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Leeds United have been chasing Brighton and Hove Albion’s Ben White for a long time now. In fact, when it comes to Marcelo Bielsa’s men, this has been the story of the ongoing summer transfer window.

Of course, it doesn’t surprise that the Whites have been adamant on securing the young centre-back’s services since he has been a huge part of their push for Premier League football throughout 2019/20.

White has spent the season on loan at Elland Road and has largely impressed both his teammates and Bielsa himself. But striking a deal will be quite difficult, to say the least. After all, they have already tried twice and twice they have failed to propose acceptable terms to the Seagulls.

Now, according to the latest report from Sky Sports, Leeds have indeed tabled a third bid for White, this one in the region of £25m. However, we still don’t know whether that will be enough to satisfy Graham Potter who is seemingly keen on incorporating the 22-year-old into his own squad for the upcoming campaign.

White still has a contract running until 2022 with the option of a further 12 months and this could make the transfer that much more complicated.

And while we don’t know whether they’ll be successful in their third attempt, one thing is for sure – Leeds wants White and they want him badly. Will the third time finally be the charm?

Bielsa will keep his fingers crossed, as will undoubtedly the fans.

Verdict

It’s getting painfully obvious that Brighton value their defender quite highly and if they reject this third offer coming from the Leeds camp, it might be time to face the harsh reality.

Of course, there is also a possibility that the Seagulls indeed accept this offer as £25m seems like more than just a decent sum. Only time will tell though.

With both Jan Vertonghen and Juan Foyth potentially on their way out of Tottenham come the end of this season, Jose Mourinho will no doubt be keen to reinforce his defence ahead of next season.

Already the likes of Lille’s Gabriel Margalhaes and Beijing Gouan’s Kim Min-jae have been linked with potential moves to the club, but rather than targeting either of those players, Spurs would be wise to go after Diego Carlos.

Reports in recent days have suggested that the 6 foot man from Sevilla is emerging as a serious alternative to Kim, and that the Spanish side are willing to part ways with the centre-back if they receive an offer in excess of £35m.

Can you name every one of Spurs’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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And when you look at the kinds of performances he has put in over the course of this season in La Liga, it’s clear why Mourinho’s side have got their eye on him.

In a 0-0 draw at home to Barcelona last week, Carlos was outstanding, recording the second-highest match rating of any Sevilla player as per Sofascore. He managed five clearances, one blocked shot, three interceptions, and boasted an 89% pass accuracy (the joint-highest amongst his teammates).

Carlos’ former coach at Estoril, Fabiano Soares, waxed lyrical about the defender’s ability, and suggested he is absolutely the kind of player that is well-suited to the modern game.

He said: “He is a dynamic, intense and fast player. Football nowadays, for the slow player the market isn’t so good. Players who are fast and strong and competitive and who have quality, the coaches will always look at them.”

That pace and athleticism makes him the perfect fit for this new Mourinho team at Spurs, particularly if the Portuguese man continues with Davinson Sanchez as one of his main centre-backs.

It would allow the north London side to play with a much higher, and aggressive line and help with their pressing game, and potentially open up far more dangerous counter-attacking opportunities when winning the ball back further up the pitch.

With both Vertonghen and Alderweireld well into their 30s, and Eric Dier not the quickest or agile either, bringing in Carlos may be the exact kind of player to really help complete the Spurs defence.

Key information about York Road

York Road was built in 1871 and is now the home of National League’s Maidenhead United. The stadium is located in the town centre of Maidenhead in Berkshire and is acknowledged by the Football Association and FIFA as the oldest continuously-used senior association football ground in the world by the same club, given that it’s their home practically since it was first erected.

Its capacity stands at 4,500 but only 550 of those are seated. The pitch measures 111 by 74 yards with no running track surrounding it and with a surface covered with natural grass but no undersoil heating installed.

The ground record attendance was set back in 1947 when 8,277 supporters watched the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Final between Slough Town and Wycombe Wanderers.

