Liverpool are not the same team that they were last season. Quite literally. Many changes were rung before the 2025/26 campaign, and perhaps Arne Slot and co have bitten off more than they can chew as the Merseyside outfit struggle for fluency and form enough to secure

Forget the Premier League title. Liverpool are not stable enough, and they have too many holes across the backline. Defensively, it’s been a bit of a mess this year.

Liverpool did sign a centre-half last summer. In August, sporting director Richard Hughes wrapped up a £27m deal for Parma prospect Giovanni Leoni. The Italian is billed as one of the most talented young defenders in the world, but he ruptured his ACL on his Reds debut.

Loeni, 19, will be a key asset when he returns, but Liverpool cannot wait for reinforcements at the rear, with plans drawn ahead of the January transfer window, which is now upon us.

The latest on Liverpool's plans to sign a centre-back

Liverpool need a centre-back, with defensive mistakes and a lack of security and composure at the back forming the crux of the Anfield side’s problems.

It was a fantastic summer transfer window, but the failure to land Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace does appear to have come back to bite an imbalanced and discordant side.

Should Liverpool fail to secure Guehi’s signature at the end of the season (or in January), FSG have drawn plans to land Club Brugge rising star Joel Ordonez, with the Equadorian, 21, touted with a move to Merseyside last month.

Reports even stressed that the Reds are among the frontrunners, with Ordonez even described as “something remarkable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

After all, he scrubs up pretty cleanly against Virgil van Dijk; even if they play at different levels, it tells us something of the South American’s potential.

However, Liverpool remain intent on tying the struggling Ibrahima Konate down to a new deal, and with Leoni supposedly good enough to nail down a spot, the Reds may want to hold fire on their transfer plans, especially when one of the most exciting up-and-coming talents has quietly been secured.

Liverpool already have a future defensive superstar

As per transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool have agreed a deal with Austria Wien for the transfer of 17-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe at the end of the season.

The Austria youth international is a towering centre-back with a prodigious command of his technical faculties, already described as “one of the most exciting young talents” in his country by scout Jacek Kulig.

While he will be expected to link up with Rob Page’s U21 side, Ndukwe has made the bench on a number of occasions, and Slot has shown that he is willing to give young stars their debuts.

Youngest Liverpool Debutants under Arne Slot

Player

Competition

Age

Rio Ngumoha

FA Cup

16 yrs, 04 mths

Trey Nyoni

Carabao Cup

17 yrs, 04 mths

Trent Kone-Doherty

FA Cup

18 yrs, 07 mths

Giovanni Leoni

Carabao Cup

18 yrs, 09 mths

Amara Nallo

Champions League

18 yrs, 02 mths

Data via Transfermarkt

Hailed by journalist Bence Bocsak for his “really impressive” start to life on the major stage, the 6 foot 6 prospect is endowed with steely, snappy agility and natural prowess in the air.

Subscribe for Smart Liverpool Transfer and Youth Coverage Get in-depth analysis in the newsletter: coverage of Liverpool’s transfer plans, defensive rebuild, and emerging defenders like Ndukwe and Ordonez, with clear expert context to understand how these signings could reshape the squad.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

While Liverpool won’t want to overburden this young talent, he turns 18 in March and won’t arrive on Merseyside until the summer. And he’s got the right frame of character, having name-checked Van Dijk as his idol during an interview with Austrian television in October, also saying, “in five years I’ll be playing professionally in the Premier League.”

It looks like he’s on the fast-track with that one.

It is hardly out of the question that he could leapfrog a few and emulate Leoni by establishing himself in the senior side next season, perhaps allowin FSG to forget about an equally unpolished talent in Ordonez and maybe even Guehi too.

Related Their new Xabi Alonso: FSG want to sign £61m "cheat code" for Liverpool

Liverpool are in dire need of fresh quality amid a laborious campaign in Arne Slot’s system.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

2026 can’t come soon enough, with Manchester United rounding off a dismal 2025 in desperate fashion following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The start of a new year provides the chance for Ruben Amorim and co to turn over a new leaf, however, with the start of the January window also marking the perfect time to implement such change.

As the recent stalemate showcased, the United boss must surely consign his much-maligned 3-4-3 set-up to the past, with the same also perhaps true of midfield struggler, Manuel Ugarte.

