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Leeds simply must prioritise signing a new goalkeeper in January following their recent back-to-back 4-1 drubbings. In a campaign that had so much buzz around it, the Whites have now fallen onto a slippery slope and are at risk of throwing 16 years of hard work away.

Whilst Marcelo Bielsa’s attack is struggling, it’s arguably his defence that is in need of the most work. However, not all aspects of the Leeds backline are underperforming. According to WhoScored, a trio of Whites defenders are currently in the top ten list of players who have completed the most blocks so far this season.

Captain Liam Cooper has the seventh highest amount, whilst Robin Koch and Luke Ayling come in at fifth and fourth respectively. With solidly performing defenders, at least in that respect, it could mean that the main issue lies in the goalkeeper.

Leeds must sign to aid Meslier

Illan Meslier joined the club in the summer and has had a mixed bag of performances so far. Whilst he has shown flashes of brilliance, he has been left to look vulnerable on other occasions.

Chris Kirkland recently spoke to Football FanCast about Leeds’ goalkeeping issues and believes that Meslier could be the next Premier League No.1 to be dropped in favour of the second string option. Should this prediction come to fruition, it will certainly dampen the 20-year-old’s spirit, which is why it’s important that Leeds recruit someone who can help the youngster grow.

Bielsa and co have been linked to the likes of veteran Fraser Forster, who would be a solid option coming off the bench as well as behind the scenes to mentor Meslier.

By no means should the club jump the gun and look to already replace the £5million signing. However, this season is massively important to Leeds and they must throw everything at it to ensure that they don’t slip back down into the Championship. Too much is at stake for them to risk ending their returning Premier League season with relegation.

In other news, Leeds could have benefitted from keeping Andy Lonergan at Elland Road…

Tottenham Hotspur are firmly in the race to sign William Carvalho from Real Betis this summer, accoring to reports. 

Spurs manager Jose Mourinho wanted to sign Carvalho during his time in charge of Chelsea and Manchester United but it seems he could finally get his man.

The 59-cap Portugal international is widely expected to leave the Benito Villamarin Stadium in the summer. Carvalho’s current contract will run out in 2023 but Betis could be forced to offload some of their key players as they are facing financial pressures.

According to Transfer20, Spurs are closely monitoring the situation, despite maintaining their interest in Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.  However, they face stiff competition from Leeds United and Leicester City, who are also keeping tabs on the defensive midfielder.

Betis have slapped an asking price of €25m (£22m) on Carvalho’s head even though he is not pushing for an exit. Although Leicester are reportedly leading the race to sign the 28-year-old in the summer, they are not prepared to meet their valuation after missing out on Champions League qualification.

Spurs are considering signing the Portuguese midfielder as the Lilywhites are close to completing a deal with Inter Milan to sell Tanguy Ndombele.

While Daniel Levy has insisted that Tottenham’s record signing is not for sale, having the chance to sign someone as talented as Carvalho is too good an opportunity to ignore. If Ndombele leaves, Mourinho will need to find a suitable replacement, and his compatriot fits the type of player he is looking for.

After arriving in Spain from Sporting Lisbon on a five-year-deal in 2018, Carvalho played 30 games in La Liga last season, supplied five assists and averaged 1.5 tackles and one clearance per game (via WhoScored). He has struggled with injuries this season but still managed to make 13 appearances in the Spanish top flight.

Standing at 1,87m tall, Carvalho cuts an imposing figure in the middle of the park, and he could be a shrewd signing to make in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sign Carvalho this summer? Let us know your views by commenting below!

Arsenal are looking to bolster their squad for the 2020/21 season and Mikel Arteta is reportedly being talked into signing two players from a fellow London club in the Championship.

According to 90min, the Gunners are planning to raid Brentford for two of their players, namely winger Said Benrahma and goalkeeper David Raya.

The report suggests that Raya is being targeted as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who could leave if he is not guaranteed consistent football, while 25-year-old Benrahma has also been recommended after a prolific 2019/20 campaign for the Bees.

If Martinez leaves, then Raya would seem to be a good replacement as his statistics from last season suggest that he would be solid cover for Bernd Leno. The 24 year-old played in all 49 league games for Brentford, including the play-offs, and only conceded 42 goals, whilst also managing 16 clean sheets, per Transfermarkt.

