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Leeds United pulled off an impressive victory to get back to winning ways in the Premier League on Wednesday night. Daniel Farke’s side beat Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road to pick up a huge three points.

It was the perfect start for the Whites in front of a packed-out home crowd. After an intense first five minutes or so where they dominated, Leeds broke the deadlock.

It came from a corner, with defender Jaka Bijol making a brilliant run to the front post and emphatically heading home.

Chelsea didn’t really threaten much and eventually paid the price. Leeds doubled their lead right on the stroke of half-time, through a brilliant strike by Ao Tanaka.

The Whites won the ball back on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, with Jayden Bogle finding Tanaka in space. The Japanese international fired home a strike from range to put them 2-0 up.

Chelsea did pull one back with just 50 minutes on the clock, thanks to substitute Pedro Neto at the back post. Yet, Leeds managed to keep them at bay, and with 18 minutes to go, capitalised on a defensive error to secure all three points.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored their third, a goal which capped off a brilliant performance.

Calvert-Lewin’s stats vs. Chelsea

Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring form has begun to improve in recent games. He bagged against Manchester City last weekend, and again against Chelsea on Wednesday night, although that strike was certainly easier.

It was a mistake from Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo which led to the goal, with the centre-back playing a sloppy pass to Robert Sanchez.

The Spaniard was immediately under pressure, with the ball crocheting off his body and into the path of Calvert-Lewin, who tapped home from two yards out.

However, it was not just his goal which impressed about the former Everton striker’s performance.

He was a nuisance throughout for the Chelsea defence, with Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post awarding him a 9/10 rating, explaining that he ‘brought others into play’ superbly.

Indeed, the statistics back up what was a superb showing from Calvert-Lewin. He only had 37 touches but made an impact with most of those, winning an impressive 11 duels, managing three shots and, of course, bagging Leeds’ third goal.

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However, the Whites’ number nine was not the only one of their players to stand out against Chelsea.

Leeds’ other standout player vs. Chelsea

It was a huge win for Leeds on Wednesday night, which took a huge effort across the board. One of the best players was midfielder Anton Stach, who ran the game in midfield and was impressive defensively, too.

The numbers from the game reflect a controlled midfield performance from Leeds’ summer signing. He had 50 touches and completed 19 out of 24 passes, creating a superb four chances, one of which teed up Tanaka for his goal.

Off the ball, Stach made four recoveries and won three duels.

Touches

50

Passes completed

19/24

Chances created

4

Ball recoveries

4

Duels won

3

Clearances

3

Assists

1

The 27-year-old German was a “revelation” in the centre of the park, according to journalist Adonis Storr. That is something Smyth seemed to agree with, also giving him a 9/10 rating post-match, calling that showing his ‘best Leeds performance’.

Indeed, it is easy to see why Smyth is of that opinion. For the German to put in a showing like that against a side competing in the Champions League and that are pushing Arsenal at the top of the Premier League is a colossal effort.

He was everywhere against one of the strongest sides in the top flight, and the chances he created added that creative spark in the final third. He played a huge role in Leeds’ attacking play, which ultimately helped get them over the line.

Stach proved why he could be considered an undroppable member of this Leeds side. This was a much-needed win, and he was right at the heart of it.

Calvert-Lewin’s goals recently have been key, but Stach’s performance in midfield is exactly what is needed for them to beat the drop.

Leeds summer signing has been their biggest waste of time since Augustin

This summer signing has been Leeds United’s biggest waste of time since the signing of Jean-Kevin Augustin.

ByDan Emery Dec 1, 2025

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim could now be without one Red Devils star for their next five Premier League games.

Man Utd injury latest on Martinez, Mainoo, Maguire

The Red Devils have been without Lisandro Martinez for the majority of 2025 due to an ACL injury, however, the Argentine defender appears to be closing in on a return.

Back in full team training, Martinez wanted to travel with the side for the draw against Nottingham Forest and has since been training with his national side during the international break.

Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo missed the 2-2 draw with Tottenham last time out, whereas Harry Maguire was replaced with a hamstring issue, however, both could return in time as Man Utd host Everton at Old Trafford on Monday.

Summer signing Benjamin Sesko also joined the injury list prior to the international break after being replaced late on against Spurs. Amorim admitted that he was “concerned” with Sesko’s injury and not his form.

