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Marcelo Bielsa would be desperate to see his Leeds United team get back to winning ways on Wednesday evening when they welcome Swansea City to Elland Road.

And, the manager will be contemplating which changes he should make to his team ahead of the clash with the Swans, given Leeds’ poor finishing at Middlesbrough over the weekend and Jack Clarke’s absence from the team due to health issues.

The main decision for Bielsa, though, should be to draft Pablo Hernandez back into the starting lineup after being named on the bench for Saturday’s match at the Riverside Stadium.

The manager made a strange selection change to the team that lost against Norwich City last weekend with Patrick Bamford coming in as striker and Kemar Roofe moving into a bit deeper position just behind him.

Hernandez came on at half-time for Clarke, who asked to be substituted after feeling unwell during the first-half of the match.

The 33-year-old Hernandez immediately brought some firepower to the team who struggled to get momentum going in the first-half the match.

His linkup play with Roofe and Bamford put Leeds in a position to find the back of the net and they finally did deep into stoppage time thanks to Kalvin Phillips.

Hernandez has been superb for the Whites this season and has been a key figure in the team’s fight for promotion to the Premier League next season.

And the fact that Leeds have failed to pick up a win in their last two league matches, going back to the players that have brought the team success so far this season might be the best decision moving forward.

The experience of Hernandez will also be of high value under the current circumstances given the slight pressure that Leeds are under at the moment.

The Yorkshire club are currently second in the Championship but any more slip-ups could see them fall even further down the table with Sheffield United just three points behind them in third. Sticking with Hernandez could help prevent that.

A Leeds United source has dropped a further worrying update regarding Stuart Dallas’ serious injury, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Femoral fracture

The Northern Irishman, who has started 121 of Leeds’ last 122 league games, became the latest Whites star to suffer a major injury this season.

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The 31-year-old was involved in a heavy collision with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish last weekend and had to be stretched off shortly before half-time.

Leeds have since confirmed the worst, with Dallas suffering a femoral fracture and facing a lengthy period on the sidelines. The versatile full-back has already undergone surgery on the problem, but it looks as if it could be even worse going off a recent update.

The Latest: Leeds source

FI shared a story regarding Dallas on Friday morning after being informed by a Leeds source.

They were told by the Elland Road source that Dallas’ injury is worse than first feared and that he could be out for 12 months, describing it as a ‘devastating’ blow.

The Verdict: Nightmare

Should FI’s reveal prove accurate, then Dallas looks likely to be unavailable for most of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

That would be horrible news, with Dallas regularly the go-to man to provide cover in a number of different areas. Dallas has also been the club’s third-best Premier League performer this season behind Raphinha and Liam Cooper, as per WhoScored, turning out at left-back, right-back and in midfield.

He has established himself as a Leeds legend with his displays over the last three seasons, and hopefully, he’ll have a setback-free recovery and return sooner than this latest timeframe has suggested.

In other news: Leeds officials sent abroad as Radz plots move for 56-goal attacker. 

What an impressive season Fred has enjoyed thus far for Manchester United.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man struggled to establish himself as a key part of the first-team last season in what was his debut campaign for the club, making just 25 appearances across all competitions.

But this year has been much different, with the Brazil international currently having 31 outings already to his name, including starting and completing the full 90 minutes in United’s last 18 Premier League games.

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And his growing importance to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side was reflected by the club announcing via their official Twitter account that he has been named the player of the month for January.

After hearing about the 26-year-old receiving the award, fans of the Manchester side took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the midfielder, with some hailing his improvements and insisting the accolade is “well deserved”.

One fan meanwhile claimed Fred should get “extra credit” for having to play alongside Brazilian compatriot Fred.

Another fan took the chance to thank former manager Jose Mourinho, who brought him to Old Trafford in the summer of 2018 when he was still in the dug-out for United.

Make no mistake about, it Fred has well and turned his career at Old Trafford around. Even after the Red Devils’ defeat to Liverpool, Solskjaer personally hailed the Brazilian for his performance against the club’s arch-rivals, lauding him as a “top, top performer”.

