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Liverpool have met with the representatives of midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, but need to act quickly in order to get a deal done, presenter Mark McAdam has claimed.

What's the latest on Liverpool's transfer targets?

A big window lies ahead for Jurgen Klopp, as he aims to make Liverpool competitive at the top of the table again after a disappointing season in which they finished fifth.

They have already confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister as part of their midfield revamp, and are now interested in Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.

The midfielder has a release clause which expires at the end of June, so the Reds may have to act quickly if they are to strike a deal for the 22-year-old.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, McAdam revealed that Liverpool have already spoken to the player's representatives over a move.

"They are looking to revolutionise, revitalise, revamp that midfield after having lost various players. Of course, they've already signed Alexis Mac Allister, and to point out Dominic Szoboszlai, he's a 22-year-old midfielder currently at RB Leipzig," he stated.

"He currently has a €70m (£60m) release clause, which expires tomorrow [Friday], so if Liverpool are interested in the midfielder, they're going to have to act quickly.

"We know that he's been on their radar for some time, he fits the type of profile of the midfielders that they're looking to bring into the football club, and we know that Liverpool have met his representatives as well. So things are moving, probably not as quickly as the club needs to act."

What do Liverpool need to do in this transfer window?

The priority for Klopp is clearly the midfield, and if he can secure a deal for the Hungary international, he may still hunt for another option in the market.

Khephren Thuram has also been linked, and Liverpool could end the window with an entirely new midfield trio.

They may also need reinforcements at the back. Virgil van Dijk attracted criticism for his performances last season, and a younger option may be needed to replace him and Joel Matip in the long-run.

There have been links with Micky Van de Ven, but it remains to be seen how much spending power Liverpool will have, having failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016.

The expectation for Liverpool, should they sign Szoboszlai, would likely be a return to the top four, as well as challenging for major trophies, and returning to the level of performances they displayed as they challenged for the quadruple in 2022.

With Mauricio Pochettino officially starting his first day as head coach on Saturday, and another new signing being made in Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea can slowly start thinking about the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

The Blues continue to be linked with numerous names to join Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, with Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic one of those being continually touted as a target for Pochettino.

According to Calcio Mercato, Chelsea have already held talks with the player's agent over a move for the Serbia international, who is also said to be wanted by Arsenal and Manchester United

Is Dusan Vlahovic a good option for Chelsea?

Vlahovic is clearly a man in demand if the rumours are to be believed, but the bare figures suggest any Premier League clubs showing an interest should perhaps think twice.

The 23-year-old looked superb in his final half-season with Fiorentina in 2021-22, recording 0.92 goals or assists every 90 minutes, as per FBref, leading to his £66.6m switch to Juventus.

However, that figure dropped to 0.67 in the second half of that season as he adapted to life at a new club, before falling further to 0.56 in his first full season at the Allianz Stadium.

This has largely been put down to head coach Massimiliano Allegri stifling Vlahovic, but that is not to say the former Partizan Belgrade player is devoid of blame.

As European football expert Siavoush Fallahi put it following Juve's loss to Milan in October, Vlahovic looked "really poor" in a Bianconeri side that played "without heart, soul and a game plan".

Even beyond the numbers, Chelsea have had numerous bad experiences when it comes to purchasing players from Serie A, from George Weah and Andriy Shevchenko to Ricardo Quaresma and Juan Cuadrado.

The most pertinent example is perhaps Hernan Crespo, who was signed for £16.8m from Inter Milan in 2003 – still a sizable fee at the time – as part of Roman Abramovich's major transformation.

However, having impressed in Serie A with Parma, Lazio and Inter, Crespo flopped during his two seasons at Stamford Bridge before being loaned to AC Milan.

The Argentinian, who like Vlahovic was able to link play as well as find the net, scored 20 goals in 49 Premier League appearances for Chelsea. While that is far from a disastrous return, Chelsea thought they were signing more than a 10-goal-a-season striker going by his Serie A stats, where he found the net 153 times.

Based on their past record of signing players from Serie A, plus Vlahovic's dwindling figures and Juve's supposed £70m valuation, Chelsea are surely better off looking elsewhere for another new attacker.

Leeds United have a tough task ahead in earning an instant return to the Premier League this coming season, especially with the 49ers' unconfirmed takeover still looming over the club.

