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Leeds United transfer target Harry Wilson could form a superb partnership with Raphinha, having already wowed Marcelo Bielsa with his displays before.

What’s the story?

Reports in the summer of 2020 had claimed that Bielsa’s side were keen on bringing the Wales international to Elland Road, but a deal failed to materialise before the end of the deadline.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay in fact had also suggested that Wilson is “very highly rated by Leeds (and Victor Orta especially) for a while and he’s always on the list of possibles. With Wilson, it would depend on price and what Liverpool intend to do with him. One to watch, possibly.”

Now, Mercado Ingles have revealed that the Whites are in negotiations with Liverpool over a deal for the 24-year-old, and could finally bring him to the club this summer.

He stunned Bielsa

Dubbed as an “exceptional talent” by Bielsa himself after Leeds’ 4-1 triumph over Derby in which Wilson played for the Rams, it was no surprise why the Whites boss was left wowed by his performance.

As per Sofascore, he finished with a 7.0 match rating, which was by far the highest of any Derby player, as he looked to single-handedly drag his side into the game.

The £60k-a-week earning ace provided the joint-highest number of key passes of any player on the pitch for either side with three, while he also completed one out of his two dribbles and earned one free-kick too.

It was no surprise then that reports last summer suggested that “Marcelo Bielsa is a big admirer of the versatile attacker, who he regards as extremely talented and with the potential to develop into a real star.”

Given Leeds already have an outstanding winger in Raphinha who gets people off their seats, bringing Wilson into the fold could give Jack Harrison some real competition on the opposite flank as they jockey to see who partners the Brazilian.

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But with the Welshman’s superb free-kick ability and technique – Jurgen Klopp even said his “shooting is world-class” – Leeds could have a fascinating combination of dribbling and skill with both Raphinha and Wilson in tandem.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are in talks with this Premier League star…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Leeds United striker Brian Deane believes Marcelo Bielsa is worth every penny.

This follows Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani’s interview with La Repubblica (via LeedsAllOver), where the Italian revealed that Bielsa is currently one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League.

Bielsa has been a revelation at Elland Road since arriving back in 2018, helping the Whites to win the Championship title and promotion to English football’s top flight last season.

As for this term, the Argentinian has steered his Leeds side far from relegation in what has been a brilliant campaign for all those involved at the Yorkshire club.

Discussing Radrizzani’s revelation in an exclusive interview with FFC, Deane said:

“He’s brought a massive change to the club and I don’t know what the figures are, but he’s delivered. He’s over-delivered.

“I think their target was to finish fourth bottom and look where they are in the table, so he’s doing something good. And I’m sure these guys have factored into any budget that they’re going to offer the manager.”

Bielsa’s current contract is up at the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see how Radrizzani tries to convince the former Lille and Lazio boss to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Perhaps it is a matter of offering a pay rise after such a successful season or promising significant funds in the next transfer window.

Adam Armstrong was sold by Newcastle United in 2018 and has gone onto prove why they were wrong to not keep him at the club and Newcastle Hall of Famer, Rob Lee, has exclusively told Football FanCast that he would want to see the striker back at the club.

The Newcastle academy graduate was in scintillating form for Blackburn Rovers this season as he finished with 28 goals and runner up in the Championship Golden Boot race, only beaten by Ivan Toney, who was also sold by Rafa Benitez for not being good enough.

When the Magpies sold Armstrong to Blackburn they inserted a 40% sell-on clause, so if anyone other than Newcastle sign the 24-year old, his current club will only receive 60% of the total transfer fee.

Armstrong has been linked with a move back to Tyneside and Lee spoke to FFC about how he would love Newcastle to bring the striker back home. He said:

“Newcastle probably won’t want him but I don’t know if it is best for him to go back there or go somewhere else. He left Newcastle when they didn’t want him and he’s proved that he’s a very good player.

“Can he now push onto the next level now? Would it be best for him to do that away from Newcastle at the moment? I don’t know, but I’d sign him. However, he’s one of these players that you’ve got to play in the right position as he’s a goalscorer.”

The Magpies are not the only club to be credited with an interest in Armstrong as reports have suggested that David Moyes wants to bring the Rovers star to the London Stadium.

