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Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side have gotten into their stride recently, and things have been starting to click for the Blues. They started the season in the worst possible way, a defeat at the hands of Manchester City, but since then have won three of their last four Premier League games, having also drawn with Crystal Palace.

The West London outfit have had some standout performers along the way. Nicolas Jackson has started the season in fine form, with four goals and two assists in five top-flight games. Cole Palmer has also been superb so far this term, having scored twice and grabbed four assists in five appearances.

One of their summer signings has also started life at Stamford Bridge excellently. That player is Jadon Sancho.

Sancho’s start to his Chelsea career

The former Manchester United winger had plenty of eyes on him when he moved from the Red Devils to the Blues of West London. It is fair to say his time at Old Trafford did not live up to expectations; the former Borussia Dortmund man left with 12 goals and six assists in 83 games for the club.

However, all of that seems to be in the past now, and Sancho is thriving, in an optimal environment with a coach who ensures the winger feels “love”, as the Italian put it, following the winger’s debut against Bournemouth.

So far, the England international has made just two appearances for the Blues, and he already has two assists to his name. He registered a match-winning assist on debut against the Cherries for Christopher Nkunku and created Jackson’s first goal against West Ham last weekend.

The 24-year-old has been superb in ideal conditions, both on and off the pitch. Unlike his time at United, Sancho has had his skillset maximised by the coach, creating lots of overlapping and underlapping runs and quick combination play, as his assist at the Vitality Stadium showed.

Maresca may have another Blues player who could further enhance Sancho’s output and could well decide to unleash him against Brighton this afternoon, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

How Dewsbury-Hall can help maximise Sancho

English midfielder Dewsbury-Hall signed for Chelsea from 2023/24 Championship winners Leicester City. As managers often do, he was the player whom Maresca chose to take with him from the Foxes, for a fee of just £30m, and is now earning £80k-per-week, according to Capology.

That certainly seemed like a superb deal on the face of things, given the Leicester academy graduate was one of the Championship’s best players last term. He scored 12 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 44 games in England’s second tier.

The former Luton Town loanee ranked highly in several creative metrics for the Foxes last term, and his underlying statistics further suggested that he was one of the better players in the Championship, as per FBref.

Stat

Number

Rank

Assists

14

3rd

Expected assists

12.6xA

2nd

Progressive passes

272

10th

Key passes

109

5th

Passes into penalty area

84

2nd

Indeed, he could form a superb partnership with Sancho, given the fact Maresca used him as a mezzala-type midfielder last term for the Foxes, operating in the half-space on the left-hand side, similar areas to where Sancho players his best football. The fluidity in their rotations and sharp combination play could elevate Chelsea even more, after a good start to the season.

With the Leicester academy graduate making those underlapping runs to help facilitate Sancho, we could see a superb partnership form. Given the Chelsea number 22’s superb creative final third numbers, both he and the winger could profit and create far more chances for the Blues.

So far, Dewsbury-Hall is yet to show his best form in a Chelsea shirt. He has played just three times in the Premier League, and is yet to start a game.

However, he is a player Maresca certainly trusts, and if he is unleashed against Brighton – perhaps ahead of Enzo Fernandez – could begin the start of a special partnership between himself and Sancho.

Maresca could now drop Madueke and unleash Chelsea's "monster" instead

Maresca must make a tough decision to rejig Chelsea’s attack…

1 ByConnor Holden Sep 27, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur might not necessarily have the silverware to show it, but they have been blessed with some incredible players over the years.

The likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min helped to define the Premier League during the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Gareth Bale was arguably the best player in the world during the 2012/13 season, and even some of the less celebrated stars like Jermain Defoe remain English footballing icons.

However, while the North Londoners have had plenty of incredible talents over the years, they have also endured a fair few flops as well, with perhaps no group of disappointments more iconic than the ‘magnificent seven’ signed after Bale’s departure, which included one player who seriously failed to deliver on his promise.

The 'magnificent seven'

Okay, let’s start with the only signing who was an unmitigated success with Spurs: Christian Eriksen.

He joined the club from Ajax for £11.5m and would go on to make 305 appearances for the club, in which he’d score 69 goals, provide 88 assists, and reach the Champions League final in 2019.

