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There is a good chance that Marcelo Bielsa will leave his role as Leeds United manager at the end of the season, according to journalist Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Bielsa’s future in doubt

The Argentine has been a great modern-day figure at Elland Road, excelling since taking charge in 2018 and guiding the Whites back into the Premier League, in which they finished ninth in their first season back at that level for 16 years.

However, Bielsa is having a much tougher campaign this time around, with Leeds sitting 15th in the table and a return to the Championship far from being out of the question.

The 66-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of this season, at which point a massive decision will have to be made regarding his future.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Journalist backs summer exit for Bielsa

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Bridge stated his belief that Bielsa could move on to pastures new this summer.

Addressing the possibility of the Leeds manager stepping down later this year, the journalist said: “It wouldn’t surprise me, he looks tired, but I’m sure they’ll assess it at the end of the season.”

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The Verdict: Feeling increasingly likely?

With each passing week, it feels increasingly as though Bielsa’s time at Leeds is slowly coming to an end, with all great managerial reigns having to reach a denouement at some point.

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As Bridge says, there is almost a tiredness about the Whites boss at the moment, with injuries certainly playing a part in the team’s struggles this season, and some freshening up this summer may not be a bad thing.

That being said, should Bielsa sign another one-year extension, it would likely be met with positivity from most Leeds fans, given his hero status at Elland Road.

In other news, a pundit has bemoaned a latest Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe is set to be presented with his first opportunity to pick up points for the club this weekend as they face Brentford in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The Magpies sit 19th in the table and are yet to win a league match, with 11 games played, but they now face a Bees side who are off the back of four straight defeats in the top flight.

Howe has the chance to shake up the starting XI and stamp his identity on the side, which could result in a number of changes against Thomas Frank’s team.

Axe him

One player who the ex-Bournemouth boss must ruthlessly axe from the starting XI is Swedish international defender Emil Krafth.

Graeme Jones was in charge of three games as interim head coach after Steve Bruce’s dismissal and started the Swede as a centre-back in all three matches against Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Brighton.

In 89 minutes against the Seagulls, the defender did not win – or even compete for – a single duel. He also failed to make a single block, tackle or interception, having ended the match against Chelsea with only one of each as he won one of his three ground duels. He received SofaScore ratings of 6.2 and 6.4 in those matches, suggesting that he has been poor for the Magpies as a starter.

The warning signs were already there for Jones. Last year, Arsenal icon Ian Wright blasted the defender as being ‘out of his depth’ whilst playing as a right-sided centre-back against Tottenham.

He said: “I thought Krafth was way too out of his depth there, playing in that position. Steve Bruce, with the players that he’s got and how it’s going, they’re doing the best that they could but the mistakes cost them.”

However, Steve Howey jumped to Krafth’s defence earlier this year, claiming that he could improve whilst admitting that the 27-year-old has struggled.

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He said: “I think the lad has struggled a bit, but he’s not the only one. He has been criticised very heavily, I think from Ian Wright, who said he was well out of his depth. There have been times when he’s had an afternoon of turmoil but listen, he could be a player that comes back in next season and gets better.”

His recent statistics suggest that he has not been able to get better, as Howey suggested, and that he is still out of his depth as a centre-back. Therefore, Howe must axe the £37k-per-week liability from the team and either change to a four-at-the-back formation or bring in another centre-back to replace him.

AND in other news, Offer on the table: PIF working to land NUFC deal for beast which will leave fans buzzing…

Lille have made a formal approach for Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier, as reported by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.

The Lowdown: Spurs look to streamline right-back position before the window slams shut

With less than a week until the window slams shut, Lilywhites manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to complete any remaining transfer business at the club, in order to solely focus on the important playing schedule that lies ahead on domestic and European fronts.

Right-back looks to be one particularly overpopulated area within the Spurs roster, with Japhet Tanganga, Matt Doherty and Aurier all rivalling each-other for playing opportunities.

Now, the north Londoners look set to slim down in that spot following recent reports.

The Latest: Romano confirms Lille approach

Speaking to his large audience on Twitter, transfer guru Romano signified that Lille have made their move for the Ivorian, stating: “Tottenham have received an approach from Lille for Serge Aurier in case Çelik will leave.”

Atletico Madrid have commenced discussions with Lille full-back Zeki Celik, paving the way for Aurier to move to France.

