All posts by z3u9t.icu

The summer transfer window is all about patience. Whether that be when waiting for a club to bring in reinforcements, or then waiting for those reinforcements to find their feet.

Things can't always instantly click, and that's when a sense of calm needs to be projected by those in charge at the club.

Of course, in an ideal world, the player who has just cost a club a likely absurd amount would make an instant impact. And this can sometimes be the case, too. Just look at Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool, who helped bring silverware to Anfield as a direct consequence of his arrival.

In cases such as Kai Havertz and Arsenal, however, patience may be needed. In a new side, which operates contrastingly differently to former club Chelsea, Havertz may need time to settle in but has already faced criticism in the media.

Mikel Arteta has been quick to keep calm about the forward, too, even commenting on his physicality.

What did Mikel Arteta say about Kai Havertz?

Speaking to the press recently, Arteta said (via Goal): "We have to find the right balance but a year ago Granit could never play as an attacking midfielder. It's the first time we played with four players inside and three of them had never played together, ever. So: tranquilo.

"Day by day, keep doing the right things and give people the opportunity to settle in and we will be fine. You use the word 'physical' but if I put Granit and Kai [together] who is more physical? Granit? Yeah? Havertz is 1.91 metres.

"It depends what physical is. Physical is to run, to run in behind, run forward, to tackle, to defend. He will fit in with the qualities we have for sure and the good thing is that we have options in midfield. When we want a game to become more physical we have the options to be very, very physical so we have the right options."

How many goals did Kai Havertz score in his Chelsea career?

To say that Havertz's Chelsea career didn't live up to the hype would be quite the understatement. Of course, the German will forever have his place in Blues history after scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final to defeat fellow Premier League side Manchester City, but he never really progressed after that.

In total, during his time at Stamford Bridge, Havertz scored just 32 goals in 139 appearances. For a player used as a striker more often than not, that record simply wasn't good enough.

With that said, it came as a slight surprise when Arsenal so willingly splashed out a reported £65m for his signature this summer, but fans of the North London club will trust Arteta's plan – especially as he appears likely to be reimagined as a midfielder and not a striker.

The former Chelsea man has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of, scoring his first goal for the club in a recent 5-0 thrashing of MLS All-Stars.

Havertz will hope to have finally found the place to realise his potential in England's top flight, as Arsenal attempt to compete for the Premier League title, and more, next season.

The Gunners will certainly be an interesting watch.

Manchester United are believed to be interested in Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Randal Kolo Muani, with manager Erik ten Hag keeping his options open amid the search for a new centre-forward this summer.

What's the latest on Kolo Muani to Man United?

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, the Red Devils are currently holding talks regarding a potential move for the 24-year-old, with the Premier League giants said to be considering the Frenchman as a possible striking target alongside Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund – with whom personal terms have been agreed.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "Man Utd have agreed outline personal terms for Rasmus Hojlund. Gap in club valuations so will take time but talks to continue over deal. #PSG also pursuing. #MUFC in parallel dialogue on Kolo Muani + others."

The Old Trafford outfit were previously named by the Independent as one of the clubs who are interested in signing the former Nantes ace – alongside the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur – with a fee of roughly £80m having been suggested.

How good is Randal Kolo Muani?

Having been described as "very complete" by compatriot Kylian Mbappe earlier this year, it is fair to say that the 6 foot 2 marksman has put himself firmly on the map amid his form in recent times, having enjoyed a truly breakout debut season in Frankfurt last time out.

After previously netting 23 goals and providing 16 assists in 87 games for his previous employers back in his native France, the Bondy native has already bettered that tally in just 46 outings in all competitions in Germany, having recorded 40 goal involvements during the 2022/23 campaign.

That brutal haul of 23 goals and 17 assists across all fronts would have placed Kolo Muani ahead of Marcus Rashford in the United squad last season with regard to goal contributions, with the latter man – who only recently signed a new long-term deal at the club – having led the way with 30 goals and nine assists in total.