The Uruguayan – who ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles per 90, as per FBref – can’t be faulted for effort, but his quality in possession is sorely lacking, having also scored just twice since his arrival back in August 2024.

Reportedly given a dressing down by Amorim following last season’s Europa League final, the 24-year-old is already on borrowed time, with midfield replacements now in the works.

Man Utd lining up potential Ugarte replacement

The suggestion was that after the Bilbao showpiece in May, in which Ugarte was an unused substitute, he was targeted by Amorim for looking like a different player to the one he had coached at Sporting CP.

Is there truly any way back from such criticism? Well, if recent reports are to be believed, perhaps not, with United said to be open to offers for their £42m signing.

Turkish giants Galatasaray are among those believed to be ready to strike in January, bringing a possible end to a disappointing 18 months in Manchester for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man.

In need of midfield depth, the Daily Mail has named Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher as one of the players on INEOS’ January shortlist, with the Red Devils said to have already made an enquiry regarding the Englishman over the summer.

The report suggests that the 25-year-old would be available for a fee of around £35m, with Diego Simeone’s side unlikely to sanction a loan exit for the former Chelsea man.

Why Gallagher could be the perfect January signing for United

If the Istanbul-based interest in Ugarte does ramp up in the near future, there is an argument to be made that the Wolves draw could have been his final outing for the club, not least with Kobbie Mainoo nearing a return to action.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Unfancied by Erik ten Hag from the off, the defensive-minded asset appears to lack the quality required to thrive at the elite level, with scout Liam Canning suggesting that he “doesn’t even look like a Premier League footballer”.

Gallagher, while cast off by Chelsea in the same summer as Ugarte arrived in Manchester, has at least proven he can thrive in England’s top tier, with his final season at Stamford Bridge proving particularly fruitful.

Indeed, the eye-catching all-rounder scored and assisted 16 goals in all competitions in 2023/24, while even captaining the Blues on occasion, with it having been of some surprise when he was moved on by Todd Boehly and co that summer.

The midfield “machine”, as hailed by ex-teammate Moises Caicedo, had first truly caught the eye while on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021/22, registering 13 goals and assists for the Eagles across league and cup.

That box-crashing quality has again been evident in the Spanish capital, with Gallagher chalking up 14 goals and assists in 75 games for the LaLiga side, having creditably made himself a reliable presence under the enigmatic Simeone.

Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer and midfield insight Get deeper context by subscribing to our newsletter: data-driven transfer analysis, player comparisons, and tactical breakdowns that clarify midfield moves and why certain targets like Gallagher would reshape a team’s center.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Unlike Ugarte, who has scored just six senior career goals, there is an end product to Gallagher’s game, while he too compares favourably in a defensive sense, after ranking in the top 3% for interceptions.

Conor Gallagher – LaLiga record

Stat (*per game)

25/26

24/25

Games

18

32

Starts

4

19

Goals

2

3

Assists

0

3

Big chances created

1

1

Key passes*

0.2

0.4

Pass accuracy*

90%

87%

Total duels won*

2.1

49%

Recoveries*

1.8

3.3

Stats via Sofascore

He is the type of player that United seemingly need in the centre of the park, someone who can win the ball back in high areas and press effectively, as shown by how he ranks in the top 5% of LaLiga midfielders for tackles won in the final third.

It’s fair to say he isn’t the creative type, ranking in just the bottom 23% for assists and bottom 34% for shot-creating actions, but with Bruno Fernandes and Amad in tow, that burden is already being shouldered elsewhere on the pitch.

Simply put, having witnessed Ugarte toil for so long now, Amorim just needs a Premier League-proven talent to re-energise the midfield department.

Related Amorim must never start £470k-p/w Man Utd duo together again after Wolves

Manchester United rounded off 2025 with a typically limp performance at Old Trafford.

