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Leeds United are reportedly eyeing up a move for French wonder-kid Eduardo Camavinga ahead of the summer transfer window. According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Whites are said to be in the running to rival Liverpool and Real Madrid for his signature.

The 18-year-old is into his last 18 months of his current contract with Rennes and the pressure could be on the Ligue 1 outfit to cash in. Camavinga is currently valued at £54million by Transfermarkt, but this could be slashed if the club get too wary of losing him on a free.

Leeds being in the running for his services is a very bold move from Victor Orta and co, but would he fit in with the dynamic squad at Elland Road?

Should Leeds sign Eduardo Camavinga?

Having such a high market value as a teenager is impressive. Camavinga is following in the footsteps of fellow French talent Kylian Mbappe, who has been highly sought after since he was a very young man.

However, this may be a worry for clubs like Leeds, who aren’t particularly known for having money to burn. However, Andrea Radrizanni has proved he’s a man for the cause after splashing out decent amounts on several new players last summer.

Bielsa’s midfield is arguably where the issues lie – only Mateusz Klich and Stuart Dallas can say they contribute to the goalscoring action on a regular basis. The two have a combined eight goals and seven assists this season and rank behind only wingers Jack Harrison and Raphinha and star striker Patrick Bamford in terms of goal involvements, as per BBC Sport.

The Whites would certainly benefit from some more creativity in the engine room, but signing Camavinga would heap a lot of pressure onto Jamie Shackleton. The latter is already three years the Frenchman’s senior and he is struggling to make a name for himself at Leeds.

According to Transfermarkt, Shackleton has featured in just 12 Premier League games this season, starting only four. He has been pushed out of the squad on numerous occasions and signing a talent younger than him, one with more playing experience would only make things even harder for him at Elland Road.

Camavinga has missed just two league matches this season and that was due to injury. He is a first-team regular and even has Champions League experience. He was described as a “huge talent” by France national team manager Didier Deschamps, who has already given him his first senior cap.

It would be a hefty, but very wise, investment to splash out on his services, but Shackleton may need to look over his shoulder if the midfielder does make the switch to Yorkshire.

In other news, Leeds must act fast as Ezgjan Alioski looks for a new club…

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered a major transfer update on Leeds United’s Jack Harrison.

What’s the story?

The Whites initially signed the 24-year-old from Manchester City on a season-long loan in the summer of 2018, before doing so again for the past couple of campaigns too – only this latest time, with an option to buy included.

Hay has now revealed that a deal to sign Harrison permanently is “as good as done”.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, the journalist said: “Leeds have got the option to take Jack Harrison from Manchester City, and my understanding of that is that it will happen; it’s as good as done, and it will be an £11m deal.

“I feel, having watched Harrison this season, I still think that’s a really good deal; I think that’s worth doing and good value at that price.”

Bielsa surely buzzing

Given that Harrison is now in his third stint on loan at Leeds United, there’s no questioning that Marcelo Bielsa absolutely loves the winger and what he brings to the table.

Speaking just last month, Bielsa said: “Harrison is a very strong player mentally. He is a very dedicated professional. And on occasion, like with all players, I maintain a dialogue with him when I see fit.”

The 24-year-old has played 117 games for the Whites under Bielsa and has been a key performer in his side’s return to the Premier League this season – in 25 appearances in the division, he has bagged six goals and provided a further four assists.

Tying him down to a permanent deal and ensuring his long-term future remains at Elland Road will surely have Bielsa buzzing.

Meanwhile, this Leeds star has been Bielsa’s real hero…

Celtic have offered Kyle Joseph a long-term deal ahead of the expiry of his Wigan Athletic contract, according to Football Insider.

The report claimed that the Hoops have submitted a formal offer to the 19-year-old striker in a bid to stave off growing competition from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, who are understood to be waiting on a character assessment before they step-up their interest.

The deal would apparently involve a £300,000 compensation payment to Wigan, who sit second from bottom in League One.

