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Leeds United are going to be playing Premier League football next season and will have to use the summer transfer window to build a squad that can compete at the top level.

Daniel Farke can look at what one of his predecessors, Marcelo Bielsa, did in the 2020/21 campaign, when the Whites stayed up in the top-flight and finished in the top half.

The Argentine head coach helped the club to avoid relegation, and set them on their way to avoiding the drop in the 2021/22 season too, and the players he had at his disposal played a key role in that.

Stars like Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford Rodrigo, and Raphinha may have stolen the headlines, but Mateusz Klich went under the radar with a return of four goals and five assists in the Premier League from a midfield position.

Leeds make first offer for midfield target

Leeds are active in the current summer transfer window to bolster their squad and are reportedly eyeing up a deal for a star who could be Farke’s own version of the Poland international.

Transfer Focus

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

According to L’Equipe, the Championship champions have submitted their first offer, worth around £22m, to Strasbourg in an attempt to sign central midfielder Habib Diarra.

The report claims that the French side have not yet responded to the bid, but they are waiting to see if any other teams come in with counter-offers, amid interest from clubs in Germany and England.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Evening Post has confirmed that an offer has been made, but adds that other targets in that position are felt to be more likely at this moment in time.

Why Diarra could be Klich 2.0

If Leeds can get a deal over the line for Diarra, then Farke could have his own version of Klich in the Premier League next season, because he is a well-rounded midfield star who can impact games in and out of possession.

The 21-year-old talent, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed will have a “huge future” in the game, played regularly in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg in the 2024/25 campaign and caught the eye with his displays in the middle of the park.

Diarra played 29 Ligue 1 games or more in each of the last three seasons, which shows that he has plenty of top-flight experience in a major European league, and this term was his best so far from a performance point of view.

Appearances

30

35

Goals

4

4

Big chances created

9

3

Assists

5

5

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

1.3x

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

1.4

Duels won per game

3.3

2.4

As you can see in the table above, his performances in Ligue 1 this season were incredibly similar to Klich’s in the Premier League when Leeds avoided the drop in the 2020/21 campaign.

These statistics show that Diarra could emulate his impact at the top end of the pitch by delivering a respectable number of goals and assists from a box-to-box midfield position, whilst potentially being even more creative when you look at the ‘big chances’ that he created.

The chart above further illustrates the similarities between the two players, particularly when it comes to scoring and creating goals, which suggests that he could be a very similar player to Klich for Farke.

Diarra’s ability to combine defensive work, as he is rarely dribbled past, with his attacking output suggests that he could be a very valuable player for the German boss in the Premier League, as he could impact games at both ends of the pitch.

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However, the Yorkshire Evening Post did report that other midfield targets are more likely, so it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites will be able to get a deal over the line for this star.

After a week of anxious waiting, today is the day Arsenal could book themselves a place in the Champions League final for only the second time in the club’s history.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men will need to put in the best performance of the season and make amends for their incredibly underwhelming display in the first leg.

In particular, club captain Martin Odegaard will have to show the fans just why he was handed the armband in 2022, as to describe his personal campaign this year as disappointing would be quite an understatement.

The Norwegian has looked like a different, far less effective player for much of it, and there is a chance the club are already looking at their options, with recent reports linking them to a Premier League star who’d be a massive but costly upgrade.

Arsenal transfer news

Given Odegaard’s lacklustre form this year, it’s hardly surprising that, in recent weeks, Arsenal have been linked to a plethora of midfield talents, such as Brahim Diaz and Desire Doue.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is reportedly available for around £51m and has enjoyed a decent enough campaign with Real Madrid, racking up a haul of six goals and seven assists in just 2058 minutes of first-team action.

On the other hand, Doue could cost as much as £86m, but with a staggering tally of 13 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this season, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

However, given the Gunners’ desperation to win the Premier League next season, they may want someone who already knows the league, which is where Morgan Rogers comes into play.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are ‘firmly in the race’ to secure the Aston Villa star’s signature in the summer, with Sporting Director Andrea Berta said to be ‘a huge admirer.’

However, the report also claims that Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in the Englishman, while another story from March valued him at a whopping £100m.

It would be an incredibly complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a massive Odegaard upgrade.

How Rogers compares to Odegaard

The first thing to say is that while Unai Emery has been playing Rogers on the wing at points this season, his most played and undoubtedly preferred position this season has been attacking midfield.