Posts ByRobbie Walls

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsGeorge Munsey struck 11 fours during his 36-ball 62•ICC/Donald MacLeod

Offspinner Michael Leask and left-arm spinner Mark Watt claimed three wickets apiece, as Scotland opened the World T20 Qualifier with a resounding nine-wicket win over Scotland in Edinburgh. The spinners rolled over UAE for 109 inside 19 overs, before George Munsey’s boundary-laden 62 off 36 balls helped the co-hosts ace the chase with ten overs to spare.After being inserted on a tacky wicket, UAE had a quick start, reaching 21 in two overs. Faizan Asif, who was reprieved on 12 by Josh Davey at mid-on, added five more before Alasdair Evans struck. Davey would then drop Shaiman Anwar in the seventh over, palming it over the deep-midwicket boundary but redeemed himself three balls later, having Shaiman caught at deep cover off Leask.The dismissal of Shaiman sparked a collapse; UAE lost six wickets in as many overs before folding for 109. Leask and Watt dismantled the middle and lower order with combined figures of 8-0-48-6. Besides the top three, only Umair Ali and No.10 Mohammad Naveed managed to move into double-digit scores.The stage was later ceded to Munsey and Kyle Coetzer, who began the small chase with a gallery of boundaries as Scotland shaved 76 runs off the target in six overs. Coetzer, who had been drafted into the squad following batsman Freddie Coleman’s withdrawal due to personal circumstances, laid down the marker for the chase, taking five fours off Manujula Guruge’s second over. Munsey soon took charge and reeled off six fours and a six in the next two overs. He raised his fifty off 29 balls and stayed there till the end alongside Callum McLeod even as Coetzer was bowled for 39. MacLeod put the seal on the chase with a muscled pull and a carve through backward point. With the exception of Naveed, all the UAE bowlers were left nursing economy rates of over 11 an over.Eventually, UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir was left ruing his side’s reckless strokeplay, calling for more responsibility.”This was a 150-plus wicket and we need to be more responsible, especially in the batting department. We had a bad day and we need to move on,” Tauqir said.

While Rangers have been rather active in the transfer market over the past few years, they have been rather consistent in terms of not splashing out significant amounts of money on individual players.

However, one player that the Ibrox club made a rather big investment in was Ryan Kent, who joined the side on a permanent basis back in September 2019 in a deal worth a reported fee of up to £7.5m from English Premier League club Liverpool, making him one of the club’s most expensive players after spending the previous year on loan with the Gers.

Overall, the winger has made a total of 156 appearances for the club across all competitions in which he has managed to score 29 goals and provide 41 assists along the way, showing how important he has been for them in an attacking sense.

Back in August 2018, Transfermarkt had the Englishman’s market value listed as £1.35m, whereas it now stands at £12.6m, showing just how much of an impact he’s had on the pitch in terms of his performances and why it has been a great investment from the club.

Speaking of his performances, with 18 appearances, two goals and five assists under his belt in the SPFL this season, the 25-year-old has earned himself an overall rating of 7.34/10 from WhoScored, highlighting how much of a key figure he is for manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Labelled as a “frightening” player by teammate Scott Arfield, Kent has certainly proved his worth and justified the transfer fee that Rangers splashed out to keep him at the club after his loan deal ended through his goals, assists and general performances, making it a real transfer masterclass from Ross Wilson.

The former Liverpool youngster has also been described as being a “big-game player” by Scottish football journalist Andrew Dickson, which was evident during both Europa League games against Borussia Dortmund where he managed to grab an assist in each match to help his side make it through to the next stage of the competition.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Moving forward, if the attacker can keep delivering solid performances on the pitch and add some more goals and assists to his tally, he could well push his side to securing the title once again and further prove why the club were right to secure his signature when they did.

In other news: GvB drops teasing 12-word update ahead of Well clash, Rangers fans will be buzzing – opinion

Newcastle United return to Premier League action this weekend as they take on Brighton at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The Magpies are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run in the division and will be hoping to extend their impressive string of results as they face off against Graham Potter’s side.

Eddie Howe’s men beat Brentford 2-0 last time out as a powerful header from Joelinton and a composed finish from Joe Willock secured all three points for the Toon in west London.

Unleash Manquillo

Despite that result, one change that the ex-Bournemouth boss must make from the win over the Bees is to bring Javier Manquillo into the starting XI in place of Emil Krafth.

The Spaniard suffered a knock in the win over Aston Villa and was only fit enough for the bench against Brentford last week, but he has now had seven days to train and get himself ready to play 90 minutes.

Krafth has simply not been good enough for the Magpies this season. He has averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.38 across 10 Premier League appearances (eight starts) and made two tackles and interceptions per game for the Toon.

This shows that his performances have been below-par over the course of the campaign, which is why he must be axed from the line-up for this clash, as the £37k-per-week dud has been a liability to the team with his worrying displays.

