Incoming Tottenham Hotspur boss, Ange Postecoglou could already be eyeing up a first signing of the summer at N17, following an update regarding the club's pursuit of Leicester City star, James Maddison.
What's the latest on Maddison to Tottenham?
According to journalist Sean Walsh, writing on Twitter, the 57-year-old is said to have "approved" of the Lilywhites' pursuit of the England international, with the ex-Celtic man having been named as the new permanent head coach on Tuesday.
In his attached piece for 90min – alongside colleague Graeme Bailey – Walsh adds that the north London outfit are set to rival Newcastle United for the signing of the 26-year-old, with the playmaker in line to leave his current home following the Foxes' recent relegation.
This follows a previous report from The Sun which also claimed that both Spurs and the Magpies are 'pushing hardest' to sign the former Norwich City man ahead of next season, with the two-cap gem set to be available for around £40m with just a year left to run on his existing deal.
Would Maddison be a good signing for Tottenham?
The fleet-footed "magician" – as previously hailed by Statman Dave – would likely prove an astute capture for new man Postecoglou, with the Coventry-born sensation having proven his credentials in the Premier League in recent years, with 75 goals and assists in 163 games in the competition to date.
Despite forming part of a Leicester side that only recently suffered relegation, the £110k-per-week maestro did still enjoy a positive individual campaign after racking up 19 goal involvements in 30 league appearances, with only Harry Kane contributing more goals and assists (33) among the Spurs squad.
Harry Kane and James Maddison
That ability to make a telling impact in the final third could ensure that Maddison proves to be a dream partner to Kane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next term, with the latter man likely to thrive off such elite service.
Hailed for his "world class" delivery in the past by Three Lions boss, Gareth Southgate, Maddison notably recorded 12 big chances and averaged 2.3 key passes per game in 2022/23 as a marker of his creative prowess, with that illustrating that he can be the man to deliver the goods on a plate for Tottenham's free-scoring, talisman.
Previously hailed as "the best centre-forward in world football" by his England colleague, Kane has been linked with a departure in recent times, although the current suggestion is that the 29-year-old will not be sold this summer, despite having just 12 months to run on his current deal.
As such, the 280-goal marksman would likely thrive off having quality figures around him under Postecoglou next season, such as Maddison, with the latter man clearly an asset who seeks to play forward at every available opportunity as he ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for progressive passes, as per FBref.
With Spurs seemingly "in need of that creativity" – as pundit Noel Whelan previously stated – the signing of the Leicester man could well have Kane licking his lips this summer…
Arsenal are now eyeing a move for Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy who has been told he can find a new club, according to journalist Tom Hopkinson.
What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?
The Gunners and Mikel Arteta have been dealt a hammer blow in their pursuit of a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, with their hopes all but dashed after a humbling 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.
Man City, as a result, are now well and truly in the ascendency and could seal their third-successive domestic crown with victory over Chelsea this weekend.
Barring a capitulation from Pep Guardiola's side, Arsenal may already have to look on to next campaign, with sporting director Edu already confirming that plans for summer signings are well and truly underway.
"It's already started because you know what's happening in the market, everybody is doing stuff," said the transfer chief in March."You have to plan with people as well just to be prepared so when you go again in the summer you are very prepared."
As well as reportedly targeting central midfield signings, it is believed that Arsenal could reinforce in defence, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi among the players linked.
Now, as per a report by The Daily Mirror and their reporter Hopkinson, Galacticos full-back Mendy could well join Arsenal after he's been told to find a new club by Madrid.
Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy.
Indeed, Real have apparently informed the 27-year-old's representatives that there is no new deal on the table for him, and that Mendy is free to search for another home.
This is where Arsenal come in, as Arteta's side are apparently now on "red alert" and eyeing a move for the Frenchman, with this report claiming he could cost as little as £17.5 million.
Mendy's agents are likely to seek talks with Spurs, too, but Arsenal's status as a Champions League club for next season could hand them an advantage.
What could Mendy bring to Arsenal?
