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The Athletic’s Phil Hay has claimed that Leeds United have Celtic starlet Leo Hjelde on their radar.

What’s the story?

Having recently sealed deals for Amari Miller and Lewis Bate, Marcelo Bielsa’s side look keen on reinforcing their academy side even further this summer.

According to Hay, the Whites have their eye on a pair of Celtic starlets, with centre-back Hjelde, and left-back Matthew Anderson on their radar.

Hay adds that “Leeds are persisting in forming a junior pool who, in a number of positions, might realistically succeed members of Bielsa’s current starting line-up.”

Fans will be excited

The 17-year-old joined fellow Scottish side Ross County on loan, and the club’s boss, John Hughes, has admitted that he could have linked up with Marcelo Bielsa in the Premier League instead.

He said: “Leo is going to be the next Van Dijk – trust me on that. The quality he has shown, the physical challenge, playing real men’s football and standing up to it – it’s been a wonderful experience for Leo.

“Before he came, Leeds United were after him. I think he had to sign an extension to his contract for the loan to go through.”

While he may only be 17, Hjelde is clearly someone with a lot of potential, and Hughes has placed a lot of faith in him by using him in multiple positions, including at left-back and further forward in left-midfield.

And, after seeing him score his first professional goal against Kilmarnock earlier last season, the manager was quick to shower him with praise.

He said: “He found himself out of the team a little bit, then came on there and got his goal. He’s destined for big, big, big things. He won’t be far away from the Celtic first-team when he goes back, but this is what he needs to be doing.”

Given Leeds’ recent signings of Bate and Miller, and that follows on from the business last summer that saw the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood arrive, fans will no doubt be excited about the future of their club.

Whether Bielsa is still the manager when these players eventually make a name for themselves in the first-team in the years to come remains to be seen, but these long-term based signings ensure that the club is in good hands.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay claims there’s a “decent chance” of Leeds making this signing…

RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka has turned down the advances of West Ham United, according to Football Insider.

The lowdown

Daka was prolific for the Austrian champions last season, scoring 27 goals in 28 league appearances. On average, he netted every 72 minutes.

The Zambian international is valued at £19.8million by Transfermarkt and has three years remaining on his contract.

The report states that West Ham are among the clubs to have registered their interest in signing the 22-year-old.

The latest

Daka’s camp has communicated the player’s intention to move to a higher-level club.

As well as West Ham, who have qualified for next season’s Europa League, he has rejected Ligue 1 outfit Monaco.

The Irons are in the market for a striker who can offer ‘cover and competition’ for Michail Antonio.

‘Many other’ Premier League teams are hopeful of landing Daka, with a recruitment source revealing the Hammers’ failed interest.

The verdict

This is a blow for West Ham, who would have hoped that European qualification would have boosted their pulling power.

However, Daka may not quite as good as his league record suggests. He failed to score in the Champions League group stages or the Europa League Round of 32 this season, for instance, so perhaps is benefitting from player in a much inferior domestic league.

While suitors will be hoping that he can emulate Erling Haaland in thriving after leaving Austria, he could just as easily struggle like former team-mates Takumi Minamino and Hee-chan Hwang, who failed to score a league goal for RB Leipzig in 2020/21.

In other news, West Ham fans reacted to this development in their pursuit of a centre-back. 

Rangers have been linked with both Zinedine Ferhat and Santiago Moreno recently, but who would be the better addition to Steven Gerrard’s side at Ibrox this summer?

Zinedine Ferhat

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, Rangers are interested in signing the 28-year-old winger from Nimes this summer after his impressive performances in Ligue 1.

The Algeria international has contributed six goals and 10 assists in 33 French top-flight appearances this season, which has helped him earn a noteworthy 7.21 average rating from WhoScored.

The winger is currently valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt but he could well be keen to leave the club this summer following Nimes’ relegation to Ligue 2. His contract is set to expire in 2022, which suggests that the Stade des Costières outfit may be forced to cash in on him this year rather than risk losing him for nothing in 12 months’ time.