Whilst it is a formality now, it still is halting their announcement of Daniel Farke, and in turn, his ability to bolster the squad.

Despite that, it could be argued that the biggest task the German faces is actually retaining the stars he will already have at his disposal, having actually yet to lose anyone of note from the first team.

Whilst the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Rodrigo would ideally stay and propel them straight back out of the Championship, the various interest in both of these talents makes them expected to exit with minimal fuss.

However, Tyler Adams is one star who remains quiet on his future, as does the potential interest held in the USA international.

Having joined last summer, the 24-year-old quickly established himself as one of the club's top performers in the engine room, with his relentless work rate proving infectious.

Perhaps in an effort to kill two birds with one stone, bolstering their outfit whilst tempting this man to stay, the 49ers could act on their reported interest in Jayson Molumby.

Would Jayson Molumby improve Leeds United?

The West Bromwich Albion general established himself as one of Carlos Corberan's favourites last season, as an ever-present member of his remarkable turnaround. The Spaniard took the Baggies from relegation-threatened to promotion challengers, although they could not achieve a coveted playoff spot in the end.

Whilst the expectation will be that he could once again prove instrumental in going one step further, perhaps a switch to Elland Road could instead see him as the catalyst for their own success.

Especially if he was to be paired with Adams, affording the former RB Leipzig ace more freedom to exert his technical brilliance that was often hidden during a tough last campaign.

The £55k-per-week star was instead forced to do the bulk of the dirty work beside Marc Roca, and thus his 6.98 average Sofascore rating suffered.

Despite that, he did manage to maintain 3.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and one key pass per game, as per Sofascore. It was no surprise that former American defender Alexi Lalas branded him a "monster" during the year, as he was the club's highest-rated player of those who made more than five appearances.

It is the latter statistic which could improve significantly should Molumby come in, as the 23-year-old recorded 1.4 tackles per game alongside his 86% pass accuracy in the second division.

Whilst hardly the most inspiring figures, it is his relentless work ethic that would provide the foundation for Adams to thrive. Corberan even outlined this, noting: "It’s important for every player to go on to the pitch when they’re in the first XI with the mentality to compete, this is what Molumby is doing.

"He is working as an animal and that’s what football demands of you."

Perhaps the promise of an instant promotion and added freedom to express himself, which the Republic of Ireland international would provide, could be enough to convince Adams to give it one more year.

Luton Town begin their fairytale Premier League campaign off with a trip to the South coast and the Amex Stadium to face Brighton on the opening weekend.

Here is Football FanCast’s preview ahead of kickoff.

When is the match and when is it on TV?

Brighton vs Luton Town is scheduled for 3pm on the opening Saturday of the new season, the 12th of August.

Due to the kick-off time and the 3pm blackout, the game will not be shown live on UK television, but you can stay up to date on the score and action through Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports News.

Every Premier League Opening day fixture in full

Who is Brighton’s key player?

Jermaine Defoe described Kaoru Mitoma as "incredible" last season, and the Japanese winger looks set to become Brighton's key man once again this upcoming season.

Mitoma contributed seven goals and five assists in 24 league starts for the Seagulls last year, helping Roberto De Zerbi’s side qualify for the Europa League for the first time in club history.

Who is Luton’s key player?

Captain Tom Lockyer averaged a 7.09 match rating in the Championship for the Hatters last season and helped lead the side to a dramatic victory in the playoff final over Coventry on penalties.

A defensive midfielder, Lockeyer was instrumental in a defensive unit that kept 16 clean sheets on the club's road to promotion.

How will Brighton line up?

Brighton have lost a few players so far in this summer transfer window, most notably Alexis Mac Allister who joined Liverpool for a reported £35m and could well lose Moises Caicedo to a top-six club.

The Seagulls have made some shrewd moves in the market so far, signing James Milner on a free transfer, along with Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Dortmund on a free and Joao Pedro from Watford for an estimated £29m, per ESPN.

Expected starting XI: Sanchez; Lamptey, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Gilmour, Milner; Pedro, Enciso, Mitoma; Ferguson

How will Luton Town line up?

A lot of the names on the Luton Town teamsheet will be unfamiliar to most Premier League fans.

The club are yet to make a summer signing but have been linked with a move for Ireland international winger Chiedozie Ogbene and will likely attempt to re-sign goalkeeper Ethan Horvath who spent last season at the club on loan from Nottingham Forest.

