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Former Granada manager Diego Martinez could potentially replace Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United boss, according to journalist Adam Leventhal.

The Lowdown: Bielsa’s contract expiration

Bielsa has been a wonderful manager for the Whites since 2018, but it remains to be seen how long he will be in the Elland Road hot-seat.

The 66-year-old’s current Leeds deal expires at the end of this season and it could be that he feels next summer is the time to move on, having hopefully cemented the club as a permanent fixture back in the top flight.

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The Latest: Martinez linked with Leeds

Should Bielsa bring an end to his time at Leeds, Martinez is somebody who could come in as his replacement.

That’s according to The Athletic‘s Leventhal, who states that he “has links with Leeds director of football Victor Orta” and that working in England is “on his radar.”

Martinez is currently without a club, having left Granada earlier this year.

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The Verdict: Bielsa hopefully stays

Martinez is a talented young manager known for operating on a tight budget and making his teams tough and compact with electrifying counter-attacks, but the hope is that there is no need to find a Bielsa replacement for a number of years.

The Argentine is arguably the most important figure at Elland Road, transforming the club in the last three years and bringing great quality and success on the pitch.

Bielsa is known for only signing one-year deals, so hopefully, that happens again when his current contract runs out. If it doesn’t, Martinez, with a 1.62 points-per-game average at Granada, is certainly a name to keep an eye on.

In other news, Leeds have been boosted ahead of their Premier League clash with Southampton. Read more here.

Liverpool could yet have some business to complete on deadline day, with reliable journalist James Pearce revealing the future of centre-back Nat Phillips is hanging in the balance.

The Lowdown: Phillips out of favour

The 24-year-old did admirably for the Reds last season, filling in at the back in the absence of key injured trio Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Phillips hasn’t featured at all yet in 2021/22, however, and with Ibrahima Konate coming in to add to the depth in the heart of defence, he is effectively surplus to requirements at Liverpool.

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The Latest: Pearce provides update

According to The Athletic’s Pearce [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], Phillips could still leave in the hours before the transfer window closes.

It is claimed that Anfield officials believe late offers will arrive for the Englishman, who is valued at £12million.

It looks like Liverpool’s business is not done yet.

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The Verdict: Time to leave, Nat

Phillips should always be appreciated for the job he did last season, but he remains a limited defender who isn’t at the level required moving forward, in terms of his quality on the ball – only 0.4 key passes per game in the Premier League in 2020/21 – and lack of pace.

He needs regular football in order to continue maturing as a player, which is something Jurgen Klopp simply cannot offer him barring another catastrophic injury crisis.

Hopefully, a bid comes in for Phillips and he can leave permanently, acting as an ideal scenario for all parties.

In other news, Liverpool are eyeing up a deadline day signing – find out who it is here.

Former Manchester City star Michael Ball insists that the club never made a bid for Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer transfer window.

An amazing sequence of events saw City heavily linked with a potential move to sign the legendary Portugal international from Juventus.

However, not 24 hours later, Manchester United revealed that they had reached an agreement to sign their former star, who could make his second debut for the club this weekend against Newcastle United.

BBC Sport reported at the time that United struck a deal with the Serie A club to pay £12.8m for one of the best footballers of all time, and Ball has now insisted that there was no bid put forward by City.

Prior to United announcing his signing, reports claimed that the Premier League champions explored the option of bringing him to the Etihad Stadium, but ultimately decided against it.

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, Ball said: “It was a strange one. The social media reports were all looking like it was City.

“I’ve been told City never made a bid for him. They spoke to his agent and wages wouldn’t be a problem but they never actually spoke to Juventus about bringing him to the football club.”

An update has emerged on reported Leeds transfer target Glen Kamara regarding his future at Rangers.

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, the 25-year-old is closing in on an agreement over a new contract with the Scottish champions. The Finland international is due to extend his current deal, putting an end to speculation over his future for now.

Leeds are reportedly interested in signing the midfielder, along with his teammate Ryan Kent, but could now have to wait until another transfer window to secure his services.

