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Leeds United have not been good enough at the top end of the pitch since they earned promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship.

The Whites have made club history by failing to score a single goal from open play in any of the first four matches of the league campaign, with their only strike coming from the penalty spot against Everton.

Lukas Nmecha’s spot kick sealed all three points for the Championship champions on the opening day of the season, but they have failed to score in three matches since then.

Leeds reportedly had a bid in for Fulham winger Harry Wilson on deadline day, and felt they matched his valuation, only for the Cottagers to pull out of a deal at the last minute.

This meant that the Whites ended the window with Noah Okafor as the only attacking signing brought in for a transfer fee, alongside free transfers for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha.

The lack of business done in the attacking positions has left Daniel Farke with a clutch of players who have previously shown that they are not up to the task in the Premier League, including Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

Why Leeds are struggling to score goals this season

Speaking to Beren Cross after the 1-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, Farke challenged his attackers to prove people wrong.

The German boss said: “James, Harrison, Aaronson with us when we were relegated and they were called hopeless. They still have a point to prove these judgments are not right. We have this type of offensive players and I’m looking forward to improving them, but we shouldn’t expect miracles.”

Publicly admitting that critics described your players as “hopeless” and that the club have failed to replace them since that 2022/23 campaign is an interesting decision by Farke, and one that, hopefully, spurs the players on to prove people wrong.

But the fact that they have kept those three players, along with Gnonto, as their wide options alongside new signing Okafor, is part of the reason why the penalty from Nmecha in the clip above is the only goal they have scored in the top-flight.

James and Gnonto started the season as the first-choice wing pairing, after Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham Hotspur, and they have not done anywhere near enough at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

4

4

Starts

3

3

Goals + assists

0

0

Shots on target

0

0

Key passes

1

2

Big chances created

0

0

Dribble success rate

17%

25%

As you can see in the table above, both players have struggled badly in possession so far this season, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created between them after four matches.

This comes after James and Gnonto combined for four goals in 48 appearances in the Premier League for Fulham and Leeds respectively in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.

Relying on players who have previously struggled in the top-flight, instead of bringing in quality replacements, is why the Whites are now struggling so badly in the Premier League this season.

Unfortunately, the West Yorkshire outfit sold a player last year who would solve a lot of the team’s current problems in the final third, as Georginio Rutter has proven himself in the top-flight with Brighton.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Leeds sold the France U21 international to the Premier League side for a whopping fee of £40m after the 2023/24 campaign, which was a terrific fee for the club. You cannot blame them for cashing in because it was a release clause in his contract.

However, the Whites, even after winning promotion to the Premier League and having a summer transfer window to recruit more talent, have failed to replace the quality that he provided at the top end of the pitch.

Why Georginio Rutter would solve Leeds United's attacking issues

The left-footed star is a mercurial and versatile attacking talent who would be a difference-maker for Leeds in their current condition, because they lack quality in the final third.

Rutter, who can play centrally or out wide, proved his quality in the Premier League during his first season at Brighton, as he scored eight goals and provided five assists in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Appearances

28

Starts

19

xG

4.64

Goals

5

Big chances created

6

Assists

3

Successful dribbles

28

As you can see in the table above, the French magician delivered 11 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in just 19 starts for his current club in the top-flight last term.

He scored as many goals in the Premier League last season as Aaronson, James, and Gnonto managed in their last full seasons in the division combined, which illustrates the kind of goal threat that he can offer.

The left-footed forward’s form in the 2023/24 Championship campaign for Leeds also shows that he has far more to offer to the team than Gnonto and James as a creative force.

Per Sofascore, Rutter created a staggering 22 ‘big chances’ and racked up 10.52 xA in 45 appearances in the 2023/24 season. Last term, Gnonto created ten ‘big chances’ and 3.74 xA and James created 16 ‘big chances’ and 8.66 xA in the Championship for Leeds.

These statistics suggest that the £40m-rated star can also create high-quality chances at the top end of the pitch for his teammates more frequently than Gnonto and James.

Rutter, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has “blistering” pace, would be a big upgrade on Farke’s current attacking options because of his ability to score and create goals more effectively than the likes of Gnonto, James, and Aaronson.

Of course, it was not a mistake by Leeds to sell the attacker last year, because there was a release clause in his contract, but it now seems like they could use a player with his quality to solve the team’s attacking issues in the Premier League this season.

