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Leeds United could be set to move on from Jesse Marsch with a familiar face…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan has emerged as a potential candidate to succeed the American.

With their disappointing loss yesterday, the current Whites manager seemed to remain confident that things would turn around. He was quoted as claiming: “I understand the frustration and doubts, internally we have belief here, we do. The players are all in, they give everything.”

However, the hierarchy decided enough was enough, and called time on his reign on Monday.

Now the Spaniard, who has been at the club previously under the regime of Marcelo Bielsa, could be set to return after two impressive spells in the Championship.

Could get Leeds rocking

Things have been tough at Elland Road of late, and admittedly ever since the departure of Bielsa things have seldom looked up.

January marked the second consecutive window of significant backing from Andrea Radrizzani, and yet they remain without a Premier League win since early November. Marsch’s position became untenable, and he had to go.

Meanwhile, the Baggies are in simply unstoppable form.

Corberan took over the Midlands outfit in disarray, with the club licking its wounds from a torrid Steve Bruce tenure. The 39-year-old went in and instantly got results, with his team now sitting in a playoff spot having been in the relegation zone when he arrived.

He seems to have blended the offensive fluidity of his mentor’s system with a defensive solidity of his own invention. That was arguably the downfall during Bielsa’s time at the club.

As such, his West Brom outfit have lost just two games in the league, scoring 19 times whilst conceding just seven in 13 matches.

He was clearly destined to achieve great things, and even before his first foray into management with Huddersfield Town, he earned praise from the legendary Argentine. He claimed: “Carlos is a good colleague, I have found that. He is very talented. I listen more to his opinion than I give mine to him.”

It was his spell at the Terriers which drew initial praise, as he led them to an unlikely playoff final where they fell at the last hurdle.

He since suffered a succinct failed spell at Olympiakos but has his budding career firmly back on track now at the Hawthorns.

To join Leeds would see him employ many of the skills he has already flexed this season in revitalising his current club, and would represent a romantic return as the student of Bielsa becomes the master at Thorp Arch.

Having a Bielse-esque figure standing in the dugout could well be the much-needed catalyst to restoring that feel-good factor that has not been felt since their initial promotion and first season back in the top flight. Indeed, Elland Road would surely be bouncing again in no time at all.

Joe Wainman has been left unimpressed by Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani’s tweet about a new manager potentially being appointed soon.

The Lowdown: Corberna won’t be joining

The Leeds owner tweeted that the club were hopeful of some ‘white smoke’ by Wednesday morning, but following the news of Carlos Corberan signing an extension at West Bromwich Albion, that may no longer be possible.

It appears as though Leeds were sniffing around their former coach, which has seemingly forced the Baggies into offering him a new deal to keep the Spaniard at the club and get them back into the Premier League.

Leeds appear to have a shortlist of candidates, including Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola, as well as a much more left-field option in the form of Real Madrid legend Raul, though it is believed that he has opted against succeeding Marsch.

The Latest: Radrizzani playing games once again

Radrizzani has once again appeared to try and get fans’ hopes up with a tweet, much like he did when they attempted to sign Bamba Dieng in the summer, only for that move to fall through.

Wainman was left less than happy on Twitter, taking their failure to appoint a new man to this point to mean that an approach for Corberan has swiftly fallen flat.

Reacting to the Baggies boss penning an extension, he wrote: “So Corberan would have been the one, hence the white smoke tweet, but WBA offered a bumper deal and lengthy contract. Radz went too soon again. What we saying?”

The Verdict: Leeds not looking to rush into an appointment

It’s clear that Radrizzani has a history of jumping the gun when it comes to announcements and getting the hopes of the Leeds fanbase up higher than necessary – and this certainly won’t help his popularity.

However, Phil Hay did indeed claim that the club wouldn’t be rushing into a decision to appoint a manager before either of their upcoming games against Manchester United, which shows they are looking to do their due diligence on candidates.

