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Upon the arrival of new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have reportedly made their first move to bolster the Dutchman's midfield in what would be Michael Edwards' first signing since making his Anfield return.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds could certainly be in for a busy few months as Edwards looks to shape the current Liverpool squad into Slot's vision and away from that of Jurgen Klopp's, who said one final goodbye this week after a legendary tenure that will forever have its place in the Anfield history books.

With the Slot era set to get underway, however, potential changes have already stolen the headlines in Merseyside, with the likes of Rodrygo and Aurelien Tchouameni linked with sensational switches from Real Madrid in what would be some statement from all those at Liverpool. That said, Edwards has since instead turned his attention towards Portugal when it comes to handing his new manager a boost in the middle of the park, a familiar hunting ground for both he and his once successor, Julian Ward.

According to Leo Pardizo via GiveMeSport, Liverpool have enquired about signing Alan Varela, who reportedly has a release clause of £60m this summer. The Argentine, who earns a reported £13k-a-week at Porto, is still just 22 years old and has attracted the interest of Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, leaving him with quite the decision to make this summer.

Liverpool hit the jackpot with £4m man now worth more than Jota & Salah

Arne Slot could nurture this player toward the top of the Premier League.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 29, 2024

Liverpool aren't afraid to splash the cash to improve their midfield, as proved last summer of course. And now they could finally welcome a long-term defensive midfielder, with Wataru Endo already 31 years old and unlikely to be at his best for an extended period of time, such is the ruthless nature of the Premier League. But that should allow Varela to step in at the perfect time.

"Wonderful" Varela can replace Endo

As surprisingly good as Endo has been for Liverpool since arriving last summer, the Reds need a long-term solution for that defensive midfield role if they are to permanently unleash Alexis Mac Allister's best form. And that solution should be the former Brighton man's compatriot in Varela this summer.

23/24 domestic league stats (via FBref)	Alan Varela	Wataru Endo
Progressive Passes	179	101
Progressive Carries	30	10
Interceptions	23	20
Ball Recoveries	123	108

Valera's numbers on the ball are particularly impressive and there could be an argument that he's yet to even reach his best form at 22 years old. A move to Liverpool this summer would, on paper, result in significant improvement if all goes well under Slot. The Argentine has certainly earned fans during what is still a young career, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig describing him as "wonderful" on X.

When the summer transfer window arrives, the Porto star will be one to watch amid impressive interest, as Liverpool look to end any doubts about their midfield once and for all.

Aston Villa are now looking at signing an experienced international midfielder on a free transfer, according to a new report.

Unai Emery wants more Champions League football with Aston Villa

The Villans secured a top-four finish in the Premier League during Unai Emery’s first full season at the club. The Spaniard is adamant that he wants to keep Villa in the Champions League over the coming years, saying he wants his Villa team to get even better.

"When I arrived here, my conversations with [owners] Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens were about winning trophies and getting Europe. To get there you have to be competitive. Even if we don’t have the budget, we have to be intelligent and clinical in our decisions. This is still my objective. We are in the Champions League and we want to keep it. It is our challenge.

"It is a dream. It is very difficult. When we were at the beginning of the season playing two matches against City and Arsenal, we won both matches. We were there.

"Those teams are amazing with consistency. I want to get better and I have my dreams and I believe in my dreams. Of course my objectives is to win the Premier League or the Champions League."

"One of the best" open to joining Aston Villa as NSWE plot £47m double bid

It could be the start of an exciting summer at Villa Park.

By
Ben Browning

May 20, 2024

To improve even further, additions in the upcoming summer transfer market could be required, and it looks as if NSWE and Villa are wasting no time in looking to bolster Emery’s squad.

Aston Villa transfer latest

For example, former loanee Ross Barkley is close to returning to Villa Park, this time on a permanent transfer after impressing with Luton Town, with talks at an advanced stage. Barkley could be joined by Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, with the player someone who Emery and Monchi love. Alongside the pair, another target has emerged in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

According to Tutto Juve, Villa are thinking of moving for Rabiot, who Emery considers ‘an exemplary professional and would always like to have a player of his quality in his team’.

At this moment in time, Rabiot will be a free agent at the end of June, although Juventus haven’t given up hope of agreeing new terms with the Frenchman, whereas Bayern Munich and Manchester United have also been interested.