It's not Calvert-Lewin: Leeds star is quickly becoming their new Bamford

Leeds United have found their new Patrick Bamford at Elland Road and it is not Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2025

Chelsea chiefs are currently negotiating for both Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons in what would be separate deals, with a move for the latter particularly advanced.

The prospect of both men arriving at Stamford Bridge is a particularly exciting one for supporters, with Enzo Maresca in need of more wide options after the departures of both Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended for failing a drugs test.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea must make room for them by sealing more exits, though, despite already raising close to £220 million through player sales.

Cash isn’t the object for BlueCo, especially given their income via outgoings, winnings from the Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Their need to sell first stems from a pact with UEFA, who have put pressure on the west Londoners to produce a ‘positive transfer balance’ by September after Chelsea were fined for breaching FFP rules last month.

Failure to do so could result in Maresca not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season, so while talks remain advanced for Simons, Chelsea are attempting to strike more outgoings first.

Once they’ve trimmed the squad a bit more, Chelsea are also expected to bid for Garnacho with Simons (The Telegraph), so there is plenty more business to be conducted before the transfer deadline.

As has been a common theme since Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club in 2022, Chelsea are pretty much always in the market for world football’s most eye-catching talents.

Chelsea fielded the youngest ever side in Premier League history last season (OptaJoe), so you can never rule out the prospect of more highly-rated gems making the move to Cobham.

Chelsea could sign 'exciting youngster' with Garnacho and Simons

Football Transfers have shared an update on this, and they report that another new addition could be made with Simons and Garnacho.

According to their information, Chelsea could sign another “exciting youngster” too – on the condition one becomes available in the next few weeks.

Under Boehly, the Blues have poured billions into snapping up teenage talent, and this summer is no different.

They’ve added Dario Essugo (20), Estevão Willian (18), Mamadou Sarr (19), Liam Delap (22), Jamie Gittens (20), Kendry Páez (18) and Jorrel Hato (19) – all on long-term deals designed to pay off years down the line.

16-year-old Kazakh striker Dastan Satpaev, who’s already been compared to Man City legend Sergio Agüero, will also join the club when he turns 18.

Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon for around £64m last weekend, and Mikel Arteta’s biggest issue has been solved.

97 goals and 28 assists across just 102 appearances for Os Leões is no small feat, and while the inevitable detractors will point toward the lower quality in the Liga Portugal than the Premier League will present him with, you need only look at his exploits in last year’s Champions League, with Manchester City falling to the Swedish striker’s sublime hat-trick.

Now that the 27-year-old is ready to link up with his new squad for pre-season training, Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta are ready to complete a summer of healthy spending with a creative player.

Bukayo Saka is one of the best wingers in the world and won’t be relinquishing his right-sided berth any time soon, but with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both expendable, so say The Athletic, a left-sided addition could be on the cards.

Arsenal's plans for a new winger

Someone like Rodrygo would be a welcome addition to the Emirates, and that’s selling it short. He’s been reported to be on the Emirates’ radar. But he’ll cost a pretty penny, the Brazilian.

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has also been linked, but £100m is laughable. Both players, it should be noted, are coming off six-goal league campaigns.

But there’s another who’s creeping closer to Arteta’s circle.

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace for the transfer of the 27-year-old Eberechi Eze, with the base layer of the financial package agreed.

Vidal claims the Gunners would pay £30m up front before meeting the remainder of the 27-year-old’s £68m release clause through instalments and clauses.

It’s starting to feel like Arsenal will get this one over the line, and it would be a stunning acquisition. Here’s why.

Why Arsenal want Eberechi Eze

Admittedly, Eze isn’t an out-and-out winger, for he has played plenty of football in the centre of the park, thrusting forward with those electric strides, those tricky feet which outfox the steeliest of opponents.

It was Eze who scored the winning goal as Oliver Glasner’s Eagles beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup in May, and it was Eze who scored in dominant victories over Fulham and Aston Villa in the quarters and the semi-finals, respectively, to put Palace in a position to win their first major honour ever.

Glasner has preferred to use Eze centrally, and maybe Arteta will too, but the option for wide play is there. After all, he’s as fleet-footed as they come, ranked among the top 10% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers last term for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

High-speed running and slick skills could make him the perfect counterpoint to Saka on the right. And that, in turn, would allow Gyokeres to find his free-scoring form at the front of the ship.