A history of York Road

Even though it is a rather small ground that houses a fifth-tier team that is Maidenhead United, York Road has a rich history and is also famous for being the oldest continuously-used senior association football ground in the world by the same club since it has been in use since 1871. For that reason, Maidenhead United keep a blue plaque just inside the home turnstiles as proof of that incredible status.

But interestingly enough, back when it was built, York Road was used mainly as the home of Maidenhead Cricket Club and they would then give permission to the football club to use their facilities as well. On 16 February 1871, Maidenhead United finally played their first clash at the ground against Marlow and they are still going, almost 150 years into the future. Truly remarkable.

Even though York Road has seen some refurbishment over time, it was not exactly until 2014 that it was finally modernised by the addition of a new covered seated stand called the Railway Stand. That part comprises seven rows of seating and has a capacity of 550, and is the only seating area at the ground for now.

York Road also has the Bell Street end stand, which is simply a covered terrace split into two separate sections and is opposite the smaller East Terrace. The other side of the ground also has the dugouts and another small open terrace.

And we are talking about a relatively small stadium but the record attendance was set on Easter Monday in 1947 when 8,277 fans gathered to watch Sough Town take on Wycombe Wanderers in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Final. The club’s record attendance, however, is 7,989 for the 1936 FA Amateur Cup quarter-final against Southall. But it is also reported that approximately 2,000 spectators have watched the clash from the adjacent railway embankment, boosting the total attendance to around 10,000 strong.

Tickets to watch Maidenhead United at York Road

All tickets to watch Maidenhead United play at York Road can be found on the club’s official website. The prices are truly not high and the adult ticket can be purchased for £15 while ‘Junior Magpies’ can get in for free for all the league games.

They also offer season tickets for £300 if you pick the premium seated category which gives you a reserved seat and a programme. More information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/ – Official website of Maidenhead United

Arsenal should sign Gabriel as transfer news emerged from Le 10 Sport that the north London club remain likely to make concrete progress in the near future in terms of securing the LOSC Lille central defender in the upcoming summer transfer window.

As per the outlet, the file is still on the Gunners’ table, however, a deal has apparently been very advanced with an English club, probably Everton, but no final agreement has been reached to date.

The price set by the French club, around 30 million euros (roughly £26.9 million), could partly explain it, but according to the publication’s information, AFC, who have been interested for several weeks in the Brazilian defender, would keep the option open.

Indeed, Gabriel has produced some relatively impressive stats in Ligue 1 this season, as he wins 6.3 duels per game and also averages 3.3 clearances, 1.7 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per match, according to Sofascore.

These are key areas for a centre-back that Gabriel has arguably excelled in, as he could add some steel into Mikel Arteta’s team for next campaign.

If the 22-year old is signed, then the Spanish coach should consider partnering him up with the returning William Saliba, who may have learned a lot from Gabriel having played in the same domestic league with Saint-Etienne.

Also, being left-footed, Gabriel would perhaps bring a nice balance to the possible partnership if he plays on the left side of the 19-year old.

With the global pandemic potentially hitting clubs like Arsenal hard financially, £26.9 million may prove to be a decent price as other sides go hunting in the market.

Gooners, could Gabriel be an ideal partner for Saliba? Comment below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

The transfer season is beginning to ramp up ahead of possible deals in January and one that might happen is Aurelio Buta to Wolves.

The right-back is the subject of interest from Nuno Santo per the print edition of The Sunday Mirror (17/11) and a loan move is reportedly on the cards.

Gaining some insight into the deal, Birmingham Live spoke to a journalist in Belgium.

What’s been said?

Wolves still have a pretty slim squad but have worked wonders with what they’ve had in both of their campaigns in the top-flight.

Using 21 players last season, they finished seventh, reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and qualified for Europe.

Nuno’s men got off to a slow start domestically this term, failing to win any of their opening seven games but they’re now on a run of just one loss in their last 12.