The other player who could be argued to be a success in North London was Erik Lamela, who joined the club from AS Roma for about £25.7m and would go on to make 257 appearances for the club, in which he racked up 44 assists and 37 goals, including a Puskas winner in the North London Derby that is every bit as spectacular as you’d expect it to be.

Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, every other player signed with the Bale money proved to be flops of varying degrees.

The likes of Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, and Paulinho all eventually left the club having made little to no impact.

However, one final player in that group joined with a lot of expectations on his shoulders that the others did not, and so his failure in North London received far more attention from fans and pundits alike, and understandably so.

Roberto Soldado's Spurs career

Yes, the player in question is, of course, Roberto Soldado, which is a name that might still send shivers down the spines of Spurs fans to this very day.

The North Londoners paid Valencia a hefty fee of £26m to secure the Spaniard’s signature in August 2013, and considering he had just scored 30 goals and provided five assists in 46 games the season before, it’s easy to understand why.

Moreover, as he was coming to the club in such incredible form, it made sense why Defoe described him as a player who could take the Lilywhites to the “next level” that summer, but unfortunately for all involved, that did not even come remotely close to happening.

Instead, the man who couldn’t stop scoring just the season before suddenly looked like an entirely average striker at best, and as journalist Sam Tighe said, “the flop of the season” at worst.

Now, in his defence, he did end his first season with 11 goals and five assists in 36 games, which looks alright. Still, in his 28 Premier League games, he only scored six goals and provided five assists, which is undeniably disappointing for a player expected to challenge for the Golden Boot.

Appearances

51

46

36

40

Goals

27

30

11

5

Assists

6

5

5

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.76

0.44

0.27

Moreover, in his second season in England, the Valencia-born marksman could only muster a meagre return of five goals and six assists in 40 appearances, after which he was sold to Villarreal for just £7m that summer.

Over the following eight seasons, the 12-capped international would play for the Yellow Submarines, Fenerbahçe, Granada and Levante, but he would never reach the same incredible heights he did at Valencia before finally retiring last summer.

Ultimately, Soldado was an undeniably talented striker – you only have to look at his record for Valencia to see that – but for whatever reason, he was an unequivocal flop at White Hart Lane and couldn’t quite live up to Defoe’s lofty expectations.

Spurs closely tracking £25m new transfer target likened to Gareth Bale

The Lilywhites are reportedly keeping tabs on the impressive forward ahead of January.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 23, 2024

After back-to-back campaigns of coming painfully close and falling at the final hurdle, there was a feeling among Arsenal fans that it would be their year this season.

That feeling was only strengthened when Mikel Arteta's side picked up two wins from their first two games last month, but things went awry against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Early on in the second half, Declan Rice was given a controversial second yellow, and while the Gunners didn't lose, they did drop two points, and perhaps even worse than that, they'll be without their £105m man for the North London Derby on Sunday.

However, in even worse news, Martin Odegaard limped off the pitch in Norway's game against Austria last night, so it looks like he, too, will miss the game on Sunday.

Interestingly, the club once had a Premier League star on their books who would have been the perfect replacement for the Norwegian.

The latest on Odegaard

In the 67th minute of Norway's 2-1 victory over Austria last night, Odegaard was substituted for what has now been confirmed as an ankle injury.

Speaking after the game, Norway's team doctor, Ola Sand, revealed that the Arsenal captain had suffered a "small ankle sprain" and that the national team would wait and "see throughout the evening and [Tuesday] what happens next and what we will do about it."

The injury is yet another crushing blow for the Gunners, who will now likely be without their first-choice midfield three for the must-win game on Sunday due to Rice's aforementioned suspension and new signing Mikel Merino's freak accident in training last month.

That said, while Thomas Partey and Jorginho should be able to step into the fold for those two, albeit at a lower level, there simply isn't a natural replacement for the captain in the squad, and considering he racked up a seriously impressive haul of 22 goals and assists last season, that's a serious problem.

However, while it is of no help to Arteta today, the club once had a youngster on the books who has since developed into an international star and would've been the ideal replacement.

Why Eberechi Eze would be the ideal replacement

Yes, the former Arsenal youngster in question is Eberechi Eze, who was a part of the club's youth system between the ages of nine and 13, after which he was released for allegedly being too small.