The 29-year-old, on £190,000-a-week with bonuses in Turin, is valued at €40m by Transfermarkt, so securing his services for free could be a shrewd piece of business by Villa.

Rabiot can play as a holding, central or left midfielder and has played more than 400 games in total for PSG and Juventus during his career. He also has plenty of experience in the Champions League, something which could be needed for Villa next season.

Rabiot's career stats	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Paris Saint-Germain	227	24	14
Juventus	212	22	15
Toulouse	13	1	3
France	43	4	3

Labelled as a “monster” by football writer Robin Bairner, Rabiot will have a decision to make on his future in the coming weeks, making a move to the Midlands one to watch.

Smith says his dismissal was a crucial moment in Australia’s semi-final loss to India

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Mar-20251:22

Agar: Australia building more depth a big positive despite loss

“I missed a full toss. It wasn’t ideal.” This is one of the greatest contemporary batters speaking on a moment that swung the match away from his team.Steven Smith was batting on 73 in the 37th over against India, and seemed set to guide Australia into the death overs. Then he ran at Mohammed Shami, got a full toss at around knee-height, and missed it completely. The off stump was rattled.From there, Australia got 66 runs off the 75 balls available to them. Alex Carey hit 61 off 57, batting with the tail in the later stages. Nathan Ellis tried to crash some late boundaries. But if you are looking for a moment in the match that paved the way for India’s dominance, this is a big one.Related

Kohli conquers legspin to add new layer to his mystique

Kohli's 84 sends India into Champions Trophy final

Shami vs Connolly: A different kind of six and out

“My plan was to try and put the seamers under a bit more pressure, and just rotate the spin,” Smith said after the match. “But I didn’t do it very well. I lost my wicket at probably a crucial stage. Had I batted a little deeper, we could have potentially got up to near 300 or something. Alex was batting really nicely at the other end. It was a disappointing time to get out, but that’s the game sometimes.”Australia only set India 265 for victory. But given this was likely the most batting-friendly surface at this venue for the whole tournament, Smith rued the chance to go big.”I think we had our opportunities throughout to post something up above 300,” Smith said. “We were probably just that one wicket down too many at a few stages throughout the innings. If we extended one of those partnerships a little bit, we’re probably getting up to 290 to 300 and we’re putting a bit of pressure on the scoreboard.Steven Smith was bowled by a full toss•Associated Press”The square block as a whole, I think, has seen a lot of cricket over the last couple of months. We can see it’s pretty tired and that’s probably the reason why we haven’t seen a score above 300 in the tournament here so far. So we did a reasonable job, but we probably just lacked a couple of those partnerships just dragging out a little bit further.”Australia were also poor in the field. They dropped Rohit Sharma twice, and Virat Kohli was put down on 51. All of these were tough chances, though.”I think when you’re trying to squeeze the game and you’re trying to build a lot of pressure, you need to take those chances when you’ve got 260 [264] on the board,” Smith said. “But that’s the game, it happens. No one means to drop a catch. It’s part of the game.”

Jose Mourinho could reportedly make a sensational Premier League return with Nottingham Forest emerging as a shock potential destination. Nuno Espirito Santo's position as head coach at the City Ground is uncertain due to a rift with the club's hierarchy, despite a 3-1 victory over Brentford last weekend.

• Mourinho tipped as Forest candidate
• Nuno admits to a broken bond with the owner
• Ange Postecoglou & Brendan Rodgers also in the frame

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mourinho, currently steering Turkish giants Fenerbahce, is being touted as a surprise name in the mix if Evangelos Marinakis decides to swing the axe. The Portuguese coach, a serial winner with 26 major trophies across Europe, has long been linked with a dramatic return to English football, and Forest could be the club to hand him that chance, as reported by

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ex-Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is high on the list, despite his mixed spell in north London. Spurs lifted the Europa League under his guidance but collapsed in the Premier League, finishing in a disastrous 17th place.

• WHAT NUNO SAID

  While Forest attempted to cool the speculation by denying that Nuno was about to be sacked, the manager himself only added fuel to the fire and it emerged his relationship with the newly-appointed global head of football, Edu, is behind the rift. Facing the press, he admitted: "There is no smoke without fire – I know how things work. It's not good. I always had a very good relationship with the owner. This season, not so well – our relations have changed.