The former Lyon star is capable of operating as both a left-back and further forward in left-midfield, coming as a brilliant alternative to Oleksandr Zinchenko and replacement for Kieran Tierney, with the latter thought to be leaving.
Former Real star Raphael Varane has also heaped praise on Mendy in past seasons, calling him a "very tough" player with "incredible" physical strength.
He said to Marca in 2020:
"The physical strength he has is incredible. He is adapting very well and allows us to put together great efforts in matches. His forte is defense but he helps us a lot in all facets of the game. He's confirming his potential. We gave him a brick for the clubs he puts in training. He's very tough."
The £154,000-per-week star has been a semi-regular at the Bernabeu since he joined them from Ligue 1, owing to his ability, and now Arsenal could have the chance to bring him to north London for below £20 million.
A persistent breeze stiffened enough from time to time to ask less hardy spectators to consider putting on a jacket but at least it was a day that looked like summer. On the field, Stuart Broad worked up a sweat, eager to show his county the commitment that comes naturally to him in Test cricket. But an increasingly benign pitch was giving him very little back.Steven Mullaney, captain against his former county in the absence of Chris Read, was proactive, rotating the bowlers, frequently tweaking his fields, trying to make something happen. Broad ran willingly to where he was directed, chipping in too with suggestions on tactics to try. Deep into the last session, though, Lancashire’s openers had their sights on batting through to the close, determined that their concentration would not crack.They look like a side who believe in themselves. Promoted teams tend these days to find the step up a difficult one but Lancashire have established themselves among the front-runners. It would be a surprise if they are in first place at the end of the season but their players are not easily cowed.Tom Smith, a solid professional in the best traditions of county cricket, turned 30 now and with the wisdom and experience to go with it, locked horns again with Imran Tahir, as he had in the first innings. After a protracted battle, the legspinner had the last word then but this time Smith, so far, has the upper hand.At the other end, moreover, he had an ally who already looks equally at home playing the long game. Haseeb Hameed is not yet 20 in years but temperamentally seems much older, at least with bat in hand. The pair have been Lancashire’s best opening partnership so far this year, the first to put 100 or more on the board.In doing so, they have probably saved this game for Lancashire, who trailed by 198 on first innings, a scenario that looked unlikely after Nottinghamshire had lost half their wickets while still 35 runs behind.Steven Croft, as willing and versatile as he is, is not a wicketkeeper and it is a demanding position from which also to captain a side. Whether he could have done much differently, though, is a moot point, given that of all the things Mullaney tried later, none achieved a breakthrough.It has been a different match for Neil Wagner, who took 11 wickets when Lancashire beat Nottinghamshire handsomely at Old Trafford in May. His reward for 33.1 overs of toil this time was 3-107.”It was hard out there, on an unresponsive and flat wicket,” he said. “I thought we bowled well, we asked questions and we bowled better than we did yesterday, when we did not hit our lengths consistently and got hurt.”We thought if we could get a couple of quick wickets this morning we might be in with a shout but credit to Nottinghamshire they batted very well. Riki and Samit batted really well, as did Broady and the others who came in after. They never really gave us a chance.”But it was a great partnership between Haseeb and Tom and although there is a lot of work to do yet hopefully we are in a good position now to save the game.”Patel and Wessels could not be parted for more than an hour, adding 43 to an overnight lead of 27 before Patel, who had been watchful for the most part, feathered the thinnest of edges to Croft off Smith, who dismissed Wessels soon afterwards. Looking to accelerate the pursuit of bowling points, Wessels went after Smith and picked up his ninth boundary but was undone by the next delivery, which pushed him on to the back foot and took the edge, Liam Livingstone backpeddling from slip to take the catch.Wessels had to leave the field with a finger injury later in the day, handing the wicketkeeping gloves to Brendan Taylor for a period, but was able to resume after treatment.The end of one significant partnership, one that was worth 105 runs, merely introduced another. Broad, who has given good value to his county with the bat as well as the ball this season, combined with Brett Hutton to add another 79 for the eighth wicket, 31 of which came within the space of 18 deliveries, 24 from Broad’s bat, to clinch maximum batting points for Nottinghamshire with just one ball to spare.In an innings notable for unconverted starts – nine players made between 30 and 67 – neither Broad nor Hutton reached 50 but the lead kept stretching. Even Harry Gurney, a genuine number 11, made it into double figures, for only the eighth time in 95 first-class innings.The win that Nottinghamshire need rather more urgently than their opponents seems unlikely, however, unless Tahir can do something remarkable on the final day.
