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Leeds United need a miracle to remain in the division, with one of the toughest run-ins and just three Premier League games left to play. Having enlisted the late help of Sam Allardyce, the hope is that this relegation stalwart can pull one last magical run out of the bag to retain their place in the division.

For a club as huge and historic as the Whites to return to the Championship would be a travesty, but years of mismanagement have led to this abysmal point in time.

Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur stand in their way, and on current form, they stand no chance.

Through enlisting the same tired squad full of those who have let them down all campaign, Javi Gracia drew criticism for claiming just one win since the start of April.

Although their loss against Manchester City was unfortunate, fans could remain pleased that at the very least they battled with the potential champions as a few key names were recalled under the new head coach.

Crucially though, Patrick Bamford retained his spot. The English forward is arguably the farthest away from those deserving a starting berth, and so his 68-year-old boss might seek to place his trust in someone who's actually playing well.

To feature alongside Rodrigo, surely the young prodigy Mateo Joseph is worth a shot.

Who is Mateo Joseph?

The 19-year-old has been in imperious form for the U21s this campaign, with a remarkable tally of 15 goals in just 18 appearances. Surely it marks a no-brainer to start someone brimming with confidence, over the English forward who has never looked so goal-shy.

Although the £70k-per-week marksman has been branded "unlucky" in the past by pundit Alan Hutton, few can excuse his recent form. Bamford boasts just four league goals all season, with his late miss in their draw with Leicester City drawing particular scrutiny.

After a late corner was flicked on at the near-post, as the scores remained level, the 29-year-old stood unmarked by the back stick. Unable to adjust his feet, the forward's strike was high and wide and the points were frustratingly shared. That is not a striker in form.

Meanwhile, his teenage competition is earning rave reviews from all who watch him, with his youth boss Michael Skubala reserving particular praise: "He’s in a good place, he’s scoring goals, he’s a character, but he still needs to keep working hard. His finishing ability is top drawer."

He continued: "He’s been training like a warrior and you can see that in his game."

Such hunger, added to a youthful exuberance and unpredictability could be key in bamboozling their next three opponents. Everyone knows that Bamford has lost his threat, but in Joseph, the sky really is the limit. This could be Allardyce's wild card option.

Aston Villa moved up to fifth place in the Premier League as they eased to a 1-0 win against fellow European hopefuls Fulham at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

What happened in Villa against Fulham?

Unai Emery's side were looking to get back to winning ways on Tuesday having dropped points away at Brentford last weekend, and they were able to do just that with a fairly composed victory over a Fulham side who were seriously lacking in attack, as Aleksandar Mitrovic continues his suspension.

Marco Silva's side did come extremely close to opening the scoring in the first few minutes when Andreas Pereira's acrobatic effort drifted just wide of Emiliano Martinez's post, but this was the closest the visitors would come at Villa Park.

Tyrone Mings was the man to break the deadlock in the first half when he headed in John McGinn's corner, and that would prove to be the only goal of the game on a surprisingly quiet night in the Midlands.

The in-form Ollie Watkins looked a constant threat throughout and came close with a couple of efforts but Mings' goal was enough to seal another vital three points.

While the England centre-back will take the plaudits after his goal and his role in Villa's clean sheet, it was arguably McGinn who was Emery's best performer against the Cottagers.

How did McGinn play against Fulham?

As per Sofascore, the former Hearts midfielder would earn an impressive 7.6/10 rating for his performance on Tuesday, which was the best of any player to feature in the game from both sides.

As well as notching the assist, the 28-year-old managed an impressive three key passes, completing 16/18 on the night with a solid success rate of 89%.

Considering the £55k-per-week earner has averaged just 0.6 key passes per game with an 81.6% pass average in the Premier League so far this season, it is clear that he raised his game from a passing perspective last night.

The Scotland international looks to have rediscovered his best form in his new role as a right-winger in Emery's side and was a constant menace to Fulham's defence, as he completed two dribbles and was fouled a remarkable six times; again an increase on his average of 1.2 and 1.7 times per game so far this term.

McGinn also contributed two clearances, two crosses and two shots in what was a superb all-round display on Tuesday, which saw him labelled as the "Flying Scotsman" on Twitter by journalist Statman Dave.

Therefore, it is arguably the Villa midfielder who deserves the credit after another impressive display, with his upturn in form no doubt a big factor in Emery's side's push for a top-four finish.

Chelsea are set to have a second interview with Luis Enrique over the manager's job at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

Who is favourite to take charge at Chelsea?

The Blues are currently working hard on finding their next permanent manager, with the appointment expected to be made in the summer, at the latest. Frank Lampard is currently in temporary charge, but three successive defeats against Wolves, Real Madrid and Brighton show that he is not the man to take the team forward in the long-term.

