Tag Futebol

Glasgow Rangers secured a confidence-boosting 2-1 win at Ibrox yesterday as Philippe Clement continued his solid start to life at the club.

Hearts led until the dying embers of the match but James Tavernier scored a penalty to equalise before he set up Danilo to score the winner in the 93rd minute.

It will feel like a smash-and-grab victory, but three points is all that matters and Clement will be happy with how the Gers fought until the final whistle.

Once again, however, there were a few lacklustre performances, most notably from Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers.

Michael Beale’s £7.5m duo now walking a tightrope

During the summer, Beale splashed the cash on the pair in order to freshen up his attacking options. Dessers cost £4.5m from Cremonese while Lammers arrived for a fee in the region of £3m and while £7.5m for two players could be seen as excessive, the nature of the transfer market meant Beale had to spend to secure players of high quality.

So far however, Dessers and Lammers have failed to live up to their transfer fees as they have struggled to settle in at the Light Blues.

The Nigeria international has scored four goals across 18 matches while he currently ranks first across the Ibrox squad for most big chances missed (nine) in the Premiership, a telling sign of just how poor he has been in front of goal.

The Dutchman has also been underwhelming and for someone who has such impressive technical ability, he has struggled with the nature of the Scottish game, and it is clear after Sunday's performance that Clement must now jettison the 26-year-old.

Sam Lammers' days may be numbered

The warning signs surrounding the former Feyenoord forward should have been apparent to Beale, as he has netted just six goals since the start of the 2020/21 season.

Lammers may have succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts against Hearts, yet he missed a big chance (not for the first time this term) while failing to have a shot on target during the encounter.

The 6 foot 3 liability was dribbled past on two occasions along with losing possession 14 times and it is clear his defensive attributes also need some work if he is to make it at the Light Blues.

Clement may not offer the former Atalanta forward that luxury, however. The Belgian will be able to rely on several players returning from injury shortly, while youngster Ross McCausland made more key passes in 14 minutes than Lammers did in 83.

Perhaps it is time Clement places his trust in young gems such as McCausland instead of having to rely on Lammers time and time again, as it is clearly not working out for him in Glasgow.

A trip to Dundee on Wednesday could be the ideal opportunity for the manager to experiment with a few players and see what type of reaction he can get.

It may not even be Halloween yet, but the nightmare pairing of Lammers and Dessers could soon find themselves on the Ibrox scrap heap, and they have nobody else to blame but themselves.

Tottenham's incoming new sporting director Johan Lange is said to absolutely love one player, and Spurs could go for him in January as a result.

Will Spurs sign anyone in January?

Lange will commence his role under Chief Football Officer Scott Munn on November 1, but reports suggest that the Lilywhites have already been busy plotting ways to strengthen Ange Postecoglou's ranks at Spurs. Having failed to bring in a second centre-back after Micky van de Ven in the summer, Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Juventus star Gleison Bremer, Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly and Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba are all reported transfer targets to reinforce Postecoglou's backline.

As well as this, midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could well depart north London amid a lack of starting roles, meaning Spurs could sign a replacement for the Dane. Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, who has since become a regular starter for Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, has been named as one of Tottenham's rumoured transfer targets to succeed Hojbjerg.

Despite their free-scoring start to the season, Tottenham may also look to bring in a new striker to replace Harry Kane once 2024 comes around; leading to reported interest in the likes of Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord) and Ivan Toney (Brentford).

Kalvin Phillips transfer update

Another player who Spurs have been linked with as a potential replacement for Hojbjerg is Man City and England international star Kalvin Phillips. On a reported £150,000-per-week (SpotRac), the former Leeds star has found life difficult at Eastlands since his multi-million pound move in 2022. He was recently handed a couple of more chances by Pep Guardiola, who praised Phillips after a second-half performance against Nottingham Forest.

“He played really good today," said Guardiola after City's 2-0 win

"For the type of game that we needed, defensively and keeping the ball and run, he was amazing."

However, the return of Rodri from suspension looks set to relegate Phillips to the side once again, with January coming as a possible way out. Juventus and Newcastle are said to be admirers of his, while Spurs' incoming transfer chief Lange is also a "big fan". As a result, if Hojbjerg departs, Spurs could well make a move. That is according to reliable journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph, who shared an important update on Phillips' future at City.

Former Leeds midfielder Andrew Hughes, speaking to The Athletic, once called him a "very special" player.