Expected starting XI: Horvath; Drameh, Osho, Lockeyer, Bell, Doughty; Mpanzu, Nakamba, Clark; Morris, Ogbene

What were the last league meetings between the teams?

Per 11v11, the matchup on the opening day of the season will be the first time the two sides have faced each other in league football since the 2007/08 season which took place in the third tier of English football. The last meeting of the sides was all the way back in 2009 in the Johnstones Paint Trophy.

Here are the last five fixtures between the two:

February 2009 – Luton 1-1 Brighton (JPT) January 2009 – Brighton 0-0 Luton (JPT) April 2008 – Luton 1-2 Brighton (League 1) November 2007 – Brighton 3-1 Luton (League 1) March 2006 – Luton 3-0 Brighton (Championship) Who is going to win?

Luton’s promotion to the Premier League is a fantastic story, but the fixture list has given them a very difficult opening fixture in England’s top flight where it is hard to see them getting a result.

FFC predicts: Brighton win

Roy Hodgson may not be the star-studded appointment that the Crystal Palace supporters were expecting following the sacking of Patrick Vieira back in March, however he should guarantee some stability at the club as they looked like they were heading towards a relegation battle if their poor form had continued under the Frenchman.

With a mid-table finish certainly realistic during 2023/24, Hodgson will need to delve into the transfer market and make some signings, as Jefferson Lerma remains the only player to have arrived at the club this summer and this inactivity will surely be agitating the Selhurst Park faithful.

They have been linked with a move for Barcelona defender Sergino Dest according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo alongside fellow Premier League club Fulham, and he could be available for a bargain price of just £17m this summer.

AC Milan had the chance to make his loan signing a permanent one, however, they didn’t exercise their option, and he still remains a Barcelona player and Hodgson will need to act swiftly if he wants to bolster his defensive options ahead of next term.

Could Crystal Palace sign Sergino Dest?

The 22-year-old made just 14 appearances for the Italian side last term, suffering from a variety of injury issues during his temporary spell in Milan, and it appears as though Barcelona are ready to offload him this summer.

This should give Palace the incentive to strike and Hodgson could even ditch Nathaniel Clyne this summer as he has just one year left on his contract and the club could perhaps try and move him on for a fee during the window.

Since embarking on his second spell with Palace back in 2020, Clyne has made 63 appearances across all competitions, and he struggled last term, ranking in a lowly 19th place across the whole Palace squad for overall Sofascore rating, along with finishing the season ranked ninth for tackles per game and 13th for successful dribbles per game, indicating that he wasn’t exactly a positive influence in the side.

Despite struggling last term, Dest still managed to rank in the top 11% for successful take ons per 90 (1.38) and top 13% for tackles per 90 (2.77) across the top five European leagues, suggesting that even though he was far from consistent in terms of appearances, he was still able to take on opposition players with ease and win the ball back regularly.

The American also possesses a much greater attacking threat than Clyne, despite playing fewer matches. Across domestic games last season, Dest registered more shot-creating-actions per 90 (three to 0.99) and had a higher successful take on percentage (44.4% to 41.7%) than Clyne and this should be all the incentive Hodgson needs to make his move for the 22-year-old.

Once lauded as a “special talent” by journalist Ives Galacrep, the youngster could command a place in the Palace back line for the foreseeable future should he move to London and for a fee of just £17m, it could turn into a bargain, that’s for sure.

Manchester United are reportedly in the mix to sign Netherlands international, Xavi Simons this summer, with it looking as if manager Erik ten Hag could be set to utilise his Dutch connections once again in order to bring the youngster to Old Trafford.

What is the latest on Simons to Man United?

According to L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi, the Red Devils are believed to be a "serious" option to land the 20-year-old ahead of next season, with the one-time Barcelona ace potentially set to be up for grabs on a loan deal this summer.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "And be careful, if Leipzig is well ahead. Manchester United – who already wanted the player at PSV – are also among the serious suitors."

The promising playmaker is set to re-join former club Paris Saint-Germain following an impressive season in the Eredivisie at PSV Eindhoven, with the Ligue 1 outfit ready to trigger their reported £5m buy-back clause in order to snap up the in-demand ace.

As per Tanzi, however, it would appear that a temporary exit away from the Parc des Princes is set to be the next step for the 5 foot 10 gem, with United in the race alongside Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig, at present.

