Leeds set to make imminent bid for Real Madrid ace after Farke convinces 49ers

Leeds United are now set to make an imminent bid for Real Madrid star Gonzalo Garcia, following involvement from manager Daniel Farke.

Leeds have been urged to sign a new striker, having failed to score in five of their 11 Premier League matches up to this point, with Clinton Morrison saying: “If Leeds want to survive, they need to bring in an out-and-out goalscorer that’s going to get them the 10 to 15 goals to keep them in the Premier League, which is going to be difficult.

“Because in the Premier League. You’re only as good as your strikers. But I hope Leeds do stay up because it’s going to be difficult.”

Farke would’ve been hoping Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be the man to fire his side to safety, but the centre-forward has recorded an xG of just 2.02 in the Premier League so far this season, with his only goal coming in the 3-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers back in September.

With Joel Piroe goalless, Farke is short on top-quality options to rival Lukas Nmecha for a starting spot, and the West Yorkshire outfit are now set to make a move for a new striker ahead of the January transfer window.

Leeds set to make imminent bid for Gonzalo Garcia

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Leeds are now set to make an imminent bid for Real Madrid forward Garcia, with a formal £17m offer ready, and the Spanish club are willing to sanction his departure for a fee in that ballpark.

Farke has managed to convince the 49ers the 21-year-old could propel the Whites to Premier League safety, which means the board have now sanctioned a move, but there could be competition from rival Premier League clubs.

Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also preparing moves of their own, with Brighton and Sunderland also being named as potential suitors for the Spaniard, who has been unable to force his way into the Real Madrid starting XI this season.

Hailed as “world-class” by journalist Zach Lowy, the youngster has impressed when given the opportunity by Xabi Alonso, finding the back of the net four times in six outings at the Club World Cup, while also grabbing an assist in the Champions League this season.

Unfortunately for the five-time Spain U21 international, however, he is behind some global superstars in the Real Madrid pecking order, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo all vying for first-team spots, which means he is at risk of his development being hampered.

As such, Garcia should seek a move in the January transfer window, and he would become an instant cult hero at Elland Road if he were able to fire Leeds to safety…

Leeds looking to fund transfer business by selling "unbelievable" star in January Leeds open to selling £40k-p/w star who Firpo called "unbelievable" this January

The Whites are now willing to cash-in on a first-team star this winter, in order to reinvest the money raised into other areas of the squad.

ByDominic Lund Nov 19, 2025

Tigers Assistant GM Resigned Following Investigation Into Alleged Workplace Misconduct

Last week, Detroit Tigers assistant GM Sam Menzin suddenly resigned with the team six games into the 2025 MLB campaign. On Monday, Brittany Ghiroli and Cody Stavenhagen of reported Menzin left the organization following an investigation into alleged workplace misconduct.

Per , two female Tigers employes accused Menzin of sending "unsolicited lewd photos," dating back as far as 2017. The team then launched an investigation, and upon its completion Menzin chose to resign before he could be terminated.

"Upon being made aware of the allegations as to Sam Menzin’s conduct, the club promptly completed an investigation," the franchise said in a statement released to Ghiroli and Stavenhagen. "Before the club could terminate Mr. Menzin, he resigned. This type of behavior is contrary to our standards and has absolutely no place within our organization. We have a positive and safe culture for our colleagues and will continue to emphasize respect, inclusion, and professionalism."

Menzin told on Friday that he was seeking a career change and moving to New York to handle "family issues."

Menzin had been with the Tigers for 13 years prior to his resignation. He first joined the organization as a baseball operations intern and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021.

Suryakumar found guilty of breaching code of conduct; verdict on Rauf and Farhan awaited

India have appealed the guilty verdict against Suryakumar Yadav, who was fined 30% of his match fee

Danyal Rasool and Nagraj Gollapudi26-Sep-20254:11

Suryakumar: ‘A few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit’