Of course, the 28-year-old has been subject to speculation for a number of months after refusing to sign a new deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium [Sky Sports].

The Verdict: Right move for player and club to part ways

Enduring an erratic career in the Premier League, moving on to pastures new may be the best option for Aurier before the end of the summer window.

In 2020/21, the ex-Paris Saint Germain defender helped his current employers to UEFA Conference League qualification, registering five goal contributions in 27 appearances; two goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

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Aurier managed to win 123 duels across the piece in the Premier League last term [Premier League], but his lapses of concentration at the back were a major concern for some pundits.

Once labelled as ‘amazing’ by former Tottenham Hotspur man Paul Robinson, Spurs should look to sell Aurier on and re-invest any monetary gain to secure priority targets [Football Insider].

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a fee for a Premier League star. Find out more here.

Flocking to Twitter, these West Ham United supporters have responded to a claim involving Burnley defender James Tarkowski.

The Burnley defender has been heavily linked with West Ham recently, with a report from Football Insider claiming they are reigniting interest and the player is ‘very keen’ to join.

Claret & Hugh also say that centre-back is one of the priority positions manager David Moyes is looking to reinforce, alongside the signing of a new striker and permanent deal for Jesse Lingard.

Now, the Daily Mail have dropped an update in regards to Tarkowski and West Ham.

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They claim that West Ham have in fact opted against a move for the colossal English defender, news which has prompted much reaction from Irons supporters on social media.

The majority appear overjoyed by this development as Moyes sets his sights on other defensive targets instead, with one supporter speculating Duje Caleta-Car could be a prime target.

Despite the fact Tarkowski averaged more clearances per 90 (4.4) than any West Ham player with more than 15 Premier League starts over 2020/2021 (WhoScored), it appears Irons fans really don’t want the 28-year-old in east London.

Find their best verdicts on this Mail update, in response to Twitter accounts West Ham Fan Zone, West Ham News & Views and West Ham Central, down below.

West Ham fans flock to Tarkowski claim

“YES YES YES YES !!!!!! YABADABADOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!”

Credit: @paulway6

“Siouuuuu”

Credit: @dtmason15

“Good he is shocking”

Credit: @WHUFC_Dan78

“Omg I sooooo hope this is true. So many better younger options.”

Credit: @EthanP48445025

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“Good. We can find much better value”

Credit: @AmeliaC59215601

“Indicates Caleta-Car is number 1”

Credit: @1bbyWHU

In other news: ‘Have started negotiations’…Journalist makes exciting West Ham transfer claim, find out more here.

Davinson Sanchez was once Tottenham Hotspur’s club-record signing but his value continues to drop under Jose Mourinho.

The Colombian, who is still only 24, was signed from Ajax for £42m in 2017 and was tipped for big things by then-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

“When we knew about the possibility to sign him, it was a massive opportunity because we believe he will be one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future,” claimed Pochettino. “That is why we made the effort to try to sign him.”

Now nearly four years on, Sanchez is at a career crossroad…

Value drop

Heading into the start of 2020, the central defender hit a career-high value of £54m, as per Transfermarkt but now that has dropped dramatically to €30m (£26m), according to CIES Football Observatory.

That’s a decrease of nearly 52% in just four seasons and merely goes to show how big a downfall he’s had under the tutelage of Mourinho.

It’s not too encouraging for a player that should only be rising as he heads towards the peak years of his career.

Current form

A lot of this has surely come down to his disappointing performances on the pitch, a mix of not being played enough and too many mistakes when trusted to feature.

After a three-goal collapse against West Ham earlier in the season, former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara urged the club to get rid of him [and Eric Dier] to talkSPORT.

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“The back-four is just an absolute shambles. I don’t know why Jose keeps playing [Davinson] Sanchez and [Eric] Dier because it’s probably one of the worst partnerships in the Premier League!”

And similarly, Curtis Woodhouse blasted Sanchez, claiming he’s “just not a very good defender” because he “probably costs you 20 goals a season.”

The 24-year-old has started only 16 Premier League games this term, and has been snubbed by Mourinho for their last two outings, as per Transfermarkt.

Levy’s wrath

Sanchez is a wanted man this summer, so chairman Daniel Levy may not be best pleased to see a potential asset decrease in value so rapidly.