Meanwhile, there is no doubting the quality that Benrahma has as last season he managed 17 goals and nine assists, per Transfermarkt, along with averaging 3.8 shots, 2.1 key passes and three successful dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

Even though they were playing in the Championship, the two would add more than useful squad depth to the Gunners and, if the north London side can get them for a good price, then a possible deal seems like a no-brainer.

Gunners fans, would you like to have Benrahma and Raya at Arsenal? Comment below with your views!

Tottenham’s record signing Tanguy Ndombele has struggled to settle down ever since he arrived last summer.  

Jose Mourinho insisted he was happy with Ndombele’s work ethic in recent weeks, as the Spurs duo broke the government guidelines to train together during the nationwide lockdown, but he didn’t even get on the pitch on Friday night.

After he again failed to make an appearance against West Ham, Mourinho was forced to deny rumours of a rift between the pair.

Despite Daniel Levy’s initial protestations, Ndombele wants to leave Spurs amid interest from Barcelona, according to The Independent. The chairman seems to have made a quick U-turn once the La Liga giants entered the mix.

Both clubs are working with a tight budget and Barca are only interested in a player-swap deal involving either Nelson Semedo or Philippe Coutinho.

The Portuguese is reportedly keen to sign Coutinho in the summer, with the Lilywhites working towards a loan move with the option to buy.

Although Ndombele has struggled for consistency, his omission from the starting lineup in the past two fixtures has raised many eyebrows.

Mourinho could kill two birds with one stone by ditching the 23-year-old and replacing him with Coutinho. Even though Coutinho has failed to replicate the form he enjoyed at Liverpool, he is still a world-class player.

While Spurs will want to recover some of the costs they spent on the Frenchman, the head coach may decide he would be better off without him in his squad.

As it stands, the two clearly have a fractured relationship, and a trade might be beneficial for all parties involved.

Tottenham fans, do you think Mourinho should give Tanguy Ndombele another chance? Let us know down below!

In a hugely sobering evening on Thursday for Tottenham, Jose Mourinho’s side could only muster a 0-0 draw against a Bournemouth team battling against relegation this season.

The Lilywhites only managed nine total shots on goal in the entire game, and none of them were on target. Whilst the forward players in particular struggled to get involved in proceedings – Harry Kane only made 14 passes – one man suffered a nightmare: Giovani Lo Celso.

The Argentina international started the game in a midfield three alongside Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks, but failed to really get things going.

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In fact, as per Sofascore, his overall match rating of 6.1 was by far the worst of any Spurs player on the pitch, and perhaps one of the main reasons behind him being hooked at half-time by Mourinho (although Sunday’s north London derby may have also played its part too).

Despite only featuring for the first-half, Lo Celso lost the ball a staggering 15 times, with only Serge Aurier and Ben Davies conceding it on more occasions (18 each).

The Argentine failed to have a single shot on goal, made no tackles or interceptions, provided no key passes or accurate crosses, and won just one of his eight total duels.

For someone who has established him as a key part of this Spurs side in his debut season at the club – he has made 33 appearances across all competitions – it was a performance that left a lot to be desired.

With European football still up for grabs, Mourinho would surely have been left fuming at one of his more creative midfielders being unable to unlock the door against one of the Premier League’s struggling sides.

The forwards were starved of real service, and Lo Celso’s horror showing was a major reason behind that.

Spurs will surely be hoping the £36m-rated ace just had a minor blip on Thursday, and that with Arsenal to come in their next Premier League fixture, they will be seeing him resume normal service very soon.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

In his weekly Team of the Week column for BBC Sport, Garth Crooks has suggested Jack Grealish is “precisely” the kind of player Manchester United could do with.

What did he say?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested the Aston Villa star is of interest to the Red Devils, and he had the perfect chance to show his potential suitor what exactly he could bring to the table on Sunday.

In Villa’s 2-2 draw with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side at Old Trafford, it was Grealish who stole the show with a wonder strike to help put the home side in front. And as per Sofascore, his 7.4 match rating was the second-highest of any player on the pitch, only behind his teammate Matt Targett.