Chelsea are one of numerous Premier League clubs interested in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to a new transfer report.
How good has Palhinha been this season?
The 27-year-old has arguably been one of the standout midfielders in the league so far this season, catching the eye with his off-the-ball ability. In fact, no player in the entire division has won more tackles than him in 2022/23 to date, with a tally of 129 coming his way.
Palhinha has been a big reason for Fulham's success, with relegation never looking likely despite pre-season prediction suggesting otherwise, and the west Londoners will be desperate to keep hold of him at the end of the season. His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, so it is likely that only a sizeable fee will be able to prise him away once the summer window arrives.
Midfield is an area of the pitch that Chelsea will be only looking for reinforcements in moving forward, and it looks as though the £50,000-a-week Portuguese is a potential option to come in.
Fulham's Joao Palhinha
Are Chelsea in the mix to sign Palhinha?
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are one of many teams who are "interested" in signing Palhinha this summer, although it clearly won't be easy for them to get their man. Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also reportedly in the mix, while Aston Villa are also confident of being able to compete financially with those clubs.
It is stated that Fulham are "resigned to losing" the Portugal international once this season reaches its conclusion, "given the mass amount of interest in his signature".
Palhinha could be exactly what Chelsea are looking for in the middle of the park moving forward, possessing the ability to cover ground, bite into tackles and generally help them dominate games. With N'Golo Kante's future up in the air and Mateo Kovacic turning 29 earlier this week, bringing in fresh blood is essential, and the Fulham man could be an ideal partner for Enzo Fernandez, possessing more physicality than the Argentina World Cup winner.
There are very few things working against the move, although the Blues' lack of European football next season could certainly be an issue, with others reportedly keen on him being able to promise him Champions League next season, which can often be a massive lure for players.
Palhinha has been lauded by Jamie Redknapp for having a "real presence about him" and for being a "fantastic" signing by the Cottagers, and Chelsea signing him could be a masterstroke.
Leeds United's shocking home displays against Crystal Palace and Liverpool, which has seen them ship 11 goals in total, mean that the Yorkshire outfit now officially have the worst defence in the Premier League.
No side has conceded more than the 60 goals against Leeds' name, and unless things drastically change, Javi Gracia's side could easily be on the end of some more hammerings in upcoming fixtures.
Right-back has been a problem position for both Jesse Marsch and Gracia this season, with Luke Ayling seemingly past his best and Rasmus Kristensen proving to be particularly "appalling" – in the words of Yorkshire Post writer Leon Wobschall – during the defeat to Liverpool.
It makes it even more confusing therefore that 21-year-old talent Cody Drameh was loaned out to Championship side Luton Town by Marsch in January, where his exceptional recent displays have been crucial to the Hatters' ongoing fight for promotion.
How is Drameh performing at Luton Town?
Drameh has been something of a revelation at Luton, given that they have only lost once in his 13 appearances for the club, which came in a narrow 1-0 defeat against runaway leaders Burnley.
Rob Edwards' side are remarkably still in with a chance of automatic promotion after Saturday's 2-0 win over Rotherham pushed them into third, and the loan addition of Drameh has been vital to their success.
Across his Championship appearances, the 21-year-old has averaged an incredible 7.38 rating from WhoScored, which sees him ranked as the best player in the squad.
For context, Pascal Struijk is the top-ranked player at Leeds with a 6.77 rating, which emphasises just how impressive Drameh has been, as well as how inconsistent those at Elland Road have been this season.
