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Leeds United have been in inspired form recently in the Championship, only losing one of their five games last month – Daniel Farke's men coming unstuck at Stoke City in a narrow 1-0 defeat, Patrick Bamford missing a penalty on the night.

A convincing 4-1 win versus Huddersfield Town saw the Whites respond immediately to his minor setback, with Crysencio Summerville starring at Elland Road with two goals.

However, the Dutch winger was substituted off versus the Terriers owing to a knock. This could give Wilfried Gnonto an opportunity to fill in for the 22-year-old, a change expected to be made by Farke for Leeds' trip to runaway Championship leaders Leicester City.

The German could pick this starting XI for the away game at the King Power Stadium…

1

GK – Illan Meslier

Leeds' first choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier should retain his spot in between the sticks for this Friday night clash, everpresent under Farke in the Championship this campaign with the 23-year-old picking up five clean sheets from 15 games played.

2

RB – Jamie Shackleton

Breaking into the Leeds starting line-up against Huddersfield, Jamie Shackleton – who is a homegrown talent with the Whites after coming through their Academy – should also be picked by Farke to take up the right-back spot against the Foxes. He could have his work cut out for him, however, potentially facing off against Abdul Fatawu.

3

CB – Liam Cooper

Liam Cooper could come into the side versus Leicester the Scottish centre-back very much part of the furniture at Leeds with the 32-year-old accumulating 272 appearances for the club. Missing recently due to an injury niggle, Farke could utilise his experience at the King Power to thwart a rampant Foxes team.

4

CB – Pascal Struijk

Pascal Struijk has also been at Elland Road for some time now, joining the Whites back in 2018. Like Meslier, the Dutch defender is yet to miss a Championship match this season so will be one of the first names on Farke's team sheet.

5

LB – Sam Byram

Returning to his boyhood club this summer from Norwich City, Sam Byram has slotted back in nicely as an experienced 30-year-old. Having even scored against Watford in a 3-0 home win back in September, Leeds' number 25 should start once more down the channels on Friday night.

6

CDM – Glen Kamara

Playing in the Champions League with Rangers last campaign, Glen Kamara's move to Leeds was met with a degree of intrigue at what the Finnish midfielder could provide the Whites centrally. The 28-year-old only has one assist to his name so far, but his quiet work off the ball allows Leeds to tick and he should start again versus the Foxes.

7

CDM – Ethan Ampadu

Ethan Ampadu has turned into a much-loved figure at Elland Road since joining the club on loan, putting in consistent battling displays from defensive midfield. Winning five of his seven ground duels versus Huddersfield, as per Sofascore, the ex-RB Leipzig man could provide the necessary grit to stop Leicester's free-flowing game.

8

RW – Dan James

Often a scapegoat when Leeds are performing poorly, Dan James has shone in the Championship this campaign to date to answer back to his critics. Contributing to seven goals this season from the right wing, the 26-year-old will hope he can help his team pull off an incredible win at Leicester.

9

CAM – Joel Piroe

Joel Piroe has settled into his new West Yorkshire surroundings without any difficulties, the former Swansea City striker netting five times this season for Leeds from an unorthodox attacking midfield slot. Can he add another strike to his Whites resume at the King Power?

10

Wilfried Gnonto

Leeds' "pocket rocket" – as hailed by pundit Tam McManus – could well benefit from Summerville's injury concerns if the Dutchman is ruled out of contention for the Foxes clash, the Italian on the periphery at Elland Road after a move to Everton failed to materialise. This could be his chance to impress again, the diminutive attacker netting twice in the Premier League last season.

Jurgen Klopp slammed his Liverpool team's performance as they went down 1-0 against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

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• Klopp left devastated after Palace defeat
• Admitted hangover of Atalanta loss affected performance
• Two points behind Manchester City now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eberechi Eze's first-half strike helped the Eagles pick up crucial three points at Anfield on Saturday. It came as a huge blow for the Reds in the Premier League title race as they slipped to the third position in the league table, now two points behind leaders Manchester City.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Klopp was left frustrated after his team's abysmal show at home as he admitted that the heavy defeat against Atalanta in the Europa League last Thursday had an impact on his side's performance in the league.