Matches (starts)

25 (20)

34 (31)

Goals

6

8

Assists

10

8

Shots (on target)*

2.7 (0.9)

3.0 (0.9)

Touches*

43.8

46.6

Pass completion

84%

82%

Big chances created

21

11

Key passes

2.4

1.7

Dribbles*

1. 6

2.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

4.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.3

1.4

Duels won*

4.8

4.8

Would it be fair to say that Saka and the £100k-per-week Eze are tactically akin? Further, they are both physical machines, not brawny for the sake of muscle but athletic and strong and powerful on the ball.

But, most importantly, they are both creative as they come, and that could play right into Gyokeres’ hands (or, rather, his feet).

Gyokeres might be 27 and yet to test his skill in one of Europe’s top divisions, but as we have already discussed, he’s hardly untested against high-level opposition, hardly lacking the clinical shooting that surely would translate to the Premier League when flanked by the likes of Eze and Saka.

Both of these wide players are able to direct their playmaking prowess to a high volume with it risking the fluidity of their overall game. They are both complete in their performances, with Eze actually being described as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards for his technical quality.

Let’s make it clearer still: as per Sofascore, Gyokeres scored 45 goals across his Liga Portugal (winning the division for the second successive season) and Champions League campaigns, and it has been recorded that he missed only 27 big chances.

Regarded as a “physical machine” by his former Coventry City coach Adi Viveash, you’d wager that this combination of pace, power and potency would be enough to prevent him from falling by the wayside in an Arsenal shirt, at the very least.

And that’s without considering the support that Eze and Saka would provide – though, luckily, we already have.

Eze, then, is a proven star across a number of years with Palace in the Premier League. Last season, he immortalised himself in south London by leading his team to the FA Cup trophy.

Is he not ready to make the leap into the upper echelon of English and European football? Would the Three Lions star not be refined at 27 and able to bring instant effects to Arteta’s project?

Clearly, the club’s Spanish tactician believes it is so. With Gyokeres at the focal point and Saka, while younger, at a level now where he plays with the silky grace and style of a seasoned veteran, there’s surely every chance that the Gunners will take that final leap forward over the coming year and get their mitts on one of the biggest prizes.

More exciting than Gyokeres: Romano reveals Arsenal's new "top target"

The sensational game-changer would be an incredible signing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 24, 2025

Chelsea are set to welcome two more new signings, with Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro poised to join Enzo Maresca’s side from Borussia Dortmund and Brighton respectively, but this £100m-plus double deal means that outgoings simply have to be sorted out sooner rather than later.

Chelsea offered £337k-per-week ex-Aston Villa star with decision made

They once came close to signing him.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 1, 2025

The Blues were given an almighty boost when their fourth total bid for Gittens was accepted by Dortmund, and the Englishman will now undergo a medical after Chelsea finally shook hands on a £55 million deal with the Bundesliga side.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea will also add another new striker to their ranks after their £30 million move for Liam Delap, with Pedro sealing a switch to west London for an initial £55 million, which may rise to £60 million if certain add-ons are met (Fabrizio Romano).

The moves take BlueCo’s total outlay for the window to around £140 million at least, and they now face some pressure from UEFA after allegedly breaking their financial fair play rules.

Chelsea and Aston Villa are apparently facing UEFA FFP breaches, with clubs required to limit spending on wages and transfer fees to around 80 per cent of revenue. They’re also permitted a loss of around £77 million over three years, less than the PSR threshold of around £105 million in that same timeframe, and this has sparked additional pressure on Chelsea’s recruitment team to raise money.

Maresca’s side are set to be fined this week as they attempt to reach a settlement, according to the i paper, so Chelsea may need an influx of cash from player sales to help balance the books.

Europe’s financial regulations are generally tighter than England’s, and they’re under more pressure in that regard, as Chelsea’s £200m sale of the women’s team to a separate company, Blueco 22 Midco Ltd, has not been permitted as a viable source of revenue by UEFA for 24/25 – despite being allowed by the Premier League.

Christopher Nkunku pushing to leave Chelsea

Even when taking into account the financial side of things, this influx of new attackers has also left Maresca awashed with too many final-third options, so the squad needs to be balanced out with key exit deals.

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, £195,000-per-week Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is a prime contender for the Stamford Bridge exit door, and the club will indeed be forced to sell players in the coming weeks.

The Frenchman bagged 14 goals in all competitions last season but ultimately failed to break into Maresca’s starting eleven on a regular-enough basis, and he’s been regularly linked with an exit since January.

