All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham have lodged an offer to sign another starlet amid their completed deal for Leeds United sensation Archie Gray, with his club already replying after Daniel Levy's advances.

Spurs reach agreement to sign Gray from Leeds for £40 million

Following a whirlwind last 72 hours, Spurs reached an agreement to sign Gray from Leeds for around £40 million, coming after they swooped in to hijack Brentford's deal for the 18-year-old.

Tottenham offer Richarlison in swap deal bid for £120,000-per-week star

The Brazilian has been tipped to leave.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2024

The Bees originally shook hands on a £35 million deal to sign Gray instead of Spurs, and even booked a medical for the versatile teenager, who made an impressive 52 appearances in all competitions for Leeds last season as they narrowly missed out on Premier League promotion.

The transfer seemed done and dusted for Thomas Frank's side, who were commended for sealing an under-the-radar move for one of England's most exciting talents. However, journalist Ben Jacobs, who urged "caution until the ink is dry", was proven right in his call as he wrote on X that Spurs were one to watch in terms of hijacking the deal.

That scenario came to pass, with Brentford unable to finalise the terms and Ange Postecoglou moving in to take advantage of this situation. Following accelerated talks over the weekend, Spurs concluded talks with Leeds over a deal for Gray at around £40 million and have now announced a deal.

Appearances

52

Goals

0

Assists

2

Yellow cards

2

Red cards

0

Minutes played

4,273

Out-of-favour defender Joe Rodon, who impressed on loan at Leeds last season, has also gone the other way in a separate £10 million move.

Now, technical director Johan Lange and Levy are planning to support Postecoglou with more upgrades to the Australian's squad ahead of his second season in north London.

Fiorentina reply as Tottenham submit £17 million bid for Kayode

Fiorentina defender Michael Kayode is a player of interest to Spurs, who could replace the exit-bound Emerson Royal, as the Brazilian remains heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.

Viola News have an update on this, and the Italian news website claims Tottenham have made a bid of just less than £17 million for Kayode alongside Aston Villa. However, Fiorentina value the right-back at no less than £21 million, with Viola's headline claiming Spurs' opening offer has been rejected.

Kayode, who made 26 Serie A appearances under former boss Vincenzo Italiano last season, has been described as a player with serious potential.

“This one is really strong,” said Pino Vitale, an experienced Italian agent, to Radio Firenze Viola (via HITC) after Kayode's performance against Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

“Incredible. He forced Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to chase him. It was the best match ever since (Vincenzo) Italiano took over Fiorentina. They didn’t let Napoli play and ate them up. (Full-backs Fabiano) Parisi and Kayode are strong and played an excellent game.

“Kvaratskhelia had to change wings due to the way Kayode controlled him! There is no need to worry about him. He is only 19 years old, but he is a ‘player’.”

Manchester United are still keen on signing a "phenomenal" new forward in the summer transfer window, with a player plus cash move involving a current Red Devils star possibly on the cards.

Man Utd transfer news

Erik ten Hag will be hoping to see his squad improve significantly ahead of next season, following a disappointing campaign overall that saw his side finish eighth in the Premier League table.

It will be fascinating to see which new signings come in at Old Trafford, and it looks as though Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is still a leading option to come in and boost the defensive options on show. Raphael Varane has left, while Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans aren't the answers, and the England international could be an exciting addition.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag has reportedly personally held talks with Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee over a switch to United in the near future, with the Dutchman seen as someone who could add more goals in the final third. He has 23 goal contributions (14 goals and nine assists) in 58 appearances for Bologna, and at 23 years of age, his best years are likely to lie ahead.

The Red Devils are believed to be willing to double Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo's wages, too, with the Uruguayan currently earning £114,000 per week at the Catalan giants. He could represent a more experienced option to Branthwaite, should the Everton man end up not joining.

Man Utd want "phenomenal" striker

According to La Repubblica [via Sport Witness], Manchester United haven't given up hope of signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen yet, with the Nigerian expected to leave his current club in the current transfer window for a fee in the region of £85m.

The report says that "in recent months, United have tried to convince Napoli for Osimhen", offering money plus the services of Rasmus Hojlund, which may come as something of a surprise, but the report claims this is an idea which could now be revisited after the arrival of Dan Ashworth.

Osimhen is one of the world's leading strikers at the moment, considering he has scored 76 goals in just 133 matches for Napoli, as well as being hailed by Walter Mazzarri, who heaped praise on him: "Osimhen is phenomenal because he runs alone at five players and gets through. If you look at genuine scoring opportunities, compared to the number Napoli created lately, I didn’t see that many."