• WHAT JURGEN KLOPP SAID

  Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the German manager said: "This one feels really, really rubbish. I need time to process that. I am standing here and to talk about this game is really tricky. Two different games I would say, with the first half and second half. The first half was absolutely not good enough so we showed a reaction. The reaction was we lost conviction from the last game. We tried to get rid of this but that worked out as much as we wanted. To concede that goal was a horrible goal to concede with a completely free player in the area. That cannot happen but it happens.

  "Andy Robertson gets the other ball so it's like scoring a goal if you don't concede from that. Crystal Palace didn't have many more and we controlled it better and then second half we can easily say if we don't score with these chances what can you say? The game in the second half was much better, Trent coming on and at that moment the structure changed. We caused problems and we had big big chances. If we stand here and win the game 4-1 we could have seen the same game with a completely different result. But we didn't so we have to take that."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Merseyside club will hope for a miraculous comeback as they take on Atalanta in the second leg of their Europa League fixture on Thursday.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been dealt a "huge blow" as a further update comes to light on defender Micky van de Ven's hamstring injury.

Maddison and van de Ven sidelined

Spurs lost their first Premier League game of the season on Monday, succumbing to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea, but that was the least of Postecoglou's problems on an evening to forget.

The Australian lost both Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero to suspension after their red cards, while star midfielder James Maddison and van de Ven were forced off through injury.

An update on Maddison's condition came to light this morning, courtesy of Tottenham, who officially confirmed that the former Leicester City star has been withdrawn from Gareth Southgate's England squad due to his ankle problem.

The 26-year-old will now undergo rehab at Hotspur Way, set to miss the Three Lions' upcoming EURO 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. For van de Ven, there are hopes that the Dutch defender won't need surgery after he limped off against Chelsea with what looked like a serious issue with his hamstring.

However, there are still reports that Postecoglou's side could take to the January transfer market in search of back ups. Indeed, Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly is being targeted by Spurs while Everton ace Ben Godfrey is an option for Tottenham too.

Ange dealt "huge blow" after van de Ven update

Despite potentially not requiring an operation on his hamstring, which could keep him out for an extended period, a further update has claimed that van de Ven is still facing quite some time on the sidelines.

Indeed, a report by reliable journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph states that van de Ven is "set" for a "lengthy spell" out injured regardless. The former Wolfsburg star could be out till January "at the earliest" in what is described as a "huge blow" for Postecoglou.

While the north Londoners haven't yet put a timescale on his return, and even delayed a scan, this is what "estimates suggest" and Spurs, as previously reported, could be tempted to dip their toes into the winter transfer window.

The perfect van de Ven alternative

We'll know more about the centre-back after Postecoglou's press conference today, but we believe one man who could come as a great alternative to van de Ven is Everton's Godfrey.

Spurs have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old this week amid his lack of game time at Goodison Park, and if they decide to lodge a bid in January, it's clear he has some credentials to step into van de Ven's shoes.

Pace is a key factor for defenders in Postecoglou's high line, as demonstrated by van de Ven's excellent start to the campaign as a speedy player himself.

Godfrey, as highlighted by past teammates, has pace to burn – with Hertha Berlin ace Jonjoe Kenny calling him "rapid" back in 2021.

Leeds United return to Championship action after eight days on Saturday as they host Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road before the November international break.

The Whites head into this match off the back of an impressive 1-0 win over Leicester City last time out – thanks to a goal from Georgino Rutter.

However, head coach Daniel Farke has some injury issues to contend with ahead of this clash as Pascal Struijk is out with a hernia, whilst Patrick Bamford and Charlie Cresswell are also doubts.

Joe Gelhardt, Jamie Shackleton, and Stuart Dallas are all unavailable for selection with their respective injury issues, and Djed Spence will also watch on from the sidelines after suffering from tonsillitis.

