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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is looking to continue his trend of tying down his key players to new deals at Parkhead, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

Last week, the Hoops took a major step forward since Rodgers returned to the helm at Parkhead in the summer after four years away from life in Glasgow, as they defeated arch-rivals Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox courtesy of a goal from Kyogo Furuhashi.

Speaking to Celtic TV cited by BBC Sport, Rodgers took immense pride in Celtic's victory, stating: "So I'm so happy for the players. I think they have been on death watch by the media for the last week or so, coming into this game. But for me, as a coach, it was about staying calm, working the players and knowing that they're going to grow and develop and this is a big part of the development – to come and win away at Ibrox."

Journalist Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that contact has been established between Celtic and Liverpool regarding Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Caomhin Kelleher, who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for veteran stopper Joe Hart.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed some promising news regarding one of Celtic's brightest young talents, stating on X: "EXCL: Celtic agree new deal terms with top talent Mitchel Frame, 2006 born fullback. Frame already had deal to summer 2025 but now agreed new contract to summer 2026. Several clubs in England were targeting Frame, set to put pen on paper soon with Celtic."

The Hoops are now in the midst of the international break and they will return to action on September 16th against Scottish Premiership newcomers Dundee before jetting off to Rotterdam to play Feyenoord the following week in their Champions League opener.

Is Matt O'Riley staying at Celtic?

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has issued an update regarding the state of play revolving around Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley's future at Celtic, stating: "Celtic are expected to offer midfielder Matt O’Riley improved terms & an extension on his contract. The 22yo was the subject of a £10m bid from Leeds United. Celtic rejected it & now hope to tie him up on a new deal during this international break."

Sky Bet Championship outfit Southampton and Serie A side Bologna also showed interest in Matt O'Riley during the summer transfer window; however, it looks like he will be offered the chance to prolong his stay at Parkhead after becoming a key player north of the border, first under Ange Postecoglou and now with Rodgers at the helm.

In his time at Celtic, O'Riley has been a regular contributor on both goal and assist fronts, registering ten goals and 18 assists in 77 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Labelled a "wonderful footballer" by Rodgers, O'Riley turned in a fantastic performance in Celtic's Glasgow Derby victory over Rangers last weekend, earning an average match rating of 7.8/10 on Sofascore.

Keeping him at Celtic will be a top priority in the coming weeks for Celtic as they look to maximise his talent and prospective sell-on value down the line.

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is now being targeted by a rival Premier League club, and could be allowed to leave, according to reports from Spain.

Which West Ham players could leave in January?

There have been reports indicating that Ben Johnson's time at West Ham could be coming to an end, considering he was selected to play for the Under 21 team on Friday night, which suggests David Moyes no longer considers him a first-team option.

Pablo Fornals is another Hammers player who could be leaving in the near future, with it recently emerging he has refused to sign a new contract to extend his stay at the London Stadium, meaning he can leave for free in the summer of 2024.

Fornals was on the verge of leaving the Irons in the summer transfer window, as the attacking midfielder was linked with a move to Sevilla, and the Spaniard is not the only player in that area of the pitch who was tipped for a move elsewhere.

Manchester City reportedly made a bid of £70m for Paqueta, but the move collapsed following a Football Association investigation into alleged betting breaches, although he denies any wrongdoing.

Despite a move falling through in the summer, the Brazilian could still end up at another English club, with reports from Spain now detailing that Newcastle United are ready to offer in excess of €60m (£51.7m) to sign him in the January transfer window (via GOAL).

The Magpies are looking to bolster their squad in a season where they are competing in the Champions League, and the West Ham star has been identified as a target, with the report suggesting the Hammers could be open to his departure.

The original report states that Moyes "would accept" an offer of £54m from the Irons' Premier League rivals, but Newcastle could face competition for his signature from Man City, who may be willing to renew their interest this winter.

Is Lucas Paqueta leaving West Ham?

In truth, the report seems a little far-fetched, considering it suggests West Ham would accept a bid of £54m, despite reports they knocked back much higher bids from Man City in the summer, turning down an £87m proposal from the reigning Premier League champions.

The Brazil international is a key player for Moyes, making 41 appearances in all competitions last season, and he is already off the mark in front of goal in the current campaign, weighing in with one goal and one assist in five league outings.

