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Leeds United have been urged by Carlton Palmer to look into the possibility of rehiring former manager Paul Heckingbottom to replace Jesse Marsch.

What’s the latest?

The West Yorkshire club are now set to face Manchester United twice this week and they will potentially be doing so without a permanent manager in the dugout.

Marsch was relieved of his duties on Monday following a dismal weekend for the club which saw the Whites slip ever closer to the relegation zone.

And as the search for a new manager begins, there have been some familiar faces linked with Marcelo Bielsa’s name thrown into the ring by various reports.

However, speaking on TalkSport, Palmer has urged Leeds to look at bringing back Heckingbottom who is currently working wonders at Sheffield United:

“I’ll throw a name at you, and I know I live in Sheffield and they won’t be too happy. The job that Heckingbottom has done at Sheffield United with Stuart McCall – he’s one I’d be looking at. I’ll tell you that now. He’s done a fantastic job. I thought they should have given him the job the first time around.”

Returning to Heckingbottom?

As Palmer suggested, it is a suggestion that would likely not go down well in Sheffield with the Blades flying in the Championship and through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Heckingbottom is doing a fantastic job at Bramall Lane this season with the Blades sitting in a favourable position to gain automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

United are now 10 points clear of Middlesbrough – who sit in third place – and have a game in hand as well as now scheduling a huge FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

With all of this in mind, it is hard to imagine why Heckingbottom would pack up his stuff and leave for Leeds.

Although any manager taking the job at Elland Road would back themselves to turn the ship around, there is absolutely no guarantee that Marsch’s successor will be managing in the top flight next season.

Whereas, at Sheffield United, it does feel as if it would take a huge capitulation for the Blades not to gain automatic promotion back to the Premier League this season.

The 45-year-old’s previous record at Leeds conjured up a mixed bag of results but there are signs of improvement in his managing ability with a much-improved record at Bramall Lane.

But it does feel as if he would be taking an enormous risk by leaving the Blades to attempt to keep Leeds afloat.

West Bromwich Albion are in imperious form of late, brushing aside nearly every team they face with relative ease.

Carlos Corberan has forged a remarkable atmosphere at the Hawthorns and transformed the Baggies from a relegation-threatened soft touch into a true force to be reckoned with. Should this blistering form continue, promotion could be guaranteed.

What is also most impressive is the feel-good environment he has fostered for the players, staff and fans alike. It breeds confidence in the same way that Eddie Howe has done at Newcastle United, simply riding the wave.

It therefore offers the unique opportunity to bring through youth players with minimal risk of burdening them with the harsh realities of the Championship too early, affording them all the time to imbed and hopefully save the club millions.

One such option who could soon be set for such integration into the first team is Rico Richards, who has starred for the U23s for some time now.

Should he reach his sky-high potential, there is no reason to suggest he cannot emulate the qualities of a former Corberan player, James Rodriguez.

Although brief, the Colombian did sign for the Spaniard during his small stint at Olympiacos, giving him but a glimpse of the sensational operator that has previously graced Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Everton.

Now he could look to replace that talent with another decisive asset, as the 19-year-old Richards has been impressive this season. With five goal contributions in just nine Premier League 2 matches, he operates in a similar way to Rodriguez, drifting from the right wing onto his wicked left foot.

His inclusion in The Guardian’s 2020 Next Generation list is indicative of just how well thought of this teenage sensation is, as they describe him as having “a creative eye in terms of finding others but is equally capable of carving openings for himself.”

This statement could be describing the 31-year-old, who enjoyed a fine campaign at Goodison Park where he recorded 11 goal contributions in just 23 league appearances before Rafa Benitez banished him.

Having previously been lauded by writer Alex Chaffer as a “world-class” footballer, the great Carlo Ancelotti, who has long been a fan of the attacker, also sought to praise his work rate: “I wanted James on the wing for his talents as a footballer. He is a hard worker and not selfish at all: an authentic professional.”

The “splendid” Richards – as dubbed by Joe Chapman – has that grit too but pairs it with a technical proficiency that belies his years.

He should be aiming to reach the heights of Rodriguez’s illustrious career, because even falling way short of that would see him still have a sparkling career. Regardless, all the assets are there to follow in his footsteps.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale enjoyed a relatively quiet first transfer window in charge, since taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst earlier this season, of the Ibrox giants last month.

