, but it’s all down to what Bielsa feels he needs in the squad. They went from Cuisance to Raphinha in the space of a few days last autumn and they’re not similar in the slightest.”

Fans will be excited

While things have been moving at a slow pace in the transfer window for Leeds thus far, with the new Premier League season looming next month, you would expect business to pick up very soon.

Cross’ latest update on the club’s transfer plans bodes well for what the club are hoping to achieve not just next season, but in the years to come.

While it may be tempting to just splash out on high-profile players and say ‘look at the money we’ve spent’, they key for Bielsa is to ensure that they’re the right fit for the club and will actually take them forward.

Therefore, being patient and doing their due diligence in the scouting process should give Leeds the best possible chance of signing a player who can become a success at Elland Road, rather than hitting the panic button and just throwing cash wherever.

Cross’ pointed mention to last summer when they went from a midfielder in Michael Cuisance to an exciting winger in Raphinha is also a tantalising hint about how quickly things can move at Elland Road in terms of transfers, and the positions Leeds will be looking to target.

The latest news should have Whites fans excited about the remainder of the summer transfer window, as it seems that Bielsa is intent on bringing in only those players who would be upgrades on what he currently has at his disposal.

Meanwhile, Leeds receive major update on Marcelo Bielsa’s future…

A number of Manchester United supporters have been reacting positively to another rumour claiming Anthony Martial could leave the club.

The Frenchman has had a curious United career in many ways, enjoying some success but never quite matching the expectations many had when he arrived in 2015.

Martial has scored 79 goals in 268 appearances for the Red Devils but he has found himself increasingly out of favour at Old Trafford.

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Only two Premier League starts have come his way this season, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Edinson Cavani all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness and utdreport on Twitter], Martial will now do all he can to leave United in the January transfer window, assuming he is not in Ralf Rangnick’s plans.

Man United fans like Martial rumour

These United fans reacted to the news on Twitter, seeing it as a positive update due to the Frenchman’s lack of form recently…

“Please go”

Credit: @BigGruntz

“Thank God he wants to leave”

Credit: @_joromie

“Where does he want driving?”

Credit: @33georgejohnson

“On your bike then”

Credit: @alexkevans1992

“Who’s gonna miss a lazy striker???”

Credit: @Fabianhdw1

“He should have performed when he was given the chances…”

Credit: @lit08

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on one rumoured United target. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool have undoubtedly one of the strongest defences in the Premier League, having conceded just 20 goals in 30 games.

One man who has contributed a lot to the Reds’ impressive defensive displays is Joel Matip, who has appeared in 24 league games so far this season.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

To highlight just how significant the 30-year-old has been for Liverpool in this campaign, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (98) and Fabinho (95) have racked up a higher combination of tackles and interceptions than Matip (81).

Despite the Cameroon international’s effectiveness at the back, it seems as though the Merseyside club could be eyeing up a potential replacement for him.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Goal by journalist Neil Jones, Liverpool are interested in signing Torino defender Gleison Bremer.

Since joining the Italian club back in 2018, the Brazilian has gone on to make 105 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with 13 goals and five assists along the way.

In terms of his defensive capabilities, the 25-year-old has the third-highest number of tackles and interceptions combined (144) throughout Serie A, showing how much of a unit he is at the back in a similar way to Matip.

Labelled a “powerful” figure by Forza Italian Football editor in chief Conor Clancy, Bremer eclipses the Liverpool defender in terms of the number of blocks, tackles and interceptions made this season in their respective domestic leagues.

Taking all this into account, and the fact that Matip is five years older than the £18k-per-week Torino brute, a transfer swoop for the Brazilian defender could be a great investment from the Merseyside club given his obvious talent and relatively young age.

However, the report from Goal claims that Juventus and Inter Milan are also interested in signing the centre-back, which means that the Reds may have a challenge on their hands to get Bremer to Anfield.

That said, to get the opportunity to play in the Premier League under the management of Jurgen Klopp next to a player such as Virgil van Dijk at one of the biggest clubs in England could all be very tempting for the 25-year-old defender.