Therefore, were he to join Arsenal for the fees being banded around, then he’d most certainly do so with the intention of starting every game, in turn putting him up against Odegaard – but who comes out on top?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output this season, it’s Villa’s “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, who comes out on top and quite comfortably at that.

Appearances

51

41

Minutes

4233′

3162′

Goals

14

5

Assists

13

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

156.77′

197.62′

For example, in 51 appearances, totalling 4233 minutes, he’s scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 156.77 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3162 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, or every 197.62 minutes.

On top of that, the former Manchester City prospect comes out far better when we take a look at some of the other important attacking metrics, such as conversion rate, chances created, and take-ons completed.

Finally, while this isn’t massively important today, the Halesowen-born maestro is four years younger than the former Real Madrid wonderkid, so if Arteta were to bring him in, he might not need to worry about replacing him for the best part of a decade, which could allow the club to focus on other areas of need.

Ultimately, while Odegaard is a talented footballer, Rogers appears to be far superior in most ways, and if Arsenal can sign him this summer, they should do all they can to do it.

Drop him: Arteta must axe £50m Arsenal "warrior" who's as bad as Odegaard

Martin Odegaard isn’t the only underperformer in Arsenal colours.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025

West Ham United have endured an underwhelming campaign and Graham Potter has now made it clear that a mass clearout is en route at the London Stadium.

West Ham United's frustrating campaign set to yield squad changes

Despite comfortably staving off the threat of relegation, West Ham have fallen some way below expectation and Potter hasn’t been able to improve their fortunes in his opening period at the club.

The 49-year-old saw shoots of improvement going forward in the Hammers’ 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth, but they simply haven’t been prolific enough across the season to merit anything more than a bottom-half finish.

Eager to avoid a repeat of this inconsistency come 2025/26, Potter has set his sights on Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg and his side are now said to be in pole position to bring in the England youth international.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also in pursuit. However, there is plenty of hope to be taken should the Black Cats opt to cash in if they fail to win promotion to the Premier League.

Exciting reports have also claimed that West Ham are in the mix to sign Lyon forward Georges Mikautadze, albeit they may need to fight it out with Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers for the Georgian star.

Evan Ferguson is likely to leave following the conclusion of his loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, making the forward line an area in need of nourishment once the window opens.

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Departures will be needed to fund a rebuild that many are in favour of under Potter’s guise, so who could leave to make way for fresh reinforcements?

West Ham ready for mass clearout as Graham Potter gets to work

According to Football Insider, West Ham could offload ten players this summer to make way for new assets at the London Stadium. Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Emerson Palmieri, and Michail Antonio are all said to be ‘surplus to requirements’ and may be sacrificed.

Meanwhile, Danny Ings, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski are all set to depart once their contracts expire in the summer.

Carlos Soler isn’t expected to complete a permanent move to the Hammers from Paris Saint-Germain, while Maxwel Cornet’s pay packet will be severed if he completes a move elsewhere after returning from a loan spell at Genoa.

West Ham United’s next five fixtures

Liverpool (A)

Premier League

Southampton (H)

Premier League

Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Premier League

Manchester United (A)

Premier League

Overall, their combined wages would free up £745,000 per week for Potter to put towards other targets. Most fans would agree that this season hasn’t gone to plan, so there wouldn’t be too many complaints if the ex-Chelsea boss were to recoup some financial capital before embarking on a spending spree.

Whether West Ham manage to shift everyone mentioned is up for debate, though there is plenty of serviceable talent there that could command suitors from across Europe.

The CSK allrounder has aced many challenges in his career and he’s up against another one at this IPL

Alagappan Muthu27-Apr-20244:16

Should Moeen bat above Jadeja for CSK?