Who is Celtic target Kyle Joseph?

Joseph graduated from the Latics’ under-18s to the under-23s last season and this term he has made his first team breakthrough (via Transfermarkt). He has been handed 14 appearances in League One, 12 of which were starts, and scored five goals. Most notably, he netted a hat-trick in a 4-3 away win at Burton Albion just before the turn of the year.

According to WhoScored, Joseph’s predominant strengths lie in his dribbling and his finishing. However, he is currently out of action after injuring his back.

Transfer Tavern verdict

This could be another shrewd move from Celtic after they captured 19-year-old Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Liam Shaw on a pre-contract agreement in February (via Yorkshire Live) – a move with echoes of the potential deal for Joseph on a similar arrangement and at a similar age.

Deals like this enable the Hoops to build for the future with minimal expense, and it is always a good sign when there are high-profile competitors for a deal – once they can be seen off, of course.

If Spurs to make an offer of their own, it may come down to who can provide Joseph with the clearer and more exciting vision of his future.

In other news, this ex-Celtic player has taken aim at the club’s board.

Manchester United could potentially welcome David de Gea back into the first team fold this weekend for their clash with West Ham United.

The Spanish goalkeeper has been spending time back in his home country following the birth of his child. Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already confirmed that the stopper is back and is currently self-isolating ahead of a potential return to action.

This could tempt the Norwegian to reintroduce the 30-year-old straight back into the starting line-up in place of Dean Henderson, but the latter is more than deserving of holding onto the number one position.

When comparing the two goalkeepers’ statistics so far throughout the season, it is the former Sheffield United man who easily comes out on top.

According to SofaScore, Henderson has only conceded 0.6 goals per game in the Premier League compared to De Gea’s 1.2 – exactly half. Across the 16 games he has played in all competitions, the Englishman has claimed ten clean sheets.

Whilst that is a small sample size, as De Gea has the same clean sheet tally from 29 appearances, there is also quite a considerable gap between the two keepers’ personal performance levels.

Henderson, rated at £18m, is averaging 3.8 saves per game, whilst his Spanish counterpart is contributing just 2.3 per match in the Premier League – a huge gap.

One defence of De Gea could be that Henderson is slightly error-prone, as evidenced in the recent 1-1 draw against AC Milan in the UEFA Europa League as he flapped at Simon Kjaer’s late header.

However, there isn’t actually that much difference in that respect between the two ‘keepers.

In De Gea’s 337 Premier League appearances, he has committed 14 errors leading to an opposition goal. Meanwhile, Henderson has made two in his 41 appearances in the competition. Should he make as many top-flight appearances as De Gea, this would mean that he would go on to make just 15 at his current rate – a marginal difference.

On paper then, the two stoppers are certainly very similar, with Henderson having had the better 2020/21. Following last week’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, Solskjaer said of the Englishman: “Dean came in and played well and he’s ready.”

It means that there should be no rush to reintroduce the Spaniard and Henderson should remain as United’s last line of defence.

In more news, read how Manchester United could save millions on a centre-back with an exciting academy prospect…

Phil Hay has singled out four players at Leeds United for praise in their 0-0 home draw with Chelsea in the Premier League at Saturday lunchtime.

As per a tweet from The Athletic journalist, he thought that Diego Llorente, Kalvin Phillips, Pascal Struijk and Tyler Roberts were all ‘impressive’ against Thomas Tuchel’s team.

Leeds impress defensively

Considering the form of the Blues going into the game, Marcelo Bielsa’s side certainly did well to keep them at bay at Elland Road.

Leeds’ two central defenders and central midfield players were vital in making sure that the ball did not hit the back of their net, with Llorente making the most clearances (three) out of any Whites player to have set foot on the pitch, while each of the other players recorded at least one (Sofascore).

Struijk blocked no fewer than three shots on his goal, more than any other Leeds players combined, while he also made three interceptions, as Phillips topped the tackling stats with four in total (Sofascore).