Leeds fans will be very keen to see a new man in place well before their clash against Everton next weekend and the Southampton fixture that follows, as they could well be the springboard required to catapult them away from the drop zone.

Chelsea have endured a frustrating run of form since the turn of the year, winning just once since January 1st, and even though Graham Potter delved into the transfer market and signed eight players, they have yet to gel.

Next up is a tie against West Ham United and this will be another tricky match as David Moyes’ side are currently battling it out at the bottom of the Premier League table and there is no doubt Potter will want to make some changes following last week’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Fulham.

Enzo Fernandez impressed against the Cottagers and through time will surely blossom into a player worth every bit of the near £107m transfer fee, however, there were a couple of passengers in the side, most notably Kai Havertz.

Will Havertz play against West Ham United?

The £150k-per-week forward hasn’t exactly endured the best of seasons, averaging a rating of 6.8 for his Premier League performances this season, currently ranking him as the club’s 13th-best performer.

He has scored five times this term, however, the German has netted only twice since Christmas and with the goalscoring burden falling on him due to a season-ending injury to Armando Broja, his performances have got to be better.

Against Fulham, Havertz was the worst performer in the Chelsea side, achieving a Sofascore rating of just 5.8 and his composure was poor, having three shots off target, hitting the woodwork, and missing two big chances during the tie.

The 23-year-old took just 40 touches during the match, completed only 20 passes, and won just four duels from 11 contested. while also losing possession ten times and his struggles may give Potter a chance to switch his side about.

Journalist and analyst Zach Lowy was a vocal critic of his performance last week, tweeting:

“It’s becoming harder and harder to justify Havertz being an untouchable starter in Graham Potter’s lineup. Another poor campaign from him.”

The only factor that is arguably keeping him in the starting XI is the club’s lack of a proper striker.

Although Joao Felix has been known to perform through the middle for Atletico Madrid on the odd occasion and this could well be an option that the Englishman utilises over the next few matches.

Chelsea needs everyone working together in order to bring them out of this malaise they find themselves in, but performances like Havertz’s against Fulham simply won’t cut it and it may be time for change against West Ham tomorrow afternoon.

Reporter Alex Crook has claimed on the TalkSPORT GameDay podcast that Newcastle United’s lack of goals could cost them in the Carabao Cup final.

The Lowdown: Lack of goals will be worrying

Prior to the World Cup, Newcastle were flying high and sitting third in the Premier League table after putting teams to the sword, winning by three or more goals on four occasions.

However, their form has dipped slightly as they’ve drawn four out of their last five Premier League matches, although that has seen them extend their run to 17 games unbeaten in the league.

This lack of firepower in the final third will be a worry not only for their top-four hopes, but also ahead of their cup final on Sunday week against Manchester United and a lack of clinical edge could prove to be costly.

The Latest: Newcastle could be punished at Wembley

Crook believes that unless Newcastle find their goalscoring boots prior to their trip to Wembley, the Magpies could miss out on their first piece of silverware since 1969.

He said: “You’re right to point out the fact they’re struggling to win games despite the unbeaten run. They’re struggling for goals as well, Callum Wilson missing the [Bournemouth] game with a minor hamstring injury; Alexander Isak’s only scored one now in his last seven.

“And you have to go back to November 6th – since then, Newcastle have only scored more than one goal in a single Premier League game on one occasion.

“I think it’s a problem, and I think it’s a problem that could cost them their place in the top four and could cost them that cup final.”

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The Verdict: Howe will be keen to address attacking woes

If Newcastle do continue to struggle in the final third and keep missing big chances – speaking of which, three of their players are inside the top 20 in the league this term – it could yet be a long and potentially disappointing day out at Wembley for the Magpies.

Newcastle’s journey to the Carabao Cup final may well have suggested this was always going to be the case as they squeezed past Tranmere Rovers, before requiring penalties against Crystal Palace and an own goal from Adam Smith to edge them past Bournemouth.