How good is Xavi Simons?

The Amsterdam native is likely to have piqued the interest of Ten Hag following what was a stunning 2022/23 campaign in Eindhoven, with the five-cap sensation having proven himself to be a truly "fantastic talent" amid what was a "fantastic season", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Having been restricted to just 11 appearances at first-team level during his prior stint at PSG – where his chance of game time was hampered by the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe – the £51m-rated ace more than took his chance last term, having contributed 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions.

With Ten Hag believed to be keen to acquire a forward who can play all across the front line, alongside the signing of a new number nine, the capture of Simons – who has been dubbed a "top talent" by Kulig – could then represent a perfect option for the former Ajax boss, due to his impressive versatility.

That addition could also prove to be an upgrade on Jadon Sancho at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Englishman seemingly on "borrowed time" in Manchester, according to treble winner, Dwight Yorke.

The former Borussia Dortmund trickster has scored just 12 goals and contributed only six assists in 79 games in total for United over the past two seasons, with Ten Hag believed to be growing 'increasingly impatient' with the 23-year-old, as per Manchester Evening News.

The duo's contrasting form can be seen by the fact that while Sancho recorded just six goals and three assists in the Premier League last term, Simons' 2022/23 campaign proved far more fruitful as he registered 19 goals and eight assists in the Eredivisie.

The latter man's superior creative quality is also shown by the fact that he created 11 'big chances' in contrast to just six for Sancho last term, while his average match rating of 7.52, as per Sofascore, was also far more impressive than that of his United counterpart (6.85).

Not only that, but Simons also appears to be more adept at beating his man having averaged 2.2 successful dribbles per game, while the one-time Manchester City man averaged just 1.3 for that same metric last term, ensuring he could offer a far more dynamic and direct threat from the flanks.

As such, if Ten Hag is looking to improve on the struggling Sancho this summer, then the 53-year-old should certainly consider snapping up his dazzling fellow Dutchman.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Darren Ambrose believes that new signing Harvey Barnes will be an "upgrade" on outgoing winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

Is Saint-Maximin leaving Newcastle?

Newcastle have wasted no time in reinforcing their squad ahead of an exciting season in which they have returned to the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2002/03 season.

Sandro Tonali was the first marquee singing of the summer after arriving from AC Milan for £55m and has now been joined by Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes in a deal worth £38m.

The former Foxes man scored 13 goals in the Premier League last season and was one of the few shining lights in a dismal campaign at the King Power Stadium. His performances have earned him not only a move back to the top-flight, but a move to a Champions League side and last year's Carabao Cup finalists.

However, to make room for Barnes, someone has to leave. In this instance, that's Saint-Maximin, the effervescent trickster whose four-year Newcastle career is coming to an end amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

While Saint-Maximin has often flattered to deceive, offering style over substance, he has entrenched himself as a firm fan favourite at St. James' Park as a result of his ability to get fans on the edge of their seats.

The Frenchman's tricks and flicks will be missed on Tyneside, but Ambrose, who played in Europe 15 times for the Magpies, believes that Barnes offers Eddie Howe an upgrade on Saint-Maximin and is more suited to the manager's play style.

When asked on talkSPORT whether Barnes was an upgrade, he said: "I think in terms of what manager is at the football club yes, I think this is an Eddie Howe player, this is an Eddie Howe player.

"He's good on the ball, fantastic work ethic, he's young, he's hungry, he wants to succeed. He's obviously done really well last season as well, I think 13 Premier League goals in a Leicester team that got relegated. He's exciting for me and I think in terms of an upgrade to Saint-Maximin, I think he is."

Ambrose added: "I've reached out to a couple of people who are huge Newcastle fans, and if you go on social media you would think Allan Saint-Maximin is a god at Newcastle, but you can't go on social media. He's 26 now, I think four full seasons, not hit five league goals in a season, I think 12 Premier League goals in 84 appearances in the Premier League for Newcastle.

"For someone of that talent, the talent that he has, that's not a good enough return in my opinion. I think when you're back's against the wall, I don't think he turns up. "

Ambrose also suggests that the French winger may have an "attitude problem" and "gets fined a lot", perhaps one of the reasons Howe is not too bothered by losing the mercurial talent.