  "The reality is that it’s not what it used to be. It used to be a good, respectful relationship, based more on trust and sharing opinions, and now it's not so good. My job is to manage the team, prepare them well and try to get them to the next level. The club has different opinions, but I'm someone who says my opinions. We’ve all been in the industry for a while now. And where there's smoke, there's fire. I understand, because I'm worried. I'm the first one to be worried. I'm the first one to be concerned."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers is also on the shortlist. He led the Glasgow side to yet another Scottish Premiership crown and has valuable Premier League experience from his stints with Liverpool and Leicester City. Sources suggest Rodgers’ tactical nous and proven record in rebuilding teams have made him a serious contender should the role become vacant.

Derby County will hope they can make the jump-up to the Championship look effortless rather than a struggle, with Paul Warne eager to kick on from the dug-out too after finding the second-tier troubling previously in his managerial career.

With three relegations from the level on his managerial CV, the ex-Rotherham United boss will pray that his time with the Rams in the unforgiving division is different.

Derby will be abundantly aware also that improving the squad will stand them in better stead at staying put in the league, with the transfer rumour mill pointing in the direction that the attacking spots could be bolstered soon with this exciting new addition.

It would put a nail in Dwight Gayle's short-lived Derby career, with the 34-year-old scoring a handful of goals to play his part in Warne's men achieving promotion before injuries got in the way.

Derby looking at Championship star

According to a report by Sheffield Star journalist Joe Crann, the League One promotion winners are planning an ambitious swoop for Sheffield Wednesday star Josh Windass this summer to add quality to their ranks ahead of the step-up.

Derby aren't lone suitors looking at the 30-year-old attacker, however, with the likes of Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Hull City all preparing to lodge bids for the Owls gem with his contract expiring next month.

Scoring a screamer against Blackburn Rovers for Danny Rohl's men in the midst of a winning run that saw an unbelievable survival act become reality, Windass will now be assessing his options ahead of next campaign.

Derby would send out a statement to their new division if they could get a deal over the line for the mercurial Wednesday talent, which would also see them get over the heartbreak of not being able to secure a move for Owls man Michael Smith in the January transfer window.

Capable of playing both as a centre-forward, or as an attacking midfielder, Windass could also be viewed as an upgrade on Gayle with his recent heroics netting crucial goals for a team lingering around the Championship drop-zone sticking out.

Why Windass would be better than Dwight Gayle

Although Gayle previously had a reputation for being a lethal finisher in the second tier, with 62 goals bagged in the competitive league from 145 games in total, the ex-Stoke City man endured a torrid few seasons at the level with the Potters before moving to Derbyshire.

Gayle only helped himself to an abysmal three goals from 50 games at Stoke, so Windass' coolness in front of goal even when the tension was building in a dramatic bid to avoid dropping down to League One means he is the more reliable option out of the two in the here and now.

Season

Games played

Goals

Assists

2023/24

25

6

2

2020/21

41

9

6

2019/20

9

3

0

Half of Windass' strikes came right at the end of the campaign, with the ex-Accrington Stanley man living up to his billing as being a potential "game-changer" which was dished out to him by his manager Rohl way before this sequence of crunch games.

Warne will view Windass as a sensible purchase to make, therefore, if Derby find themselves staring the Championship trapdoor in the face next campaign.

Notching up 12 goals from the centre-forward spot during his time in South Yorkshire too, Windass will offer the Rams a fresher option away from the likes of James Collins and Conor Washington up top.

With failed past transfer target Smith bagging two fewer strikes this season when compared to Windass' numbers, the 30-year-old – who will be available on a free – should be at the very top of Derby's shopping list if they want to mean business after promotion.