While the 25-year-old is clearly an elite-level striker who could be a devastating addition for United, selling Hojlund would seem like a strange decision, considering his long-term potential. Granted, he hasn't yet set the world alight at Old Trafford, but he has done enough to suggest that he is a star of the future, scoring 16 times in 43 appearances for the Red Devils.

Dan Ashworth start date at Man Utd revealed as Ratcliffe reaches agreement

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sealed a massive addition.

3 ByHenry Jackson Jul 1, 2024

That being said, if push truly comes to shove this summer, Osimhen would still represent an immediate upgrade on Hojlund and become a potential icon at Old Trafford, kicking off the Ashworth era in style and acquiring the services of a wonderful footballer.

Tottenham are reportedly ready to try an audacious swap deal this summer as they look to bolster their midfield on a budget, it has been claimed.

Spurs in need of additions

After a promising season under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's Premier League campaign fizzled out and they were forced to accept Europa League football next season, despite at one point seeming nailed on for a return to the Champions League. Now, all attention is set to turn to the summer transfer window, and the club are set to be busy.

Emerson Royal is thought to be free to leave and has admitted to enjoying the reports linking him with a move to AC Milan, while the club have already made their first signing of the summer by making Timo Werner's loan move valid for a further 12 months, extending his stay in north London.

Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon have both been released, and decisions will have to be made on returning loanees Joe Rodon, Sergio Reguilon and Bryan Gil, all of whom seem to be out of Postecoglou's plans.

Spurs hit gold on £26m star who's now worth more than Romero & Eze

The Spurs ace is the club’s joint-highest valued player at the club.

ByTom Lever Jun 24, 2024

Another man expected to leave is Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who was named man of the match for Denmark during their 1-1 draw with England at EURO 2024.

No decision will be made on his future until after the tournament, but the Dane's agent explained: “I am working on the many requests that we have already received, yes; but we will analyse all the possibilities after the Euros, during the holidays when we will spend some time together and then look forward to the next chapter”.

With that in mind, Tottenham are going to need midfield additions, and now they are trying to find a way to land one on the cheap.

Spurs target swap deal

That comes as The Sun claim Tottenham are eyeing up an audacious swap deal for Southampton's Carlos Alcaraz, in a move that would see Welsh defender Joe Rodon head the other way. Alcaraz was in and out of Russell Martin's side for the first half of the season, though the Saints boss did praise the Argentinian for his performances.

"His mentality has been great", he explained after one performance against Leeds United. “We wanted to free him up a little bit. We did that I think – he was amazing with it. I’m really proud of him and really pleased for him. He was outstanding."

He spent the second half of the season on loan with Juventus though, making three starts in what turned out to be a difficult spell in Turin, and his future seems unclear.

Carlos Alcaraz's difficult 23/24

For Juventus

For Southampton

Games played

12

26

Starts

3

15

Goals

0

4

Assists

1

3

Yellow Cards

0

5

Total minutes

379

1313

The 21-year-old still has four years left to run on his £25,000 a week deal on the south coast, but The Sun claim that he likely won't be there much longer, with Spurs keen to sign him this summer. Valued at £30m by Southampton, Spurs are willing to offer Rodon, who is wanted by the Saints and is valued at around £10m, in a bid to get a deal done.

However, they may also have to stump up some cash to get it over the line should they be serious about the young midfielder ahead of the new season.

Chelsea have agreed to pay £60 million for a "wonderful" player after holding talks with his agents, and they've moved ahead of Man Utd in the race to sign him this summer as a result.

Maresca set for busy summer as Chelsea hold negotiations for forwards

Fabrizio Romano has tipped Chelsea to have a busy summer transfer window, following their appointment of Enzo Maresca to replace the departed Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea chiefs identify new top target in £85 million Duran alternative

Todd Boehly and co look like they’re moving on from the Colombian.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2024

They've already put pen to paper on a deal for defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham, who will come in to help fill the void left by Thiago Silva's exit, but Chelsea are now turning their attention towards signing a forward or two.

Maresca's side, as widely reported, have been locked in talks to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa. Chelsea are in ongoing negotiations over a deal for Duran, but are believed to be stalling the move due to Villa's demands.

