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Leeds United have enjoyed a fine start to the transfer window despite their less-than-stellar form since the World Cup ended. As such, they have found themselves slipping to within just one point of rock bottom.

That could therefore explain Victor Orta’s urgency with the deals to add Max Wober and Georginio Rutter, who have bolstered two key areas in quick succession.

However, as rumours have continued to swirl since the window opened, the Whites clearly still want another midfielder.

Azzedine Ounahi seemed like the top target given the numerous sources that quote their interest, but it was just last week that 90min reported their interest in Scott McTominay despite the rebuttal from Manchester United.

They should not remain downhearted about this apparent rejection, as it could be seen as a tactic to increase whatever fee they might demand for the £60k-per-week stopper.

The Scottish international often bears the brunt of some unwarranted criticisms despite his flaws, as during his time at Old Trafford he has been a dependable stalwart in the engine room for various managers.

As such, there is cause to believe that this move could see some of the pressure lifted as he joins an environment unburdened by the expectation of playing for one of the top clubs in the world.

Having seen his play time dwindle in the Premier League since the arrival of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, outlined in his five league starts, perhaps in his short time alongside him McTominay will have learnt a few things from the Brazilian that could help him elevate his game at Elland Road.

There were flashes during the 2020/21 season that suggest he could operate in a similar role and at a level necessary to put the two in the same bracket, as he maintained a 7.08 average rating across the campaign. That is not far from the 7.31 his teammate is averaging, but it is unlikely many can live up to the levels he sets.

The 30-year-old is maintaining 3.1 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game, which he has paired with three assists and two goals thus far (via Sofascore).

That is not wholly dissimilar from that aforementioned McTominay season, where he made 1.6 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game whilst recording five goal contributions.

Obviously a much lower-level version of the five times Champions League winner, he retained a level close enough to be worthy of the comparison.

That year would see him praised doubly by his manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, as he first lauded him after signing a new contract: “He’s such a humble, hard-working boy with the Manchester United DNA, and he’s a leader on the pitch.”

He would follow that up again mid-way through the following season, noting: “He’s a physical monster. He does all his work every day. Never shirks anything + he gets his rewards.”

Perhaps a move to Leeds could free him up to fulfil this potential and get those rewards on a more regular basis. Both player and club could benefit if they could only work out an agreement. Casemiro’s level might be a loft ambition to reach, but there is no reason to believe that he can’t.

Leeds United look set to ‘complete a move’ for Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter, according to Transfermarkt reporter Stefan Bienkowski.

The Lowdown: Rutter linked with Leeds

The Whites appear to have turned their attention to the 20-year-old after completing the signing of Max Wober earlier this week.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg shared news ofthe club’s interest in Rutter, with the French forward seemingly open to a move to Elland Road. It looks as if a potential transfer is gathering pace nicely, with a big-money deal now firmly on the cards.

The Latest: Move set to be completed

Bienkowski took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon to share what he’s heard about Rutter and Leeds, citing an update from colleague Daniel Busch.

The reporter said that ‘Rutter is set to complete a move to Leeds’, with a ‘deal worth between €30-€40m’, which amounts to somewhere in the region of £26.4m-£35.2m.

The Verdict: Record signing?

Brenden Aaronson is Leeds’ most expensive signing of all time, arriving last summer from Red Bull Salzburg for €32.84m (£29m), as per Transfermarkt.

Therefore, it appears as if there is a real possibility that an agreement for Rutter surpasses that figure, which would be a real statement of intent from Victor Orta and the Elland Road hierarchy.

Providing that a move goes through, you’d expect that Jesse Marsch will be looking at the 20-year-old to make an immediate impact, providing some much-needed centre-forward competition to Rodrigo, with Patrick Bamford’s injury troubles failing to show any signs of improvement.

Tottenham Hotspur have been backed to win the race to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol by pundit Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s Gvardiol interest

After a very impressive World Cup with national side Croatia, Gvardiol has emerged as one of the most sought-after young defenders in the world, with Tuttosport detailing that Tottenham are one of the clubs who are currently interested.

However, there are thought to be many suitors across the continent, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester City all said to have the centre-back on their radar.

The latter have taken it one step further by submitting a bid worth £87m, and they are willing to increase that offer to £110m, as per the Daily Mirror (via Sky Sports), but McAvennie still believes that Tottenham could be a more attractive proposition…

The Latest: Spurs > City?

In an interview with Football Insider, McAvennie points towards a potential lack of game time at City as a reason why the Croatian could instead opt for a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

“I can tell you right now that is what Tottenham need.

“They should spend that money on a centre-half. I think they have been lacking in those positions.

“I do not know if I would want to go to Man City. He will be in and out.

“They have got some good players at City and there are already three or four top players fighting for two positions there. Why would another want to go into the mix?