16 players sign terms, taking number of professionals in England and Wales to 58

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-202041 female players have signed full-time domestic contracts as part of the ECB’s new regional set-up, taking the total number of professional women’s cricketers in England and Wales to 58.The ECB had initially planned to award domestic contracts to 40 players in time for the 2020 season, but the process was significantly impeded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, 25 players signed regional retainer deals in June, all of whom have now moved onto full-time contracts.A further 16 players have now signed contracts, including the former England seamer Jenny Gunn who played an instrumental role in the Northern Diamonds’ run to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final this year. Other notable names who will now play professionally include Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers) and Georgia Hennessy (Western Storm).ALSO READ: Jenny Gunn’s accidental comeback – ‘I’m definitely not the next Enid Bakewell’Alongside the 17 centrally-contracted England players, there are now 58 professional women’s cricketers across England and Wales.Seven of the eight regional hubs have awarded five contracts, while Western Storm and Glamorgan have provided funding for a sixth between them.Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said that the move to full-time domestic contracts was “the most significant step forward for the women’s game in recent years”.”In terms of the health of women’s cricket in England and Wales, we cannot overestimate the importance of these 41 players having the opportunity to train and work on their skills full-time, with access to high quality coaching and facilities across the eight regions,” Connor said.”Today’s news is not only wonderful for the players themselves, it represents a step change for our whole domestic game and for young girls who will now be able to see more opportunity and aspiration in front of them.”When you add in the profile opportunity of the Hundred next year, the landscape looks even more exciting. After a challenging year in the wake of the pandemic, I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made in 2020, just one year after launching our action plan to transform women’s and girls’ cricket.”We’re delighted that these 41 young women are able to call themselves full-time professional cricketers and we wish them every success.”Contracted domestic women’s players:Northern Diamonds: Hollie Armitage, Beth Langston, Linsey Smith, Phoebe Graham, Jenny Gunn
Thunder: Georgia Boyce, Alex Hartley, Emma Lamb, Ellie Threlkeld, Hannah Jones
Central Sparks: Evelyn Jones, Marie Kelly, Issy Wong, Emily Arlott, Gwenan Davies
Lightning: Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Bethan Ellis, Lucy Higham, Abbey Freeborn
Western Storm: Dani Gibson, Sophie Luff, Fi Morris, Georgia Hennessy, Nath Wraith, Alex Griffiths
Southern Vipers: Georgia Adams, Tara Norris, Paige Scholfield, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier
South East Stars: Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley, Tash Farrant, Bryony Smith, Aylish Cranstone
Sunrisers: Naomi Dattani, Cordelia Griffith, Amara Carr, Jo Gardner, Kelly Castle

Everton have excelled in recent weeks under boss Sean Dyche, securing Premier League survival after three successive victories against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford.

Idrissa Gueye has starred in midfield, even finding himself on the scoresheet in two of the victories against Forest and Brentford – securing vital points in their battle for survival.

The Toffees have had their setbacks this campaign, suffering an eight-point deduction after multiple breaches of the Premier League's PSR rules – putting their ever-present Premier League status at risk.

However, Dyche has transformed his side's fortunes in recent weeks, looking to build a stable platform ahead of the 2024/25 season, with the club aiming to consolidate as a mid-table side.

One player deserves to be a crucial figure within the Toffees squad next season, with his excellent recent form seeing a sharp increase in his market value.

Dwight McNeil's stats in 2023/24

After joining the club for £20m from Burnley during the summer of 2022, midfielder Dwight McNeil endured a solid first campaign at Goodison Park, scoring seven times and providing three assists for his teammates – as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

However, whilst he's scored fewer goals this season, just three in total, his all-round play has been much improved – with McNeil's stats backing up his development.

The 24-year-old has provided six assists in the Premier League this season, the most of any player within Dyche's squad, with the winger making up for his lack of goals with his other contributions.

However, out of his three goals this season, two of them have come against Forest, with McNeil producing consistently against sides in and around the Toffees in the table.

His brilliant performances have seen the attacker achieve an average rating of 7.18, as per FotMob, the highest of any player in the Everton squad this season.

McNeil's excellent campaign doesn't stop there, with the former Burnley man creating 65 chances and 17 big chances, in the league – tallies that simply can't be matched by any of his teammates.

Average rating

7.18

1st

Assists

6

1st

Chances created

65

1st

Big chances created

17

1st

Successful dribbles (per 90)

1

3rd

As previously mentioned, his excellent displays have allowed for the winger's value to skyrocket, to the point where he's now valued more than one Everton talent who's been linked with a huge move this summer.

Dwight McNeil's market value in 2024

Less than two years on from his move to Merseyside, the "fantastic" McNeil, as described by journalist Zach Lowy, has seen an increase in his market value, with the 24-year-old now valued at £31m, as per Football Transfers.