Fans will be gutted

Leeds fans will likely be gutted with this news as it shows Kamara’s willingness to extend his contract with the Scottish giants rather than moving to the Yorkshire club, who may need to be patient in this particular pursuit and could shelve their interest until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The Whites could watch Kamara’s development closely for another year in Scotland before swooping for him in 2022. Another year of growth and improvement could give him a better chance of being able to make the step up to the Premier League, although that may also alert other clubs to his talents further down the line.

Kamara averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 6.99 for Rangers in the Premiership last term. He won 59% of his defensive duels, whilst registering one goal and one assist. This suggests that he has talent but could still improve upon his offensive contribution and work on winning a higher percentage of his duels.

Neil McCann, his former manager at Dundee United, called him a special talent despite his small physique. He said of Kamara: “He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect.

McCann added: “He’s a special talent. He’s lightning-quick but he doesn’t show it. He’s a player who takes instruction well.”

This shows that Kamara has potential, and another year of regular football for Rangers could do the world of good for his development. Therefore, whilst this is a blow for Leeds in the short-term, it could work out for Bielsa and Victor Orta in the long run, should they retain their interest and go back in for him next summer.

However, this might not stop Whites fans from being sickened that the club will miss out on a deal for the Finland international ahead of this season. Kamara could have made the improvements he needs whilst working with Bielsa in England, whilst providing healthy competition in the centre of midfield.

That is why supporters will likely be unhappy that the 25-year-old is set to stay at Rangers rather than being lured by a move to Elland Road, with the added risk that somebody else could swoop for him further down the line, especially if he improves to a point where he is outside of Leeds’ price range.

AND in other news, Leeds preparing offer for beast whose “fitness is incredible”, Bielsa would love him…

Sheffield United have commenced talks regarding a deal to bring Robin Olsen to Bramall Lane this summer.

What’s the talk?

According to reports from Italy, Slavisa Jokanovic’s side have entered into negotiations with AS Roma regarding a season-long loan deal for the 31-year-old goalkeeper.

It is also claimed that Jose Mourinho would be willing to sanction the departure of the Sweden international, in whom the Blades are interested as a result of Aaron Ramsdale’s reported desire to leave the Championship club in favour of a move to Arsenal.

Bye-bye Ramsdale

While losing the services of Ramsdale this summer would undoubtedly come as a significant blow to the Sheffield United manager, it would very much appear to be something of a transfer masterclass by Jokanovic if he secures a deal for Olsen as the 23-year-old’s replacement.

Indeed, the £2.7m-rated goalkeeper impressed over his seven Premier League appearances while on loan at Everton last season, keeping two clean sheets while also conceding an average of just 1.3 goals and making three saves per game.

These metrics saw the man who Sweden team-mate Alexander Isak dubbed an “incredible” player earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as the Toffees’ 12th-best performer in the top flight of English football.

The £14k-per-week shot-stopper continued this fine form into Euro 2020. He conceded four goals and kept two clean sheets over his four appearances in the competition, making 2.8 saves per match and earning an average SofaScore match rating of 7.05.

As such, the signing of Olsen would appear to be a big coup for the Blades this summer, with the ‘keeper arguably being at a similar level of ability as Ramsdale, from whom the club look set to make a considerable amount of money by selling.

Should Jokanovic indeed cash in on the Englishman in the coming days, it would be highly advisable for the Serbian manager to do all he can to secure the signing of the Swedish stopper as the 23-year-old’s replacement.

In other news: Blades set to seal deal for “different class” £22k-p/w beast, fans will be buzzing

Manchester United could be set to receive a significant boost to their transfer budget this summer after Andreas Pereira was linked with a move to Fenerbahce.

What’s the story?

According to Fred Caldeira, a journalist for Brazilian outlet TNT Sports, the Turkish giants are interested in signing the 25-year-old midfielder over the coming months, but only if United lower their €25m (£21.2m) asking price.

The report also stated that an unnamed Premier League side is keen to secure Pereira’s services, with the Brazilian said to be focused on a club who can offer him regular starts after experiencing several loan spells in recent years.

He’s been shocking

After returning from a 12-month stint in La Liga with Valencia during the 2017/18 campaign, Pereira was rewarded with a spot in United’s first team setup the following season.

