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Leeds are heading into their most important games of the season, and Marcelo Bielsa has to be extremely careful when it comes to team selection.

The Whites have been in an awful run of form as of late, but the Argentine has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to his starting XI up to this point, and that is expected to continue.

With Patrick Bamford suspended, Kemar Roofe retains his place in the team despite his poor performance against Ipswich.

Another player who had a stinker at Portman Road was Kiko Casilla, but Marcelo Bielsa is likely to stick with the former Real Madrid man for this fixture.

After Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that Tyler Roberts would miss this match, Adam Forshaw retains his place in the midfield.

Pontus Jansson has been ruled a doubt for this game but with the Whites’ lack of depth at centre-back, the Swede may well be risked even if he isn’t 100% fit in what is the most important fixture of their season so far.

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An article in the Daily Mail has linked Phil Jagielka with a stunning return to Sheffield United 12 years after he departed the club.

Since leaving Yorkshire, the defender has had an incredibly successful career. He has made over 350 Premier League appearances and earned himself 40 England caps, but now it may be time to give something back to the club where it all began.

His first stint

Jagielka is just as much a hero at Bramall Lane as he is at Goodison Park, and every single Blade would be happy to welcome him back.

He was the standout player in Neil Warnock’s team that was promoted to the Premier League over a decade ago, and his performances in red and white during the 2000s sealed his place as a fan favourite.

Even though Jagielka was 25 when he left United he hadn’t fully matured as a player. Warnock seemingly didn’t know his best position and described him as “The new Patrick Vieira”, while also saying “I can see Jagger eventually taking over from Gary Neville at right-back for England.”

“Finding a Lionel Messi in Sheffield… bit of a tall order!” – Watch Championship fans attempt to name their clubs’ Messi in the video below…

Still got it

The defender turns 37 in August, and many people would say that he isn’t up to scratch as a Premier League defender anymore, but Jagielka still has all the capabilities to prove them wrong.

When he has appeared this season, he has been more than competent at centre-half, and that was never more evident than when Arsenal came to Goodison Park.

The 36-year-old was thrust into the starting XI just minutes before kick-off due to an injury picked up by Michael Keane during the warm-up.

He had the daunting task of facing up against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, and he dealt with them both as if he were 10 years younger as well as scoring the winning goal.

He can be the leader at the back that any newly promoted team needs, and although he won’t be able to play every minute of the campaign as he did back in 2006/07, he can undoubtedly be a valuable asset for Chris Wilder when he needs to defend a lead late on.

Now that the transfer window is open, Southampton supporters will be expecting their club to go out and sign some new players for the attacking positions.

Out wide and up front are just two areas of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad that could do with some strengthening.

Considering that, it is not a surprise to see the Premier League outfit being linked with a host of different strikers, with Haris Seferovic the latest name to pop up.

According to Record (via Sport Witness), Southampton are keen on signing the 27-year-old in a transfer that could be a gamble.

Down the years, Seferovic, who is valued at £12.6m by Transfermarkt, has hardly been a prolific No.9, having often struggled to reach double figures during his time in Germany.

However, having managed to do just that this season, you can understand why Southampton would find it hard to resist making an offer for his services.

Seferovic’s 23 goals for Benfica in the Primeira Liga is exactly the sort of firepower the south coast club need.

It would ease the burden currently on Nathan Redmond’s shoulder and, in the grand scheme of things, help Southampton to move up the table.

With this campaign being the only one where Seferovic has hit that number, again, it is a gamble.

But as the Switzerland international enters his peak, it could be one worth taking.

Southampton fans, do you want to see Seferovic at St. Mary’s next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

كشفت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، التشخيص المبدئي، لإصابة الدولي البلجيكي، إيدين هازارد، جناح فريق ريال مدريد، والتي تعرض لها في مباراة ديبورتيفو ألافيس.

هازارد سقط في الدقيقة 19، مُطالبًا بالحصول على ركلة جزاء، بعد التحام مع مدافع ديبورتيفو ألافيس.

وفي الدقيقة 28 لم يتمكن هازارد من استكمال المباراة وتم استبداله وشارك زميله رودريجو بديلاً له.

وبحسب الصحيفة، فإن المؤشرات الأولية تشير إلى أنّ هازارد، يُعاني من إصابة عضلية في الفخذ الأيمن.

وأوضحت أنّ هازارد، ذهب بشكل مباشر إلى غرفة خلع الملابس بعد استبداله، رفقة طبيب الفريق.

[ad_pod ]Even though at one point it seemed like Marko Grujić would become one of those permanent loanees, Liverpool fans have been discussing his potential return to Anfield as his loan spell with Hertha Berlin comes to a close.The young box-to-box Serbian midfielder has had a great run with the German team, racking up 23 appearances and scoring five goals while assisting one in all competitions.From Hertha’s point of view, they would definitely love to keep him for at least one additional year but it seems like many of the Kopites might have something to say about that.

After all, he’s proven himself in Germany and now is the right time to shine in the Premier League. The fans are looking at the 23-year-old’s obvious talent and the subsequent potential for him to be used as a perfect replacement for some of the older players in the squad.