Armstrong’s current deal is set to expire next summer so Blackburn will be wanting to sell him before the start of next season so they can receive a substantial transfer fee and rebuild their squad.

Mark Warburton’s Queens Park Rangers head into their penultimate Championship fixture of the season on Saturday with nothing more than pride at stake.

Following their 3-1 defeat to Norwich City last weekend, QPR find themselves occupying 10th place in the table, 15 points behind sixth-placed Barnsley and 23 points above Rotherham United in 22nd.

As such, the Rs’ upcoming clash with fellow mid-table side Stoke City this Saturday does not have a great deal riding on it, but Warburton would still want to see his team leave the Bet365 Stadium with a result in order to finish as high up the table as possible.

So, will the 58-year-old be making any changes to his starting XI? Here’s our predicted XI, along with the latest team and injury news…

In terms of injuries, both Luke Amos and Charlie Owens remain sidelined for Warburton’s side, while defensive midfielder Geoff Cameron is also a doubt.

As for the starting XI, we expect there to be two changes from the team which lined up against Norwich last week, as well as a slight tweak in QPR’s formation.

Having been brought off at half-time after a distinctly average performance against the Canaries, George Thomas drops to the bench for the clash with the Potters. His replacement last Saturday, 22-year-old Sam Field, takes his starting spot this time around.

Meanwhile, Charlie Austin also makes a return to the starting XI following his impressive second half cameo against Daniel Farke’s side, taking the place of Christopher Willock in a move which sees a change in formation from 3-4-2-1 to 3-4-1-2, with the 31-year-old partnering Lyndon Dykes up top.

In other news: Get it done: Bhatia must seal QPR swoop for £1.8m-rated ace who “works his socks off” – opinion

Leeds must avoid making an unforgivable mistake amid reported transfer interest in Patrick Bamford.

What’s the story?

The striker has been a revelation for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in the Premier League this season, netting 15 goals and providing another eight assists in the division.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that, while Leeds extended Bamford’s contract at Elland Road by an extra year – his deal now expires in the summer of 2023 – he is already attracting admiring glances from elsewhere.

Ornstein claims that “Bamford’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with several clubs, including Liverpool, believed to admire the forward.”

Bielsa would be fuming

Given his incredible importance to this Leeds side – he tops the charts for both goals and assists at Elland Road this season – there’s no questioning that Bielsa would be absolutely fuming if Andrea Radrizzani and co decided to make the call of cashing in on him.

While his stock is high, and the Whites would be expected to command a hefty fee for him – especially with the contract extension update – Bamford has developed into the kind of all-round striker that Bielsa loves.

Even Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “What a player, Bamford! I can remember people saying, ‘Leeds need a proper goalscorer, Bamford is not good enough’, stuff like this. I’m so happy that he could prove them all wrong.

“He’s an exceptional player. The work rate is outstanding and he still plays the football he plays and scores goals. That’s rare.”

As omeone who works selflessly for the cause and buys into the pressing game, can both plunder goals and set up his teammates, the 27-year-old would be very difficult to replace if Leeds made the decision to sell him to Liverpool or anyone else.

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It’s exactly why Radrizzani must avoid making an unforgivable howler this summer by keeping Bamford regardless of the potential windfall from selling him.

Meanwhile, Bielsa could light up Elland Road with this £26m-rated magician who’s “something special”…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho is said to want Diego Carlos in north London next season, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Spanish newspaper La Razon claimed that the Portuguese manager has asked the Spurs hierarchy to make a push to sign the Sevilla defender ahead of the summer transfer window.

It’s also thought that the La Liga outfit will have to make a major sale in order to balance the books and the 28-year-old has a whopping €75m release clause (£64m).

However, Sevilla would undoubtedly have to negotiate a lower fee if they are to cash in, whilst Julian Lopetagui is said to be a fan of struggling Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez, so a swap involving the Colombian could sweeten any deal.

Bye-bye Sanchez?

With that in mind, is it a decision that Mourinho and the Spurs hierarchy should make? There is certainly a case to be made.

Sanchez has long been thought of as the “weak link” of the defence in N17, although that hasn’t stopped the manager from selecting him as a first-choice defender in recent months.