Ravindra Jadeja is having a weird season.A new recruit has bowled more than he has – which considering he plays for Chennai Super Kings – is saying something. He hasn’t been needed to complete his full quota of overs in three out of eight games – two of those at Chepauk.On the flip side, after being with CSK since 2012, last week was the first time he managed to face more than 35 balls in an innings. This is a bit of an inversion of the player he used to be. Back in the old days, people used to say Jadeja was a fielder first, bowler next and batter last.Related

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And it is so tempting to think his bowling informs his batting. Jadeja with the ball is forever urgent. He never gives the batter any time to settle and he beats them because of it. Is that why whenever he goes in to bat, he always gives himself a few deliveries to get the lay of the land first? Nearly 90% of his innings for CSK have been at No. 5 or lower and yet he tends to start slow. This season, for example, his strike rate in the first 10 balls is 120.75. Even his greatest performance for the franchise, in last year’s epic final, started with a couple of entirely non-violent drives down the ground for singles.”One of his strengths,” CSK batting coach Michael Hussey said of Jadeja on Saturday, “is being able to work the balls into the gaps, use his pace running between the wickets and picking the right times and the right bowlers to attack.”Jadeja isn’t, by any definition, a power-hitter. He is a pace-hitter. That is really why he gets pushed down the order. There’s a significantly higher chance of facing fast bowling when you walk in towards the end of the innings. In 2021, he maximised this strength to such an extent that he was not that far behind AB de Villiers’ strike rate (229 vs 195) in the death overs.It is a bit ironic that at the exact time he has won a place in CSK folklore – even gaining a title that the fans only bestow upon their favourites – Jadeja is facing a crisis on not one but two fronts. First, the pitches in Chennai aren’t offering their usual help to the spinners. He has come away wicketless in three of the four innings he’s bowled at Chepauk. And second, his touch is a little off. Last season, Jadeja faced only 21 dots in the first 10 balls of his innings. This season, even though its only halfway through, that count is already up at 16.Jadeja may have a new puzzle to solve this season•AFP/Getty Images”He’s playing, sometimes now, a slightly different role,” Hussey said, “because in the last few years he’s come in very late, batting with MS [Dhoni] towards the back end. And this year we’ve asked him a few times to come in at the No. 4 position. It’s a very different role and sometimes according to the situation, you need to just be free and go quite quickly. But other times you’ve lost a couple of wickets in the powerplay, you need to take a little bit of time to build the next partnership.”I think he’s doing a pretty good job actually, of reading the situation and playing accordingly. I know we’re seeing some games where teams are just teeing off, but if the conditions, or the match situation doesn’t dictate that, then you’ve got to play a different way. I think he’s doing a really good job and he’s adapting to the different situations of the game.”Jadeja isn’t exactly bombing in either discipline – he has a three-for, with an overall economy rate of 7.85, and a 35-ball fifty against one of the top four teams. And his spirits are pretty high. In the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, he helped wind the crowd up by putting on his gear and pretending to walk out to bat only to turn right around and take his seat so that MS Dhoni could take centre stage. It’s just that it almost feels like he’s having to learn the whole game again. What can he do when Chepauk doesn’t grip and turn? How will he deal with promotions up the order, which will expose him to situations where he won’t have pace on the ball to exploit?Jadeja has gone through his entire career with questions like those flung at him and more often than not he comes up with an answer that doesn’t just shut people up, it wins them over. “Need new haters,” he tweeted once. “The old ones are starting to like me.”

There are no restraints on this thing. The brakes are worn. The harness is unclipped. SafeSearch is off

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Jun-2022Alright. Roll up. It’s another one.Mad. Funny. Audacious. Godawful. Funny again, but for different reasons. Maddening.It’s a Niroshan Dickwella day.There are no restraints on this thing. The brakes are worn. The harness is unclipped. SafeSearch is off. A life lived at 100 kilometres an hour, even if, sometimes, that is while the car is plunging into a ravine. You’re not taking your eyes off it, though.He arrived at the crease on Wednesday just after Mitchell Swepson had delivered two near-perfect wicket-taking legbreak deliveries, tossing the ball above the batter’s eyeline, getting it to dive, having it rip off a leg stump line, batters playing for turn but not that much turn, the ball taking the outside edge, catches taken behind. An Australian legspinner bowling this well, on a turning pitch? We’ve seen this before at Galle, and it hasn’t ended well for the home team.Related