It has been a fairly chaotic season at Chelsea, with both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter sacked since the campaign got underway, and it is vital that the club nail the next manager this time around, in order to get somewhere near the top of the Premier League again.

Enrique is seemingly one of the front-runners to take charge at Stamford Bridge, having already undergone one interview, although the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho are all reportedly in the mix, too.

Could Enrique be the man to come in?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips said that the 52-year-old is expected to have another interview soon, suggesting he remains a strong contender to be the next Chelsea boss:

"Julian Nagelsmann isn’t the only candidate that Chelsea are looking at. They’re also planning to bring Luis Enrique back in for a second interview. But as well as those two, there are up to seven more candidates that Chelsea are considering right now.”

Enrique certainly has the credentials to be an impressive appointment by Chelsea this summer, having tasted Champions League glory in charge of Barcelona back in 2015, as well as winning back-to-back La Liga titles with them in 2015 and 2016.

Granted, his spell as Spain manager didn't end well, with elimination at the hands of Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, but he is a proven winner who will be hungry to succeed at Stamford Bridge.

Whether Enrique is the best possible option for Chelsea is debatable, with Nagelsmann arguably Europe's most exciting young manager right now, but the German lacks the Spaniard's experience when it comes to handling top players with big egos, of which there are arguably plenty at Stamford Bridge currently.

That fact that a second interview looks likely certainly suggests that Todd Boehly considers Enrique a strong option and it would be an appointment that could prove to be inspired.

Journalist Dean Jones says that Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is ‘unplayable’ on his day.

The Lowdown: On form

Isak is a man on form at the moment, with two goals in his last outing away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Friday night, which came after a goal at home to Wolves in the previous matchday.

He was subsequently named in Magpies striking legend Alan Shearer’s recent Team of the Week as a result, as the club-record £63m signing continues to show the Toon Army what he is made of.

The Latest: ‘Unplayable’ on his day

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones says that Isak is ‘unplayable’ on his day, but still needs to prove himself further after missing a large chunk of the season with injury:

“On his day, Isak is unplayable. He just has to show it more often. Now that he’s fit again, let’s see the real deal. Let’s see what we’ve got for the rest of the season because he’s got to prove himself.”

The Verdict: Must keep starting

Isak has already shown not just in his recent run of form, but in his streak before his injury at the start of the season where he scored two in his first three appearances, including on his debut at Anfield against Liverpool, that he is deserving of more starts.

On the contrary, Callum Wilson has only scored history.

Aside from his goals, the £120,000-per-week gem’s overall game is dangerous, as he ranks in the top 11% for a number of key metrics for forwards in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, including progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches and progressive passes received.

As such, Isak is being linked with a shock move to Juventus in a swap deal that would see Dusan Vlahovic move the other way, which the Tynesiders should not even look to entertain.

Nonetheless, if the Magpies want to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top four come the end of the campaign, then they must keep starting Isak.

Leeds United picked up a huge three points this weekend, but Luke Ayling was far from a standout performer at Molineux, according to journalist Beren Cross.

The Lowdown: Leeds pick up a big three points

Javi Gracia was looking for what would be just his second win as Leeds manager since replacing Jesse Marsch and he certainly got that away to Wolves – although the Whites certainly came close to throwing it away.

The Whites raced into a 3-0 lead at Molineux on Saturday afternoon thanks to goals from Jack Harrison, Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen, with the latter netting for the first time as a Leeds player.

Despite getting on the scoresheet for the first time this season, it was Ayling’s defensive woes that caught the eye of many at the match, including the likes of Cross and The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who noticed Daniel Podence was giving the defender a torrid time of things, while Ayling also struggled for composure on the ball, completing just 39% of his passes (Sofascore).

The Latest: Ayling’s defensive qualities questioned

Prior to Ayling finding the back of the net and doubling Leeds’ lead at Molineux, Cross was far from impressed by what he was seeing from the veteran defender as he and teammate Jack Harrison struggled to cope with Podence.

He said: “Ayling and Harrison being ripped to shreds by Jonny and Podence down United’s right. Hosts are getting through down that side every time. Leeds need far more composure in the rare moments they’re getting the ball too. Roca and McKennie not retaining anything.”

The Verdict: Gracia will be concerned

While seeing a defender score is always a positive and a bit of a novelty, their bread and butter must be at the other end of the pitch, which is something Ayling certainly didn’t do today being part of a side that shipped a couple of goals.

Leeds will be thanking their lucky stars that Wolves weren’t able to capitalise and complete their comeback, which was also largely down to the fact goalscorer Jonny was sent off for serious foul play.

