Leeds Must Ditch Aaronson For Fearless Young Starlet

Leeds United have suffered the ignominy of relegation from the Premier League but must not rest on their laurels as they map a plan for an immediate return to prominence this summer.

The Championship season is notoriously enervating and will require focus and tenacity unseen at Elland Road this season, with the Whites going through three managers and languidly bowing out of their three-year tenure in the division with just one victory from the final 11 matches.

Undoubtedly, there will be a torrent of outgoings in west Yorkshire this summer as the club looks to wipe the board clean and recuperate some funds, a result of the financial damage a club is beset with upon falling from the Premier League.

And while shrewd acquisitions will be targetted, Leeds must now make full use of their impressive youth academy and unleash some stars currently beneath the surface, and Amari Miller is one who could play a big part in any success they have in the second tier.

Who is Amari Miller?

Leeds completed the signing of versatile winger Miller in June 2021, with the starlet penning a deal from Birmingham City, where he featured for the first team five times despite his youthful years.

Since plying his trade for the Whites' development squad, he has scored four goals and supplied a further two assists from 33 appearances for the club's U21 side.

Praised for his "fearless" attitude by former Blues boss Lee Bowyer, who also said that he has got "great potential", Leeds' relegation might be a personal blessing for the 20-year-old's prospects, with the inevitable summer sales providing him with more frequent chances to dazzle with the senior set-up.

Who could Amari Miller replace?

One of the most likely departees from west Yorkshire this summer is undoubtedly Brenden Aaronson, who signed from RB Salzburg for roughly £25m one year ago with a weight of expectation, but he has failed to impress and indeed been at the epicentre of his outfit's malaise.

As per Sofascore, the 22-year-old USMNT player only mustered a lowly average rating of 6.51 this term, scoring one goal and providing three assists from 36 Premier League matches, branded a "lightweight" by pundit Jon Newsome earlier this year.

While time is on Aaronson's side, he is still valued at £30m by Football Transfers and could catch a pretty penny to tee up coveted room for reinforcements ahead of an imperative campaign at Elland Road.

Leeds United star Brenden Aaronson.

The need for change is evident at Leeds, and while Aaronson could do a job in the second tier, he could still garner one of the highest fees of any member of the squad, and while a replacement could well be signed, the powers that be at the club must consider opening up the stage for the exciting talent that is Miller.

After all, he already has Championship experience too, being handed his debut in that division by Birmingham at such a young age, eventually making five appearances.

Although they were rather brief cameos, it will be a positive for Leeds that this potential Aaronson replacement already has senior experience.

Leeds Could Appoint "Very Talented" 40 y/o Tactician

Leeds United have found themselves in a precarious position with no sporting director or manager to lead them following relegation back to the Championship, but now a shortlist of potential managers has been revealed by a reliable source.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Carlos Corberan?

According to The Telegraph, the Yorkshire giants are interested in appointing West Bromwich Albion coach Carlos Corberan ahead of next season.

As per the report, Corberan is one of three options being considered by the club's hierarchy with Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard also named as potential options for Leeds.

Would Carlos Corberan be a good fit for Leeds?

The former Huddersfield Town boss will seem like a natural selection to the Elland Road faithful as he could inject some of Marcelo Bielsa's incredible influence back into the team, having been part of the Argentinian's set up at the club before branching out on his own managerial journey in English football.

Corberan became a first-team coach after his success with Leeds U23s and worked alongside the popular manager to successfully secure promotion to the Premier League, before making the move to become manager of the Terriers where he continued to thrive.

The 40-year-old attacking-minded tactician famously guided Huddersfield Town to the playoff final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley last summer but fell short at the final hurdle, which led to a short spell with Olympiacos before returning to the EFL via West Bromwich Albion to replace Steve Bruce at The Hawthorns.

Over 30 Championship fixtures with the Midlands club, the Baggies boss has tallied up 16 victories and four draws with an average 1.73 points earned per game, which put them in contention for a place in the playoffs on the final day of the season and led to a ninth place finish despite being in a vulnerable position near the bottom of the table when he arrived.

carlos-corberan-leeds-united-manager-news

Corberan boasts a number of attributes that make him potentially the perfect appointment for the West Yorkshire giants including sound experience of Championship football, a philosophy that emulates Bielsa's successful style of play and will have relationships already cemented at the club with the staff and many members of the squad.

The former Leeds boss was full of praise for Corberan when they worked together and revealed how important the Spaniard's opinion was to him:

"Carlos is a good colleague, I have found that," Bielsa told.

