Manchester United have failed to impress on every front this season.

Erik ten Hag’s side are currently eighth in the Premier League, but by the end of the weekend’s action, they could be in the bottom half of the table.

With that in mind, the boss will be desperate to improve his squad as United aim to climb into a European spot.

Man Utd transfers latest – Fernandes repeat inbound

According to The Sun, Man United have submitted a bid for Morten Hjulmand that would involve Facundo Pellistri moving in the opposite direction.

However, it has been rejected by Sporting, who will settle for not a penny less than his £69m release clause.

This represents quite the price hike for a man who was signed from Lecce for only £15m back in the summer of 2023.

The Red Devils scouts have been watching the midfielder this season, but a move this January is looking unlikely.

Related January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 How Morten Hjulmand compares to Bruno Fernandes

It is reasonable to say that Bruno Fernandes has been United’s best signing since Sir Alex Ferguson's era. The Portuguese magician has become arguably the most important player in the side since joining from Sporting for £46.5m.

Over 212 games, the 29-year-old has registered 129 goal contributions and now wears the captain's armband.

Ten Hag will be hoping that he can repeat the Fernandes masterclass by signing another Sporting midfielder in the January transfer window, in the form of Hjulmand.

The Danish midfielder only joined Sporting in the summer, but his influence on the side has been enormous. The 24-year-old has featured in 24 matches this season, scoring one goal and creating two, while often playing in the midfield two of a 3-4-2-1 formation. In that respect, he's positionally different to the aforementioned Fernandes but their ability to influence the play is vast.

But what is Hjulmand’s style of play based on statistics from the 2023/24 Primeira Liga season?

Hjulmand's Stats

Stats (per 90)

Hjulmand

Ranking in Portugal

Touches

70.97

Top 17%

Passes completed

53.45

Top 11%

Pass completion %

86.1%

Top 14%

Tackles

2.58

Top 16%

Dribblers tackled

1.25

Top 14%

Ball recoveries

7.11

Top 23%

Stats via FBref

The former Serie A star is a player who likes to get on the ball and dictate the play, as highlighted by his high number of touches and passes completed. If the move was to be completed, Hjulmand would slot alongside Kobbie Mainoo and replace Scott McTominay in the starting XI.

The FC Kobenhaven youth player would bring control to the United midfield, which the Scot currently doesn’t, as his touches and passes completed per 90 is in the bottom 20% of Premier League midfielders, according to FBref.

Furthermore, Hjulmand is extremely solid out of possession, even being labelled as a “monster” by football journalist Zach Lowy.

The Sporting rock protects the backline with a proactive approach, and he often regains possession via tackles and reading the game to recover the ball.

The fact he can tackle dribblers would also make United much more secure in transitions, which is where Ten Hag’s team have been vulnerable.

Overall, Hjulmand is a typical defensive midfielder who would provide so much security to the United team. Although the fee is steep, Ten Hag should look to repeat the Fernandes trick this month.