The English defender has averaged a phenomenal 1.4 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per game for Luton, which isn't bettered by anyone at Leeds, while his 3.2 tackles per game are only topped by Tyler Adams (3.7), which suggests how much the youngster could have added to Gracia's squad, from both an attacking and defensive perspective.
Did Leeds make a mistake in loaning Drameh out?
Leeds perhaps should have predicted Drameh's impressive form given he also caught the eye on loan at Cardiff City last season, with former manager Steve Morison singing his praises.
He said: "He'd never experienced anything like that and he came in with a couple of last-ditch tackles right at the death fo the game, which was phenomenal.
"It's a good thing they can't call him back after that because he was outstanding."
Leeds defender Luke Ayling
Given the struggles of Kristensen and Ayling this season, which have seen them earn 6.67 and 6.55 ratings from WhoScored respectively, Leeds surely should have considered handing the academy graduate more of a chance in the first-team.
Ayling, in particular, has been dubbed "horrendous" due to his ability, or lack thereof, on the ball and when you consider Drameh's contributions in the second tier, with two assists to his name, it seems fair to suggest that the Yorkshire outfit made a big error in loaning him out in January.
Leeds United fans will have been disappointed to see key player Max Wober substituted due to an injury problem during the international break.
However, an update has now emerged on the Austrian defender, and it seems as if he should only be out of action for a short while and will be back to aid Javi Gracia's side in their fight against relegation.
What is the latest Leeds injury news?
According to The Athletic, the centre-back is a doubt for this weekend's game against Arsenal but Leeds are confident that he will be fit for the Premier League run-in.
The Yorkshire outfit have completed an assessment on the former RB Salzburg man, who pulled up with an apparent hamstring problem in Austria's European qualifier against Azerbaijan and seem confident that the injury is a minor one.
Considering Leeds' struggles defensively so far this campaign, which have seen them ship the fifth-most goals in the division with 44, it can only be good news for Gracia that Wober is set to be out for just a short period.
Since joining from Salzburg in the January transfer window in a deal worth £11m, the 24-year-old has established himself as a regular in the Whites' defence.
The versatile defender has averaged an impressive 6.77 rating from WhoScored across his ten appearances in the top flight, which ranks him as the fourth-best performer at Elland Road so far this season, emphasising the impact he has had since his arrival in the winter transfer window.
The Austria international also ranks second for interceptions, second for clearances and first for blocks in Gracia's squad which again proves how quickly he has established himself as a key man at Elland Road.
His impressive form since Gracia's arrival has helped the Whites take seven points from a possible 12, lifting them to 14th in the Premier League table, which has given them a real chance of avoiding relegation when things looked desperate only a few weeks ago.
Wober, who is paid £35k per week at Leeds, earned a lot of praise from Leeds Live writer Beren Cross ahead of his arrival at Elland Road and he has certainly lived up to that praise thus far.
Cross said: "A leader, a beast one vs one, strong in the air, digs out lazy teammates, limited pace, but a national boss in Rangnick playing him at left-back too."
If his injury does prove to be a minor one, and he can continue his strong start to life at Leeds upon his return to action, then the Yorkshire outfit have a real chance of avoiding relegation this season.
Manchester United winger Antony was ‘having a go’ at right-back Diogo Dalot during the club’s 7-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday, according to Samuel Luckhurst.
The Lowdown: Unbeaten run comes to an end
Erik ten Hag’s side were 11 unbeaten heading into the trip to Anfield and were looking to strengthen their hold on third place. However, despite a promising first-half display, the Red Devils fell to a heavy defeat, with most of the damage coming in the second half.
Dalot was making his fourth successive Premier League start and 30th appearance of the season but was on the receiving end of some criticism from his teammates and manager.
The Latest: Luckhurst’s post
Luckhurst, chief Manchester United writer for the Manchester Evening News, took to Twitter during the game to share what he spotted regarding Dalot in the first half.