Such clinical and creative form is an indication of the type of player that Ten Hag would have on his hands if a deal could be agreed this summer, with the nine-cap international set to prove the man to oust Anthony Martial from his starting berth, with the ex-Monaco dud yet again currently hampered by injury.

If Kolo Muani is to flourish through the middle at the Theatre of Dreams, however, the fleet-footed speedster will likely be in need of quality service from those around him, hence why he could form a devastating attacking partnership with Bruno Fernandes next term.

The Portuguese magician is undoubtedly the creative hub for United in his playmaking berth, having created 32 'big chances' in total during the 2022/23 season, with that tally seeing him rank first in the division for that metric.

The 28-year-old also led the way in the top flight with regard to total chances created (119) as a further indication of that devastating ability to unlock a defence, hence why Kolo Muani would relish working alongside him in Manchester, as he is simply a "dream" for any striker – as per club legend Roy Keane.

As a player who ranks in the top 15% in Europe's top five leagues among those in his position for progressive passes received, the £25k-per-week livewire is evidently someone who thrives on running in behind and feeding off the service of his teammates, with Fernandes set to be the man to pick him out at any given opportunity.

Of course, while it does appear that young Hojlund is the leading candidate at present, Ten Hag and co are no doubt making a smart move by engaging in 'parallel' discussions for Kolo Muani too.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will want to "stay and fight for his place" in Erik ten Hag's team, but fans should "keep an eye on Chelsea" as the Blues' need for defensive cover could facilitate a move.

Is Harry Maguire joining Chelsea?

It has been a fantastic transfer window for the West Londoners this summer; not only have the club cleared out practically an entire squad of players they no longer want, but they have also completed the signings of several promising youngsters like Nicolas Jackson and Diego Moreira.

That said, not everything has gone their way, with the recent confirmation that young defender Wesley Fofana will likely miss a large portion of the season after he required surgery following an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

This development has left the Blues looking somewhat light in defence, with only Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and the ageing Thiago Silva ready to play come the season's first game.

Unsurprisingly, the club have started to look for reinforcements for the position, with the Sun reporting earlier this week that England international Maguire is a player they're considering following his 'shock' that he was removed as United's captain.

That said, there is still every chance the former Leicester City star will want to remain and fight for his place at Old Trafford, but anything could happen from here, per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on air, which was posted to TalkSPORT's YouTube channel, saying:

"I don't think it's a given that he leaves Manchester United. I think there is still part of him that wants to stay and fight for his place, but just keep an eye on Chelsea. He was linked with them a year ago, I think they are paying close attention to the situation. Obviously, they lost Fofana to another serious injury, so they're pretty short on defensive cover.

"I think it would have to be a permanent deal. I don't necessarily see a situation where Manchester United would loan Maguire to Chelsea because they could be competing for the same goals next season."

Would Harry Maguire be a good signing?

There is no getting around the fact that the last few years at United have been poor for Maguire and that the removal of the captaincy looks to be the closing of that chapter in his career, but would he be able to rediscover his best form at Stamford Bridge under Mauricio Pochettino?

According to WhoScored, Maguire has only achieved a season rating of over seven in two of his four years at United, with both of those coming in his first two campaigns with the club. In the years after, he has only managed an average of 6.59 and 6.65.

However, during his time with the Foxes in the top flight, he was able to average a rating of 7.01 and 7.08, suggesting that within the right setup, he can be a consistently good performer at this level.

His underlying numbers help to show that he likely isn't as bad a player as recent narratives have come to suggest either.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the 6 foot 4 titan sits in the top 11% for blocks, the top 12% for aerial duals won, the top 13% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 17% for attempted passes, and the top 19% for progressive carries, all per 90.

It seems only fair to consider the Sheffield-born "colossus'" performances in an England shirt as well.

Despite falling out of favour with ten Hag, Gareth Southgate has always stuck by his centreback, and it's easy to understand why.

In the last World Cup, he was voted in as one of the starting defenders in Sky Sports' team of the tournament, and he was also picked for the official team of the tournament for Euro 2020.

