YouTuber Conor McGilligan has praised Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo for his "immense" recent form.

What's the latest on Junior Firpo and Leeds?

It wasn't that long ago, that the Premier League defender's future seemed uncertain at best. Indeed, back in January, journalist Beren Cross for LeedsLive wrote about how he could be on his way out, noting he was coming to a "crossroads".

What's more, reports in Spanish media throughout the winter window claimed that former club Real Betis were interested in signing Firpo.

However, in recent weeks, under new manager Javi Gracia, the left-back has improved his form and become a regular in the team again.

And while talking about Firpo on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan was full of praise about how he's managed to turn his career around.

He said: “We needed a left-back in January, and the reason we needed a left-back was to replace Firpo, was to get [Pascal] Struijk out of that left-back position.

“But what he's done right now is… you know, I think that that was his sixth game on the bounce. And I don't think he's done that for Leeds yet, which is great.

"And I think he's been immense. I think he's been very, very, very good."

Why is Firpo starting for Leeds again?

Since coming on for Struijk against Manchester United after 23 minutes, Firpo has since started every league game for Leeds.

This means manager Gracia hasn't had any reason to drop him, even though Struijk has been fit and on the bench for the past three – meaning the defender has started six games in a row for the Whites.

Indeed, in a recent article on BBC Sport, it was claimed that Firpo is "finally showing his class" and praised him for rediscovering his best form at the perfect moment when he scored the winner against relegation rivals Southampton.

What's more, a LeedsLive article recently claimed that the 26-year-old is the "biggest winner" of Gracia’s tenure so far and noted that he is now "one of the first names on the teamsheet" due to his improved defensive and attacking displays.

All in all, it's been a good period for the defender and if he can stay on top of his game for the final run-in, he may just do enough to help Leeds avoid the drop.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici could soon pack his bags and follow Antonio Conte out the door, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Paratici future questioned…

The Spurs managing director has been linked with a possible departure in recent months and his future could be uncertain after his 30-month ban from Italian football.

The ban was imposed by the FIGC after Juventus’ latest financial scandal, where the Federal Court of Appeal also handed the Serie A giants a mammoth 15-point deduction.

Paratici and 11 other current and former Juve directors were handed domestic bans and this could well spread worldwide, thereby affecting his position as Tottenham’s transfer chief.

Spurs apparently fear his ban could extend to England if the Italian Football Federation refuse to overturn his punishment on appeal, with April 19 being a key date.

The Premier League top four hopefuls, according to a new report, seriously face the prospect of losing both Conte and Paratici soon.

The Latest: Paratici could leave Spurs with Conte…

According to Calciomercato, an Italian news website, Conte’s future is ‘intertwined’ with that of Paratici, and the latter man ‘risks paying’ the price for bringing the former Chelsea head coach to Tottenham.

It was apparently Paratici who persuaded chairman Daniel Levy to appoint Conte and the 50-year-old could pack his bags alongside him.

Calcio add that Tottenham are preparing the next ‘revolution’ with Paratici potentially heading towards a ‘farewell’.

The Verdict: Crunch few weeks…

As aforementioned, Spurs supporters will be keeping an eye on the calendar as April 19 will be another crucial day in determining their club’s future.

It is the date Paratici will find out his sentence via the FIGC and whether his appeal either sticks or gets thrown out by the Italian court.

If his ban does extend to England, Levy will need to get working on finding a successor for the former Juve chief, who has been described as an ‘incredible worker’.

One of the men linked with Paratici’s post, should he vacate, is Benfica talent-spotter Rui Pedro Braz. Reports have claimed that Tottenham like the 44-year-old, who has amassed quite a reputation in Portugal for spotting and scouting world football’s most promising talents.

Pedro Braz most recently played a major role in helping to sell midfielder Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea for a British record £106 million fee.

The west Londoners were also interested in Pedro Braz as a club chief before they ultimately moved for Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley as their new directors.

Tottenham Hotspur have been told by Tony Cascarino to appoint Burnley boss Vincent Kompany after his ‘miraculous’ feats this season.

The Lowdown: Conte leaving?

As per reports in the last 24 hours, it is now widely expected that Spurs will part company with Antonio Conte before the end of this 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.

The Italian has been skating on thin ice over the last few weeks with sporting director Fabio Paratici having already drawn a shortlist of possible replacements.

Former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino is among the contenders to replace Conte, coming after his furious post–match rant at the weekend – where he took aim at both the board and squad.

He stated: 

“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in).

“Why? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”

The Latest: Tottenham told to make ‘brave’ Kompany call…

Speaking in a Q&A with The Times, pundit Cascarino claims Kompany, a Man City legend who has taken Burnley to the summit of Championship football, should be a contender to take over from Conte.

When asked who should replace the 51-year-old, he stated:

“In the past Tottenham have just made an obvious choice, picking managers with the best CVs, but it’s time for them to be brave, especially as Harry Kane may well depart, which would create a completely new dynamic at the club.

“I think Vincent Kompany would be an excellent appointment after his miraculous feats at Burnley this season. He’s had little money but transformed them, adopting a new playing style.”