“That [his recent form] is not the biggest concern now. I’m concerned with an injury, because it is in the knee, and I don’t know. We need Ben [Sesko] to be a better team. We have to check. He has something in his knee. Let’s see.”

Now, Amorim has found out how long the Slovenian will be missing for.

Man Utd handed Sesko injury update

As reported by Sky Sports, Sesko has avoided a major knee injury after further scans.

The forward will now undergo a period of rehab running into December and is expected to be sidelined for a month.

Should that prove accurate, Sesko will miss United’s next five Premier League fixtures and could return just before Christmas against Aston Villa on December 21.

Man Utd vs Everton

November 24

Crystal Palace vs Man Utd

November 30

Man Utd vs West Ham

December 4

Wolves vs Man Utd

December 8

Man Utd vs Bournemouth

December 15

This will come as a blow to Amorim, who hailed the £160,000-a-week striker following his performance and goal in the 2-0 win over Sunderland.

“He has time, he’s going to stay here for a lot of years. The media puts a lot of pressure on the goals for the striker but for me it’s the effort that is the most important thing. Every time we kick the ball he’s fighting for it, that’s massive for us. To win the second ball and give us time to breathe. I’m really happy with that.”

Now, Amorim will have to find a way to cope without the towering striker, whether that be by bringing back someone like Joshua Zirkzee or using Matheus Cunha as a forward with captain Bruno Fernandes playing in a more advanced midfield role.

Forget Bruno and De Ligt: Man Utd "monster" is looking like a new captain

Rangers’ truly miserable European campaign continues, with their hopes of reaching the knockout stages now hanging by a thread.

On Thursday night, despite taking the lead through James Tavernier’s spot-kick, the Gers were held to a 1-1 draw by ten-man Braga at Ibrox, with the Arsenalists equalising shortly after Rodrigo Zalazar had been sent off for headbutting Nicolas Raskin.

This ended a sequence of seven successive European defeats, the longest streak in the club’s entire history, but they will almost certainly need to beat Ferencváros, Ludogorets Razgrad and Porto to stand any chance of reaching the Europa League knockout stages, which isn’t particularly likely.

Having finished eighth in last year’s inaugural league phase, before reaching the quarter-finals, this quite the fall from grace.

Much of the blame lies at those at boardroom level, hence why chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell were both sacked on Monday, much to the delight of many supporters.

Nevertheless, new manager Danny Röhl still has to build a cohesive team with the pieces he has been given, so which of Thelwell’s summer recruits did not impress on Thursday night?

Nasser Djiga at fault once again

The final Tuesday of the final international break of 2025 could prove to be a pivotal day in Rangers’ season.

Mere hours apart, one in Mount Florida and the other in well, Miami in actual Florida, both John Souttar and Derek Cornelius suffered long-term injuries that’ll see them sidelined until Christmas at least.

Thus, just as Röhl had found his first-choice centre-back pairing, he will continue to be without them going into the busiest period of the season, left with no choice but to keep picking Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga, despite the continued poor performances of the latter.

Djiga was massively at fault for Braga’s crucial equaliser on Thursday night, completely misjudging a cross into the box which allowed Gabri Martínez to slot home.

The 23 year old joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Crvena zvezda in January for a reported £10m, but barely featured for the Premier League side, suggesting why that might have been the case since making the loan move north of the border.

It did not start well for Djiga, sent off on his Premiership debut for tripping up Finlay Robertson as the Gers were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Ibrox, before this inexplicable decision which allowed Romeo Vermant to score the first of Club Brugge’s nine goals in the Champions League play-off round.

Djiga, frankly, is costing Rangers points time and time again, which has to be a concern ahead of three winnable Premiership matches in a week against Falkirk, Dundee United and Kilmarnock, but which other starter from Thursday night may have just played himself out of contention?

Rangers summer signing who struggled vs Braga

Röhl made a couple of surprise selection decisions against Braga; Connor Barron came into midfield, while Max Aarons got the nod over Jayden Meghoma at left-back.

The Bournemouth loanee has been in and out the team all throughout the campaign, deployed in both full-back positions, but did not stake a claim for more regular minutes here.

The statistics document the Englishman’s tough night.

As the table documents, despite the fact only two Rangers players, namely Tavernier and Fernandez, had more touches of the ball than Aarons, he did very little with all this possession.