"He’s one-paced but he’s made that work for him and, in the end, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been lucky enough to watch training at Leeds and you see it with the midfielders — out early before the main sessions and making sure whichever team they’re going to be playing, they know where to take the ball and where to pass the ball. It’s about intelligence.

"The only way to get someone who can cover and do the same job perfectly is to spend £50 million, at least, that’s what a player like him costs. Rather than talking about how other players match up, you just have to accept he’s very special.”

Leeds United have been given a timely boost ahead of their trip to Southampton this week and one player could make his long-awaited return from injury problems.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United?

In the lead-up to Leeds United's trip to St Mary's Stadium to face Southampton, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has given an update on the future of out-of-favour star Helder Costa, who is still on the books at Elland Road despite much speculation swirling over his future.

Cited by Leeds Live, Farke detailed: "Nothing has changed. Helder's wish was for him to move. Everything is professional. We are working on a solution but he's not in our plans. I think Helder had a great career in English football and he's a good guy but he won't be involved."

The German coach also gave some insight into new signing Ilia Gruev's next steps at Elland Road, saying: "It's normal that you need time and with the language, he's fluent but you need to understand every football phrase. He starts for Bulgaria and he's a top player. Ampadu, Gray, Kamara have impressed, it's not like an urgent case. I much prefer this step-by-step situation. He is always ready to go, a humble guy. I'm more than happy."

In conversation with Sports Illustrated, Leeds United loanee Robin Koch, who is currently situated at Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, has spoken about his connection with his parent club despite leaving for Germany in the summer transfer window, saying: “In my three years at Leeds, I have felt very comfortable so far and have developed further as a footballer and as a person. The club really means a lot to me. But it was time for me to make another change in terms of sport."

Despite the upheaval at Elland Road over the last few months, Leeds are unbeaten in their last six Sky Bet Championship matches and have kept four clean sheets in succession.

What has Phil Hay said about Patrick Bamford?

Taking to social media platform X, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has given an update on the state of play regarding Patrick Bamford's fitness, stating: "Injury latest – Bamford is an option this weekend and expected to travel with the squad."

Leeds United boss Farke has elaborated on Bamford's availability, stating via BBC Sport: "Team training this week was massively beneficial for him and he's definitely also a topic for the squad on Saturday. It's much improved. Two weeks back in training, he's definitely a topic to travel."

On a side note, the German manager also confirmed that Wilfried Gnonto's surgery on an ankle knock has come and gone without a hitch and he will be back in contention after the next international break.

Bamford, who has previously been labelled as "sensational" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, has been a major asset for Leeds United during his time at Elland Road despite some poor runs of form more recently, registering 51 goals and 21 assists in 151 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Having yet to appear for Leeds this term, the Grantham-born ace will provide a boost to Farke, who will hope to lean on Bamford's goalscoring expertise in the English second-tier over the coming months.

A potentially decisive weekend awaits South African cricket when CSA’s board meets, ahead of its annual awards, to discuss the fate of the T20 Global League and the position of the CEO, which has been occupied in acting capacity by Thabang Moroe since Haroon Lorgat’s departure last September.Moroe’s term ended on Thursday, but he remains in a decision-making capacity until advised further. CSA have not advertised for new candidates, which makes it likely Moroe will continue in the role for at least another month.In his nine months as CEO, Moroe has overseen some of the most turbulent times in South African cricket, including the postponement of the first edition of the T20 Global League after massive financial losses were predicted in the absence of a broadcast deal. Moroe has since been on various task-teams working to revive the tournament but CSA’s Member’s Council – made up of the presidents of the provincial affiliates – have yet to approve a proper structure for it.ESPNcricinfo understands there is a push within CSA to make the T20 Global League happen in November, even if it takes place on a smaller scale than originally planned. When the league was launched last June, it was an eight-team affair (with seven of them owned by foreigners) and boasted many international players. But if it is to take place in 2018, it would likely resemble the domestic T20 tournament, with several South African national players taking part but few big-name overseas stars. SuperSport appears to be the likeliest broadcast partner.If the board does not make a decision on the league this weekend, a final one is expected by the end of June, when CSA also hopes to sign a new MOU with the South African Cricketers Association (SACA) after the old one expired in April. All players, both international and domestic, remain on contract thanks to a temporary extension of the previous MOU.

Newcastle United have a number of key players currently, but it could be that they struggle to keep hold of one individual, according to a new update that has emerged.

Who are Newcastle's key players?