Is life under the Glazers really that bad? Maybe this quiz will change your minds, Man United fans…

The hope will be that the midfielder can continue to impress at the heart of the United engine room, and even with the potential returns from injuries of the likes of Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba, Fred will fancy his chances of keeping his place in the side.

Meanwhile, Gary Neville has slammed Man Utd for one major mistake.

It’s been almost 13 years since the Gunners made the move from Highbury to The Emirates, a move that was supposed to bring increased revenue to compete in the market for years to come. However, Arsenal is stuck being linked withÂYoussef Ait Bennasser for just £9 million by Calcio Mercato, and the fans are far from happy.

The Moroccan midfielder has featured 12 times this season for Monaco in Ligue 1, with nine of those coming under Gunners’ legend Thierry Henry since he took over at the famous club back in October. At the age of 22, there’s plenty of time for the midfielder to come good and make a name for himself in Europe, but he’s just not the sort of name that the Gunners want to see themselves linked with.

Having previously been told directly by Unai Emery that there is no transfer kitty available and the club will be working with just loan deals, the news of a rumoured £9 million swoop for an unheard of midfielder seem strange. Emery will only move for players who he wants at the club, and if he does opt to sign Bennasser then it will come as a real surprise for the fans, who have extremely low expectations at the moment.

You can read the Gunners’ verdict on the Bennasser links here:

The Gunners are desperate for signings, but they want to bring in the right people, even if they know they have little in the way of transfer funds at the moment.

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Football rivalries are very intense and there are not many groups of fans who would be happy for their club to do transfer business with an enemy.

Liverpool and Everton are not the best of friends as they have split Merseyside into red and blue.

It is not often that a player from one of those clubs moves across Stanley Park, but that may occur in the near future.

According to Turkish publication Aksam, Everton are considering a January swoop for Liverpool striker Divock Origi.

The Belgium international has struggled to force his way back into Jurgen Klopp’s plans as he has not been included in a single matchday squad so far this season.

Daniel Sturridge has moved ahead of the former Lille player in the pecking order at Anfield.

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As mentioned, selling a player to a bitter rival is never ideal, but in this case some fans feel that it is acceptable.

We asked you if Liverpool would be making a mistake by offloading Origi to their neighbours, and the vast majority have no issue at all.

According to Sky Sports, Gonzalo Higuain has agreed to join AC Milan on loan this season, with an option for the deal to be made permanent next summer.

This news emerges despite heavy apparent interest on Chelsea’s part in bringing the Argentine to Stamford Bridge this summer, as reported by the Daily Star, via Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

With Sarri seemingly very keen on adding a top level new striker to his ranks during this transfer window, the news of Higuain’s decision to join the Rossoneri must be a bitter blow.

With Morata having failed to perform consistently last season, and Giroud, at 31-years-old, not the elite level prolific forward that the Blues need, Sarri must return to the market to find a new solution for his goalscoring woes. 

That solution could present itself in the form of Dries Mertens.

The Breakdown

Like Higuain, Mertens is a striker Sarri has worked with, and gotten the best out of, before.

Last season, in Sarri’s Napoli side, Mertens scored 18 Serie A goals and provided a further 6 assists. Not only is Mertens a reliable and regular goalscorer, but he also has the ability to drop a little deeper and make himself integral to the build up play.

The Belgian’s versatility also means he could ease the creative burden currently placed upon the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian in the wider areas of the pitch.

At 31-years-old, Mertens is hardly one for the future, but nor is Higuain. The Napoli man also has a far superior recent record in front of goal than his Juventus counterpart.

Beyond that, Mertens looks like he’d be a cheaper option than Higuain. Transfermarkt value Mertens at only £27 million. This is would represent a significant saving compared to Higuain’s £49.5 million valuation by Transfermarkt.

In Mertens, Sarri would be getting more for his money and would be bringing to the club the kind of forward that the Blues so desperately need. 

Liverpool supporters may have got ahead of themselves with regards to the club’s chances of signing Monaco star Thomas Lemar.

Over the last few days, the Merseyside outfit have emerged as top contenders for the 21-year-old, who was previously linked to Arsenal.

The Daily Mail  reports that the Premier League club have increased their offer for Lemar to around £74m after having a bid rejected on Monday.