Barnes certainly appears to be more suited to Howe's system in which there is greater tactical discipline and emphasis placed on work ethic than Saint-Maximin, while also boasting a better statistical output in the English top-flight.

While Saint-Maximin's departure is yet to be finalised amid Saudi interest, there is a growing sense that his exit is only a matter of time.

Who is better – Barnes or Saint-Maximin?

When comparing the two in the Premier League last season, it's evident that Barnes is the player in better form.

Barnes managed 34 appearances, compared to Saint-Maximin's 25, recording a combined 14 goal and assists to the Newcastle winger's six.

Barnes outperformed his expected goals by 4.1 showcasing his smart finishing ability, boasting a higher shot on target percentage and shot on target total per 90 too. The 25-year-old provides a greater goal threat by some margin than Saint-Maximin which could be one of the reasons Howe was so keen to bring the Englishman up north.

However, when it comes to dribbling and progressive carrying, Saint-Maximin is the clear winner. He boasted a 57.6% successful take-on percentage compared to Barnes' 29.7%, as well as just seven fewer carries into the penalty area despite having played nine fewer games than Barnes.

While both players offer different skill sets, Barnes appears to be more suited to effectively implementing Howe's needs for Newcastle.

Derby County have brought an old face back into the club, with Paul Warne admitting that former forward Martyn Waghorn is currently on trial with the Rams.

How many goals has Martyn Waghorn scored?

The striker has been around the EFL for a while now, having spent 13 seasons in total playing Championship football over the course of his career. His most recent stint came with Huddersfield, although he had two teams during the 2022/23 season. He began the campaign with Coventry, featuring eleven times for them in the second tier. However, only three of those were starts and with only one goal to his name, he was allowed to leave and find football elsewhere.

He was duly snapped up by the Terriers in the same division come January and went on to play 13 times for them in the Championship, bagging another goal.

Waghorn once more though finds himself a free agent and is still on the hunt for his next team. He has been well capable of producing the goods in attack over the years though, although he last hit a double-digit goal tally back in 2019/20 during a stint with Derby. Since then, he has managed only five, one, one and one in consecutive campaigns, although his game time has also steadily declined too.

Is Martyn Waghorn signing for Derby County?

Now, according to Warne, via Derbyshire Live, Waghorn is back at Derby, albeit on a short-term deal. He is currently on trial and is training with the League One club, with the aim of getting him back to fitness.

However, Warne didn't rule out a potential permanent deal for the striker should he be impressed with the former Rams man but did state that he would be allowed to join another club if they came in for his signature with Warne's "blessing." The manager said:

"I realise he's out of contract and he lives not far away. I just thought you should treat ex-players with respect so I invited him into train. I've been completely open with him and if he signs for someone tomorrow then he goes with my blessing. There might be something here for you, there might not. Just train and play in the games and if we can help each other out, great. We'll see. It's more that I am helping him out and not in a patronising way, but it's hard to train on your own as a footballer."

Waghorn, who shares the same agent as Max Bird and Louie Sibley, is still a player who is capable of doing a job in the EFL despite his age, with Mark Fotheringham praising how good he was at Championship level. During his time in charge at Huddersfield, when the striker also played for the Terriers, he stated the attacker was a "solid, top player" and added that he looked "calm and composed" when he did feature on the field.

The fact he was able to still go out and do a job in the second tier could bode well for Derby in the third. Whilst he is only on trial currently, if he makes an impression on this short-term basis, then snapping the 33-year-old up on a permanent contract, for free, could be a decent bit of business for the Rams, making this one to watch.

Manchester City are now in advanced talks over a deal for Josko Gvardiol, and they remain confident they will be able to complete the move, according to a report from Football Insider.

Who is Josko Gvardiol signing for?

There have been recent reports that Man City may face late competition from elsewhere in their pursuit of Gvardiol, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool allegedly all submitting offers, however Pep Guardiola's side remain favourites.

The Sky Blues' pursuit of the RB Leipzig defender has been ongoing for quite some time, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano initially claiming the first part of his medical had been completed, although he later clarified this was not the case.

Leipzig sporting director confirmed the two clubs were still quite some way apart in their negotiations over the centre-back, saying: "A lot has been written and the latest information about Josko surprised us all.

"There is no agreement, not even remotely an agreement."

However, it now appears as though City are finally close to getting their man, with Football Insider reporting they are in advanced talks over a deal, which is set to amount to £140m in total, including his wages.