It may not be a glamorous signing, or one that's even popular with the fans, but if it's at the right price, Maguire could be a great option to help Chelsea with their lack of defensive options.

Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Benfica player Florentino Luis multiple times last season according to Fabrizio Romano

What is the latest news about Florentino Luis?

According to reports, Italian side AC Milan are interested in bringing the Portuguese midfielder to the San Siro. Reports claim that the Milan side have already been in contact with the midfielder's representatives and that a deal could be reached with the Portuguese club for around €30m (£25.7m).

Another report, however, says that whilst AC Milan do have an interest in the player, they are joined by Arsenal and Napoli. The report also contradicts others were suggesting about the fee, stating instead that Benfica will only sell if the players €120m (£103m) release clause is met, with the sale of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea just six months ago giving the club a benchmark to go off of.

Liverpool meanwhile sent scouts to watch both Luis and teammate Antonio Silva back in March, with 90min reporting that both the Reds and Tottenham Hotspur had scouts in attendance for the Portuguese sides 2-0 victory over Famaliciao.

Speaking on the Born and Red YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that the club were interested in the midfielder however no official talks had taken place.

“I think this is one of the players that Liverpool have been watching in terms of scouting because I have been told multiple times that Liverpool scouts were around to follow Florentino Luis. At the moment I am not aware of any direct contact with Benfica so let’s see but I’m not sure that Benfica are open to that kind of negotiation for the clause, I think they really want big money.”

Where would Luis play for Liverpool?

Luis was one of the most impressive defensive midfielders in Europe last season.

The midfielder shone when it came to the defensive side of the game and breaking up play in the midfield, averaging an incredible 3.48 tackles per 90 and 2.67 interceptions per 90. Those numbers put him in the top 3% of all midfielders in Europes "next eight" leagues for those categories, showcasing that he is the perfect destroyer for any midfield.

His former coaches have spoken very highly of him, with Joao Tralhao stating "Technically speaking, it’s not easy to find a midfielder with the defensive qualities he has, I used to joke with him and say that he saw the game two seconds before everyone else. It’s amazing the amount of interceptions he makes, the way he can be in the right position all the time.

"He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important. He can play anywhere, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, anywhere. He would have no problem adapting."

Liverpool are reportedly hoping to bring in one more midfielder this summer, after already announcing the signings of midfield duo Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Luis would be a very different profile in comparison and would most likely battle with Fabinho and Stefan Bajcetic for the position at the base of the midfield alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold. Should the 23-year-old join the Reds, he could be the key in further unlocking the quality that the scouser has by giving him more freedom to focus on his attacking and creativity, as Luis will provide all the protection the midfield needs.

It does seem to be a difficult deal for the Reds to complete due to Benfica's unwillingness to negotiate a fee, but should they manage to pull it off, they could have the final piece of their midfield puzzle

Leeds United are interested in signing former Thorp Arch youngster Charlie Taylor in the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist Phil Hay.

When was Charlie Taylor at Leeds?

The Whites are looking to turn their fortunes around after the disappointment of being relegated from the Premier League back in May, with the arrival of Daniel Farke as manager hopefully a positive step in the right direction, in thay respect.

The new boss also needs to be backed in the transfer market for their improvements to continue, though – hopefully, 49ers Enterprises' takeover of the club will be completed in the near future, generating more money – with additions required all over the pitch.

One player who could be a contender to come in is Taylor, who spent many years at Elland Road early on in his career, firstly in the youth team and then making the grade in the senior setup. The 29-year-old made 104 appearances for Leeds in total, scoring three goals and registering 13 assists in that time, before joining Burnley in 2017.

Taylor remains with the Clarets currently, but with his current contract at Turf Moor expiring next year, they may feel that now is the best time to sell him, instead of losing him for free in 2024.

With Junior Firpo moving on after a really poor spell as a Whites player, a new left-back will be required, and it looks as though the former Leeds man is a candidate to come in.

Are Leeds signing Charlie Taylor?

