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Leeds United have made plenty of new additions since their return to the Premier League, however, they almost all backfired last season as they narrowly avoided the drop.

Both former manager Marcelo Bielsa and now Jesse Marsch have invested heavily at Elland Road in recent times, with the summer just gone seeing an outlay of £99.13m.

One of their more expensive disappointments could be the deal to bring German defender Robin Koch to Elland Road for £13m.

He had come off the back of a fine season at SC Freiburg, where he featured 34 times in all competitions.

However, since moving to Yorkshire he has been struck down with numerous injuries that have halted his progress. He only managed 17 Premier League games in his debut season, and across his three years has only featured 47 times.

His average SofaScore rating last season of 6.51 is indicative of someone who, when they needed him most, let them down.

He could only win possession 0.2 times per game, as his side kept just one clean sheet in 20 games, and led to LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross describing him as both “horrible to watch” and “not good enough”.

What makes this all the more frustrating is that he was actually a very competent defender in the Bundesliga, where he averaged a mammoth 2.9 clearances per game.

Meanwhile, this campaign, his form has not offered much respite despite a slight improvement, having averaged a 6.62 rating on WhoScored – the ninth-best in the squad currently. Five other defenders have equalled or better his tackle rate at 1.5 per game, too.

These performances combined with his injuries no doubt contributed to the depreciation of his value, which CIES Football Observatory now rate at just €6m (£5.1m).

As this continues to drop, Marsch now faces the daunting task of deciding whether to stick with the underperforming dud and back his ability or try to cash in what is left of him now.

It is clear that the American is likely to choose the former, as he recently came out following his centre-backs omission from the Germany squad: “The only thing I can say is that we’re really happy with Robin. I think everything from his work ethic to his fitness right now to his mentality, he’s grown as a leader.”

He has plenty of growing still to do, but at 26 years old he has time.

It might have to be a swift turnaround, however, as he cannot command his manager’s unrelenting support should he continue with his current performances.

Newcastle United are reportedly seen as a ‘possible destination’ for Inter Milan central defender Stefan de Vrij.

The Lowdown: One of the best

De Vrij is currently one of Europe’s best defenders, having accumulated over 170 games for Inter over the last five seasons, including over 20 appearances in the prestigious UEFA Champions League (Transfermarkt).

Hailed as a ‘world-beater’ by former Premier League defender now pundit Alan Hutton, he was a Serie A champion with Inter in the 2020/21 campaign, while he also has over 50 caps for the Dutch national team.

The Latest: ‘Possible destination’

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), St. James’ Park is seen as a ‘possible destination’ for De Vrij, whose contract at the San Siro is set to expire next summer.

The North East club could rekindle previous interest in the 30-year-old, and agree a pre-contract with him in January that would see him sign for free in the summer.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

To sign a player of De Vrij’s quality and experience on a free transfer is surely a no-brainer for the Tynesiders.

It would likely mean having to move on one or two centre-backs, with four senior ones in the squad at the moment including new signing Sven Botman, but De Vrij is a player who could take them to the next level, potentially taking over leadership responsibilities from Jamaal Lascelles.

The six-foot-two colossus’ pedigree and top level experience would help attract other big names to the Magpies too, which could really kickstart their long-term project.

Newcastle United are reportedly ‘weighing up’ a move to sign Olympiacos central midfielder Mady Camara.

The Lowdown: Shelvey injury

Eddie Howe confirmed before the 0-0 draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League that Jonjo Shelvey will be out for around 12 weeks with injury after having an operation.

It means that the St. James’ Park outfit may need to dip into the market for a new midfielder to cover for the Englishman while he is absent.

The Latest: Camara interest

Taking to Twitter, journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the North East club, as well as Leicester City, are ‘weighing up’ a move for Camara:

“Leicester and Newcastle are among a number of clubs weighing up moves for Olympiacos midfielder Mady Camara.”