The Magpies have enjoyed a huge turnaround in fortunes in recent years, overcoming a spell out of the Premier League to become one of the leading teams in the division once again.

Under Eddie Howe, and with the help of improved transfer funds under new owners, Newcastle have got back into the Champions League, and while this season hasn't been great so far, Saturday's 1-0 at home to Brentford steadied the ship.

There are numerous influential figures at St James' Park dotted all over the pitch at the moment, whether it be Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman in defence, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in the middle of the park, or Alexander Isak leading the line.

For Newcastle to continue heading in a positive direction, it is essential that they keep hold of these individuals, as well as keep bringing in top-quality signings at the same time. A fresh rumour surrounding one Magpies star will be concerning to supporters, however, with a move away potentially on the cards.

Will Alexander Isak leave Newcastle?

According to a report from Spain [via TEAMtalk], Barcelona are eyeing a move for Isak in the near future, seeing him as a candidate to come in as Robert Lewandowski's long-term replacement at the club.

The Swede is contracted to Newcastle until the summer of 2028, so they would surely only entertain an enormous bid for him, but it remains to be seen if his head would be turned by a move to the Camp Nou.

Losing Isak would be a huge blow for the Magpies at any point in the near future, considering what an impact he has already made since arriving from Real Sociedad last year. He has scored 12 goals in 31 appearances, and had it not been injury problems, that tally would surely be significantly higher.

At just 23 years of age, the Newcastle striker has so many years ahead of him to hone his skills and become an even more formidable player, so for Newcastle to lose him before that even happens doesn't even bear thinking about.

He should be seen as someone who the Magpies' team is built around, as well as the spine of Botman, Bruno and Tonali, having been hailed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, who has said of him in the past:

"Isak is such a fantastic player and a world star. He can score goals, he’s great on the ball. This guy can do everything. He’s a sensational player. You can tell from his interview, he’s so unassuming. I don’t think he realises what a fantastic footballer he is."

The lure of playing for Barcelona is obvious, though, considering their standing as one of the greatest clubs in world football, so Newcastle could have to work hard to retain his services, showing him that staying put is most beneficial for his career, as Newcastle get better and better as the years pass.

Southampton have earned a reputation for being able to produce an almost-constant stream of excellent young talent through their academy system over the years.

Who are Southampton's most valuable academy graduates?

Whether they made the breakthrough at first-team level for the Saints or not, a number of top players in Europe started their careers within the youth set-up on the south coast.

Jamal Musiala

£94m

Ben White

£47m

Luke Shaw

£36m

James Ward-Prowse

£32.5m

Tyrone Mings

£18.8m

Valuations per Transfermarkt

The likes of White, Musiala, and Mings eventually made their names elsewhere, but Ward-Prowse and Shaw both excelled at St. Mary's before moving on.

There are a number of talented young prospects currently on the books at Southampton and they will now be hoping to follow in the footsteps of those mentioned above, as well as the likes of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale, who have since retired after impressive careers.

One academy player who could be a future first-team star for the Saints is U21 midfielder Kamari Doyle, who could be the next Will Smallbone to establish himself as a regular within the senior squad.

How old is Kamari Doyle?

The talented youngster only turned 18 last month and has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and grow into being a viable option for Russell Martin on a regular basis.

Southampton's head coach has already shown that he has been impressed by the brilliant teenager as he offered him a first-team appearance in the League Cup against Gillingham in August.

Unfortunately, the Saints lost 3-1 but Doyle's promising cameo off the bench in the second-half was enough to suggest that there is the potential there for him to make an impact at senior level in the future.

The 18-year-old ace created two chances, provided one assist, and completed 88% of his attempted passes, which included two of his three long passes, in just 45 minutes of action, as per Sofascore.

This was his second first-team appearance for the club after Ruben Selles handed him 14 minutes off the bench in a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League at the end of last season, in which time the then-17-year-old completed 100% of his five attempted passes.

How has Doyle performed at youth level?

The versatile dynamo has emerged as a possible future star for the Saints due to his phenomenal form for the club's U18 and U21 sides in recent seasons.

Doyle eased through matches at U18 level as he racked up an outstanding 19 goals and nine assists in 32 matches at that age bracket, which includes 15 goals in 24 U18 Premier League clashes.

This led to the attacking midfielder, who can also play in central midfield or on either flank, being promoted to the U21 squad, where he has been able to thrive ever since.

To date, Doyle has scored seven goals and provided 13 assists in 35 U21 games for Southampton's academy. The England U19 international has registered two assists in two Premier League 2 outings so far this season, to go along with his one assist in one League Cup clash.