How could the Whites line up against Plymouth on Saturday? Here is our predicted XI for the match, with three changes to the team that beat the league leaders…

1

Illan Meslier – GK

In goal, the French youngster looks set to keep his place as Farke has selected him in all 15 of the club's league matches this season and he kept a clean sheet against the Foxes – his sixth of the campaign.

2

Luke Ayling – RB

The first change that could be made is the experienced Luke Ayling coming in for Archie Gray, in order to give the 17-year-old ace a rest ahead of potentially featuring for his county during the international break.

He has already played 19 games for club and country this season and Farke could look to avoid burnout by bringing the veteran full-back in.

Ayling has started eight matches this term and showcased his defensive capabilities with 2.8 tackles and interceptions per match across 14 outings in total.

3

Joe Rodon – CB

Lining up at the heart of the defence, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee should keep his place after another eye-catching display against Leicester last time out.

The Wales international won 100% (3/3) of his duels and completed 86% (43/50) of his attempted passes as he helped his side to keep a clean sheet against the likes of Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

4

Liam Cooper – CB

The second change that could be made to the XI is an enforced one thanks to the aforementioned injury to Struijk, which means that he will miss out on Saturday.

Cooper is an experienced operator, who was an unused substitute against Leicester, and could slot straight into the left-side of the defence next to Rodon as a left-footed central defender.

The Scotland international has started three league matches this season and played seven games in total, which could allow him to hit the ground running as Struijk's replacement as he has already had a taste of first-team action.

5

Sam Byram – LB

At left-back, the summer signing on a free transfer from Norwich City could keep his place ahead of Junior Firpo, thanks to his strong showings this season.

Byram has started 12 league matches so far this term and has delivered consistently impressive defensive displays with three tackles and interceptions and 4.4 ball recoveries per match, which shows that he is able to win the ball back for his side multiple times per game.

6

Glen Kamara – CM

In the middle of the park, the former Glasgow Rangers dynamo must start after his phenomenal performance against the Foxes last week.

As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder produced an impressive display with his contributions in and out of possession to help Leeds to a huge three points against the league leaders, which is why he should be in the XI.

7

Ethan Ampadu – CM

Alongside the Finland international, Ampadu should keep his position in midfield as the 23-year-old battler has enjoyed a strong start to life at Elland Road since his move from Chelsea.

The former Sheffield United loanee has started all 15 of the club's league matches so far this season and has caught the eye with 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game as he has showcased his ability to consistently disrupt opposition attacks to win possession back for his side.

8

RW – Dan James

The Wales international provided the corner from which Rutter's winning goal against Leicester was scored and should retain his place on the right side of the attack.

He has scored two goals in his last two matches and has contributed with three goals and four assists in ten Championship starts so far this season, which shows that the speedster can be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch at this level.

9

AM – Wilfried Gnonto

The third and final change that we are predicting for this game is Wilfried Gnonto – who was once dubbed "powerful" by journalist Josh Bunting – coming in to replace Joel Piroe, who has been in less-than-impressive form of late.

Over his last seven appearances, the Dutch marksman has produced one goal and one assist and has gone four matches without a goal – after four strikes in his first five outings.

Meanwhile, Gnonto has only started one of his last five games and registered an assist – against Norwich – in those outings. The 20-year-old ace has only started six times in the league this season and Piroe's poor form could provide him with an opportunity to catch the eye this weekend.

10

LW – Crysencio Summerville

The inclusion of this talented whiz is not a difficult one to explain. He has been in superb form since the Whites were relegated from the Premier League.

Summerville has contributed with six goals and four assists in ten league starts for Leeds this term and has the ability to be a match-winner with his terrific quality at the top end of the pitch, which is why he should retain his place on the left flank.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl confirmed that the club are closing in on appointing a new manager.

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• Eberl opened up on Zidane's links
• Bayern close to finalising on new manager
• Tuchel set to leave at the end of current season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eberl revealed that the Bundesliga giants are on the verge of finalising their new manager who will replace outgoing Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2024/25 season. He also opened up about the club's link with former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  reported on Friday, that the France legend is very close to joining the Bavarian side after reports emerged that Julian Nagelsmann has decided to extend his stay with the Germany national team until 2026.

• WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

  Speaking to Sky Sports (via ), Eberl said, "I can say that our search for a new manager is at the final stages. The coach should speak English, not necessarily German."

  When further asked if Zidane can speak English, the Bayern chief replied, "I don’t know if he speaks English."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

  Harry Kane and his Bayern teammates beat Union Berlin 5-1 on Saturday in the league. They will be next seen in action on April 27 against Eintracht Frankfurt at Allianz Arena.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has revealed he has told Barcelona chief Joan Laporta to give up on plans for a Super League.

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• Initial Super League scrapped in 2021
• Barcelona, Real Madrid & Juventus keep it on agenda
• PSG president labels plans 'stupid'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona and Real Madrid remain the only two clubs keen on implementing a European Super League after its ill-fated launch in 2021. The proposed project quickly collapsed when a host of clubs promptly withdrew amid a fierce backlash from fans. Laporta continues to back the idea but has been told by Al-Khelaifi that's it's a "stupid" plan when the two men met recently when Barca faced PSG in the Champions League.

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  WHAT AL-KHELAIFI SAID

  He told : “I asked him, ‘When are you going to give up the stupid idea of the Super League?’ I’m sure he will give it up. It makes no sense.

  “I have always said that the Super League is not going to exist. The Champions League is the best competition in the world for everyone, and those clubs (Barcelona and Real Madrid) are playing in the Champions League because they know how important it is."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barca and Madrid were boosted in their hopes of creating a Super League in December when the European Court of Justice ruled that blocking breakaway leagues is against EU law. Laporta has claimed that such a competition could be up and running by next season and said he believed there were 15 clubs who would be willing to join. A host of the teams he mentioned, including Ajax, Feyenoord and Roma, were quick to hit back and refute the Barca president's claims.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA & PSG

  PSG's win over Barcelona saw the Ligue 1 side book a Champions League semi-final spot against Borussia Dortmund. Both teams look set to be part of an expanded Champions League competition for next season, with PSG closing in on another French title and Barca currently second in La Liga.

The jury is still out for Chelsea's summer transfer window, with Mauricio Pochettino's business proving to be a mixed bag so far, though there are plenty of positives.

Certain variables, like the long-term injury inflicted upon Christopher Nkunku in pre-season, make it difficult to form a convincing opinion – but the Frenchman's past exploits in the Bundesliga certainly tantalise a successful career to come.

Nicolas Jackson's performances have certainly left much to be admired, with the Senegalese striker largely struggling in front of goal and despite scoring seven this term, three of those did come when Tottenham Hotspur were reduced to nine men.

Club-record signing Moises Caicedo, meanwhile, has shown glimpses of why he was regarded as one of the best-holding midfielders in the league and set the Blues back a staggering £115m, but the 22-year-old still needs to add more consistency to his performances in order to repay that price tag.

By contrast, Cole Palmer has been sensational and is comfortably one of the most admired young players in the Premier League having taken to life at Stamford Bridge like a duck to water.

Although it is hard to disagree that Palmer hasn't been a resounding success, Chelsea have struggled as a whole and following a disappointing 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday, the west London outfit are already 12 points behind fourth-place Aston Villa.

Pochettino's young squad have a mountain to climb and if they are to stand any chance of launching a challenge on their European aspirations, they will need to continue to add first-class quality to the squad, with Victor Boniface the latest player to enter the narrative.

Chelsea transfer news – Victor Boniface

Whilst a move for long-term target Victor Osimhen would be possible in January, Napoli value their prize possession at a staggering £120m.

Considering Chelsea paid £115m for Caicedo in the summer, UEFA's financial fair play regulations would be breathing down their necks if they were to shell out a three-figure sum on one player for the third transfer window running.