Nkunku is “pushing” to leave Chelsea right now as he seeks to embark on the next chapter of his career, as per O’Rourke, and their Premier League rivals have been credited with interest.

Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Nkunku, according to some reports, while the reliable Ben Jacobs reported in May that Tottenham made an enquiry over the 27-year-old’s availability.

While Nkunku has struggled to fit into a highly competitive squad, he has largely chipped in when required, and the former RB Leipzig sensation’s current teammates rate him very highly.

“Yeah, he’s a top player, we all know his quality, how he is as a player,” said João Félix last season.

“We already saw him doing amazing things at Leipzig. And yeah, I like to play with him. I think we think the game kind of like the same way. So I think he already know what I’m going to do, and I know what he’s going to do. I think it’s pretty easy to play with him. I think we connect very well.”

Aston Villa are in talks over selling an “incredible” player as their deadline to raise money approaches, with NSWE having till Monday to balance the books in an effort to avoid potential PSR sanctions.

As per a recent estimation by The Athletic, Villa can only record a loss of around £15 million and stay in line with PSR for 2024/2025.

£120k-a-week Aston Villa outfielder has now opened talks to join elite club

He could leave with Emiliano Martinez.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

As things stand, Unai Emery’s side are above that mark, and face the possibility of Premier League sanctions if they don’t source cash by the start of the next football financial year – which begins on July 1.

Villa are attempting to sell their women’s team right now in an effort to generate much-needed income, but if that cannot restore their PSR balance, or if they fail to agree a deal in time, then player sales are the next-best option.

Emiliano Martínez, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and Lucas Digne are among the Villa first-teamers linked with high-profile exits before the June 30 deadline, but they’re quickly running out of time.

The club’s president of footballing operations, Monchi, is reportedly working hard to secure a significant sale ahead of the cut-off date (Football Insider), but football finance expert Dan Plumley has reassured supporters there will be a limit in terms of who they’re willing to part company with.

“I still think even with a question mark over Villa and where they’re at with PSR, it’s unlikely that they will be desperate to sell a Watkins or a Rogers as an example,” said Plumley to Football Insider.

“I think if they are going to move players on, it’s probably going to be one or two of the fringe players on the squad. I think Villa would fight hard against that is what I’m saying.

“And I think if a club’s going to look to do that, I could understand it to a degree, but I don’t see Villa trying to sell a Watkins or a Rogers quickly in the next few days for a cut-price fee.

“I think those are two players in particular that they’ll want to keep, and if someone’s going to buy those players, the premium’s going to be high.”

Instead, a far more viable option comes in the form of young right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic.

Aston Villa in talks to sell Kosta Nedeljkovic

The 19-year-old, after being used sparingly by Emery over the first half of last season, was shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig for the second part of 2024/2025, and the Bundesliga side are keen to sign him permanently.

That is according to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who also reports that Villa are in talks with Leipzig over selling Nedeljkovic. The club possess an option to buy the Serbian for around £13 million, including add-ons, but Leipzig want to lower this cost by negotiating a new price.

Given the teenager appears out of Emery’s long-term plans, despite being called “incredible”, he’s a very viable candidate to help with Villa’s PSR situation – but Monchi won’t be willing to authorise too much of a cut-price exit.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium will begin life in the Premier League by playing host to Brighton & Hove Albion, one week after Everton’s season opener away to newly-promoted Leeds United.

David Moyes deserves all the plaudits for his remarkable work on Merseyside this year, replacing Sean Dyche in January and taking a weary 16th-place outfit, one point above the drop zone, up and up towards 13th, some 23 points above relegated Leicester City.

The shift has been profound, but now Moyes must sustain and indeed advance his progress in a new setting, retaining the magic and feeling that Goodison Park and its crowd instilled through to the pitch.

So much uncertainty. More than a measure of anxiety. However, tenfold that amount in regard to the excitement of a new age. Of course, Everton need signings to make it happen, with a striker right at the top of the wish list.

Everton chasing new striker

As per Spanish outlet AS, Everton are interested in striking a deal for Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto, although it must be said that Atletico Madrid are also in the race and have actually established contacts with the Brasileiro Serie A side.

Thankfully, Alberto isn’t the La Liga side’s priority, and if the Toffees put in the groundwork over the coming weeks, they might find themselves stealing ahead.