England will attempt to exploit home advantage in the 2019 Ashes with confirmation they will use the same specification of Dukes balls used to good effect in the 2017 and 2018 home Test series.While the ECB has introduced a slightly amended type of ball into Championship cricket this season – a move intended to reduce the advantage bowlers have enjoyed in recent seasons – the Test team will continue to use the same Dukes balls that saw them beat South Africa, West Indies and India at home over the last couple of years. England claim the decision is more about producing entertaining cricket than playing to their own advantage, though the two are not necessarily exclusive.The Test ball, with a more pronounced seam, generally helps seam and swing bowlers. James Anderson has taken his Test wickets in England at a cost of 16.06 in that period; 10 runs below his overall career average. The other Dukes ball, with a less pronounced seam, will continue to be used in the 2019 County Championship season, which is already producing higher scores than in recent years. It was introduced at the instruction of the ECB Cricket Committee, which was conscious of the balance between bat and ball on early- and late-season domestic pitches when much of the Championship season is contested.The move could backfire, though. The Australia attack, at full strength, is impressive. And while there may be a presumption that England’s skill and experience in such conditions will counteract the Australia side’s pace, there is no reason pace and skill should exist independently. Australia’s seamers will enjoy using these balls every bit as much as England’s. The ball will also be used in the Test against Ireland.All of which means we should be in for some exciting cricket. The first-class game is generally more entertaining when the ball slightly dominates the bat and this decision should ensure bowlers – well, seamers at least – are kept interested throughout. Whether the balance has moved too far towards such bowlers remains to be seen; this news is unlikey to create a splurge of fifth-day ticket sales.”This is not about having two-day games,” Ashley Giles, the director of England’s men’s teams, said.  “This is honestly about having a fair contest.  My concern was this [current] ball would make it too batting friendly on good Test wickets in the middle of the summer. That was the primary reason.”We’ve seen some really good Test cricket in this country over a number of years.  It’s not as if we are talking about playing against an attack that is not very good.  The Aussies are quite handy themselves.”There are elements of risk to it because we are choosing to go with this ball and they have a formidable bowling attack.  Clearly, Jimmy Anderson is one of our best weapons – one of the best bowlers ever – so we want to bring him into the game.”The total order of balls is understood to be for somewhere around 600, with each one costing around £60. They will also be used in Lions games, Australia’s tour matches and in the training sessions of both teams. Giles confirmed there had been talk about using a Kookaburra ball, but said Dukes had responded “brilliantly” to the ECB’s requests for an adapted version. The 2017-18 specification Dukes ball was used during the second half of the 2018-19 Sheffield Shield season.Giles also said he anticipated having little dialogue with the groundstaff at each Test venue and that England had requested only “good wickets”.

USA Cricket selected ACE as its strategic partner to conclude a multi-stage evaluation process that began in November 2018

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2019USA Cricket has received a boost of over $1 billion investment from American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for the development of a domestic T20 league. USA Cricket selected ACE as its strategic partner to conclude a multi-stage evaluation process that began in November 2018. The launch of the league is slated for 2021.The billion-dollar deal is one of the biggest for the development of domestic cricket in the US. ACE is backed by Sameer Mehta and Vijay Srinivasan, the founders of Willow TV (the largest cricket broadcaster in North America), and Satyan Gajwani and Vineet Jain, of the Times of India group. USA Cricket had started the process by publicly inviting proposals for a US-based T20 league. They chose ACE whose proposal combined a large financial commitment to invest into the league, key deals for infrastructure and broadcast distribution, experienced and knowledgeable leadership, and a data-driven, analytical business strategy, which affirmed their ability to build a longstanding institution that will elevate US cricket.”USA Cricket is excited to partner with ACE to launch a professional cricket league in the United States. We were thoroughly impressed by their comprehensive proposal,” Paraag Marathe, USA Cricket board chairman said. “Vijay, Sameer, Satyan and Vineet provided a vision for the growth of cricket in the US on all levels, and we’re confident they will create a world class T20 league here in America. This is a watershed moment for cricket in the United States and we look forward to a long-lasting, successful partnership.”ACE has commenced major infrastructure investment towards international grade cricket venues in several US metropolitan markets. ACE is also working to develop additional turf cricket pitches and auxiliary facilities in more than a dozen locations. Based on a major/minor professional league model, the new facilities will provide, for the first time in the US, the ability to stage and support major domestic and international cricket at all levels. In addition, ACE will provide support for USA Cricket’s men’s and women’s national teams to ensure they can capitalise on their recent successes at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 and the ICC Women’s Americas Qualifier, respectively.The league is expected to feature top international players from the USA team and around the world, combined with a focus on pathways to develop a homegrown player pool for USA Cricket and the league. A major component of ACE’s plans is the developmental academies around the country that will be aligned to the league teams and will help foster and develop talent at the youth levels to ensure a strong pipeline of cricket players.”Cricket has the second-largest audience in the world, and yet has little presence in the largest professional sports market,” Gajwani said. “We want to develop a lasting institution that brings to the US the excitement and passion of cricket, enjoyed by billions of people globally. True grassroots development of any sport takes decades and we are excited and committed to play a role in developing world-class cricket in America.A key highlight of ACE’s proposal is distribution, sponsorship and exposure for the professional league and for USA Cricket’s national teams via major TV and digital broadcast platforms, led by Willow TV which has over 4 million subscribers. In addition to the Willow assets, ACE and USA Cricket will seek out “free to air” platforms as well to ensure mainstream audiences are exposed to the league.