According to The Athletic's Hay, the Whites could look to bring Taylor back to the club this summer, as he provided a fresh update on potential transfer targets in that area of the pitch:

"Defensively, Leeds require a left-back having decided to listen to enquiries for Junior Firpo. They have been repeatedly linked with Ryan Manning, who is on a free transfer after parting company with Swansea City, and they are pondering bidding for Burnley’s Charlie Taylor, the defender who came through the academy at Elland Road."

Taylor could be a really shrewd investment by Leeds this summer, with the Englishman knowing the club inside out, and therefore unlikely to take time to settle in as Farke's first signing.

At 29, he is now an experienced head who has become accustomed to life in the Championship, appearing 126 times in the competition down the years, and he could bring a mix of defensive stability and attacking nous, with the latter highlighted by his aforementioned assist tally for Leeds.

He also impressed Burnley manager Vincent Kompany in a centre-back role last season, with his boss saying: "If he has never played there, I can’t say why. But he looked like a centre half. I have been in the position for a few years of my life, and I saw a centre half.”

That level of versatility could be an added bonus for Farke moving forward, giving him more options in his squad, so it is a move that makes a lot of sense, especially as the Clarets could be willing to sell for a cut-price amount, given Taylor's contract situation.

Chelsea legend Ceaser Azpilicueta is "really close to joining Atletico Madrid" despite reaching a "verbal agreement" to join Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, reveals transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on Cesar Azpilicueta?

The Blues have been clearing house in a huge way over the last month, selling players like N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly to the burgeoning Saudi Pro League whilst simultaneously shopping Kai Havertz and Mason Mount off to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.

Granted, this wave of selling their players was needed as their ballooning squad has been one of many elements blamed for their terrible season last year, with reports that some players were even changing in hallways as the dressing room was too crowded.

However, one of the players set to leave Stamford Bridge is the club captain and all-round legend of the club, Azpilicueta.

The Spaniard still has one left on his £180,000-a-week contract, but interest from Italian giants Inter Milan and the aforementioned need to trim the squad made for the perfect time to say goodbye.

The deal looked to be complete earlier this week according to reports, the former Marseille man would undergo his medical in the next few days.

However, recent developments have thrown a real spanner in the works for Internazionale, as Atletico Madrid look set to hijack the deal and bring Azpilicueta back to Spain, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano broke the news on his YouTube channel, saying:

"I am told that now Azpilicueta is really close to joining Atletico Madrid. Its exclusive news, we heard about Inter in the past few days, he had an agreement, a verbal agreement on personal terms with Inter to join them, then Inter were still focused on different things, we know about Brozovic and many other things."

What did Azpilicueta achieve at Chelsea?

Azpilicueta will undoubtedly leave Stamford Bridge as a Chelsea legend. Since joining the West London club for just £7m from Marseille in the summer of 2012, he has gone on to win just about everything there is to win in club football.

During his 11-year spell with the Blues, he has won two Premier Leagues, one Champions League, two Europa Leagues, one FA Cup, one Carabao Cup, one European Super Cup and one Club World Cup.

As if that wasn't enough to be considered one of the club's all-time greats, he won one of the Europa Leagues and the Champion's League as the club's captain.

He has been a player appreciated by his managers as well, with Thomas Tuchel saying:

"He's super important, he was super important from day one."

If this really is the end of the road for his time with the Pensioners, he leaves after 508 games and nine major trophies as a modern great.

Manchester United are still leading the race for AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, who is set to be on the move this summer, according to reports from France.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

The Daily Mail report Man United are willing to part ways with up to 13 players this summer, including Harry Maguire, meaning Erik ten Hag may be in the market for a new centre-back, and there are several options available.

The Red Devils are one of the clubs interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race, while 21-year-old Goncalo Inacio has also been named as a target.

Disasi has also been routinely linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with United holding "positive" talks over a move back in April, and they remain very much in the race for his signature.

According to a report from L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United still lead the race for the 25-year-old despite other big European teams trying to convince the defender to move to their club instead.

As Kim Min-jae is seemingly on his way to Bayern Munich, the Red Devils may have to turn their attentions to the Monaco star, but there will be fierce competition for his signature, with a number of big European teams trying to convince him about a move.