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According to the Express, Sevilla and former club Ajax are keen on signing the £65k-per-week flop, who has also been dubbed a “real liability” in recent weeks by Kenny Cunningham.

Levy will have a hard task of recouping back most of that £42m but if anyone can drive up a hard bargain, it’s the Spurs chairman.

AND in other news, Mourinho could unearth his next Rashford at Spurs in 17 y/o “diamond”…

Tottenham Hotspur are being linked with a move for Southampton striker Danny Ings recently, and if the striker were to join the Lilywhites in the summer it could be bad news for Carlos Vinicius.

According to The Guardian, Ings is delaying contract talks with Southampton as he eyes a move to a club playing European football, with Spurs monitoring his situation at the South Coast club.

The former Liverpool man has been superb since joining Southampton, having seemingly overcome the injury issues that marred his time with the Merseyside club, and he finished as the joint-second top scorer in the Premier League last season with 22 goals.

He has also started this season in impressive form for the high-flying Saints, having contributed seven goals and three assists in 13 top-flight appearances, averaging a strong 7.17 rating.

If he were to join the North London club ahead of next season, it could spell trouble for Vinicius’ hopes of joining Spurs on a permanent basis.

The Brazilian was signed on loan from Benfica for the season, with Spurs holding the option to sign him for €45 million (£40 million).

The 25-year-old has impressed with his performances in the Europa League, with three goals and three assists in five appearances, resulting in a 7.41 average rating. He also bagged a hat-trick in the FA Cup third round against Marine but has been limited to just four substitute appearances in the Premier League.

With Ings currently valued at £18 million by Transfermarkt, and his contract set to run out at the end of next season, the Englishman would surely prove to be a lot cheaper to bring in that Vinicius, with the added bonus that he has a lot of Premier League experience, having contributed 50 goals and 12 assists in 124 top-flight appearances.

Having made three appearances for England in his career thus far, Ings could also prove to be an effective strike partner for Harry Kane in Jose Mourinho’s side, as they will have worked together at international level. The Southampton man’s energy and pressing in attack could allow Kane to drop slightly deeper and be more of a playmaker, as we have seen with Heung-Min Son this season.

Former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was full of praise for Ings last season, saying:

“The most impressive thing about Danny is, of course, he’s an outstanding player.

“Technically he’s very good, plays with real intelligence and the way he’s come back from his disappointments, the injury setbacks he’s had, the way he’s fought back and kept his mental strength has been hugely impressive.”

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Therefore, if he were to join, it would be difficult to see Daniel Levy shelling out another £40 million just to sign Vinicius, as the Benfica man would surely struggle for much game time if he was behind both Kane and Ings in the pecking order in Mourinho’s side, so it would not be a surprise if he was forced to return to Benfica.

And, in other news, Forget Devine: “Record-breaking” academy sensation should be the next man in Jose’s first-team squad…

Keith Downie has revealed some detail into the Bellagraph Nova (BN) Group’s bid to take over Newcastle United.

As per the Sky Sports anchor’s tweet, the group have claimed that they have made a £280m bid to buy out Mike Ashley, as Downie confirmed that the Sports Direct chief executive’s lawyers have held talks with them, adding: “I’ve seen documentation.”

The documents to which Downie refers contain the initial £280m offer, a letter of intent and a 29-page document with detailed financials, according to his tweet. However, as the journalist confirmed, the £280m offer is short of Ashley’s valuation of the Tyneside club, but the Magpies have yet to formally react to it.

Indeed, the consortium, which consists of the businesswoman Evangeline Shen as well as Singaporean cousins Terence and Nelson Loh, have reportedly already offered St. James’ Park legend Alan Shearer the chance to manage the first team, or at least play a big part in its development.

However, if the bid falls below Ashley’s expectations, it is likely to get rejected, and thus they will likely have to come up with more money.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group, which consists of the Middle Eastern crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), his country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), businesswoman/head of PCP Capital Partners Amanda Staveley and the billionaire London-based Reuben brothers, bid £300m to take over at Newcastle, so the BN Group will likely have to at least match this sum.

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Nevertheless, perhaps it is useful insight from Downie into their intentions as the whole saga develops.

Geordies, can you see the BN Group taking over? Comment below with your views!

It’s getting to that time again.

We’re a few months away from Euro 2020, and speculation around who will be in the England squad is rampant ahead of the next round of fixtures.