Lauded as "sensational" by members of the media, the former Lyon man has established himself in the West Ham first team, and the club are in a strong negotiating position, as he is contracted until the summer of 2027, with the option for an extra year.

As such, Paqueta's departure should only be considered if huge bids arrive in the January transfer window, and £54m would be far too low, especially considering he would be strengthening one of the Hammers' Premier League rivals.

Chelsea have struggled to find the target this campaign and have now run checks on a prolific scorer from the continent over the weekend, according to recent reports.

What's the latest news involving Chelsea?

The Blues will look to rectify their disappointing defeat to Aston Villa last weekend on Wednesday, as Brighton & Hove Albion stand in the way of Chelsea progressing to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Cited by Football London, striker Armando Broja has finally returned from a long-term injury that has halted his development at Stamford Bridge and he played a small part in the Blues' loss against Unai Emery's men. Mauricio Pochettino has commented on the return of the Albania international, stating in a recent interview: "I think was now was good to see Broja after nine or 10 months. I think to have the possibility to have different options in the team. He needs to build his confidence also. It's about to learn, about the process."

Broja may be needed for the trip to Fulham this weekend as well as their cup tie against Brighton on Wednesday evening, with Nicolas Jackson suspended for the Blues' next league clash due to picking up five bookings in his opening six Premier League appearances, as per The Sun. Senegal international Jackson has struggled for consistency since joining Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer and has notched just one goal from seven appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Chelsea have failed to find the back of the net in their last three encounters and are further hampered by the fact that attacker Christopher Nkunku is scheduled to be out until around the Christmas period, according to The Evening Standard. There is a possibility that he may not be re-introduced into the fold until January due to the typically hectic fixture schedule for clubs in and around the tail end of the year.

Who have Chelsea scouted?

90min have reported that Chelsea sent scouts to watch Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez in the Dutch champions' bad-tempered affair against Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena. The game was suspended due to unrest from home supporters as the visitors were holding a 3-0 lead, but the various club officials at the match were apparently impressed by what they saw.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur chiefs also attended De Klassieker to run the rule over the Mexico international alongside delegations from Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Inter, Juventus, AC Milan and Napoli.

Gimenez has been in potent form for Feyenoord this campaign, scoring six goals in his opening five outings in the Eredivisie and providing one assist, as per Transfermarkt, without counting the goals he had chalked off in the controversial abandoned match.

As per ESPN via GOAL, Gimenez was labelled "truly fantastic" by Feyenoord legend Mario Been and has demonstrated why he is so highly regarded in the Netherlands, taking an average of 4.2 shots per fixture in the Dutch top flight, as per WhoScored.

Chelsea have struggled in front of goal over the last year and a half and bringing in someone who knows where the target is has to be of paramount importance to Pochettino in January.

Leeds United got back to winning ways with a narrow victory over relegation strugglers Queen's Park Rangers on Wednesday evening, with the Whites bouncing back following their limp display away to Southampton at the weekend.

The Yorkshire giants had been ripped apart during a dismal opening half an hour or so at St Mary's just a few days earlier, yet it was Daniel Farke's men who delivered the early blow this time around, with fleet-footed Dutchman, Crysencio Summerville lashing home inside nine minutes.

Despite dominating proceedings from then on – after enjoying 65% possession in total – that early effort from Summerville ultimately proved to be the game's deciding goal, with any hope of a late comeback from the visitors having been quashed by Asmir Begovic's dismissal at the death.

How did Crysencio Summerville perform against QPR?

The Rotterdam native took his goal superbly after impressive work from Georginio Rutter down the left flank, with the club's record signing picking out the 21-year-old with a clever threaded pass, as Summerville duly converted past a helpless Begovic.

That composed finish – which took the youngster's tally to two goals for the season so far in all competitions – came amid what was a "terrific" first-half performance from the winger, as per journalist Graham Smyth, as he proved a real livewire on the flanks.

That all-round performance was evidenced by the fact that the Netherlands U21 international registered three key passes in total in his 80-minute outing, with that only bettered by the aforementioned Rutter (four) among players for both sides.

While that did see Summerville lose possession on 14 occasions, his desire to impact proceedings in the final third was evident as he completed four of his seven attempted crosses as well as two of his four attempted dribbles, having also won four fouls for his side.

