All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered his verdict on Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa and the side’s struggles this season in the Premier League.

What’s the story?

The Whites fell to yet another disappointing defeat in the top-flight at the weekend, this time slipping to a 1-0 loss against Southampton, and Hay has now commented on some of the key issues facing the club.

He said: “The bench is incredibly young. With the exception of Forshaw, one Premier League start between them. I can understand why, despite the past three years, that still worries people. You’re looking for proven options and there are very few.

“We’ve asked him about squad depth or written about it so many times. He always has the same answer which is to say that it’s how he wants it and it’s how it’s going to be. It’s worked for him up until now but looking at that bench today, you just couldn’t see where the impact was going to come from. Fully fit there are decent options but it has to be said that this squad is rarely fully fit.

“I don’t think they’re confused. I think people can just see that it hasn’t worked in the same way so far. And because Leeds are so drilled and have such a defined way of playing, when it doesn’t work it’s going to cause concern. Because you know Bielsa will stick to his plan.”

Worrying times for Leeds

Just as much as the result, the performance is what really would have caused Leeds fans to worry about their team going forward over these next few weeks in the Premier League.

The Whites could only muster three shots on goal in the entire game against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, while they also made significantly less tackles and won fewer duels too – an all-round abject display.

As Hay touched upon, strength in depth has been a glaring problem at Elland Road under Bielsa, with the Leeds boss preferring a tight-knit squad with little room for manoeuvre if things go wrong.

The big problem for him, is that anything that could go wrong, has gone wrong for him in these early weeks of the Premier League campaign.

Whether it be injuries, illnesses or the dreaded consequences of the international break, Leeds have been without a number of key first-team players for a good period of time, including the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford.

By not really strengthening the squad of the summer, and instead choosing to stick to his guns, Bielsa decided to play with fire. And everything that has come since has hardly been surprising. It’s sure to worry Leeds fans.

Meanwhile, Leeds are eyeing this La Liga starlet…

Crystal Palace could finally replace instrumental midfielder Yohan Cabaye this summer, three years after he departed the club.

What’s the story?

According to French outlet Homme du Match, the Eagles are preparing a £7m offer for the Scotland international Callum McGregor as new manager Patrick Vieira looks to add some class to his engine room options.

The Celtic captain has cultivated an enviable reputation for himself after winning 14 major trophies in his homeland, and he could be the perfect complement to Palace’s current options in the middle of the pitch.

Patrick Vieira would love him

After arriving at Selhurst Park in July 2015, Cabaye quickly became the heartbeat of a successful Palace side, dictating the tempo of their play with his quick thinking and precise passes, attributes which McGregor also possesses.

At the peak of his powers in south London during his first season with the capital club, the Frenchman averaged an impressive two shots per league game, 1.5 key passes and 0.4 dribbles, recording a passing accuracy of 82.6%, as per WhoScored.

McGregor’s comparative figures for last term outline the obvious similarities between the pair, with the 28-year-old managing 1.6 shots per game, 1.6 key passes and 0.8 dribbles.

While the likes of James McArthur, Luka Milivojevic and Cheikhou Kouyate have done an admirable job in the Palace midfielder since Cabaye’s departure, the trio are more industrious and pragmatic than their elegant predecessor.

Applying a touch of finesse to proceedings is something McGregor has been doing in Glasgow for a number of years now, and his impressive displays have earned many plaudits down the years, including former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

“He controls the tempo of the game,” said Rodgers. “He is a boy that takes the ball, so clever in his movements, and we ask him to go into certain area of the pitch to offer support. He has a dream of a touch that allows him to go forward.

“His feet are nice and soft, he doesn’t play backwards so much, and he has a great range of passes, and he has the personality now to play those passes, not just one that is secure to keep the ball, he can break a line with a pass and open up and split up the game for us.

“He has been absolutely exceptional in that role, but I say that everywhere he plays.”

Therefore, Vieira would surely love to sign McGregor this summer, taking another significant step in his mission to overhaul the decaying squad Roy Hodgson left behind.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Palace transfer update that’ll leave fans buzzing 

Leeds United youngster Charlie Cresswell was set to face Arsenal on Saturday before a shoulder injury ruled him out of the match, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Leeds thrashed by Arsenal

The Whites suffered another dispiriting Premier League outing on Saturday, losing 4-1 to the Gunners at Elland Road. Marcelo Bielsa is having to tackle an injury crisis and it is showing on the pitch, with Leeds now sitting a worrying 16th in the table.