Before the start of the season, Liverpool supporters faced much uncertainty after watching the Anfield side slump to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016.

Admittedly, the stark decline wasn't quite out of the blue, with a lack of investment compounding an ageing and weary squad that craved some fresh energy, and there were even question marks lingering over the sustainability of Jurgen Klopp's leadership heading forward.

But, as they say, form is temporary and the German manager proved his worth as one of the elite leaders of his generation after enforcing emphatic change last summer, welcoming stars such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister while clearing the flotsam that had cluttered and disrupted the 2022/23 term.

And so the midfield conundrum has been addressed and Liverpool are back firing on all cylinders this season, first-placed in the Premier League after 20 matches and in contention for silverware across all three cup competitions, but the defence still suffers from a lack of depth and this is now the priority area.

Liverpool's search for a defender

Joel Matip's season-ending injury heightened the need for defensive reinforcements but the veteran Cameroonian was out of contract at the end of the campaign anyway and Jarell Quansah's emergence this season has eased the need for action this month.

There have been numerous rumours floating around but the latest does have the shape of that traditional Klopp signing – a rising star of high potential and perhaps attracting less attention than the most highly-sought names on the market.

Liverpool could sign Van Dijk clone in move for “special” 6ft 1 star

This Premier League phenom is an even bigger talent than Jarell Quansah.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 19, 2024

According to TNCZ, Liverpool are hoping to sign Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko this year, and while Paris Saint-Germain have also expressed an interest, the Reds could be well-placed to secure his signature.

The Dutch Eredivisie champions value the 26-year-old at €45m (£39m) and this would be more than affordable for the Anfield side in the summer.

David Hancko's style of play

Hancko has completed 70 matches for Feyenoord since joining from Czech giants Sparta Prague in 2022, scoring five goals and providing seven assists.

Not quite the typical central defender, Hancko operates in a free-roaming role and is comfortable when shifted out wide or placed in the central engine room, with statistical site WhoScored listing his most significant attributes as: key passing, dribbling, distribution and concentration.

As per FBref, Hancko ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across divisions similar to the Dutch Eredivisie for assists, shot-creating actions, passes attempted, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, highlighting his lofty advantage in mobility and technical quality.

The Slovakian sensation was instrumental in Feyenoord's triumph in the Dutch top-flight last season, playing 31 times, posting two goals and four assists, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 2.3 tackles and 3.3 clearances per game, succeeding with 72% of his dribbles and winning 75% of his contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Described as a top "talent" by Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Hancko would provide Klopp's side with the perfect extra dimension to expand the depth and dynamism on Merseyside, proving to be the perfect replacement for the absent and likely outgoing Matip.

Furthermore, his stylistic approach mirrors that of Sporting Lisbon centre-half Goncalo Inacio, and given Liverpool's interest in the Portugal international, it might be wise for full focus to be shifted to the cheaper option in Hancko.

How David Hancko compares to Goncalo Inacio

Inacio is known to be among the contenders for transfer at Liverpool and will be discussed on the transfer committee when the summer market draws closer.

The 22-year-old has a €60m (£52m) release clause in his contract and Sporting are not likely to grant his departure for anything below this fee, having convinced him to pen new terms in August when clubs like Liverpool were sniffing around.

Ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 3% for assists, the top 4% for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for assists per 90, it's clear that Inacio is something of a "sensation", as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, though he's not quite matching Hancko.

Hancko

Inacio

17

17

0.00

0.06

0.12

0.06

89%

88%

8.41

7.40

2.94

1.30

2.65

1.56

0.71

0.45

7.71

6.49

1.12

1.23

0.65

1.10

2.76

2.40

0.76

1.04

1.59

1.69

*Sourced by FBref

Given that Inacio is considered one of the benchmarks for the new modern, progressive wave of central defenders gracing the European game, it's pretty impressive that Hancko eclipses him in most possession-based, creative and technical elements.