Meanwhile, Manquillo has averaged a score of 6.61 in the top flight across 15 outings. Whilst this is not a mind-blowing rating for the Spaniard, it is still far better than his Swedish team-mate’s score, and that makes him less of a risk to the team on the pitch. It shows that he is a solid, albeit unspectacular, performer at the back for Newcastle.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

He has also shown that he can put in excellent displays from time to time, with Steve Bruce once describing him as “terrific” and Chris Waddle stating that he has a “good engine”. Therefore, the 27-year-old is the better option out of Howe’s two available right-backs and should be selected in the starting XI.

Howe must unleash him from the start against Brighton and axe Krafth in the process, as the evidence suggests that the former will be less of a liability throughout the match, giving Newcastle a greater chance of picking up all three points.

AND in other news, Newcastle facing potential setback before Brighton, Howe will be worried…

There’s no guarantee that Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi will return to action before the end of the season, journalist Pete O’Rourke says. 

The lowdown

Furuhashi hasn’t played for The Hoops since Boxing Day, when he lasted only 15 minutes against St Johnstone before aggravating a hamstring injury.

Manager Ange Postecoglou said late last month that the Japanese attacker was ‘nowhere near’ resuming team training.

Celtic are in the midst of a closely-contested battle with Rangers for the Scottish Premiership crown. They currently lead the way on 73 points, but Rangers are just three points behind.

The latest

O’Rourke says the apparent uncertainty over the return to play timeline is deeply concerning.

He fears that Furuhashi’s injury could prove to be decisive in the title race.

“To be missing him, and not being sure when he might return, who knows, he might not even play again this season, is going to be a huge blow because you want your best players, especially this season when you are challenging for honours,” he told Give Me Sport.

“And to be missing Kyogo will be a big loss for Celtic.”

The verdict

He hasn’t played in 2022, and yet Furuhashi is still Celtic’s top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions.

For context, he’s played 22 games, while second-place man Liel Abada (11 goals) has now featured in 39.

Furuhashi has largely been used as a centre-forward this season, and so it’s falling to Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda to deputise.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The former recently bagged a hat-trick against Dundee FC but has only found the net in two of his other 13 league appearances, while Maeda holds a steady record of five goals in 12 appearances.

Thankfully for Celtic, wingers Abada and Jota have shown they can be a source of goals too.

In other news, Kevin Campbell reacts to the latest update on Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Leeds could be hit with a transfer ban if ‘things don’t go right for them’ at their Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing, sports journalist Pete O’Rourke has warned.

The lowdown

The Whites are locked in a dispute with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig over the transfer of Jean-Kevin Augustin in January 2020.

The loan deal included an obligation to buy if the Whites won promotion to the Premier League. Marcelo Bielsa’s side did win the Championship, but only after a pandemic-enforced suspension.

Leeds believe that the delay freed them of their obligation and argued that ‘financial restrictions caused by the pandemic meant they could not meet the fee’ (via BBC Sport).

FIFA ruled in Leipzig’s favour last summer, demanding that the Yorkshire outfit pay the £18m sum, but Leeds have appealed.

CAS heard the case in Switzerland last week, with a verdict expected in ‘several weeks’.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke pointed out that £18m could represent a sizeable chunk of Leeds’ transfer budget, but worse still, he suggested that Jesse Marsch’s side may even be prevented from doing any business at all.

He warned: “If things don’t go right for them at this Court of Arbitration hearing over the Augustin thing, it could really bite into their transfer budget for next season or there could even be a transfer embargo, which would be a disaster for Leeds United.”

The verdict

Leeds are currently 16th in the Premier League, so it’s not difficult to imagine the potential consequences of such an embargo.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

If their rivals are able to strengthen through recruitment and the Whites aren’t, that could hamper their chances of top-flight survival, assuming they stay up by the end of the current campaign.

One source of frustration for Leeds and Marsch will be that, considering all the hassle over the court case, Augustin barely made an impact at Elland Road. He played just 48 minutes across three Championship appearances, failing to score in his brief stay at the club.

In other news, Leeds are ‘confident’ of striking a new deal for this Elland Road maestro

Crystal Palace made a number of signings in the summer who have made a huge impact on the side following the appointment of Patrick Vieira at the club, and the Frenchman could be onto to his next star signing if reports are to be believed.

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercato, Crystal Palace are in the race to secure the signature of Andre Silva from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

The report suggests that the South London club will need to compete with Atletico Madrid and Arsenal to sign the Portuguese striker, with the player still in contract with his Bundesliga club until 2026.