Matt Doherty was an inspiration last season, registering nine goal involvements, but he is yet to pick out a colleague in 2019/20. As such, a move for someone who can also play at right-wing back in Buta would make sense.

Speaking about his career and the qualities he possesses, journalist Aster Nzeyimana said:

“He’s one of the best full-backs in the Belgium league – that’s a widespread opinion.

“Antwerp is one of the biggest clubs in Belgium with a big fanbase. Their promotion to the first league was hugely anticipated and Aurelio Buta was one of the signings they made and he’s really grown with the squad. He was a very promising player and we immediately knew that.

“In the last two years he’s grown defensively, he has admitted that himself. He’s quite a small player but he’s technically very gifted. We have a history in Belgium of good attacking full-backs and he really fits right in. He’s instrumental to Antwerp.”

Positive signs

With Adama Traore’s emergence as a genuine reliable option in the final third, it leaves Wolves somewhat short on the right-hand side of defence.

The Spaniard started out the season in that part of the pitch due to an injury to Doherty but he has since gained a fantastic understanding with the forward players in a 3-4-3 formation.

Performing 11 dribbles against Aston Villa and scoring twice against Manchester City are the highlights but it would now be foolish to play him further back when he’s having such an influence in attacking phases.

With that in mind, bringing in someone who also possesses attacking flair to provide competition for Doherty would be incredibly valuable.

Recently scoring for the Republic of Ireland in a 1-1 draw with Denmark, he demonstrated that he might finally be finding his rhythm this season. He’d scored just once prior to the international break for Wolves.

Buta already has three assists for Royal Antwerp this term so there’s a reason to believe he could add precious quality. Having played at right-back and slightly further forward as a right-wing back, he’s the ideal type of candidate Wolves must be looking at.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Milan are currently in a really dire situation over in Serie A.

The Rossoneri’s whole campaign has been littered with bad results that were only refreshed by an occasional victory, which leaves them in 12th place in the table at the very moment.

Not to mention the fact they have only tallied one victory in the last six games, losing three and drawing the remaining two in the process.

And it seems that they will soon seek solutions in the market as one of the Italian pundits, Carlo Pellegatti, has tipped them to reinvest in the upcoming transfer window.

But first, as Pellegatti explains on his YouTube channel (cited by Sport Virgilio), they will look to sell one of their midfielders, Franck Kessie, who’s bound to go to the Premier League, West Ham or Wolverhampton Wanderers specifically, in a deal that could cost around €25m (£21.4m).

“Kessie will go to England, to West Ham or Wolverhampton, for at least €25 million and Milan will reinvest in the market”.

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Looking at their squad and Kessie’s contribution so far during his Rossoneri stint, however, he is definitely one of the players they should not be actively looking to part with.

His output in the ongoing campaign has somewhat dipped since the 22-year-old has only netted once in a total of 11 games in Serie A, but that has more to do with the team struggling as a collective rather than individual decline.

After all, he’s still averaging 1.1 shots, one key pass and one dribble per game along with 1.6 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game.

Clearly, there is still quality in the player and seeing how Milan are short on players in the middle of the park, losing a young talent like him could be costly for their season.

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Of course, Pellegatti believes they will reinvest their money in someone else but why part with a player who has proven he can perform.

Last season, he scored seven goals and assisted twice, averaging 1.2 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.5 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game in 34 Serie A matches. By all accounts, that’s an impressive all-action tally for such a young player.

Looking at it from West Ham’s point of view, however, they could surely use someone of Kessie’s talent and capabilities.

Declan Rice and Mark Noble would get some much-needed assistance in the middle of the park and seeing how the Hammers are barely staying above the relegation zone in the Premier League, reinforcements do make sense at this point.

Of course, whether Kessie can immediately fix their woes or not is questionable but their interest, if nothing else, is very much warranted.

An extra man to add some strength and depth to their midfield could be a good place to start with investments, especially since we’re talking about a player with quality and talent who can only get better with time.