The Englishman then spent time in the youth systems of Fulham and Millwall before settling at Queens Park Rangers, where he made his senior debut in an FA Cup Third Round defeat to Blackburn Rovers on the seventh of January 2017.

After a short term loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers, the Greenwich-born gem finally made his way into the Hoops' first team and by the time he had left to join Crystal Palace for £20m in August 2020, he had racked up an impressive haul of 20 goals and 13 assists in 112 appearances.

Appearances

36

17

40

31

Goals

4

1

10

11

Assists

6

1

4

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.27

0.11

0.35

0.54

However, while he impressed at Loftus Road, he exploded at Selhurst Park, and while he's battled with injuries, he has since become an incredibly sought-after player, with a tally of 28 goals and 17 assists in 128 games for the Eagles and a release clause worth £68m that is reportedly set to be active once more next summer.

The Gunners were loosely linked with the 26-year-old "superstar", as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, over the summer, but nothing materialised. However, given Odegaard's recent injury, we are sure the club wish they had pursued him further, as his positional versatility could have been the answer to their current predicament.

For example, while the eight-capped Englishman has played all over the pitch during his career, his most played position – with 105 appearances there – is attacking midfield, and given his performances last season, in which he scored 11 goals and provided six assists, he undoubtedly could have helped carry the creative and attacking load in the Norwegian's absence.

However, Arsenal made their decision 13 years ago, and while Eze has gone on to become a serious talent, there is no telling what would have happened had he stayed in North London; moreover, there is always the chance the club will go back in for him next summer.

Arsenal let their Saka regen leave for £0, now he's outscoring Martinelli

The incredible talent left for nothing.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 10, 2024

According to reports, six Paris Saint-Germain players have contacted the president of the club to complain about comments made by Kylian Mbappe in a recent interview.

What did Kylian Mbappe say about PSG?

All doesn't appear to be going so well in Paris right now. After all, their key asset – the 24-year-old World Cup winner – seems to be angling for a move away.

Indeed, as per French news outlet L’Equipe (via The Athletic), the club have handed a three-page letter to Mbappe, giving him an ultimatum.

They have given him a deadline of 31st July to make a decision about his future, accusing him of unsettling the club, after he

publicly announced that he intends to leave as a free agent next year.

Essentially, they want him to either commit to the club and sign a new contract, or accept that he has to be sold this summer.

Amid all this, a new interview with France Football – conducted during France's June international camp – was published this week.

In the interview, he said (via Goal): "Do people trivialise my performance? Yes, but at the same time, I don't blame them. In France, they saw me grow up, they see me all the time, at PSG every weekend or in the national team. And I've been scoring a lot for years. So, for people, it becomes normal.

"I never complained that my performances were trivialised. I am young and I had the chance to be an observer, not so long ago, before being an actor. And myself, I trivialised what [Lionel] Messi was doing, what Cristiano Ronaldo was doing, what the great players were doing. We are in a consumer society, where 'it's good, but do it again'. And the fact that I'm right next door, in Paris…

"I think playing at PSG doesn't help much because it's a divisive team, a divisive club. So, of course it attracts gossip, but it doesn't bother me because I know what I'm doing and how I do it."

Why are Mbappe's PSG teammates upset?

It certainly isn't a great look from Mbappe to refer to Paris Saint-Germain as a "divisive team", and this evidently appears to have annoyed his teammates.

Indeed, as per a report from Sky Sports News, as many as six PSG players have contacted club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to voice their opinions.

Reporter Kaveh Solhekol explained on Twitter: "Six PSG players have contacted president Nasser Al-Khelaifi this morning to complain about comments made about the club by Kylian Mbappe in an interview with France Football magazine."

Incredibly, he also added: "Two of the six are players who have joined this summer."

It certainly doesn't bode well for the Ligue 1 outfit if their new signings are already unhappy about the behaviour of the club's star player.

And with all this drama in mind, perhaps it will be best for all involved if Mbappe was indeed to depart in the near future.

However, some reports suggest a deal to move to La Liga next summer for free may already have been agreed upon, with PSG even supposedly feeling this is the case.

The saga is finally nearing its closure, much to the bemusement of West Ham supporters.

After endless months of speculation that has seen Declan Rice linked with every top club in the country, it emerged as a straight shootout for his signature between Arsenal and Manchester City.