Valued at €20m (about £17m), Everton are joined by Roma – also owned by the Friedkin Group – in their bid for the Brazilian, as they line up a swoop for the striker.

What Yuri Alberto would bring to Everton

Described as “clinical” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, the club could strike gold by winning the race to sign Alberto, who at 24 is finally ready to settle on the European stage and improve a Toffees team looking to progress toward the upper echelon of Premier League football.

Everton like a Brazilian forward, having reaped the rewards of signing Richarlison from Watford way back when, but they have probably missed the 28-year-old’s fiery personality and dynamism after selling him to Tottenham Hotspur for £60m in 2022.

As per FBref, Alberto ranks among the top 10% of forwards during this year’s Serie A season for goals scored per 90, as well as pass completion and aerial duel success rate. His roundedness and dominance as a focal point suggest he could be the man Everton are looking for to front their project.

2025

35

13

1

2024

57

31

7

2023

63

15

9

2022

44

18

6

2021

55

19

4

Alberto knows his way around a finish, make no mistake. The mobile and determined striker would add a bit of flair to Moyes’ side, raising the threat levels in front of goal, moreover.

There’s no doubt that he’d prove an upgrade on the Dominic Calvert-Lewin we’ve come to know over the past couple of years, but maybe he could be the manager’s own version of Richarlison too.

Though Iliman Ndiaye has restored the thrill factor for the Blues, Richarlison’s tenacity and hunger gave Everton something special and distinctive across four consistent seasons, wrapping up his time at the club with 53 goals and 15 assists across 152 appearances.

Once tipped by Carlo Ancelotti to become “one of the top strikers in Europe”, Richarlison’s time at Tottenham has left plenty to be desired.

Still, his Brazilian tenacity has remained a core part of his skill set, and now Alberto could emulate that quality under Moyes’ wing, having been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig to be a “complete forward” with a “powerful, athletic” build.

Richarlison, physically imposing, good with his head and endowed with a natural prolificness, might have been linked with a return to Merseyside in recent months, but Everton have entered a new chapter and would instead be better off pursuing a fresh and younger face.

Still, Alberto can become the club’s next version of their South American maverick.

Their best attacker since Lukaku: Everton lead race for £50m star on loan

Everton are in the market for another maverick attacker

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 18, 2025

Will West Bromwich Albion be promotion challengers again when the 2025/26 season gets underway in the Championship?

That’s the question likely wracking the brains of Baggies fans far and wide, with nobody quite sure how Ryan Mason will deal with the pressures of the Hawthorns hot-seat, considering experienced manager Tony Mowbray struggled back at the helm last campaign.

Mowbray, unfortunately, sank the West Brom ship instead of steadying it as a playoff spot slipped disastrously out of their grasp.

On the contrary, Mason will hope he can guide his new side to a top-six finish or even higher, with the sparkling potential addition of a seasoned Championship pro helping his chances as a rookie boss.

West Brom have former Championship star on their radar

As per a new report from TEAMTalk, West Brom have ex-Derby County star Tom Lawrence very much on their radar.

His free agent status after walking away from Rangers has alerted numerous clubs to his services, however, with both Wrexham and Coventry City named as other suitors eyeing up the 31-year-old.

The ambitious Red Dragons could well be in the driver’s seat over landing his signature, considering Lawrence does hail from Wrexham, but West Brom are said to still be keen even as Phil Parkinson’s men sniff around.

How Lawrence could be their next Wallace

If West Brom were to knock Wrexham off their pedestal and win his services, Mason could be about to land the Baggies’ next Jed Wallace, with the accomplished attacker arriving at the Hawthorns back in 2022 with plenty of EFL know-how to show off, much like Lawrence will be desperate to provide.

Wallace would also enter into his new environment all those years ago on a shrewd free transfer, with Millwall left to curse the 31-year-old running his contract down at the Den.

The Lions’ short-term agony ended up being West Brom’s gain, however, with an impressive tally of six goals and eight assists mustered up by Wallace during his debut league campaign in the West Midlands.

His output has since dwindled, with only two goal contributions coming his way across the entire course of last season, but there will be hope that Lawrence’s experience of the Championship, which is of the same stature as Wallace’s, means he can instantly hit the ground running with Albion if he signs.

After all, the free agent is only 82 appearances shy of Wallace’s hefty 346 appearances in the intimidating division, with his goal and assist numbers across those 264 clashes even closer to the esteemed Baggies’ captain’s bumper haul.