India captain Suryakumar Yadav has been found guilty by the ICC of breaching the code of conduct for his comments that alluded to the military skirmish between India and Pakistan, after their group match in the Asia Cup on September 14.It is understood Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson and that he was fined 30% of his match fee. India have appealed against the verdict.Two Pakistan players, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, also faced disciplinary hearings on Friday, following their actions in the Super Four game between the two sides on September 21. Farhan was pulled up for his gun celebration after reaching his fifty, while Rauf was captured on camera making gestures that alluded to the downing of aircraft. They are still waiting to hear what sanctions, if any, they face.The PCB had complained to the ICC that Suryakumar’s remarks following the game on September 14 – both at the presentation ceremony and the post-match press conference – constituted a breach of the ICC regulation to avoid political messaging.In its complaint to the ICC, seen by ESPNcricinfo, the PCB quoted Suryakumar’s remarks where he “dedicated today’s victory to our armed forces”. He later specified this dedication was made to India’s armed forces who took part in a military operation against Pakistan in May, which triggered a skirmish between the two sides.Related

SKY fall: Suryakumar's slump becomes starker amid off-field controversies

Suryakumar told to refrain from making political comments

BCCI lodges complaint with ICC against Farhan and Rauf

Abhishek: Didn't like Pakistan 'coming at us without any reason'

The PCB had demanded the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction – reserved for the most serious breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct – on Suryakumar. It cited past examples of players who were either prevented from what was deemed political messaging or fined for deploying it. The PCB pointed out that in the past the ICC had deemed messages calling attention to the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel’s war in Gaza to be political in nature, most recently when it blocked Usman Khawaja’s attempt to wear shoes with the message “Freedom is a human right” inscribed on them.It could not be confirmed whether the appeal by India has been heard, or when it will take place. Generally, the match referee decides on a time and venue but India face Sri Lanka in the last Super Four match on Friday evening and then play Pakistan in the final on Sunday. If Suryakumar is found guilty after the appeal too, his sanction will be increased accordingly.There was heightened tension between India and Pakistan before their group game began on September 14, with India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan at the toss and after the game, which India won by seven wickets. In the Super Four match between the sides, there were a number of confrontations between Pakistan’s bowlers and India’s openers. Abhishek Sharma later accused Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason”.In that game, Farhan celebrated his half-century by miming the firing of a gun, which he later said was a “spur of the moment” decision. Rauf, meanwhile, made numerous gestures depicting the downing of aircraft while fielding on the boundary, in apparent reference to the recent military conflict.ESPNcricinfo understands Farhan and Rauf also pleaded not guilty and contested that the gestures were not political in nature. While no official verdict has been reached on the two players, the PCB privately accept that they are also likely to cop fines.

Bigger mistake than Quansah: Liverpool sold their next Gravenberch for £15m

A lot has been said in recent weeks about Liverpool offloading Luis Diaz this summer.

With hindsight on side, Arne Slot and Co would now have kept a tighter grip on their Colombian attacker, with the South American winger already up to 11 goals and six assists donning a new shade of red at Bayern Munich.

Back at Anfield, both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak remain goalless in Premier League action, on the contrary.

Still, he isn’t the only sale this summer that will be plaguing the stuttering reigning champions with Jarell Quansah now in the good books of England manager Thomas Tuchel, after leaving Merseyside behind for his own German challenge.

Why letting go of Quansah was a mistake

The bumper summer transfer window also saw Trent Alexander-Arnold leave Liverpool behind for a major move to Real Madrid, with the Reds suffering in the right-back department ever since.

At the time of writing, Conor Bradley is the only fit and available natural right-back option for Slot, with the Northern Irishman arguably struggling last time out against Manchester City, as Jeremy Doku stole the show with a masterclass down Bradley’s right flank, with a mammoth seven successful dribbles completed.

To further add to the underperforming outfit’s woes, Jeremie Frimpong has failed to settle in properly with injuries galore. If Liverpool could turn back time, therefore, they would surely look to keep Quansah around for longer to boost their depleted numbers, even if he was largely a bit-part player when still situated in England.

He has seized his chance at Bayer Leverkusen, though, despite making just 55 senior appearances for the Reds over several years, with a calm and collected 90% pass accuracy averaged across eight Bundesliga games to date, on top of two goals being put away in all competitions.

This drastic upward trajectory has even resulted in the aforementioned Tuchel stating that he is a “tiny bit ahead” of Trent in the England senior set-up, with a first Three Lions cap coming his way earlier in the month versus Albania.

It remains to be seen what role Quansah has in the upcoming World Cup, but he isn’t the only former Liverpool starlet shining bright away from their once-boyhood club, with Slot and Co very much dropping the ball, again, when ditching a homegrown version of Ryan Gravenberch for just £15m.