"He is very talented. I listen more to his opinion than I give mine to him."

Whites chairman Andrea Radrizzani is heavily under-fire following a damning report that suggested he had explored the possibility of using Elland Road as collateral for a bank loan he was raising to buy Serie B-bound Sampdoria.

He could begin to win some supporters back, provided he sticks around, by swooping for Corberan, who himself will know too well what is required to bring the good times back to west Yorkshire, given the evidence above, his return would surely be a no-brainer.

Wolves May Lose Coady-Esque Ace In Summer

Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed a steady renaissance under Julen Lopetegui and have guaranteed their Premier League safety heading into next term.

A combination of defensive solidity, maximizing their potential at home and the poor form of sides around them have managed to see the Old Gold rise to 13th in the table and they could still finish as high as 12th come the close of play.

Heading into the summer, Lopetegui will have plenty of work to get his teeth into regarding incomings and outgoings. Several Wolves stars face uncertain futures at the club due to their contracts expiring, including Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho.

Another player that may depart Molineux in the off-season is experienced striker Diego Costa, who's £50k-a-week terms are also set to run out shortly.

What's the latest news involving Diego Costa and what has he brought to the table?

As per The Daily Mail, Wolves are contemplating offering Costa a one-year extension to his deal, with his boss Lopetegui said to have been 'impressed' by his presence on and off the pitch.

The report states that the former Spain international has become a 'hugely important figure' at Molineux and Lopetegui believes he has been a key reason behind their improved performances in the second half of this term.

Wolves have undergone something of a transition this campaign and have already lost plenty of behind the scenes leadership in the form of defender Conor Coady, who joined Everton on a loan-to-buy basis last summer and the Toffees have an option to make his deal permanent for £4.5 million, as per Football Insider.

Costa embodies similar leadership qualities and always brings the fight to the battle and has previously been labelled as a "warrior" by his former coach Antonio Conte.

Diego-Costa-celebrating-for-Wolves-against-Brentford

In 2022/23, the Lagarto-born veteran has made 25 appearances for Wolves in all competitions this term, registering one goal in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored notes that Costa has also won 1.3 aerial duels per match in the Premier League, helping his side to get up the pitch and providing a handy presence for defenders to deal with.

As per The Guardian, Lopetegui praised Costa's work rate since joining the club on a free transfer last year following their 2-0 victory over Brentford in April, stating: “He has a big heart. He is a very competitive player, in the bad moments he continued working because he has his spirit. You can’t buy this spirit. That’s why he’s made the career he’s had. We are happy for him, he has to continue working. He has made a very good match and when he came here, he came with the intention to help the team, the club and the coach."

Costa may be a throwback of a striker in comparison to modern-day forwards. However, his determination has never been called into question. As per FBRef, Costa ranks in the top 12% of forwards across Europe's top five divisions for clearances completed over the last 365 days, having managed 1.23 per 90 minutes.

His statistics may not be overwhelmingly good, though he must be leading by example on the field and in the dressing room if he is spoken about so highly by Lopetegui.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones doesn't think that Costa will sign a contract extension if he isn't guaranteed to play regularly.

Jones told FFC: "I think Wolves have to prioritise exactly what they want over the summer, because Lopetegui is only going to have a certain amount of money to spend and it seems he's already slightly concerned about the limits that might be put on him for that. So I can't see Costa getting the contract that he would normally want if he's only going to have limited play time."

Given Wolves' financial problems that has put Lopetegui's position 'in doubt' according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, as per BBC Sport, the Old Gold may not be able to enjoy a flurry of transfer activity this summer as they rebuild for next term.

In that case, it may be wise to keep hold of Costa, who is also fluent in Portuguese and has found himself at home in the dressing room for another season to avoid losing his experience for free.

Leeds: Joe Wainman reacts to Fabrizio Romano’s update on Raphinha

Leeds United YouTuber Joe Wainman has been reacting to a Twitter update from Fabrizio Romano regarding Raphinha.

The Lowdown: Romano’s update on Raphinha

The Brazil international has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in recent months, with his agent Deco reaching a ‘full agreement’ with the Catalan giants over a five-year deal.

However, agreeing on a fee with the Whites for the 25-year-old has proven tricky for the La Liga club, especially due to their current financial issues.