Santiago Moreno

According to The Telegraph, Rangers, Leeds United and Southampton are all keen on the Deportivo de Cali winger this summer as he continues to impress with the Liga Dimayor side.

The 21-year-old, whose style of play has been likened to Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, has contributed 10 goals and seven assists in just 49 appearances for the Colombian side in his career thus far and could be tempted into an Ibrox move due to the prospect of Champions League football.

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The Colombian’s contract with Deportivo de Cali is set to run until 2023, which suggests that Rangers may have to pay more than his current market value of £585,000 if they want to sign him this summer.

Who would be the better signing?

Whilst Moreno seems to have a lot of potential, Ferhat has much more experience. Also, he has been playing at a higher standard this season and has been one of the standout performers in Ligue 1 despite Nimes’ relegation.

The Algerian, who has 29 senior goals in his career, also seems to be much more versatile than the Colombian, as he can feature in a number of positions in midfield and attack, which immediately suggests that he could be a good fit at Rangers.

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Therefore, Ross Wilson should perhaps forget about signing Moreno for now and instead focus on bringing Ferhat to Ibrox this summer, as the latter could prove to be an excellent addition to Gerrard’s side if he can continue his form from this season in the 2021/22 campaign.

In other news… Wilson should seal Rangers swoop for “brilliant” beast who will “only get better”

Tottenham Hotspur hero Graham Roberts believes the club could slip into the bottom half of the table if Harry Kane departs this summer.

Sky Sports have reported that the England captain has asked to leave the club this summer amid interest from Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea.

Kane scored on the final day of the Premier League season as Spurs brought the curtain down on a dispiriting season with a 4-2 win over Leicester City, confirming a seventh-placed finish.

After the game, he was presented with the Golden Boot, having scored 23 goals in the Premier League, while he also won the Playmaker Award, having laid on 14 assists.

It remains to be seen if Kane will leave the club, given that he has three years left on his contract and any deal would be hugely expensive, but Roberts is concerned about the prospect of losing the 27-year-old, especially if he is not effectively replaced.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Roberts said: “It’s a shame because we’ve got such fantastic fans, we’ve got a fantastic football club but I understand. The pandemic has not helped but you have to get through that.

“Every other club’s done it.

“For us to lose Harry Kane, if it does happen, well, I think we will be nearer the bottom half than the top half if we lose him and don’t replace him.”

A number of Manchester City fans appear to be delighted after it was revealed they are looking to break the Premier League transfer record to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.

The Citizens have been heavily linked with a move for Grealish, who is currently away with England at Euro 2020. The £58.5m-valued man has had a fantastic season, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists in just 27 matches in all competitions (Transfermarkt), making him one of the hottest talents in English football at the moment.

It seems that Pep Guardiola and co want to bring him to the Etihad Stadium as they prepare for the new season (The Telegraph), and if they are to do so, they are prepared to pay a Premier League record fee to capture his services.

The news was shared on Twitter by @City_Xtra, and it attracted plenty of reaction from supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what these City fans had to say about the Grealish reports

“this is the best news I’ve heard all year”

Credit: @MCFCAJ10

“Yesssssss”

Credit: @mancityj14

“HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOO”

Credit: @MCFC_SZn26

“Get him into the club”

Credit: @OwodoHumphrey

“Get it done… especially if Bernardo leaves”

Credit: @BelgianKing17

“Please sign Grealish and we need a striker”

Credit: @flayAim

In other news, some Man City fans want the club to sign this midfielder.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to qualify for a place in Europe next season with a win over Aston Villa this evening.

Interim manager Ryan Mason can guide his side to no worse than seventh place if they manage to clinch three points in North London and they head into kick-off on the back of a much-needed victory over Wolves last time out.

It leaves the 29-year-old caretaker with a lot to ponder, especially as there are a few injuries to contend with.