That tackle was on Ayling, so the defender was involved in all sorts of incidents, but it could be time for Leeds to turn away from the ageing full-back, as he’s clearly struggling to cope with younger, more electric wingers such as today against Podence.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter won’t necessarily be sacked if his side lose to Leeds United this weekend, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

The Lowdown: Huge game for Potter

On Saturday afternoon, the Blues welcome the Whites to Stamford Bridge for what is a crucial Premier League clash for both sides this season.

Chelsea know that victories must simply become the norm again if they are to have any chance of a top-four finish, with their last victory coming against Crystal Palace in January, while Leeds are in desperate need of points to secure top flight survival.

Understandably, there is huge pressure on Potter to keep his job, but it sounds like those supporters in the ‘Potter Out’ brigade are not going to get their wish unless something drastic happens…

The Latest: Sacking not nailed-on

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that the 47-year-old won’t definitely be sacked if Chelsea suffer a shock defeat this weekend, unless it is a particularly damaging one:

“Defeat to Leeds may not change a massive amount but, of course, it’s all about the manner of the losses. This isn’t about what Graham Potter does specifically.

“It’s about showing progress and if progress doesn’t end with Champions League football, which is unlikely, Potter won’t necessarily be judged on that as long as there’s progress.

“And progress for Chelsea is really about picking a consistent starting XI, showing an identity and scoring goals. If they do those three things, they win games, and then Graham Potter will stay on as Chelsea manager.”

The Verdict: Simply has to win

In many ways, it is refreshing to see Chelsea being more patient with a manager this time around, rather than sacking Potter at the first opportunity.

That being said, both performances and results now have to improve drastically, starting on Saturday, as the Blues look to move up from their current 10th-place position.

There is only so long that the club can keep backing Potter, and as Jacobs alludes to, it is the manner of the displays that are arguably the most important thing right now.

Chelsea should have enough to see off a Leeds side battling relegation on Saturday, though, and three points could trigger the start of a resurgence, even though that feels a long way off right now.

Leeds United sensation Wilfried Gnonto could thrive in a new role as a striker, according to Lee Bowyer.

The Lowdown: Gnonto at Leeds

The Whites made one of the bargain signings of the summer window on deadline day in September as they confirmed the £3.8m signing of Italian teenager Gnonto.

Gnonto has exploded into form since the World Cup break with him bagging all Premier League.

He’s been deployed in numerous roles by Jesse Marsch but has found home playing off the left-hand side with the majority of his appearances seeing him able to cut inside to deliver the most damage.

The Latest: Bowyer’s belief

Speaking on talkSPORT following Leeds’ draw at Old Trafford, former Whites midfielder Bowyer suggested that he could thrive playing as the number nine with managerless Leeds struggling for a reliable number nine heading forward, saying:

“He seems to be the main player at the moment for them and the biggest threat and that’s coming from a winger, so maybe try him through the middle and give him a go there, because if he’s doing that to full-backs, what could he do then to a centre half?”

The Verdict: Problem position?

It may well become an option to Leeds soon with top-scorer Rodrigo out for two months through injury, Patrick Bamford finding the net just once in the top-flight all season and new signing Georginio Rutter yet to settle at Elland Road.

Gnonto is currently fourth at the club, behind the two aforementioned strikers and Brenden Aaronson for shots per game (via WhoScored) with 1.3, showing he’s got the eye for goal to perhaps carry out the role.

A decision to move Gnonto centrally could see Crysencio Summerville brought back into the starting XI, with the Dutchman Leeds’ joint second-highest goalscorer all season with Gnonto.

But after Luis Sinisterra was forced off at Old Trafford through injury, there might not be enough options to implement a change of role for the Italian just yet.

Leeds United managerial target Arne Slot has now personally ruled himself out of contention for the job.

The Lowdown: Leeds searching

Leeds are searching for a new manager after sacking Jesse Marsch at the beginning of the week, with the club identifying the likes of Andoni Iraola, Ange Postecoglou and Arne Slot as potential candidates.

The Whites have also reportedly approached the latter man over taking Leeds’ managerial vacancy.

Initial reports indicated that there were encouraging noises coming from Slot’s camp, despite Feyenoord being determined to keep hold of him, however a more recent update from the manager now means that Victor Orta will have to look elsewhere.

The Latest: Ruled out

Speaking to the media ahead of Feyenoord’s trip to Heerenveen, the 44-year-old said: “It is true that I will stay with Feyenoord, I can say that with this one. That is clear, fans do not have to be afraid.