The only possible concern was that the 5 foot 6 speedster wasn't able to maintain his level of performance as he 'went off the boil' just before the interval – as per Leeds Live's Beren Cross – with Farke having been reliant on other key figures to step up instead, such as summer signing, Ethan Ampadu.

How did Ampadu perform against QPR?

The former Chelsea man – who arrived on a £7m deal from the Stamford Bridge outfit – was at his composed and brilliant best against Gareth Ainsworth's side last night, having been 'so calm on the ball' in the centre of the park, in the words of Cross.

Also dubbed "excellent" by The Athletic's Phil Hay for the manner in which he is able to bail his side out of trouble, the Wales international was a typically dogged and determined performer at the base of the midfield after winning eight of his 13 total duels.

While, like Summerville, Ampadu did have a few lapses of concentration after losing possession 17 times throughout the contest, the 23-year-old did also created one big chance from his deep-lying berth, as well as outlining his ability to spray the ball about with ease as he completed six of his nine long balls.

The 92-touch maestro simply brought so much 'control with and without the ball' – according to Cross – with Farke having been in need of that stable presence to help keep the away side at bay, with things not totally clicking in the attacking ranks.

Ampadu's importance to that much-needed win was also laid bare by his match rating of 7.7, as per Sofascore, with that having been the highest of any player for either side – even ahead of goalscorer, Summerville (7.4).

That only serves to rubberstamp what was another classy showing from the emerging hero at Elland Road, proving just why he could be crucial in Leeds' promotion push this season.

A number of Manchester United players are reportedly expecting Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sack Erik ten Hag in the summer.

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• Man Utd players believe Ten Hag will go
• Players complained about coach's training intensity
• Man Utd next face Everton on Saturday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the , a group of Manchester United players believe that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group are unlikely to retain Ten Hag's service beyond the 2023-24 season. While the former Ajax manager still has the backing of the dressing room, some players have expressed their concern over the Dutchman's training intensity amid a nightmare campaign that has seen the Red Devils slip to sixth in the Premier League table.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ten Hag insists he is on the same page with Ratcliffe and INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, but the duo could decide to part ways with him ahead of the 2024-25 season unless he guides United to a FA Cup triumph and secures qualification for the Champions League.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Red Devils were on a five-game winning streak across all competitions after the winter break but their form suddenly took a dip as they suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats against Fulham and Manchester City.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Ten Hag's side, who are currently 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, will aim to get back to winning ways on Saturday as they host Everton in a vital league clash.

Chelsea have suffered a terrible turn in form since their 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park on December 22nd, picking up just nine points in their last nine Premier League games, dropping from second in the league to sixth after 25 games played.

However, in their last ten Premier League games, Chelsea have only lost the “xG battle” three times, so what exactly has gone wrong?

A mixture of their inexperience to see out games when they are ahead and control the tempo of a game, their lack of ability to break down low block defensive units and poor shot volume from their wide men have all contributed to this poor run of form. Something needs to change with Aston Villa up next…

Jadon Sancho's Chelsea woes

The wing pairing at Chelsea has been an issue in recent weeks, as a lack of output from wide areas has left the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson with an awful lot of the attacking workload.

Noni Madueke has netted seven Premier League goals, but Pedro Neto has only managed two league goals and Jadon Sancho has only managed two himself.

Aside from Madueke, Neto and Sancho have been much less direct with their actions on the field, often turning back to retain possession, taking fewer shots in games and looking to create for others rather than taking the game by the scruff of the neck themselves.

Sancho did do this against Tottenham, getting Chelsea back into the game after going 2-0 down, but in recent weeks the form of Sancho hasn’t helped Maresca’s side, and it could require a change in this position to add something different.

But Sancho isn’t the only man who could be dropped, as there is another Chelsea star who has been in poor form in recent weeks.

The Chelsea star who now needs to be dropped

Levi Colwill has made 23 appearances for the Blues this season, all coming in the Premier League, providing one assist, contributing to four clean sheets and totalling 2,070 minutes played.

Chalkboard

The 21-year-old defender has been a clear favourite of Maresca’s, but since Wesley Fofana went down injured, Colwill has struggled more in the defensive line.

