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Leeds United are reportedly worried that Tyler Adams will opt to join Manchester United in the summer transfer window, should the Whites be relegated from the Premier League.

Has Adams been a key figure for Leeds?

It has been a season to forget at Elland Road and Leeds now face the likely threat of relegation to the Championship this weekend, unless they perform a memorable escape act.

Too many players have underperformed through the campaign, as has the team as a unit, but Adams has arguably been one of the few success stories. The £55,000-a-week American joined the Whites from RB Leipzig and has been a key figure, making 24 starts in the league and averaging 3.4 tackles per match.

Adams has been a huge loss through injury in recent weeks, not helping Leeds' struggles in the slightest, and he will play no part in the must-win game at home to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. It could even be that he has played his last game for the club, if a fresh report is to believed, even though the Whites clearly want to keep hold of him.

Could Adams depart Elland Road?

According to Football Insider, Leeds "fear they have no chance of keeping hold of Adams if they are relegated", amid interest from United. The report states that "Adams is wanted by multiple clubs in the Premier League and in top European leagues, and Leeds are unlikely to keep hold of him if they go down".

The Red Devils are "among the teams keeping tabs on Adams, whose dynamism and energy in midfield has impressed their recruitment team."

In truth, it would be hard to expect Adams to stay put at Leeds if they are in the Championship next season, with loyalty one thing but top players also wanting to be performing at the highest level.

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For that reason, the 24-year-old should be expected to move on if relegation does come the Whites' way, although seeing him join United would be touch to stomach, given the rivalry between the pair. The hope is that he realises that himself, and instead opts to move elsewhere and not negatively impact his relationship with Leeds supporters.

Adams would be a massive loss, as he has already been recently – journalist Henry Winter hailed him as "superb" for the USA during the 2022 World Cup – and if he does exit Elland Road, it is vital that the club use the funds wisely this summer, with a hefty fee likely to come their way.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were heavily interested in a move for Brazilian starlet Marquinhos last summer, who since signed for Arsenal in a bargain £3m deal, and must rue the failure to secure the players’ signature.

According to the Express & Star, the Old Gold had a pre-contract agreement with the player and his homeland outfit Sao Paulo, before the Gunners exploited a legal loophole and clinched the ace for themselves.

The Molineux club had even allegedly had a loan move lined up with Swiss feeder club Grasshoppers, but plans were scuppered following the eventual transfer to north London.

Marquinhos failed to break into Mikel Arteta’s first team this season, making just three starts, and has recently been loaned out to Championship outfit Norwich City to earn some valuable experience for the remainder of the campaign.

Wolves will be particularly miffed when considering that the player could have been utilised in place of winger Goncalo Guedes, who only scored two goals from 18 appearances following his £27.5m summer transfer from Valencia before being loaned out last month to SL Benfica.

In the Europa League this season, as per Sofascore, the 19-year-old Marquinhos produced an average rating of 7.40, scoring a goal – which came on his debut – and registering an assist. He further starred with 1.3 shots and 1.7 key passes per game, also completing 79% of his passes and making 1.3 tackles per outing.

And in Premier League 2, the gem scored three times and provided one assist, having been “tearing it up” – in the words of Planet Football.

And despite not earning a starting shot in the Premier League this year, the teenager is clearly demonstrating a talent embedded within his footballing DNA, one that Wolves could certainly use as they battle to stave off the threat of relegation, an added dimension of sorts, capable of offering something different.

And with Guedes indeed joining his former Portuguese outfit this winter, there is little doubt that the Brazilian starlet could have occupied his role in the team and provided cover when required.

Hailed as “the Kylian Mbappe from Cotia” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the budding talent could yet become one of Europe’s hottest commodities, with Kulig also stating the 19-year-old is “one of the fastest” footballers that he can remember witnessing in recent memory.

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If Marquinhos can even reach half of the heights of the 24-year-old World Cup winner Mbappe, who has already scored 228 goals from 308 appearances at club level and 36 from just 66 outings for France, he could forge an arresting and salient name for himself, and Wolves will undoubtedly be kicking themselves for missing out on a Mbappe-esque prodigy.