With Osimhen seemingly unattainable in the winter, Calciomercato – as relayed by the Hard Tackle – state that the Blues have identified Osimhen's countryman, Victor Boniface, as a potential target.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker, who has scored 11 goals and supplied six assists in all competitions this term, could provide the Blues with a long-term solution to their prolificacy having struggled with strikers of late.

Since Didier Drogba left in 2015, and arguably Diego Costa departed in 2017, Blues fans have been waiting for a prolific forward and Boniface – as demonstrated by the above scoring exploits – could be the answer to that glaring problem.

With a value of €50m (£43m), according to the CIES Football Observatory, the 22-year-old would be an attainable target, unlike Osimhen, and boasts similar attributes that were readily associated with Drogba in his heyday, namely his strength to shrug off defenders, his explosive pace and world-class finishing.

Victor Boniface's style of play

Ever since cutting his teeth in the game at Real Sapphire in his homeland, Boniface has been touted for greatness and has been lauded as "amazing" by former Nigerian superstar, Jay-Jay Okocha.

He made his breakthrough in the European game at Norwegian giants Bodo/Glimt, where he posted a respectful 23 goals and eight assists in 66 games between 2019 and 2022.

After earning a move to Belgian side Union Saint-Galloise in the summer of 2022, the goals continued to flow, hauling an impressive 17 strikes and 12 assists in 55 competitive appearances for Union, including a hat-trick on his debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifying game against Klaksvik.

Since switching to Leverkusen in the summer, he's continued showing that red-hot form in the Bundesliga and such performances have seen him earn a description of a "defenders nightmare" by scout Antonio Mango due to his ability as an all-round centre forward.

Compared to one of the greatest strikers of this generation, Robert Lewandowski, by the Bundesliga official website, Boniface is adept at using both feet, physically powerful, strong in the air and surprisingly silky with the ball at his feet, whilst sharing his clever movement and ability to lose his marker with the Polish superstar.

Victor Boniface's statistics this season

As alluded to previously, Boniface has been in scintillating form this term with seven goals and five assists in the Bundesliga as Xabi Alonso's swashbuckling side sit at the top of the table.

Through his immense scoring power and incredible all-round attributes, Boniface has posted similar attacking metrics to the likes of world-class talents, Kylian Mbappe, Lewandowski and Romelu Lukaku in the past year, as per FBref.

The above table depicts where Boniface ranks among his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues and considering he places within the top 1% for non-penalty xG, total shots, assists and successful take-ons, the Nigerian superstar is transforming into an unstoppable machine who is matching, if not, bettering the best strikers on the planet.

It only further fuels Chelsea's interest, with Pochettino and co undoubtedly taking note of his quick integration to life on German shores; given how successful one fellow African turned out to be in west London, it might be an auspicious road to go down.

Chelsea's next Drogba

In the Jose Mourinho era, Drogba established himself as one of the most prolific strikers on the planet and fired Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006.

After signing from Marseille for £8m in 2004, the Ivory Coast machine scored an eye-watering 164 goals and served 88 assists on a platter for his Blues teammates as he wreaked havoc, with Mourinho lauding him as "unstoppable".

At the peak of his powers, Drogba certainly proved the special one correct by plundering 29 goals and supplying 13 assists in the 2009/10 Premier League campaign before capping a first spell at Stamford Bridge in the best way possible by scoring in the winning penalty to lift the Champions League against Bayern Munich in 2012.

Whilst remaining at Leverkusen is an attractive proposition currently given they are battling with Bayern for the Bundesliga title, if Boniface has aspirations of cementing his legacy as one of the best strikers in the world, he should take the plunge and move to Chelsea.

As Drogba found out, there's no better way to achieve the above than unleashing his scoring powers in the Premier League.

Amnesty International put in a cheeky response to Jurgen Klopp's rant after the Liverpool boss called for intervention over "criminal" fixture list.

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• Klopp fumed over PL fixture list
• Went on a rant against TNT Sports over 12:30 pm kick-offs
• Amnesty chipped in with a hilarious reply to the German

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In a passionate rant ahead of Liverpool's clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, Klopp voiced his frustration over the scheduling decisions made by broadcasters. The focus of his ire was the disproportionate number of early kick-offs, particularly the 12.30 pm Saturday slot, which Liverpool have frequently been allocated, despite their mid-week European League commitments.