His figure, which is £11m more than the club paid for him, is also two times higher than Amadou Onana, who joined the club for a fee of around £33m during the same summer as McNeil.

The young Belgian is now only valued at £15m after failing to truly kick on over the last two years or so, while McNeil has firmly established himself as a key figure at Goodison.

The latter man has been superb in what has been a difficult season for the Toffees, proving in recent weeks that he has the ability to be a crucial part of the club going forward.

With the wideman only being 24, he has the potential to grow into a sensational talent and increase his market value further, subsequently making the club a huge profit on their £20m investment.

Everton could hit jackpot by selling "complete" star for 6,900% profit

The Toffees titan has been linked with a move away from Goodison this summer.

ByDan Emery Apr 30, 2024

فاز فريق الهلال على نظيره الأهلي، بهدفين مقابل هدف، محققًا ريمونتادا مثيرة خلال مباراة الكلاسيكو التي جمعتهما اليوم السبت، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري السعودي.

وتواجه الهلال مع الأهلي، في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة من بطولة الدوري السعودي “دوري روشن”.

وتقدم أولاً، الأهلي، عن طريق لاعبه الإسباني جابرييل فيجا وذلك في الدقيقة 12 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة، بعد تمريرة رائعة من زميله إيفان تونى جعلته منفردًا بمرمى ياسين بونو ليراوغه ويسدد في المرمى.

وكان الهلال سجل هدفًا عن طريق المهاجم الصربي ميتروفيتش ولكن تم إلغاءه بداعي وجود تسلل على زميله جواو كانسيلو في بداية اللعبة، في الدقائق الأخيرة من عمر الشوط الأول.

طالع | ترتيب الدوري السعودي بعد نهاية الجولة السادسة

وعاد ميتروفيتش من جديد، وسجل هدف تعادل في الدقيقة 56، برأسية رائعة من داخل منطقة الجزاء عقب استقباله لعرضية مرسلة من الجانب الأيسر.

وفي الدقيقة 76، تحصل لاعب الهلال، البرازيلي مالكوم، على ركلة جزاء، بعد عرقلة من مدافع الأهلي ريان حامد، ولجأ حكم اللقاء إلى تقنية الفيديو في تلك اللقطة.

ميتروفيتش أهدر ركلة الجزاء في المرة الأولى، حيث تصدى لها حارس الأهلي، لكن الحكم قرر إعادتها بسبب تقدم حارس الأهلي عبد الرحمن الصانبي.

ونجح ألكسندر ميتروفيتش، في المرة الثانية في تسجيل الهدف الثاني، في الدقيقة 78، ليحسم المواجهة المثيرة لصالح الزعيم 2-1. أهداف مباراة الهلال والأهلي اليوم في الدوري السعودي

وبذلك الفوز، يواصل فريق الهلال تصدره لجدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، برصيد 18 نقطة محققًا العلامة الكاملة، بالفوز في الـ6 مباريات التي خاضها بالمسابقة حتى الآن.

بينما فريق الأهلي، يتواجد في المركز العاشر بجدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، برصيد 7 نقاط. ملخص مباراة الهلال والأهلي اليوم في الدوري السعودي

After an excellent campaign last season, injuries have controlled the narrative for Newcastle United this time around, with Eddie Howe often left searching for makeshift options. And even as the season comes to a close, the Magpies' list of absentees has continued to grow as things go from bad to worse.

Newcastle injury news

It's only recently that Newcastle have found some kind of form again in the Premier League, with their unbeaten run of four games representing a solid end to the season. It's a run that Howe deserves great credit for, especially given the injury issues that his side has faced and are currently still facing. It's a list that will even still include Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman next season too, after both suffered recent ACL injuries.

Sven Botman

01/01/2025

Jamaal Lascelles

01/01/2025

Sandro Tonali

31/08/2024

Lewis Miley

19/05/2024

Callum Wilson

11/05/2024

Joelinton

11/05/2024

Nick Pope

04/05/2024

Miguel Almiron

04/05/2024

Joe Willock

No return date

Kieran Trippier

24/04/2024

Matt Targett

No return date

The injury news hasn't come to an end recently either, with a fresh update sparking further concerns. According to reliable reporter Craig Hope of The Daily Mail, Joe Willock will now miss the rest of the season following Newcastle's decision to rest his Achilles knock which ruled him out for much of the campaign. Having returned from injury in February, there's no doubt that the former Arsenal man will be frustrated by the news.