“The club has been clear. It was a compliment that a club like Leeds was interested, but we are doing something great with Feyenoord. We are in a great position in the league, the cup and Europe.“There is no disappointment. It’s certainly not a punishment to stay here.” (via Sky Sports)[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-copy-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates (Copy)” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]The Verdict: Disappointing newsThe Dutchman has been hailed by the media as a manager who ‘belongs at the top level’, and judging by his record at Feyenoord, this is a fair assessment, given that he has averaged 2.15 points per match, mainly playing 4-3-3, with his side currently sitting second in the Eredivisie.As such, it is a disappointing development that Slot is not interested in leaving the Netherlands, but Leeds still have a number of options available to them, namely Iraola, who they are now expected to make a fresh approach for.The Rayo Vallecano boss has a proven history of success, with a Cypriot Super Cup and a La Liga 2 promotion to his name, and given that he is just 40-years-old, he is at the right age to implement some fresh ideas at Elland Road.

Everton’s potential signing of Arnaut Danjuma could hinge on them not hiring David Moyes as Frank Lampard’s replacement, according to Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Danjuma deal

Sky Sports reported just days ago that the Toffees were set to sign the Villarreal forward on loan until the end of the season.

It would see the 25-year-old return to the Premier League following a spell at Bournemouth before he moved to the Yellow Submarine for £21.3m in 2021.

Although he failed to score in the top flight, the Dutchman bagged 17 goals and seven assists in the Championship, earning him the move to La Liga.

Despite the deal looking set for the previous few days now, it’s yet to be confirmed with an interesting revelation seemingly behind that delay.

The Latest: Crook’s comments

Speaking on TalkSport following the sacking of Lampard, Crook let slip that Danjuma’s deal could hinge on who becomes the new boss at Goodison Park, with him reportedly unwilling to sign should a certain manager be named.

Crook said: “In terms of signings, I wonder if it might have an implication with the Arnaut Danjuma deal. That, I was told on Saturday was pretty much a done deal; it still hasn’t been formally confirmed by Everton yet.

“I was also told that Danjuma was seeking assurances, not necessarily that Frank Lampard would be the manager, but he had a particular manager that he didn’t want to come in and replace Lampard.

“Let’s just say that it was David Moyes that blocked Danjuma’s move to West Ham in the summer, so that might give you a clue.”

The Verdict: Eye-opening situation

Crook’s claim suggests there could be a huge problem with potential player power at Everton – and even from a player who’s yet to sign.

Danjuma has enjoyed a good spell in Spain with 22 goals and four assists coming in just 51 games, which has unsurprisingly caught the attention of the Toffees, who are in dire need of goals – they are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League with just 15.

However, the idea that a player will push the board to appoint a different manager than they potentially planned is ludicrous to imagine it could happen.

Although Moyes isn’t one of the favourites to take up the reins at Everton again, there was still belief from The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, who explained a scenario could have occurred where the Scotsman replaced Lampard in the hotseat at Goodison.

This news will likely enrage the Everton faithful even further who have already protested against Farhad Moshiri’s ownership, and the idea of the already unpopular board being bullied by a player from another club would surely push that anger even further.

Tottenham Hotspur are readying an offer in a bid to bring Leandro Trossard to north London in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that, after reportedly seeing a verbal offer for the winger turned down by Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month, Fabio Paratici is now preparing a formal offer for the 28-year-old, who Roberto De Zerbi’s side are believed to value at a figure in the region of £30m.

This report comes shortly after BBC Sport claimed that the Seagulls would be willing to part with the Belgium international this winter, as Trossard’s agent recently revealed that the player has now fallen out with De Zerbi after Brighton failed to reach an agreement with the forward regarding a new contract at the American Express Community Stadium.

“Doing major bits”

With Antonio Conte reported to be interested in adding a new wide attacker to his current forward options at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this month, it is not difficult to understand why Trossard would be a player on the 53-year-old’s radar.

Indeed, over his 16 games in the Premier League this season, the £27m-rated talent has been in astonishing form. He has scored seven goals – outperforming his xG of 4.42 – provided three assists and created one big chance, along with taking 2.4 shots (1.1 of which have been on target), making 1.5 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

The £40k-per-week winger has also impressed in a defensive capacity, winning the ball back 1.3 times per match, in addition to making 0.7 tackles and 0.4 interceptions and winning 2.6 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 28-year-old – who Rio Ferdinand dubbed “creative” and claimed has been “doing major bits” this season – average a remarkable Sofascore match rating of 7.10. That ranks him not only as Brighton’s fifth-best performer in the league but also as the joint 47th-best player in the English top flight as a whole.

As such, should Paratici be successful in his offer for the 24-cap international this month, the Italian would undoubtedly have landed one of the players of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign so far. That is sure to be a hugely exciting prospect for all involved with Spurs, not least Conte himself.