The Verdict: Needed

With Shelvey out for so long, and needing time to get back to full fitness when he recovers, Eddie Howe could do with adding another midfielder to his squad.

Having played in the UEFA Champions League 21 times by Guinea.

At 25 years of age, he is a player who will be in his prime over the next few seasons, and sharing the same agent as January signings Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, this is a deal that the Magpies should be confident that they can get over the line ahead of their rivals.

Journalist Dean Jones has said that Aston Villa will be ‘gutted’ internally at Carney Chukwuemeka’s move to Chelsea, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Chelsea deal

Chukwuemeka’s future was a hot topic of conversation during pre-season, with Steven Gerrard leaving him out of a tour to Australia due to his contract situation.

The 18-year-old was thought to be holding out for a staggering £100,000 per week and has now signed for Chelsea in a deal worth £20m. Gerrard spoke out following the move, admitting he had to ‘set a precedent that no-one is as big as the club or the academy’,

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Talking to GMS, Jones said that Villa are ‘gutted’ and ‘really disappointed’ regarding Chukwuemeka’s exit, despite receiving an eye-catching fee.

“I don’t think there’s any price really for them that would have been good because he’s one of the best young players in the world and they’ll be gutted that he’s left them so early.

“It’s such a hard thing for these clubs, when you bring through someone so exciting and then can’t tie them down to that next deal that really gets the proper value out of them and allows you to actually get them into your team. So, they’re really disappointed about it.”

The Verdict: Made sense?

Chukwuemeka was into the final 12 months of his Villa Park deal and clearly had his heart elsewhere, so cashing in appeared to make sense.

A £20m fee for a player who had made just 16 first-team appearances in the Midlands is no disaster either, but only time will tell if that proves to be a steal from the Blues’ perspective.

It’ll be interesting to see how the midfielder develops at Stamford Bridge and whether or not Villa reinvest that money in another young midfielder to replace the Englishman.

Everton have been gifted a double injury boost before they play Chelsea at home in their opening game of the new Premier League season.

The Lowdown: Injuries piling up

The Goodison Park outfit have had to deal with some pretty damaging injuries to key players ahead of the new campaign.

Central midfielders Tom Davies and Andre Gomes are still a couple of weeks away from full fitness, while most significantly of all Dominic Calvert-Lewin faces around six weeks out.

The Latest: Coleman and Begovic ‘fit’

Speaking in his pre-game press conference on Thursday afternoon ahead of the match, Frank Lampard revealed some good news.

Seamus Coleman ‘is fit’ and gaining match sharpness for the U21s, while Asmir Begovic is also ‘just about fit’:

“Tom Davies should be training with us next week. Andre’s a week or two away. Asmir (Begovic) is just about fit. Seamus Coleman is fit. He’s going to play for the U21s tomorrow night to get some minutes.”

The Verdict: Double boost

Having both Coleman and Begovic available on the bench against Chelsea would no doubt be a boost for the Merseyside club.

With over 250 appearances in the Premier League, including three for the Toffees (Transfermarkt), Begovic is a capable depute should Jordan Pickford unexpectedly have to withdraw from the line-up, or indeed finding himself having to come off during the game.

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As for Coleman, his leadership skills as the club captain will no doubt be vital if the Blues are to stay up more comfortably this term, and he did help in the spirited 1-0 win at home to Chelsea last season, where he won four of his six duels and made a player-high five clearances filling in as a central defender (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, if both players are fit enough to make the squad then it will be a boost for Lampard and his team, and even the news that they should be good to go come next week’s trip to Aston Villa is a positive.

ExWHUemployee has dropped an update on reported West Ham United transfer target Jesse Lingard.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the West Ham insider revealed that, following reports suggesting that Rob Newman is now closing in on a deal to bring the out-of-contract forward to the London Stadium this summer, he has been informed by a number of sources that a move for the 29-year-old is indeed close.

However, Ex went on to state that he was not prepared to reveal just how close the England international’s switch to east London actually is, as the former Manchester United attacker could yet opt to move elsewhere – having also been linked with a move to Wayne Rooney’s DC United and a number of European clubs in recent weeks.