21/22

Derby County

38

11

5

20/21

Derby County

23

3

2

19/20

Derby County

37

10

4

18/19

Derby County

33

6

4

17/18

Derby County

39

6

8

16/17

Ipswich Town

34

9

11

15/16

Cardiff City

14

0

1

15/16

Blackburn Rovers

21

2

2

14/15

Rotherham United

6

1

1

13/14

Yeovil Town

19

2

2

Much like Wallace, who had to wait to find his groove with Millwall, Lawrence really kicked into gear as a devastating Championship-level attacker with Derby County, as seen in him amassing 59 of his overall 90 goal contributions donning Rams white.

To add context, his equally experienced counterpart boasts 14 more goal contributions in total in the second-tier, with 76 of those coming about in South East London.

Hailed as an “excellent” professional by Rangers coach David McCallum, with a promising 12 strikes next to his name at Ibrox even as he enters the twilight years of his playing days, this could be a move that reawakens a beast out of Lawrence to cause Championship defences headaches all over again.

Better signing than Moore: West Brom must land £45k p/w “monster”

West Bromwich Albion might prioritise landing this monster over snapping up Mikey Moore.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 14, 2025

Part and parcel of promotion to the Premier League is the reality that some players are not going to be a part of Leeds United’s future beyond this summer.

Players who did not play regularly in the Championship may not be suited to playing in the top-flight, given that they were not deemed good enough at a lower level, and that is why Patrick Bamford could be in trouble.

The English forward only played 17 times in the league in the 2024/25 season, coming off the bench in all of those outings, and failed to provide a single goal or assist to the team.

No final decision on his future has been communicated by the club or player, but his lack of minutes last season does not suggest that he is likely to be a key player in the top-flight next term.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Meanwhile, another member of Daniel Farke’s first-team squad has already revealed that the club have made a decision on his future at Elland Road.

Max Wober's statement on his Leeds future

Whilst on international duty with Austria, central defender Max Wober has confirmed that the Premier League side have told him to leave during the summer transfer window, as they want to cash in on him.

He told Krone: “Leeds have already told me clearly that they want to sell me.”

Wober’s contract at Elland Road does not expire until the summer of 2027, though, so a team will have to come in with an offer to sign him if they want to move on from the Austrian flop on a permanent basis.

Leeds paid a reported fee of £11m to sign the left-footed dud from RB Salzburg in January 2023, under Jesse Marsch, but it remains to be seen how much of that fee the club would want back for him.

Why Wober must go before Bamford

The West Yorkshire outfit must push the Austria international out of the door at Elland Road this summer before Bamford because he does not, on paper, look to be a player who will provide much value to the squad.

Wober, who was described as “half-hearted” and “slow” against Hull by pundit Tony Dorigo, only played eight times in the Championship this season, playing half as many matches as the striker, and endured a rough time in the Premier League last time out.

Appearances

16

Starts

14

Clean sheets

2

Dribbled past

8x

Duel success rate

53%

Penalties committed

1

Error led to shot

1

As you can see in the table above, the Austrian flop played for Leeds in the second half of their relegation season and failed to step up, with two clean sheets in 16 games.

These statistics, coupled with his lack of minutes this term, suggest that he is unlikely to make the step up to the Premier League, which is why it is a good decision by the club to tell him to move on.

Bamford, meanwhile, may not be a frontline option for Leeds, given his struggles this season, but he is an experienced player who could provide value off the bench and around the squad.

The 31-year-old striker has scored 24 goals and provided 14 assists in 104 Premier League games in his career, including 17 goals in the 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa.

Bamford has been there and done it in the top-flight in the past and could impart his experience and wisdom to the younger and less experienced members of the squad as a back-up option next season.

That is not to say that Leeds must keep the striker at Elland Road, as a move for him to go and play regular football could still suit all parties, but he has more to offer the team than Wober, who does not have any past success in the Premier League.

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Therefore, Leeds should make selling Wober a big priority this summer, whilst they can afford to be relaxed about Bamford and his situation.

Celtic missed out on the chance to secure a domestic treble on Saturday after they lost on penalties to Aberdeen at Hampden Park in the final of the SFA Cup.

The Hoops had already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup earlier this term, but they failed to make it three out of three with a win over the Dons.

Captain Callum McGregor, who lost his first-ever domestic final with the club, and right-back Alistair Johnston both missed from the spot to hand Aberdeen the win.