However, it was confirmed that the Premier League Champions weren’t prepared to enter into any kind of bidding war, which ceded momentum to the high-flying Gunners, who agreed to a £105m move for the Englishman.

This has presented the West Ham hierarchy and David Moyes with a monumental budget to reinvest in the inexplicable gap that the club captain is set to leave.

With this sort of money and the attraction of yet another year of European football, the Irons could tempt a huge pool of irresistibly talented players.

One man who has been tipped to replace and has enjoyed a magnificent season is Joao Palhinha.

What’s the latest on Joao Palhinha to West Ham?

According to TheSecretScout, the Irons have made the Fulham midfielder their “top priority” this summer as talks between the club and the player’s representative have already taken place.

However, a stumbling block remains due to the size of the fee being asked.

It was previously revealed by Football Insider that the Cottagers will only consider his sale for around £60m.

For other clubs, this figure is a startling and unmanageable price tag, but with the East London outfit financed and buoyed with the money acquired from Rice, a deal is definitely possible.

How good is Joao Palhinha?

In his debut season in England, the 27-year-old has forged a tremendous reputation as one of the division’s most influential and commanding forces – a crucial component of a Fulham side that has massively overachieved.

This is reinforced by the fact that the Portuguese made the most tackles (147) in the Premier League, which was comfortably more than second-placed Moises Caicedo (100).

This remarkable statistic means that the former Sporting Lisbon star also ranks impressively across the continent, as he sits in the top 1% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles per 90. But, his status as an authoritative pivot is also cemented by his position within the best 12% for clearances per 90 and aerials won per 90.

With this tough-tackling, physically imperious profile, Palhinha could fill the boots of former Hammer Scott Parker.

Across four seasons for the East Londoners, between 2007 and 2011, the former Bournemouth manager made 129 appearances and won Hammer of the Year on two occasions.

During the 2009/10 season, when Parker secured the award on the second occasion, he mirrored the assets that Palhinha has expertly displayed.

Indeed, the 5 foot 9 man recorded similar stats to the Fulham star in the Premier League for tackles per game (3.3 vs 4.2), interceptions per game (2.4 vs 1.3), and clearances (1.4 vs 1.7).

Described as “fantastic” by Gary Neville, Palhinha has already shown he is a commendably reliable player in English football and would be an excellent way to ease the woes surrounding Rice’s exit.

Newcastle United remain interested in signing Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Is Torres set to leave Barcelona this summer?

The Spaniard has been at the Camp Nou since the middle of the 2021/22 season, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Manchester City.

Torres has similarly had to settle for playing a supporting role for Barca, however, doing his bit for them en route to winning the La Liga title last season, but rarely being considered a key man. The £62,000-a-week attacker may have featured in 33 of his side's 38 league matches, but only 14 of those appearances were from the start, with others preferred in attack, from Raphinha to Robert Lewandowski.

The 21-year-old's future has been a big talking point in recent weeks, and with a potential exit coming his way, Newcastle are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for him. Now, a new claim has emerged – one that suggests their interest isn't going away.

Could Newcastle swoop in and sign Torres?

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Torres is on the list of Barca's "transferable players" and the Magpies have seemingly made contact over a move, "calling for" him to come in this summer.

The Catalan giants will likely have to sell players to ease their current financial struggles and the former City man is someone who is seen as expendable. Raphinha is also loosely mentioned as a possible target for Newcastle, but it appears as though Torres is the more viable option of the two.

The Spanish youngster clearly hasn't hit the heights some expected of him at both City and Barca, but that's not to say he wouldn't be an impressive signing by the Magpies this summer.

Torres already has 39 goals to his name at senior club level, as well as 15 in 35 caps for Spain, and he should only become more of a force as he matures with age. His current manager Xavi has even gone as far as to call him "world-class" in the past, showing how much he rates him, even though he hasn't properly made the grade at Barca to date.

He is someone who could dovetail beautifully with Alexander Isak at Newcastle, being capable of playing in a wide or central attacking role, and the hope is that his past Premier League experience with City, where e scored a hat-trick at St James' Park, would allow him to hit the ground running.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a Ligue 1 ace that could end Julen Lopetegui’s side's woes in front of goal.

The Spaniard is presented with the task of improving his squad on a tight budget this summer, following the reveal of the club's Financial Fair Play (FFP) worries.