Since Fofana’s injury, Colwill has been partnered with the likes of Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi and Trevoh Chalobah (returning from loan in January).

The lack of consistency hasn’t helped the Blues backline, as they have struggled to find that same balance afforded to them with Colwill and Fofana together.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley described Colwill’s mistake against Brighton as “inexcusable” for their second goal, looking for a foul, not sprinting back into position to defend the ongoing attack and then conceding. And this isn’t the young defender’s only mistake in recent weeks, after also gifting West Ham their goal to go 1-0 up a few weeks ago.

Whilst the talent of Colwill is clear, and the future of Chelsea’s defensive line absolutely has him in it, after a few poor performances, the Blues could possibly do with taking him out of the firing line, bringing Adarabioyo in, who adds some experience and looking to weather the storm.

Enzo Maresca sack claim made by ex-club chief as Chelsea pressure grows

The Italian is facing scrutiny right now.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 20, 2025

Christian Pulisic has reached another century in his senior career, with the USMNT star boasting 100 goal involvements at the very highest level.

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• Spent time in Germany, England & Italy
• Now boasts 100 goal involvements
• Intends to shine for club & country

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international started out on the books of Borussia Dortmund, having taken the brave decision to leave his homeland for Germany in 2015. After catching the eye for the Bundesliga giants, Pulisic moved on to Chelsea in 2019 and made history when gracing the Champions League final and becoming a European champion with the Blues.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Another move was made in 2023, as Pulisic headed to Italy to link up with AC Milan. The 25-year-old forward has thrived with the Rossoneri, posting personal bests in 2023-24 with the promise of even more to come, and was back among the goals as Milan saw off Slavia Prague in the last-16 of the Europa League.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Said effort has taken Pulisic to 11 for the season – matching his previous single campaign high from 2019-20 – and means that he has hit triple figures when it comes to collective goal contributions over the course of his career.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

  After becoming a centurion, Pulisic will be hoping to deliver more end product for AC Milan when they take in a Serie A trip to Verona on Sunday. His attention will then turn to international matters as the USMNT ready themselves for a shot at silverware in the CONCACAF Nations League finals.

The 21-year-old has had a slow but highly-eventful career since joining the Red Devils three years ago, and it can still have a happy ending

The week had begun with Amad Diallo deleting all references to Manchester United on his social media accounts and writing a cryptic message in French which translated as: "This will all end." Speculation, whether true or not, was rife that he had had enough of being overlooked by Erik ten Hag and was looking for an exit.

The week ended, however, with Amad scoring the most important goal of the Red Devils' season against Liverpool and sparking utterly wild celebrations at Old Trafford.

"He's been working hard and not had the opportunities he wished, but if he wants to have more opportunities there's no better way to prove it than nights like tonight," said Marcus Rashford post-match. Bruno Fernandes added: "He got his reward because he’s doing the right things. He deserves it."

Amad's goal completed an incredible turnaround from United, and it could now spark his own comeback, from a figure who had almost been forgotten about to a player who could still play a key role in the season and have a future at the club.

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  Raw talent

  Amad naturally described his 121st-minute strike against Liverpool as "the best goal in my career", but the truth is it had little competition, especially considering his otherwise quiet career with United. It was only his second goal for the club, despite arriving three years previously after signing from Atalanta in a deal worth a total of £37 million ($47m).

  His debut strike was a glancing header in the Europa League against AC Milan at Old Trafford in March 2021, when the stadium was kept empty due to coronavirus restrictions. He barely had any opportunities to build on the momentum of that first goal, though, as he made just 12 appearances in his first spell with United, just three of which were starts.

  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United's manager when Amad arrived, had hailed the then 18-year-old as "one of the most exciting young prospects in the game, a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United".

  But the Norwegian and his successor, Ralf Rangnick, clearly felt he was too raw, as he was loaned out to Rangers in January 2022. His sojourn in Glasgow did not go to plan either, as he made just four starts in the Scottish Premiership among 14 appearances in total.

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  Bumps in the road

  That was another bump in what has been a fraught journey in European football for Amad, who was previously caught up in an investigation into alleged player trafficking.