So, what sort of Spurs XI could we see tonight? Here’s our predicted line-up, as well as the latest team and injury news from N17…

Mason could make as many as three changes from Sunday’s victory.

In his pre-game press conference, the temporary boss hinted that Gareth Bale may not be fit to feature, whilst Ben Davies is still on the sidelines, so there is a decision to be made in attack – who joins Harry Kane and Heung-min Son?

There are a few contenders but we’re expecting Lucas Moura to get the nod over both Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn.

Mason will also have another big call to make on Dele Alli, who has now started three straight Premier League games for the very first time this campaign.

The 25-year-old playmaker is likely to remain in the no.10 role in an exciting front four.

Further back in midfield, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg should keep up his record of starting every single top-flight game this term but there could be a huge temptation to turn to Tanguy Ndombele over Giovani Lo Celso.

The £27m-rated Argentine doesn’t seem like the best partner for the great Dane, at least compared to the relationship the Frenchman struck up with him earlier in the season.

Both of them, along with Alli, should help fill the likely void left behind by Bale.

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The defence pretty much selects itself with Davies absent.

Mason is yet to turn to summer signing Joe Rodon, so Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld are likely to remain in the heart of defence, along with Sergio Reguilon.

But they could be joined by Serge Aurier in the third and final change, as the Ivory Coast international has been back in training this week following his surprise absence on Sunday.

He’ll replace Japhet Tanganga at right-back.

AND in other news, Mason must ruthlessly axe “exciting” Spurs gem tonight, Grealish could tear him apart…

Leeds United are potentially lining up Granada manager Diego Martinez as a replacement for Marcelo Bielsa, should the Argentine leave this summer.

Bielsa has worked wonders at Elland Road, overseeing a memorable period in the club’s history in recent years.

The 65-year-old has guided Leeds back into the Premier League and their first season back has been a resounding success, with the Whites currently ninth in the table.

Bielsa’s contract expires at the end of the campaign, however, and he has not yet extended his stay at Elland Road.

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Orta eyes up Bielsa replacement

According to Onda Cero [via Sport Witness], Victor Orta sees Martinez as an ideal replacement for Bielsa, with his own deal at the La Liga club ending this summer.

He is described as an ‘old acquaintance’ of Orta’s and is wanted by a host of a clubs, including Valencia.

Transfer Tavern take

Despite the worrying nature of Bielsa’s contract situation, it would be a huge surprise if he didn’t extend his stay at Elland Road for another year, at least.

It still feels like there is unfinished business with him and the next aim should be attempting to qualify for Europe next season.

The thought of losing Bielsa is a horrifying one for Leeds fans, and despite Martinez’s prowess as a manager – he took tiny Granada to the Europa League quarter-finals – there is only one outcome supporters will want this summer.

In other news, Leeds have been urged to sign a world-renowned forward this summer – find out who it is here.

Liverpool appear to be edging closer to signing Ibrahima Konate at the end of the season, with two details holding the key to the move happening.

The Reds are expected to bring in a new centre-back in the summer following a host of problems in that position throughout 2020/21 with long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Konate has emerged as the most likely player to come in, having caught the eye for RB Leipzig, making 13 Bundesliga appearances so far this season.

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Konate’s move to Liverpool edges closer

According to Anfield Central, Liverpool have ‘all but completed a deal’ to bring the 21-year-old to Anfield as Jurgen Klopp looks to make a key addition to his defence.

The report identified two major aspects in the deal which need to addressed, however, with the Reds needing to pay Konate’s release clause, as well as a medical having to be passed.

Once those compulsory requirements have been met, the Frenchman is set to become a Liverpool player.

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Transfer Tavern take

Konate looks set to be an exciting signing by the Reds, with the youngster already shining for a top European side at a very young age, making 94 appearances for Leipzig and being hailed by former Bundeslgia coach Ralf Rangnick as good enough to “play for Real Madrid or Barcelona one day”.

