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Chelsea will make contact over signing an England star, following internal talks behind-the-scenes at Stamford Bridge “this week”, with Enzo Maresca’s side mapping out their plans for the looming transfer window.

Chelsea have "big" recruitment plans this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo have “big” plans for the summer, and are aiming to take full advantage of the special edition early window ahead of their Club World Cup campaign.

Chelsea have held talks with £70m rival forward who allegedly wants to join

The west Londoners could go for him this summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 14, 2025

From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea have a limited opportunity to register and officially sign new players before the CWC kicks off, and it is believed that Maresca’s side want a couple of their top targets through the door in that timeframe.

“Chelsea have some big plans that they are working on, and a number of players that they are looking to sign,” said Phillips in a recent Substack update.

“There will also be more significant outgoing deals done, but the decision makers at the top of the club will have a lot of work to do and some huge decisions to make.

“First of all, we’ve heard that the club want to get a couple of their new signings in the door before the competition [CWC] starts so that they can get them in and ready for preseason.”

Unfortunately for Maresca, Chelsea appear resigned to missing out on Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid steaming ahead in the race and already agreeing a deal with the Cherries to pay his £50 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

Chelsea were confident of signing Huijsen and reportedly ready to make him a seven-year contract offer, but the Spain starlet’s representatives are now in Madrid as they negotiate terms with Los Blancos.

This story highlights how quickly the transfer market can evolve, not to mention the magnitude of competition facing Chelsea when it comes to signing their top targets.

Chelsea set for Eberechi Eze approach after internal talks this week

Back at the drawing board, those within Chelsea are believed to hold a serious admiration for Crystal Palace star and England international Eberechi Eze.

The attacking midfielder has a £68 million release clause in his contract, and Chelsea had him on their shortlist as far back as last summer. That is according to Phillips once again, who also writes that Chelsea are set to make an approach for Eze following internal discussions “this week”.

The former QPR sensation could win his first ever major trophy before potentially departing this summer after years of being linked with a move away, as Palace take on Man City in the looming FA Cup final.

Following a haul of 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, Eze has showcased exactly why he’s been coveted for so long, with Fulham boss Marco Silva also lavishing him as a joy to watch.

“Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch,” said Silva. “He is a top, top young player and has so much quality with everything he does on the pitch.”

Liverpool are looking for reinforcements to strengthen their argument to continue winning silverware and they are now looking to fend off stiff competition for one of South America’s most talented youngsters.

Liverpool kickstart their summer transfer business

The Premier League trophy will arrive at Anfield in a matter of weeks and there is little to be despondent about among the Reds’ support, who have taken to Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s magnificent debut season in charge.

Internally, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have signed extensions to continue their association with Liverpool. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains unsolved amid heavy links claiming the Three Lions international could join Real Madrid.

While the wait goes on regarding his long-term plans, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda to strengthen their forward line following an excellent season for the Japan international north of the border.

Reds scouts have also ran the rule over Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers and it is anticipated that they could make a move to bring the former Manchester City man to Anfield.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the radar to provide competition for Andy Robertson after another solid campaign for the Wolverhampton Wanderers man, even if he would cost around £51 million to lure from the West Midlands.

Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"

Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 1, 2025

Several other names will continue to do the rounds and plenty of transfer scenarios are set to be thrown around in connection with Liverpool, given their status as reigning champions under Slot. Tapping into that theme, the Reds have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s brightest talents once the window opens.

Liverpool make transfer approach for Flamengo's Wesley

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have made ‘informal approaches’ to Flamengo over Wesley as they look to land the Brazilian star following over a year of scouting the full-back. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona are also in contention to sign the 21-year-old, who the Reds see as an ideal successor to Alexander-Arnold should he depart this summer.

Chelsea are preparing an opening offer of around £17 million for his signature. However, Flamengo are looking to recoup a fee nearer the £29.7 million mark. Negotiations are expected to pick up pace during the Club World Cup.

Labelled “exceptional” by Felipe Luis, the Brazil international has made 125 appearances for Flamengo in total, registering three goals and five assists. His agent has travelled to England previously to hold talks with Manchester City and Liverpool surrounding a potential transfer, suggesting that there could be legs to this story from more than one angle.