While the “mobile” Marquinhos – as hailed by South American football expert Tim Vickery, is indeed largely an untested commodity in the Premier League, his skills and high ceiling could have been nurtured at Molineux, with Lopetegui – who replaced Bruno Lage as manager in November – providing the promise of greater involvement over the course of the campaign than with the Gunners, who can scarcely afford a slip as the fight for the Premier League title rages on.

With Guedes indeed now plying his trade elsewhere, Jeff Shi and co will be left with a bitter taste after failing to sign a talented young prospect for a slice of the price, and instead will now have to consider parting with even more money on another wide option to continue the resurgence under Lopetegui next season.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming at Manchester United is over, with it confirmed that the Portuguese superstar has severed ties with the Red Devils less than 18 months after he made an emotional return to a spiritual home.They do say ‘never go back’, and an all-time great with five Ballons d’Or to his name should have heeded that advice when mulling over his options in the summer of 2021. A 24-goal haul during his first season back in England only served to paper over cracks, with it clear for some time that something was not right.

Exploits

Frustration came to the boil in 2022, as a push for the exits was made during another summer transfer window, and ultimately spilled over in an explosive interview that burned any remaining bridges.

It became abundantly clear that Ronaldo’s heart was no longer in Manchester as attention turned to international matters. HisÂexploits in QatarÂhave placed his nation among the favourites in the World Cup odds 2022,Âwith Portugal priced at 10/1Âto chase down a global crown.

During the early stages of that tournament, United announced that a lucrative contract at Old Trafford had been torn up. Ronaldo then came out andÂsuggested that the Red Devils still hold some place in his heart: “I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.â€

The obvious question at that point was, where will Ronaldo end up next? Various landing spots had already been speculated on before the worst-kept secret in football was revealed. Destinations from Saudi Arabia to the United States have been mooted, while there is still a chance that a Premier League suitor could emerge.

If a modern-day great were to remain in English football, then he could be finding himself lining up against United in the not-too-distant future. Even a return to his roots at Sporting could see paths crossed with familiar faces, with both sides still in the hunt for Europa League glory in 2022-23.

Facing the Red Devils would be nothing new for Ronaldo, as he has turned out against them on five previous occasions in competitive fixtures – while a famous friendly appearance for Sporting back in 2003 allowed him to catch the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson and earn a career-defining move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Success

Ronaldo first crossed swords with United as an established superstar while with Real Madrid in 2013, scoring in both legs of a Champions League last-16 encounter. He also savoured UEFA Super Cup success against the Red Devils while in Spain and netted against them again in European competition when at Juventus in 2018.

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Celebrations with the Blancos and Bianconeri were understandably muted, with promises having been made not to go full ‘SIUUU’ mode when facing a side that had done so much for him, but it remains to be seen whether he would be so respectful if another meeting with United were to be taken in.

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Liverpool finally look set to find the solution to their midfield problems…

What’s the word?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Jurgen Klopp could now complete a U-turn on his claims regarding a deadline day move for a midfielder.

Writing on Twitter, the ever-reliable journalist claimed: “Liverpool are closing in on deal to sign Arthur Melo from Juventus. Full agreement on the salary, work now in progress for medical later.”

He then issued another update: “Medical scheduled in the afternoon for Arthur Melo as Liverpool and Juventus are closing on final details of loan deal for Brazilian midfielder. NO buy option as things stand.”

Imagine him & Fabinho

This marks another shrewd piece of business from Klopp, who has not panicked in the face of a few injuries. His calculated approach has led to this move, where Liverpool will get a well-rounded midfielder who can partner his compatriot Fabinho perfectly.

What instantly jumps out about the “incredible” Arthur – in the words of Thomas Vermaelen – is his outstanding ball retention, and his desperation to keep recycling possession until a real chance opens up.

This is outlined in his pass completion percentage, of which he ranks in the top 3% for midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues.