Aston Vila 3-3 Chelsea

8.36

Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace

7.48

Aston Villa 4-0 Liverpool

7.38

Man City 4-1 Aston Villa

6.90

Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley

6.80

They could even walk away from the Colombian and pursue other targets, with RB Leipzig star Lois Openda emerging as an alternative to Duran for Chelsea. Amid their pursuit of a striker, whether it be Duran, Openda or another name, they're also reportedly pushing to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.

The 22-year-old, upon returning from a season-delaying injury last term, racked up an impressive 10 goals and six assists in 19 Premier League appearances. Olise's top-flight pedigree has been highlighted on a consistent basis at Selhurst Park, with former manager Roy Hodgson calling the player an "enormous talent".

“In the first-half he was a figure on the right but he wasn’t creating chances or showing aggression in his play. In the second-half he got it all right in both defence and attack and he showed what a wonderful player he is," said Hodgson on Olise after a performance against Leeds in 2023.

“I have seen him for 10 days less than I have seen the others. What I make of him is that I think he is an enormous talent – he has got a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future. We can only hope we at Crystal Palace can give him that platform.”

Chelsea agree to pay £60 million for Olise in warning to Man Utd

As per Foot Mercato, a very promising update has come to light on his potential move to Stamford Bridge. Indeed, Chelsea have been locked in talks with the player's representatives, but Man Utd are also in the picture and named as one of the "serious candidates" to sign him.

However, the Red Devils are now in real danger of missing out on him. Foot Mercato say that United don't want to pay the attacker's price tag, and this has put Maresca's side in pole position. By contrast, Chelsea have agreed to pay £60 million to sign Olise this summer – a figure which Erik ten Hag and co don't want to meet. The Blues appear to hold all the cards as things stand, and it will come as good news for their new manager.

Manchester United have made a series of exciting signings recently to try and breed a new era at Old Trafford, and they could now look to sign a rising star from within England.

Truthfully, the last decade has seen the Red Devils’ stock and reputation fall as they look to return to the elite of English football. Still, additions such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have shown a sense of ambition under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Even with the need for a new midfielder at Manchester United clear amid uncertainty over Casemiro’s future, boss Ruben Amorim has indicated he is keen to get more out of Manuel Ugarte in the meantime following his move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

He said before his side’s clash with Everton: “You can sense a lot of very good players come here, and sometimes they struggle. He is struggling at the moment but it is our job to try to help and help him to feel like I felt when he was a Sporting player. But it is a different world. He needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training.”

Several targets have been linked to replace veteran Casemiro, with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes and Atletico Madrid midfielder Connor Gallagher on their list.

Amorim will continue to build over the coming months and is likely to get time to implement his vision, albeit further signings will be necessary to make his formation a bona fide success as his squad continue to evolve.

Now, he may have an alternative England international firmly on his radar as Manchester United look to restore themselves among the Champions League slots at a minimum this term.

Man Utd set to bid for Elliot Anderson

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are set to bid for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson as they up the ante in pursuit of a Casemiro replacement, with a move for the Englishman backed by both Jason Wilcox and Amorim himself.

The latter is unlikely to see his contract renewed at Old Trafford, and steps could now be taken to sign the Tricky Trees man, a move that may cost between £80 and £100 million.

Elliot Anderson’s Premier League campaign (Fotmob)

Appearances

12

Goals

1

Assists

1

Chances created

18

Successful passes

714

Successful crosses

16

Once January comes around, Manchester United could offer a package at around the £60 million mark, albeit that is unlikely to be enough to land Anderson in the face of his magnificent form at the City Ground.

Nevertheless, the former Newcastle United man, labelled “elite” by Thomas Tuchel, is open to joining a big six club and could be someone the club now values as a realistic target more than Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

Man Utd now make approach to sign exciting gem who shone at U17 World Cup

The Red Devils are now keen to secure his signature before some high-profile suitors.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 23, 2025

For now, speculation will continue to mount over Anderson’s future, but the pursuit may be one to keep an eye on as Amorim looks to lead Manchester United to silverware in the coming years.

Liverpool are a team with distinct flaws, and yet they are also breathtaking and brilliant when firing on all cylinders.

Too often this season, Arne Slot’s side have failed to get going, outthought and outfought across the past few months, losing six of seven matches across all competitions before a controlled win over Aston Villa in the Premier League stopped the rot.

The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Real Madrid was something different, though. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.