His injury record does mean that there may be a hint of nerves surrounding his medical, but you’d hope that Liverpool’s scouts have done enough research to believe that his fitness issues won’t be a problem moving forward.

Klopp desperately needs a centre-back he can rely on week in, week out alongside Van Dijk, with Gomez and Matip unreliable in that respect, particularly the latter.

In other news, Liverpool have discovered how much they will have to pay for a Reds-linked attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.

Writing on Twitter, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has lifted the lid on chairman Daniel Levy’s plan for Tottenham Hotspur surrounding 2020/2021 loanee Gareth Bale.

The Lowdown: Bale’s future up in the air?

Much has been made of the Welshman and whether he will sign for Spurs permanently or opt to remain at Real Madrid.

The 31-year-old, when available and ready to play, arguably made an impact under both Jose Mourinho and Ryan Mason – ending the 2020/2021 campaign as the club’s third top scorer.

Indeed, in all competitions, Bale notched an impressive 16 goals and three assists from out wide in just 34 appearances (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Romano lifts lid on Levy plan for Bale…

Writing on Twitter, reliable journalist Romano has claimed that Levy and co plan to hold talks with Real Madrid over Bale this summer but it will only be done once the new manager is officially appointed.

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“Gareth Bale is not planning to retire after the Euros,” he explained on social media.

“Despite rumours, Bale is waiting to decide his future – he’s still under contract with Real Madrid and Tottenham meeting will take place once the new manager is appointed. But he’s not retiring: fake.”

The Verdict: Do it Levy…

Despite fitness issues and a speculated lack of trust from former boss Jose Mourinho, Bale could prove to be a shrewd permanent signing for Spurs’ new boss considering his profile and record from 2020/2021.

Scoring 11 goals and assisting two others in just 10 Premier League starts (Transfermarkt), it is evident that the Wales international star still possesses the quality to succeed with Spurs.

The only caveat may be his reported sky high wages, and if Bale is to make a permanent return to Tottenham, it is fair to say he may have to make some concessions given the Lilywhites’ financial troubles.

In other news: Spurs now want to sign this ‘nearly unplayable’ star, find out more here.

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola could be set to receive a huge boost in the coming weeks, after it was revealed that Raheem Sterling is in talks over a new deal with the Citizens.

According to Fabrizio Romano, following the announcement that Kevin De Bruyne had signed a new deal with the club, the Citizens’ next priority is to negotiate new deals with both Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.

The Englishman’s current contract with City is set to expire in 2023, so any extension to that will perhaps see Sterling spend the rest of his career at the top with the Citizens, as he continues to impress following his move from Liverpool.

Since signing from the Merseyside outfit in the summer of 2015, the exciting winger has gone on to make 283 appearances for City, in which he has contributed a superb 113 goals and 86 assists.

Whilst this season has seen him lose his guaranteed starting spot in the starting eleven, he still has 13 goals and 11 assists to his name in all competitions, so is clearly still a hugely important part of Guardiola’s squad.

His recent form, and finishing, has certainly come under scrutiny but his average rating of 7.24/1o in the Premier League so far this season ranks him as City’s fifth-best performer in the top-flight.

There is no doubting that the 26-year-old, who reportedly earns £300k per week, is on a disappointing run of form, with no goals for City in any of his last seven appearances, but it is surely a matter of time before he gets his confidence back and starts finding the net on a more regular basis.

Guardiola is certainly a big fan of the former QPR youngster and was full of praise for him earlier in the season, saying:

“We’ve seen him play on the right, off the left, and as a false nine – you can rely on Raheem every time he steps on the pitch in terms of goals and assists. That’s a remarkable thing. He started as a flair player, now all of a sudden, Raheem gets you those numbers.”

Therefore, it will undoubtedly be a huge boost for City if they can get Sterling to commit to a new deal at the club and perhaps once the negotiations are dealt with, he will quickly get back to his best.

And, in other news… Forget Mendes: Txiki should seal City swoop for 26 y/o dubbed “one of the best”