Romano stated on Sunday morning that ‘Leeds want €55m’ (£47.2m) for their star man and won’t change their price tag. That is a different figure from what was previously reported by Phil Hay, who stated earlier this month that it would likely take a bid between £60m and £70m to get Raphinha out of Elland Road.

The Latest: Wainman left fuming

Wainman, who is known for his JustJoeFootballShow on YouTube, was one of many who replied to Romano’s update regarding Raphinha on Twitter.

He voiced his frustration with the journalist’s update by saying: ‘This €55m tag best be a joke, man.’

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The Verdict: He’s right

The Whites hold all the cards when it comes to a potential exit for Raphinha after he played a major role in keeping the club in the Premier League. There is no release clause in his deal as a result, with the 25-year-old still having two years remaining on his Leeds contract.

A number of Premier League clubs are now also keen on the winger, so selling for anything under £50m – as Romano has suggested – would be a disappointment, and Wainman is right to feel aggrieved.

In an ideal world, if Raphinha were to depart, multiple clubs would end up in a bidding war which would see the Whites receive a fee in the region of £60m-£70m, as Hay previously mentioned.

In other news: The Athletic share weekend transfer news as Leeds and Orta now eye ‘exceptional’ Premier League attacker

Rangers must sign Matthew Sorinola

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst is set for a busy few months working alongside Ross Wilson in his first summer transfer window in charge of the Glasgow giants.

The Dutchman joined after the end of last summer’s market and was backed in the January window as Aaron Ramsey, Amad Diallo, James Sands and Mateusz Zukowski all came in.

One of the first pieces of business he may need to worry about is the possible departure of defender Calvin Bassey.

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has backed the Nigeria international to reunite with his former manager Steven Gerrard. He recently told GIVEMESPORT: “Bassey is clearly highly rated by Villa. I think that deal will happen; I can see it happening. Obviously, [Diego] Carlos coming in might change the picture, but it’s clear Villa rate him highly, and for me, it’s just a no-brainer.

“The way he played in the Europa League, he looks like a player that’s just naturally ready to step up and perform.”

Unearth Bassey 2.0

If the defender does end up at Villa, Rangers could unearth Bassey 2.0 in a deal for left-back Matthew Sorinola, who was touted with a move to Ibrox last year.

Like the current Gers man, who came through the ranks at Leicester, he is eligible to play for England or Nigeria at international level and can come in as a full-back option for van Bronckhorst, which is why the club must now return for his services and agree a deal.

He spent the 2020/21 campaign in the first team at MK Dons in League One and caught the eye with a string of impressive displays.

In 34 appearances, he registered four assists and created an eye-catching eight ‘big chances’ as he showcased his ability to provide an attacking threat from left wing-back.

This shows that he has the ability to burst forward down the left flank in attack, which is something Gers fans have been able to watch with their own English/Nigerian defender this year as Bassey registered three assists in the Premiership.

Former Dons manager Russell Martin once took the time to hail the gem’s talent, saying: “He’s technically right up there with anyone in the squad – he wants to play. I love his calmness too – for a young lad, he’s so composed.

“He defended really well. People may question his size but when you’re as brave as he is to play with the ball and get in people’s faces and shut them down, he has so much ability and potential.”

At the age of 21, he has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and he can join with a view to him improving over time, rather than being expected to be the finished article straight away.

Rangers have already enjoyed success in bringing Bassey over as a young left-back from an English club in a similar deal and they can now repeat that trick by signing Sorinola, albeit he would be arriving from Belgian side Royale Union Saint Gilloise after joining them from MK Dons.

Van Bronckhorst can take his time with Sorinola and help him to fulfil his potential and become a first-team regular at Ibrox, with the gem potentially following in Bassey’s footsteps at left-back.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Weston: Rangers can form deadly future duo in deal for highly-rated teen…

WBA can replace Sawyers with Quevin Castro

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has not been shy when it comes to discussing the squad overhaul that he feels is needed at the Midlands club during the upcoming summer transfer window.

One move that could be on the horizon may see Baggies midfielder Romaine Sawyers wave goodbye to the club after it was recently reported that they will not be using their option to extend his contract beyond this summer.

While the Hawthorns outfit will undoubtedly be looking to dive into the transfer market to bring some new faces into the squad this summer, it turns out that they may already have their ideal replacement for Sawyers in their ranks.

Back in July, the club announced that they had secured the services of “highly-rated teenager Quevin Moises Castro on a two-year deal following a successful trial period at the club.”

Described by the club’s official website as “an energetic and powerful central-midfielder”, the 20-year-old also received praise from former West Brom manager Valerien Ismael, who had this to say about him.