1

Goals

0

2.51

Expected goals (xG)

0.45

17 (9)

Shots (on target)

8 (2)

4

Big chances

1

111.4km

Distance covered

112.7km

38.8%

Possession

61.2%

4

Corners

2

45%

Duels won

55%

This is the Liverpool we know. Energy and intensity and purpose across every area of the field. However, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood firm against Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain truth remains of the Merseysiders’ desperate need for reinforcements in central defence.

Liverpool searching for a centre-back

Of course, Liverpool did sign a centre-back this summer, adding Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m fee. The 18-year-old is worth his wait in gold, but ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton and now sits sidelined for around a year.

The inability to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, however, is surely the bigger blow. A deal was almost in place on deadline day, but the Eagles had not found a suitable replacement, and with such little time to pull out the stops, the move disintegrated, with the player having been permitted to carry out a medical with the Anfield side.

It still could come together. Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no desire to pen a fresh deal. The issue now is that a host of Europe’s top outfits want his signature, though Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are still leading the race, ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.

Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the end of the campaign, but if they fall short in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the perfect alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

As per further Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG considering making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.

The veracity of this developing story is uncertain at this stage, but the 26-year-old is undoubtedly talented enough to stand out under Slot’s wing, with the style and experience to make a marked difference as Van Dijk inches ever closer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield career.

What Bastoni would offer Liverpool

Liverpool need a centre-back; they’ve needed one for some time. While Guehi was the first-choice option this summer, Bastoni might actually prove a more compelling option for the Anfield side, having been hailed for his “world-class” ability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.

This is a defender who is at the top of their game, one of the most important cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in five recent seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy besides.

And, aged 26, he falls into a similar bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the talent to make an instant impact and the prime years still ahead to grow deeper into their role in Slot’s squad and reach entirely new levels of performance.

He’s one of the best players in his position worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a goal and supplied two assists across nine outings, winning 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per game (data provided by Sofascore).

A strong passer and outside-the-box thinker, he could even trump Guehi across ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man renowned for his cool, composed and creative presence on the ball.

Goals

0.05

0.06

Assists

0.05

0.09

Touches

89.54

60.67

Pass completion (%)

86.5

83.5

Progressive passes

5.29

4.09

Shot-creating actions

2.36

1.53

Progressive carries

1.88

0.77

Successful take-ons

0.31

0.26

Ball recoveries

3.53

4.12

Tackles + interceptions

2.62

3.12

Clearances

2.85

4.56

Aerial duels won

1.53

1.91

As you can see, Guehi has been more active in defensive contributions over the past year. This you would expect from an outfit like Palace in the Premier League when compared to Italian giants like Inter. But Bastoni is slicker and more able on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.

Sure, Guehi is a free agent come the end of the campaign, and that counts for a lot, but whether Liverpool and FSG would be willing to pass up an opportunity to sign a talent of Bastoni’s ability is another question entirely. After all, the reports suggest that a bid is currently being packaged together.

Here is a fearsome centre-half with the passing range of a maestro. Liverpool could do a lot worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk heir with the perfect skillset to ease the agony of his moving on.

Bastoni. The perfect, elite bastion to secure Liverpool’s backline for many years to come. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and the hunger to achieve even more.

He is immensely talented, perhaps more so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would reach frightening levels of security and balance and progression with him added into the mix.

Not Bradley: Liverpool have found the new Trent & he's not even a defender

Arne Slot has now uncovered Liverpool’s next Trent Alexander-Arnold, and it’s not Conor Bradley.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 6, 2025

Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with in the transfer market and could now be set to launch an ambitious bid to land Vinicius Jr at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have endured an intriguing start to the campaign, where their Premier League form has been a little inconsistent, albeit a confidence-boosting EFL Cup victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek will serve to benefit Enzo Maresca.

Ill-discipline is a factor that will need to be rectified. Despite his return from injury, Liam Delap was dismissed for two cheap bookings against the Old Gold, leaving his side in the lurch as they narrowly saw it through to claim a place in the quarter-finals.

Bereft of attacking options at times this season, Maresca has needed to turn to the likes of Marc Guiu and Tyrique George to step into the breach. While both have shown potential, there is a need for more experience in the final third to convert chances.

Undoubtedly, BlueCo’s signing model has been based on identifying stars with potential to become world-class. Estevao is a prime example of Todd Boehly’s operation in action, though you get the feeling there is room for another exciting reinforcement to arrive.