However, combined with his similarly impressive progressive passes and carries, of which he ranks in the top 20% and 17%, he clearly is willing to spring forward and attack when the opportunity arises.

To place him alongside Fabinho, who also boasts an 89.1% pass completion rate, it could be a match made in heaven.

It would also relieve some of the defensive burden held by the Liverpool man, who currently averages 2.67 tackles and 2.06 interceptions per 90.

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Arthur is not wholly defensive minded but chipping in with his 2.12 tackles will certainly help Klopp’s benefit tough-tackling style.

Alongside one another, these Brazilians could dominate many matches with their impressive physicality and mastery of keeping the ball.

It could be one of Klopp’s most important signings, to bring in a vastly experienced international, especially given all the injuries he is currently contending with in midfield. He and Fabinho could be integral to any chances Liverpool have of trophies this season.

Aston Villa are reportedly keen on signing Burnley defender Nathan Collins this summer, although they are not alone in expressing an interest.

The Lowdown: Collins impresses for Burnley

The Clarets may have been relegated from the Premier League last season but Collins was one of his side’s better performers throughout the campaign.

The 21-year-old filled in impressively when the likes of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee were missing, making 19 appearances in the league in total and ranking as the club’s fourth best player.

With Burnley preparing for Championship football in 2022/23, it could be that Collins remains in the top flight moving forward.

The Latest: Villa keen on move

According to talkSPORT, Villa are ‘monitoring’ the centre-back’s situation, with his current deal at Turf Moor not expiring until the summer of 2025.

New Burnley boss Vincent Kompany wants to build his defence around Collins, following the departure of Tarkowski and Mee, but he could find it hard to keep him, with Leeds United and Wolves also credited with interest.

The Verdict: Strong squad addition

At 21, Collins would come in a long-term signing with a bright future ahead of him, having been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Sean Dyche, as well as winning four caps for the Republic of Ireland – he even scored an incredible solo goal for his country this week.

He would provide immediate competition for the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, bringing a dominant presence that is highlighted by an average of 3.1 aerial duel wins per game in the league last season.

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It is hard to see a player of Collins’ quality and potential playing in the Championship and Steven Gerrard should do his utmost to bring him in, gradually turning him into a regular over time.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a key Villa claim. Read more here.

Pep Guardiola will have to endure a double defensive setback in Manchester City’s quarter-final clash against Atletico Madrid.

The Lowdown: City’s UCL form

Sky Blues fans will be hoping for a strong start to the Champions League quarter-finals in which City kick off their first-leg against Madrid in tonight’s clash at the Etihad.

City destroyed Sporting Lisbon in the opening leg of round 16 with an emphatic 5-0 win, before coasting to a 0-0 stalemate in the return fixture.

Guardiola will be aiming to make amends for his side’s loss in the final last year, in which they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

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The Latest: Guardiola’s team news

The Catalan boss is set to face a defensive headache in his team selection tonight as both Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker are unavailable for the game, after the latest team news emerged from Manchester Evening News.

Man City will be without centre-back stalwart Dias, who has been missing for around a month now, as the manager confirmed on Friday that he would need another ten days to two weeks to get back up to full fitness.

Walker will also serve the last of his three-match ban against the Spanish outfit, following his red card which he sustained against RB Leipzig.

The Verdict: Dias will be missed

Guardiola’s men will be ready to face a tough Madrid side tonight, who have scored 57 goals in La Liga this season – the Premier League leaders have been solid defensively in the English campaign, having lost just three top-flight games and conceded a mere 18 goals.

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Despite this, City would have been hoping that Dias could have made his return in time for the opening leg, as he has been a key figure in the side’s defensive success. He has earned himself praise as “a man mountain”, who could be considered “the best centre back in the world”, with fellow defender John Stones hailing his ‘outstanding’ impact.

The boss will have been praying throughout the international break that his defensive leader could have returned early enough to play tonight, but it looks as though Stones and Aymeric Laporte will have to step up.

In other news: Manchester City: Pep Guardiola in awe of Ilkay Gundogan

Aston Villa have introduced a new manager, with Steven Gerrard joining the club in November, and he will surely be confident going into his first Premier League winter transfer window, making his own mark on the squad.

