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Kevin Campbell has claimed that Leeds United “could still sign” Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien despite him recently signing a new contract with the Championship side.

What’s the story?

Reports over the course of the summer transfer window suggested O’Brien featured prominently on Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s shortlist, but a deal failed to materialise before the deadline, with suggestions that the Whites’ final offer failed to meet Huddersfield’s demands.

Since then, the 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a new contract to stay with the Terriers, but Campbell has been quick to insist that it may not stop a move to Elland Road in the near future.

He said: “No, no, he could still sign for Leeds next year. He has signed a new contract to up his money and make sure that Huddersfield can get the fee that they want. If Leeds come in they are going to have to come in correct.

“At the end of the day it is easy to say he shouldn’t have signed a new contract but if Leeds really want him they will come in with a bid that satisfies Huddersfield. Listen, he has done the right thing by signing a new contract. If Leeds want him they will get him. Let’s see how it goes.”

Second time lucky for Leeds

Having refused to kowtow to Huddersfield’s asking price for O’Brien, knowledge that the midfielder has signed a new contract with the club shouldn’t be something to overly disappoint Leeds fans.

As Campbell says, if the Whites feel they need the 22-year-old, then a potential move for him could be on the cards in the January transfer window.

A new contract has simply protected O’Brien’s value from Huddersfield’s perspective, but what it doesn’t do, is make him untouchable when it comes to selling him.

Victor Orta and co will surely know what the asking price is for the midfielder given the fact they reportedly had four bids for him rejected, and it will be more a case of whether Bielsa feels he needs his club’s transfer chiefs to push the boat out a little more to strengthen his options.

It could well be second time lucky for Leeds.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has delivered his verdict on Leeds’ transfer business…

Coming after star West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice turned down two new contract offers in the summer, it appears the club have been dealt another potential blow surrounding the player.

The Lowdown: Rice new deal saga…

Reliable outlets like The Evening Standard and The Guardian reported over the summer that Rice snubbed two fresh deal offers at the London Stadium and wished to be informed of any incoming bids.

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Thankfully for manager David Moyes and co, Rice also didn’t try to force any move away and swiftly returned to action with West Ham upon finishing England duty and his personal break.

A silver lining at the end of what was some concerning news then, it appears West Ham may now be dealt another potential Rice blow as a new report emerges.

The Latest: West Ham dealt another potential Rice blow…

As per 90min, the Hammers and Moyes could indeed face a fresh challenge in tying down their star man.

Rice, who started 32 Premier League games for West Ham last season, expects the 2021/2022 campaign to be his last in east London.

While the 22-year-old would be open to signing fresh terms on the condition of a release clause, West Ham’s own rule of not including them in contracts for any of their players means a new deal is ‘unlikely’.

Rice is currently focused on this season with the Irons but has no shortage of suitors, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all making their interest known according to this report.

The Verdict: Key player, big money…

Making the joint-most interceptions per 90 on average last season (1.8), the England international is well and truly a key player and West Ham’s unlikelihood of tying him down could come as a blow.

It will certainly be interesting to see if he does in fact move on at the end of this season, but if he keeps performing at such a high level, potential suitors will need to fork out big money.

A £100 million price tag on Rice has been mooted while manager Moyes believes he is worth even more than that, so while fans will of course want to keep their talisman, an offer at or over that price tag would surely be taken under consideration.

In other news: ‘Yayyy’, ‘Ooooo’, ‘Actually mental’…West Ham fans rave over ‘fantastic news’, find out more here.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has made an exciting Leeds United claim about Raphinha and Marcelo Bielsa.

What’s the story?

The Whites made a late move to sign Manchester United’s Dan James on transfer deadline day, and Hay has now suggested there could be a very intriguing tactical tweak on the cards for Bielsa.

He said: “He (James) probably starts on the bench, doesn’t he, behind Raphinha (and) behind Jack Harrison – they seem pretty well-established. But we’ll wait to see whether or not there’s any effort made to convert somebody like Raphinha into a 10.

“From what I can gather, that is on Bielsa’s mind, but I think it would take a heck of a lot of coaching and I think it would be a longer-term process. Raphinha doesn’t instantly look to me like a Bielsa player in that two behind Patrick Bamford.

“It always feels like a little bit closer to an 8 than it is to an out-and-out number 10, who plays solely as a 10, but perhaps it can be done, and I mean, Raphinha, his range of skills are exceptional.”