Ross Wilson and the Englishman worked together to bring in two new signings in the form of Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin on permanent deals, from Norwich and Standard Liege respectively.

The former Liverpool youth coach also sanctioned an exit for young midfielder Charlie McCann as the Northern Ireland international completed a move to Forest Green Rovers in January.

Beale may already be thinking about what he would like to do to the squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and working out which players need to be moved on and replaced should be the first step of the process.

A number of current first-team players are out of contract at the end of the season and one dud who must be ruthlessly ditched from the club is veteran midfielder Steven Davis.

What is Steven Davis’ situation at Rangers?

His deal expires in the summer and it could be the perfect time to part ways with the ex-Southampton midfielder as the dynamo recovers from a serious knee injury.

The 38-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in his knee in December and has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, which means that he may not play another competitive match for the Gers.

Davis has only started 16 Premiership matches since the start of last term and the arrival of Raskin as an option in the middle of the park could allow Beale to part ways with the veteran without worrying about the depth of his squad.

The Northern Ireland international has been a fine servant to the Light Blues over the years – amassing 360 appearances in all competitions – but his form in the Champions League earlier this season indicated that the time is right for him to be replaced.

In five appearances in Europe, the dud averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.58 – compared to his 6.90 in the Premiership – and Scottish Daily Mail editor Calum McClurkin criticised the midfielder during the team’s 3-1 defeat to Ajax in November, Tweeting:

“Steven Davis towing a caravan in midfield. Just too over the hill at this level. Patched-up defence simply can’t cope.”

The £8k-per-week maestro is in the final throes of his career and his form in the Champions League, coupled with his injury and the additions of Raskin and Cantwell in midfield, could open the door for Beale to ruthlessly ditch the experienced talent in the summer.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly eyeing a potential Newcastle United move for Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.

The Lowdown: Left-back wanted

Newcastle want to bring in a new left-back this summer, having been linked with moves for the likes of Fulham’s Antonee Robinson and Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.

However, they are also reportedly preparing a contract offer for Dan Burn, so it will be interesting to see where his future lies if a new left-back comes in at St James’ Park.

The Latest: Tierney interest from Newcastle

As per Football Insider, Newcastle are ‘closely monitoring’ Tierney ahead of a potential move this summer as they look for a left-back who can slot straight into the starting line-up.

The Scotland international is thought to be valued at around £30m, and he is on the ‘radar’ of the Tyneside club.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Tierney is capable of coming to Newcastle and making the left-back position his own, so this is a deal that Eddie Howe’s side should be looking to get done.

Hailed as a ‘warrior’ by Arsenal and England legend Ashley Cole, the Scotsman ranks in the top nine of all Gunners players for average interceptions, clearances and blocks per game in the Premier League so far this season, despite mainly being used as a substitute (WhoScored).

Tierney boasts plenty of top-flight experience in general and also has pedigree in European competition, something that the Magpies want to achieve for next season.

At 25 years of age, he has probably not reached his full potential yet, although the Toon should be wary of his injury history and his £110,000-per-week wages.

Nonetheless, with Tierney sharing the same agent as six other Newcastle players, this seems like a deal which could be done for the right package.

One area of concern for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag in recent times has been the lack of midfield depth, with a number of injury and suspension issues having left that department looking rather depleted.

The return of Scott McTominay from his muscular issue has somewhat eased those woes – while both Casemiro and Marcel Sabitzer have now served their respective domestic and European bans – although the Red Devils are still set to be without both Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen for an extended period of time.

The loss of the latter man, in particular, has proven a notable blow for the Old Trafford outfit, with the Denmark international set to be out of action until the latter stages of the campaign, having sustained an ankle injury as a result of a stern challenge from Reading’s Andy Carroll in the FA Cup last month.

The 31-year-old had been an almost ever-present since joining on a free transfer during the summer, with the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man having scored twice and provided nine assists in 31 games in all competitions so far this season, with 27 of those outings coming from the start.

The loss of the experienced playmaker has left something of a creative void in Ten Hag’s side, with recent arrival Sabitzer having yet to truly showcase his attacking quality, after failing to provide a goal or an assist in his four outings in all competitions so far.

If the former Ajax boss is looking to find a better fit to help fill the hole left by Eriksen between now and the end of the season, the 53-year-old may well be wise to look to the club’s academy ranks to find a suitable option.