With the latest player linked to Molineux, Wolves could strike a deal that would be kind to their finances and pose a significant improvement to their squad.

What’s the latest on Moussa Dembele to Wolves?

As reported by Express and Star yesterday, Wolves are interested in signing Olympique Lyonnais striker Moussa Dembele.

The report claims that the Midlands club are ‘monitoring’ the 26-year-old, who is set to become a free agent this summer.

It’s mentioned that the Old Gold will face ‘considerable competition’ for the Frenchman’s signature, with unnamed clubs across Europe also interested.

What could Moussa Dembele offer to Wolves?

In 129 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon, Dembele has registered an impressive 67 goal contributions in scoring 56 times and contributing to 11 assists in five seasons for the club.

Lauded as “clinical” by scout Antonio Mango, the Frenchman could be an integral signing for Wolves, who ended the campaign as the Premier League’s lowest-scoring side with just 31 goals in 38 games.

The Pontoise-born talisman was snatched by the Ligue 1 side after a formidable spell in Scotland in which he led the line at Celtic, quickly cementing himself as a fan favourite.

In three seasons with the Glasgow giants, Dembele found the net 51 times in 94 appearances, showing his clinical nature in the final third and innate ability to lead the line.

Wolves aren’t short of creators with the likes of Pedro Neto and Matheus Nunes in the squad, so in having a striker as competent as the Lyon ace, Lopetegui could get the best out of his attack to turn fortunes around at Molineux after a dreary season.

In a campaign that lacked sufficient game time for the 26-year-old, the forward lost his place to former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who scored 27 goals this term which subsequently forced Dembele out of favour.

The former Celtic man’s misfortune could be Wolves’ treasure, with him displaying signs that he could rejuvenate Lopetegui’s side in the final third, as highlighted by his statistics in the season prior in Ligue 1.

As per FBref, the 2021/22 campaign proved to be a strong one for the 26-year-old, who ranked in the top 4% of forwards in the league in terms of non-penalty goals, recording an average of 0.65 per 90.

Another impressive area that the forward excelled in was his activity in the box, averaging 6.08 touches in the penalty box per 90, significantly more than Wolves’ current strike option Raul Jimenez who registered 4.68 per 90 in the Premier League this term.

Wolves could land themselves an established talisman on a free transfer here, which may well prove to be a deal that could turn the club around.

Liverpool could soon add another midfielder to their ranks, with AS in Spain, via Paisley Gates, reporting that the Reds are prepared to trigger the release clause of Gabri Veiga this summer.

Are Liverpool going to sign Gabri Veiga?

The 21-year-old midfielder currently features for Celta Vigo and had only played a smattering of times for the Spanish side before the 2022/23 season. In fact, since being handed his La Liga debut in 2020/21, he had only managed 13 appearances in two campaigns for the club before the beginning of 2022/23.

However, having been trusted on a more frequent basis by his club this term, he has paid them back handsomely. Featuring 36 times this year, he has managed eleven goals and four assists along the way.

Even more impressive is how he ranks when compared to some of the more experienced midfielders in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. Despite some of the names he is going up against, his stats are incredible for a player still in the infancy of his career. His 0.43 non-penalty goals per 90 rate for example puts him in the top one percent in that area and his 2.67 progressive carries per 90 also has him in the 88th percentile in that area too.

Veiga then looks like the real deal – and that is why there now appears to be plenty of clubs willing to sign him. According to a report from Spanish newspaper AS, via Paisley Gates, Liverpool are not only interested, but FSG and Jorg Schmadtke are actually ready and willing to pay his release clause. The player has also been assured by Celta's president that they will sanction an exit if the fee is met.

What is Gabri Veiga's release clause?

That fee stands at 40 million Euros (or £34.2m), which is more than affordable for the Reds. However, they will face Premier League competition from the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea, who are also named as willing to stump up the cash in the report.

Veiga is seen as a really impressive player already by those in the game, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling him a "quality box-to-box midfielder" and adding that he has been a "revelation" over the course of the 2022/23 season.

It bodes well for Liverpool, who need reinforcements in the centre of the field. If Schmadtke and Co manage to snap him up then, it could see them land a really exciting prospect who could instantly improve their team.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Kouadio 'Manu' Kone this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player as the summer transfer window finally opens.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Kouadio 'Manu' Kone?