Liverpool lost a homegrown Gravenberch for just £15m

While Liverpool has fallen off the horse multiple times this season, the Dutchman has largely been consistent with his classy displays from the middle of the park.

Indeed, the former Ajax boy wonder turned guaranteed Liverpool starter has even been labelled as “one of the best” in the world in his position by Reds-based writer DAVEOCKOP this season, with four goal contributions next to his name in Premier League action, also coupled with an eagerness to get stuck in, as seen in 4.9 duels being won on average.

In stark contrast, a waning Alexis Mac Allister has no goals to shout about, winning just a weak 2.5 duels per game as Gravenberch has often had to do double the work this season to make up for his below-par teammate.

If only the short on confidence side had Tyler Morton to fall back on in the holding midfield positions to partner their star-man, instead of having to rely on the lethargic number ten.

The former Anfield prodigy is now living up to his billing of being a “complete midfielder” on the books of Lyon – as he was once labelled by Como scout Ben Mattinson – to be viewed in the same light as Gravenberch.

Attempted passes

57.02

53.84

Pass completion %

82.7%

88.9%

Progressive passes

4.90

5.10

Progressive carries

1.79

1.92

Shot-creating actions

2.33

2.34

Tackles

1.79

1.97

Interceptions

0.70

1.64

Blocks

0.70

0.75

Clearances

1.56

1.52

FBref even suggests that the midfield pairing are alike, and the numbers above do not lie, with Morton even surpassing his counterpart over the last year in terms of attempted passes made per 90 minutes, as an assured presence centrally.

He isn’t a million miles off the heavily lauded Gravenberch either when looking at the head-to-head defensive numbers, with the 23-year-old managing to stand out in such a way, even as his Ligue 1 employers loiter in seventh spot in the current league standings, to further ramp up their similarities.

Further hailed as a “beautiful” talent to watch with this sublime assist in November by journalist Bence Bocsak, it must be a sickening pill to swallow on Liverpool’s end that they let a Gravenberch-type asset go for only £15m.

At least with Quansah, they managed to drain Leverkusen of £35m, but in the case of Morton, they sold up way too prematurely and way too cheaply, as the 23-year-old now aims to mature into a consistent Gravenberch-style midfielder in France.

Semenyo upgrade: Liverpool prepare £88m bid for "best player in the world"

Liverpool are getting ready to sign an out-and-out winger after selling Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 18, 2025

Roberto Martinez launches passionate defence of 'hungry' Cristiano Ronaldo's place in Portugal national team

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo still justifies his place in the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting not only his recent goalscoring form at international level but also the "hunger" that drives the 40-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo is set to play at his sixth World Cup tournament, which is likely to be his last.

Ronaldo's record is 'incredible'

Appearing as a guest analyst on , Martinez spoke at length about Ronaldo and why he remains an important asset for Portugal, even at an age when most players are long retired.He will be 41 by the time the World Cup comes around and has a contract with Al-Nassr that runs until after his 42nd birthday in 2027.

"Obviously, everybody has an opinion [on Ronaldo]," Martinez said. "What I've been seeing is that, when we win and Cristiano scores the goal or two goals, the question in the press is, 'What are you going to do when Cristiano is not there? The team depends on Cristiano too much.' When Cristiano doesn't score, it's 'How are you going to win when you've got a 40-year-old in the team?'

"For us, it's easier than that. He plays because he's scored 25 goals in the last 30 games. His record is incredible. When he walks into the training camp, he's an example of professionalism, looking after himself, and using every day to become better. Then it's that pride of playing for the national team. He's the only [male] player in the world, in history, to play 227 [international] games.

"There are aspects that go down to the behaviour now. Nobody has anything given in international football. Every player has got an incredible competitive edge and what Cristiano brings alongside goalscoring – he's changed as a player, he's not the 18, 19-year-old winger that we saw – is his attitude and hungry feeling for the national team. So, while he has that, he's an incredible source of contagious positivity in the dressing room."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRonaldo has the 'biggest hunger' of any player

After everything he's achieved in his career, Martinez noted that Ronaldo is still determined to get better. His physical body is serving him well and it’s only his mindset that will change that.

"He's become a specialist in the box as a finisher, and it's this desire to carry on improving," the Portugal boss continued. "I always believed that the body retires the player. When I've seen Cristiano work, I'm convinced it's the brain that retires the footballer. His body follows his focus and mindset.