“If he thinks he can go there and nail down a place then fair enough. But I would want to leave after a year if I could not get a place.“

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The Verdict: Amazing if possible

Given that Man City are not averse to spending big money on talented players, as highlighted by them breaking the British transfer record to bring Jack Grealish to the club in a £100m deal, it would be very hard for Spurs to compete for Gvardiol.

McAvennie makes the point that the 6 foot enforcer may not receive enough game time at City, however that is not likely to be the case, given his ‘superb’ form (Henry Winter – The Times).

The 20-year-old featured in all seven matches for his country in Qatar, and was a key factor in his side achieving a third-placed finish, scoring a goal and recording a 91% pass accuracy in a 2-1 victory against Morocco.

If Antonio Conte was provided with the funds to sign the colossus, he would prove to be an amazing signing, however it is unlikely that Spurs will be able to compete with Manchester City.

Liverpool have been long-term linked with a move for Moises Caicedo and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool remain interested in signing the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder.

Plettenberg tweeted:

“News Caicedo: MUFC is planning to enter the race! Bosses highly interested. Also on the list of LFC – next to Bellingham – & spotted by many other top clubs. Teammates say he is an “exceptional player & character”. Brighton hopes that he will stay beyond 2023.”

Imagine him & Bellingham

It is no secret that Liverpool are in desperate need of reinforcements in the centre of the pitch, with many of their current midfielders either coming to the end of their contracts or in the latter stages of their career.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all entering the last six months of their contracts at Anfield, whilst Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are well into their 30s, leaving only Fabinho, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones as the longer-term prospects in midfield.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp and his sporting director Julian Ward will need to come together to establish the best way to rebuild the midfield personnel in the team, and with speculation mounting about a move for both Caicedo and Jude Bellingham, it is clear that they are opting for a youth revolution on the red side of Merseyside.

Caicedo has been a stand-out performer for Brighton and at just 21 years old is already proving that he has the confidence and talent to take the next step in his career.

Over 14 Premier League appearances this season, the £85m ace – who was hailed a “serious talent” by producer Aden-Jay Wood – has scored one goal and won 58% of his duels, as well as making an average of 1.1 key passes, 1.4 interceptions, 3.1 tackles and enjoying 67.8 touches per game.

Like Bellingham, the Ecuadorian midfielder offers both an attacking threat and a solid defensive presence in the centre of the pitch, so you can only imagine what the pair could achieve if their talents were combined should they both make a move to Anfield next year.

Indeed, both midfielders are capturing the attention of many elite clubs, so it won’t be easy for Liverpool to secure their signatures, but the investment in the pair could set up the Merseyside giants’ midfield for many years to come.

With that being said, the signing of Caicedo would be a major coup for the Reds and it could be the perfect parting gift from Ward before he leaves Liverpool in the summer.

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Raphael Guerreiro to Elland Road.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by TEAMtalk, who claim that Victor Orta is planning on making an offer to the 28-year-old this January, when the Borussia Dortmund left-back will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new side.

Indeed, should the Portugal international fail to sign a new deal at Signal Iduna Park prior to the turn of the year, he will be able to discuss terms with a new suitor, as his current contract with the Bundesliga outfit is set to expire at the end of the season.

However, the report goes on to state that Leeds are not alone in their interest, with Juventus also believed to be in the running, although the Italian side are said to also be keen on Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo – meaning Orta could have a free run at Guerreiro.

Unreal signing

Considering just how impressive Guerreiro has consistently been for Dortmund in recent years, coupled with Jesse Marsch being short for choice at left-back currently, the argument that signing the Portuguese full-back on a free transfer would be an unreal deal for Orta to pull off is an extremely easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 204 appearances for the German side, the £17.5m-rated talent has been a near-continuous creative and attacking threat for BvB, scoring 37 goals and providing his teammates with 39 assists – averaging a direct goal contribution every 196 minutes of football played for the Bundesliga outfit, a remarkable return for a left-back.

Furthermore, the £58k-per-week defender’s attacking inclination is clear to see in his FBref rankings, with the database listing the 28-year-old in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 4% for non-penalty xG, the top 4% for shots, the top 17% for assists and the top 24% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days.

The 56-cap international also impresses in possession of the ball, with FBref also ranking Guerreiro in the top 11% of full-backs for passes attempted per 90, in addition to the top 19% for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 14% for dribbles completed and the top 28% for touches in the opposition penalty area over the past 12 months.

These metrics see FBref compare the former FC Lorient starlet to some of the leading full-backs currently playing the game, such as Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez.

As such, with the player who Jude Bellingham claimed “rings around everyone” very much appearing to be an elite-level full-back, coupled with Junior Firpo’s well-documented struggles both on and off the pitch since his £13m move from Barcelona last summer, the “unreal” Guerreiro would indeed look to be an excellent signing for Orta to get over the line in January.

