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After a slow start to his Anfield career, Florian Wirtz has revealed what Liverpool manager Arne Slot has just told him to do if he wants to get back to his best.

Why Wirtz has started slow at Liverpool

Whilst it’s been far from disastrous, Wirtz hasn’t got off to the electric start that many expected from a £116m player. The former Bayer Leverkusen player arrived as a player who has the ability to change games on his own and contribute to goals, but what Liverpool have so far seen is a hard-working midfielder who has struggled to make his mark.

There have been glimpses of his best form. In the September international break, the German scored an excellent free-kick and then returned to Liverpool to enjoy his best display yet against Atletico Madrid. It’s a game that should have ended his wait for a goal or assist since the Community Shield, but there were ultimately plenty of positive signs.

There were also signs of how he can control games in a 1-0 victory against Arsenal, especially when Alexis Mac Allister was replaced and he was no longer sharing the same spaces with such a similar player. Whether those two can thrive together is the big question. Slot did, of course, drop Wirtz for the Argentine in the Merseyside derby instead of starting both.

Unlike others in the Premier League, time is on Wirtz’s side. Liverpool sit top of the Premier League by five points and are the only side with a 100% record. If there’s an environment that allows players to settle in, it is Anfield.

Now worth more than Guehi: Liverpool lost "superstar” for less than Quansah

Liverpool must regret parting ways with this iconic Jurgen Klopp talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 26, 2025

That said, Slot has still spoken to the big-money star about his form and told him exactly what he must do to get back to his best.

Wirtz reveals Slot conversation about Liverpool form

Speaking to reporters, Wirtz revealed that he has held a conversation with Slot about his slow start to life at Liverpool. The German revealed that Slot suggested that his form could be down to Liverpool’s press and his struggle to adapt to that intensity whilst also playing a part in possession.

It would certainly make sense why Wirtz has struggled to keep pace at times. Alas, if that is the reason behind his underwhelming form, then logic suggests that Liverpool should see the best version of their midfielder as the season goes on and his fitness reaches the level required.

Sri Lankan spin allrounder Kamindu Mendis has become the first man to switch his bowling arm during an over in the IPL. He did it in his debut game for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.Brought on for the 13th over of the innings, Mendis bowled three balls of left-arm spin and three of offspin. He landed each delivery on a good length or slightly fuller, giving the batters no room to work with. The fourth ball of the over brought him the wicket of the right-hand batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi for 50 off 32 courtesy an excellent catch from Harshal Patel, running in from deep third.Well before he got off a Bradmanesque start as a Test batter, Mendis was a curiosity for his ambidextrous bowling in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. At senior international level, he bowled with both arms in the same over against Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant in a T20I last year.Mendis’ left-arm spin is marginally better than his offspin, which might be the reason he bowled just one over against KKR, as Raghuvanshi’s dismissal brought together two left-hand batters in Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh.While it is legal to switch arms during an over, a fastidious umpire could make it a little difficult for the bowler by insisting they inform of the switch each time. Mendis didn’t seem like he had to inform the umpire every time on Thursday. A practical approach seemed to have been followed as he was always going to bowl left-arm to the right-hand batter and vice versa.Ironically, Mendis bowled with both hands against a side had consciously looked for ambidextrous bowlers in the past. KKR’s innovative coach John Buchanan picked two of them, a spinner and a quick bowler, among 45 probables 2009.Trust a Sri Lankan to cause havoc with logging the data in cricket. The previous man to bowl ambidextrously at international level was Hashan Tillakaratne, against Kenya at the 1996 World Cup. Before Tillakaratne, Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad, a part-time offspinner, bowled left-arm spin when West Indies’ Gary Sobers scored his record 365th run – the highest score in a Test innings – in Jamaica.

Rasmus Hojlund has revealed he plans on staying at Napoli after joining the Serie A champions from Manchester United in an initial loan transfer. After ending an unsuccessful period at Old Trafford at the end of the summer transfer window, the Danish striker is off to a strong start on his return to Italy and is feeling comfortable in Antonio Conte's side.