The full-back completed just 26 passes, fewer than Braga goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček, was accurate with zero crosses and turned over possession on 17 occasions.

Fair to say, the Rangers support have not been enamoured by Aarons from the very start.

Under Russell Martin, he was controversially starting Champions League qualifiers instead of long-standing captain Tavernier, which most fans were not on board with, especially when Aarons was sent off just eight minutes into their 6-0 annihilation at the hands of Club Brugge at Jan Breydelstadion.

More recently, Aarons has been asked to fill in on the left-side, which he can do, but does not suit him naturally, especially on the ball, having to play on his weaker side.

Thus, for upcoming Premiership matches, where Rangers will dominate possession, expect Röhl to recall Jayden Meghoma at left-back, even if he has been far from convincing either.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

As for long-term, it would be no surprise to see both Aarons and Djiga return to their parents clubs in the new year, or at the end of the season at the very least.

Forget Djiga: Rohl must bin Rangers flop who lost the ball every 2 touches

Following Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Braga in the Europa League at Ibrox on Thursday, which flop must Danny Röhl axe who was even worse than Nasser Djiga?

By
Ben Gray

Nov 28, 2025

Gloucestershire 158 for 5 (van Buuren 28*, J Taylor 24*) trail Northamptonshire 206 (Zaib 76, McManus 44, van Buuren 3-23, M Taylor 3-48) by 48 runsGloucestershire and Northamptonshire were again frustrated by the elements in their efforts to accrue bonus points on day three of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Resuming on 65 for 3 in reply to Northamptonshire’s first-innings 206, Gloucestershire advanced their score to 158 for 5 for the loss of Ollie Price and James Bracey in the 25 overs that were possible before rain set in just before the lunch interval.Although umpires James Tredwell and Paul Baldwin ordered a mopping up operation to begin at 1.45pm, the Bristol ground-staff had to abandon their efforts when further wet weather arrived. Tea was taken at 2.55pm, after which a further inspection, staged at 4.15pm, led to play to being abandoned for the day with the loss of 79 overs.There was time enough for Graeme van Buuren (28 not out) and Jack Taylor (24 not out) to post an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 51 in the morning and cut the deficit to 48 runs, but it will require a conversation between the captains if a contrived finish is to be rendered a possibility on the final day, when better conditions are forecast.Batting remained a precarious business beneath grey skies and in the face of a moving ball on a pitch that retained the capacity to surprise following overnight rain, and the wily Ben Sanderson and seam sidekick Justin Broad strained every sinew in an attempt to exploit conditions when Gloucestershire resumed their first innings 141 behind. Their powers of concentration tested to the full, Price and Bracey erected a defensive barricade to stifle East Midlands ambition, applying themselves diligently to the task of survival as the floodlights pierced the gloom.There were still sufficient moments of attacking flare to keep the scoreboard operator gainfully employed and the fourth wicket partnership realised 50 via 94 balls, Price driving fluently when Sanderson over-pitched and Bracey pulling and cutting with murderous intent on the occasions Ben Whitehouse proved wayward. Hampered by the injury-enforced absence of skipper Luke Procter, Northants were heavily dependent upon pace spearhead Sanderson, and the batsmen were no doubt relieved to see the back of him.But there was no guarantee of security and, when Whitehouse extracted additional movement off the pitch, Price saw his middle stump uprooted, his defiant innings terminated for 37 from 93 balls. The partnership was worth 64 and Gloucestershire were 104 for 4, still 102 in arrears. When Whitehouse induced Bracey to pursue a ball outside off stump and edge to wicketkeeper Lewis McManus for 36 in his next over, he advanced his wicket tally in first-class cricket to three. The home side were 107-5, with two new batters at the crease, and under pressure.Some of that pressure was eased by the introduction of leg spin, Calvin Harrison going for 14 in a wayward first over from the Ashley Down Road end that served to give van Buuren and Jack Taylor a start. These two needed no second invitation, working Harrison and teenage off spinner Nirvan Ramesh while the seamers were rested, raising a revitalising 50 partnership from 73 balls before rain forced the players off. Lunch was taken at 12.30, but there was no improvement in the weather thereafter.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Maracanã vai ferver neste domingo (22), às 16h, para o Clássico dos Milhões, o último da temporada. Flamengo e Vasco se enfrentam pela 28ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, ainda com objetivos na competição. O Rubro-Negro ainda sonha com o título, mas sabe que a realidade é uma vaga direta para a próxima Copa Libertadores. Já o Cruz-Maltino luta contra o rebaixamento, mas tem a classificação para a Copa Sul-Americana como uma possibilidade palpável.