The Citizens are now confident they will complete a deal for the £59k-per-week Leipzig star well before the transfer window slams shut, in what would be a near club-record deal, having shelled out £100m for Aston Villa's Jack Grealish in the summer of 2021.

The ball is still firmly in the Bundesliga club's court, as they have already received money for Dominik Szoboszlai and Christopher Nkunku this summer, and the Croatian is contracted until 2027, meaning there is no pressing need to let him leave.

What are Josko Gvardiol's main qualities?

The 21-year-old has been lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described him as a "modern defender, who combines strength with good technique & passing", while also branding him a "tenacious tackler."

Despite his age, the 6 foot 1 centre-back already has a plethora of first-team experience, making 139 appearances during spells with Dinamo Zagreb and Leipzig, and he has received 21 caps for Croatia, having also impressed for his national side.

At the World Cup, the Croatia international was hailed by journalist Zach Lowy, who said: "Josko Gvardiol is a Rolls-Royce of a defender. 20 years old and the best player on the pitch in a match that featured Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modrić…sensational center back."

The former Dinamo Zagreb man is also very capable of driving the ball forward, ranking in the 96th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Gvardiol could be a fantastic long-term addition to Guardiola's squad, and Man City fans are likely to be relieved the transfer saga finally appears to be coming to an end.

Leeds United shouldn't be worried about Patrick Bamford's absence for the start of the season as the team are "worse off" with the striker in the starting eleven, according to Peacocks fan and host of the One Leeds Fan Channel, Conor McGilligan.

Leeds United news – Patrick Bamford's injury

It's been a rough few months for fans of the South Yorkshire club. First came their relegation from the Premier League, which was closely followed by an exodus of first-team players looking for top-flight football away from Elland Road, and then just last week, the side lost three of their strikers to injury, Georginio Rutter, Mateo Joseph and Bamford.

The former England international picked up a hamstring injury in the club's final preseason friendly against Scottish side Hearts, which could be a massive blow to new boss Daniel Farke's bid to gain immediate promotion back to the top tier.

The German told BBC Radio Leeds (via BBC Sport) that the 29-year-old wouldn't return to the team before the first international break of the campaign, which gets underway on September 7.

Read the latest Leeds United transfer news HERE…

There has been at least some positive news for fans of the Whites recently as they managed to fight back from 2-0 against Cardiff City in their opening game of the Championship season last weekend, proving that the loss of the former Chelsea man might not be quite as bad as some might've thought.

In fact, some fans like McGilligan, host of the One Leeds Fan Channel YouTube channel, would rather the striker didn't play for the side at all, arguing that his presence in the side makes them "worse off."

He explained his position on the One Leeds Fan Channel, saying:

"We're worse off with Patrick Bamford in that starting eleven, and you might say, 'oh, there's a number nine up top,' but that doesn't matter with him. We all know this; we've all seen the constant chances, misses. He may occupy a defender, but what is the expectation? What is the standard?

"What is the curtain raiser with Patrick Bamford, to just stand in the box? I mean I can do that if they want me to, just ring me up and I'll get down to Elland Road and stand in the box and occupy a defender."

How good is Patrick Bamford?

Is McGilligan right in his assessment of Bamford? Are Leeds genuinely better off finding another number nine to plug that gap, or is he being somewhat dramatic?

Well, despite having that brilliant year in the Premier League under Marco Bielsa, McGilligan is spot on in his assessment that the £70k-per-week forward is probably no longer good enough to help Leeds fight for promotion.

In his 28 Premier League appearances for the side last season, he scored just four goals, provided only two assists, maintained a shockingly poor passing accuracy of 69.9% and averaged a disappointing match rating of just 6.36, per WhoScored.

And unfortunately for the 6 foot 1 striker, his underlying numbers are equally poor and suggest that his recent poor returns are nothing to do with poor luck and all to do with general poor play.

According to FBref, which compares players across Europe's top five leagues, the former Premier League striker sits in the bottom 31% for successful take-ons, the bottom 30% for progressive carries, the bottom 28% for non-penalty goals, the bottom 13% for expected assists and the bottom 12% for shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Ultimately, it would seem that should the club want to move on and reach the top flight once again, it might be best for all parties to try and find a buyer for Bamford, as he clearly isn't good enough for the Yorkshire side anymore.