In other news: Liverpool now plot bid for “unbelievable” £45m-rated dynamo, just imagine him & Salah

Crystal Palace are unlikely to make a move for out-of-favour Manchester United forward Anthony Martial, according to journalist Tom Barclay.

The Lowdown: Martial struggling for minutes

The Frenchman has struggled to force his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans at Old Trafford this season, making just two Premier League starts prior to the Norwegian’s departure from the club this morning.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho all appear to be ahead of Martial in the pecking order, so he could leave the Manchester club soon.

Palace have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old, who has scored 94 goals in his career during spells with Monaco and United.

The Latest: Barclay plays down Palace move for Martial

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Barclay played down the idea of Martial heading to Crystal Palace, admitting that the Eagles likely couldn’t afford his wages.

The journalist said: “Would he even want to go to Crystal Palace? He’s obviously out of favour at United, and they probably are looking to let him go, but I would be pretty shocked.

“He would either have to take a massive pay cut or Palace would have to go down a massively different route.”

The Verdict: Highly unlikely

Martial is a talented footballer who has had good times at United – his record of 79 goals in 266 appearances is not to be dismissed – but as Barclay says, it is hard to see a move to Palace ever materialising.

The France international earns an eye-watering £250,000 per week at Old Trafford, which is almost double that of Palace’s highest-earning player Wilfried Zaha (£130,000). Also, Martial’s current United deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2024, so Patrick Vieira couldn’t even snap up his compatriot on the cheap.

Besides, it’s not as if the Eagles have been stuck for goals this season either – Christian Benteke, Wilfried Zaha, Conor Gallagher and Odsonne Edouard have already netted 15 times between them in the Premier League alone – so Martial isn’t a player that Palace desperately need.

In other news, some Palace fans criticised one player’s performance against Burnley. Find out who it is here.

Sunderland fell to a 5-1 defeat to Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon, and a number of Black Cats supporters hit out at captain Aidan McGeady, who was shown a red card at the New York Stadium.

Lee Johnson made two changes from the previous league match against Charlton Atheltic, with Elliot  Embleton and Leon Dajaku coming in for Alex Pritchard and Aiden O’Brien. That meant McGeady kept his place on the wing for his 12th League One appearance of the campaign, but it was one to forget for the Irish veteran.

The 35-year-old received two yellow cards shortly after the interval to leave his team with a mountain to climb, with the hosts 3-1 up at the time.

McGeady was Sunderland’s worst-outfield starter, as per SofaScore, with a match rating of 5.5/10. He failed to have a shot on goal, complete a dribble or make a key pass during his time on the pitch. He also lost possession on six occasions and was beaten in six of his eight duels (75%).

Sunderland fans react

Here is what these Sunderland fans had to say about the Irishman on Twitter, with one labelling him as ‘appalling’ yesterday.

“What an absolute horror show this is, absolutely lost our heads. What is McGeady thinking?! Shocking”

Credit: @xhannahanderson

“McGeady just needs to retire. Been awful this season.”

Credit: @OfficialDPope

“Appalling from McGeady. As an experienced player on a yellow card it is unprofessional and negligent to be flying into challenges like that. Game over now.”

Credit: @StuzMate

“Disgrace from McGeady! Think he wanted sent off there.”

Credit: @mksavage73

“That was brainless from McGeady. He’s a senior pro. He should know better. He’s becoming a bigger issue every week. His role in the team HAS to be refined now.”

Credit: @Philip_RJ89

“McGeady & O’Nien please never play for us again thank you”

Credit: @mattsmith2707

“McGeady…. Finished in my opinion”

Credit: @wdt0_0

In other news: ‘Made my day’ – Lots of Sunderland fans go wild as ‘excellent news’ is confirmed. 

An update has emerged on Rangers centre-back Leon Balogun, regarding Steven Gerrard’s thoughts on the defender.

What’s the talk?