RelacionadasBrasileirãoFlamengo x Vasco: Pulgar e Paulinho são os pontos de equlíbrio no Clássico dos MilhõesBrasileirão21/10/2023VascoVasco x Internacional: ingressos estão esgotados para o jogo de quinta-feira, em São JanuárioVasco20/10/2023Fora de CampoÔnibus com delegação sub-14 do Vasco pega fogo na estradaFora de Campo20/10/2023

O jogo será o primeiro clássico do técnico Tite à frente do Flamengo. O ex-treinador da Seleção Brasileira estreou com vitória na quinta-feira (19), sobre o Cruzeiro, por 2 a 0, no Mineirão. Já o técnico Ramón Díaz comanda o Vasco em seu segundo clássico. No primeiro, o time venceu o Fluminense, por 4 a 2, no Nilton Santos. O treinador argentino vai estrear no Maracanã, comandando o Cruz-Maltino, já que na última vez que o time jogou no estádio, esteve suspenso e viu o filho e auxiliar, Emiliano Díaz, liderar a equipe para a vitória sobre o Atlético-MG, por 1 a 0.

+ Confira a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

+ Flamengo x Vasco: Pulgar e Paulinho são os pontos de equlíbrio no Clássico dos Milhões

O cenário atual para o Clássico dos Milhões é bem diferente do anterior, quando o Flamengo goleou o Vasco, por 4 a 1, no Maracanã, marcando todos os gols ainda no primeiro tempo. O Cruz-Maltino se reforçou desde então e praticamente é um novo time, tendo como remanescentes entre os titulares apenas Léo Jardim, Léo e Lucas Piton. Já o Rubro-Negro manteve a base que venceu na ocasião.

FICHA TÉCNICA
VASCO X FLAMENGO – 28ª RODADA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO
Local: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Data e horário: Domingo (22/10), às 16h (Brasília)
Árbitro: Raphael Claus (Fifa-SP)
Assistentes: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (Fifa-SP) e Evandro de Melo Lima (SP)
Árbitro de Vídeo (VAR): Daiane Caroline Muniz dos Santos (Fifa-SP)

Onde assistir: TV Globo, Premiere e Tempo Real do Lance!

FLAMENGO (Técnico: Tite)
Rossi, Wesley, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira e Ayrton Lucas; Thiago Maia, Pulgar, Gerson, Everton Ribeiro, Bruno Henrique e Pedro

Desfalques: Allan e David Luiz (departamento médico)
Pendurados: Fabrício Bruno, Pulgar, Bruno Henrique, Filipe Luís e Everton Ribeiro

VASCO (Técnico: Ramon Díaz)
Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Medel, Léo e Lucas Piton; Zé Gabriel, Paulinho, Praxedes e Payet; Gabriel Pec e Vegetti.

Desfalques: De Lucca, GB, Capasso (departamento médico); Figueiredo e Miranda (Seleção Brasileira Sub-23); Mateus Carvalho (suspenso)
Pendurados: Léo Jardim, Puma Rodríguez, Léo, Robson, Zé Vitor, Jair, Praxedes, Marlon Gomes, Gabriel Pec, Sebastián e Rayan.

Amad Diallo was controversially denied what looked like a clear penalty against Brighton following an intervention from VAR. The flashpoint happened when Amad tangled with Brighton's Maxim De Cuyper in the box, and while it initially looked like a foul, replays indicated that De Cuyper appeared to make the lightest of touches on the ball first.

• Old Trafford fumes as penalty denied

  Referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals deeming De Cuyper's contact on the ball saved him from conceding a penalty. But while watching United fans were apoplectic at the decision their side went into half-time against Brighton with a 2-0 lead after Matheus Cunha scored his first goal for the club in the 24th minute, Casemiro added a second ten minutes later with a deflected strike. A thrilling second half then saw Bryan Mbeumo stretch United's lead to 3-0 but Brighton set up a nervy finish thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck and Charalampos Kostoulas. However, Mbeumo struck again in stoppage time to seal victory.