  In 2021, he was fined €48,000 (£41,000/$52,000) by the Italian Football Federation for using fake documents to enter the country after travelling over from the Ivory Coast with Hamed Mamadou Traore, who had claimed to be his father. Amad used to be known as Amad Diallo Traore, but has since removed the 'Traore' from his name in an effort to separate himself from the controversial case.

  Amad rediscovered his quality while on loan at Sunderland last season in the Championship, scoring 17 goals, many of them top-draw strikes from outside the area. Tony Mowbray, his coach at the Stadium of Light, nicknamed him 'the magician', and he dragged the Black Cats into the play-offs, where they were eventually beaten by Luton Town.

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  Injury nightmare

  There was, therefore, plenty of excitement about his return to United, and Amad caught the eye during pre-season games against Leeds and Lyon. However, he suffered a serious knee injury in the first game of the Red Devils' tour of the United States, against Arsenal.

  The injury was a huge stroke of misfortune for Amad, as he would surely have gotten chances in United's first team as Mason Greenwood left on loan for Getafe, Jadon Sancho was banished from the squad after falling out with Erik ten Hag, and Antony had a leave of absence to deal with accusations of domestic abuse, as well as struggles with his form.

  Amad did not return to action until five months later when he came off the bench against Nottingham Forest in December, although it was not a happy return as the team lost 2-1. Amad, however, had shown plenty of promise and earned some praise from Ten Hag.

  "He is very ball secure. He can bring a key actions, final passes, score a goal," the manager said. "And so I think he has some weapons. That is always what you are looking for with offensive players."

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  Using his weapons

  Despite his effusive words, Ten Hag gave Amad few more chances. He did not play again for six weeks until he was introduced with 10 minutes to go in another defeat, this time to Fulham. Although he had been out previously with an illness, he must have also felt aggrieved at the fact that he had not started that match while Omari Forson, who had no previous first-team experience, had been given the nod instead.

  Amad then got 17 minutes of action in the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Nottingham Forest, but was an unused substitute for the next games against Manchester City and Everton. When Ten Hag called upon him on Sunday when United were trailing Liverpool with five minutes to go of normal time, it felt like an act of desperation.

  Had the Red Devils lost, it would have been another disappointing episode in what has been an underwhelming United career. But instead, Antony's goal sent the game into extra-time. Amid the chaos of two teams furiously trading attacks, Amad showed he was up for the fight. And he brought the 'weapons' Ten Hag knew he had.

  Amad did not wait for the ball to come to him. He sought it out. He mugged Darwin Nunez and as a result the ball dropped to Scott McTominay, whose pass allowed Marcus Rashford to equalise.

  He continued to defend doggedly whenever Liverpool had the ball, and when the Mereseysiders won a corner just as penalties beckoned, he was the one who seized the ball from Harvey Elliot, leading Alejandro Garnacho to sprint down the pitch. Amad followed, and after first considering giving the ball back to Garnacho, he decided to go it alone, and was rewarded.

Manchester City kept the pressure on league leaders Arsenal on Sunday with a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

Erling Haaland added two goals to his tally for the season, either side of a long-range strike from Phil Foden, who is now into double figures for the campaign with ten.

Matheus Nunes added his third assist for the season at right-back, in a new role for Pep Guardiola’s side, with a brilliant cross to the back post for Haaland’s first goal of the match.

Man City want to sign Crystal Palace star

Despite the Portugal international’s emergence as a genuine starting option at right-back for City, the club are reportedly keen on a star who could come in and take his place.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are interested in a deal to sign Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Munoz ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that Guardiola admires the Colombia international because he feels that the defender’s aggressive style of play would be a good fit for the way that he wants his full-backs to play.

It adds that City have done extensive scouting work to assess the experienced wing-back as a possible transfer target, who is also attracting interest from Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid.

This shows that there could be plenty of competition for the Palace star’s signature next month when the January transfer window opens, yet the report does not reveal how much the Eagles would demand to part ways with him.

Why Man City should sign Daniel Munoz

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the Colombian star, albeit it remains to be seen how much he will cost, because the defender could arrive at The Etihad in January as a big upgrade on Nunes at right-back.

As impressive as his assist for Haaland was on Sunday, Nunes has still been very questionable defensively. Per Sofascore, the former Wolves star has made three errors leading to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition in the Premier League this season.