Hojlund moved on from United?

Hojlund initially declared his desire to stay and fight for his place under Ruben Amorim as rumours of a return to Serie A gained traction, with AC Milan making an attempt to lure him to San Siro. He rejected that deal, but finally gave into the pressure as Napoli came calling, making a transfer on loan with a conditional obligation to buy him for €44 million (£38m/$51m) at the end of the season. The 22-year-old seems set on triggering that clause as he declared his intention to .

AdvertisementGetty ImagesHojlund on his long-term future and globetrotting career

"I also played in Austria before, after leaving Denmark as a child. At 22, I already have a lot of experience under my belt. But now I'm in Naples and I plan to stay," he said. 

Asked about Milan's summer interest, he said: "All I know is that I'm happy where I am: here in Naples."

'We are all waiting for Lukaku's return'

Hojlund also clarified his role within the team, expressing excitement at the prospect of playing with and learning from the club's established number nine, Lukaku, who is currently sidelined. Rather than seeing himself as a replacement, the Dane is keen to absorb knowledge from the Belgian. 

"It's not just me [replacing Lukaku]; Napoli also has other good strikers like [Lorenzo] Lucca and [Giuseppe] Ambrosino," he said. "And we're eagerly awaiting Lukaku's return; we all have a lot to learn from him."

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Getty SportWhat next for Hojlund and Napoli?

Having settled quickly under Antonio Conte, Hojlund's immediate focus is on helping Napoli continue their perfect start to the season, which has seen them win their opening four league matches. A significant test awaits on Sunday as they travel to San Siro to face AC Milan. Hojlund, who has also featured in the Champions League for his new club, is focused on contributing to the team's success. 

"I hope to score lots of goals and assists to help my teammates," he said. "We need to constantly improve, but stay focused on one game at a time."

After a sensational campaign in the 2024/25 Championship season, Leeds United earned promotion back to the Premier League. The Whites will now look to break the curse of newly-promoted teams in the last two seasons and survive in the top flight, which all six previous sides have failed to do.

To help with their cause, Daniel Farke’s side have had a busy summer transfer window so far. The first addition saw them bring former Manchester City academy graduate Lukas Nmecha to the club. The striker signed a two-year deal at Elland Road after leaving Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg at the end of his contract.

However, the 26-year-old might not be the only centre-forward who switches to Elland Road this summer.

Leeds’ next striker target

With Patrick Bamford something of an outcast at Leeds, Joel Piroe is really the only recognised number nine. Signing Nmecha was a necessary call, but their depth up front could be about to get even stronger if this next deal goes through.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Now, according to a report from journalist Sebastien Vidal, the Whites are considering a move to sign Al-Hilal and Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Yorkshire side are believed to be ‘in the race’ for the experienced attacker after it was confirmed the Saudi side ‘are open to selling’ their number nine this summer.

However, this will not be a straightforward deal to do. Leeds are set to face competition for Mitrovic’s signature, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur also showing a keen interest. Al-Hilal are said to have set an asking price of £26m for the 30-year-old to return to the English top flight this summer.

Why Mitrovic would be a good signing

If there is one thing Mitrovic will bring to a side, it is goals. He is an experienced number nine and, having already played in the Premier League, knows what to expect upon a potential return to the competition, this time in a Leeds shirt.

His recent form for Al-Hilal has been impressive. The Serbian forward, who first made a name for himself at Belgian side Anderlecht, scored 28 goals and grabbed seven assists in 36 games for the club last season. That included 19 Saudi Pro League goals, placing him sixth in the race for the Golden Boot.

Certainly, a huge advantage to signing the striker is his Premier League experience. He has 38 top-flight goals in 129 games, playing for both Newcastle United and Fulham.

On two occasions, he has scored double-figure goals, including bagging 14 in his final campaign with the Cottagers. That was a season in which Statman Dave called him a “monster” of a striker.