Palace’s very own Lewandowski

Silva has been on the receiving end of some incredible praise over his career so far, with the player even being compared to Robert Lewandowski by his former manager Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter, who hailed the striker “ice cold” after a great performance against Mainz;

“His composure on penalties reminds me of Robert Lewandowski, who always turns ice cold,” he said.

The Portuguese £34.2m-rated gem has scored 15 goals and assisted his Leipzig teammates eight times in 38 appearances, with a goal involvement every 1.6 games so far this season, and recently reached 50 Bundesliga strikes over his time at Frankfurt and RB Leipzig, proving that his attacking output is consistent and should be desirable for Crystal Palace.

According to One Versus One, this season in the Bundesliga he is in the top eight for creating chances (38), the eighth top goal-scorer in the league (10) and is in the top five for expected goals (10.52) alongside Erling Haaland, Patrik Schick and Lewandowski.

Granted, Vieira has a number of fantastic attacking players already in his side with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Odsonne Edouard and Wilfried Zaha, but adding that extra quality by signing Silva is an opportunity that Crystal Palace can’t pass up when you consider his aforementioned statistics.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Palace are in a great run of form, unbeaten in their last four, holding Manchester City most recently to a draw at Selhurst Park and to attract a player of Silva’s calibre, Vieira will need to work hard to prove the progression by reflecting it in the league table with a top-half finish.

In other news: Parish dropped big CPFC howler on “super talented” £20m machine

Leeds United winger Raphinha’s ‘main objective’ is to become a Barcelona player this summer, as speculation over his future continues.

The Lowdown: Raphinha rarely out of the news

There seems to be constant talk regarding the future of the Brazilian at Elland Road, as endless reports suggest he will leave at the end of the season.

Raphinha is coming towards the end of his second year as a Leeds player since arriving under Marcelo Bielsa and he has been a wonderful servant to date, scoring 15 times and chipping in with 12 assists.

Barcelona have arguably been the team most linked with making a move for the 25-year-old and now another rumour has emerged regarding a move to the Catalan giants.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Raphinha’s ‘main objective’ is to join the Catalan giants and he is ‘delighted with the idea’ of a move there.

Much may depend on the futures of Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland and Adama Traore, however.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-39/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: May be inevitable…

There is a special lure about playing for Barca that exists with so many players, not least Brazilians, given the past greats from their country to have represented the club, such as Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

For that reason, it is wholly understandable why Raphinha would want to trade Yorkshire for Catalonia, even though he no doubt has a fondness in his heart for the Whites, too.

It would always be preferable for the winger to stay put, of course, but with each passing week, the more it is easy to envisage him in a Barca shirt next season, especially if Jesse Marsch’s side suffer relegation to the Championship.

In other news, a transfer expert has made a big double Leeds claim. Read more here.

Leeds United could sign Barcelona youngster Francisco Trincao as Raphinha’s replacement this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Trincao on loan at Wolves

The 22-year-old joined Wolves on loan last summer, with first-team opportunities looking hard to come by at the Camp Nou.

Trincao hasn’t exactly set the world alight during his time at Molineux, however, only scoring and assisting once apiece in 22 Premier League appearances this season.

Ironically, both of those goal involvements came against Leeds earlier this month, as the Whites sealed a memorable 3-2 win at Molineux.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Leeds keen on move

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Victor Orta and co. view Trincao as a possible replacement for Raphinha, should the winger head to Barca himself this summer.

The Whites’ transfer team ‘would be open’ to making the youngster part of a deal, helping fill the void left by the Brazilian.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-40/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Is he good enough?

Ideally, Raphinha would stay put at Leeds, but if not, the idea of gaining a Barca player or two in the deal is at least a positive. That being said, Trincao’s lack of end product has been evident this season, so bringing him in certainly wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

There would be a risk element and it would be preferable for Jesse Marsch to sign someone who guarantees a similar stream of goals and assists to Raphinha, in order to fully make up for the loss.

Acquiring that player as well as Trincao would make some sense, but only the latter arriving would feel like Leeds’ squad has only got weaker, despite the young talent drawing praise as ‘unbelievable’ by Wolves journalist Tim Spiers.

In other news, a journalist has dropped a key Andrea Radrizzani claim. Read more here.