These statistics suggest that the English magician, who has produced ten assists in ten career games as a right winger, is capable of contributing with goals and assists on a regular basis from a midfield or wide position.

He has also showcased his ability to be a threat from set-pieces with a stunning free-kick against Preston North End in the FA Youth Cup, as shown in the clip above.

The left-footed whiz put pen to paper on a professional contract in 2022 and academy director Matt Hale described him as an "excellent" talent who the club believe has a "bright" future ahead of him.

It is now up to him to prove to Martin that he has what it takes to deliver for the first-team week-in-week-out, in the same way that Smallbone did during pre-season.

How did Will Smallbone perform last season?

The Southampton academy graduate moved away from St. Mary's to gain valuable experience on loan with Stoke City in the Championship last term.

Smallbone averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 43 league matches for the Potters as the central midfielder displayed his ability to make an impact on and off the ball from the middle of the park.

In possession, the Ireland international showed off his creative quality with 1.6 key passes per game and seven 'big chances' created in total for his teammates, which led to five assists to go along with his three goals, as per Sofascore.

He then used his spell with Stoke to improve and hone his skills, which allowed him to catch Martin's eye in pre-season and the talented ace has been an impressive performer so far this season.

Smallbone has averaged a fantastic Sofascore rating of 7.47 across three Championship outings for the Saints, which is the highest rating of any current player at the club and shows that he has been one of the team's outstanding performers.

The 23-year-old maestro has created a phenomenal 3.7 chances per game for Martin's side so far, which is 0.9 more per game than any of his teammates.

What's next for Doyle?

Doyle must now use Smallbone as a prime example of the benefits of a loan spell away from the club and how it can set you up for future success at St. Mary's.

Another four months or so of development football and, potentially, the odd first-team appearance could prepare the 18-year-old ace for a loan move during the January transfer window to give him regular minutes in the second-half of the campaign.

This could then provide him with an opportunity to showcase his attacking quality in a senior environment, whether that is with another Championship team or further down the Football League, and Martin can then reassess where he is next summer.

Doyle could go out on loan to, for example, a League One team and replicate his academy form, which could then open the door for him to be given a chance to fight for a place in the Scottish head coach's first-team group for the 2024/25 campaign.

Mahedi Hasan and Rashid Khan returned combined figures of 4 for 34 in eight overs as Comilla defended 153 and rose to second on the table

The Report by Mohammad Isam18-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRaton Gomes/BCB