Conceivably, the Reds stand a good chance of landing Wesley due to their position as Premier League title holders. Nevertheless, it will be up to the player himself to determine his next career step.

Everton are close to beginning their new era at Bramley Moore Dock and could now move a step closer to completing a free transfer for an established Premier League defender, per reports.

Everton enjoying a peaceful end to Goodison Park era

Safety was the desired result when David Moyes took over at Goodison Park, and it is fair to say the former West Ham United boss has passed his remit with flying colours since returning to Merseyside.

A run of only four losses in 15 matches across all competitions have pulled the Toffees well clear of the drop zone, with their Premier League status secure after a raft of impressive results despite a clear lack of squad depth.

Incredibly, Goodison Park will host just two more Everton matches before being consigned to history as the Blues move across town, which could pave the way for some exciting additions to enter the fold if the Friedkin Group flex their financial muscle this summer.

Nantes winger Moses Simon could be one of first arrivals of the new era for a fee in the region of £12.8 million, offering a potential solution should Jack Harrison return to Leeds United. Sunderland sensation Chris Rigg is also on Everton’s radar, illustrating the calibre of reinforcement the Toffees have in mind to kickstart a new dawn under Moyes.

Shades of Cahill: Everton chasing PL "revelation" to upgrade on Doucoure

David Moyes is looking to strengthen his Everton team in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 24, 2025

Following years in the doldrums, the Blues finally appear to be on the up and have aspirations of progression once they arrive at Bramley Moore, but PSR regulations may limit their scope to spend at a lavish rate. Free transfers may be an intelligent way to attract quality while keeping the books in check, so it won’t some as a surprise to hear that Everton could utilise this mode of transfer action.

Everton make contact over Victor Lindelof move

According to CaughtOffside, Everton have made contact over a move for Manchester United star Victor Lindelof in an attempt to fend off competition from several other clubs for his signature. Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United have also registered their interest, while Inter Milan, Juventus and Benfica are lingering in the distance.

After falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford, £120,000 per week earner Lindelof is set for a new challenge in the prime of his career and has no shortage of offers in his hunt for a new club. His availability on a free transfer combined with experience of the English top-flight is a lucrative commodity for sides to consider heading into next season.

Everton have several players set to see their deals expire on Merseyside and may have a void to fill in the heart of defence, making Lindelof an inexpensive solution providing they can meet his wage demands in negotiations.

Leeds United are interested in signing a “great” new player this summer and have already made contact, according to one Sky Sports reporter.

Leeds preparing for Oxford with Championship promotion a real possibility

The Whites have just four Championship fixtures remaining and are currently top of the table on goal difference ahead of Burnley.

More importantly, though, the gap to third place Sheffield United now sits at five points with the Blades losing their last three games against Oxford United, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle. Leeds still have to travel to both Oxford and Plymouth, with a clash with the former up next on Good Friday.

A third win in a row for Daniel Farke’s side will see them need a maximum of four more points to guarantee promotion, with the manager looking for his side to be more ruthless in front of goal after the 2-1 win over Preston North End last time out.

“It feels pretty good after an exhausting week with three difficult games. It was a priceless three points for us. It was a really good performance and we could have made life easier by taking a few of our chances, it must have been one of our highest expected goals of the season. We should have scored six or seven.”

Leeds join race for "phenomenal" £45m striker who could be "next Harry Kane"

The Whites are set to battle it out for a forward, who has been praised for his finishing by England captain Harry Kane.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 15, 2025

Joel Piroe is currently without a goal in his last eight Championship games, however, with Leeds close to promotion, transfer targets are being identified.

The club are unsure if Piroe and Patrick Bamford are Premier League quality, but someone who the Whites do like is a Germany international who plays in midfield.

Leeds in contact to sign Borussia Monchengladbach captain Weigl – Sky Sports

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Leeds have made initial contact over a deal to sign Borussia Monchengladbach captain Julian Weigl.

Weigl earns a minimum of £50,000-a-week in Germany and has worked under Farke before, with the pair still having a “good relationship”.

The 29-year-old, who can play as a holding midfielder, central midfielder or even as a centre-back, would only move to Elland Road if Premier League football is on offer, Plettenberg adds.