Monaco have seemed reluctant to let go of the France international, who can play on both wings and through the middle, after selling a handful of players already.

The Ligue 1 club have strengthened Manchester City with the sales of Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy, while Chelsea secured the signature of Tiemoue Bakayoko earlier this summer.

With just two days to go before the transfer window closes, time is running out for Liverpool to get a deal done, but the fans have been boosted by Monaco’s recent acquisition.

On Tuesday evening, the club announced the arrival of Lazio’s Keita Balde, who can play in a similar position to Lemar, but also that of Kylian Mbappe, who is being linked with a move away from Stade Louis II.

Liverpool fans, though, believe that Balde’s arrival is good news for the Anfield club.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that captain Wayne Rooney could leave the club this summer, despite the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer rejecting the advances of other clubs in the mid-season window.

The England captain has been linked with a move to China and Everton, amongst others, and Jose Mourinho said in his press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with Bournemouth that Rooney rejected offers to move during the recent transfer window.

However, Mourinho could not offer assurances that Rooney would stay beyond the summer and it adds further fuel to the fire in the debate about the future of United’s longest-serving player.

Quoted by The Daily Mail, Mourinho said:

‘I only can say that in the EFL Cup final, with the result 2-2 and with the team in difficulties and with the team possibly going to play 40 more minutes, Rooney was ready to go into the pitch. So he’s not the player to play in the last minute, or to give him a gift to be in the wining final, it’s a player you trust to play and your crucial change.’

‘I got as a very strong message from Wayne – “I don’t go anywhere, especially China, I want to fight and help this team in every single one,” so until the end of the season he is 100 per cent with us.’

‘Next season 100 per cent I would like him to be with us but I don’t give you 100 per cent. I like the players to be happy and not just to be with me because I want them with me.’

With continued links between Manchester United and Antoine Griezmann, Rooney is likely to have additional competition for places at Old Trafford next season and that could play a huge part in his decision.

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Amidst the excitement of the Leicester City story, Tottenham Hotspur are the other shock name surprisingly battling for the title.

While the Foxes are clearly the story of the season, perhaps it is easy to forget just how incredible it is to see Spurs challenging for the Premier League crown.

All season they have been arguably the most competitive in the league, losing just three times so far. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has transformed a side that were utterly lethargic in post Gareth Bale era, into perhaps the most industrious team out there.

The high pressing style and work ethic shows no signs of slowing down, as the host of young players currently plying their trade at White Hart Lane continue to impress.

It’s a huge departure from the Spurs sides of the past, who have often being accused of falling at the final hurdle. The ‘nearly men’ of the Premier League. With arch rivals Arsenal currently doing their best to fulfil that role, it is the white side of North London who are keeping the pace with Leicester City.

History, of course, has taught us to approach all things Spurs related with an air of caution, though you’d be forgiven for thinking things could be a little different this time.

Still, there’s still a lot to play for. A lot to win. A lot to lose. With that in mind, here are FIVE fixtures that could make or break Tottenham’s title challenge…

VS ARSENAL (HOME) – MARCH 5

The North London derby is always one of the showpieces of the season, though few ties in recent memory have as hefty implications as this one.

With Spurs just three points off Leicester in top spot, they can all but end their fierce rivals’ title challenge with a win over them at White Hart Lane.

Beating the Gunners would be as important symbolically as it would be mathematically, with the momentum a win over your rivals, who historically have the edge over you, the sort of thing that could spark a title win.

Arsenal will feel the pressure and are prone to a slip up more often than not, it’s up to this young Spurs side to keep their heads.

VS LIVERPOOL (AWAY) – 2 APRIL

As Liverpool battled for the Premier League title back in the 2013/14 season, they battered a flat Spurs side 4-0 at Anfield at a similar stage of the season.

Ok, so the Reds famously failed to win the title that season, though a win on Merseyside is another for symbolism. That Luis Suarez inspired side were a high pressing as Spurs are today, though far less organised if truth be told.

In many ways, Liverpool then and Tottenham now share a lot of similarities. When a dismal North London outfit were blown apart that day, we got a real sense that the Reds might just do it.