In his tweet, the insider said: “I have been told by numerous people he is close, but I said I’m not prepared to say how close until I know he has been to [the] training ground and it’s that close – as he can change [his] mind.”

Supporters will love Ex’s update

Considering just how impressive Lingard was during a loan spell at the London Stadium in the second half of the 2022/21 campaign, Ex’s claim that the 32-cap international does now appear to be close to securing a permanent switch to east London this summer is sure to be news the West Ham faithful will love.

Indeed, over his 16 Premier League fixtures for the Hammers in the season before last, the £16.2m-rated attacker was in devastating form for Moyes’ side, scoring nine goals, registering five assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.6 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.

These metrics saw the 29-year-old average a quite breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.19, not only ranking him as the Irons’ best performer in the league but also as the 20th-best player in the English top flight as a whole – playing an influential role in West Ham sealing an extremely impressive sixth-place finish that year.

As such, the prospect of the Manchester United academy graduate linking up with the club once again on a full-time basis is sure to be an extremely tantalising one for both Moyes and supporters alike – with Ex’s latest update appearing to suggest that it will not be long before Lingard is back playing his football in claret and blue.

AND in other news: “Signing both not ruled out”: Sky Sports journo drops WHU update, Moyes surely buzzing

Leeds United have already seen two new midfielders make their way to Elland Road this summer in Marc Roca and Brenden Aaronson.

In terms of their other midfield options, the Whites have the likes of Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich in their ranks, who are two of the club’s oldest players as things stand. In fact, at the age of 32, the latter is currently the oldest figure in Jesse Marsch’s squad.

With that in mind, it could be said that Leeds’ two new midfielders could be seen as long-term replacements for the Poland international.

Another player with whom the Yorkshire club have been linked who could also fit into this category, and who would be known to the Elland Road faithful, is Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge.

After making 113 appearances for Genk in Belgium, the midfielder joined the Blades in January 2020 January for a then club-record fee of £22m. Since then, the 24-year-old has made 66 appearances for his current club, finding the net eight times and delivering six assists.

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This shows just how useful he can be in front of goal, in a similar way to Klich, who has 22 goals and 21 assists in 179 appearances for Leeds.

From a defensive point of view, with more than 30 league appearances each from their previous individual domestic seasons, both players won more than 20 tackles for their respective teams.

Described by Arsenal assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg as an “intelligent” player who “reads the game well and takes the initiative”, Berge has also been hailed as a “leader” by former Norway international Jan Aage Fjortoft.

Given the age difference between the two midfielders, the Blades star could be an ideal long-term replacement for Klich and take his role in the squad whenever the 32-year-old leaves.

Also, having already played 29 games in the Premier League, this experience could make it easier for him to settle into Marsch’s side at Elland Road should he end up at Leeds this summer.

With a reported price tag of £25m, this is an investment worth making for Victor Orta, as it could save the club a lot of hassle further down the line in terms of having to find a replacement for Klich.

In other news – Bid rejected: Big Leeds United transfer update emerges, supporters will be gutted

Aston Villa are reportedly keen on signing West Ham forward Sonny Perkins this summer.

The Lowdown: Suarez links

Villa have been hard at work prior to the transfer window officially opening, with permanent deals for Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos already in place.

Steven Gerrard’s side are now exploring a move for Luis Suarez following his release from Atletico Madrid. Gregg Evans has recently added that Villa are ‘still weighing up’ a swoop for the former Liverpool star, and another highly-rated forward is also on the club’s radar.

The Latest: Perkins interest

According to ExWHUemployee, relayed by West Ham Zone, Villa and Leeds are both in the race to sign Perkins.

The 18-year-old is out of contract at the London Stadium at the end of the month and is yet to agree on new terms due to his ‘large wage’ demands. That has led to interest from Villa Park and Elland Road, with a potential compensation move on the cards.