Each player did their bit own individual jobs for the team and, as a collective, they were pivotal in making sure that the Yorkshire club came away from the match with a point and a clean sheet.

In other news, find out which player’s Leeds career Hay claims is ‘over’.

Members of the Newcastle squad are considering ‘face-to-face talks’ with Managing Director Lee Charnley as the threat of relegation looms larger, according to Football Insider.

The report claimed that the players were anticipating Steve Bruce’s dismissal in the wake of their desperately poor defeat at the hands of Brighton on Saturday night.

When it was revealed the following morning that Mike Ashley would once again stand by Bruce, there was apparently a feeling of ‘genuine shock’ among many of the players.

Newcastle in dire straits

The Magpies went down 3-0 at the Amex Stadium after a lifeless display which saw them amass an xG of just 0.09. They are precariously hovering just two points above the relegation zone with nine games to play.

Newcastle are also without a win in their last six matches, and at least some of the players are said to have ‘lost all faith’ in Bruce.

It should be stressed that these talks with Charnley wouldn’t be to demand that the 60-year-old be sacked outright, however. Instead, the players would pursue ‘more general answers about what can change’ as they look to stave off a return to the Championship after four years in the top flight. [Football Insider]

Transfer Tavern verdict

With fan action restricted in lockdown, the Toon Army will probably be pleased to see a group of players trying to hold the club’s hierarchy to account.

They are surely wondering what reasons Ashley and co. have to justify their consistent backing of Bruce, who is already a deeply unpopular figure among many Newcastle supporters and now, it seems, faces a possible backlash from some players too.

In other news, one Newcastle player’s season could be over.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who was sold by West Brom to Wolves in 1986, can’t see the Baggies moving for Michael Appleton after The Athletic’s Steve Madeley claimed he would be an ‘obvious contender’ to replace Sam Allardyce if he leaves.

The Baggies parted ways with Slaven Bilic early in the season to hopefully stop the rot and see them avoid relegation, however Allardyce has not been able to change around their fortunes.

Allardyce has never been relegated during his managerial career but this may be a step too far even for him, as West Brom sit 19th in the Premier League and 10 points behind Newcastle United in 17th.

Speaking on why Appleton wouldn’t be the right man for West Brom and what he would like to see happen in the Albion dugout instead, Bull told FFC:

“I think it’s a big job because when you go to the Premier League you’ve got to have a known name or somebody who’s been there before.

“So, I wouldn’t go for Appleton, I’d rather stick with Sam than bring somebody in from the lower leagues.”

Appleton played for the Baggies 33 times during 2001-2003 and was manager of the under 23s before taking his current job at Lincoln City, where he has recently signed a new contract.

Allardyce’s contract was an 18-month deal, however, it included a break clause if the Baggies were relegated so it remains unlikely that he will stay on if they don’t avoid the drop.

Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham doesn’t want to play for the Hoops again.

That’s according to a report from Football Insider, who have been informed by a Celtic source that the player wants a permanent move away from Parkhead this summer.

Ntcham’s Marseille struggles

He’s currently out on loan at Marseille, who have an option to make that move permanent at the end of the season.

Things aren’t looking great for the 25-year-old, though. He’s made just three starts back in his native country and has been replaced at half-time in each of those outings.

Ntcham, on £14,000-a-week at Parkhead, still has just over 12 months remaining on his Hoops deal, should Marseille refuse to take up their £4.5m option.

The box-to-box midfielder has made 147 appearances for Celtic, scoring 24 times and registering 13 assists.

Transfer Tavern take

Eddie Howe, who looks set to become the new Celtic manager, actually tried to sign Ntcham way back in 2015 for Bournemouth, so it would be interesting to know his thoughts on the Frenchman.

However, it seems as if the player is adamant on ending his four-year association with the club ahead of the 2021/22 season.

In other news: Howe’s stance on Kenendy and Strachan revealed, find out more here. 