Reports elsewhere from Sky Germany have said it would be an “expensive deal” for the Whites to sign Weigl, who Farke praised back in 2023.

“Julian is a great footballer and person. He could enrich many teams with his qualities.”

Now, it looks as if a reunion between the pair could be on the cards, making this one to keep an eye on.

Glasgow Rangers showed plenty of fighting spirit under Barry Ferguson once again during his interim period in charge as they came back from 2-0 down to draw against Aberdeen.

The result was made even better by the fact that Ross McCausland was sent off for the Ibrox outfit after receiving a second yellow card just five minutes before the interval.

With the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie coming up against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, it was evident that Ferguson was thinking ahead to that game, making nine changes to his team.

In the grand scheme of things, the result wasn’t important, especially as the domestic season is all but done for the Light Blues.

The game did present an ideal chance for several fringe players to make an impression against the Dons. The likes of Danilo, Rafael Fernandes, Findlay Curtis and McCausland were all given starts at Pittodrie.

Given the most important match of the season is fast approaching, none of the aforementioned players took their chance to shine against the Dons.

In McCausland’s case, his brief cameo on the pitch could well turn out to be one of his last games for the Ibrox side.

Why Ross McCausland was sent off against Aberdeen

The Northern Irish winger was given his first league start since the 2-1 loss to the same opponents all the way back in October 2024.

He received an early yellow card before he chopped down Aberdeen player Topi Keskinen in what was a senseless challenge that saw him receive a second yellow and ensured the Gers would play the rest of the game with ten men.

After breaking into the first-team squad last season due to an injury crisis, McCausland looked to have a bright future ahead of him, although there were certainly a few things to work on.

The current campaign hasn’t exactly been much of a success, as the winger has featured 25 times for the club, with only seven of those coming in the starting XI.

A tally of just three goals and a solitary assist has been registered from those matches, hardly numbers which have given the Ibrox faithful much confidence in his abilities.

Chalkboard

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

Across his 13 league matches this term, the youngster has registered only 1.2 shots per game while creating no big chances, averaging just 0.6 key passes per match and succeeding with only 0.8 dribbles each appearance for the Light Blues.

In Europe, these numbers decrease even further, as he has averaged no key passes per game while succeeding with 0.7 dribbles and recording only 0.4 shots a match in the Europa League.

It has become evident that he isn’t up to the required standard to be a regular at the club, especially if the new manager wishes to embark on a title challenge next season.

If a decent offer arrives this summer, then McCausland should be offloaded at the first available opportunity, no doubt about that.

He isn’t the only one who must be sold when the summer transfer window opens either, as someone who was signed just last summer must headline the list of those expected to depart Rangers.

Bajrami's performance against Aberdeen in numbers

Nedim Bajrami was making his first start for the club since a 3-1 victory over Dundee United in January. With a chance to make a solid impression ahead of the second leg against Bilbao in midweek, it’s fair to say that the Albanian failed to take his chance.

Deployed in a deeper role than he is perhaps accustomed to, Bajrami struggled throughout the match, taking just 44 touches and completing only 25 of his 32 passes against the Dons.

Bajrami lost possession ten times, registered no shots and failed to deliver an accurate cross throughout his time on the pitch. The former Sassuolo man was subbed off with 25 minutes remaining and quite frankly, must not start again in Light Blue.

Journalist Ben Banks of Glasgow World gave Bajrami a match rating of just 4/10 for his performance on Sunday and it is clear he has regressed massively since arriving at Ibrox last summer.

With yet another lethargic display for the Light Blues, Bajrami may have started his last game for the club.

Why Bajrami could be sold this summer

The midfielder joined Rangers in a deal worth around £3.4m towards the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.

It appeared as though Philippe Clement had landed a decent signing, as Bajrami did showcase his talents during his first few months at Ibrox.

He scored on his first European start for the club against Malmö in September, adding goal involvements against Aberdeen, Dundee and Motherwell, with his goal against the latter sending the Gers through to the League Cup final.

Since the start of 2025, however, Bajrami has recorded only four assists in all competitions, with none coming in Europe.