Having secured the appointment of Unai Emery, the rumour mill has instantly begun swirling around Aston Villa.

With his old players and the top talents from his old clubs being touted, one name emerges as a potential move that could benefit both clubs and the player involved in the deal.

Having excelled last season on loan at Villarreal, the Spanish manager opted to once again renew that deal and keep Giovani Lo Celso on a temporary basis.

Now that the 50-year-old has returned to English football, Spurs expert John Wenham has claimed that his first move in the market could be to reunite himself with the Argentine who has struggled at Tottenham Hotspur.

Having unloaded a reported £55.3m on the 26-year-old, it seems the Lilywhites are hoping to cut their losses, with a fee of just £15m now being touted.

Although he may have struggled in England, he has shown in his two stints in Spain the quality that demanded such a fee, as further supported by journalist David Cartlidge, who was baffled that nobody had moved to sign the “very, very special player” sooner.

Perhaps it will only take his former manager to unlock his potential in the Premier League.

He could provide the perfect partner to go alongside Leander Dendoncker, who was also signed in the summer and has impressed since coming into the first team.

Having featured 84 times for Spurs, he boasts plenty of experience in English football, despite the supposed lack of quality.

It was at Real Betis where he showed his true talents, however, with 16 goals and six assists from just 45 games.

When put in the right system, he can be a skilful yet tough midfielder with the capabilities to bag plenty of goals from deep.

Alongside the Belgian already at Villa Park, who is averaging 1.4 interceptions alongside an 86% pass accuracy, Lo Celso could provide the touch of class to partner him.

Following his exploits for the Yellow Submarine, in which he played a huge part in their Champions League success last season, he could be poised to be handed another chance to prove himself at this level.

On that run, he was particularly lauded for his performance to knock out Bayern Munich from the competition.

He was described as a “giant” and an “absolute figure” on the pitch, and with experiences such as this, he would walk into Villa with more know-how than most.

It could be the dream start to Emery’s reign at the club, by bringing in one of his favoured players for a cut-price deal.

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has been subjected to vile threats online and journalist Dean Jones has rightfully condemned them as being 'outrageous'.

What's the latest news involving Patrick Bamford?

As per The Mirror, Bamford was subjected to death threats on social media last Saturday following Leeds United's 2-2 stalemate with Newcaste United in the Premier League, in a match where the Englishman missed a crucial penalty.

Leeds United have released a club statement on events, reading: "Overnight Patrick Bamford and his family have received completely unacceptable online abuse including several threats via Twitter. The time for this behaviour to stop is now. Those making threats do not reflect our fan base and are not welcome at our club. We would like to thank all those supporters who have reached out to Patrick and his family to show their support."

Bamford has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season for his current employers, registering six goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe was also attacked by a fan on the pitch during the clash and has since been arrested and charged with assault, as cited by ITV.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones condemned the abuse received by Bamford in the strongest possible terms.

Jones told FFC: "It’s obviously outrageous that a penalty miss can lead to death threats. The problems that players have to deal with in such moments is scary and the implications on how he might perform over the next two games could also be a problem. He’ll want to score crucial goals, no doubt, but being a striker is also about being brave to keep putting yourself in positions that could go wrong and that takes a lot of mental strength for him now."

What next for Leeds United?

Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce and striker Bamford can only focus on things they can control on the field as they try to secure their Premier League status.

The Whites currently sit a point adrift of safety in 18th position with two matches still to play in the Premier League table and will hope to catch either Everton or Nottingham Forest before the close of play.

Nevertheless, Leeds United face a tough run-in, with tussles against West Ham United at the London Stadium this weekend and a home tie against a Tottenham Hotspur side chasing continental football on the final day of this season, as per Sky Sports.

Survival will be a tough ask given the position the Whites find themselves in at present, though Allardyce will be hoping his experience as a relegation-fighting specialist can inspire a miracle at Elland Road.

Manchester United are thought to be ‘chasing’ Swedish youngster Lucas Bergvall.

The Lowdown: Bergvall profiled

Bergvall is just 16 years of age but is already sponsored by Nike. He plies his trade with Swedish second-tier side Brommapojkarna and is primarily a central midfielder.

The teenager, who has recently captained his country at U16 level, scored his first senior goal on Tuesday evening. Labelled an “exceptional talent” by Brommapojkarna sporting director Peter Kisfaludy, Bergvall visited United’s Carrington training facility last year, and it looks as if the Red Devils are still keen on his services.

The Latest: United interest

Sports Witness relayed an update from FotbollDirekt on Wednesday regarding Bergvall.