Why Kasper Schmeichel will be disappointed

McGregor and Johnston were not the only players to blame for Celtic not winning the SFA Cup, though, as the game only went to penalties in the first place because it was a draw in regulation time.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Kasper Schmeichel will be particularly disappointed with the role that he played in Aberdeen’s equaliser, after an own goal from Alfie Dorrington had put the Hoops ahead.

The Danish titan tried to anticipate where the cross was going to land by diving out into the box to palm the ball away, only to inadvertently palm the ball backwards and into his own net for an own goal.

Schmeichel was given a 6/10 player rating by 67HailHail, who described his part in the equaliser as a ‘rare, but terrible, mistake’ from the goalkeeper.

The veteran goalkeeper, however, was not the player who ultimately cost Celtic the treble, because Daizen Maeda had the chance to make up for the shot-stopper’s mistake in the dying embers of injury time.

Why Daizen Maeda cost Celtic the treble

The Japan international cost Brendan Rodgers the treble with his huge miss in injury time at the end of the 90 minutes, as he raced clear through on goal with a chance to make it 2-1.

Aberdeen would have had very, very, little time to find an equaliser had the forward taken his chance, but he fired a fairly tame effort at Dimitar Mitov after going through for a one-on-one opportunity.

Maeda, who BBC commentator Liam McLeod stated “reminds you of a wasp” because of his buzzing presence as a pressing forward, worked ever so hard during the game to close down defenders and make life difficult for Aberdeen.

However, the striker, who was given a 5/10 player rating and dubbed ‘wasteful’ by 67HailHail, let his side down in the crucial moment with a huge miss that ultimately cost Celtic the treble.

Appearances

34

Goals

16

Big chances missed

17

Conversion rate

28%

Goals from shots inside the box

16/55

Goals from shots outside the box

0/2

As you can see in the table above, Maeda’s finishing has been fairly inconsistent throughout the season, with more ‘big chances’ missed than goals scored in the league, so his miss at Hampden Park may not have come as the biggest surprise.

He was worse than Schmeichel, though, because the striker had the opportunity to seal the game and atone for the goalkeeper’s mistake by scoring his huge chance, and failed to do so.

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There is no doubt that Maeda had a phenomenal campaign, scoring 33 goals in all competitions, and it is a shame that it has come to an end on a bit of a sour note with that performance that cost Rodgers a first domestic treble since returning to Parkhead.

In what would be a statement move, the 49ers and Leeds United have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Manchester City target in the coming months.

Leeds planning big summer

As Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City found out the hard way this season, surviving in the Premier League is tougher than ever before. To put into context just how large a gap there is to bridge for Championship sides these days, the closest clubs to the bottom three in the current campaign have been Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who need little introduction.

Nonetheless, Leeds will enter England’s top flight hoping to avoid the same mistakes that led to instant relegation for Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich. That is, of course, easier said than done, but club chairman Paraag Marathe has already reiterated that he knows the extent of the challenge ahead, whilst also publicly backing Daniel Farke.

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He told reporters amid Leeds’ recent title celebrations: “I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel and collaborate with him. I’m under no illusions that it is going to be easy. The past two seasons the three promoted teams came straight back down but we have something they don’t have, we have Daniel Farke first of all.I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”

As clear as day in his stance, Marathe and the rest of those behind the scenes at Elland Road must now focus on potential incomings, with several targets already threatening to steal the headlines.

Among those already mentioned includes the likes of Jamie Vardy and Beto, as the 49ers seemingly set their focus on attacking additions in the coming months. In a long summer ahead, reports have even suggested that one particular star is back on their radar ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Leeds eyeing "fantastic" Gabriel Sara

According to transfer reporters Graeme Bailey, the 49ers now have Gabriel Sara “on their radar” with Leeds plotting a summer move to sign the reported Manchester City target this summer.

Bailey told Leeds United News: “He’s [Sara] on the radar. Leeds have looked at him. You know, they knew all about him at Norwich, etc. He was fantastic. He’s not going to be cheap. We know that. But he’s an option out there.”

Whilst a move to Leeds would see Sara make his first foray into the Premier League, it wouldn’t be his first time in English football after he initially earned Galatasaray’s interest throughout an impressive spell at Norwich City.

Praised for his “creative left foot” at the time by analyst Ben Mattinson, Sara has since kicked on in Turkey and is on course to end the current campaign with two goals and as many as nine assists to his name.