Who can replace Eriksen at Man United?

While Kobbie Mainoo has already been handed a brief taste of first-team action in recent weeks, the 17-year-old could be joined in the senior set-up by fellow teenager, Dan Gore, with the latter man also currently thriving at academy level.

The 18-year-old Englishman no doubt mirrors the aforementioned Eriksen with his ability to operate in an advanced playmaking berth or in a central midfield role, having scored twice and provided one assist in 18 games in all competitions this season.

The former Burnley asset – who boasts a haul of four goals and five assists for the Red Devils’ U18 side to date – was notably part of the FA Youth Cup-winning side last season alongside the likes of Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, with the aim now to join his youth colleagues in making the step up to the first team.

Lauded as “one of the most talented youngsters” in the club’s academy by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Gore was also the recipient of notable praise from youth coach Colin Little last season, who stated:

“He (Gore)’s been absolutely brilliant. You get what you see with Dan Gore. He brings it to training every day, he is competitive, combative, he is a really good footballer. He has been progressing really well, like the others.”

Likened to Chelsea gem Mason Mount, the England youth international is said to have ‘very strong’ creativity, technique and vision – among other qualities – as per Kulig, with such traits no doubt similar to that of Eriksen, who has been praised for his “intelligence” by club legend Paul Scholes.

As Little noted above, Gore can also offer a ‘combative’ presence in the centre of the park alongside his more forward-thinking qualities, having showcased he is not afraid to leave his mark after reportedly producing a crunching, training ground challenge on Anthony Martial, sparking a furious reaction from the Frenchman.

That added bite to go with the teen’s creative flair should ensure that he is able to swiftly adjust to life in the first team, with the hope being that it is not too long until he is called upon by Ten Hag.

Phil Hay believes that Rodrigo may only be a few weeks from returning to the Leeds United first team.

The Lowdown: Leeds missing a goal threat

Leeds have certainly had to deal with their fair share of injuries this season with players such as Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas all missing matches this term with differing injuries.

It has been in the final third where it’s hurt them the most with Bamford struggling to stay fit for a pronged period of time and now their top scorer Rodrigo is currently out and no return looking imminent.

However, Hay does believe he’s not far away now and it would be natural for him to be pushing back to full fitness as soon as possible to try and impress Gracia and get back his starting spot through the middle.

The Latest: Rodrigo pushing for a return

While no return will be likely this week, Hay has admitted on The Phil Hay Show that Rodrigo could be back in the famous white shirt in a matter of weeks which will be a huge boost for Gracia.

He said: (14:35) “I do feel like they’re missing Rodrigo, I do feel like it’s been unfortunate he’s picked up an injury at the time when goals were flying in and I think his performances for Leeds there was more leadership in them than we’d seen from him before and they were definitely more effective than they’d ever been before.

“I think he would be contributing pretty heavily to this and he would be someone that Gracia would want to be in the thick of it.

“He can’t be too far away now, I would probably imagine he’s got another few weeks, maybe another month.”

The Verdict: Gracia will be desperate for a returning Rodrigo

Gracia and Rodrigo missed out on the chance to work together at Valencia as the striker departed for the Whites just a month after walking into the job, so for him to now be injured and missing out on working with him again will be gutting.

Rodrigo has been by far and away Leeds’ most reliable man in the final third this season with an impressive record of 10 goals in just 17 league starts so it’s no doubt Leeds need him starting to stay up.

If Leeds are to stay up then having a reliable goalscorer – who’s in the best form of his Premier League career – is something that certainly need so Gracia will be keen for Rodrigo to return, but also won’t want to rush him back and risk aggravating the injury.

Chelsea finally lifted an iron weight off their chests after clinching victory in the Premier League, defeating relegation-threatened Leeds United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to belatedly kickstart an ascension up the table.

Having clinched victory just two times from the previous 15 matches across all competitions, Graham Potter’s Blues saw off the Whites to keep hold of tenth place in the division after Aston Villa defeated Crystal Palace.

The result does now close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur to 11 points, with the west London outfit also holding a game in hand on their city rivals, but a string of consistency will be paramount if Chelsea are to salvage something from their wayward season.