Could be Bielsa’s game-changer

Having seen Raphinha enjoy a superb debut campaign at Elland Road by playing out wide, it feels slightly silly to suggest that Leeds should already think about changing up his position.

However, the Brazilian’s ability to beat players one-on-one, and also have the end product to either deliver a pass or land a shot on goal, makes him a rather interesting fit for that number ten role.

Rodrigo has struggled to nail down that position or even convince in that role behind Patrick Bamford, but Raphinha’s explosiveness and willingness to carry the ball could be a game-changer for Bielsa.

As per WhoScored, out of players who have featured in more than one Premier League game this season for Leeds, the 24-year-old ranks top for shots per game, fourth for key passes and second for dribbles.

The former Rennes man can do it all, and by playing him in that number ten role, Bielsa can then fit both Jack Harrison and James into his team out wide and give Leeds an incredibly pacey and exciting attack.

It’s exactly why Hay’s claim that Bielsa is considering moving Raphinha infield could well be a masterstroke from the Argentine tactician.

Meanwhile, this Leeds ace has seen his value diminish dramatically…

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed a body blow to his squad for this afternoon’s clash against Dundee United, with Ianis Hagi ruled out of the trip.

The Gers are set to travel to Tannadice in the early kickoff, with the reigning champions hoping to build on their impressive opening-day 3-0 victory.

However, following that convincing win over Livingston, Gerrard’s charges came back down to earth with a bang in midweek. A disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Swedish outfit Malmo in the first leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier has left Rangers with work to do in the reverse fixture.

The Liverpool legend was dealt a further setback as he confirmed that the Romanian playmaker won’t be available to face the Tangerines.

Steven Gerrard will be sickened

Hagi remained on the bench for the entire 90 minutes against Malmo after pulling up in the warm-up, and the exciting Romanian forward is set to be sidelined once again this afternoon.

Kemar Roofe and Glen Kamara are set to return to the starting XI after missing the Malmo tie through injury, but the same can’t be said for Alfredo Morelos. The 25-year-old is set to return to training but is short of match sharpness, although he could be back in action for their crucial second leg tie in the Champions League qualifiers in midweek.

Gerrard addressed his side’s injury issues in yesterday’s press conference, saying: “We will be without Ianis Hagi. Roofe is available to return to the group. Kamara will return to the squad.

“Morelos is available but he will need a couple of sessions on his return. Ryan Jack will be another couple of weeks all being well.”

Hagi – hailed in the past by Gerrard as a “top talent” – needed just eight minutes to find the net against Livingston last week before being forced off, while his figures from last season showed how valuable a contribution he makes to the side. Only four Gers players scored more than his seven Premiership goals, while nobody could top his tally of 11 top-flight assists (WhoScored).

While Dundee United should be beatable considering that they began their campaign with a loss, Gerrard is no doubt a firm admirer of the 22-year-old judging by his comments above, and he will surely be sickened not to have the £21k-p/w Romanian to call upon this afternoon.

In other news…”Rangers would like to bring him in” – Exclusive: Michael Ball drops big Gers transfer claim

Liverpool have received an injury boost ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash with Burnley, with Curtis Jones set to be available for the game.

The Lowdown: Jones missing for Norwich win

The Reds won 3-0 at Norwich City on Saturday, but they had to do it without Jones, who suffered a concussion in the friendly win over Osasuna.

Instead, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita made up the midfield, as Jurgen Klopp’s side cruised to victory.

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The Latest: Youngster back for Burnley

Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Jones will be available for Saturday’s visit of Burnley, however, having recovered from his setback.

That’s according to the Liverpool Echo, who also claim that Jordan Henderson and Thiago should be in contention, after playing in a behind-the-scenes friendly at Anfield on Sunday.

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The Verdict: Impact

Jones might not yet be a regular starter for Liverpool, but he is an immense young talent who chipped in with four goals and five assists last season. Goal involvements from midfield have often been lacking at Anfield, meaning Jones’ ability to link with the front three is a big boost.

Having him back only increases the midfield options at Klopp’s disposal, giving him an enviable selection headache ahead of the game.

It could be that Fabinho returns against Burnley, perhaps in place of the disappointing Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Keita’s impressive pre-season could keep him in the starting XI. Will Klopp swap experience for exuberance and give Jones a place over Milner?

In other news, some Liverpool fans are fuming after an update emerged regarding the Reds. Read more here.

According to RMC Sport, West Ham United are in a strong position to sign Paris-Saint Germain shot stopper Alphonse Areola as talks continue between the two clubs.