The Verdict: Good candidate?

The 36-year-old, barring his spell at Anderlecht before Burnley, has very little experience in terms of managing at this level.

However, Kompany is also a natural leader, with City boss Pep Guardiola even recently claiming that the Belgian is destined to coach his former team one day.

Burnley are currently dominating England’s second tier with a free-flowing, attack-minded style – scoring more goals and winning more games than any other side in the division.

They could even still become one of only a few Championship clubs to seize over 100 points in a single campaign – emphasising the incredible job he’s done at Turf Moor.

Of course, this would still be a bold move considering the big name managers available for hire right now.

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.

Manchester United are reportedly one of several top Premier League clubs interested in signing Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia this summer.

The Lowdown: Lavia a wanted man

Saints haven’t had a huge amount to shout about this season, as they battle relegation, but the performances of Lavia have certainly been a positive.

The defensive midfielder has made 16 appearances in the league, starting 14 games, and has averaged two tackles per game in that time, adding bite and tenacity in the middle of the park.

The 19-year-old appears to be a wanted man, having been linked with a move away from Southampton this summer, and now a fresh update has emerged.

The Latest: In-demand

According to Football Insider, United are interested in snapping up Lavia at the end of the season, but they are not alone in expressing an interest.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also eyeing a move for the promising teenager and the report states that he will be in ‘huge demand’ in the coming months.

The Verdict: One for the future

At 19, Lavia remains very much a work in progress despite starting regularly in the Premier League, so he would be seen as a long-term acquisition at United.

Erik ten Hag needs to plan for life without Casemiro eventually, considering the Brazilian is now 31, and the Saints man could be considered his long-term replacement.

Paul Scholes has hailed Lavia for having every ‘pass in his locker’, which is high praise indeed from a legend of his stature, and the one-cap Belgium Under-21 international should only get better as the years pass.

To already be a key player for a top-flight before even turning 20 speaks volumes about the £38,000-a-week Saints man – the fact that he was at Manchester City until last year also highlights his quality as a youth team star.

Liverpool have had a troubling season so far and Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to find ways to ensure his team can qualify for Champions League football next season.

The Reds are currently sixth in the Premier League table and have been knocked out of the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League over the last few months meaning it has become impossible for the club to pick up another trophy this season as they are 26 points adrift from league leaders Arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently seven points clear in the top-four race, however, Liverpool do have two games in hand on the north Londoners, so there is still an opportunity to snatch that final spot in the prestigious European competition they were only knocked out of earlier this week.

With 12 fixtures to go, Klopp must now do everything he can to get the Merseysiders back on track with a desperate need for consistency as opportunities to close the gap to their rivals for top four start to dwindle.

Fortunately, the imminent return of Luis Diaz could be the key to unlocking a lethal attacking threat at Anfield.

Will Luis Diaz return after the international break?

The Colombian winger has rarely been seen this season after suffering a knee injury that he sustained back in October that has seen him miss out on 29 fixtures so far this season.

Diaz was expected to return in December but after joining the mid-season tour in Dubai further aggravated his injury and suffered a setback in his recovery which was a huge blow for the team, however, Klopp has finally given a positive update on the player's imminent return.

The Liverpool boss revealed in his press conference on March 10th: "Luis I hope (can starting full training) during next week."

Over his 12 appearances this season, Diaz has scored four goals and registered three assists before his absence and had quickly become a fan favourite upon joining in January last year.

The winger made an instant impact on Liverpool's attacking prowess and played key a role in the club's pursuit of multiple trophies.

The £55k-per-week dynamo – hailed "exceptional" by Klopp – ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, assists, pass completion, successful take-ons, touches, progressive passes received and aerial duels won, proving that he is a huge creative and attacking influence on the pitch.

Cody Gakpo was signed in the winter transfer window to bolster the forward line following the injury to Diaz and the departure of Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi in the summer.

However, when comparing Gakpo's output over his short time at Anfield with Diaz's contributions ahead of his long-term injury issue, it is clear that the 26-year-old offers much more.

Despite playing one less league game than his Dutch teammate, Diaz has outperformed Gakpo in touches (394 v 259), shot accuracy (53.85% v 46.15%), assists (2 v 0), pass accuracy (80.97% v 70.45%) and take-ons completed (17 v 6), as per Squawka Comparison Matrix.

With that being said, the return of Diaz could be explosive for Liverpool's forward line with his presence potentially leading to the formation of a budding partnership with the equally energetic Darwin Nunez. That's certainly a duo who could cause chaos for opponents over the business end of the season.

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.

Sheikh Jassim has made a second offer to take control at Manchester United, Sky Sports report.

The Lowdown: Slight delay

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the front runners when it comes to a complete takeover from the Glazers, with both holding Old Trafford talks earlier this month.

However, both missed the deadline to make a second offer for the club on Wednesday in an incredible development, asking for an extension from the Raine Group in New York. That was granted, with Ratcliffe needing less than 24 hours to place his revised bid for United. It went relatively quiet when it came to Jassim’s second bid, but there has now been a development.