"He doesn't do it for anybody [else], he does it for himself. When we're analysing players, we can speak about any aspect, [but] we never analyse the hunger. He's got the biggest hunger that I've seen in a player. Normally a player wins a trophy and there is not the same hunger the next day in their way of working. He has that. I don't know if it's natural or something he works hard at, but he's got that hungriness not to let himself down.

"I don't think he needs to show anything. I think he's got to a point now that he plays for himself and the people he loves because he doesn't need to prove anybody wrong. What he's achieved already is enough to leave a legacy."

Ronaldo's recent lack of tournament goals

But even with Ronaldo continuing to score goals for Portugal at a prolific rate, including in the summer's UEFA Nations League final against Spain, his record in major international tournaments has been surprisingly poor by his overall career standard.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar has only found the net eight times across his five previous World Cups, spanning 22 appearances. His European Championship record is better, 14 goals in 30 games, but it's still only 22 goals in more than 50 tournament games for a player who holds the world record for goals in men's international football.

Ronaldo found the net only once at the 2022 World Cup and was actually dropped from the starting XI by ex-Portugal coach Fernando Santos after the group stage. At Euro 2024, it was no goals at all.

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AFPRonaldo's exemplary fitness record

Ronaldo has never missed an international tournament because of injury, nor has he ever suffered any kind of significant absence during 23 years as a professional player – it's a major factor why he's been able to play more than 1,000 career games for club and country.

Keeping himself fit over the next six months, whilst also aiming to win a first piece of major silverware at club level since leaving Juventus in 2021, is going to be crucial.

Nolan Arenado 'Really Likes' Idea of Trade to American League East Team

It took 12 years, but third baseman Nolan Arenado's play finally and truly took a dip in 2024.

In each of his first 11 years, Arenado either won a Gold Glove, made the National League All-Star team, or both. In '24, he did neither, and his St. Louis Cardinals accordingly missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

At 33, Arenado has three years left on his contract, and his name has surfaced frequently in trade rumors this offseason. On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN's Buster Olney reported that Arenado had a particular team in mind.

"Given that Nolan Arenado vetoed the potential deal to the (Houston) Astros, what some of his friends say is important: They think he would really like the idea of going to the (Boston) Red Sox, if Boston and the Cardinals work out terms," Olney wrote on social media. "Arenado's current mindset: 'Highly, highly motivated.'"

That's positive news for the Red Sox, a team in an intriguing position: while Boston has missed the playoffs three years in a row, its farm system is renowned as one of the best in baseball.

Arenado, a top-10 finisher in the NL MVP race in six of the past 10 seasons, slashed .272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs in '24.

Newcastle have strong interest in £25m PL ace who Howe called "magnificent"

Newcastle United are now showing strong interest in signing a Premier League player who Eddie Howe called “magnificent”, according to a report.

Magpies pushing for the Champions League

Newcastle are in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while also ending their 70-year trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup earlier this season, which should make St. James’ Park an attractive destination for new signings this summer.

Howe’s side have performed very well, but the manager is looking to upgrade his squad in several areas this summer, including in midfield, having now joined the race for Manchester City’s James McAtee, who could be available for a fee of just £26m.

There is also a desire to strengthen in forward areas, with Ademola Lookman on the shortlist, while Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi could be brought in to bolster Howe’s centre-back options, having been keen on the Englishman for quite some time.

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The Magpies could land his signature…

1 BySean Markus Clifford May 4, 2025

Another area in which Newcastle could look to strengthen is between the sticks, with Nick Pope now arguably in the twilight years of his career at 33-years-old, and they have their eye on an option from within the Premier League.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Newcastle are showing strong interest in signing Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is in line to leave the Saints after their relegation to the Championship.

Ramsdale will be able to leave for just £25m following his side’s relegation to the second tier, and the goalkeeper is eager to remain in the Premier League, with West Ham United believed to be leading the race for his signature.

Pope’s injury setbacks mean the Magpies are looking to bring in a goalkeeper capable of competing for a starting spot, and the Southampton shot-stopper fits the bill, although the requirement to abide by financial fair play rules could hinder their chances of getting a deal over the line.