He said that Antony was ‘having a go’ at the full-back ‘for his use of the ball’, adding that ‘Fred and Ten Hag were also on his case’.
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The Verdict: Afternoon to forget
It was an afternoon to forget at Anfield, but Dalot was actually United’s best-rated defender with a SofaScore match rating of 6.6/10. He actually outperformed Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw and even Antony who was quick to show his displeasure at the Portuguese defender in the early stages.
Ten Hag will surely look to put this result behind him and his squad as soon as possible, starting against Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday, where a number of starters could well be dropped following their disappointing displays on Merseyside.
In the early years of the Premier League, in particular, Leeds United were responsible for some of the most iconic moments; strikes, victories, and defeats. Meanwhile, before the beginning of the new era of English football, it was the Yorkshire club on top with incredible success. In fact, one year before the Premier League kicked off, they sat on the English football throne, having won the league title.
Now back in the Premier League for what will be a third season come August, Leeds will be hoping to enjoy more moments to remember, whilst seeing certain players rise to fame in the process.
With that said, we’ve ranked the most famous players in Leeds United’s history.
There are plenty of players in separate positions; you're going to see Leeds' most famous forwards, Leeds' most famous midfielders, and even Leeds' most famous defenders.
10) Ian Harte
When you hear the name Ian Harte, your mind can’t help but instantly picture his incredible free-kick in the 2001 Champions League quarter-final against Deportivo La Coruna.
The full-back was a crucial part of the side that reached the Champions League last four that season.
In addition, he was a key player in the last real golden years of both the Leeds side and the Republic of Ireland national team.
A sorely underrated left-back.
9) Lee Bowyer
It could be argued that Lee Bowyer’s fame has increased since he swapped the pitch for the technical area.
As a player, he impressed many, especially when at Leeds.
Indeed, he played in the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and the Champions League with the Whites.
Meanwhile, as a manager, he has taken charge of Charlton Athletic, and, most recently, Birmingham, where he left in July of this year.
8) Mark Viduka
When we think of underrated strikers, we think of Mark Viduka.
The Australian was a goal scoring machine at Leeds United, even netting four in one game against Liverpool at one stage. In total, he scored 71 goals in 164 appearances for the Yorkshire club.
Viduka was a deadly finisher and also had the ability to score goals from distance, with a truly deadly strike on him.
An Australia legend, too, Viduka may go down as one of the most famous cult heroes of the Premier League era.
7) Gordon Strachan
Football – FA Carling Premier League – West Ham United v Coventry City – 12/2/01
Coventry City Manager Gordon Strachan and West Ham Manager Harry Redknapp
Mandatory Credit:Action Images / Darren Walsh
Digital
Like Bowyer, Gordon Strachan’s fame has arguably increased after his playing days.
When on the pitch, Strachan won a league title at Elland Road to match his Player of the Year award.
Meanwhile, as a manager, Strachan has taken charge of Scotland, Celtic, Middlesbrough, and Southampton, most of which with great success.
However, he may well still get the warmest reception at Elland Road.
6) Gary McAllister
Most may know Gary McAllister for his time at Liverpool, but the midfielder actually made far more appearances for Leeds United, where he remains one of the best players to ever play for the club.
During his time at Elland Road, McAllister won one league title, which came in 1992.
He is perhaps better known for his time at Liverpool, but he is one of the greatest players to ever pull on the white shirt.
He even went on to manage the club briefly in 2008.
5) Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
More famous for his time at Chelsea, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink may have only spent one season at Leeds United, but he remains one of the most famous players to feature for the Yorkshire club.
The Dutchman ranks 15th in the Premier League’s all-time top goal scorers list, with 127 goals to his name.
Hasselbaink may well be best known for his time at Chelsea but he was smashing balls into the back of the net at Leeds long before rocking up at Stamford Bridge.
He is one of the very best strikers in Premier League history.
4) James Milner
Still going to this day, James Milner will go down as one of the most iconic Premier League players of all time when he eventually retires.