Indeed, the once club-record £42m signing has started their last nine league outings but, on Easter Sunday, he reverted back to his calamitous old self as his mistake saw Newcastle punish Spurs in the dying stages of the match.

As Magpies winger Matt Ritchie’s cross was knocked back across the face of goal by Joelinton, Sanchez clattered into his teammate Joe Rodon to give Arsenal loanee Joe Willock a clear attempt at goal, with which he duly delivered.

“We had chances to kill the game but we create instability to ourselves with the mistakes that we made defensively,” lambasted Mourinho after the game. “You don’t need me to analyse with you the goals that we conceded, you don’t need me to go through the two goals that we conceded.”

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In possibly getting rid of the former Ajax man, Spurs would need a replacement, which is why this deal could make the world of sense.

In Carlos, they’d be getting a like-for-like upgrade, as the Brazilian is another in the mould of being pacy and athletic from the back. His former Estoril coach Fabiano Soares has previously waxed lyrical to ESPN about the 28-year-old’s stature in this sense, he said:

“He is a dynamic, intense and fast player. Football nowadays, for the slow player the market isn’t so good. Players who are fast and strong and competitive and who have quality, the coaches will always look at them.”

This sort of presence would allow Spurs to play a much higher defensive line and, if they do get hit on the counter, having the 6 foot 1 monster there with his size and speed should be a difference-maker.

Similarly, Spanish football expert Domagoj Kostanjsak told the Liverpool ECHO that Carlos is “built like a tank” and that he’s “not called ‘the beast’ for nothing.”

The £25m-rated centre-back played a key role on Sevilla’s way to winning the Europa League last season, alongside current Spurs star Sergio Reguilon, and has continued that form into the current campaign.

Carlos has kept the likes of Timo Werner, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi quiet, whilst also proving to be rather adept with the ball at his feet, managing an 89.5% passing accuracy from an average of 61.5 attempts per game in all competitions, via WhoScored.

This is better than all of Spurs’ current central defensive options, including Sanchez (84%), so given that Mourinho likes to play out from the back, he would be a welcome addition on that front also.

The Spurs boss is longing for a defensive leader and they ought to look no further than Carlos this summer. His aggressive presence could be a neat fit for the English top flight.

Daniel Levy must sanction a swap involving Sanchez this summer.

AND in other news, Levy eyes Spurs swoop for “sensational” £36m beast, he’s everything Ndombele should be…

Alan Hutton believes Glasgow Rangers captain James Tavernier may have sacrificed his last chance of moving to the Premier League after signing a new contract at Ibrox.

Hutton discusses Tavernier

29-year-old Tavernier signed a new contract at Rangers over the past few days that will keep him at the club until 2024 (rangers.co.uk), when he will be 32.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton believes this decision has all but ended his chances of moving south of the border to the English top flight. He said:

“At 29, if you’re looking to go down south, I think this is, this would be the only opportunity.

“When you start going into your 30s, it’s very unlikely that it’s going to happen.

“He’s played that well this season that I’m pretty sure there’ll have been Premier League admirers out there watching.

“If anybody is willing to pay for him, what would the price be?

“For Rangers, it’d have to be a high value because he’s one of the top performers. He’s the captain, one of the best players.

“If Rangers don’t see the fee as suitable, then there’s no reason for them to accept it. He seems like he’s happy to stay and play for Rangers so that’s the most important thing.”

Gers legend

Of course, a move to England would lead to a higher weekly wage and perhaps more competition than he would have at Rangers. However, £7.2m-valued Tavernier (Transfermarkt) has now spent six years at Ibrox, helping them climb back to the top flight and leading them to their first major trophy in a decade. What he may have sacrificed in money will continue to be repaid in adulation.

By committing his future to the 55-time Scottish champions, he has given himself the chance to become a bona fide club legend. Champions League football, as well, could be a reward for his decision. Quite frankly, this appears to be the right call.

In other news, Rangers fans slam this broadcaster’s comments.

Rangers’ unbeaten run in the Premiership continued as Steven Gerrard’s side earned a 1-1 draw against their Old Firm rivals at Parkhead on Sunday.

Mohamed Elyounoussi gave the hosts a first-half lead when he headed in Odsonne Edouard’s cross before Alfredo Morelos broke his duck in this fixture by heading home from a tight angle after Leon Balogun’s flick-on from a corner to equalise.