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• Why the decision was not given

  The Premier League confirmed why the decision was not given after the game in a statement on social media that read: "The referee’s call of no penalty to Manchester United was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that De Cuyper played the ball."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Are you having a laugh?' Fans react to VAR

  There was furious reaction penalty call as fans at the ground and those watching at home all claimed Man Utd had been stitched up. 

  @TurkTalksFC said: "I could see that was a penalty from the lower Stretford End. Just seen a replay. Are you having a laugh??? That is diabolical from Anthony Taylor and VAR."
  There was a similar reaction from @StretfordPaddck, who said: "My head is absolutely gone. Checked and cleared by VAR but that looked blatant?!"
  And @samuelluckhurst aimed his anger at the match officials, he said: "That's ridiculous from ref Taylor and VAR. Looked an obvious penalty. Taylor said recently referees can't be perfect. No, but that was an easy decision."
  While @Muppetiers added: "Lmao how is that not a penalty. Typical Anthony Taylor day playing against an extra man."

  And this United fan was absolutely fuming, claiming some kind of conspiracy, @aobrien7 said: "The guy needs to seriously be investigated. More of a foul there than anything Yoro did, but nothing. It's beyond a joke these days. Awful refereeing week in and week out."

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• Amorim hits back at Arne Slot

  United earned a stunning win over deadly rivals Liverpool last weekend, but Arne Slot took aim at Amorim’s ‘long-ball’ tactics at Anfield. But the United boss has hit back, he said: "I don’t care what Slot is saying, what people are saying about our team. I can watch the game and say we can do better and we need to do better in the future but sometimes you need to adapt to the game. So I don’t need anyone to evaluate my team. I can evaluate my team and I am really clear that we should play better with the ball and we are going to try to do that in this game. I’m not saying my players don’t want to win or run, but we need to sometimes (when) it’s getting harder (in matches) to force ourselves to do the basics. If you look at Brighton and the way they play, every team that pressed a little higher struggled and they won. We need to be prepared – not just against the top teams but against opponents that are (also) really good."

علق ييس توروب، المدير الفني للأهلي على فوز الفريق على سيراميكا كليوباترا، بهدفين لهدف، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

والتقى الأهلي نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، على ملعب هزاع بن زايد، في نصف نهائي بطولة السوبر المصري.

طالع.. أيمن يونس: توروب غير شخصية الأهلي.. وهدف جراديشار من “لمسة حب”

وقال توروب في المؤتمر الصحفي:”مبروك لجماهير النادي الفوز الغالي والتأهل للنهائي، لدينا هدف واحد وهو المباراة النهائية، سيطرنا على مجريات المباراة وأضعنا فرصًا عديدة”.

وتابع: “خضنا مباراة أمام خصم صعب ومبروك للأهلي وجماهيره، الخطوة المقبلة المباراة النهائية، وهذا أفضل أداء قدمناه منذ تولي المهمة، ومتفق مع هذا الرأي”.

وأشار: “لست متفقًا بأن هناك مشاكل في الدفاع رغم تلقي الفريق هدفًا، دفاعنا كان متماسكًا وكنا الأفضل طوال الـ90 دقيقة، واطلعت على الجزء البدني، ونعمل على تطويره من مباراة إلى أخرى”.

وأكمل: “الأهداف والانتصارات تمنح الثقة للاعبين؛ واليوم سجلنا هدفين، ولو لم نصنع فرص لن نسجل، واللاعبون يبذلون جهدًا كبيرًا في المباريات ونحاول تسجيل أكبر جزء من الأهداف، اليوم وجدت تضحية من اللاعبين من أجل تحقيق الفوز وأشكرهم على ذلك”.

يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي لمواصلة مبارياته في الموسم الحالي 2025/2026 بعد الخسارة أمام أستون فيلا، ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وخسر مانشستر سيتي بهدف نظيف أمام أستون فيلا، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”.