Here’s what Liverpool fans have been saying on Twitter, amid news of Hertha Berlin’s general manager Michael Preetz holding talks with Jurgen Klopp about taking Grujic for another year.

You’ve got to say, Tottenham have defied all expectations this season. But it could’ve been so much better…

Obviously, taking on what appeared to be a self-imposed transfer ban, stadium delays and turbulence as well as an extensive injury list which had seen them suffer 28 injuries before the end of January, and still challenging for the Champions League title is admittedly quite impressive stuff.

However, for Spurs fans, with unexpected hope came bitter disappointment, and as Mauricio Pochettino and his men failed to bring home a single piece of silverware, which makes it 276 oh-so-promising matches under the Argentine with nothing in the way of trophies to show for it, some will be left scratching their heads and wondering what they can do to improve.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest mistake they made this season…

Selling but not signing

A simple one really; selling Mousa Dembele on the 17th of January 2019 was a big mistake.

We understand that his contract was coming to an end, but surely it would’ve been more prudent to keep him on until the end of the season to ensure that the club had sufficient reinforcements to mount their silverware offensive.

The selection headache Pochettino faced charging into the Champions League semi-final showed just how desperate Spurs have been at times, with Harry Winks out and Moussa Sissoko – ironically, a player who has been gifted more time this season because of low numbers – only just making the bench, leaving Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier, both of whom were absent for a combined 41 games.

It’s not even that we’re suggesting the Belgian would’ve started, or even deserved to for that matter. Indeed, an average rating of 6.38 from Who Scored for his performances in the Premier League this season would suggest he was way past his best. But we’ve seen what he’s capable of over the years, particularly with the ball at his feet (even at the end of his Spurs career he boasted an impressive record of only being disposed 0.7 times per game).

Daniel Levy has a chance to right his wrongs this summer and sign some top quality players. And if reports (per Sky Sports) are correct, the first man walking through the new doors of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be Real Betis’ 16-goal wonder Giovani Lo Celso.

Fingers are surely crossed.

Spurs fans, on reflection where do you think you went wrong this season? Let us know in the comments below..

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The transfer window can be considered broken if Manchester City aren’t linked with at least five different potential replacements for Fernandinho in the next four weeks.

Regular reports claiming the club are lining up a new holding midfielder have become a staple of every Man City fan’s diet in the past twelve months, yet the identity of the mystery man seems no closer to being revealed.

Whoever is bestowed with the honour of succeeding the Brazilian in City’s anchor role will be acutely aware of the importance Pep Guardiola places on this position. Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso and Fernandinho – three of the most high-profile players to protect the centre-backs during his time at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City respectively – have set the bar at a height which very few dare to reach.

But dare someone must to carry the Citizens into a future without the 34-year-old veteran. Tanguy Ndombele is a player luring admirers from across Europe with his silky smooth, composed, daring and outrageously talented gift in possession of the ball, which he simultaneously attempts to balance with his defensive responsibilities.

According to a report published by Tuttosport (via Sky Sports) last month, Lyon’s chairman has confirmed that City are one of a multitude of clubs interested in the Frenchman’s signature.

However, Txiki Begiristain has also recommended Atletico Madrid star Rodri as the number one replacement for Fernandinho, per Sky Sports, although they are not interested in getting involved in a bidding war for a player with a £60.6 million release clause.

Statistically, there is only one winner between the two players.

It’s easy to see why Begiristain has bookmarked the young Spain international, a player who has been tipped to succeed Busquets in the national side.

Defensively he is as stark as they come and Ndombele is simply no match for him in that respect. The number of tackles and interceptions he has completed dwarfs Ndombele’s return, while his aerial presence is also vastly superior with 92 headers won compared to 21, per Whoscored.

Unsurprisingly, the sacrifice is a limited contribution in the attacking phase, particularly when directly contrasted with the playmaking exploits offered by the Ligue 1 star. A total of 49 key passes both in the league and in Europe underlines Ndombele’s creative prowess and ability to break the lines with a cutting edge through ball.

The problem for Lyon’s all-action midfielder, however, is that City’s squad is stacked with midfield maestros, such as Bernardo and David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, who offer an embarrassing level of creativity in this department.

Ultimately Fernandinho’s successor must boast the ability to provide a resilient shield in front of the defensive unit and, as the statistics reveal, Rodri is equipped with a vastly superior skill set to that of Ndombele.

Both players are prodigious talents at 22, but it’s clear to understand why Begiristain is leaning towards Atletico’s outstanding enforcer.

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According to the Evening Standard, Tottenham striker Harry Kane has given Mauricio Pochettino a major boost ahead of the Champions League final by declaring himself fit.

The England international hasn’t featured for the north Londoners since the first leg of the quarter-final tie against Manchester City after damaging ankle ligaments, but has said: “The manager will assess it and decide whether I am ready to go or not. But so far, I feel good and ready. The ankle is strong.”

Worrying for Liverpool

Kane has netted 24 goals this season despite suffering with ankle issues, recording his haul in just 39 games.