The Lowdown: West Ham in keeper hunt…

David Moyes, as per recent reports, certainly has his sights set on strengthening between the sticks this summer.

West Ham have apparently lodged an £11 million bid to sign West Bromwich Albion ace Sam Johnstone (Football Insider) alongside the talks for Areola.

Reports of negotiations for the Frenchman emerged as far back as two weeks ago, with RMC now providing the latest.

The Latest: West Ham in strong position…

As per the French news outlet, West Ham are in fact still negotiating with PSG over the player but there’s also a bit of encouraging news.

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The Irons believe they are in a ‘strong position’ to sign him this summer and are taking their time over details as a result.

It is claimed an agreement ‘would probably work out for PSG’ and Areola could ‘return to the Premier League’ after spending last season on loan at Fulham.

The Verdict: Not a priority…

Given Lukasz Fabianski recently penned a new deal, keeping him at the London Stadium until the end of 2022, we believe snapping Areola up shouldn’t exactly be a priority for Moyes.

The deadline looms at the end of next month and West Ham are still arguably short of striking options, with Michail Antonio’s injury record certainly proving a concern.

That being said, if West Ham manage to tie up a deal for Areola soon, he could be a really shrewd acquisition as a ‘very aggressive’ keeper who commands his area well – as explained by Scott Parker last campaign (BT Sport).

In other news: ‘Beyond a joke’…West Ham fans fume in reply to official club post, find out more here.

Steven Gerrard has been handed a boost at Rangers, with influential midfielder Ryan Jack close to a return from injury, which would be a huge positive for the Ibrox side.

What’s the word?

Jack has been sidelined since February with a calf injury that was initially expected to keep him out for a few weeks, but it ultimately ended his season and led to him missing the European Championships with Scotland.

After a number of surgeries and a long break, it seems as if the former Aberdeen man is finally closing in on a return, as Gerrard confirmed ahead of the weekend’s game against Livingston that:

“We still have Ryan Jack to return, he has one more appointment in a few weeks to get the green light to fully return.”

Whilst the 29-year-old is unlikely to feature against Malmo on Tuesday evening, he could feasibly make his return in a few weeks time, which is undoubtedly a boost for the Gers.

A huge boost for Gerrard?

Last season saw the midfielder make 19 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, contributing two goals and one assist, which helped him average an impressive 7.03 rating from WhoScored.

Jack’s performances in midfield were a key factor in Rangers’ incredible defensive record last season and Gerrard will undoubtedly be keen to have him back fit now that the 2021/22 campaign has begun.

With Glen Kamara set to miss the next three European games through suspension, it would be ideal timing if Jack can make his return during the time that his Finnish teammate is out, otherwise, Gerrard might be a little low on defensive-midfield options.

The Rangers manager is clearly a big fan of the 29-year-old midfielder, as he sang his praises last season, saying:

“When we came in we inherited a good player, without a doubt. Aberdeen had done a really good job with Ryan in terms of his development and giving him the opportunity to play at the top level. He obviously became a leader.

“So there was coaching prior to us that deserves a lot of credit in Ryan’s development. We obviously saw a winner when we came in.”

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Therefore, it is clearly a huge boost for Gerrard that he will have such an influential part of his side back fit in the near future, and Rangers fans will be hoping that he can play a big part this season as they look to retain their Premiership title.

And, in other news… Rangers miss out on “fantastic” transfer target, Gerrard surely gutted

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, former Crystal Palace man Marcus Bent has claimed that the Eagles may have made a big mistake in offering a new contract to Christian Benteke.

What did Bent have to say about Benteke?

“He was massive at Villa as a young player, but I don’t think he scores enough goals. Hold-up play? I’m not too sure. I don’t think Benteke would be in my starting XI, squad player yes.

“He’s done well for his country, but he’s not consistent enough and I didn’t think he would be signing a new contract. For me, he’s a Championship player at best.”

Should Palace have offered Benteke a new deal?

The Belgian international’s end to the Premier League season suggests that he still has something to offer Crystal Palace next season, and it will be interesting to see how he performs under new manager Patrick Vieira.

The 30-year-old hit 10 goals in the top-flight last season, however, five of those would come in the final seven games of the season, so you could argue that he was playing for a new contract.

The previous three Premier League seasons saw him contribute just six goals in 61 top-flight appearances, so if he hadn’t have finished the season strongly, it would have not been a surprise to see him depart Selhurst Park when his contract was set to expire.