Stevie Clifford, who runs the Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the player back in January after a string of poor performances, saying: “I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all. We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again. £4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”

He hasn’t become any more influential since Clifford said this and his spell in Glasgow may be short-lived, especially if a new coach comes in who wants to sell a few players to raise transfer funds.

If an offer comes in that would see Rangers recoup the majority of the £3.4m they paid for him, then the board will certainly be keen on accepting this, without a shadow of a doubt.

Some transfers work out well, while others don’t. That is the nature of the beast. In Bajrami, Rangers thought they had a player who might take them to the next level, especially considering he had shone at Euro 2024 and in Serie A. Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

As bad as McCausland: Ferguson must instantly drop £5m Rangers man

Rangers fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, but one flop in particular came in for scathing criticism.

By
Ben Gray

Apr 13, 2025

He will be replaced in the squad by Jordan Neill

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2025Ross Adair, the Ireland opener, has been ruled out of his team’s upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh due to a bone stress in the knee. Jordan Neill will stay on after the upcoming two Tests and replace Adair in the T20I squad.Adair, who scored a memorable 58-ball hundred against South Africa last year, has had to overcome a few injury concerns in recent months. In his three T20Is this year, he had found some form with 48 against West Indies, and 26 and 33 against England. However, his withdrawal from the Bangladesh tour will now likely see him return to the national fold only in time for next year’s T20 World Cup.Related

• Test-starved Bangladesh and Ireland ready to dine on red-ball action in Sylhet

Neill was selected as part of the 15-man Test squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour, and now will stay on to be part of the T20I squad. Neill made his international debut for Ireland in May this year, however suffered an injury in the field and missed a decent part of the home season.”It’s very unfortunate to have lost Ross on the eve of the Bangladesh tour, he really demonstrated his value at the top of the T20I order during the few chances he had in 2025, and we were looking forward to seeing him perform against Bangladesh,” Andrew White, Ireland s national selector, said.”There are a couple of combinations that we are keen to explore as we build up to next year’s T20 World Cup. Jordan Neill will stay on as part of the T20I squad to provide valuable cover to the wider group. We have players that in the past showed they are capable of deputising at the top of the order – this allows us to adjust the batting line-up and create greater flexibility through the middle and late overs.”The left-handed Ben Calitz coming into the middle order will provide us with the variety we have struggled with over recent years – and this tour gives us a much-needed opportunity to see how a number of players adapt to different situations and conditions.”Ireland will kick off their tour of Bangladesh with the first Test in Sylhet on November 11, before moving to Mirpur for the second Test on November 19. The two teams will then play a three-match T20I series starting November 27.

They haven’t always brought success, but West Ham United has had some incredible players represent them over the years.

For example, while it was short and sweet, Dimitri Payet’s time in the Premier League was incredible.

The Frenchman could do things with a ball that most players could only dream of, and it was easy to see glimpses of the sensational Paolo Di Canio in him.

The Italian was a livewire, but one of the most technically gifted players to don the famous claret and blue. Nuno Espírito Santo has a player with shades of him in his game, but said player is becoming an issue and should probably be sold at the end of the season.

Di Canio's West Ham career

West Ham signed Di Canio from Sheffield Wednesday in January 1999, and right from the off, there was controversy.

Chalkboard

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

Fans and pundits alike questioned the club’s decision to spend £1.5m on a player with a reputation as a troublemaker and, at the time, serving an 11-match ban for pushing a referee.

However, then-manager Harry Redknapp brushed aside any criticism of the move, telling the press that he was a player who “can do things with the ball that people can only dream of.”

The veteran coach would be quickly proven correct in this assessment, as he ended that campaign with five goal involvements in just 13 appearances for the Hammers and was named OPTA player of the season.

Moreover, just over a year later, he scored that famous strike against Wimbledon that was rightly later named the Premier League’s goal of the decade.

This ability to do anything he wanted with the ball, and his old-school passionate approach, quickly made him a fan favourite at Upton Park, and his decision to stop the game when Everton keeper Paul Gerrard was injured in December 2000, despite having a clear goalscoring opportunity, earned him fans across the Premier League.

However, as gifted and entertaining as the Italian was, his habit of causing problems never went away, and in 2003 he had a public falling out with then-manager Glenn Roeder, which saw him dropped from the team for some time.