A relegation battle looks increasingly on the cards and a huge amount of resolve will need to be shown in the coming weeks, with signings required in the January transfer window.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: Cresswell suffers injury

Writing in a Q&A for The Athletic after the Arsenal game, Hay confirmed that youngster Cresswell was set to start before he picked up an injury of his own.

The journalist stated: “Cresswell was injured in training – shoulder problem. Was due to start today.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-28/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: More minutes coming his way?

Considering Leeds’ current injury woes, it may be that Cresswell soon gets another chance to shine, assuming he recovers from his shoulder issue.

The 19-year-old has already made four Premier League appearances this season (starting once) and he has shown he can compete at this level, earning a 7.93 rating from WhoScored in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout win over Fulham back in September.

Granted, it would be better not having to throw a teenage centre-back into the team, but it could end up proving to be invaluable experience further down the line. Indeed, going by how poorly Leeds defended against the Gunners, it’s not outlandish to suggest that Bielsa could have done with the teenager on Saturday.

In other news, three Leeds players struggled in the defeat to Arsenal. Find out who they are.

Newcastle United transfer target Ousmane Dembele has informed Xavi of his intention to leave FC Barcelona, according to El Chiringuito (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported last month that Newcastle are in ‘pole position’ to land France international Dembele.

He’s valued at £45million by Transfermarkt, but The Magpies could potentially bring him in on a free transfer because his contract is up at the end of the season.

That’s not to say it’d be a cheap deal. Dembele’s £287,000-per-week wages make him the second-highest earner at Barcelona, behind only Philippe Coutinho (£380,000).

The latest

El Chiringuito’s Jota Jordi revealed that Dembele is lining up his exit from the Camp Nou after a lucrative offer from the Premier League.

“Dembele has told Xavi not to count on him for next year,” he said. “He has an offer from England of a lot of money, with a transfer bonus because he would go free.”

The translation from Sport Witness mentions Newcastle United by name, although it is not clear from Jordi’s comments if they are the ones who have made that offer.

The verdict

This would be an exciting, if risky, signing for Newcastle. Dembele, a former Young Player of the Year in both Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, is one of the four most expensive players in football’s history.

The great Lionel Messi once dubbed him a ‘phenomenon’, backing him to break into the world’s elite, so there is no questions he is a player with immense natural talent.

But the big concern is his injury record. Since he joined Barcelona in that blockbuster deal in 2017, he’s missed a whopping 100 games through a relentless series of problems.

Ability counts for little without availability, especially if you’re shelling out massive wages for the player in question.

In other news, there’s been a key update on another NUFC target at Barcelona.

Many Everton fans have been left unhappy as a transfer update emerged on Matheus Nunes.

As per A Bola, the Goodison Park faithful have had a proposed swap deal involving Andre Gomes rejected by Sporting Lisbon, as manager Ruben Amorim was not keen on the offer.

Playing in 31 games in Liga NOS in the 2020/21 term, scoring three goals and supplying a further two assists (Transfermarkt), Nunes was a key player in Sporting’s first domestic title win since 2002.

On the other hand, Gomes came under a lot of criticism from some supporters of the Merseyside club for some of his poor performances over the course of last season, and so a swap deal may have suited the Toffees going into the new campaign.

Nonetheless, it looks as if Rafa Benitez’s team will have to try a different approach if they are to sign Nunes.

Everton fans on Nunes transfer update

These Blues were unhappy as the transfer update was shared on Twitter:

“We literally can’t spend a penny can we. Sad times.”

Credit: @rlfansSaddened

“Every time I read Everton transfer news after other teams have completed major business. My mind automatically prefixes this stuff with “..meanwhile in La La Land””

Credit: @CeejayNightwing

“That’s not very nice…”

Credit: @WattyWattDogg

“Embarrassing”

Credit: @JBradshawPhotos

“It’s all getting a bit silly now”

Credit: @Roundhouse1878

“We’re truly skint / cannot spend aren’t we”

Credit: @PaulChute

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians fuming here!

Leeds United are interested in signing Wales international Neco Williams from Liverpool this summer.

What’s the story?

As per The Athletic’s Liverpool correspondent James Pearce, the Reds “expect Neco Williams to push for a move after Euro 2020 with the club set to demand at least £10 million for the Wales full-back”.

The report added: “The Premier League quartet of Leeds, Southampton, Aston Villa and Burnley have all expressed genuine interest in Williams over the past 12 months. Villa are no longer interested in signing a full-back after bringing in Ashley Young, who can cover on either side.”