The South London side offered him a new two-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2023, which could well prove to be a disastrous decision by chairman Steve Parish if his form relapses again next season under Vieira.

The Belgian forward was reportedly earning £120k per week before his extension, so will likely be one of the top earners at the club.

Whilst it is perhaps harsh of Bent to describe Benteke as a “Championship player”, given that he has 82 Premier League goals in his career, you can certainly see why he was surprised that he was offered a new deal at the club considering his less than impressive form in recent seasons.

And, in other news… Vieira should seal bargain CPFC swoop for 69-goal beast, he’s the “complete package”

West Ham United are reportedly eyeing up a move to try and sign Chelsea youngster Ike Ugbo in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Strikers wanted

The London Stadium faithful have recently been linked with moves for a number of strikers, including the likes of Adam Hlozek and Tammy Abraham.

David Moyes is also reportedly interested in signing Adama Traore, with thoughts of converting him to a centre-forward from the wing.

The Latest: Ugbo eyed

As per Het Belang van Limburg (via Sport Witness), the East London club are one of a number of teams ‘lining up’ to sign Ugbo, along with Fulham, Genk, Frankfurt, Feyenoord and PSV.

He has entered the final year of his current deal at Chelsea, and would prefer to play regular football instead of earning ‘bags of money’.

The news outlet claims that Ugbo could cost a fee in the region of between €3-5m (£2.6-4.3m) plus a percentage on any future sale.

The Verdict: Sign

The Hammers are in desperate need of finding another striker as cover for Michail Antonio, and Ugbo could well fit the bill.

Described as a ‘decisive’ player by Belgian media back in February, the England youth international scored no fewer than 17 goals in 34 games in total over all competitions across the 2020/21 season while on loan at Cercle Brugge (Transfermarkt), an extremely impressive ratio of a goal every two matches.

At just 22 years of age as well, Ugbo still has a lot of potential, and so it would be quite the coup for the Irons should they manage to persuade their London rivals to sell to them at such a low cost. They could even justify signing a second forward as well as the youngster given the quoted price tag.

In other news, find out which Premier League ace would be a ‘fantastic signing’ for WHU here!

Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn has emerged as a transfer target for Dutch side Ajax according to a recent report from The Daily Mail as they prepare for the upcoming 2021/22 campaign. 

THE LOWDOWN: BERGWIJN’S FUTURE LOOKS BLEAK….

Bergwijn has found regular game-time in the Spurs first team hard to come by since moving from PSV Eindhoven nearly 18 months ago, and that is likely to be frustrating for the 23-year-old.

He was once labelled as ‘very good’ by Noel Whelan in an interview with Football Insider, but that verdict doesn’t seem to have changed his fortunes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent months.

The Spurs winger made 21 league appearances for Spurs last season, although just 13 of those were starts under the management of both Jose Mourinho and Ryan Mason at different stages in the campaign.

THE LATEST: HE LOOKS SET TO DEPART, BUT NOT ON THE CHEAP….

The Daily Mail have reported that Ajax are looking to offer Bergwijn ‘an escape route’ out of Spurs this summer, although the Premier League side aren’t prepared to let the winger depart on the cheap.

The north Londoners will demand a fee of £27m for the 23-year-old’s services, and it remains to be seen as to whether the Dutch champions will match that valuation anytime soon.

Bergwijn ‘looks set to leave’ Tottenham this summer, having found regular minutes hard to come by since signing from PSV back in 2020.

THE VERDICT: IT’S NOT A SURPRISE, BUT THE TIMING WOULD BE STRANGE…

It wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see Spurs look at potentially cashing in on the £73,000-per-week winger this summer, as he hasn’t been a regular in their starting XI in recent months.

He has impressed in flashes whenever he’s been involved – that debut goal against Manchester City springs to mind – but with only three further goals to his name since then, he’s unlikely to be in front of the likes of Son Heung-min heading into the new Premier League season, so it might be best for him to move on in the near future.

If Spurs can get a sizeable fee for his services, they could potentially reinvest those funds in other areas of the squad as they look to strengthen ahead of the new league campaign, which is set to get underway in August.

However, with no permanent manager in place as of yet at Spurs, it would be a surprise to see them sell any players before a new boss is in place, as the new manager might yet decide to give Bergwijn a few more chances to prove his worth.

In other news, Paul Robinson doesn’t want one exit-linked player to leave Tottenham.