At the end of the 02/03 season, despite making it clear he wanted to remain, West Ham refused to offer Di Canio another contract, a decision many attribute to his dispute with the manager.

In all, the Rome-born star was a truly sensational footballer, but his temperament eventually saw the club get rid of him, and the same thing might now need to happen with someone in Nuno’s squad.

Nuno's new Di Canio he should sell

There are a few West Ham players who should be sold in January, or at the end of the season, such as Niclas Füllkrug, Mads Hermansen and probably Max Kilman.

However, the only player who should be moved on who can even remotely be compared to Di Canio is Lucas Paqueta.

Now, before addressing the reasons the club should cash in on him, what makes the Brazilian similar to the Italian?

Well, first and foremost, he too, is capable of making something out of nothing, or as former coach Mark Warburton put it last year, he “sees things that you just don’t see. You look at the pass for the winning goal in the European final.”

That ability was on show again in the game against Newcastle United this season, when he smashed the ball into the net from some distance out.

Moreover, as Warburton puts it, the former Lyon ace is a “mercurial” talent in the sense that he can glide past opposition defenders if he wants, or pass them out of the game when on song.

With that said, then, why on earth should the club sell him?

Well, the first reason is that, like Di Canio at his worst, he can have a bad temperament.

This was on full show against Liverpool at the weekend, when he received a second yellow card for dissent, which is a truly petulant reason to be sent off.

The second reason he should be moved on is that while he can be an exceptional player on his day, he also isn’t irreplaceable.

For example, he has scored only four goals this season, three of which have come in the Premier League, and last season he ended the campaign with a paltry tally of five goals in 36 games.

Ultimately, Paqueta is a great player, but with his contract running out in less than two years, his slightly underwhelming output and the fact that he can do things as silly as be sent off for dissent, West Ham may be wise to move him on at the end of the season.

West Ham set for 'big decision' over selling 'most talented player' with Nuno 'fuming'

It would be a controversial move.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 2, 2025

Leeds United are already pursuing some January transfer targets in a bid to turn around their declining season in the Premier League.

At the start of the campaign, there looked to be promising green shoots for Daniel Farke’s men in their attempts to instantly clinch survival, with two victories picked up from their opening five fixtures back in the gruelling division.

However, since a 2-2 draw was picked up versus AFC Bournemouth at the tail-end of September, the wheels have started to fall off alarmingly, with four defeats from their last five Premier League games certainly highlighting why Leeds need some game-changing purchases this January.

Rumours have already begun to circulate that AZ Alkmaar goal machine Troy Parrott is on their agenda, with just one goal scored across their last two away-day defeats, really bringing into focus why they need such a deadly finisher in their ranks.

It would take an alleged £25m bid or even more to tempt AZ into getting rid of their 30-goal hero from last season, with Leeds not always coming out the other side of an expensive capture full of glee, which might see them err on the side of caution over a statement deal.

Still, if the Whites are serious about survival, they might well have to put their money where their mouth is and land the potent Irishman.

After all, the West Yorkshire giants have forked out similar wads of cash in January before when landing Georginio Rutter back in early 2023, with the £35.5m splashed out on the skilful Frenchman proving to be somewhat worthwhile, as he went on to score eight goals and pick up 18 assists as a memorable entertainer under Farke’s wing.

Sold for £40m to Brighton and Hove Albion, as well, it’s fair to say Leeds’ most expensive capture goes down as a hit.

The same cannot be said, however, for the likes of Jean-Kevin Augustin, who Leeds wanted to return to RB Leipzig after an unsuccessful loan stint in 2020.

Yet, Leeds would still have to pay up £18.4m for the Paris-born flop two years later, after failing to make the loan permanent, which had been previously agreed. In short, it was labelled as an “absolute disaster” of a transfer by journalist James Marshment.

Still, while Illan Meslier certainly did a great deal more in Leeds colours than Augustin, he has also been something of a disaster.

Why Illan Meslier was such a disaster at Leeds

Arguably, in the here and now, the £5m deal to secure Meslier could also be viewed as a blunder with hindsight on side, even if he was also a recipient of some glowing comments when Marcelo Bielsa still occupied the helm.