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  WHAT AMNESTY SAID

  Klopp's unconventional call for intervention from Amnesty International to address the fixture congestion dilemma drew an unexpected response from the human rights organisation. Taking to Twitter, Amnesty humorously wrote: "Hi Jurgen, Maybe next year. We're a bit busy at the moment. But, feel free to donate to us in the meantime. Thanks."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool have seen a slump in their recent domestic form winning just one of their last five Premier League matches. Currently occupying the third position in the league standings with 75 points, Klopp's side trails league leaders Arsenal by five points and second-placed Manchester City by four, with the latter holding a game in hand.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  TNT Sports also took a dig at Klopp, mocking his disdain for early kick-off, with a witty tweet.

Burnley are embroiled in a relegation battle at Turf Moor and could look to help their cause by bringing a talented player to Lancashire in January, according to a report.

Burnley's persistence with Vincent Kompany

Undoubtedly, the Clarets have shown commendable persistence with Vincent Kompany over the course of this term as he continues to bring an entertaining brand of football to Turf Moor despite outside criticism of his approach. In the aftermath of the Clarets' 5-0 victory over Sheffield United last weekend, Belgian boss Kompany praised his players for their commitment to carrying out his style of play that he has unwaveringly stood by despite learning some harsh lessons along the way in the Premier League.

"I don't take it for granted, the amount of pressure there was on the game to turn up and perform, it is a difficult thing to do. I work with an awesome group of players; all I am doing as a coach is hoping every weekend they can translate their hard work into results. Today is one of those days."

As we so often see in the English top flight, managers come under increasing pressure to deliver the results required to maintain their status on a year-by-year basis in the division, sometimes to the detriment of a long-term vision being the primary concern at any given club.

Burnley eyeing "brilliant" player for Kompany to boost survival chance

The Clarets are in desperate need of reinforcements…

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 3, 2023

The Clarets don't have this problem due to their faith in the man who assembled a side that wreaked havoc in the Championship last season on their way to promotion, which can only bode well for the future as Burnley continue to acclimatise to their new position in the football pyramid.

Looking ahead to January, Kompany is now believed to have a new defender in his sights who could arrive for a cut-price fee, according to a report.

Burnley eyeing Eiran Cashin

According to TEAMtalk, Derby County defender Eiran Cashin is a target for Burnley alongside a host of other clubs as he continues to impress at Pride Park under Paul Warne. The report states that Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough are all in the frame to sign the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

Cashin will be a free agent in the summer of 2024 if he fails to sign a new contract at his current employer. Derby County are hopeful the Mansfield-born star will choose to commit his future to the club; however, if he doesn't, the Rams may look to cash in on his services in January, potentially making him available for a cut-price fee.

Labelled "outstanding" by former manager Wayne Rooney in 2022, Cashin has made 23 appearances in all competitions for Derby County this term, registering one goal in the process (Cashin statistics – Transfermarkt).

Burnley already have an encouraging crop of talented young stars at Turf Moor and Cashin could fit in well with Kompany's long-term plans at the club, making this a deal to watch.

Leeds United moved to ten points behind Ipswich Town on Tuesday night as they were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The Whites failed to pick up any points on Wearside, whilst the Tractor Boys beat Watford 2-1, and the gap between themselves and the top two will be ten points if Leicester City win their match on Wednesday.

Daniel Farke's side have won nine of their last 12 Championship games but the incredible form of the two teams above them has left them miles away from the automatic promotion places.

They are aiming to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking and will need a degree of luck, in terms of the results of the current top two, alongside a strong run of form for the rest of the campaign.

The January transfer window is fast approaching and Farke may look to work with Nick Hammond to bolster his playing squad to provide a boost ahead of the second half of the season.

Leeds transfer news – Trai Hume

TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that the Whites are one of a number of teams eyeing up impressive Sunderland full-back Trai Hume.