Following the game, Crooks has insisted United’s interest in the 24-year-old is entirely understandable, and that his signing could “bolster their prospects”.

He said: “After the attention paid to Jack Grealish by Manchester United, I think he is entitled to danger money! I can’t remember when a team have inflicted so many tackles on a single player. I suppose Grealish should take that as a compliment.

“The Aston Villa captain scored a wonderful goal, had a fabulous game at Old Trafford and is precisely the sort of player United need to bolster their prospects. United fans are having to watch too many ordinary players while they are being asked to pay Champions League prices.”

Passing the audition

If Grealish treated Sunday afternoon’s game as an audition, then it’s fair to say he passed it with flying colours. He has now been directly involved in seven goals in the top-flight this campaign – three goals and four assists – and that is the most of any English midfielder. Given the Red Devils’ supposed transfer stance in wanting to sign more homegrown talent like they did in the summer, then making a swoop for the Villa captain makes perfect sense.

Able to play from the left as he did against United, or from the number ten role, the 24-year-old would add some much-needed goals and creativity to the Manchester side’s midfield. As per Whoscored, he has averaged 2.2 shots and 2.7 key passes per game in the Premier League this season, and has become a massively influential player for his side. If United’s interest is genuine, then they could really do with someone like Grealish.

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Aston Villa’s eventual 5-0 scoreline against Liverpool can be seen as fairly deceiving, as it implies that the home side was comfortable throughout the evening’s proceedings.

That sense is added to even further when it is considered that Dean Smith’s side was 3-0 up and out of sight by half time.

Watch Villa vs Norwich Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

However, things could have looked very different in the Carabao Cup quarter-final if it wasn’t for Orjan Nyland.

The Norwegian stopper made a total of eight saves during the match, which included those from a strong Harvey Elliott effort and a long-range strike from Tony Gallacher.

This has left plenty of Villa fans impressed by the 29-year-old’s showing, after SofaScore named him as their Man of the Match with a rating of 9.1.

It seems as though the supporters have agreed with that judgement, as one stated he was “Man of the Match for me”.

It can be suggested that Nyland’s status at the club makes this showing come across as even more impressive.

Since signing for the club in the summer of 2018, he has played 25 games, though only two of those have come this campaign, as he has dropped behind Tom Heaton and Jed Steer to become third-choice.

Red Herring or Real Hero: Only hardcore Villa fans will get all of them right….

One fan admitted “I’ve slated this guy many times”, but there were definitely no complaints this time around.

In other news, Villa fans were buzzing about their 23-year-old’s big moment against Liverpool.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Tottenham Hotspur have targeted Luis Campos as a potential acquisition as their new Sporting Director, per Sky Sports.

The Lille Sporting Director is said to be willing to work with Jose Mourinho, the club’s new manager, and there are a number of reasons as to why Spurs fans and chairman Daniel Levy should be excited about his potential appointment.

Not only is he said to be a possible ally of Mourinho, but he is also a transfer guru.

During his time with Monaco, where he was technical director between 2013 and 2016, he unearthed a number of stars, and is attempting to do the same at Lille.

Football FanCast takes a look at five of his best signings.

Anthony Martial

Now a star at Manchester United, Martial was signed by Campos prior to the 2013/14 season.

The deal cost Monaco £4.5m and he went on to score 15 goals in 70 appearances prior to a massive £36m move to United.

The principality club subsequently turned a profit of £31.5m.

Fabinho

Now a Champions League winner at Liverpool, the Brazilian was initially signed on loan from Rio Ave at the age of 19 before the move was made permanent in 15/16 for just £5.4m.

Fabinho made over 230 appearances for Monaco, winning Ligue 1 in 2016/17, and sealed a £39m move to Anfield.

The profit? A cool £33.6m.

Bernardo Silva

Now dazzling Manchester City supporters at the Etihad Stadium, Silva was snapped up by Campos and Monaco for £14.1m from Benfica when he was just 20.

He made close to 150 appearances for the French club, scoring 28 goals and registering 19 assists.

City paid £43m to extricate him from Ligue 1, leaving Monaco with a profit of £28.9m.