According to Foot Mercato journalist Ignazio Genuardi, Liverpool have made an approach in a bid to sign the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder this summer.

Genuardi took to Twitter on Tuesday to reveal:

"Approached by Liverpool, the former Toulousain M. Koné also arouses the interest of Chelsea and Newcastle. Under contract until June 2025 with Gladbach (+ an additional year as an option), Bleuet is very popular with the Magpies, who are looking for 2 reinforcements in the midfield."

Who would Kone replace in the Liverpool team?

It is no secret that Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are on the hunt for another midfield addition alongside Alexis Mac Allister this summer, and prioritising the defensive midfield position is a must.

After bolstering the attacking presence in the centre of the pitch with Mac Allister, the signing of Kone could be the perfect opportunity to strengthen another important midfield role – screening the defence.

Brazilian mainstay Fabinho has offered many years of high-quality service on the red side of Merseyside and has played an influential role in the numerous major trophies that have been collected under Klopp's reign.

However, this season, the defensive midfielder has struggled to maintain his high standards on the pitch and has ultimately become more of a hindrance than a help in the centre of the pitch, meaning any further reinforcements in his position would be bad news for him.

Former Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, launched a scathing attack on the midfield earlier in the season and named Fabinho as one of the main culprits:

"We’ve spoken at times about Liverpool conceding goals because of the high line. But the big problem at Liverpool right now is the midfield. Certainly, Fabinho has been miles off the pace this season."

The £180k-per-week ace has had a rapid decline in his output compared to last season in the top-flight (2021/22) with fewer interceptions won (37 v 39), a much worse take-on success rate (46.7% v 77.3%), fewer ball recoveries (193 v 184) and a lower aerial duel success rate (64.2% v 58.8%).

When comparing Kone's output with the Liverpool midfielder this season, it is clear that the Bundesliga sensation – hailed "monstrous" by Jacek Kulig – has outperformed him in many key defensive attributes including blocks (26 v 18), tackles and interceptions completed (106 v 102), take-on success (48.3% v 46.7%), dribblers tackled rate (51.1% v 38.7%) and ball recoveries (221 v 180), as per FBref.

With that being said, the signing of Kone – who has a reported price tag of €40m (£34m) – would be a major coup for Klopp this summer, providing the German coach with a young player who can not only succeed Fabinho but also improve upon his defensive presence in the centre of the pitch.

Leeds United have reportedly "opened talks" with Carlos Carvalhal over becoming their new manager this summer, according to a fresh rumour regarding the search for a new boss.

Which managers are Leeds linked with?

It has been a period to forget at Elland Road over the past 12 months or so, with the club getting through three different managers en route to being relegated from the Premier League.

Amid the new takeover from 49ers Enterprises, Leeds are now working hard on finding a new boss, with so many different names linked with the job in the weeks since their relegation was confirmed.

The likes of Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan and Scott Parker have all been mooted as potential successors to Sam Allardyce, but no clear favourite has emerged in the race yet.

Now, a new name has been thrown into the hat – someone with plenty of experience in English football in the past.

Are Whites in talks with Carvalhal?

According to iG Esporte [via Sport Witness], Leeds have "already opened talks" in "recent days" with Carvalhal, suggesting that he is considered a strong option to come in and lead the promotion charge at Elland Road.

The 57-year-old is "free in the market" currently, having left his post as Celta Vigo manager earlier this year, although Brazilian side Atletico-MG are also believed to be eyeing him up.

Carvalhal could be an interesting appointment by Leeds if they get a move over the line, having previously managed Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City in the past. He got the former into the Championship playoff final in 2016, and the semi-finals the following year, although he only lasted approximately six months with the latter.

The Portuguese is now a hugely experienced manager, having taken charge of teams all over the world, from Sporting CP to Besiktas, and he also won the Portuguese Cup with Braga in 2021.

There are question marks over whether Carvalhal is the strongest contender to come in, though, considering the likes of Rodgers and Potter are arguably more highly thought of currently, having been established Premier League managers for a while now, despite admittedly both losing their jobs earlier in the campaign.

Meanwhile, someone like Daniel Farke has won promotion from the Championship twice in the past, during his time at Norwich City, which is something Carvalhal has never managed, so he could be a safer pair of hands.