According to The Scottish Sun, the Gers boss is be keen to keep Leon Balogun at the club beyond the end of the season.

The report states that Balogun is out of contract at the end of the campaign, but he has won over Gerrard’s trust and could be handed an extension.

Gerrard loves him

Ibrox chief Ross Wilson must make a key decision by offering Balogun a contract to remain at Ibrox beyond the end of the 2021/22 campaign. He must now allow the central defender to depart on a free transfer as he still has plenty to offer and could be a valuable player for Gerrard moving forward.

Whilst there is speculation circling around Gerrard’s own future at Rangers, he is still contracted to the club and we can only assume that he will be the head coach heading into next season as it stands. This is why signing Balogun to a new deal could be a shrewd move, as he is a player the ex-Liverpool man loves.

Earlier this year, Gerrard lauded the defender as he admitted that he wanted Balogun to sign a contract extension, which he later did. The manager said:

“Leon is someone we want to keep hold of. He knows that and he is performing so well.

“He signed a contract with an option of an extension and we want him to be here beyond this season.

“Leon knows he is wanted here. I think he’s enjoying it, he’s playing with a smile on his face.

This, along with the aforementioned report stating Gerrard’s trust in the £14k-per-week defender, shows that Balogun is loved by the manager and that is why he must be handed another extension by Wilson.

He has shown on the pitch this season that he still has quality to offer.

Balogun has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.20 in the Premiership and 7.25 in the Europa League, with Rangers keeping three clean sheets in his six league appearances.

This shows that he can still perform to a high standard for the Gers and Wilson must please Gerrard by getting the Nigerian international to put pen to paper.

AND in other news, Rangers may be set for big boost after Gers news, Gerrard will be elated…

Former Everton star Michael Ball has drooled over midfielder Abdoualye Doucoure, insisting that he has “everything”.

The French star has enjoyed a fine start to the campaign under the management of Rafael Benitez.

Doucoure has played in every Premier League game this term and has scored twice, while registering a total of four assists.

The former Watford star was also key for the Toffees last season, making 29 appearances in the top-flight.

Ball believes that he has developed into the club’s most important player and has pointed to the fact that they struggled to win games when he was not in the team last season.

Indeed, between March and May, Doucoure missed eight games through injury and Everton only won two of them; prior to that, they had won three in a row, including a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

Ball said: “He was our key player last year. If Doucoure was missing, we struggled. He’s got everything you want from a midfielder. He’s got energy, he likes closing down, he likes cutting up the play.”

Doucoure has been with Everton since 2020 having been brought in by director of football Marcel Brands, and is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt; his contract expires in 2023.

Lee Ryder has criticised the display of Matt Ritchie as Newcastle United drew 2-2 at home to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Disappointing day

While the North East club did manage to pick up their first point of the season at St. James’ Park, ultimately it ended in disappointment as they went 2-1 up in injury time through Allan Saint-Maximin, before giving away a needless penalty with one of the last kicks of the game which was scored by James Ward-Prowse.

While there were some decent performances in the famous black-and-white stripes, others failed to impress heading into the international break.

The Latest: Ritchie criticised

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Ryder was particularly critical of Ritchie, claiming that he ‘did not conjure up’ his usual supply line and was ‘unconvincing’ at wing-back.

The journalist gave the Scotland international a mere 5/10 overall rating for his performance, the joint-second worst out of any of his teammates to have set foot on the pitch.

The Verdict: Justified

The criticism of Ritchie was certainly justified given his overall display, which was not convincing at all.

The 31-year-old lost out on five of his duels in the match, and also failed to record a single shot on goal or successful dribble (Sofascore).

He also failed to block any shots or make any interceptions or accurate crosses, and lost possession of the ball on no fewer than 14 separate occasions, the joint-third most out of any Magpies player (Sofascore).

Nonetheless, Ritchie will have to produce better performances if he is to stay in the team after the international break.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now ‘in talks’ to sign here!

Manchester United have finally sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, following an embarrassing defeat 4-1 to Watford on Saturday afternoon.