There is certainly a case to be made that Mitrovic would be a huge upgrade on Nmecha. The former Man City striker has experience in the top flight, having played twice in the competition for the Citizens. That, however, is nowhere near the amount of experience the Serbian star has.

On top of that, the 26-year-old, who was born in Hamburg, Germany, struggled last season for Wolfsburg. He played 19 Bundesliga games, but only bagged three goals, and struggled with injuries throughout the campaign.

Generally speaking, there is a stark contrast between each player’s records from the top flight. Nmecha has played five full seasons in top-flight football for both Anderlecht and Wolfsburg.

However, he has just 30 goals in that time, an average of six per campaign.

In the same timeframe, the last five top-flight seasons he has played, Mitrovic has bagged 73 goals. That leaves him with an average of 14.6 strikes per season, a far better success rate than Nmecha’s in the past five seasons.

2018/19 (Fulham)

37 games, 11 goals

2020/21 (Anderlecht)

31 games, 14 goals

2020/21 (Fulham)

27 games, 3 goals

2021/22 (Wolfsburg)

25 games, 8goals

2022/23 (Fulham)

24 games, 14 goals

2022/23 (Wolfsburg)

16 games, 4 goals

2023/24 (Al-Hilal)

28 games, 28 goals

2023/24 (Wolfsburg)

3 games, 1 goal

2024/25 (Al-Hilal)

23 games, 19 goals

2024/25 (Wolfsburg)

19 games, 3 goals

All things considered, Mitrovic would be a huge upgrade on the new Leeds star Nmecha. He is far more experienced in the Premier League and has a fantastic goal record over the past few seasons.

For a fee of just £26m, this is a fantastic market opportunity for the Whites, signing a player who is a genuine Premier League goalscorer.

Farke's answer to Sesko: Leeds offered chance to sign £93k-p/w "leader"

Leeds United have the chance to snap up their own Benjamin Sesko with this transfer.

1 ByKelan Sarson Aug 6, 2025

Chelsea are set to make many more summer sales before the transfer deadline on September 1.

BlueCo have already raised around £220 million through transfer income this summer, after agreeing deals to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Mathis Amougou, Djordje Petrovic, João Félix, Armando Broja, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

This has allowed Chelsea to balance the books and free up space for potential new signings, specifically Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, with Enzo Maresca’s side believed to be in talks for both (Sky Sports).

Not counting their possible fees for Garnacho and Simons, Chelsea have already spent £277 million (including their pre-agreed summer deals), so they’re likely to go well over the £300 million mark by deadline day.

This means that the west Londoners are actively looking to trim the squad further, with midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka expected to return to the Bundesliga on a permanent deal with Borussia Dortmund.

As well as Chukwuemeka, both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson could be among Chelsea’s next high-profile departures.

The duo were left out of the squad for Chelsea’s 2-0 pre-season win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on Friday, watching on as summer signing Joao Pedro and exciting new teenager Estevao Willian got on the scoresheet.

Now, an update has emerged on Jackson, with his own stance on leaving made crystal clear.

Nicolas Jackson tells Chelsea he's ready to leave

The Senegalese, barring his goal in the Conference League final against Real Betis, endured a torrid end to 2024/2025 – scoring just one Premier League goal since the turn of the year.

He was also sent off in the Club World Cup against Flamengo, and with both Pedro and Liam Delap arriving, he’s now fallen down Maresca’s pecking order.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, Jackson has told Chelsea he’s ready to leave, with the forward’s agents informing Maresca’s side that a new challenge is desired on his end.

“I am told that Jackson’s camp have made it clear to Chelsea that he is looking at a move this month,” Bailey said.

“He was concerned when Liam Delap came in, and since the arrival of Joao Pedro the situation has only got worse. Jackson is looking at his options, but I am told that Newcastle do appeal to him, and likewise he has a huge amount of respect for Unai Emery at Villa.

“Given the cost involved, there is a good chance he moves within England.”