Premier League side Burnley are also said to be looking at the talented young defender, whilst Championship outfit Leicester are also in the mix to land his signature.

The report stated that the Black Cats could be tempted to cash in on him in January if they can make a significant profit on the £200k they paid Linfield to sign him last year.

All three of the interested parties are said to be looking closely at the Northern Ireland international as they ponder a swoop to sign him at the start of 2024.

However, he put pen to paper on a new contract with Sunderland over the summer and is contracted through to the summer of 2027, with the option to extend it by a further 12 months.

It, therefore, remains to be seen how much the Black Cats would demand for his services, along with how much Leeds would be willing to pay in January.

The Whites have been hit with a host of full-back injuries this season. Sam Byram is set to miss three weeks with a hamstring blow that was suffered against Blackburn Rovers, whilst Jamie Shackleton has a glute issue and Junior Firpo is 'close' to a return to first-team training.

On-loan Tottenham Hotspur right-back Djed Spence also missed eight weeks with a knee injury that was sustained back in September and made his first start of the season, at left-back, against Sunderland.

Farke must now push for Hammond and the club to seal a deal for Hume as he could be an excellent addition to their full-back ranks, as he illustrated with a phenomenal display against Crysencio Summerville on Tuesday night.

Hume's performance against Leeds in numbers

The 21-year-old starlet lined up on the right of his side's back five at the Stadium of Light and dominated the Dutch winger with a sublime defensive performance.

Hume recorded a game-high Sofascore rating of 7.8 as he showcased his fantastic quality as a defender with numerous key interventions to prevent Anthony Patterson from being troubled.

The former Linfield star made three clearances, two blocks, four interceptions, four tackles, and made one clearance off the line to stop Joel Piroe from scoring.

Leeds' Dutch forward worked space for a shot in the box and saw his goalbound effort hooked away on the line by the hard-working full-back, who positioned himself perfectly to clear the danger.

Hume's exceptional defending meant that Summerville ended the match without a goal or a single 'big chance' created in his 90 minutes out on the left wing.

Crysencio Summerville's season in numbers

This was an impressive achievement for the Northern Irish gem as the Leeds forward had produced nine goals and ten 'big chances' created in 15 league starts ahead of the match – a goal or a 'big chance' created every 0.83 starts on average.

The 22-year-old whiz has provided 2.9 key passes and completed 2.6 dribbles per game respectively – the most within the squad in both statistics – and this illustrates how exciting he has been at the top end of the pitch.

Farke's electric forward has been a consistent threat in the final third with his ability to score goals and create chances at an exceptional rate.

However, Hume was able to stop him from being a match-winner for Leeds at the Stadium of Light with his impressive blocks, tackles, and interceptions on the night, which led to him being described as "outstanding" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Trai Hume's season in numbers

That display was not a flash in the pan as the 5 foot 11 EFL titan has consistently produced fantastic defensive performances for Sunderland this season.

The Whites target has started all 21 of his club's matches in the Championship and has caught the eye with an incredible 5.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

Meanwhile, no Leeds player has managed more than 3.5 per match and no full-back at the club has produced more than 3.3 per outing.

Hume, who has averaged six ball recoveries per clash, has also scored one goal and created four 'big chances' from a right-back position, whilst makeshift right-back Archie Gray has zero goals and two 'big chances' created for Leeds in 20 appearances.

He also ranks within the top 24% of Championship full-backs this season for progressive passes (4.83) per 90, which shows that the Whites target offers quality in possession to go along with his sublime defensive work.

In fact, Hume ranks within the top 18% or higher of his positional peers for tackles (3.52), interceptions (1.74), blocks (1.59), and aerial duels won (2.46) per 90 this term.

The Sunderland star has proven himself to be a terrific performer at this level and this means that Leeds would be signing a player who has the quality to hit the ground running in the Championship.

Therefore, Farke must swoop to bring the Northern Ireland international to Elland Road as he could be an outstanding defensive option who is capable of locking up and dominating the opposition's star players each week.