Howe will be hoping that players such as Wilson and Isak can start to show some form in the final third and that chances will be easier to come by once Bruno Guimaraes comes back into the side. The Brazilian ranks third for key passes and second for passes into the penalty area and progressive passes (FBref), which shows how key he is to getting the ball forward and into dangerous positions.

Alternatively, perhaps the players have an eye on their clash against Manchester United already and it will be a case of turning up for the big occasion. Howe will certainly be hoping their form doesn’t suffer too much ahead of the final.

Manchester United are renowned for their production of young talent, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho just a handful of the more recent examples of those who have emerged from the club’s academy ranks to become part of the first-team.

Current manager Erik ten Hag does appear keen to follow in the footsteps of those who have come before him by promoting deserving talent from within, with 17-year-old starlet Kobbie Mainoo having made his top-flight debut off the bench at the weekend.

The Dutchman will have to go some way, though, to replicate the success of legendary former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with the serial-winning Scotsman having notably brought through the much-celebrated ‘Class of 92’.

Arguably the most successful member of that talented bunch – which includes the likes of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and David Beckham – was wing wizard Ryan Giggs, with the now-retired Welshman the first of those to make his mark at senior level.

Having been plucked from rivals Manchester City at the age of just 14, the dynamic ace went on to make his professional debut in 1991, eventually playing a key part in ending United’s drought with regard to league titles in the inaugural Premier League campaign in 1992/93.

That triumph was the first of 13 league titles that the 64-cap sensation won during his time at Old Trafford, having gone on to rack up 964 appearances for the club in all competitions, unsurprisingly ensuring that he leads the way in that regard in United’s history.

That remarkable consistency and quality has ensured that Giggs is widely regarded as one of the best wingers to have played the game, with his former boss David Moyes having stated back in 2013: “The Premier League has seen some outstanding players but because of his ability and his longevity Ryan has to be just about the best. “

While it will prove rather impossible for any youngster to be able to emulate such a talent, Ten Hag and co could well have found a suitable heir to the 49-year-old in the form of teenage gem Shea Lacey.

Who could be Man United’s next Giggs?

Much like Giggs – who was able to wreak havoc on the flanks or in a midfield berth – young Lacey also offers the benefit of being able to feature out wide or in a playmaking role, having already been making waves at youth level of late.

While still only 15, the precocious talent has already set tongues wagging with his quality in possession, with talent scout Jacek Kulig lauding him as a player who has a “left foot made of gold” – an assessment which could also have been made of the aforementioned Giggs.

Despite his youth, the exciting asset has already made six appearances for the club’s U18 side, notably scoring once and laying on two assists in just five appearances in the U18 Premier League this season.

A youngster who has been sparking a “lot of excitement” at the Theatre of Dreams, in the words of Goal’s Tom Maston, Lacey appears set for a bright future in the game, having also been described by Kulig as “one of the most interesting U17s in Europe”.

Also lauded as United’s answer to City star Phil Foden, the emerging superstar only recently set pulses racing among supporters after starring in the Rewe Junior Cup last month, showcasing his eye-catching trickery to produce a remarkable solo goal in the competition.

While there is always concern about hyping up a player who is still likely to be years away from earning a first-team bow, the signs are that the Red Devils do have a potential Giggs-esque diamond on their hands.

Private equity group MSP Sports Capital have reportedly kickstarted their Tottenham Hotspur takeover ‘campaign’ as a report shares their ‘genuine’ interest in acquiring the Premier League club.

The Lowdown: Najafi takeover links…

In recent weeks, there have been reports of interest from US-Iranian billionaire Jahm Najafi, who is apparently plotting a multi-billion pound bid to buy Spurs.

The Financial Times broke news of Najafi’s intentions with a formal approach (through MSP) expected soon, but according to sources closer to home, chairman Daniel Levy and owner Joe Lewis are undecided.

It is believed the Spurs chiefs do not know whether to sell a minority stake, negotiate a full sale or simply take no action, whilst there are some suggestions that ENIC value the club at close to £4.5bn.