The former Villarreal sensation, according to Bailey, commands a lofty price tag of around £70 million, with Newcastle specifically ready to bid £60m.

While the Magpies are about £10m off, Chelsea are said to be open to negotiations, so a move from Eddie Howe’s side could be one to watch.

A blistering Lizelle Lee backed up a record century with another ton, becoming the first player to score hundreds in consecutive WBBL matches.The Hobart Hurricanes opener cracked 103 off 59 deliveries as her side beat a struggling Adelaide Strikers outfit by 28 runs. Lee’s knock, which featured 13 fours and four sixes, came after she notched the highest-ever WBBL score of 150 not out against Perth Scorchers on Sunday.Hurricanes posted 191 for 2 and restricted the last-placed Strikers to 163 for 3 to jump to the top of the ladder with three matches in hand before finals.South Africa’s Lee, who retired from international cricket in 2022, had to change bats after hitting a six in the second over. She was dropped twice in the 20s off the spin of Anesu Mushangwe in the fourth over and made Strikers pay dearly. She brought up her half century off just 35 balls with a six before reaching triple figures in the 14th over with a boundary.Lee was run out in the next over at the non-striker’s end after a ball touched bowler Jemma Barsby’s hand and ricocheted into the stumps. Across the past two matches, Lee has hit 253 off 134 balls with 25 fours and 16 sixes. She also equaled Alyssa Healy with the most WBBL centuries.Lee was supported well by Nicola Carey, who made an unbeaten 64 off 46 balls, and skipper Elyse Villani’s 23 not out from 14 at the death.Smriti Mandhana got Strikers’ chase off to a flying start, but when the India international fell to Lauren Smith in the eighth over her side’s chances dipped.Young legspinner Amy Smith put the breaks on Strikers in the middle overs and finished with an impressive 1 for 16 from four overs. South African import Laura Wolvaardt was unbeaten with 63 off 40 but it wasn’t enough.

Kobbie Mainoo is a player who appeared to be the future of Manchester United, but his future could now be in doubt over the next couple of years.

The 2023/24 campaign was a phenomenal one for the 20-year-old, scoring crucial goals against Wolves, Liverpool and even the FA Cup final triumph over rivals Manchester City.

However, the same can’t be said for last season, only making 19 starts in the Premier League and failing to register a single goal or assist – highlighting his decline under Ruben Amorim.

As a result, he’s been linked with various moves away from Old Trafford this summer, potentially being offloaded to raise funds for any additions the manager desires.

Should he stay, it could get even worse at the Theatre of Dreams for the Englishman, potentially falling further down the pecking order given the interest elsewhere.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder

Douglas Luiz is a player who’s been firmly on their radar this summer, potentially available for a bargain price after only starting three Serie A matches last campaign.

He’s been subject to talks already this window, with the Italian outfit opening to allowing him to join the Red Devils in any deal which could see Jadon Sancho move to Turin.

However, he’s not the only midfielder in Italy’s top flight currently in their sights, with Atalanta star Ederson another player under consideration, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that higher-ups at Old Trafford have already held talks with the 26-year-old’s representatives over a potential deal, but it could set them back around £50m this summer.

It also states that Amorim’s side see him as one of the best options on the market for the midfield department, but it’s unclear if the player himself would be open to any move to England.

Why United’s £50m target could prove to be bad news for Mainoo

The midfield department at United already has a fair amount of quality, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro all already on the club’s books.

Given the other options, Mainoo has found minutes harder to come by, even having to feature in a false nine position at times last campaign, with the central midfield department one that’s already stacked.

Christian Eriksen was released at the end of his contract at the end of June, which raised funds and opened a gap for added minutes within the first team setup.

However, Mainoo may not be able to take advantage of the situation, especially given the recent rumours over a move to land Brazilian talent Ederson.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the most recent season, the Atalanta star has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas – potentially ending Mainoo’s time with the Red Devils should he join.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “one of the best midfielders in Seria A” by journalist Matteo Bonetti and registered more combined goals and assists, along with more shot-creating actions per 90 – highlighting the goalscoring threat he carries in front of goal.