Munoz, meanwhile, has made no errors leading to shots, goals, or penalties in 14 appearances in the top-flight for Palace this season, per Sofascore, which comes after he only made one in 37 starts in the division in the 2024/25 campaign.

This suggests that the Colombia international would be a big upgrade on Nunes from a defensive perspective, as he is far less likely to make critical defensive errors in the Premier League that could cost the team points.

Munoz was described as “one of the best RWBs in the Premier League” by one scout on X, and that is because he has attacking quality to go along with his impressive defensive work for the Eagles.

As you can see in the table above, the Palace star has produced seven goals and ‘big chances’ combined in the Premier League this term, which is almost twice as many as Nunes has managed in a title-challenging Manchester City team.

The statistics also back up that he would be a big upgrade on the Portuguese full-back as an out-and-out defender at right-back, as he is more effective in his defensive duels, without making any errors that cost his side.

Munoz also scored four goals, created seven ‘big chances’, and provided five assists in the Premier League for Palace in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that his current form is not a flash in the pan, and that he is a consistent contributor at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, City would be signing a tried and tested, proven, Premier League wing-back option to bolster Guardiola’s squad if they manage to get a deal over the line for the 29-year-old star ahead of the second half of the season.

Man City preparing move for £28m English star after direct request from Pep

Pep Guardiola has set his sights on an “incredible” Premier League player.

By
Dominic Lund

2 days ago

That is why the Cityzens should be pushing hard to beat the likes of Bayern, Chelsea, and United to his signature, because he could hit the ground running as a player who already knows the league and has shown that he has the quality defensively and offensively to be a big upgrade on Nunes.

Leeds United seem to have finally stabilised after a rocky start to the new Championship season, with Daniel Farke now settled on what his best XI roughly looks like.

With much of the debate having surrounded the positioning of Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter, it is the latter who is certainly beginning to prove his astronomical worth.

How is Georginio Rutter playing?

As a truly foolish Jesse Marsch purchase, brought in for a club-record fee, the Frenchman was instantly handed the burden of securing Premier League safety, despite being far from the requisite level.

Having now had ample time to acclimatise to English football, Elland Road is playing host to a true masterclass, with the Frenchman seemingly putting on a show every week.

His five goal contributions in ten league games mark a fine return, and are further upheld through his 2.6 key passes per game and 2.2 successful dribbles per game, via Sofascore. He is gliding past the opposition with ease, but seems to have unlocked the true creativity within to allow him to forge opportunities for his teammates.

As such, his boss is always keen to praise him: "I think we can be absolutely happy with him, his work ethic. He is great in linking the play. He is still a relatively young lad, it's important that we were concentrated on scoring the first goal. He had great assists, it was a top-class performance. He deserves all the praise."

With that in mind, it still draws question marks over his credentials as a lone striker, with his skillset clearly much more preferable for an attacking midfielder.

Although Farke spoke in length on his reasons behind the strange combinations he and Piroe undergo, perhaps following the international break he could seek to return Rutter to his natural role, and instead hand Patrick Bamford one final chance to impress before shutting the door on a fine Leeds career that reached lofty heights, but recently has fell to impossible lows.

How good is Patrick Bamford?

Whilst the Englishman's failures in front of goal from last season are likely still fresh in the memory, having first missed a late sitter against Leicester City before seeing his penalty saved by Nick Pope, there remains a top forward just waiting to be unleashed once again.

After all, the 30-year-old was once instrumental in their 2020 promotion push, before taking his game to new levels upon their Premier League return before injury struck.

It should come as no surprise that the two relegation battles came as the 6 foot 1 dud would only make seven and 18 starts in those respective campaigns.

During that remarkable Championship term, Bamford would score 16 and assist four before somehow improving that in the top flight, firing in a further 17 and assisting eight more.

He has showcased his class in the past, and with Piroe now there to ease the goalscoring burden, perhaps his return to fitness could prove incredibly profitable as they seek to earn another promotion.

After all, only three years ago saw journalist Phil Hay laud the marksman "clean and clinical", which is a claim many would refute nowadays.

Whilst either of the striker or number ten currently featuring could move aside for Bamford, allowing him to take one last opportunity, perhaps the versatile Rutter could be preferred, and pushed either out wide or deeper into midfield to facilitate one last dance for the former Chelsea man.