Gerrard has been in charge of the side for seven games, with four wins for the Villains so far climbing from 16th to 10th since his arrival, and has had the opportunity to work with the current crop of players at Villa Park to determine his next moves in the upcoming transfer window.

He recently spoke to Birmingham Live to offer an insight to his plans for January;

“In terms of the January window, there’s obviously conversations at Villa and there always will be behind the scenes identifying areas where we can improve.”

Time to go

One player who is expected to be axed in the winter transfer window is striker, Wesley Moraes, who has been on loan at Club Brugge for the first half of the season, struggling to make an impact on the Belgian side with no goals or assists in his seven appearances.

The centre forward suffered a horrific ACL injury back in January 2020, when he was playing for Aston Villa, which saw him injured for almost 18 months, making his return in April 2021, and being sent out on loan to Club Brugge a few months later.

He is now linked with a move to one of two Brazilian clubs, Sao Paolo or Internacional, who are both rumoured to be interested in the £35K-p/w gem and it could really be a blessing in disguise for Gerrard, as he will be looking to free up funds so that he can spend on players he wants to add into his Aston Villa team of the future.

Rumours of a replacement

Gabriel Barbosa, better known as Gabigol, has been heavily linked with Aston Villa and a number of other Premier League clubs for that matter, including Newcastle United, West Ham, Arsenal and Everton.

The Flamengo forward has offered a much better output in his most recent season for his club compared to Villa flop, Wesley, with an impressive 29 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances, and has quite rightly grabbed the attention of Premier League clubs desperate to add goals and creativity to their side.

Flamengo legend, Zico, claimed Gabigol “has everything” in an interview: “I think Gabigol has everything to be the greatest striker in Flamengo’s history.”

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Reports suggest that the goal machine would costs around £17m, but with the competition so broad across a number of Premier League clubs rumoured to be interested in securing Gabigol’s signature, it could be a battle of the highest bidder.

The Villa boss would surely welcome a striker with the volume of goals Barbosa has scored for his Rio De Janeiro based club at Villa Park, as he continues to attempt to climb the Premier League table in the second half of the season, in the hopes he will be able to repair the damage done before his arrival to the club last month.

In other news: Gerrard dealt a blow in securing transfer target

Aston Villa could sign a hugely exciting upgrade on Anwar El Ghazi in Burnley star Dwight McNeil.

What’s the story?

Reports over the course of the summer transfer window suggested that Dean Smith’s side were very much interested in signing the England youth international, but a deal failed to materialise before the deadline.

Now, McNeil has opened up on the fact he ended up staying at Turf Moor despite the interest in him, and shed some light on some of the rumours surrounding him over the summer.

He said: “I heard it, but nothing came about it. When I asked my agents the question, they hadn’t heard anything. When I spoke to my dad and family about it, the main thing, for me, at the time, I am still a Burnley player.

“I think, in the summer, it was important for me to still keep thinking about Burnley and my ambitions are with Burnley this season. The main thing is that I am here and happy to be at the club.”

Upgrade on El Ghazi

While McNeil has suggested he is happy to be at Burnley, there’s absolutely no reason why Villa shouldn’t be pursuing a move for him again in the January transfer window, or even next summer.

At just 21, the winger has got plenty of time to grow and develop under Smith at Villa Park, and that potential is something his teammate with the Clarets, Ashley Westwood, has previously raved about.

He said: “He’s really mature. I think the world of him, he’s a special talent. It’s been good to see him grow up because when he first came training with us he was really quiet.

“He’s already racked up more than 50 games in the Premier League now, which at his age is phenomenal. He’s producing as well so if he keeps doing that and we all keep doing what we’re doing then there will be teams circulating.”

And, with reports in recent weeks and months claiming that Villa would be open to selling El Ghazi, the Midlands club could sign a major upgrade on the Dutchman in McNeil.

When you compare his stats to that of El Ghazi, it really is night and day.