With that in mind, the Blues have identified a world-leading star they believe could now become a central part of their plans at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea "ready to bid" for Vinicius Jr amid tensions with Xabi Alonso

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are set to launch a January bid for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, who is set to find himself out of contract in the Spanish capital in 2027 and is at odds with manager Xabi Alonso.

BlueCo see him as a “market opportunity, a high-impact signing” and believe he could be the focal point of their project.

After a return of five goals and four assists in 13 appearances this term, the Brazil international has attracted interest from the Blues, Manchester City and Manchester United. He is seen as someone who could become central to the Stamford Bridge project.

Dubbed the best player in the world by Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League winner is expected to have a high release clause value and also earns around £350,000 per week, placing challenging obstacles in the way of a deal being completed.

Risk is involved in any transfer, and Chelsea will know that he won’t come cheap. However, his situation is said to be the most uncertain of his career, proving that his seemingly untouchable status at the Santiago Bernabeu may be at risk.

Vinicius Jr is in the top 10 of 2026 Ballon d'Or power rankings

Incredibly, Fotmob calculate the 25-year-old has already created 23 chances and perfected 24 dribbles in La Liga this term, and he appears to be at the top of his game before Brazil head to the 2026 World Cup intent on securing glory.

Chelsea are wise to these developments and feel the right time to make an offer will be when the transfer window opens, making this one to keep an eye on over the next few months.

Wolves have now been heavily linked with making former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag their next boss, following the recent sacking of Vitor Pereira.

Wanderers are on the lookout for their next manager, with Pereira relieved of his duties after last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away to Fulham in the Premier League proving to be the final straw.

A host of names have been mentioned, including former Wolves striker Robbie Keane and Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards, and the latter hasn’t exactly ruled out the idea of taking charge at Molineux.

“I can understand it with my links to the club but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around for a really big game against Leicester. It’s hard for me to comment on speculation and anything other than Middlesbrough. We’ve done a decent job so far, and all I care about is trying to win tomorrow.”

Now, Ten Hag’s name has also been thrown into the hat, with a new update suggesting that he is among the front-runners to be Pereira’s successor at Wolves.

Wolves make contact with Ten Hag's agent

According to Algemeen Daglblad [via Sport Witness], Wolves made contact with Ten Hag’s agent on Monday over potentially taking charge of the Premier League club.

It is claimed that the Dutchman is “seeking revenge”, seemingly in terms of rebuilding his reputation, following doomed spells at both United and Bayer Leverkusen but he has several other options at unnamed clubs.

Ten Hag is certainly a manager whose stock has fallen significantly since he guided Ajax into the semi-finals of the Champions League back in 2019, due to struggling in his last two jobs.

For that reason, there is a risk in Wolves appointing him, with some supporters understandably worried that he is on the wane as a manager, rather than on the way up like Edwards.

Bayer Leverkusen

3

1.33

Man Utd

128

1.84

Ajax

215

2.34

Utrecht

111

1.74

FC Bayern II

72

2.14

Go Ahead Eagles

39

1.72

Then again, the 4-3-2-1-playing and Eredivisie-winning former Ajax boss is a talented manager, with Steve McClaren even likening him to Sir Alex Ferguson, in terms of his attention to detail.

“The only other one I would have seen do that? That would have been the gaffer [Ferguson]. His great strength lies not just in his attention to detail and organisation. He has a clear philosophy of how he wants to play football; the environment he wants to create. The player progression programme was a key part of Twente. He has done that at Ajax too, for each player from the academy to the first team.”

Robbie Keane in talks with Wolves as Steven Gerrard gives clarity on future

The Old Gold are looking for a new successor and one of their former players has put their hat in the ring.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 4, 2025

Ultimately, the decision lies with the Wolves board, but Ten Hag does feel like a risky choice at this point in his career, despite the praise and success that have come his way in the past.

Better than O'Neil: Wolves looking to hire "insanely talented" English boss

Journalist Beren Cross has provided a significant injury update regarding an influential Leeds United player, ahead of their Premier League clash with Burnley.

Farke expecting "tight" Burnley-Leeds clash

The Whites head to Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon knowing that the result could ultimately prove key in the relegation battle come May.

Speaking to the media ahead of the weekend action, Leeds manager Daniel Farke said he is expecting a “tight” battle away to the Clarets.

“I want to be there with a good performance. So, again, Burnley, what they have done in the last season is fantastic. Also a good start, especially performance-wise, to the season and I expect a pretty, pretty tight and competitive game. Out of these four games until the next international break, we want again to win as many points as possible.