Bielsa will be happy

While Trent Alexander-Arnold may be the undisputed right-back for Jurgen Klopp’s side at Anfield, the England international has been quick to rave about his teammate and the potential that he has.

He said: “Neco is an amazing talent, he is someone who we all look to as being someone who can play for the club for a long amount of time and will have a bright future no matter what.

“I think he is on the right path, for sure. Mentally, he’s ahead of people his age, he’s getting the right experience in training; playing against the best players in the world can only improve you.”

Ryan Giggs meanwhile hailed the £25k-a-week earning flier as an “outstanding” player and, after impressing for Wales, he was left raving about the starlet, saying: “He is a fantastic player, still young and still learning, but the energy and quality he has shown when he has stepped up into the first team has been really good, so it’s exciting.”

At just 20, Williams has all the time in the world to develop into a real top-class right-back, and with first-choice Luke Ayling set to turn 30 later this summer, the Welshman would represent a much younger, and exciting option for the future.

And when you look at his performances at EURO 2020 thus far, Williams has shown the kind of potential that he has. As per Whoscored, he’s averaged two dribbles and 1.5 key passes per game, which is more dribbles than Raphinha managed per match in the Premier League last season, and third on the list among Leeds’ squad for key passes.

There’s no doubt that a swoop for Williams would surely have Bielsa happy about reinforcing his right-back options for both now and for the future.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are eyeing a move for this star…

While Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United has given the club’s Premier League title hopes a massive boost, the Red Devils still have an eye on their long-term future.

Although seemingly ageless, Ronaldo’s time at Old Trafford will inevitably come to an end, and reports are suggesting United see Norwegian star Erling Braut Haaland as the future superstar for the club.

United Can’t Miss Out on Haaland Window

With Haaland seemingly committed to Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the season, it looks like it will be the ultimate decision time for the 21-year-old striker next summer. A move to England appears to be the most likely destination as Spanish powerhouses, Real Madrid and Barcelona, have other targets and financial constraints in place.

Bayern Munich, who are one of the favourites in the Champions League predictions for the European crown this season, look to be the main competitors to the English clubs for Haaland’s coveted signature. However, it remains to be seen if the former Molde striker would consider staying in Germany, or whether the player, who originally hails from Leeds, wishes to return to his homeland.

It’s no secret that United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would like to be reunited with Haaland after the pair worked together in Norway at Eliteserien outfit Molde. Both manager and player have since gone on to better things and it’s more than likely that Solskjaer’s presence at Old Trafford could play a part in helping United beat their rivals in gaining Haaland’s allegiance.

However, this is no certainty as there’s far from a shortage of takers in the forward, with the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City all being credited as having an interest.

Ronaldo Can Help Lure Haaland

While there would be some questions on how Ronaldo and Norway international Haaland could play in the same starting lineup, there are suggestions that the Portuguese superstar might also have a role in luring the BVB starlet to Old Trafford. Haaland has previously stated Ronaldo has long been a “role model” for him, and the chance to work alongside the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward might be an opportunity too good to turn down.

United have an abundance of attacking options at the club and may well have to look at moving players on before attempting to land Haaland. The Red Devils boast the likes of Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani among their attacking ranks this season. Uruguayan veteran Cavani might well play a fringe role this term following Ronaldo’s arrival, while there’s plenty of ongoing speculation regarding Martial’s long-term future at United.

With a more than reasonable £68 million release clause thought to be in Haaland’s current Dortmund contract, the battle’s expected to be fierce to try and land one of the brightest talents in Europe. With Solskjaer and Ronaldo at Old Trafford, United might just have the edge going into next summer’s transfer talks.

Many Wolves fans have been left fuming as some news emerged involving Raul Jimenez.

As per the official website of the Mexican Football Federation, the Midlands club has refused to let the striker join up with the Mexico squad.

They have now been warned that if he is not released, he will not be able to play at Molineux during the FIFA period, plus an additional five days.

Bruno Lage’s team may also receive additional sanctions, putting pressure on them to reverse their decision.

Of course, if Jimenez plays for Mexico, he is at a bigger risk of picking up an injury, and he is only just getting to used to wearing a head brace, while there is also the concerns around Covid-19 regulations and the virus itself.

Nonetheless, the consequences of all this may be that he misses their next game away at Watford in the Premier League on Saturday 11th September.