In other news, Milan’s rivals, Roma, are fighting hard to keep their reformed Premier League loanee at the club.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Ruben Dias to Wolves is a rumour that seemingly won’t go away. A deal for the defender appeared to be on the cards in the summer before the move fell through.

However, new links have appeared according to reports from O Jogo (via Sport Witness) and given he’s a client of Jorge Mendes, it makes perfect sense.

But it’s a move for a younger centre back that might well have Max Kilman sweating over his long-term development at the club.

Kilman doesn’t possess your usual back story into football. Once a futsal player, he’s had an unorthodox route into the professional game.

The 22-year-old has begun to make his breakthrough this term, appearing in Europe but he is yet to make his Premier League bow. With Willy Boly out with an ankle fracture that dream could soon become a reality.

Yet, if the old gold land 17-year-old target Nigel Lonwijk, a move that’s been touted as happening, it could set him back in the years to come.

Tim Spiers has claimed the deal is set to go through but when the Dutchman will actually join remains to be seen.

Although he’ll go straight into the academy set-up, there are reasons to believe that he could soon find a pathway into the first team, just as Kilman has done.

Lonwijk wouldn’t be your usual academy signing. After all, the PSV teenager has captained his age group in his homeland and was a regular in the U17 Eredivisie last term. This is a player with clear promise, one that comes with a highly rated tag too.

Given he’s still very raw, any instant damage on Kilman’s career is unlikely but there are already limited spaces in Wolves’ defence to make an impact.

Boly’s injury has so far seen midfielders Leander Dendoncker and Romain Saiss preferred which tells you all you need to know about the pecking order and Nuno Santo’s reluctance to use Kilman.

The youngster has already been held back by senior members but if Lonwijk can impress in an academy that won Premier League 2 Division 2 last season, he could be fast-tracked into the senior team, just as the aforementioned Wolves man has done.

This would only serve as bad news for Kilman who will now need to prove his worth even more so than previously.

Amidst the massive transfer saga surrounding Romelu Lukaku’s future in the summer, Manchester United looked on course to be sealing a major coup when it seemed like they would be getting Paulo Dybala.

The Argentina international was at the centre of talks involving Juventus, as the Italian side looked to negotiate a possible swap deal involving the 25-year-old and Lukaku.

However, issues over his wages scuppered any chance of a potential move to Old Trafford for Dybala, whilst Lukaku made his way to Juventus’ rivals Inter on transfer deadline day.

Still with the Bianconeri, Dybala reminded everyone of his abilities by scoring a match-winning brace against Lokomotiv Moscow on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

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And, after seeing his heroic performance, United fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the man they were close to signing in the summer.

Many supporters of the Manchester side voiced their regret at missing out on the talented forward, with one fan in particular saying they couldn’t believe they bottled their chance at signing him.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

There will be no changes to the Leeds United team for Tuesday’s Championship trip to Preston North End.

Indeed, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa revealed that it would be a case of same again from the 1-0 win over Birmingham City at the weekend.

As a result, Pablo Hernandez will again miss out through injury, while Patrick Bamford will lead the line despite being replaced by Eddie Nketiah at the interval on Saturday.

Helder Costa and Jack Harrison will continue in the wide positions, with Tyler Roberts and Barry Douglas expected to be named on the bench once again.

As expected, a number of Leeds fans have been on social media offering their views on the update.

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And many are not overly impressed that the same XI will be sent onto the field once again.

A selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

In today’s West Ham United roundup, we take a look at what news has been doing the rounds for the Hammers. Glen Johnson has ripped into the players after the defeat to Oxford United in midweek, it has been revealed what Manuel Pellegrini said to his men post-defeat in the League Cup, and Rafael Benitez has weighed in on the top six debate.

Johnson slams players for ‘not being bothered’

Report: Former England international Johnson has slated the West Ham players for ‘not being bothered’ about the game against Oxford in the Carabao Cup. He told talkSPORT: “They’ve been battered. Yes, they made changes and obviously these competitions can kick up the odd strange result, but to be hammered 4-0… that’s not just exiting the competition, that’s getting battered and destroyed.