And he’ll do so having been born and bred at Elland Road. Since his Leeds United days, Milner has won it all in club football, from Premier League titles to Champions League trophies.
Milner went from strength to strength, winning multiple England caps, and playing for both Manchester City and Liverpool.
It wouldn't be a surprise if he ended up as a truly terrific manager too.
3) Robbie Fowler
One of the best goal scorers that the Premier League has ever seen, Robbie Fowler is another player on this list who played for both Leeds United and Liverpool.
At Anfield, he is known as God, which, as you can guess, correlates with his incredible legacy at the club.
Meanwhile, at Leeds, he didn’t exactly have the worst of times, scoring 14 goals in 32 games.
He also bagged the club a decent fee when he left, at a time when the club really needed the money.
2) Rio Ferdinand
Now, this one will be controversial. Leeds fans don’t exactly hold a special place for Rio Ferdinand, to say the least, who jumped ship to rivals Manchester United in 2002, before going on to win six Premier League titles, one Champions League, and plenty of other honours at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand was also able to nail down a spot in the England squad, representing his country at multiple European Championships and World Cups.
He was a truly elite centre-back from the moment he made his debut at West Ham, such was his range of passing and breadth of defensive skill.
He may have left, but Ferdinand remains one of Leeds' best ever players.
1) Eric Cantona
Leeds United v Wimbledon 15/8/92 Premier League
Mandatory Credit : Action Images
Eric Cantona (Leeds) is challenged by Scott Fitzgerald (Wimbledon)
Like Ferdinand, Eric Cantona played for both Leeds United and Manchester United during his career, making the move from Elland Road to Old Trafford. He remains one of the best players to ever play for both clubs.
Of course, one could make the argument that he is one of the biggest mistakes in Leeds history.
They sold him for just over £1m and he went on to inspire United to an era of unprecedented glory.
Still, what a player.
So, there you have it, our list of the most famous players to ever play for Leeds United. Were there any surprises? Did we leave anyone out? Let us know!
Those at Elland Road will be well aware that success forms a correlation with fame.
It remains to be seen how many current Leeds players will be added to this list come the end of the season.
Liverpool have signed some of the biggest players in the world during the Premier League era, and over the last 31 years they have maintained their status as one of the most successful and competitive clubs in football.
In more recent years since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and with Michael Edwards as the sporting director, Liverpool have been almost perfect in their transfer business, developing a team which has brought plenty of success over the last few seasons.
However, in the early days of the Premier League, identifying the right players wasn’t always a common activity at Anfield; and after a successful spell in the 1980s the club found themselves needing to rebuild and reinvent themselves as they desperately tried to compete with bitter rivals Manchester United in the 1990s and early 2000s.
In fact, Liverpool handed their most fierce competitors a lethal weapon when they failed to sign Teddy Sheringham in 1997 after agreeing on personal terms with the player. If they had secured the Premier League legend’s signature 26 years ago, it may have spared them from years of existing in United’s shadow.
Sheringham – who remains the Premier League’s 12th top scorer of all time with 146 goals – made his name at Millwall before enjoying successful spells at Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.
After his collapsed move to Anfield, the talented striker completed a £3.5m deal with Manchester United. Over the next four years, he won eight trophies at Old Trafford, including the famous 1998/99 season treble (with him netting the equaliser in the dramatic Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich) before leaving in 2001 for a secomd stint at Spurs.
Furthermore, the now 56-year-old – who was dubbed a “rare” talent by Sir Alex Ferguson – was a regular England international, earning 56 caps and scoring 11 goals, including two in the memorable 4-1 hammering of Netherlands at Euro ’96.
It is reported that then-Liverpool boss Roy Evans was a huge admirer of Sheringham and wanted him to form a potent strike partnership alongside Robbie Fowler, but the club went over the manager’s head and rejected the opportunity due to Sheringham being 31 years old and deemed too old (The Athletic).
It is now a case of what could’ve been if Liverpool had captured the services of Sheringham rather than Manchester United and how that could’ve impacted Premier League history as we know it now.