He said: “Quevin has a lot of quality. He has a lot of principle, aggression for the six position, he’s on the front foot. Technically he is very good, he’s a young player who needs to learn a lot but he plays a part in our process.”

In 15 league appearances for West Brom’s U23 side, the Portuguese youngster got himself on the scoresheet on two occasions as well as making three senior appearances.

The first of those senior appearances came back in August during West Brom’s disappointing 6-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

Despite the unfortunate scoreline, Castro managed to show glimpses of what he’s capable of.

With 90 minutes under his belt, the midfielder won four duels, completed one dribble and made 14 passes with one key pass.

The Birmingham Mail then said that the summer recruit showed “some silky skills when on the ball and he carried it with a swagger, but sometimes tried to do too much.”

Taking this into account, it’s safe to say that Castro certainly has talent and potential in him.

Moving forward, it’s just a case of him convincing Bruce that he has what it takes to be a regular figure in the senior squad.

With Sawyers now facing the exit door, the upcoming pre-season period will give the Portuguese prospect the chance to do just that.

In other news: Imagine him & Mowatt: Bruce can form scary WBA duo by signing “outrageous” 24 G/A star

Man City: Pep ‘ready to pursue’ deal for new transfer target

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is now ‘ready to pursue’ an agreement as he eyes a ‘sensational’ new transfer target, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Guardiola set for overhaul?

Erling Haaland’s summer signing from Borussia Dortmund ahead of City’s next Premier League campaign appears to be the tip of the iceberg going by recent claims.

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Guardiola is believed to be on the hunt for more new additions as the English champions ahead of the 2022/2023 season, including an heir to the departing Fernandinho and a possible new left-back.

Despite being in the midst of a fierce title battle with rivals Liverpool, with a crucial last remaining matchday set to determine the victor, Eastlands officials have allegedly started their transfer work behind-the-scenes.

The Daily Mail and journalist Dominic King, sharing some news, now have an interesting City development as they eye a new target in Brighton defender Marc Cucurella.

The Latest: King makes Cucurella claim…

As per The Mail reporter, taking to Twitter, the Sky Blues and Guardiola are ‘ready to pursue a £30m deal’ for the Seagulls star as they seek to solve their left-back issue.

Despite the phenomenal form of Joao Cancelo, who can operate on that flank, his natural position is on the right and City’s boss allegedly wants a natural left-footer on that side for ‘balance’ – as written in the report.

The Verdict: Priority?

As well as Cancelo, Guardiola has a brilliant makeshift option in Oleksandr Zinchenko at his disposal who has proven reliable and an underrated member of the team over these last few campaigns.

His regrettable most recent display away to West Ham aside, the Ukraine international is often a more-than capable deputy when called upon and we believe signing a left-back is more of a problem for the future.

That being said, Cucurella may well be one to monitor over the next couple of seasons.

The Spaniard, still just 23-years-old, has impressed in England since joining Brighton from Getafe last summer and no full-back has won possession more times over 21/22.

Called a ‘sensational player’ by members of the media (Josh Bunting, Islington Gazette), pundit Paddy Kenny was also in awe of how Cucurella ‘tore’ City’s arch rivals Man United ‘apart’ in a 4-0 victory recently (Football Insider).

The defender notched a goal in that game against the Red Devils and proved menacing, and if he were to do the same against them in a Sky Blue jersey, there is little doubting Cucurella would soon become a fan favourite.

In other news: £100,000-per-week ‘phenomenon’ could be Man City’s next star signing after Haaland, he’s ‘tempted’ to join…find out more here.

Manchester United: Fabrizio Romano drops Frenkie de Jong update

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on Manchester United’s pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong after news of financial troubles at Camp Nou.

The Lowdown: 95% possibility

De Jong, who worked under new United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days.

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Spanish journalist Gerard Romero revealed that there is a 95 per cent chance of the Dutch midfielder reuniting with Ten Hag in Manchester, adding that Barcelona need to sell this summer.

The 25-year-old has been at the Nou Camp since 2019 and has made 138 appearances for the Catalan giants, but it looks as if his days in Spain are now numbered.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Transfer expert Romano dropped an update regarding De Jong on Thursday morning. He revealed there ‘has been contact with Manchester United’, but added that ‘sources say there’s no full/close agreement with Barcelona’ as of yet.

Romano also backed up Romero’s financial news, suggesting Barcelona’s situation could have an impact on the midfielder’s future.