The Latest: MSP kickstart Spurs takeover campaign…

According to Football Insider, there has been an update on the matter, with Najafi and MSP Sports Capital now conducting ‘due diligence’ ahead of a ‘takeover campaign’ for Spurs.

It is claimed their interest is ‘genuine’, with the consortium taking ‘concrete steps’ to buy Tottenham, mainly by conducting background checks into the club and matters of financial governance from UEFA and the Premier League.

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The Verdict: Promising…

Spurs supporters who have protested the ownership of Lewis and the ENIC group could see this news as promising, given that MSP and Najafi have seemingly begun their takeover process.

While there is an argument to be made that Tottenham have invested in the squad over the last few transfer windows, with roughly €533m (£469m) spent since their Champions League final appearance in 2019, former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino went for a prolonged period of time without any backing.

That period of inactivity on the transfer front perhaps highlights why sections of the fanbase have become frustrated with the current Spurs ownership, especially as some of their top-flight rivals continue to benefit from lofty backing.

The potential and promise of a full takeover is understandably alluring for some in N17, and it will be a very interesting topic over the next 12 months.

Glasgow Rangers are eyeing up a move for Freddie Woodman during the summer transfer window as Michael Beale looks to find the solution to his goalkeeping dilemma.

What’s the latest on Freddie Woodman to Rangers?

According to the Scottish Sun, the Ibrox side are looking to secure a deal for Preston North End keeper Woodman and it could cost them a fee of £3.5m – with the English side willing to sell – as the 25-year-old still has two years left on his current contract.

The shot-stopper has already had previous spells north of the border, enjoying loan stints at Aberdeen and Kilmarnock during the early stages of his career, and this could stand him in good stead should he join the Gers.

Allan McGregor’s stay at the club looks to be coming to an end. His contract expires in the summer and the report claims that the veteran is expected to leave, which would result in Beale requiring a replacement.

Could Woodman replace Allan McGregor at Ibrox?

Having played nearly 500 games for the Light Blues, there is no doubt McGregor will go down in the annals of the club’s history as one of their finest goalkeepers. He was recently inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy.

The previous 18 months, however, have been far from easy, with the keeper committing major errors against Ross County and Hearts last season, along with the fact he has conceded 37 goals in 26 matches this term, proving a replacement is required.

Woodman certainly fits the bill. His spells as mentioned above in Scotland a few years ago will give him a rough idea of what he is up against and with the Englishman yet to enter his peak years at 25, arguably, it could be money well spent by Beale.

In the Championship this season, Woodman has been in stunning form. He has kept 14 clean sheets from 34 games, made 2.7 saves per game while succeeding with 100% of his attempted runouts per game, and has even been included in the team of the week four times for his performances.

The 25-year-old has won the U20 World Cup with England along with the U17 European Championship and although he has yet to make his senior bow, a move to Rangers could potentially help, giving him regular experience in European and top-flight football.

Russell Martin praised him earlier this term following Preston’s win over Swansea City, saying: “Their keeper Freddie Woodman has had a brilliant game in the end, and that says a lot.

“Particularly in the second half he made some great saves, and nine times out of 10 we’d have got a result after that performance.”

The 6 foot 2 titan is clearly excelling in the Championship and perhaps a move to Rangers would allow him to develop further as a keeper, especially with the pressure of having to win every week, and his statistics suggest that the gem could be a fantastic replacement for McGregor if the veteran does depart.

Beale must act swiftly in order to secure a deal for Woodman because if he keeps up these excellent performances, there will be plenty of other interested parties come the end of the season.

West Bromwich Albion forward Grady Diangana is set to be ruled out for the ‘remainder’ of the Championship season, according to journalist Lewis Cox.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns

The Baggies winger was forced off the pitch with a serious foot injury during the 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Hawthorns on February 25, which saw him miss the following defeat to Hull.