The Latest: Second offer

Sky Sports provided an update regarding Jassim and United in the last 24 hours. They said that a new offer has now been submitted, describing it as ‘news that Manchester United fans have been waiting for’.

‘Now the news that Manchester United fans we know have been waiting for and that is that Sheikh Jassim, the Qatari bid, a new bid has now been submitted to buy Manchester United.

‘It went in overnight, the deadline for the second bid was 9pm on Wednesday, an extension was granted. We knew that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted a second bid on Thursday – now we know that Jassim has followed suit.’

The Verdict: Now we wait

It looks as if it is now down to the Glazers to provide feedback to Jassim, Ratcliffe and other parties who have made Old Trafford bids, so it could be an interesting few months.

Fabrizio Romano has stated that Jassim and his group remain confident as they believe their bid is the best one for the club, fans and local community. He also seemingly has a marquee transfer on his radar, should he take over, with Jassim thought to be a huge fan of Jude Bellingham.

That might come as music to Erik ten Hag’s ears, with the manager after a midfielder and a forward this summer, but in regards to a takeover, Jassim may have to remain patient for now.

Journalist Beren Cross has claimed that Leeds United manager Javi Gracia has an issue with Wilfried Gnonto after the Italian was subbed off in the most recent game

What’s the latest Willy Gnonto and Leeds?

In the Premier League this weekend, the Whites managed to pick up a vital win against relegation rivals Wolves in their fight to avoid the drop this season.

Indeed, in a thrilling match, goals from Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Rodrigo gave Gracia and co a 4-2 win while two opposition players were also sent off.

At 61 minutes, Leeds were 2-0 up and Gnonto was impressing having already delivered a fine assist to help set up the opener. Even so, the winger was hooked by his manager with plenty of time left on the clock.

While speaking about it on a LeedsLive video stream, Cross suggested that the treatment is a little "strange" before claiming that Gracia doesn't seem to "quite fancy" the 19-year-old.

He said (18:51): “There's clearly something in Gnonto that he just doesn't quite fancy. I don't know what it is because for me, again that first goal is just typical Gnonto, that's what he brings to the team with the assist that he gave to Harrison.

“So it was strange but there's clearly something there in Gnonto that Gracia just doesn't quite fully like.”

Does Gracia have an issue with Gnonto at Leeds?

Under former manager Jesse Marsch, the youngster had managed to establish himself as a regular starter but under Gracia things have changed.

Indeed, the Italian had to settle for a role off the bench as a substitute in the last two Premier League games and was only trusted for about an hour in this most recent win.

Gnonto has done enough to earn himself a spot in his national team's squad for the upcoming international break – so he must be doing something right – but Gracia does seem hesitant to rely on him too much.

At such a young age, the 19-year-old still has plenty to learn and so perhaps his new manager is just trying to develop him carefully but it is odd that one of the club's best attacking players has suddenly been somewhat marginalised.

Journalist Jacques Talbot has claimed that Newcastle United have "no reason" to consider a change in manager despite "god tier" Julian Nagelsmann becoming available.

What's the latest on Julian Nagelsmann and Newcastle?

Last week it was announced that Bayern Munich would be sacking their 35-year-old manager and replacing him with German coach Thomas Tuchel.

As per Bild (via Mirror) Nagelsmann was left 'completely surprised' by the decision but it hasn't taken long to see him linked with a move to the Premier League already.

Indeed, with Tottenham Hotspur sacking Antonio Conte, Spurs are now looking to hire a new manager and the former Bayern boss has been tipped as a main candidate

While talking about Nagelsmann's possible move to England on his YouTube channel, Talbot praised the German but said he wouldn't want him to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle even if he is now on the market.

He said (35:00): “I know Nagelsmann's a better manager, on paper. I totally get it, he's like god tier manager.

"But there's no reason to change, there's no reason change, we have something, a good relationship with Howe. It’d rupture the dressing room and stuff.

"So I might be biased. But I see Eddie Howe at Newcastle for a very long time. A very long time.”

Would Newcastle want to replace Eddie Howe?

To be fair to Talbot, Howe certainly has managed some pretty impressive feats since taking over the Magpies last season. Indeed, he already led them to their first cup final since 1999 (although they lost), and he currently has them pushing for a spot in the Champions League, two points behind fourth-placed Spurs with two games in hand.

What's more, the Englishman has an impressive record of 1.77 points per game. To put that in perspective, his predecessor Steve Bruce managed 1.15.

However, Nagelsmann is one of the most exciting young managers in world football. He leaves Bayern having picked up 2.31 points per game, whilst having also won the league and the super cup – which shows just how brutal the sacking was.

With that in mind, it's easy to see why Nagelsmann is rated so highly by so many but Howe certainly hasn't done anything yet to warrant seeing his position come under pressure.

Still, if Newcastle fail to make the top for and the 35-year-old German remains a free agent in the summer, perhaps the board will be brutal and take the opportunity to hire the "god tier" alternative.