He initially struggled for game-time under previous manager Jose Mourinho but was given an opportunity to shine by his successor, making 15 appearances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the second half of the campaign.

The Norwegian kept faith with the midfielder throughout 2019/20, starting him on 25 occasions in all competitions.

However, Pereira failed to take his opportunity at Old Trafford. The attacking midfielder scored just two goals and provided only four assists, falling way below the standard required of a United midfielder. Also, his 6.55 WhoScored rating for the season was well inferior to midfield colleagues Bruno Fernandes, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay and Fred.

His shocking performances saw Solskjaer ship him out on loan to Italian outfit Lazio last season, but he failed to make an impact at the Stadio Olimpico and is once again looking for a way out of his United nightmare.

With the ongoing pandemic continuing to restrict football clubs’ ability to purchase their top targets in the current transfer window, offloading unwanted fringe players is the easiest way to boost the coffers. Therefore, Solskjaer must brutally axe the £7.2m-rated Pereira this summer, allowing United room to manoeuvre in the transfer market and potentially financing a deal for a new defensive midfielder.

Pereira put himself in the shop window with a stunning strike against Brentford in a pre-season friendly in midweek to highlight his technical ability, meaning that potential buyers should be easier to attract.

He is undoubtedly a talented player as that goal showed, but the midfielder doesn’t have the consistent ability to succeed at United, and Solskjaer must move him on ahead of the upcoming campaign in order to fund moves for potential upgrades.

In other news…“Reasonably far down the line” – Journalist drops big MUFC claim which may worry fans 

Osian Roberts has stepped down as the Moroccan Football Federation’s technical director to become Patrick Vieira’s assistant manager at Crystal Palace, according to Training Ground Guru.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles supporters have been sharing their thoughts to the news on social media.

Roberts, who was described as ‘the most influential man in Welsh football’, appeared to be pictured alongside Shaun Derry at Palace’s pre-season friendly with Reading on Saturday.

The Eagles defeated the Royals 3-1 on Saturday, and it seems as if Roberts, who admitted last year that he often speaks to Vieira, is set to become the Frenchman’s No.2.

Vieira has already brought in Kristian Wilson as first-team coach and Said Aigoun as development coach, and it appears as if the Welshman will be the next addition by the Palace boss.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared Training Ground Guru’s report on Roberts on Twitter on Saturday afternoon.

This is what these Palace fans had to say in reply, with one describing it as ‘exciting’.

“Honestly this was my final reservation, with him as assistant I reckon we could actually get top 10 with this rebuild”Credit: @bazbrown123″Get innn we’re actually building something amazing”Credit: @bazbrown123″This is huge for us, his experience will be vital for Vieira. Exciting times”Credit: @Eagles71987″What’s so special about this guy”Credit: @robertmeilak”Has done a lot of development with Welsh youth over the years”Credit: @littlecaesar007″I’ve never heard of him”Credit: @JoelGray_

In other news: ‘What’s happening?’, ‘Perfect’ – Many CPFC fans buzz at Sky Sports transfer news. 

Rafael Benitez can win over Everton supporters by defeating Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season, says former Toffees defender Michael Ball.

Some Everton fans were far from happy with the club’s decision to appoint Benitez as manager following his spell with their city rivals.

During that time, the Spaniard called Everton a “small club”, comments which he has since clarified.

However, he will have to do more than that if he is to win over all of the Evertonians, and Ball believes beating his old side could go a long way towards accomplishing that.

In an exclusive interview with FFC, the ex-Everton full-back said:

“I think the big question mark is when obviously the first Merseyside derby comes along. How does he set up? Is he positive enough? Do we get a positive result?

“If that happens and he turns them over, I think a lot of Blues will start to back him a bit more. You know, some fans are saying that they won’t even turn up at Goodison Park. I think they’ll start coming back if that happens.” 

The first league encounter between the two sides will take place in November, with Everton welcoming their neighbours.

As for the beginning of the campaign, the Toffees have some very favourable fixtures. They do not play anyone from last season’s top six until the start of October, a trip to Manchester United, so Benitez has a chance to build some real momentum here.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be set to secure the signature of Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

What’s the story?