وخاض رجال جوارديولا مباراتهم أمام أستون فيلا على ملعب “فيلا بارك”، بالمباراة التي جمعتهما في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

جاء الهدف في الدقيقة 19 عن طريق اللاعب ماتي كاش، بعد تمريرة من زميله إيمي بوينديا، حيث وصلت الكرة إلى الآخر الذي سددها بطريقة قوية من على حدود منطقة الجزاء، لتهتز شباك دوناروما.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | مانشستر سيتي يرفض الوصافة ويسقط أمام أستون فيلا في الدوري الإنجليزي

بتلك النتيجة، تجمد رصيد مانشستر سيتي عند النقطة 16 في المركز الرابع، فيما ارتفع رصيد أستون فيلا للنقطة 15 بالمركز السابع في جدول ترتيب البريميرليج. موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي القادمة بعد الخسارة أمام أستون فيلا في الدوري الإنجليزي

ومن المقرر أن يخوض مانشستر سيتي مباراته القادمة أمام سوانزي سيتي، ضمن منافسات كأس كاراباو الأربعاء المقبل.

ويستضيف ملعب “سوانزي دوت كوم” مباراة مانشستر سيتي وسوانزي في تمام الساعة الحادية عشر إلا ربع بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

Leeds United have missed out on signing some brilliant players in recent years after Marcelo Bielsa led the Whites back to the Premier League in 2020.

Those at Elland Road struck transfer gold on Raphinha, with the Brazilian winger starring in Yorkshire before sealing a big-money move to Barcelona in 2022.

However, Leeds could have signed icons Diego Maradona and Frank Lampard once upon a time, and more recently, plenty of other star names came close to joining the Whites.

Leeds United's most expensive sales of all time

A look at the record departures from Elland Road.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025 10 star players Leeds United almost signed 10 Diego Maradona

A year on after Diego Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 saw Leeds make an ambitious move to sign the icon from Napoli.

A Division Two side at the time, Whites director Bill Fotherby was ready to spend a whopping £8m on Maradona and opened talks with the player’s agent. However, Leeds would eventually pull the plug and Maradona would remain with Napoli until 1991.

9 Frank Lampard

Following Rio Ferdinand’s move to Elland Road in 2000, Leeds looked to raid West Ham again a year later, this time for Frank Lampard.

The Whites were thought to be ready to pay £10m for the midfielder, but as we know, he’d instead join Chelsea.

Lampard has since gone on to become a rival of Leeds and was manager of Derby County during the famous ‘Spygate’ scandal during Bielsa’s time as Whites boss.

8 Erling Haaland

Striker Erling Haaland was born in Leeds and has openly admitted he is a Whites supporter, and those at Elland Road passed up on the chance to sign the Norwegian when he was at Molde.

Now a global superstar, Haaland was 17 at the time and Leeds were in the Championship when the failed transfer happened, with the forward instead signing for RB Salzburg.

7 Duncan Ferguson

Duncan Ferguson was a striker who would have loved the Elland Road atmosphere as a home player, and Leeds almost signed him in 1993.

Dundee United even accepted an offer worth £3.25m from the Whites, however, he would sign for Rangers instead before making a move to England with Everton 12 months later.

6 Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City signed Josko Gvardiol in 2023 for a world-record fee for a defender worth more than £77m. However, three years prior to his move to England, Gvardiol could have signed for Leeds following their promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds even agreed a fee with Dinamo Zagreb, but the Croatia international snubbed the Whites for RB Leipzig.

5 Rodrigo De Paul

During the summer of 2020, Leeds missed out on central midfielder Rodrigo De Paul as well as Gvardiol.

De Paul was a Udinese player at the time and would instead sign for Atletico Madrid, before helping Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar two years later.

4 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Now a Paris Saint-Germain star and one of the best in Europe, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is another case of what could have been for Leeds under Bielsa.

Following their successful first season back in the Premier League, Bielsa wanted attacking additions, with Victor Orta and co targeting Kvaratskhelia from Russian club Rubin Kazan.

Instead, Leeds signed Dan James from Manchester United with Bielsa losing his job during the 2021/22 season.

3 Cody Gakpo

Leeds were desperate to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven late in the summer transfer window in 2023, with Orta and co flying out to the Netherlands looking to bring the star attacker back to Yorkshire.

Gakpo even recalled the story of how he placed his fate in the hands of God the night before the transfer window slammed shut.

Gakpo scored a hat-trick for PSV that night in a 7-1 win over FC Volendam so remained with PSV, eventually moving to Liverpool six months later.