The speculation around Solskjaer and his managerial position has been the hottest topic in football for months, and now the Glazers have pulled the plug on the Norwegian.

In a short and sweet statement, Manchester United tweeted;

“Manchester United can confirm that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as Manager.”

“Thank you for everything, Ole.”

The manager job at Manchester United has been talked about endlessly over the last few weeks, with several high profile names attached to the role at Old Trafford.

Brendan Rodgers, Erik Ten Hag, Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane are just a few of the names that have been dropped on social media and by journalists over the last month or so, but there is still no confirmation on who will take over to manage the team Solskjaer has assembled.

One manager that has gone under the radar for the job is Sevilla manager, Julen Lopetegui, another name touted with the vacancy.

The Spanish manager has an impressive CV so far, managing Porto, Spain, Real Madrid and now managing Sevilla.

Lopetegui is most famously remembered for being sacked as Spain manager on the eve of the World Cup in 2018, after accepting an offer to manage Real Madrid.

Since the controversy at Spain and a terrible run that led to his dismissal at Real Madrid, the 55-year-old manager has been rebuilding his reputation at Sevilla, finishing fourth in the Champions League in his first season and winning the Europa League in 2020.

An exciting review from Sevilla president Jose Castro explains why his smart thinking could be perfect for United:

“When we signed him, we were convinced he was the ideal coach for us. He has brought new ideas and theories, but above all, he is a very serious and hard-working guy. He is very methodical and studies very well for each game,” he said.

“Without a doubt, the players take strength from that. We hope to see that again in the ‘derbi’, such intensity in our team.”

The experienced coach has broken records at the club with a 62% win rate across his career, while his percentage at the Spanish club is the highest win percentage in the history of Sevilla FC, so he clearly has a winning mentality that he has instilled into his team and their performances.

Winning games is something Manchester United really need to start doing to stay in a conversation for the top four in the Premier League so he could be the man to dig the Glazers out of their managerial torment at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils currently have only five wins after twelve games, sitting seventh in the table and six points off fourth place West Ham. Thus, the sacking of Solskjaer has come at a time where Manchester United need to get a winning run of form going.

Manchester United will take on Villareal on Tuesday in the Champions League, with Darren Fletcher or Michael Carrick likely to lead the team out away from home, they will need to secure a win to qualify for the round of 16.

In other news: Harry Maguire was awful against Watford

Leeds United have learned that midfield target Lewis O’Brien is keen to join, according to Football Insider. 

The lowdown

The same publication claimed on Friday that ‘preliminary talks’ over a deal for the Huddersfield Town ace are underway.

O’Brien made 42 Championship appearances for the Terriers last season, scoring three goals and providing as many assists.

An all-round option, he averaged two tackles, one interception, 1.1 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes over the course of the campaign (via WhoScored).

O’Brien, Huddersfield’s Player of the Year in 2019/20, has been praised for his ‘incredible’ fitness levels and ‘never seems to get tired’.

The 22-year-old is into the final year of his deal, but the club have the option to extend it for a further 12 months. He’s valued at £2.7million by Transfermarkt.

The latest

The Whites have reportedly been ‘given encouragement via third parties’ that the ‘ambitious’ O’Brien wants to play Premier League football under Marcelo Bielsa.

Now, though, ‘much will depend’ on whether Leeds are willing to meet Huddersfield’s demands.

O’Brien is apparently viewed as an alternative to Conor Gallagher, who opted to joined Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea.

The verdict

O’Brien would be a real asset to Leeds given his versatility – he’s been used as a central midfielder, no. 10, left-back and left midfielder – not to mention his aforementioned lung capacity, making him a perfect fit for Bielsa’s intense system.

You can understand why they missed out on Gallagher. Game-time would have been his priority when going out on loan, and there’s considerably less at competition at Palace.

O’Brien, by contrast, is eager to make the move, and the signs are that he ticks all the boxes as a plan-B.

In other news, a Serie A expert has delivered a major update on Leeds’ pursuit of Nahitan Nandez.