At the moment, the player himself seems to have his mind set on a move to Old Trafford, but United appear to be prioritising a move for a goalkeeper, and they could make one last swoop for Kim before pursuing a deal for Disasi.

Who is Axel Disasi?

The Frenchman has played in his home country for his entire career up to this point, across spells with Paris FC, Reims and Monaco, establishing himself as a key player last season by featuring in every single Ligue 1 game.

Last season, the £12k-per-week centre-back averaged 1.5 interceptions per game in Ligue 1, the joint-second highest figure in the squad, and he did enough to impress France manager Didier Deschamps, making his debut for his national side last November.

For the meantime, Kim should remain United's top target at centre-back, considering he has been hailed as "one of the best" defenders in the world by teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but the France international could be a very solid back-up option.

Football scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Disasi as "dominant", while also likening him to Virgil van Dijk, and members of the media have praised him for his "insane strength and power."

Former Stoke City star Rory Delap has claimed his long throws could have been worth £20m alone in the transfer market.

Who is Rory Delap?

Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Republic of Ireland midfielder earned himself a reputation as having one of the most feared niche skills in the Premier League.

No, it wasn't a fancy stepover or a thunderous right foot that had defenders scrambling, nor was it an eye for a cute assist or even a penchant for particularly bruising challenges.

Well, we're sure you all remember…

Indeed, his infamous long throw-ins used to terrorise defences time and time again when travelling away to Stoke on those cold, wet and windy nights.

In a recent interview with SPORTbible, the now 46-year-old Delap recalled memories of yesteryear, noting: "We're still talking about it today so I must have done something right.”

Interestingly enough, however, he revealed that instead of spending hours on the training ground with his Stoke teammates working on the set pieces, they'd simply do "two or three on a Friday, the day before a game, same with the corners and the set plays."

Even so, his long throws still frequently caused havoc in opposition boxes – as shown by the fact that Sky Sports have a 4.37 YouTube video dedicated to every goal scored by the Potters thanks to his long throw-ins.

On top of that, Hull City goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once famously gave away a corner out of fear of handing Delap the chance to do damage with a throw-in.

Could Messi do it on a wet and windy night at Stoke?

In the interview, Delap was reminded about how Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed former Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam’s set-pieces were worth £10m.

He was then asked, if this was the case, then how much money would his throw-ins be worth?

“Ahh at least double that,” the 46-year-old said in response, with a huge smile on his face. “I played with Charlie, he had an unbelievable left foot and still does."

On top of all that, he also got onto one of football's biggest questions. Would Lionel Messi struggle on a wet and windy night at Stoke?

Delap certainly seems to think the Argentine would be just fine. He explained: “No, I think the thing you saw with the top players, we made it hard for teams but we never got a result.

“Against [Man] United, they were the top team at the time. With Sir Alex Ferguson, he'd seen it all before with the Wimbledons and the teams of that era. So, you know, he set the team up to go and win and I think they won every game when I was at Stoke so I think the top players don't let stuff like that affect them.

“Arsenal were a great side at that time, maybe it got to them a bit.

“Chelsea, we always struggled against Chelsea. They were the top three teams at that stage. They never really struggled with the cold, wet night there.

"So you're talking about Messi and players like that, I think they're just elite. They're another level. It doesn't matter where they go, they will perform.”

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is reportedly eyeing a reunion with Leicester City defender, Daniel Amartey, with the Ghanaian ace in line for a summer exit from the King Power Stadium.

What's the latest on Amartey to Celtic?

According to TEAMtalk, the Old Firm outfit are considering a move for the 28-year-old following the confirmation that Rodgers has sealed his return to the club, with the versatile asset set to be available on a free transfer amid his expiring contract.

The report suggests that while there is also interest in the 6 foot 1 gem from clubs in Saudi Arabia and in Turkey, there is a 'chance' that the 51-cap ace could seal a move to Glasgow instead, after seven years with the Foxes.