“I would judge it as a difficult period because we have three away games, just one home game and we take it step by step. So right now we are just focused and concentrated on this Burnley game and to give ourselves a chance with a top performance again to win points.”

Farke will want as many players fit as possible for Saturday’s game, and it looks as though he could have a key man back in the fold, following a new update from Thorp Arch.

Farke could unleash Leeds' best English talent since Rio Ferdinand

Leeds fans can get excited about another rising English starlet at Elland Road.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 17, 2025 Stunning Leeds injury update shared

Writing on X, Cross claimed that Leeds winger Dan James is making “immense progress” in his injury recovery and “would befive weeks ahead of schedule” if he features against Burnley. Farke said in his pre-match press conference that there is a chance he makes the squad at Turf Moor.

“Very positive and good news was Daniel James because he is a bit ahead of schedule in his rehab, so a compliment also to our medical department, our rehab coaches. He was even involved already, I would say, in major parts of team training during this week but he is definitely not in contention for the starting line-up.”

Having James back would feel like a massive shot in the arm for Leeds, with one of their record signings such an important figure with his blistering pace and improved end product, even though he is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season.

The £75,000-a-week ace has the match-winning ability to decide what promises to be a close game away to Burnley, and even if he comes on as an impact substitute, simply having him in the squad will give the Whites a better chance of victory.

Wolverhampton Wanderers fans will be praying that a change in manager will inspire the Old Gold players to leap out of those dreaded relegation spaces in the Premier League.

At the moment, the top-flight standings are hard to digest from a Wolves fan’s perspective, with just nine points next to their stuttering club’s name, as Gary O’Neil bowed out with just two wins

picked up from his last 16 league contests.

Now, it’s time for a fresh approach at the Wolves helm to try and save their dying season, with one name edging closer to taking over from O’Neil.

The latest on Vitor Pereira to Wolves

Various outlets are reporting the fact Al-Shabab manager Vitor Pereira is set to be the former AFC Bournemouth manager’s successor, with GIVEMESPORT stating that a deal could already be wrapped up.

Wolves certainly haven’t messed about in finding a quick replacement for the 44-year-old, with Pereira’s appointment one that will no doubt come with intrigue attached to it, considering the Portuguese manager has never graced the English game from the sidelines.

But, he could be just what the Old Gold need in attempting to resurrect their campaign, with the in-demand 56-year-old boasting seven victories from 12 this season in the Saudi Pro League.

Of course, the demands of the Premier League are a different kettle of fish altogether, but his new methods could also mean certain frozen-out individuals at Molineux gain more opportunities moving forward, including notable Wolves dud Goncalo Guedes.

He could even become the club’s next iteration of Pedro Neto if everything slots into place under Pereira, particularly when you consider his previous excellent numbers from the wings.

Pereira's very own Pedro Neto at Wolves

Away from picking up those wins for Al-Shabab this season, Pereira has also made his current employers very easy on the eye to watch, with 49 strikes flooding in from his 30 games in charge of the Middle East outfit.

Often utilising the 3-4-3 formation there – something Wolves have experience of – Guedes could be in for a shout of more first-team chances if Pereira uses this same set-up at Molineux, having once starred all across the attacking positions at Valencia before making a major £27.5m switch to England a reality.

LW

102

16

17

SS

27

13

7

CF

18

4

6

RW

14

1

0

AM

4

0

0

RW

2

0

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But, it’s obvious his best position when at the Mestalla was down the left flank, with a stunning 16 goals and 17 assists amassed from 102 games.

Unfortunately, since his move to Wolves, Guedes hasn’t been able to dazzle in a similar way on the left, with zero goals and assists coming his way from that spot.

But, he will be gifted a clean slate in the West Midlands under the fresh reign of Pereira, as the 56-year-old is tasked with getting the best out of the “lightning” quick attacker having been labelled that by European football expert Andy Brassell. That trait is certainly one he shares with the former Old Gold winger.

Dazzling wide play isn’t the only similarity between Guedes and Neto in their approach down the wings, with the ability to score an audacious effort like the one above also linking the pair together.

Scoring twice in the EFL Cup this season, it wouldn’t be a stretch to state that the former Valencia man was just a background figure under O’Neil.

Now, however, his importance could increase as Pereira prepares to walk into the building to leave his mark on proceedings.

Perhaps he could unleash a new Neto-like figure in the much-maligned Guedes.

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