This week we’ve had a bit of a surprising story break as The Telegraph (via LeedsLive) have reported that Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips could be in line for a shot at playing on the international stage.

It’s somewhat surprising to see Gareth Southgate considering the United midfielder after saying that Jack Grealish needed to play in the Premier League before consideration last year.

Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, what’s even more surprising is that the England boss is opting for Phillips over another of the Championship’s top midfielders.

Indeed, Jake Livermore’s recent form is much better than Phillips’, and Southgate should be considering giving him his eighth England cap before handing the 24-year-old his first.

We waxed lyrical about Livermore’s performance against Bristol City earlier this week, but he’s been consistently brilliant for some time now.

He’s outperforming a man once hailed as the best player in the Championship in numerous areas, including tackles per game.

Tackling is Phillips’ bread and butter, averaging the eighth-most per match of any player in the division, yet, Livermore has been outdoing him recently in that area.

Now, you’d think a man known as the Yorkshire Pirlo would be sensational when it comes to passing, but the fact of the matter is that the West Brom man is outperforming him on that front as well, averaging more key passes per game lately.

You could point towards Leeds’ tough run as a reason for Phillips’ dip, but Livermore has faced just as many top-six sides as the 24-year-old in his previous ten outings.

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Add into that the fact that his average rating is higher and he has fewer unsuccessful touches per game and you can see who is in better form.

Southgate himself has said that form is what he picks his squads on, and if that is the case Livermore should be above Phillips in the pecking order.

The Baggies’ star man has every right to feel aggrieved if the Leeds ace is called up ahead of him.

In other news, Luke Dowling deserves huge credit for two deals.

Plenty of Liverpool fans were raving about the commentary of Peter Drury in Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby victory.

Along with former Reds player Jim Beglin, he was calling the match for viewers on Amazon Prime Video, who screened all of this week’s Premier League games for the first time.

With Liverpool romping to a 5-2 victory over neighbours Everton at Anfield, a game in which the home side scored four times in the first half and maintained their eight-point lead at the top while sending the Toffees into the relegation zone (as per Sky Sports), Drury summed up the contrasting fortunes of the two teams with the quote: “Liverpool pressing, Everton depressing”, one which went down a treat with many Reds fans.

A number of Liverpool supporters have been vocal in their criticism of Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler over the years for a perceived lack of excitement for Reds goals and hyperbolic reactions to goals scored against the Merseysiders.

By contrast, these Liverpool fans loved Drury’s commentary during the midweek derby win:

Liverpool fans, is Drury your favourite commentator? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by The Manchester Evening News, Dimitar Berbatov has urged Manchester United to be more ruthless with the opposition whenever they play at Old Trafford.

What did he say?

The Red Devils have not had the greatest of starts to the Premier League season, and were soundly beaten 2-0 by West Ham last weekend.

After only squeezing past Rochdale on penalties in the Carabao Cup in mid-week, United return to league football when they take on top-four rivals Arsenal on Monday night.

Ahead of the clash, Berbatov has demanded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side toughen up, and show opposition teams “who’s in charge”.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

He said: “The Arsenal defence isn’t in the best shape of their lives so the Man United strikers have a good chance to hurt them as well. Both teams have big strengths and weaknesses, they will both be looking to exploit each other. United will have some advantage of playing at Old Trafford, but when the results haven’t been going for you, you know the fans will be a little impatient, you can think too much about it, make mistakes and it becomes a difficult situation.

“Sometimes when I have watched them I have noticed that United have been too soft against the opposition, they need to be tough in their challenges, show them who’s in charge and let them know that this is ******* Old Trafford.”

Easier said than done

Berbatov’s viewpoint is more than understandable. Having played in some of the most dominant United teams of the Premier League era under Sir Alex Ferguson, watching this current crop of Red Devils flail about must be difficult to see. But ultimately, that’s the key issue here.

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Solskjaer’s side look devoid of any attacking momentum and simply don’t overwhelm teams anymore. In an alarming stat, since their 3-1 win over PSG back in March of this year, United have scored just 18 goals in their following 20 competitive games.

How can they ever be confident of getting a victory in a game when they don’t appear to be confident in themselves? The Red Devils desperately need something to fall their way to galvanise them. And a much-needed three points against historic rivals Arsenal would certainly represent that.