He’s also thrived with the ball at his feet, completing more of the passes he’s attempted, with more passes into the final third per 90 – having the tools to provide those in front of him with added chances.

Games played

37

25

Goals & assists

5

0

Pass accuracy

87%

86%

Progressive passes

6.8

3.5

Passes into final third

6.1

2.7

Shot-creating actions

3.1

1.8

% of tackles won

65%

60%

Interceptions made

1.1

0.9

Carries into final third

1.8

0.9

Aerials won

60%

38%

The Brazilian’s dominance over the United youngster is further reflected out-of-possession, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst also making more interceptions per 90, hence why Italian content creator Damiano Coccia has even claimed that Ederson is “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world.”

£50m for a player of Ederson’s quality could prove to be an excellent pickup, handing the side the elite-level talent at the heart of the squad they have been crying out for.

Mainoo is a player who was once seen as the future of the football club, but his playing time could well be further limited should the Atalanta star move to Old Trafford this summer.

Wilcox preparing bid to sign Man Utd's answer to Jude Bellingham this week

Manchester United appear to be making a huge move to land a superb young talent this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 9, 2025

Despite finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League last season and missing out on every European competition, Manchester United’s exciting summer transfer window could be set to continue amid reports that one target has made a shock U-turn.

Mbeumo set to undergo Man Utd medical

After submitting an offer in excess of £60m, Manchester United have taken a vital step closer to signing Mbeumo, who is now reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical at the club as early as next week. The Brentford forward, like Cunha, is a transformative signing for Ruben Amorim’s frontline which was often found wanting last season.

Ahead of the biggest move of his career yet, Mbeumo has already received the backing of Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who spoke about the impact that both he and Cunha could make at Old Trafford.

He told Sky Sports: “[Man United] need players who are going to come in and hit the ground running. United has become a very difficult place for new signings to operate in the last ten years.

“Cunha and Mbeumo have obviously got Premier League experience. They’ve got plenty of games under their belt. [English football] is not new to them and actually they are the right type.

Related INEOS exploring blockbuster £85m deal to sign Mbappe-level star for Man Utd

He’d be a bigger signing than Mbeumo.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

“When I watch Manchester United wide players, they have to be able to get from box-to-box quickly. They have to be able to run, to travel with and without the ball. Mbeumo and, to be fair Cunha, can do that.”

Whilst the new attacking duo is no doubt impressive, INEOS may not be done there with incomings amid reports that one of their top targets has made a shock transfer U-turn.

Gyokeres now wants Man Utd move instead of Arsenal

In what could prove to be an almighty mistake, Arsenal’s increasing interest for Benjamin Sesko has re-opened the door for INEOS to make their best move yet at Old Trafford.

The Gunners have been chasing both strikers for weeks, laying groundwork and weighing their options, but according to The Mirror, INEOS and Manchester United are in contact to sign Viktor Gyokeres and the Swede now believes that a move to the Red Devils is his best option this summer.

The Swede’s departure from Sporting has become somewhat inevitable after his public spat with the Portuguese club and United should take full advantage of the forward’s desire to reunite with former boss Amorim.

The disagreement came to the fore when Sporting president Frederico Varandas accused Gyokeres’ agent of falsely claiming that there had been a gentleman’s agreement to sell the star striker for around £59m this summer. Instead, the Portuguese club have reportedly priced the Swede at as much as £86m – a price that his camp believe is too high to ensure a move in the coming months.

In today’s market though, Sporting may argue that a player who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season is worth every penny of that £86m fee. Whether Manchester United share that sentiment and sign a player who Sporting boss Rui Borges dubbed “phenomenal” remains to be seen, however.