Moreover, while the Leões titan appears to be more active in his defensive duties, he has only won 51% of his contested duels in Liga Portugal this term, which hardly suggests that he can provide the kind of dominance in key battles for Klopp's side.

On this point, young Quansah, still in his infancy on the major stage, has won 61% of his duels in the Premier League since making his debut back in August.

Naturally, Hancko has won 75% in his league this season and is proving himself to be the kind of multi-functional asset that Klopp could shape into a true world-beater under his wing.

The Slovak is four years Inacio's senior and admittedly the latter does have more scope for growth, but Liverpool are nurturing Quansah to the fore and could make fine use of a player already established in their game, reading to take the next step in their development – take Wataru Endo, for example.

Ultimately, Liverpool will have money to spend to freshen up the defence next season and now it boils down to Klopp's preference and the decided best fit for the club, but Hancko – rumoured to be £13m cheaper than Inacio – could be the man for the job.

In recent years, Brighton have done extensive business with clubs in South America. Alexis Mac Allister, signed from Argentinos Jrs in 2018, and Moises Caicedo, acquired from Ecuadorian club Independiente two years later, wound up making big moves to 'big six' Premier League sides Liverpool and Chelsea, with the latter fetching a league-record fee.

It remains to be seen whether Julio Enciso, bought from Paraguayan side Libertad in 2022, or Facundo Buonanotte, an import from Rosario in Argentina a year ago, wind up following the same path, but either way, the links between Brighton and this far-flung market are growing all the time, and it looks like the Seagulls could be about to tap in once again.

Barco set to join Brighton

On the frontpage of Sunday's edition, Argentine newspaper Ole reports that Valentin Barco's move to Brighton is now an inevitability (Sport Witness). Boca Juniors had hoped that Barco would sign a new contract to raise his £7.8m release clause, which is seen as too low for a player of his talent.

However, the player has made his mind up that he wants to join Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and has refused to pen a new deal. An angry Boca intend to do everything they can to put "obstacles" in the way of the transfer, but it's difficult to see what recourse they have left.

Brighton have already offered £7.1m, plus a 10% sell-on clause, and they can simply trigger his clause if the Argentine club refuse to accept it.

Brighton show intent by beating Man City and Chelsea

19-year-old Barca has made 35 appearances for Boca's first-team, and has been capped twice by Argentina at under-23 level. While he's listed by WhoScored and FBRef as a full-back, he's also capable of playing as a left midfielder.

He's regarded as one of the top prospects in his position, with the CIES Football Observatory rating him as one of the best players born in 2003 or later in their awards last year.

Barco helped Boca reach the final of the Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the Champions League, and was a standout player along the way. As you can see in the above graph, he was vastly above average when it came to tackle success, open-play creativity and the attacking value of his passing.

It's no surprise, then, that he's attracted interest from 'big six' clubs. Reigning champions Manchester City had been optimistic of doing a deal for a player who's been "extensively tracked" by their scouts, with Pep Guardiola eager to seal a January move, while Chelsea's owners considered bringing Barco to French club Strasbourg, another club in their network, to assess his worthiness for a future move to Stamford Bridge.

Instead, though, Brighton look almost certain to win the race, sealing what journalist Maxi Angelo calls a "massive coup" after a battle with two English giants.

كشف حارس مرمى الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول، أليسون بيكر، عن سر بداية الريدز القوية في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز تحت قيادة مدربه الجديد آرني سلوت.

وتمكن ليفربول من تحقيق الفوز في أول 3 مباريات بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بالفوز على كل من إيبسويتش تاون، برينتفورد ومانشستر يونايتد.

ويحتل ليفربول المركز الثاني في سلم ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 9 نقاط، بالتساوي مع مانشستر سيتي المتصدر.