Comilla Victorians’ spin duo of Mahedi Hasan and Rashid Khan returned combined figures of 4 for 34 in eight overs to fire their team to a fourth successive win in the 2017-18 BPL and rise to second spot on the table. In a match whose value shot up simply by the presence of the number of marquee names, Comilla defended a total of 153 for 6 to beat Rangpur Riders by 14 runs in font of a packed Shere Bangla National Stadium.Rangpur were severely bolstered by the arrivals of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum. But their explosive power at the top could not come to their aid in a chase of 154. Rashid, the 19-year old legspinner, struck with his second ball, trapping Gayle lbw and opening the gates, as Rangpur never quite recovered.Comilla’s innings was built around Imrul Kayes’ 32-ball 47 at the top, followed by a more sedate 41 off 34 balls from Marlon Samuels. Mashrafe Mortaza led his attack brilliantly, snaring 2 for 22 in four overs, while Thisara Perera’s 2 for 26 saw him become the Sri Lankan, after Lasith Malinga, to take 200 wickets in T20 cricket.Mashrafe calls the early shotsComilla boast a top four that can pack quite a punch, but for all their hitting prowess, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das and Jos Buttler combined for a total of 33 runs and fell well inside the first half of their innings. Rubel Hossain struck first when he got rid of Tamim Iqbal after getting spanked for a brace of fours earlier in the over. Mashrafe then struck twice in three balls. First, Liton Das desperately charged down and swung clumsily to lose his middle stump. Then, with the second ball of his next over, Mashrafe had Buttler trapped in front of middle and off after the batsman looked to play across the line. Comilla were reduced to 55 for 3 in the ninth over.Kayes keeps Comilla tickingFrom 55 for 3, Kayes and Samuels steered them to 100, adding 45 runs for the fourth wicket. Kayes’ knock wasn’t the most convincing one, but it served its purpose and set Comilla up nicely for the slog overs. He went on to become Thisara Perera’s 200th scalp, when somelate reverse swing took out his leg stump.Samuels continued to find the boundary at timely intervals, before he too fell to Perera, reaching out to a wide yorker and nicking off to the keeper. Samuels struck four fours and a six in his knock. Mohammad Saifuddin launched the final over of the innings with a six and a four against Rubel as Comilla pinched 14 runs off it and crossed the 150 mark.Gayle and McCullum’s rocky startPerhaps the biggest talking point heading into this game was Gayle and McCullum joining forces at the top of the order for Rangpur. While the duo would make for a potent partnership on most days, Comilla chose to counter them by opening the bowling with the off-spin of Mahedi. The young offspinner pinged Gayle’s pad with the first ball he bowled to the left-hander. Though it looked dead plumb to the naked eye, umpire Ranmore Martinsez refused to budge despite Comilla desperately pleading with him. Replays later showed that the ball was heading towards Gayle’s legstump.Mahedi’s first over had cost just 1, but Brendon McCullum reversed the pressure on Comilla by crunching a six and a four in the next over, off Al-Amin Hossain. Mahedi was then denied a wicket for a second time when McCullum got down to sweep him and the ball just about shaved his legstump. Two deliveries after that, Hasan Ali had Gayle dropped off his bowling when Liton Das failed to latch on to a catch after running back. With Gayle punishing Hasan for three fours in the over, it seemed as though Comilla would be left to pay a heavy price for the lapses.Rashid, Mahedi rip through RangpurRashid Khan’s introduction immediately added a sense of eagerness to the game. The potential of a contest between two of the heaviest hitters and the opposition’s most wily bowler was exciting. Two balls were all it took for Rashid to come out on top of that one as he got one to skid into Gayle’s pads. Gayle, however, wasn’t second-time lucky as the umpire gave him out despite the ball having pitched outside leg. Two balls later, he had Kusal Perera sweeping at a googly and top-edge to backward square leg.Mahedi followed it up with a double-strike of his own in the next over. McCullum charged down to a length ball and got nowhere to the pitch of the delivery to be stumped. Shahriar Nafees had his off-stump flattened with one that gripped and turned, and Rangpur had lost four wickets in eight balls.Laboured consolidationRavi Bopara survived on 1 when Kayes couldn’t hold on to a spectacular effort at first slip. Thereafter, he and Mohammad Mithun got down to rebuilding Rangpur’s innings, although Comilla’s bowlers greatly slowed things down. By the time the partnership was broken, when Mithun drove Al-Amin Hossain straight to Tamim at extra cover, they had added 67. But in the face of a mounting required rate, the partnership did not have its desired impact, as Rangpur were left requiring 55 runs off the remaining 28 balls.

After a far from desired start to the Premier League season, Aston Villa could suffer another mishap so early into the campaign after what was a thrilling summer for Unai Emery.

The Spaniard teamed up with Monchi at Villa Park to deliver some exciting moves in the transfer window on the back of a successful end to the 2022/23 calendar, welcoming Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby to the fold.

Things have rapidly taken a turn for the Villans, with two major injury blows shocking the squad, seeing Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings both away from the action for the foreseeable future.

An opening day rollicking by Newcastle United left a bitter taste for those associated with the club, however, things could still take another negative turn regarding the side’s outgoings.

Who could leave Villa Park this summer?

The most expected player to depart Villa Park at present is Philippe Coutinho, who has been linked with a lucrative move to Qatar after a failed spell back in the Premier League.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Another name speculated to be allowed to leave the club is academy product Cameron Archer, who according to journalist Alan Nixon is a player the Villans are open to selling for the right conditions, as relayed by Birmingham Live.

The speculation regarding the striker's future could be a blow for the club, who have one of the country’s most promising young forwards at their disposal.

How many goals has Cameron Archer scored?

Having once been hailed as “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old showcased just what he can do if given the chance last season, where he thrived during a half-season loan at Middlesbrough.

The Englishman wasted no time in becoming accustomed to his surroundings, scoring 11 goals and securing six assists in only 20 Championship appearances for the Reds.

With Ollie Watkins as Emery’s first-choice striker, there’s little room for the academy graduate to worm into the starting eleven, however, given his success in the senior game last term, there is surely a place for his talents in the squad.

Considering the busy schedule ahead for Emery’s side, with the potential of added fixtures in the Europa Conference League, the Spaniard could save the club millions by exerting Archer’s talents rather than seeking alternative reinforcements in the market.