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Dickwella is playing the hat-trick ball, which for regular human beings is a moment of crushing pressure. The scoreline is 97 for 5. The infield is more crowded than a commuter bus in a fuel crisis (#srilankacrisis). Here is a moment for a defensive stroke. Just see it out. Make it a dot ball. Look for runs when the opposition is less keen.Not Dickwella. No way.He sweeps Swepson, and thankfully for him and Sri Lanka, bottom edges the bowler straight into the ground. He has not come close to middling that one, but he has hit it, which is good enough reason for Dickwella to reverse sweep the next one, fetching two. There is more where that came from.Not long after he arrives at the crease, he slog sweeps Nathan Lyon for four, drives him past mid-on to the boundary, then bashes him over the top of midwicket with a sweep again, so you wonder if this will be one of the good Dickwella days.It is. Sorta. First ball of Lyon’s next over, Dickwella puts a reverse between backward point and extra cover – a sublime piece of timing and placement that makes it three boundaries in succession against Australia’s best bowler in these conditions. Because Dickwella has run up into the rafters of the theatre and wrestled the spotlight on to himself, within several overs, that Swepson double-strike seems a distant memory. Do mad things as madly as possible, and see what happens. A Test innings is a blank canvas and if you don’t have paints, use a bazooka.When his senior partner Angelo Mathews gets out, Dickwella has the option to slow down, tuck his cricketing shirt in, and be the adult around the tail-end batters. He does have that mode, but he has decided today is not that day. He reverse slaps Swepson to get to 49, then completes the half-century off just 42 deliveries. Soon after tea, he is on one knee scooping Pat Cummins over his shoulder for four. He is out for 58 off 59 balls to Lyon, playing an aggressive shot, obviously. But these 59 balls have been the difference between a paltry score and a half-respectable one.It has felt like a good Dickwella day, but then, it’s never that easy, is it? This is not an uncomplicated figure. There is a post-script. And even that is not all bad.With Usman Khawaja on 36, Dickwella could have effected a stumping when Ramesh Mendis spun one past Australia’s in-form Test batter. Caveat: the ball bounced like it had been shot out of an underground nerf gun, and actually hit Dickwella on the helmet grille, off the top of the glove. Caveat on that caveat: at no point during this ball was Dickwella unsighted, so the best keepers would probably have made that adjustment, and pulled off the dismissal.Later, with Travis Head on 5, Dickwella once again is surprised by the bounce off the same bowler, and misses another chance. Lessons learned? Failures noted down? Getting better with experience? Get out. Get all the way out. We don’t do that here.Sometime in the last session the ball spins clean past Khawaja’s pads and Dickwella convinces captain Dimuth Karunaratne to ask for the review, and Sri Lanka lose it in a stupendously daft way.The very next ball, Steven Smith and Khawaja have a running miscommunication, and Dickwella tears after the ball in the direction of short cover, glove off in a flash, slides, picks it up cleanly, and sends a perfect bounce throw to the fielder running in, to effect a vital dismissal with this piece of incandescent wicketkeeping.Pack it up. It’s been mad. It’s been maddening. It’s been another Dickwella day.

The No.1-ranked side have played some of their most consistent cricket in the format since 2019

Andrew McGlashan02-Sep-2020During cricket’s Covid-19 hiatus, Australia became the No.1-ranked T20I team for the first time. You can read as much or as little into the rankings as you wish, and in T20s they are especially fluid, but it came after a 12-month period – from February 2019 to February 2020 – where they played some of their most consistent cricket in the format.The run, which currently stands at nine wins from 11 matches (and only denied 10 victories due to rain in Sydney), began with a 2-0 victory over India and then during the 2019-2020 series saw them convincingly beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home plus South Africa away. A series in New Zealand at the end of March fell victim to Covid-19 and this week marks the resumption against England.It had all been building nicely towards them being one of the favourites for the home T20 World Cup in October, but that tournament will now be played in 2022 in India next year. However, Australia believe they are forming a side that can adapt to all conditions – so what have been the key areas in their success?ESPNcricinfo LtdWarner’s run glut, Smith’s savvyAustralia’s run started before David Warner had completed his one-year ban, but his return to the top order has had a dynamic effect. In the two matches against India, Marcus Stoinis and D’Arcy Short had opened the batting. The former failed twice and while Short made two handy scores, reuniting Warner and Aaron Finch at the top has been an overwhelming success.Warner has led the way, scoring 415 runs at 138.33 and a strike rate of 142.12 including 239 runs across five innings between dismissals. The other returnee, Steven Smith, actually scored his runs at a better clip than Warner – 147.92 – with his 51-ball 80 against Pakistan in Canberra a very classy innings. When slipped down to No. 5 in the deciding match against South Africa he clubbed 30 off 15 balls. Overall, Australia are the second-fastest scorers behind England among the top-10 ranked T20I teams.