The Verdict: Pogba replacement

Plenty of incomings and outgoings are expected this summer, with Paul Pogba expected to fall into the later of the two when his contract expires this summer.

Therefore, De Jong, primarily a central midfielder who can also turn out in a holding role, could prove to be a replacement for the Frenchman.

However, Fred will be the only central midfielder available to Ten Hag should Pogba depart, and if De Jong is the marquee midfield addition, you could argue that a few more reinforcements in the centre of the pitch will be needed ahead of the 2022/23 season.

In other news: ‘Important’ – Romano also drops this Man Utd update as Ten Hag close to first piece of business. 

Joe Hart tipped to finish career at Celtic

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has tipped Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart to finish his long and distinguished career at Parkhead.

The Lowdown: Hart excelling at Celtic

The 35-year-old joined the Hoops from Tottenham last summer, with Ange Postecoglou seeing him as someone who could aid their Scottish Premiership charge.

Hart has proven to be a superb signing to date, starting 32 league matches and playing a key role in his side topping the table late in the campaign.

The former England stopper’s current Celtic deal expires in the summer of 2024 and it looks likely that he will stay until at least that point.

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The Latest: McLeish makes key claim

Speaking to Football Insider, reacting to news from a Celtic source that the Hoops are on the hunt for a new shot-stopper signing, McLeish claimed that Hart could now see out the rest of his career at Parkhead, given the manner in which he has slotted in there:

“I don’t think he needs the competition. It’s good for the club, of course, but the mentality of Joe Hart means he won’t be affected by someone coming in.

“He’ll be playing for Celtic until he decides to hang his boots up. It’s a big club. Not many come bigger in the world, and the challenge of playing for such a big club has revitalised him. They’ve helped him find his mojo again.

“He’s got a touch of the Allan McGregor genes about him, and I can see him seeing out his career in Scotland.”

The Verdict: Best for all parties

The idea of Hart remaining at Celtic until he calls it a day feels like a no-brainer for all parties, with the Englishman still a force between the sticks, having once been hailed as ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’ by legend Gianluigi Buffon.

At 35, he is still far from done as a ‘keeper and his influence for the Hoops can continue to shine through beyond this season, with Buffon himself still playing at the age of 44.

Hart seems to have found a great level of form and confidence again, having lost his way a little in the Premier League, and Postecoglou will be delighted with the impact he has made.

In other news, a financial expert has dropped a key Celtic claim. Read more here.

Liverpool monitoring Hirving Lozano

Liverpool are interested in signing “entertaining” Napoli winger Hirving Lozano this summer amid reports that Napoli are winning to sell the player.

Reports from Italy (via El Futbolero) said the Reds are ‘monitoring’ the situation of the winger with a view to making a move for him ahead of next season.

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Reports in La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Get Italian Football News) also confirm that Lozano could be sold and that the Napoli president is willing to listen to offers for him. He is rated at £31.5m but is contracted at the club for another two seasons so might fetch a higher fee.

The 26-year-old joined the Italian side in 2019 from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and has impressed greatly since. He’s made 113 appearances for the club in total and been directly involved in 39 goals.

He told Mexican TV last year that he would like to play for a club “stronger” than Napoli with it seeming as though he has ambitions to win more silverware. However, this season Napoli have been in a title race and currently sit third in Serie A just five points off the top of the table Milan.

Lozano has played a key part in that success, which is why he’s attracted admirers across Europe. With Napoli having now qualified for next season’s Champions League he could be tempted to stick with what he knows, but the prospect of moving to Liverpool would be hard to turn down.

One player he could turn out to be like is Luis Diaz. Similarly to Lozano, the Columbian was relatively unknown before his move to Liverpool but has since proven more than capable of stepping up to the plate. If Lozano moved to Anfield and was able to do the same, then he would be a great signing for Klopp.

If you compare both players, their statistics read pretty similarly, suggesting precisely why he’s been described as “unplayable” when playing for his country.

Lozano has a higher number of goal creating actions per 90 minutes at 0.65 compared to Diaz’s 0.34, which proves his creative ability. However, the Colombian has a higher number of goals per shot on target at 0.45 compared to 0.26.

Ultimately if Lozano signed he would only improve under a coach as good as Klopp, and his ability to create goals alongside Diaz who can score, could see a greater partnership form.

IN other news: Klopp must finally axe Liverpool “cheerleader” who lost possession every 5 mins on Sat…

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