Newcastle United’s final Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

May 11th

Arsenal (a)

May 18th

Everton (h)

May 25th

Ramsdale could be "magnificent" signing for Newcastle

The Saints have endured a torrid campaign in the Premier League, collecting just 11 points all season, but it is difficult to be too critical of their goalkeeper, given that he is ranked as the best-performing player in the squad.

Howe has also been left seriously impressed by the Englishman in the past, describing him as “magnificent” during their time working together at AFC Bournemouth.

Southampton's AaronRamsdalelooks dejected after the match

Not only that, but the 26-year-old caught the eye during his time with Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta singling him out for praise after an impressive performance at Anfield, describing his goalkeeper as “fantastic”.

Pope has been a fantastic servant to Newcastle, but with the Englishman now in the latter stages of his career and out of contract in 2026, a long-term replacement could be required, and there are plenty of signs that Ramsdale may well be a solid option.

Everton want to beat Leverkusen and sign £30m+ star in straight cash deal

Everton now face a transfer battle with Bayer Leverkusen to sign an “impressive” £30 million+ defender, according to a recent report.

Everton are stepping up transfer plans for David Moyes

Given the Blues cannot be relegated from the Premier League, David Moyes and co are now slowly turning their attentions to the summer transfer window and next season, as Everton move into their new stadium.

Scout who told Everton to sign Isak says £30k-a-week target "happy" to join

This would cause a stir this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 23, 2025

Moyes is keen for his side to strengthen their forward line during the summer and has identified Evan Ferguson as a top target. The Republic of Ireland international is currently on loan at West Ham from Brighton after falling down the pecking order with the Seagulls. Ferguson’s long-term future with Brighton is up in the air, and Moyes is looking to take advantage of this by luring him to Everton, where he thinks he can improve his game.

As well as looking at the top end of the pitch, Everton are also looking to improve their defensive options this summer. Jarrad Branthwaite’s future remains a hot topic of debate, and while the Toffees would like him to stay, they already have their eyes on potential replacements. Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah has been linked with a shock move to Everton, and former scout Bryan King now believes the defender would be “happy” to join the blue side of Liverpool.

Everton looking to beat Leverkusen and sign £30m+ star

Quansah is not the only defender on the Premier League side’s radar, as according to Tuttomercatoweb, relayed by Sport Witness, Everton are looking to sign David Hancko from Dutch side Feyenoord.

Feyenoord'sDavidHanckocelebrates scoring their third goal

The report states that the Toffees are interested in signing the 27-year-old, as they would like to build their defence around him. However, Everton are not alone in their pursuit, as Juventus reportedly already have an agreement over personal terms with the player. While Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on striking a deal for the experienced centre-back.

Everton hope they have an advantage in the race, as they and Leverkusen are willing to offer a straight cash deal for Hancko, who Feyenoord are looking to get around €40 million for, which is roughly £34 million. Hancko is predominantly a centre-back but can also play at left-back if needed, which is ideal for Moyes, as he looks for versatility in his defence.

Apps

27

Minutes played

2,430

Goals

3

Assists

1

Tackles won

23

Interceptions

22

The Toffees do already have plenty of options in their backline, but Michael Keane is on course to depart when his contract expires this summer.

James Tarkowski is not getting any younger, and as mentioned, Branthwaite continues to be linked with a move away, so a new centre-back could be very much needed this summer for Moyes, and if he wants Everton to get back into contention for Europe, then a rebuild of his backline may be what is needed, with Hancko, who has been dubbed “impressive” by Ben Mattinson, at the heart of it.

Tottenham: Levy now plotting surprise bid for "underrated" West Ham player

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are making transfer plans ahead of the looming summer window, with a report now suggesting Spurs have their eyes on a West Ham United star.

Tottenham's rumoured transfer plans amid Postecoglou uncertainty

The Telegraph’s Matt Law has already reported that the Lilywhites are facing a potentially difficult ‘sell to buy’ style window, so the club are carefully planning their targets amid the very uncertain future of manager Ange Postecoglou.

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2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025

While Postecoglou faces the looming threat of being sacked by Spurs, regardless of their Europa League campaign (The Telegraph), the Lilywhites are running out of time to prepare for the special limited-edition first summer window of 2025, which will open from June 1st to June 10th.

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

This gives clubs like Man City and Chelsea an opportunity to sign players before the Club World Cup, but it could also hand Spurs an early opportunity to strengthen the squad, even if it famously isn’t Levy’s style to get deals done early.