According to the Birmingham Mail, Wolves are favourites to land the 29-year-old this summer as new manager Bruno Lage continues to make his mark on the first-team squad.

This comes after reports from Spain suggested that they just one of a number of top-flight teams interested in securing his services.

Bruno Lage needs him

Lage has only been in the Molineux hot seat for a matter of weeks, but the Portuguese tactician has already brought four new signings to the club.

Former Olympiacos goalkeeper Jose Sa recently arrived on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, joining Yerson Mosquera, Francisco Trincao and Rayan Ait-Nouri in committing their futures to the Midlands outfit.

However, with several stars such as Ruben Neves, Adama Traore and Pedro Neto thought to be allowed to leave Wolves over the coming months, Lage may need another marquee signing in order to ensure success next season.

And Coutinho’s availability has provided the perfect opportunity for the club’s hierarchy to secure a significant acquisition for their new boss.

At Liverpool, the Brazil international showcased his world-class ability on a regular basis, often bamboozling opponents with his outrageous skill and catching unsuspecting keepers off-guard with his long-range shooting.

Speaking about his compatriot previously, Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino commented: “He’s phenomenal. You simply can’t say that he’s not a magician.

“He has magical powers. He produces plays that don’t exist, that you couldn’t make up.”

Coutinho has been unable to replicate his form at Anfield for Barcelona, though, and found himself loaned out to Bayern Munich for 2019/20.

The South American creative talent enjoyed a relatively successful 12-month stint with the Bundesliga giants, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists in 38 appearances as Bayern won the treble.

But the bad luck continued for Coutinho upon his return to Barca last season, with a serious knee injury ending his campaign in December after just 14 uninspiring outings.

On his day, the £27 million-rated gem is a top-class operator, capable of playing for the world’s best teams, but unfortunately for him, those days have been few and far between since he left English shores three-and-a-half-years ago.

Joining a side where he’s guaranteed game time and will undoubtedly be the main man could well resurrect Coutinho’s career, meaning Wolves would be an ideal destination, and the club must try and sign him this summer.

And, in other news…Wolves may repeat their Cutrone howler if Lage signs “ungrateful” 56-cap flop 

Transfer interest is growing in Nottingham Forest right-back Jordan Gabriel this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Nottinghamshire Live, who claimed that both Blackpool and Portsmouth are keeping a close eye on the situation of the Reds defender ahead of a potential move in the summer transfer window.

However, the report added that there is no suggestion that Chris Hughton will be willing to part with the 22-year-old this summer, with the youngster instead set to be given a chance to impress for Forest in pre-season.

Hughton must not sell

Considering how promising Gabriel looked while on loan at Blackpool last season, as well as Forest being potentially very short at right-back come the end of the summer, it would very much appear as if selling the academy graduate would be something of a mistake by Hughton.

Indeed, over his 29 appearances for Neil Critchley’s Blackpool side last term, the 22-year-old helped his team to keep 10 clean sheets, as well as averaging 0.8 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 1.5 clearances and winning 4.6 duels per game.

Gabriel also chipped in for his team in a creative capacity, providing one assist and creating one big chance during the season and averaging 0.7 key passes per league fixture.

These returns saw the man who Blackpool-based journalist Matt Scrafton dubbed an “important” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.75, playing a big part in the Tangerines’ promotion to the Championship.

Aside from these impressive displays out on loan, the situation at Forest is a further reason why Gabriel should not be allowed to depart the City Ground this summer.

Indeed, Cyrus Christie has now returned to Fulham following his own loan spell at the club, while Hughton is also believed to have informed Carl Jenkinson that he is free to leave in the summer transfer window, leaving the very real possibility of Gabriel being the Garibaldi’s most senior option at right-back come the start of next season.

As such, considering the 22-year-old’s clear potential, as well as Nottingham Forest’s lack of depth in his position, it can easily be argued that allowing the £1,200-per-week defender to leave the club this summer would be something of a disaster by Hughton.

In other news: Fresh twist emerges on “outstanding” £3.6m-rated Forest dynamo, Hughton will be gutted