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing up an interesting summer transfer swoop…

What’s the word?

According to the Sunday Mirror (28/03, page 75), Spurs are interested in signing 17-year-old Vejle wonderkid Wahid Faghir and have entered the race to secure him alongside Leicester City, who have had a seven-figure bid rejected.

It is also claimed that the 6 foot 1 striker is keen on moving abroad next season and dreams of one day playing for La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Despite only being 17, Faghir has represented Denmark at every age group up to, and including, the U21s, where he has become the youngest-ever player to feature for them in a European U21 Championship, so he’s clearly already making a name for himself.

Mourinho’s new Zlatan?

What makes Spurs’ interest all that more interesting is Jose Mourinho.

Faghir has widely been regarded as “the next Zlatan” Ibrahimovic, as explained by The Athletic just last week. He has bagged five goals in just 20 starts for the mid-table Danish outfit this season, and has proven to be comfortable on the ball like his Scandinavian counterpart.

Whilst he’s not as tall as the 6 foot 5 Swede, he does ‘operate well in tight areas’ and has a dribble volume rating of 84 out of 99, which shows he’s not afraid to travel with the ball despite playing at a senior level at his age.

It’s no wonder the ‘Special One’ appears keen on landing such an impressive talent, considering he managed Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan and then Manchester United, where he won the Europa League.

UEFA named Faghir in their top 50 to watch in 2021, where they went onto describe him as ‘physically well-developed and finishes with power and quality.’

Similarly, Vejle talent manager Steen Tychosen echoed the link to Ibrahimovic, he told the club’s official website: “Wahid has many strengths and then he has a huge belief in his own abilities. There is a bit of “Zlatan” about him, because he performs with an indomitable self-confidence for training and fighting.”

Again, further characteristics that make him fit for such a huge tag at just 17.

Reports in Denmark (via the Leicester Mercury) claim he could be available for just €3m (£2.5m), which would be a pretty cheap investment with high potential, especially when you consider that Spurs splashed £25m on Ryan Sessegnon and £10m on Jack Clarke, neither of whom have broke into the senior set-up yet.

In addition to those claims, Danish journalist Nis Peder Kolby believes Faghir is an “amazing player.”

Whilst this move would certainly be one that has the future in mind, Daniel Levy and the Spurs hierarchy should pay up to land the 17-year-old prodigy. If he’s truly anything like Ibrahimovic, then there won’t be a better manager than Mourinho to unearth that potential.

£2.5m is a mere snip in this day and age.

AND in other news, Teenage Spurs prodigy could become their next Michael Carrick…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who is Wolves’ all-time top scorer with 306 goals, claims he does not regret spending his career at the club when he could have maybe played for a better team.

Bull played for Wolves from 1986 to 1999 after they bought him from rivals West Bromwich Albion, who were pushing for promotion to what is now known as the Premier League.

The former striker has a stand named after him at Molineux and is firmly in the record books as a Wolves legend, after helping guide them to the play-offs twice after joining the club when they were struggling in the Fourth Division.

Speaking on why he doesn’t regret not leaving Wolves for a team with better players and how football is full of ups and downs, Bull told FFC:

“You’re going to have your ups, downs, sad times and happy times but that is just football. It isn’t just one rocket launch, it’s not like that.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/exclusive-andreas-sondergaard-wolves-premier-league” title=”Exclusive! Andreas Sondergaard talks all things Wolves”]

“The play-offs defeat was one of the saddest days, but one of the best was seeing Wolves get to the Premier League – it was absolutely unbelievable.

“Do I regret not going to another club because I didn’t play top-flight football? No, because I played my top-flight football for England.”

Bull is still, the only player to score a half-century of goals in consecutive seasons for Wolves when he netted 52 goals in the 1987/88 season before getting 50 goals the following season.

Wolves are now in their third Premier League season since winning promotion in the 2017/18 campaign as they won the Championship.