While the Dutchman averaged more shots than McNeil last season in the Premier League, in every other department, the Burnley man betters him considerably.

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As per Whosored, he averaged more key passes, dribbles and crosses per game in the Premier League, while also boasting a far better passing accuracy and being fouled more times per match too.

The £26m-rated star could add to an already exciting Villa attack, and is exactly why Smith should go back in for him amid latest transfer comments.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has delivered a major Aston Villa update on Emi Martinez…

West Bromwich Albion will not be bringing Harry Wilson to The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Goal, who claim that Valerien Ismael’s side are no longer in the race for the Liverpool winger, with the Premier League club’s £15m asking price believed to be well out of Albion’s price range, while the Reds are also thought to be unwilling to allow the 24-year-old to leave on a loan deal.

The report continues by stating that West Brom’s likely promotion rivals Fulham now are leading the race for the Wales international, with personal terms between the two parties not thought to be an issue, although it remains to be seen whether Marco Silva’s side will meet Liverpool’s asking price with an offer.

Fans surely gutted

With it very much appearing as if West Brom winger Matheus Pereira will be leaving The Hawthorns this summer, having been linked with the likes of West Ham United, Norwich City, Leeds United and Leicester City in recent weeks, in addition to the fact that Wilson himself has proven a fantastic player in the Championship, the news that the Baggies are out of the race for the winger is sure to have left fans gutted.

Indeed, the 24-year-old highly impressed during his most recent loan spell at Cardiff City, with the £15.3m-rated man scoring seven goals, registering 11 assists and creating 11 big chances over his 37 Championship appearances for the Bluebirds last season.

These returns saw the man Klopp dubbed a “world-class” striker of the ball earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.20, ranking him as Cardiff’s second-best player in the second tier of English football.

The £41k-per-week forward has also impressed during spells at both Hull City and Derby County in the past, scoring seven goals and providing four assists and bagging 16 goals and registering four assists for the Tigers and the Rams respectively.

As such, should Pereira indeed go on to secure a move away from Albion this summer, Wilson would have very much appeared to be a decent replacement for the Brazilian – who scored 11 goals and registered six assists in the Premier League last season.

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However, with Fulham looking the most likely club to land the Welshman ahead of next season, not only will Ismael fail to benefit from the 24-year-old’s undoubted talent, it would appear as if one of the club’s main Championship rivals will – an eventuality that is sure to leave all involved with the Baggies incredibly frustrated.

AND in other news, West Brom dealt knockout blow on “excellent” £20k-p/w gem, it’s an opportunity missed…

Wayne Rooney’s Derby County defender Scott Malone looks set to leave Pride Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Derbyshire Live, who claim that Malone is due to leave the Rams upon the expiry of his contract at the end of this season, along with Scott Carson and Florian Jozefzoon.

The £1.8 million-rated left-back, who Frank Lampard signed from Huddersfield Town back in the summer of 2018, has spent the past season on loan at fellow Championship side Millwall and does not look likely to make a return to Pride Park, with the Lions thought to be considering a move for the defender if and when he becomes a free agent.

Malone must go

Having made a total of just 45 Championship appearances for Derby throughout his three years at the club, over which the left-back scored three goals and provided two assists, it would be fair to say that Malone has not exactly made a drastic impression within the Rams side since his arrival.

Indeed, over his 18 second-tier fixtures for the club last season, the left-back gave away possession of the ball an average of 12.7 times per game, in addition to making one error that led directly to a goal and conceding one penalty, culminating in a highly disappointing SofaScore average match rating of 6.55.

As such, there should be absolutely no hesitation on the part of Wayne Rooney when considering the defender’s future at the club this summer, particularly as the 30-year-old is reported to earn a whopping £20,000-per-week.

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Once the Rams are free of Malone’s wage commitments, the 35-year-old manager can put this money towards the improvement of his squad this summer, something that, considering how narrow Derby’s escape from dropping down to League One was this season, it appears is desperately needed at the club.

In other news: Forget Waghorn: Derby County “leader” who won 9 duels saved Rooney’s season – opinion