He says Pakistan “should play the game the way” it is being played by other teams around the world

Sidharth Monga16-Jun-20242:55

Flower: ‘Pakistan underperformed, they were panicking’

Imad Wasim came out of retirement for the T20 World Cup 2024 only to become part of “the lowest point” Pakistan cricket has hit during his career, but hopes that something good comes out of the reflections that follow because “you can’t get any lower than this”. Imad has called for a total reset in the way Pakistan play white-ball cricket, especially the mindset and approach because a side that “used to rule T20 cricket” has fallen behind the rest of the world.”I’m giving my personal opinion so don’t make these the headlines,” he said at a press conference a day before their last league game against Ireland in Lauderhill. “It’s all your mindset. What mindset do you want to play the game with? You either play fire with fire, or you play your way. I personally believe that you should play fire with fire. And even if you lose, you can sit down and say to yourself that on that day we were not good enough.”The problem is our team is so good, our players are so good, that we are good enough to play any kind of cricket. We haven’t tried that but the thing is you have to try that, you have to get rid of the fear of failure. In everything – batting, bowling, fielding, you have to get rid of fear of failure. Personnel change doesn’t change anything, just changing the mindset can change a lot of things. The same ball can be hit for a six, a four, a single, and that same ball can take a wicket and be a dot ball.Related

Old debate, simple answer: Pakistan's batting just not very good

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“We compete with the world’s best teams. Their mindset has changed over time. We used to rule in T20 cricket. I think we have moved back a little now. Maybe our mindset [needs a change] – in all three areas. I won’t say any one area. If you change the mind of the player, you can achieve things beyond your limits. I always believe in this. You can talk a lot, but it is what it is – today, we are out of the tournament and whatever happens in the next World Cup, whoever plays, however they play, I think if we go with the right approach, the results will be better for us.”One reason for the fear of failure could be the personal attacks that follow. Imad was told about reports that he was played despite not being fully fit. He was asked if he felt the team, but in particular he and Mohammad Amir, both of whom came out of retirement, felt they have not repaid the trust put in them. He was also asked if his comeback was limited to this World Cup alone, and if he was going to go back into retirement after the Ireland game on Sunday.Despite there being a sense of “too soon” to these questions, Imad answered them calmly. He rubbished the allegations around lack of fitness, said he had not yet thought of his plans after the World Cup, and also pointed out cricket is a team game and is not won or lost by individuals. He reminded people that they were more disappointed than them, and that they should not be disrespected.Imad Wasim came out of retirement for the T20 World Cup 2024•Getty Images”Me personally and our team, including me, are very disappointed and sad,” he said. “And the whole public is sad that we didn’t perform well and believes we are guilty. We are more disappointed than you are. This is our profession after all. But I would also like to say that we are human beings, we can make mistakes and we also get affected by these things.”Imad himself was a TV analyst when he had retired, and used to criticise his current team-mates. When asked to put that analyst hat on to review this performance, he suggested that that kind of dispassionate analysis was perhaps what was the need of the hour.”I have always talked about cricket [as an analyst],” Imad said. “I have never talked about players individually or body-shamed anyone or anything like that. Cricketers have to do their job and analyse the cricket. They have to tell you what is right and what is wrong without getting personal.”I think we should play the game the way world cricket is going. We should sort out the way we play the game, the way we should bring awareness, the way we should chase, the way we should approach the game…. We will sit and sort out our approach. Other teams also go out in early stages, but I don’t think Pakistan have exited this way. We are extremely disappointed.”But is it all about how you react after the fall? This is bad but who knows this could be big for Pakistan? We could revamp, revisit and start playing white-ball cricket the way it should be played.”

Leeds United are heading towards the opening of the summer transfer window on Sunday, and are preparing to build a squad that can compete in the Premier League next term.

Daniel Farke’s side will be competing in the top-flight in the 2025/26 campaign after they won the Championship title with a staggering 100 points, beating Plymouth Argyle 2-1 away from home on the final day of the season to clinch the trophy.

The Whites are now tasked with preparing a group to battle against relegation from the top-flight at the first time of asking, which is going to be incredibly difficult when you consider recent history.