ويعد ليفربول الفريق الوحيد الذي لم يستقبل أي هدف في مسابقة الدوري الإنجليزي حتى الآن بعد مرور ثلاث جولات.

اقرأ ايضاً.. جوارديولا يطالب مانشستر سيتي بالتعاقد مع هدف ليفربول في الميركاتو

وقال أليسون في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي لنادي ليفربول: “أفكار سلوت ليست معقدة للغاية. إنه مدرب ذكي حقًا، ليس فقط فيما يتعلق بالطريقة التي يفكر بها في كرة القدم ولكن أيضًا الطريقة التي ينفذ بها أفكاره، إنها واضحة حقًا”.

وأضاف أليسون: “الرسالة واضحة للغاية، لذا بالنسبة لنا كلاعبين الأمر ليس معقدًا للغاية وأعتقد أن هذا ما نظهره على أرض الملعب. الآن نكتسب الثقة من خلال القيام بالأشياء التي يطلبها منا”.

وأشار: “لكنه يطلب الكثير من العمل الجاد منا ومن جانبنا يتعين علينا الاستمرار في هذا النوع من الأشياء، لكن الإجابة التي يقدمها اللاعبون على أرض الملعب لا تصدق، العمل الجاد جيد للغاية، يتعين علينا تسليط الضوء على ذلك”.

وأوضح: “الجميع لديهم نفس الهدف وهو الفوز بالمباراة، والحفاظ على نظافة الشباك، وفعل كل ما هو ضروري على أرض الملعب، الدفاع والهجوم، وتسجيل الأهداف، وخلق الفرص، لهذا السبب أعتقد أننا نؤدي بشكل جيد للغاية في بداية الموسم”.

وأشاد أليسون بشكل خاص بثنائي الهجوم محمد صلاح ولويس دياز لتصدرهما قائمة الهدافين بالفريق بالإضافة أيضًا إلى أدائهما المميز دفاعيًا.

وأفاد أليسون: “محمد صلاح لاعب مميز لكنه يجعل الأمر يبدو طبيعيًا، لكن عندما تنظر إلى أرقامه، فهي لا تصدق”.

وعن لويس دياز: “الطريقة التي يلعب بها دياز أيضًا ومساهمته في الفريق، وتسجيله للأهداف، وتحركاته، والأشياء التي يمكنه القيام بها عندما تكون الكرة بحوزته أشياء لا تصدق”.

وأردف قائلاُ: “لكن ما أريد تسليط الضوء عليه هو العمل الجاد الذي يقوم به هؤلاء اللاعبون على الصعيد الدفاعي. إنهم يركضون كثيرًا، ويعملون بجد من أجل الفريق عندما لا تكون الكرة بحوزتهم، أعتقد أن هذا هو ما يجعلنا نفوز بهذه المباريات في بداية الموسم”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Timão lançará na noite desta quinta-feira (11) o clipe da música “Tropa do Corinthians”. Com participação dos artistas Fleezus, Kuririn, Bone, Onnika, Dfideliz, Veigh e Jé Santiago, beat e produção de Lucas Spike, mixagem de Glenn e JayKay e direção de Jef Delgado, a iniciativa visa expandir o diálogo entre o clube e a nação corintiana, através da linguagem da música.

>> Confira a tabela do Paulistão e simule os próximos jogos

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A ideia do Timão é lançar faixas em outros gêneros musicais, com a chancela da instituição. Para isso, a ação de marketing pretende escutar os torcedores.

-A proposta de “Tropa do Corinthians” é cantar a torcida, homenagear essa gente que batalha, disputa e vence diariamente numa metrópole que é competição no modo very hard. Da gravata nas avenidas ao corre nas marginais, todo mundo que bota o pé na rua em busca do sustento na selva de SP é um competidor que merece aplausos. Se o Corinthians hoje é bicampeão do Mundo, campeão da Libertadores, hepta nacional e dono de 30 Paulistas, também é por ter sido criado na cidade que dorme de olho aberto – diz trecho do comunicado emitido pelo Corinthians em seu site oficial.