Selling the marksman could be a mistake that has been made by the Villans before, with a similar narrative evident in the sale of fellow academy graduate Carney Chukwuemeka to Chelsea.

While Villa received a healthy £20m fee for the midfielder, his talents have become apparent already in the 2023/24 campaign, with Mauricio Pochettino selecting the 19-year-old to start against Liverpool in the Blues’ season opener.

Receiving substantial pay-outs for sporadic players is a plus to a degree, however, working with an upcoming star from the club's academy to the benefit of the player and the team is more rewarding.

Emery could save Villa millions by integrating Archer into his current side, who at 21 could be the eventual heir to Watkins and beyond if given a shot at his boyhood club.

حرصت جماهير فريق باريس سان جيرمان على توديع كيليان مبابي برسالة خاصة، في مباراته الأخيرة على ملعب “حديقة الأمراء”، وكذلك حارس المرمى كيلور نافاس. 

ويشارك مبابي في مباراة باريس سان جيرمان وتولوز على ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” في منافسات الدوري الفرنسي لموسم 2023-2024، وقد حسم فريقه اللقب بالفعل.

وأعلن مبابي أنه سيغادر باريس سان جيرمان بنهاية الموسم الجاري مع نهاية عقده، وكذلك نافاس أعلن رحيله عن الفريق.

ورفعت جماهير باريس سان جيرمان لافته تحمل صورة لمبابي، ورسالة بعنوان: “يا طفل من الضواحي الباريسية، لقد أصبحت أسطورة باريس سان جيرمان”.

وقام مبابي بتحية جماهير فريق باريس سان جيرمان على لافتتهم قبل إنطلاق المواجهة أمام تولوز.

رفعت الجماهير لافتة أيضًا لنافاس باللغة الإسبانية وكتب عليها: “شكرًا نافاس على كل شيء”.

Leeds United are trying to complete the signing for Joel Piroe from Swansea City, but are facing a number of obstacles according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The striker would be a "really good signing" by Leeds according to the journalist.

What is the latest Joel Piroe news?

Swansea are preparing for offers for the forward this upcoming month.

According to reports from Football Insider, all three recently relegated sides are interested in the 23-year-old this summer, however the Welsh side aren't in a rush to sell the forward despite him having just 12 months remaining on his contract at the Swansea.com Stadium, with the club asking for £15-20m to let him go this summer.

Leeds are hoping to bring in the striker to replace Spaniard Rodrigo, who was the Yorkshire clubs top scorer last campaign with 11 goals, and Piroe is seen as the ideal replacement due to being versatile like the Spaniard and being able to play both as a striker and an attacking midfielder.

The Dutch striker impressed in the Championship last season, scoring 20 and assisting two in 45 games and receiving praise from former manager Russel Martin, who stated after Piroe's winner against Bristol City "I thought Joel was outstanding. I thought he took his goal brilliantly, and he looked a real threat all night, He was a real threat and he worked so hard out of possession, he was absolutely finished at the end when we took him off. It is exciting for us to see what he can go on and achieve this season.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs revealed that Leeds aren't as interested compared to Southampton, Leicester City and OGC Nice: "He could be a really good signing. He is obviously playing in pre-season at the moment and Swansea's asking price is relatively high. It's going to be difficult for anybody to pull off a deal at value. At the moment, I think that Leeds are not necessarily the one to watch compared to the likes of Leicester and Southampton, who have looked. Away from English football, there's been some interest from Nice as well. But nothing is necessarily imminent at this point."

Who will Leeds sign this summer?

Leeds are still looking to make additions this window.

The club have already signed Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow this window from Chelsea and Newcastle United respectively. The side are also looking at a potential move for Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, with the club nearing an agreement with the Scottish side for £5m according to Football Insider. The midfielder was a crucial part of the Rangers side for a number of seasons however saw his game time diminish under new boss Michael Beale. The club are also interested in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips according to reports. The deal is set to cost around £10m for a player Jurgen Klopp described as a "monster in the air".

A number of players could still depart Elland Road this summer as well. Italian forward Wilfried Gnonto has already been the subject of a rejected bid worth £15m from Everton, whilst Crystal Palace and Aston Villa hold an interest in the forward. According to Dean Jones, the forward wants to leave this summer and could become "restless" if he isn't sold by the clubs first game of the season. Midfielder Tyler Adams is another who has informed manager Daniel Farke of his desire to leave this summer in order to continue playing at the highest level, with interest from Villa and West Ham United turning the injured players head.