Tottenham reportedly want to strengthen their squad across the board, and are one of the many Premier League sides eyeing a move for Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen, who is set to be in high demand thanks to his £50 million release clause (Sky Sports).

Spurs are also targeting Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson, who would apparently be open to joining them (GiveMeSport), but Postecoglou’s side are also keen to bolster their attacking options.

Richarlison could well depart Spurs this summer, and the same can be said of Bryan Gil and Manor Solomon, who don’t appear to have long-term futures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after spending 2024/2025 out on loan elsewhere.

A permanent deal for Mathys Tel could still be on the cards, with there being confidence both Bayern and the north Londoners can come to an amicable agreement, but the Frenchman may not be their only forward signing.

Tottenham could now bid £51 million for West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen

According to a report from CaughtOffside, West Ham star Jarrod Bowen is of interest to Tottenham.

Jarrod Bowen celebrates for West Ham

The England international has bagged nine goals and seven assists in the league this season, standing out for the Irons amid a disappointing campaign, and this has attracted admiring glances from across London.

It is now believed Tottenham could even bid £51 million to sign Bowen from West Ham, but according to other reports, this may not be anywhere near enough. Graham Potter’s side consider Bowen “untouchable”, as per Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor, and West Ham valued their star man at around £100 million just last summer.

Signing him for half that price just one year later is a tall order for Levy, especially considering their fierce rivalry on the field. Called one of the Premier League’s most “underrated” stars of recent years, West Ham are fully aware of his value, and it would surely take a record-breaking bid from Spurs to even get them thinking.

Farke can repeat Meslier trick by dropping "anonymous" Leeds flop

Leeds United are back in action once again this evening as they prepare to travel to Oxford United in the Championship for the first of their two Easter matches.

The Whites play after Sheffield United face Cardiff City earlier in the day and this means that they could go eight points clear of third place with a win, if results go their way.

Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans

Daniel Farke has already shown that he is willing to make bold selection decisions ahead of big games, having already played a blinder by dropping Illan Meslier recently.

Why Illan Meslier was dropped by Leeds

The French dud was dropped by the German head coach after making two crucial mistakes in the 2-2 draw with Swansea at Elland Road at the end of last month, dropping a cross onto Harry Darling for the first goal and being beaten too easily for the second strike.

Meslier conceded 2.73 more goals than expected and made three errors that directly led to goals in the Championship before finally being taken out of the team in favour of Karl Darlow.

The English shot-stopper has prevented 0.56 xG in his three appearances since he came into the XI, without making a single error, and provided a solid presence between the sticks.

His ability to claim crosses and take danger out of situations has been appreciated by the fan base, as shown by the post from reporter Beren Cross above.

Farke could, now, repeat the trick he played by dropping Meslier by dropping another regular starter in Joel Piroe, whose performances have dipped of late.

Why Joel Piroe should be dropped

The Dutch centre-forward started the 2-1 win over Preston North End and came off the pitch without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts for the eighth game running.

Chalkboard

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

Piroe started all eight of those matches, returning zero goals and zero assists, and has only scored one goal in his last ten starts in the Championship for Leeds.

The left-footed forward was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment in February, and that is one of the issues with his performances for the Whites because the striker does not offer enough in his general play without goals to go with it.

Appearances

42

xG

15.06

Goals

15

Key passes per game

0.8

Pass accuracy

77%

Ground duel success rate

33%

Aerial duel success rate

18%

Dribble success rate

31%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe is regularly dominated by Championship defenders in duels on the ground and in the air, whilst he does not excel as a passer, creator, or dribbler in possession.

This means that the former Swansea City attacker has been a lightweight in the Whites starting XI in the past eight matches as a starter, because of his poor all-round displays as well as his lack of impact in the final third.

Therefore, Farke could repeat his Meslier trick by ruthlessly ditching Piroe from the team to unleash Patrick Bamford, who recently came off the bench to win six of his nine duels against Middlesbrough.

The English number nine could provide more physicality at the top end of the pitch, as the Dutchman has been too easy for defenders to play against, as Leeds look to get their Premier League promotion over the line in the coming days.

Farke already his next Rutter in Leeds "weapon" who's shining out on loan

Daniel Farke may have his next Georginio Rutter in this Leeds star who is out on loan.

ByDan Emery Apr 16, 2025

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