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ByEthan Lamb Apr 16, 2024

Frustration aside, you could say it's a wise decision by Newcastle. Willock already missed most of the current campaign and any further damage is simply not worth the risk. Instead, the midfielder's focus should be on getting fit for pre-season, before then enjoying it in full and potentially breaking into Howe's starting side once again. At his best, Willock has more than shown the difference he can make at St James' Park.

"Popular" Willock offers different element to Newcastle midfield

As solid as Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson have been this season and as excellent as Bruno Guimaraes is, Willock offers a crucial goalscoring threat from midfielders that others in Howe's squad lack. At his best, it's worth noting that the former Arsenal man managed eight goals in 11 games in an initial loan spell at St James' Park in the 2020/21 campaign. And if Howe can get Willock back to that level, then he'll have himself a real difference-maker.

Full of praise for the Englishman throughout his spell on the sidelines, Howe said via The Northern Echo back in March: "He's done really well with his rehab, he's really matured in certain aspects of his personality – which he's had to do to come back from the injury that he's had – and I think that's then shown in his play.

"He's got a unique mix to his game. He's got real good running capacity and pace in his game, but also he knows where the goal is. He's very popular in the dressing room. The players love playing with him."

That "unique mix" will have to wait until next season now, however, it seems in what could prove to be a large blow in Newcastle's pursuit of securing a Europa League place come May.

Leeds United could be without a "fantastic" star for this evening’s Championship clash with Sunderland, according to Phil Hay.

Leeds’ remaining Championship fixtures

Remarkably, despite sitting on 86 points after 41 games, the Whites sit outside the automatic promotion places with five Championship games remaining.

Daniel Farke’s side have been in incredible form during 2024, losing the first of their 15 second-tier games during the calendar year on Saturday away to Coventry City.

Leeds United 3-0 Birmingham City

1st January

Cardiff City 0-3 Leeds United

13th January

Leeds United 2-1 Preston North End

21st January

Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City

24th January

Bristol City 0-1 Leeds United

2nd February

Leeds United 3-0 Rotherham United

10th February

Swansea City 0-4 Leeds United

13th February

Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Leeds United

17th February

Leeds United 3-1 Leicester City

23rd February

Huddersfield Town 1-1 Leeds United

2nd March

Leeds United 1-0 Stoke City

5th March

Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Leeds United

8th March

Leeds United 2-0 Millwall

17th March

Watford 2-2 Leeds United

29th March

Leeds United 3-1 Hull City

1st April

Coventry City 2-1 Leeds United

6th April

However, they still need Leicester City or Ipswich Town to slip up between now and May 4th, whereas Leeds may have to be almost perfect to earn an automatic return to the Premier League.

The run-in begins tonight with a meeting with Sunderland at Elland Road before another home game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

After that, Leeds travel to Middlesbrough on Monday 22nd April, with their penultimate fixture away to Queens Park Rangers on Friday 26th April. The final game of the season sees Leeds host Southampton on Saturday May 4th.

Leeds team news vs Sunderland

Leeds received a welcome injury boost on the weekend against Coventry with the return of Ilia Gruev, Connor Roberts and Wilfried Gnonto to the matchday squad.

However, for tonight’s game with Sunderland, regular Ethan Ampadu, who has captained the Whites for the majority of 2024, is a “major doubt” due to illness.

This will come as a big concern for Leeds, with Ampadu yet to miss a minute of Championship action this season, starring in both midfield and in defence.

The summer signing has struck up a brilliant relationship with fellow Wales international Joe Rodon at centre-back since the injury to Pascal Struijk, so being without Ampadu would be a big blow.

Ampadu has also come in for praise from Farke during his first season in Yorkshire, with the Leeds boss saying earlier in the campaign:

“Overall a fantastic season, we are more than happy how he has developed also since we signed him.

“You couldn’t predict that it would work that smoothly and on this level when we signed him because he had also a few tough, tough years. But he’s doing exceptionally well.”