Thomas Lemar

Lemar joined Monaco as a teenager in a £3.6m deal from SM Caen.

The France international made 127 appearances for the club, scoring 22 goals and registering 33 assists in all competitions.

Atletico Madrid subsequently paid £52.7m to take him to Spain, leaving Campos with a profit of £49.1m, which is simply staggering.

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Nicolas Pepe

Now at Arsenal, Pepe was scooped up by Lille in 2017/18 for just £9m.

He scored 37 goals in 79 games for the French club before his massive move to the Gunners.

They paid a stunning £72m for his signature, leaving Lille with just the £63m profit.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Manchester United have received a boost in their pursuit of Arturo Vidal after Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde suggested he could leave in January, report the Mirror.

What’s the word?

Vidal has seen his status at Barcelona drop in recent weeks and that means he could be available for as little as £13m, even though his contract doesn’t expire until 2021.

The summer signing of Frenkie de Jong has led to him being involved less, however, and considering he is unlikely to improve further at 32 it is understandable if Valverde is keen for him to depart.

The Red Devils have reportedly contacted the Chilean’s agent with the ambition to bring him to Manchester next month, though it may be a move which doesn’t work out as well as it might appear to do so on paper.

Contradicts Solskjaer’s project

Man United have been very inconsistent this season with their away form of particular concern, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is beginning to form an identity and slowly but surely it is producing good performances and solid results.

The Norweigan has been hindered by injuries to key players like Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, yet he is making the most of a difficult situation and there are positive signs to take.

Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Man United Quiz? Test your knowledge below…

He has worked brilliantly with the young players at his disposal and they are improving as a result, with the form of Dan James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka particularly impressive.

A signing like Vidal would probably disrupt that and run the risk of joining Bastian Schweinsteiger and Radamel Falcao as another recent big-name flop.

United’s midfield could so with some midfield reinforcement as Nemanja Matic seems surplus to requirements with five appearances this season, but the club would be better off signing a young player with something to prove.

Scott McTominay and Fred fit that mould, and both have improved under Solskjaer even in recent weeks, and with Pogba to come back it would be a little harsh for those two to both be dropped, and in McTominay’s case it could hinder his development.

The Old Trafford outfit operate best when they have pace and youth throughout the side, and Vidal is a direct contradiction to that style, so he should therefore be avoided.

Elsewhere, fans’ praise of a recent young signing for his performance against Manchester City shows the attributes United should really be looking for in new additions.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Sergio Aguero has stated that Liverpool are the only team in the Premier League that have the capabilities of hurting them right now.

What did he say?

Manchester City are set to battle with Liverpool at Anfield this Sunday. No doubt it is going to be a must-win game for the champions, as a win for the Reds would put them nine clear after 12 games.

Aguero is no stranger to scoring goals in huge games having scored the opener when the two sides met at the Etihad earlier this year.

However, the City star believes that Liverpool are a very strong team and will fight with them until the end. The 31-year-old also claimed he relishes the Manchester derby just a little more than he does a clash at Anfield.

He told France Football (as cited by Daily Mail): “It may be the Clasico for television, but for us, the Clasico, it’s the match against United.

“Liverpool have always been a tough opponent. But when I arrived, the team we were fighting for the title was United.

“Initially, it was something strange in [Manchester] that City competes against United. Then there was Chelsea. But these last four seasons, Liverpool have become a very strong team and are now fighting with us to win the Premier League.

“They are the only team in the league that can hurt us. They have been chasing a new league title for years.

“Last season, they didn’t go all the way, so they are very motivated. This year, they are in front of us and will try to go to the end.”

Liverpool showing championship qualities

Liverpool have shown true title-winning qualities over the past year. Their brutal nature in the Champions League last season and the 94th-minute winner against Aston Villa recently, proved they are a threat to anyone.

Despite falling a point short of City last season, Liverpool still managed to put together 18 Premier League wins on the bounce – one short of City’s record of 19. Now, despite that winning run coming to an end, the Reds are still the only unbeaten side in the league and boast a better defence than the Citizens, conceding one less goal.

This game is a must-win for the champions, and they may even be marginal underdogs given their injury problems.