The piece also goes on to add that the Hoops are ready to make contact with the former Copenhagen man's agent, as Rodgers plots to make the first signing of his second spell in charge of the Scottish champions.

Who is Daniel Amartey?

The experienced defender – who can also operate at right-back or in central midfield – has racked up 145 appearances for the newly-relegated outfit since his arrival from Denmark back in 2016, with 80 of those outings having come during Rodgers' time at the helm with the Midlands side.

Previously described as "outstanding" by the Northern Irishman, Amartey appears to have all the attributes to be an astute capture for the Bhoys this summer, particularly on a free transfer, with the returning Celtic boss having also said of his qualities:

"He’s played as a midfield player, as a full-back, and you need your outside centre-halves to be able to have no doubt they can step in and press the game and be aggressive. He’s got all of that. He defends the box really well and then, with the ball, he has a real sufficient level of comfort. He can pass it."

The signing of the all-action machine could well prove bad news for current Hoops man, Stephen Welsh, with Football Insider having reported last month that the club were open to offers for the young Scotsman, provided that a suitable replacement could be found ahead of next season.

The 23-year-old has notably slipped down the pecking order after being restricted to just four Scottish Premiership outings under Ange Postecoglou last season, having notably been "bullied" alongside Moritz Jenz in the shock defeat away to St Mirren back in September, in the words of journalist Josh Bunting.

With Postecoglou favouring Yuki Kobayashi as the third-choice option behind Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers, Welsh has become something of a spare part in recent months, with the addition of Amartey potentially set to prove the final nail in the coffin with regard to his time at Celtic Park.

Not only does the soon-to-be free agent have the benefit of having worked closely with Rodgers in recent years, but the £20k-per-week ace also compares favourably to his fellow centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues with regard to playing out from the back, as he ranks in the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 7% for pass completion.

Amartey does appear to offer greater composure in the backline as he lost possession on average just 5.7 times per game from his 20 league outings last term, while Welsh, by contrast, lost the ball 9.5 times per game on average, showcasing the latter man is not quite as adept at building from the back.

As such, if Rodgers is looking to freshen up his defensive unit with the signing of his former Leicester asset, it could prove to be the end of the road for Celtic's 6 foot 3 academy graduate.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has said that final managerial interviews will take place early next week, with three candidates in the frame.

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are on the hunt for a fourth manager in less than 12 months, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce all coming and going.

Leeds, and by extension the 49ers Enterprises, who have agreed on a deal to take full control from Andrea Radrizzani, have made a start on their summer plans by bringing in Nick Hammond as an interim football advisor to oversee their transfer business.

However, the club’s top managerial target, Brendan Rodgers, has made it clear that he doesn’t want to drop down to the Championship and looks set to join Celtic, but Hay has shared a development he’s heard from Elland Road on the process to appoint a new manager.

Taking to Twitter over the last 48 hours, the reliable reporter said that “final interviews” are planned for early next week, with the 49ers looking to make an appointment.

“Looking like the process to appoint will run into next week, with final interviews planned on the other side of the weekend. First group of players due back for pre-season on July 2.”

Within his report for The Athletic, Hay named Carlos Corberan, Daniel Farke and Scott Parker as options.

“Final interviews are planned for early next week with West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan and former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke, recently sacked by German side Borussia Monchengladbach, two names in the frame. Scott Parker has also been considered but Leicester are also considering making an offer to him.”

Time is ticking…

As Hay mentions, Leeds’ players are set to report back for pre-season at the beginning of July, and hopefully, by then, a chosen manager will have made a start on the club’s plans for the new campaign.

After relegation from the Premier League last season, Leeds have plenty to sort out in a short space of time both in the boardroom and when it comes to ins and outs of the playing squad, with a first pre-season fixture against Manchester United scheduled for July 12.

It looks like it could be one of Corberan, Farke or Parker to arrive in Yorkshire, with Farke and Parker having a previous history of earning promotion to the top flight. Corberan, meanwhile, took Huddersfield to the playoff final back in 2022, so it seems as if Leeds are going down the tried and trusted route, and it’ll be interesting to see who impresses in final talks.