“If they lost on penalties or it was 1-0, you think yeah, that can happen in football, but they made nine changes and were clearly played off the park by a mid-table league one side.

“I genuinely don’t get it, it’s a chance of winning trophy and a chance of winning a trophy by February.

“Clubs use it to give young lads minutes and give players who aren’t regularly playing a game, but you can do that at the same time as taking the cup seriously. You can still field a strong side and give a few players a chance.

“But to make nine changes, I think that is blatantly saying, ‘we’re not bothered, we’re just going to keep everybody fit for the weekend’.”

Verdict: It is has been 40 years since West Ham last won a trophy, and this is now the third year in a row the Hammers have been knocked out of a domestic competition thanks to a League One side. Last year saw Wimbledon beat them 4-2 in the FA Cup and the year prior saw Wigan Athletic overcome David Moyes’ men 2-0 in the same competition.

Results like this happening on a consistent basis prove the club are not taking the League Cup as seriously as they should. Despite a potential fight for the top six on the cards, the reality is West Ham are going to struggle to get into Europe, and of course, winning the FA Cup is much harder than reigning supreme in Carabao Cup.

This is a competition Pellegrini should be prioritising. If his side does indeed crack the top six, it will no doubt be classed as a successful season. However, if West Ham ends up outside the top six, and without a trophy, it will be the complete opposite.

It is still, to this day, quite bewildering why clubs of their level do not set their eyes on winning this major trophy.

Benitez on the top six

Report: In a Q&A with The Athletic (as quoted by Inside Futbol), former Liverpool boss Benitez has had his say on the likes West Ham and Leicester City setting their sights on a challenge for the top six.

The current Dalian Yifang manager said: “We talk about ‘six teams’, but for me Leicester, West Ham, Wolves and Everton can progress and challenge.

“Again, I will say Tottenham have all the experience and quality to do well and to stay in the top four.”

Verdict: Although they had such a negative result against Oxford, the Hammers have indeed laid down an early marker in their fight for the top six in the Premier League. Despite the demolition from Manchester City on the opening weekend, Pellegrini’s men have not lost in the league since and most recently registered a famous win over Manchester United, in what was made to look like a routine 2-0 victory.

On the forward front, West Ham have looked very promising and have proved to be a concern for anybody travelling to the London Stadium. Sebastian Haller has three goals in his first five games at the club, Andriy Yarmolenko has bagged twice in the early stages, and Felipe Anderson has seemingly carried on his spectacular form of last season, averaging a rating of a 7.54 rating and providing two assists.

The east London side have certainly put themselves in a great spot early on for the top six battle. But perhaps the Hammers are going to need a bit of fortune along the way with injuries and results elsewhere.

Pellegrini’s dressing room rant

Report: As reported by Football Insider, manager Pellegrini delivered a passionate rant after he was left red-faced following the 4-0 hammering at the hands of Oxford. Normally a calm soul on the touchline, the Chilean reportedly slammed his players post-match for letting him down and was ‘seething’ at his men.

Verdict: When you lose to a side 12th in League One by such a dramatic margin, somebody must take the fall. In these situations, it is too easy to point fingers at the man in charge when in reality, it’s the players who are the ones who should take much of the blame.

Players such as Jack Wilshere, Pablo Zabaleta and Robert Snodgrass are all highly experienced, with some of them boasting of FA Cup and Premier League medals. Ultimately, players in the Premier League are paid more and put on a pedestal based on the fact their ability is far, far superior to a side 75 places below them in the football pyramid, and in reality, there is no excuse for losing to them.

Truthfully, it is harsh to put the blame on Pellegrini, especially considering he has put the club in an early battle for the top six. The Hammers had 63% of the ball against the U’s, registering only nine shots compared to Oxford’s 17, and when all is considered, the Chilean had a right to express his disappointment and anger towards his players for not getting the job done.