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

At times throughout this Champions League campaign, Spurs have looked dead and buried but have always seemed to resurrect themselves – Kane’s late double against PSV in the group stages after Tottenham earned just a point from their first three games was crucial.

Yes, the likes of Lucas Moura, Dele Alli, Heung-min Son and Christian Eriksen were already a danger for the Reds to contend with, but the return of one of Europe’s best strikers won’t be music to the ears of Liverpool fans.

He can do it all

The imperious duo of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip would back themselves to contend with the aforementioned quartet who wrote history in Amsterdam a few weeks ago.

They will have also backed themselves against Pochettino’s deadly plan B, Fernando Llorente. The Spaniard posed the talented Matthijs de Ligt all sorts of problems in the Johan Cruyff Arena, but the towering Van Dijk would probably handle such a situation better.

Kane though, is different. The Spurs academy graduate has ridiculous physique and upper body strength, but also the footwork and talent to be a danger when the ball isn’t in the air; he is the complete package.

He is a truly world-class player who can muster up something out of nothing, a man for the big, big occasion.

As aforesaid, he has already gotten Spurs out of one hole in Europe this season, and the Liverpool supporters should be feeling nervous upon hearing the news of his successful rehabilitation.

In the end, it was a solid season for Newcastle, who ended the season in 13th place, way ahead of the relegation zone. Yet, there are now so many questions ahead of the new season. Will Rafa Benitez still be the manager? Will Mike Ashley still be the owner? Who will Newcastle sign? The questions are seemingly endless. So, while we cannot yet answer them, we can certainly speculate.So, who have Newcastle been linked with thus far? Well, news emerging in the last few days is that the Magpies are interested in former Arsenal man and now Juventus attacker Stephy Mavididi. Indeed, Team Talk have reported that Newcastle are one of a number of clubs who have asked Juventus about the possibility of taking the 21-year-old on-loan.Clearly, Newcastle are in serious need of attacking reinforcements. Solomon Rondon, who won Player of the Year last season, has now returned to West Brom after completing his loan spell and the Birmingham Mail have reported that the Venezuelan forward is to be offered to Fenerbahce, with the current manager and owner questions at Newcastle placing doubt on a deal.Furthermore, the Sun have reported that Wolves are also interested in Rondon, who has a £16.5m release clause in his contract. This isn’t to say last season’s No.9 shall not be returning to Newcastle, but it’s important to mention the man Mavididi would be replacing. Frankly, he would certainly have big shoes to fill, after Rondon netted 11 times and claimed seven assists in 32 league games last season.Now, how do Mavididi’s stats compare? Well, not particularly well. The forward has made just one appearance for Juventus, making little impact but he does have six goals in 27 games for Juventus’ U-23 side, which is certainly encouraging. Still, his goal record in England perhaps doesn’t match. The 2017-18 season saw the Englishman loaned out both the Charlton and Preston – League One and the Championship respectively where he totalled two goals in 24 appearances. Worrying.Of course, Mavdidi is still only 21-years-old and yes, he certainly has time to develop. But at this stage of his career, he must be recognised as nothing more than a prospect. While Newcastle may indeed be looking at him as a signing for the future, he simply cannot be brought to the club as Rondon’s replacement – it’s just too big a risk.The whole team only scored 42 goals over the course of the Premier League campaign, after all. Yes, signing young players is exciting and comes with obvious merits but relying on a player of this profile if Rondon does depart to bring goals to the team seems really rather reckless.Newcastle fans, what do you think of the situation? Will Rondon return next season? How would you view the potential incoming? Comment below. 

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Reports in the Yorkshire Evening Post have linked Leeds United with a loan move for 21-year-old Brighton centre-back Ben White.

The young defender spent the second half of last season out on loan at Peterborough United, but his impressive performances for The Posh have seen him attract interest from the Championship.

On the chalkboard

If this move does materialise, it is unlikely that White will join Bielsa’s side as a starting option considering the strength of Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson’s partnership.

With the preferred centre-back duo not looking like being split up anytime soon, White would most likely be arriving as an option to bolster the strength in depth.

With Bielsa preferring to operate with a very small squad, the role of a reserve centre-half can be vital.

This was shown towards the back end of last season as Jansson missed the Whites’ playoff run and Gaetano Berardi had to step in after recovering from his own injury problems.

The Swiss defender played brilliantly in the first leg against Derby but, in the second match, he completely lost his head and was sent off.

Berardi out of favour

Berardi has been linked with a move away from Elland Road this summer.

It is unknown whether this move for White will indicate a departure for the 30-year-old, but it certainly demonstrates that he has slipped down the pecking order.

The former Sampdoria man has been Bielsa’s go-to man when there has been a gap to plug in the backline – whether it be at left-back or centre-back – but after his dismissal against Derby gave the Argentine reason to doubt his reliability next season.

White’s arrival will hand Berardi a major challenger and his game-time could diminish significantly as a consequence.

Given Berardi’s actions in the playoffs, that may well be for the best.