It does feel like an awfully long time ago, now, since Meslier was being heralded as a ‘keeper that “transmits security” by Bielsa, and would also come up trumps with top saves, with 72 Leeds clean sheets in his back pocket.

Unfortunately, in more recent times, he could be viewed as a waste of money with the amount of errors that seeped into his game last season as Leeds went for the glory of automatic promotion, which saw Meslier make three errors in total that directly led to an opposition goal.

To make matters worse for Meslier’s long-term future, Karl Darlow – who cost just £400k – would come up trumps in his place with an important tally of four clean sheets from his seven stand-in second-tier appearances, helping to make their promotion dreams a reality.

The reliable Welshman has since lined up for five Premier League games this campaign, while his £5m counterpart now routinely sits on the substitutes bench, presumably planning an exit route out of the club he has made 214 appearances for.

Yet, while Farke has been cutthroat with his former number one by also buying Lucas Perri, he still sticks by this other underperformer week in, week out, who is a far bigger waste of cash than the error-prone stopper.

Leeds flop is a bigger waste than Meslier

Meslier did – at one point – hold down the number one goalkeeper position rather comfortably.

Indeed, during Leeds’ first season back in the big time under Bielsa, the 6-foot-6 ‘keeper would help himself to a weighty 11 clean sheets from 32 top-flight outings, before things started to unravel. In the case of Brenden Aaronson, though, he has never been able to fully settle under the intense spotlight of the top division.

Thankfully, for Aaronson’s sake, he did turn on the style on occasion last season as the Championship title was lifted, with nine goals and two assists collected, which included this wonderfully constructed team goal away at Derby County being finished off by the up-and-down American.

Meslier also chipped in with 21 clean sheets, in all fairness, before it was deemed necessary for a change in between the sticks.

But, he still leaves a lot to be desired with his mediocre Premier League output, with the aforementioned Marshment’s comments about the ex-Union Berlin playmaker falling victim to “anonymous” displays very much ringing true this season, and throughout his playing days in the elite league to date.

For £28.5m, which remains Leeds’ second most expensive capture of all time, you would have anticipated a lot more than what Aaronson has offered up over 47 games in the intense division, with a measly six goal contributions amassed from those 47 games, very much strengthening arguments that he can go missing in crunch moments.

At least when it comes to the other high-profile signings, such as Rodrigo, he came away from his disappointing spell with the club with 28 strikes next to his name, despite costing £2.5m less.

Even Meslier has more to write home about from his Premier League adventures in West Yorkshire, with Aaronson’s output this season of just one goal and one assist from 11 games not exactly encouraging Leeds fans that he can change his ongoing Elland Road tale for the better.

There were faint glimmers of hope when he scored against West Ham United to close out October, with one Leeds-based content creator even dubbing it his “best game in a Leeds shirt”, off the back of Aaronson completing all 100% of his dribbles and winning eight duels to be a livewire throughout.

Yet, that was then followed up by two unmemorable displays on the bounce, as the “lightweight” version of Aaronson – as he was once branded by ex-Leeds player Jon Newsome – reared its ugly head once more.

These inconsistent performances would likely be more excusable if he didn’t cost such a bomb at the £28.5m mark, with it being very clear now that he is a far bigger waste of money than Meslier, and – arguably – one of the club’s poorest pursuits in recent Premier League history.

Leeds stance on recalling Joe Gelhardt in January as Hull eye Harry Gray

He’s been on fire in the Championship.

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 19, 2025

Ange Postecoglou has reportedly been tipped for a shock return to management with Premier League strugglers Leeds United, but is likely to face competition from Brendan Rodgers. The Whites find themselves in the relegation zone, winless in their last four matches and spiralling into a crisis that now threatens to sweep away manager Daniel Farke, only months after he masterminded a 100-point promotion campaign.

• Leeds plunge toward crisis as pressure mounts on Farke

  Seven defeats in 12 games have left the Whites 18th in the table, and according to , there are no reassurances coming from Elland Road’s hierarchy regarding Farke’s future. His Premier League record, dating back to his Norwich City days, now gives him the lowest points-per-game return of any manager with more than 50 matches in the competition’s history (0.61). With Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool looming in their next three fixtures, Leeds appear to be edging toward a tipping point. 