Carlos Corberan had confirmed that the Midlands outfit were awaiting news from a specialist to discover the exact extent of the damage, but it sounds like supporters shouldn’t be hoping to see him again anytime soon.

The Latest: Diangana update

Taking to Twitter, Cox revealed that Diangana is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign. He wrote:

“Looks like bad news on Grady Diangana. Set to miss remainder of season due to surgery on ligament damage in foot. #wba waiting for second opinion but surgery likely.”

The Verdict: Blow for Corberan

Diangana has been a regular feature for Corberan since being appointed at West Brom, starring in 19 of his 21 games in charge, so it’ll be a massive blow to lose one of his most trusted players.

The Congo-born talent has netted four goals and provided three assists in the second tier this season, where he was averaging 1.3 shots and the same number of key passes prior to his absence (WhoScored).

The 24-year-old is also strong in the defensive aspect of his game, ranking in the 99th percentile for most blocks made per 90 minutes by players in his position.

Diangana is a valuable player to have in the building having operated in four different positions this term, so it’s vital that he begins his road to recovery to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.

West Ham supporters have been handed a big update on the future of manager David Moyes by talkSPORT presenter Jim White.

The Lowdown: Moyes pressure mounts…

Despite a 2-0 win over AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League Last 16 on Thursday, the pressure is still well and truly on Moyes with supporters very much still dissatisfied.

The Premier League strugglers spent £172 million since last summer and Moyes has arguably failed to get the very best out of his squad, even if the Scotsman has also had to deal with injuries.

West Ham have won just once in their last five league games as members of the fanbase grow worried over their top flight status.

The Latest: White shares big Moyes update…

Speaking to talkSPORT, via their live feed [March 9], there is now a feeling at West Ham that Moyes could carry on even if they’re relegated.

White explained:

“I’ve been speaking to someone of authority at West Ham.

“The feeling there, what is dominating their thoughts at this stage of the season is Premier League survival and winning the Europa Conference League. Those are their targets.

“There is also the feeling that even if West Ham go down, David Moyes would carry on.”

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The Verdict: Bizarre…

The former Everton boss has undoubtedly built up plenty of credit in the bank, guiding West Ham to two successive campaigns in Europe and a famous Europa League semi-final run last year.

However, given the state of their standings, there is a very real argument that Moyes has taken the east Londoners as far as they can go now.

Perhaps a fresh face with new ideas is the best solution to really get the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca firing, yet according to this update, the board appear set to keep faith in their current boss.

Time will tell whether this is the right decision but it may be an unpopular one with some West Ham supporters.

Arsenal were stunned against Sporting CP on Thursday night by one of the best goals we have ever seen in European football.

The two sides came into the tie locked at 2-2 after the first leg in Lisbon last week and it was the visitors who always looked like the better side.

The Gunners were buoyed by the return of Gabriel Jesus who was starting his first game since sustaining an injury at the World Cup in Qatar.

However, despite the Brazilian’s reemergence and Granit Xhaka’s first-half goal from inside the area, it was an incredibly difficult evening for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Takehiro Tomiyasu went off injured inside the opening ten minutes while immediately after the opener from Xhaka, William Saliba also hobbled off with Rob Holding his replacement.

The centre-back was rather impressive upon his introduction to the pitch, but he could have done very little about the equaliser from Ruben Amorim’s side.

In fact, very few could have kept this one out. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers prospect Pedro Goncalves – now one of Europe’s hottest properties – picked up the ball just inside the Arsenal half before unleashing a remarkable effort on goal from all of 46 yards.

The attempt was hit with precision, power and ultimately accuracy as it flew over a desperate Aaron Ramsdale before hitting the very back of the net.

It was an incredible strike from Goncalves who left the Arsenal stopper sat in the net on a day where he’d been rewarded with an England call-up.

It was no less than both Sporting and their talisman deserved on an evening where the Gunners struggled for any sense of a passing rhythm.

Understandably, the reaction to the goal was one of astonishment, and you can check out some of the best of that from around social media below.