Beating Liverpool on their home soil in a similar manner they were disposed of would truly send out a message of clear intent with so little of the campaign left.

VS MAN UNITED (HOME) – 10 APRIL

Not long after the encounter of Merseyside, Manchester United roll into town as the fixtures come thick and fast.

Few could have imagined that when the Red Devils beat an impressive, yet frustrating, Spurs side on the opening day of the season that the latter would go on to challenge for the title.

That loss, with every passing result, looks ever more baffling. Though the struggles dogging Louis van Gaal are well documented, beating Manchester United is still a big deal.

United could still throw a spanner in the works, as they proved on Sunday against Arsenal. Especially if Marcus Rashford is playing….

VS STOKE (AWAY) – 18 APRIL

While the theme of this piece so far has been about Spurs’ clashes with the so called ‘big boys’, though both Liverpool and Man United struggle to fill that role right now, the game away at Stoke could prove to be a make or break tie.

Clearly, the Potters have evolved under Mark Hughes and are now much more of a footballing threat since the Tony Pulis day. Still, that doesn’t make the Britannia any more of an easier place to go.

Manchester City found that out the hard way, while Arsenal were frustrated no end during their outing in Staffordshire recently.

It’s all well and good beating the big names, but carving out a result away at Stoke is a necessity for anyone serious about title glory.

VS CHELSEA (AWAY) – 2 MAY

If you want to be the champions, you have to beat the champions. It’s as simple as that.

When Spurs romped to a 5-3 victory over the Blues, who were then atop the Premier League, we began to wonder just how good this side could become.

A taster of what was to come from Pochettino’s men, who are still flourishing under the Argentine.

To beat Chelsea in their own backyard with just a game left to play could be a watershed moment for all those involved at White Hart Lane.

The problems in West London appear to be subsiding somewhat as their nightmare season continues to level out at the very least.

Hosting Spurs in the penultimate game of the campaign, and Leicester in the last, the champions may yet have the biggest say in who usurps them.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has high expectations for growth in the NWSL – and American soccer – leading up to the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup.

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NWSL expecting 'explosive' growthBuildup to 2026 World Cup resultCommissioner Berman speaks on upcoming campaignWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to reporters at the Financial Times' Business of Football summit in London, commissioner Berman revealed that she is expecting 'explosive' growth over the next two years. With the 2026 Men's World Cup on the horizon, and it being co-hosted in the USA, the opportunities for development are endless. The USA and Mexico also have a co-host bid on the table for the 2027 Women's World Cup, leaving Berman beaming over the possibilities.

AdvertisementUSA Today Sports WHAT NWSL COMMISSIONER JESSICA BERMAN SAID

"We know that in the U.S., the next four to six years, there is going to be an explosive growth, with or without the intentional investment we're making. … With the World Cup coming in 2026 and the possibility the Women's World Cup will come in 2027, there is an incredible amount of interest.

"There's this age-old question: When is America going to start paying attention to this global sport? Well, it's happened. They are paying attention, they love this sport, and we have this halo effect of the U.S. women's national team and their incredible success

"[Soccer] is one of the few sports where when you ask 100% [of the] people in the U.S. to close their eyes and imagine 'greatness, soccer and America' they think of women."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Berman described the NWSL's 'superpower' as it's independence from men's clubs around American soccer – which is not the case in European soccer. Their freedom as a sporting league – and each respective club's ability to navigate on their own – gives them an edge as a powerhouse women's soccer league, as well.

Notably, the NWSL is starting to attract major overseas talent – with Racheal Kundananji joining expansion side Bay FC for a world-record fee, Barcelona Femeni's highly-successful coach Jonatan Giraldez signing a pre-contract agreement to join the Washington Spirit this summer and Chelsea superstar Jessie Fleming opting for a stateside switch to Portland Thorns.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR NWSL?

The 2024 season is set to get underway on March 15 with the NWSL Challenge Cup between last season's regular season champions, San Diego Wave, and the NWSL Cup holder's – Gotham FC. After the Bats and the Wave clash, the regular season will begin on Saturday, March 16 when the Kansas City Current take on the Portland Thorns.