They claimed that several sides are keen on the midfielder but only name-checked Manchester United and Feyenoord as clubs who are actually ‘chasing’ the player.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

It looks as if Bergvall may well be a future star, so it could be wise for United officials to look to secure a move as soon as possible.

The Red Devils have missed out on youngsters such as Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland in the past, with the pair going on to become names known around the world.

Therefore, United chiefs won’t want to look back in years to come with another ‘what could have been’ scenario when it comes to Bergvall, so it could be one to watch heading into 2023.

Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore is currently facing an uncertain future at Molineux with just under a year remaining on his existing deal at the club, having become something of a peripheral figure under Bruno Lage of late.

The former Benfica boss had sanctioned the Spaniard’s departure to Barcelona on a loan deal back in January, although the 26-year-old returned to the Midlands over the summer with the Catalan outfit opting against triggering an option to buy to keep him at the Camp Nou.

The La Masia youth product has since gone on to make four substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this term, having largely been resigned to a watching brief despite the lack of options at the manager’s disposal.

It is approaching a sad end to the £43k-per-week man’s time at the club – amid talk of an exit in the winter window – with the undoubtedly unique menace having somewhat failed to deliver since his club-record arrival from Middlesbrough back in 2018.

One man who had seemingly foreseen what was to come with regards to Traore’s time at the club was one-time England boss Sam Allardyce, who stated at the time: “He’s what we call a ‘sacking player’ because the fans will love him but the manager will not see it often enough.

“Unless the last few years at Middlesbrough has taught him a lot to deliver. If he delivers consistently he’s a hell of a player, but his inconsistency has always been the problem since he arrived at (Aston) Villa.

“You will be judged on the size of the money and the player by the fans, and if the fans turn around and say after a few games ‘he’s a waste of money, what did we buy him for?’ that’s what you’re faced with now. How much he’ll improve the team? I think with his pace and what he’s got he will obviously improve the team, but will he do it consistently enough for that value on him, with the pressure it puts on him then?

“That is always a big problem for a player, living with the fee that’s paid for them, that’s a problem.”

While the player’s form has not led to any sackings during his time at Wolves, Allardyce was no doubt correct in his suggestion that Traore is the type of player whom supporters – and neutrals alike – love to watch in action due to his breathtaking speed and power, although he actually rarely delivers the goods when it matters.

That ‘inconsistency’ – as the former Bolton Wanderers manager noted – has seen the £13.5m-rated machine score just 12 goals and provide only 18 assists in 159 games during his time with the club, with that lack of end product having been a continued issue throughout his career.

For all the former Aston Villa man’s potential threat and dribbling prowess – as he notably ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed across Europe’s top five leagues – he far too often fails to provide that killer moment, having notably been dubbed “a hot-and-cold, frustrating player” by writer Zach Lowy.

That lack of a cutting edge had been evident even prior to his move to Molineux, after netting just five times and laying on only 13 assists in 71 games during his time at Boro, while he’s notably only scored three league goals since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, leading talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino to state that “his numbers are terrible.”

As such, Allardyce may well have been wise to question the wisdom in forking out an £18m fee for his services just over four years ago.

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny believes that the club will bring in a new centre-forward before the September 1 deadline, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Gnonto terms agreed

Rumours regarding a move for FC Zurich forward Wilfried Gnonto, who Italy coach Roberto Mancini called ‘fast’, have been gathering pace over the last seven days.

One report over the weekend claimed that Leeds were ‘very close’ to a deal, and Football Insider revealed prior to the 3-0 win over Chelsea that personal terms have now been agreed with the 18-year-old.

The Latest: Kenny’s comments

Football Insider shared a story on Monday afternoon, once again citing the news on Gnonto.

They spoke to Kenny about the need for a new centre-forward at Elland Road with the former Whites goalkeeper admitting he was ‘surprised’ that one hasn’t been brought in yet, but he thinks one ‘will arrive soon’.

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The 44-year-old said:

“I am a bit surprised Leeds haven’t signed a striker yet.

“It has been the big thing they have needed for quite a while now. You just can’t rely on Bamford’s fitness which is such a shame.

“So they need a player in. Do they need someone younger? I’m not sure. Gelhardt is there and Rodrigo looks like he is playing more advanced but you wouldn’t call him an out-and-out striker.

“I’m certain a striker will arrive soon, the club need one and must be looking for one.”

The Verdict: Needed

Signs have been good for Leeds in the final third so far this season, with seven goals in three games. Rodrigo has scored four of those and is leading the Premier League goalscoring charts, stepping up to the mark with goals in all three matches thus far.

However, despite the Spaniard’s fine start to the campaign, signing a new striker could still be hugely beneficial for Jesse Marsch.

Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt have already had injury scares this term, and with Rodrigo also used in a deeper role, a new centre-forward like Gnonto could prove to be a handy acquisition.