Having failed to capitalise on a resounding and unrelenting offensive surge in the opening phase of the encounter, Stamford Bridge did not receive the roar of approval it so dearly craved, and when the respective outfits took to the tunnel at the interval, parity intact and the deadlock unbroken, the home faithful would be forgiven for a sense of trepidation that the familiar recent script was to be followed once more.

However, £75m summer signing Wesley Fofana met Ben Chilwell’s cross early after the break to secure a coveted victory, and Potter will hope to use the win as a platform to build upon, seeking success over the latter period of the term.

While the French defender was “inspiring his side” with his goal, according to Terry Flewers, it was his positional peer and countryman Benoit Badiashile who deserves the plaudits after another first-rate performance at the back.

Was Badiashile “superb” vs Leeds?

Signed from AS Monaco for £35m in January, Badiashile has been impressive during the opening phase of his career in England, recording a commendable average league rating of 7.33 – as per Sofascore – over his first six matches in the Premier League.

And against the Peacocks, the 21-year-old once again exhibited his skill set and ball-playing aptitude, assured and composed in snuffing out danger and effectively contributing from the back.

Sofascore recorded his rating on the afternoon at 7.2, with writer Gabe Henderson hailing him as “superb” for his efforts in claiming a fourth clean sheet from his six top-flight appearances.

Having made a tackle and two interceptions, the colossus’ defensive aptitude was on full show, while his 87% pass completion rate was yet a further demonstration of the prowess with his passing that sets him in a particular bracket of sublime modern defenders with an eye for the elegant.

Also making 79 touches, Badiashile was very much in the thick of the action from start to finish, completing 75% of his attempted long balls and winning two of his five total duels.

Chelsea’s acquisition seems to be more of a coup by the match week, and with further superlative showings such as the performance against Leeds, Potter might just rest easy knowing he has such a formidable and consistent force in front of the net.

The Englishman – who has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his future amid the club’s recent woes – will also be fully aware that the displays of both Fofana and Badiashile, in particular, could have helped save his skin by easing the pressure on his position, with the 47-year-old spared the axe for another day.

Liverpool suffered a humiliating defeat at the Vitality Stadium yesterday in their Premier League clash with Bournemouth and Jurgen Klopp will surely be left frustrated following another unorganised and uninspiring performance from his side.

The Reds went into the game off the back of a monumental 7-0 victory at Anfield last weekend against bitter rivals Manchester United and supporters were hoping that the tenacious display would spark a much-needed turnaround in their inconsistent campaign, alas it was not meant to be.

Klopp’s formerly high-performing and unstoppable side found themselves completely outplayed by their opponents on their visit to the south coast and it was blatantly obvious that the midfield selection were completely out of their depth from the very start.

Liverpool’s young breakthrough stars Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic were deployed alongside Brazilian stalwart Fabinho in the starting set-up in the centre of the pitch, however, the German coach quickly realised he had made a huge mistake.

Both youthful prospects struggled to fend off the pressure applied by the Cherries which led to Elliott being hooked at half-time after being dribbled past four times and losing 100% of his duels over the first 45 minutes.

It was crystal clear that Liverpool sorely missed the dominant and controlled presence of Jordan Henderson in the heart of the team with a clear lack of leadership and a poor approach to the recovery needed following the first-half winner from Philip Billing.

Should Klopp unleash Jordan Henderson?

Indeed, the Liverpool captain has had his own struggles in some of his individual performances this season alongside many other key players who have failed to step up when it matters most this season.

However, there is no denying that Henderson offers sound leadership and eliminates the kind of uncharacteristic chaos that was caused for large periods of the game yesterday.

Over 23 league appearances this season, the 32-year-old has registered one assist, created three big chances and successfully completed 57% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 50.4 touches, 36.9 accurate passes and winning 1.6 duels per game.

Not only that, Henderson ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive passes whilst tallying up a 90% short pass completion rate, delivering 2.7 shot-creating actions per game and completing 102 ball recoveries in the Premier League so far, proving that he is a hard-working and consistent presence.

The Sunderland-born midfielder has no shortage of admirers praising him for his consistency and impact on the success Liverpool has seen since the arrival of Klopp, with journalist Henry Winter paying tribute to the player’s strong leadership skills on and off the pitch:

“He’s been a beacon of hope in dark times for the country, a nation craving real leadership.