A participação do clube no projeto foi o estimulo, produção e autorização na exploração do licenciamento, mas não houve pagamento aos artistas, que se tornam sócios no projetos, através da rentabilidade do projeto por meio dos monetizáveis nas plataformas de streaming de áudio e vídeo.

Segundo o Timão, a escolha do gênero foi justamente para valorizar a “paulistanidade” do ritmo, assim como o clube, nascido e criado na maior cidade do Brasil. A ideia é contemplar o espírito urbano e jovem do torcedor corintiano, além de dialogar com o público-alvo que contempla o estilo musical e o futebol.

A faixa está disponível desde a noite desta quarta-feira (10) no Spotfiy e será disponível nas demais plataformas de áudio a partir da meia-noite de sexta-feira (12). Já o clipe ficará a disposição às 20h desta quinta-feira (11) na Corinthians TV.

The January transfer window has now been open for over two weeks and Leeds United are yet to make their first splash in the market to bolster their side.

Daniel Farke has not made a first-team addition to his squad and could look to change that before the window slams shut at the end of the month.

The German tactician has already lost two first-team players – Luke Ayling and Djed Spence – and could aim to improve the depth of his defensive options.

Leeds' January business so far (via Transfermarkt)

Arrivals

Departures

Sonny Perkins (end of loan)

Luke Ayling (loan)

Darko Gyabi (loan)

Djed Spence (end of loan)

After 27 matches, the Whites remain in the race to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they sit seven points behind Ipswich Town in second.

They could increase their chances of pushing up into the top two if they are able to bolster their squad with more quality in the transfer window.

Leeds' search for a new left-back

Leeds are reportedly looking to add another left-back to their squad to compete with Junior Firpo and Sam Byram on the flank behind Crysencio Summerville.

FootballScotland reported earlier this month that the Whites are 'hopeful' of a deal to sign Glasgow Rangers defender Borna Barisic in January.

The Whites are eyeing up a swoop for the Croatia international and look set to face competition for his signature as that report stated that teams from the Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1 have made approaches to secure his services.

Barisic is out of contract at the end of the season and this means that any of the interested parties could sign him on a pre-contract ahead of a free transfer in the summer, or they could tempt the Gers to cash in on him now to avoid losing him for nothing.

FootballScotland also claimed, however, that the Scottish giants are preparing to offer the 31-year-old dynamo a new contract in an attempt to fight off interest in the creative left-back.

This suggests that this could be a difficult deal for the Whites to complete as they face competition from other clubs in major European leagues and the defender's current team.

At the age of 31, Barisic would not be a long-term signing or an investment for Leeds and, for that reason, there is no advantage to waiting until the summer to sign him on a free transfer.

Therefore, Farke should push for the club to strike a deal for the impressive left-back this month as he could repeat the masterclass that was played with the signing of Glen Kamara from Rangers last summer.

Glen Kamara's seamless transition to English football

Leeds signed the Finland international from the Scottish giants on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

The 28-year-old ace came up through the Arsenal academy but only played seven first-team matches in England – for the Gunners, Colchester, and Southend combined – before his move to Dundee in Scotland.

There was no guarantee that Kamara would adapt to life in the Championship and this made it somewhat of a risky signing for Farke ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, the Finnish whiz has hit the ground running at Elland Road and established himself as a key player in midfield for the German tactician.

Kamara has played 19 Championship matches for the Whites and showcased his physical strength with a duel success rate of 62%, which shows that opposition players find it hard to get the better of him.

Kamara vs 23/24 Championship midfielders (via FBref)

Statistic (per 90)

Percentile rank

Passes attempted (71.10)

Top 7%

Pass success rate (92.5%)

Top 2%

Progressive passes (7.70)

Top 4%

Shot-creating actions (3.06)

Top 37%

Assists (0.13)

Top 29%

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds gem has been one of the best passers, among central midfielders, in the second tier this season.

He has consistently progressed the play and has been extremely efficient in his use of the ball to help his side control and dominate matches whilst also being able to create chances and unlock the opposition.