2 Viktor Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres signed for Arsenal in 2025, but years before his big-money move to the Emirates from Sporting CP, Orta nearly signed him for Leeds.

The Swedish striker was scoring for fun at Coventry City in the Championship, however, Leeds would instead break the bank in 2023 for Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim.

Coventry City

Sporting CP

Games

116

102

Goals

43

97

Assists

17

28

1 Ollie Watkins

When Leeds were looking for a new striker in 2020 upon their return to the Premier League, they targeted Ollie Watkins who was starring for Brentford in the Championship.

Watkins admitted himself that the Whites were keen on him, however, Leeds instead decided to sign Spanish international Rodrigo to lead their line.

Rodrigo had his ups and downs at Elland Road, whereas Watkins would sign for Aston Villa and regularly hit double figures for goals in the Premier League.

Oliver Glasner says Marc Guehi has shrugged off the disappointment of seeing a Liverpool transfer fall through and is now focusing only on Crystal Palace. The 25-year-old looked set to make a switch to Anfield on summer deadline day, only for the move to collapse at the eleventh hour. Amid speculation the Reds may return for him in January, Glasner has no concerns about Guehi's professionalism.

• Leoni injury reignites Guehi to Liverpool links

  After Guehi stayed put at Palace, despite Liverpool's deadline day approach, Bayern Munich have entered the race to sign the centre-back, although the former Chelsea man may have his sights set on Real Madrid. Los Blancos are said to be keen on bringing him to Santiago Bernabeu next summer when he will be a free agent, but the Reds may try and move for him in January – something the Eagles could be open to so that they at least secure a fee for him.

  The Merseyside outfit have captain Virgil van Dijk as their defensive talisman, and Ibrahima Konate has ably supported him in recent times, but with summer signing and understudy Giovanni Leoni suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury this week, Guehi has swiftly come up on Liverpool's radar again. Whether he would join Arne Slot's side, who are a bit short of defensive options right now, for the second half of the season remains to be seen.

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  Glasner praises Guehi's class

  The Austrian did concede that Guehi was a tad disheartened that his Liverpool transfer did not come to pass, but his attitude and commitment to the cause for the Eagles has been exemplary. 

  He told reporters: "I have no concerns at all [about Guehi]. I'm completely convinced, and I mention this quite often, as long as Marc is playing for Crystal Palace, he will be playing with 100 per cent. This is what I expect tomorrow [against Liverpool].

  "I'm really convinced that he will show this again. He's an amazing player, he's in amazing shape. So I expect a great game from him. Of course, I had a conversation with Marc but I think you will expect it to maybe have been more or longer, it was really a very short conversation because it was easy. We talked before, we talked at the end of last season, we talked in off-season, we talked in the pre-season, and of course we talked after the transfer window closed but it was a five-minute conversation.

  "On the other side, I'm really wondering why it's so outstanding if you stick to an agreement, it also shows you maybe what kind of times we are living in. If you sign a contract, let's say the normal thing is you stick to your contract, so we are praised for doing what we have to do, I think it's more the opposite, we should blame people who don't stick to their agreement.

  "Of course he was a little bit disappointed at the beginning but he said 'no, it's fine, I like being here, I like the team, I like the staff, I like Crystal Palace, I'm a south London boy, it's all good, I will give my best,' and this is exactly what I knew would happen."

• Glasner 'tired' of Guehi speculation amid Liverpool and Real Madrid interest

  The Palace manager, who has guided his side to a 17-match unbeaten run, admitted he is a bit fed up with all the Guehi transfer speculation. But he acknowledges that it will undoubtedly come up in the January transfer window.

  "Again, [the move to Liverpool] is gone. The window is closed, fortunately, so he's completely focused on Crystal Palace, on his performance and our performance and like always, it's good to have him as a captain," the Eagles boss said.

  "I'm not talking about transfer discussions. We had this for three or four months, and it really made me tired. I don't want to talk about it. I know in January it will be again for one month. Even when I think about it, it makes me tired. So let's talk about this great game, the FA Cup winners against the Premier League. That's more important than all the other stuff."

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  Guehi to face suitors Liverpool

  The England international will get a chance to show Liverpool what they are missing when Palace host the Premier League holders and early-season pacesetters at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon. If the Eagles win this weekend and results go their way, they could go second in the table.