Southampton, Ipswich, and Leicester were all relegated from the Premier League this season, after Sheffield United, Burnley, and Luton all went down the season before, all six of whom had just been promoted from the Championship.

This illustrates the size of the task at hand for Farke and his players heading into the upcoming campaign, which is why this summer transfer window is particularly important.

Leeds needs to ensure that they have a team that is good enough to compete week-in-week-out in the top-flight, and that is why Brenden Aaronson’s future in the starting XI should be in doubt.

Why Brenden Aaronson must be replaced

The USA international started 43 of his 46 appearances in the Championship as a regular starter under Farke in the number ten position, but he has not done enough to suggest that the step up to the Premier League will suit him.

Aaronson ended the season with a return of nine goals and two assists in those 46 outings in the second tier, which was a decent, but unspectacular, haul for the attacking midfielder.

His finishing left a lot to be desired throughout the season for Leeds, with nine goals from 11.43 xG, and this does not suggest that he is ruthless enough in front of goal to be an effective operator at the top end of the pitch in the top-flight.

Aaronson, of course, played for the Whites in their last season in the Premier League, under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce, and his lack of quality was on full display that year.

As you can see in the table above, the American flop was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, underperforming his xG by almost three goals, and was a liability out of possession, as opposition defenders dominated him in duels.

With this in mind, the former RB Salzburg star should not be guaranteed to keep his place as a starter when the Premier League season gets underway next season.

Instead, Leeds should attempt to replace him during the upcoming summer transfer window, which appears to be what they are aiming for with their latest target.

Leeds eyeing move for Championship star

According to Leeds United News, reporter Graeme Bailey claims that Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Jack Rudoni from Coventry City this summer.

The report claims that the Whites are keen on doing a deal for the English attacking midfielder in the coming weeks, as they eye up a move for the Championship sensation.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast

It adds that the second tier champions are yet to make an enquiry about his availability, though, which suggests that any transfer is in the very early stages at this point.

Meanwhile, EFL Analysis claims that Sheffield United, Leicester City, and Southampton are also lining up moves for the Sky Blues attacking midfielder this summer, providing competition for his signature.

Leeds, though, could have an advantage over those three clubs because of their promotion to the Premier League, and they should use that to snap him up ahead of next season.

Why Leeds should sign Jack Rudoni

The Whites should swoop to sign Rudoni from the Championship side this summer because he could be way better than Aaronson for Farke in the top-flight.

Whilst the left-footed star is unproven in the Premier League, having yet to play there in his career, his performances in the Championship during the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he has more to offer to the team than the American lightweight does.

The former Huddersfield Town star, who was dubbed a “standout” by pundit Lee Hendrie, joined Coventry in the summer of 2024 and hit the ground running as an instant star for the club this term.

Rudoni only delivered five goals and three assists in 35 appearances for the Terriers in the 2023/24 Championship campaign, but the move to the Sky Blues helped to get the best out of him.

As you can see in the table above, the Coventry star delivered 21 goals and assists in 43 appearances for Frank Lampard’s side, ten more than Aaronson managed in three more appearances.

They scored the same number of goals, nine, but the EFL star managed that tally with an xG of just 7.49, which shows that he was far more efficient with the chances that came his way.

Rudoni, whose personality was described as “infectious” by Lampard, also created seven more ‘big chances’ and produced ten more assists, speaking to the kind of creative quality that he could provide Farke’s team with in the Premier League.

These statistics suggest that the Coventry magician could be way better than Aaronson for Leeds by coming in to deliver more quality as a finisher and a creator in an attacking midfield position.

This could give him a greater chance of being a success in the top-flight in comparison to the USA international, as he appears more likely to make an impact in the final third.

Orta wanted him: Leeds eyeing move for "very prolific" Piroe upgrade

Leeds United are eyeing a Joel Piroe upgrade who was previously wanted by Victor Orta.

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By
Dan Emery

May 29, 2025

It is now down to the club to win the race for his services in a battle with the likes of Southampton, Sheffield United, and Leicester this summer.