Why Borna Barisic could be the next Kamara

Notably described as a "one-man meme machine" by one Guardian columnist after a display in the fierce Old Firm derby, Barisic could follow in Kamara's footsteps and arrive as an excellent signing from Rangers for Leeds in the Championship as a creative full-back.

Firpo and Byram are Farke's current options at left-back and have been solid operators in their respective minutes on the pitch so far this season.

Leeds' left-backs this season (via Sofascore)

23/24 Championship

Firpo

Byram

Appearances

Seven

21

Key passes per game

0.9

0.6

Tackles per game

1.1

1.7

Interceptions per game

0.9

1.3

Duel success rate

48%

51%

As you can see in the table above, both players have been fairly average in terms of their physical output as they have almost won as many duels as they have lost in the Championship.

Neither of them have created at least one chance per match for their teammates, either, and this suggests that there is scope for Farke to improve the attacking quality of his side by bringing in a left-back who can offer more going forward.

Barisic's form for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership suggests that the Croatian ace has the ability to offer far more in possession than Firpo and Byram during the second half of the campaign.

The 31-year-old talent, who former teammate Nikola Katic claimed is "superior" to any other left-back the Gers could sign, has produced 2.2 key passes per game across 11 league outings this season.

This comes after the Leeds target racked up nine assists, 12 'big chances' created, and 2.3 key passes per match in 30 games for the Scottish side during the 2022/23 league campaign, which shows that he can be a difference-maker in the final third.

The £21k-per-week maestro can split open opposition defences with his excellent passing and crossing to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates on a regular basis, which Byram and Firpo have been unable to do.

Barisic has also showcased his defensive quality with 2.5 tackles and interceptions and a duel success rate of 61% in the Premiership this season, which suggests that the potential is also there for him to offer more physicality than Farke's current options.

Therefore, the German head coach could repeat his Kamara masterclass by landing another quality signing from Rangers before the end of the month.

Chelsea are reportedly gearing up to open talks with Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca to replace Maurico Pochettino this summer.

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Chelsea interested in Enzo MarescaBlues set to open talks with ItalianAlso interested in McKenna and FrankWHAT HAPPENED?

As per The Guardian, Chelsea are set to ask Leicester City for permission to begin talks with Maresca as they bid to sign a new coach as soon as possible. The Blues parted ways with Pochettino earlier this week despite a strong end to the season that brought a sixth-placed finish and European football for next season.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Italian is currently in the running to become Chelsea manager alongside Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna. As per the report, McKenna is the leading candidate for Chelsea, thanks to the part he played in helping The Tractor Boys gain promotion to the Premier League after 22 years.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Maresca helped Leicester City make their way back to the English top flight after just one year as they won the Championship. However, with the Foxes facing a potential points deduction, the Italian could be tempted to move away from the club. He has a low release clause of £8.5 million ($10.7m) and Chelsea could be tempted to make a swift move for the former Manchester City assistant coach.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MARESCA?

Maresca is open to making the summer switch over to Stamford Bridge. However, it will remain to be seen how the conversation progresses with Leicester.

Ethan Mbappe was asked by young autograph-hunting PSG fans if he's going to follow his brother Kylian to Real Madrid in the summer.

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• Real Madrid set to confirm Kylian Mbappe signing
• Younger brother Ethan's PSG future unsure
• Ethan has made four senior appearances this season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ethan Mbappe has been asked by young fans if he will be joining his brother Kylian at Real Madrid next season. The 17-year-old has made four senior appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this season, but while Kylian is about to be confirmed as a new Real Madrid player, PSG have reportedly frozen contract talks with Ethan, meaning he faces an uncertain future.

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• WHAT ETHAN MBAPPE SAID ABOUT REAL MADRID

  Ethan Mbappe's reply to the young, autograph-hunting PSG fans regarding a potential move to Real Madrid alongside his brother was quick and to the point. "No," said the teenager.

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  The doubts over Ethan's future at the Parc des Princes come after reports that the club have frozen contract talks with him after it became clear that Kylian would move to Real Madrid this summer, upon the expiration of his contract. Ethan has previously said he wants to stay with the club.