The Verdict: No messing around

Perkins, described as a ‘stand out’ player for the Hammers youth side, seems to be an extremely talented centre-forward. He scored 16 goals in 24 appearances in Premier League 2 and the U18s Premier League, picking up the PL2 Player of the Month award in April.

The teenager also made two senior appearances in the Europa League and one in the Premier League last season, so a cut-price move to the Midlands could turn out to be a smart one in the long run.

Gerrard has already snapped up three huge talents, and adding another alongside an experienced head in Suarez would be a scarcely believable first summer window in charge for the gaffer.

In other news: Villa and NSWE adore ‘astonishing’ next target after Carlos; says ‘deal will happen’. 

Leeds United have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig.

According to a recent report by The Express, the 22-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements by Xavi, with the central midfielder expected to be made available on a cut-price deal in the summer transfer window.

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The report goes on to state that this will come as a huge boost to Victor Orta and the Whites, with the Spanish sporting director believed to hold a long-standing interest in the former Spain U21 international.

Gundogan 2.0

Considering just how exciting a talent Puig quite clearly is, the argument that Orta simply must make a move to bring the playmaker to Elland Road in the summer transfer window is a rather easy one to make.

Indeed, according to FBref data, the 22-year-old ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for passes attempted per 90, as well as the top 2% for passes completed, the top 5% for progressive carries, the top 10% for touches in the opposition penalty area, the top 4% for progressive passes received and the top 29% for dribbles completed over the last 365 days.

The £64k-per-week Spaniard also ranks in the top 10% for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 18% for npxG, the top 12% for shots and the top 4% for shot-creating actions over the last 12 months.

These metrics see FBref compare the player who Quique Setien dubbed an “extraordinary” talent to a number of the most prestigious midfielders in European football, such as Manchester City duo Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva, Barca pair Pedri and Frenkie de Jong and the in-demand Lens talent Seko Fofana.

As such, should the La Masia graduate indeed be available for a reported €10m (£8.5m) fee this summer, Orta simply must make a move for the Barca starlet, as Puig could end up being Jesse Marsch’s own Gundogan at Leeds next season.

AND in other news: Marsch could land the next £48m talent as Leeds now plot bid for “elite” 23 y/o target

Italian newspaper Il Giorno has now shared a significant update on Tottenham Hotspur’s chase for Atalanta defender Joakim Maehle this summer.

The Lowdown: Conte eyes new full-backs…

Spurs manager Antonio Conte has famously earmarked the signing of new right-wing-back with attempts being made to sign Adama Traore as a makeshift option in January.

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When the Spaniard opted to join Barcelona, Tottenham’s boss was left without a desired upgrade in that position, meaning he has had to turn to Emerson Royal since the in-form Matt Doherty was ruled out for the remainder of 2021/2022.

As Conte’s first full Premier League campaign looms, transfer chief Fabio Paratici will be looking to make amends and finally back the Italian with a world class RWB addition.

The Latest: Spurs could bid for Maehle…

Italian newspaper Il Giorno, sharing news, claim Conte now personally wants Denmark international Maehle in north London with the club, and by extension chairman Daniel Levy, having followed him since 2019.

The Lilywhites are apparently willing to table a €18 million (£15m) bid for the 24-year-old and will potentially hold talks when they meet with Atalanta ‘in the coming weeks’.

While the summit is set to discuss loanee goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini’s future at Hotspur Way, the report claims Maehle could well become a topic.

The Verdict: Advance…

Denmark goalkeeper and Leicester City number one Kasper Schmeichel has raved over his international teammate, branding the Serie A ace a ‘machine’ who never stops running on the treadmill.

Of course, durability and endurance are traits which could be attractive to the famously demanding Conte, and Maehle’s potential as a fairly young option could also motivate Spurs to make the offer – particularly if Atalanta agree to the £15m terms.

In other news: Reliable source: Tottenham agreement now ‘very likely’ as Conte closes in on ‘top signing’…find out more here.