 Wolves fans on Jimenez news

These WWFC supporters fumed as the news was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it was ‘ridiculous’:

“That’s just stupid we aren’t letting him go because then it affects Wolves because he has to isolate there is nothing wrong with that”

Credit: @Wolvoryan04

“That’s it I’m binning my green shirt”

Credit: @tomtracey12

“Not going well is it.”

Credit: @rutlandwolf

“Utter stupidity”

Credit: @shadrach1988

“Like we would risk him and plus he would have to self isolate, they’re a joke”

Credit: @DavidMa30274042

“Ridiculous if we’re punished, but even more emphasis on poor recruitment”

Credit: @leason_ellis

In other news, find out why the Wanderers did not sign this ‘quality’ colossus here!

Fulham are interested in a deal to bring Allan Campbell to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claimed that the Cottagers, along with Millwall, Luton Town and Peterborough United, are considering a move for the Motherwell midfielder in the upcoming transfer window.

It is reported that the 22-year-old has decided to reject the Scottish Premiership club’s offer of a new contract, meaning he will become a free agent upon the expiry of his current deal at Fir Park in the coming weeks.

Fans will be buzzing

With Stefan Johansen looking likely to leave Craven Cottage this summer, with the 30-year-old reported to be in talks with Queens Park Rangers regarding a permanent switch to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, midfield would appear to be an area in which Fulham will look to strengthen ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign.

Considering the potential Campbell seems to possess, the Motherwell midfielder could well prove a very astute addition to the Cottagers’ squad this summer.

Indeed, the £1.08m-rated youngster impressed over his 34 Premiership fixtures for Graham Alexander’s side last season, scoring four goals and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as averaging 1.4 interceptions and 1.8 tackles and winning 4.7 duels per game.

These metrics saw the £1,500-per-week Scotland under-21 international earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.82, ranking him as Motherwell’s joint ninth-best performer in the Scottish top flight. However, what makes his returns all the more impressive is the fact that Campbell is still just 22 years of age, meaning he has considerable scope to develop even further as a footballer.

The opinion surrounding the “highly-rated” midfielder – in the words of Alexander – would very much appear to be that he has a very bright future ahead of him in the game, with his manager stating that the Glaswegian is “everything that a professional footballer should be”, as well as dubbing him a “shining example” for others at the club.

As such, when adding in the fact that he will be available on a free transfer this summer, it would appear most advisable for the Cottagers to do all they can to get a deal over the line for Campbell this summer. Not only would his signing appear to be a fantastic piece of business for the club, but also one which has the potential to leave Fulham fans buzzing.

In other news: Fresh twist emerges on “exceptional” Fulham gem which will leave fans frustrated

Sunderland maintained their spot in the play-offs with a 1-1 draw at home to Rotherham in League One on Tuesday night.

The Black Cats are fifth in the table and one point ahead of seventh, as it stands, and know that a win on the final day of the season against Morecambe, who are battling against the drop, will seal their place in the top six.

It was an eventful night for Michael Ihiekwe at the Stadium of Light as he went from hero to zero for The Millers. He opened the scoring in the 17th minute before turning the ball into his own net in the 88th minute to gift Alex Neil’s team a point.

Sunderland did not register a single shot on target in the match as they struggled to break Paul Warne’s well-structured side down.

The home side were, therefore, a tad lucky to come away from the game with a point to show for their efforts as they did not trouble the opposition goalkeeper at all. Neil’s attackers struggled on the night and one player, in particular, who let the head coach down was centre-forward Nathan Broadhead.

Off the ball, he was a lightweight. As per SofaScore, he lost four of his six (66.6%) individual battles and this shows that he was dominated from a physical standpoint. He made one tackle in the match whilst failing to make a single interception, clearance, or block as he failed to help the defence out when Rotherham had the ball.

On the flip side of the game, he offered no attacking quality. As per SofaScore, he did not register a single key pass or shot on goal, whilst also failing to complete a single dribble. He only had 19 touches of the ball, with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson having 32, and completed just nine passes.

Broadhead struggled to get into the game in the final third as he let Neil down on and off the ball throughout the match. The Everton loanee has been sublime this season, with nine goals in 14 starts, but this was a performance to forget from the Welshman.

He must now dust himself down and work hard in training ahead of the crunchtime clash with Morecambe on Saturday. Neil will need the striker at his clinical best to ensure that the Black Cats are competing for a spot in the Championship via the play-offs next month.

AND in other news, Speakman howler: SAFC may now be on the verge of repeating brutal Hugill disasterclass…