  Postecoglou, who was once hailed as the charismatic architect behind Celtic’s resurgence, has unexpectedly become a name floated for the Leeds hot seat. His brief, bruising stint at Nottingham Forest, where he lasted a record-short 39 days, may have dented his Premier League credentials, but not his admirers within the Leeds boardroom. Figures at Elland Road are said to be intrigued by his front-foot philosophy, believing it fits the club’s identity.

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  Rodgers emerges as a serious contender

  Rodgers, who stunned Celtic supporters last month by resigning and exiting Parkhead for the second time in his career, is reportedly eager for a Premier League return. His departure sparked a furious statement from Celtic chief Dermot Desmond, who accused him of behaviour that was "divisive, misleading and self-serving". 

  He told Celtic's official club website: "Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation as manager of Celtic Football Club. I want to acknowledge Brendan’s contribution across his two spells as manager, during which he helped deliver success that forms part of the club’s modern history. However, I must also express my deep disappointment at the way the past several months have unfolded.

  "When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success. Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust. In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him. He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue."

  Despite the acrimony, Rodgers’ coaching reputation remains largely intact. His time at Leicester saw him deliver an FA Cup triumph and consecutive European qualifications before the Foxes’ late nosedive in 2023.

• Will Postecoglou accept the offer?

  Reports indicate Postecoglou has privately ruled himself out of any immediate managerial return, including the vacancy at Celtic. After an emotionally draining few months, he is believed to be deliberately stepping back from frontline football to rest and recharge before deciding his next move. To many Celtic supporters, Postecoglou remains a beloved figure who delivered five domestic trophies in two years and revolutionised the club’s style of play. But for now, he appears committed to pause rather than plunge into another high-pressure environment, making a Leeds move far from guaranteed.

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  What comes next for Leeds?

  Farke arrived at Elland Road with a clear mandate to lead Leeds back to the big time, stabilise the squad and embed a long-term identity. For a year, he did exactly that. But the Premier League has exposed his tactical rigidity and the limitations of a squad still adapting to top-flight intensity. Leeds look vulnerable in transitions, short on creativity and low on confidence. The issues are exacerbated by the relentless fixture list. The next three matches may prove terminal. Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool represent an unforgiving gauntlet for a side battling to stay afloat. Anything less than a shock turnaround could leave the Leeds hierarchy with a decision they already appear to be preparing for.

The Mets dropped a critical game on Friday, losing 6–2 to the since-eliminated Marlins on a night where the club's competition for the final National League wild card spot, the Reds, were victorious. The loss evened the clubs in a tie for the last postseason spot in the NL, which effectively meant the Mets were on the outside looking in in terms of the playoff picture due to tiebreakers.

And the night started out well for the Mets, who jumped out to a 2–0 lead, which they held until a disastrous six-run inning for Miami in the bottom of the fifth, a cacophony of errors and mental mistakes for New York. First, there was a Marlins single that glanced off first baseman Pete Alonso's glove. Then, after a two-run triple, another grounder, not fielded cleanly by Alonso, allowed a Miami run to score. Finally, Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez stole second and third without a throw from the Mets, preceding a Marlins RBI single and two-run homer.

In the midst of the fiasco, the Mets broadcast booth had seen enough, as they proceeded to tear into the club.

"The Mets—a lack of attention to detail, which has cropped up repeatedly during this slow-motion backwards march over the last three-and-a-half months," play-by-play broadcaster Gary Cohen said, "comes up to bite them again."

Color analyst Ron Darling was no kinder.

"You might take your whole travel ball squad off the field if something like that happened," Darling said. "Here's a team that is fighting to get to October. What are you going to do in October with an inning like that?"

Fellow color analyst Keith Hernandez finished up the broadcast booth's skewering.

"And it's not the first time too," Hernandez said. "They've made a lot of mental errors over the past what? Nine, 10 games down the stretch."

New York, through play on June 12, owned the best record in baseball and a 5 1/2-game lead over the Phillies. Since then, the Mets are an incomprehensible 37–54 and its playoff hopes are on the brink.

The Mets need to win the final two games of the regular season and hope for a Reds loss.