Both sides had chances to win it in the second half but the Ibrox outfit will be happy that their invincible status is still intact as we approach the final few fixtures of the season.

One Rangers man who impressed with his performance at Parkhead was Borna Barisic.

As per SofaScore, the Croatian international would earn an impressive 7.2/10 rating for his display, with only Alfredo Morelos (7.4) and Allan McGregor (7.9), of all the Rangers players who featured on Sunday, earning a higher rating.

The defender was a constant thorn in the home side’s defence, as he regularly pushed forward down the left-hand side and supplied dangerous crosses.

During the 90 minutes, Barisic would cross the ball 11 times, with five of these finding a Rangers teammate, although they unfortunately couldn’t find that second goal.

Perhaps most impressively, the 28-year-old, who joined Rangers for just £2.2 million in 2018, would play five key passes during his time on the pitch, which was more than every other Rangers player combined, which emphasises just how impressive he was on Sunday.

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For further comparison, the home side’s left-back Diego Laxalt made just one key pass during his time on the pitch, and wasn’t accurate in any of his three attempted crosses.

It wasn’t just his attacking play that made him stand out in the derby however, as he also contributed four clearances and one interception, whilst he wasn’t dribbled past once during the 90 minutes, which suggests that he had the better of his opposition for the majority of the game.

[freshpress-quiz id=“588789″]

Therefore, whilst Morelos might be the name on many Rangers fans’ lips after his equalising goal, it seems clear that Barisic was Gerrard’s star performer in the Old Firm.

And, in other news… Wilson can sign Rangers’ ideal Defoe heir with swoop for £6.3m-rated beast

According to a West Ham United source, speaking to Football Insider, GSB have made contact over a potential summer deal for exciting Dinamo Zagreb forward Mislav Orsic – coming over a week after he put Tottenham to the sword in a memorable Europa League tie.

Orsic, who has bagged an impressive 19 goals in all competitions this season for the Croatian giants (Transfermarkt), has entered West Ham’s radar as the club continue to seek attackers.

West Ham make contact for Orsic

A left winger, the forward player appears to have a prolific eye for goal – as evident by his statistics this season and his masterclass against London rivals Spurs.

The 28-year-old, currently in his prime, bagged a stellar hat-trick to dump Spurs out of Europe and heap pressure on manager Jose Mourinho across the capital.

Now, in a surprising turn of events, a West Ham source has revealed to Football Insider that GSB have made contact to potentially sign him in the summer window.

Arsenal have also enquired about Orsic, with the Irons now entering what seems to be a transfer battle.

Transfer Tavern take

A versatile star, he can play on both flanks and through the middle whilst being valued at a bargain £6.75 million by Transfermarkt.

Whether or not West Ham prioritise him over fellow targets remains to be seen, but he has emerged as an arguably brilliant option.

In other news: West Ham fans flocked to links with this ‘superb signing’, find out more here.

According to a recent report, Tottenham Hotspur do not appear likely to spend big this summer after Joe Lewis instructed Daniel Levy to run the club more sustainably.

The report by Football Insider claims a Tottenham source has revealed that – following losses of £63.9m in the club’s last set of accounts, as well as Levy’s warning of further losses in the region of £150m if football remains behind closed doors for the remainder of the season – Spurs do not appear to be in a position to splash the cash on new signings in the summer window.

In addition to the club’s rather bleak financial circumstances, Football Insider also reported that Tottenham and ENIC owner Lewis has instructed Levy to run the club in a more sustainable manner in an attempt to balance the books, rather than relying on the businessman’s personal fortune to fund future transfers.

Transfer Tavern Take

As such, if Football Insider’s source is to be believed, it appears extremely unlikely that there will be any major incomings for the club this summer, something which is not likely to please either Jose Mourinho or the Tottenham fanbase.

However, with it being reported earlier this year that the club are open to selling one of their current stars to fund summer acquisitions, perhaps this could be a way of Mourinho freshening up his squad over the summer market, albeit at the potential expense of an important part of his current side.

In other Tottenham news, this Spurs transfer admission lifted the lid on a failed Daniel Levy coup with Pochettino – find out more here!