“And he’s a winner on the pitch, too, helping end that 30-year wait for the title. Gerrard’s right. The captain’s armband, that symbol of taking responsibility, suits Henderson well.”

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Klopp to unleash Henderson over the remaining 12 league fixtures as he could be the guiding light that Liverpool desperately need to secure a Champions League qualifying spot for next season.

Tottenham Hotspur would likely have to convince Mauricio Pochettino of their project if they are to pursue their former manager in the coming months.

Do Spurs want to bring Mauricio Pochettino back?

Serious question marks hang over the future of Antonio Conte in north London with reports suggesting he doesn’t want to be at the club any longer and the sentiment is shared by some of the players.

It has been a dismal campaign for the Lilywhites, on the whole, and it appears it is in danger of fizzling out in the remaining games of the Premier League campaign.

One name which has been heavily linked with a potential return to north London is that of Pochettino, with some claiming he would be in favour of succeeding Conte.

However, Alasdair Gold has suggested it may not be as simple as that, with the Argentinian potentially having to be convinced by the Spurs board to come back:

“It all depends on what’s changed this summer, whether he still kind of has that complete belief. Like I say, from what I hear, I think it’ll be a bit more of a sell than Spurs might be thinking it would be if they are going to approach him. It’s not a foregone conclusion whatsoever.”

Should Spurs rehire Mauricio Pochettino?

There is certainly a huge element of risk in going back to an old manager and a potential return could put Pochettino’s legacy at Spurs at risk.

Some may question what legacy he has given he never got his hands on silverware, however, he provided the club with a lot more than what the likes of Conte and Jose Mourinho did over their tenures.

To take Spurs to a Champions League final and deliver consistent top-four football on the budget which he was provided for the majority of his time there was fairly impressive.

However, there are some uncertainties at the club currently with the main concern being over the future of Harry Kane ahead of the summer transfer window.

Whether or not Pochettino’s return would be enough to keep Kane at the club for the foreseeable is another question but it could well come into his thinking if he was offered the role.

Another concern for the 51-year-old could be the club’s current set-up with a belief across the media that he would be unlikely to work under Fabio Paratici.

The future of Paratici remains unclear at the moment with his ongoing off-field issues, but whether Spurs would be willing to scrap the concept of having a director of football could be an issue.

But it is apparent the Argentinian is not the only name on Spurs’ shortlist to potentially replace Conte and it certainly seems as a return is not an absolute certainty.

Journalist Santi Aouna says that Mohamed Salah is ‘open to leaving Liverpool’ in the summer.

The Lowdown: Conflicting reports

It was reported earlier this month that Salah remains ‘fully committed’ to Liverpool, and the Merseyside club the same to him.

This comes after links emerged over a potential move for Salah to French giants PSG this summer, amid doubts over the futures of attacking trio Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Football Insider have also previously claimed that FSG could be willing to cash in on Salah, who could attract a vast transfer fee for them, and talks have already taken place within the club over a potential big-name sale.

The Latest: Salah ‘open to leaving’

Taking to Twitter, Aouna has now reported that Salah is actually ‘open to leaving’ the Reds, and if he were to exit Anfield, he would favour a move to Spain:

“The Egyptian striker is open to leaving Liverpool this summer.

“In case of departure, Salah favours Spain.”

Expanding in his corresponding article for Foot Mercato, the journalist notes that Salah only extended his contract with Jurgen Klopp’s team last year until June 2025, and he can see himself joining another ‘major’ club in Europe, with Spain thought to be his preferred destination at this particular moment in time.

The Verdict: Keep him at all costs

Salah may not be having his best campaign so far in terms of numbers by his usual standards, with just 11 goals in the Premier League, but his record in terms of goals and assists outside of this season for Liverpool is simply outstanding (Transfermarkt).

The ‘Egyptian King’ as he is nicknamed by Reds fans in their beloved chant of him has played a key part in wining the club both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in recent seasons, and create a number memorable moments along the way.

Of course, the Merseysiders are in danger of missing out on the Champions League this campaign given their league position, which would make it harder to keep Salah beyond this summer, but they simply cannot afford to lose a player so key to them at this moment in time.

Nonetheless, it will no doubt be interesting to see how this story develops over the next few months or so, given the conflicting reports of Salah’s commitment, or lack of, to the club, and the fact that he will only have two years left remaining on his contract.