All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

The 2023/24 campaign was always going to be one of transformation for Tottenham Hotspur but Ange Postecoglou certainly started life in London with a bang.

After ten matches in the Premier League, Spurs had collected eight victories and drawn twice, once on the opening day at Brentford and again at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal.

And this despite the sale of august talisman Harry Kane; Tottenham's record scorer is a lionised figure at the club but after last year's eighth-placed finish he departed for pastures new and moved to Bayern Munich.

There have been bumps in the road but that was to be expected. What matters at this stage is that Spurs have an identity once again and are displaying signs of continual growth under their Australian manager's leadership, having overcome a blip before the festive period to now yield just one defeat from the past eight league outings, fifth in the table.

With so many outfits fighting for prominence, it was vital chairman Daniel Levy got it right during the January transfer window.

Spurs' January spending

Before the winter market swung open its shutters, Postecoglou had revealed that his priority was to strengthen Tottenham's central defensive options, with the absences of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero punctuating the seasonal efforts with setbacks.

As such, Radu Dragusin, aged 21, was brought in from Genoa in a £27m deal to replace Eric Dier, who had been languishing on the periphery for most of the campaign and has now completed a loan move to Bayern Munich, with a £3m buy option inserted.

While Tottenham have not augmented their defensive ranks as such, youngster Ashley Phillips also completing a loan move to Plymouth Argyle in the Championship, Postecoglou is starting to mould his players to his liking and Dragusin has been regarded for his "complete & dominant" style by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

With Heung-min Son away at the Asia Cup with South Korea, Timo Werner was also landed from RB Leipzig on a six-month loan deal – with an option to buy for £15m – and while he has been something of a mixed bag across his opening fixtures, the German international already has two assists to his name.

While Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher was pursued throughout the month, Tottenham were seemingly told that their interest would bring no fruit and an official offer was never lodged.

Spurs may already have their own Conor Gallagher in the academy

The Lilywhites could promote one of their own and put that money to better use elsewhere.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 2, 2024

The window was rounded off nicely on deadline day. Spurs had already conducted the necessary business of the month but an attempt to hijack Barcelona's prospective deal for teenage sensation Lucas Bergvall was successful and the Swedish midfielder was landed for £8.5m, linking up with the London club from Djurgårdens IF in the summer.

A centre-forward was not signed, however, and while there were several names discussed, Levy and co must rue the fact that Brentford stood firm and rebuffed any notion of a move for their prolific talisman Ivan Toney.

The centre-forward Spurs wanted

Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United were all eyeing a move for Toney last month but Bees boss Thomas Frank had verbally slapped a £100m price tag on the England international to dissuade suitors. It would seem that it worked. Spurs obviously weren't willing to pay a club-record fee for the attacker.

Toney returned to competitive action several weeks ago after completing an eight-month suspension after breaching FA betting rules and has scored in both of his Premier League matches this term, displaying little sign of ring rust.

The 27-year-old may yet be available in the summer and this is something that Tottenham will be following with a vested interest, but Levy and co may look back with a rueful gaze at an opportunity missed, with teams likely to be better-equipped for heavy outlays after the close of the campaign.

Ivan Toney's best qualities

So will Tottenham fare well having opted not to sharpen their arrowhead last month? In fairness, Heung-min Son has proved his worth as a central striking force this season and Richarlison has bagged nine goals from his past eight matches in the top-flight.

1.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

14

1.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

14

3.

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth

13

4.

Son Heung-min

Tottenham Hotspur

12

5.

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

11

5.

Jarrod Bowen

West Ham United

11

7.

Richarlison

Tottenham Hotspur

10

7.

Hwang Hee-chan

Wolverhampton Wanderers

10

7.

Alexander Isak

Newcastle United

10

7.

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

10

To say that the Brazilian has been in clinical form would be quite the understatement, having finally unlocked his destructive streak after struggling for so long since moving to the capital from Everton for £60m back in 2022.

But for all his prolificness, Richarlison does not offer the dynamism and intelligence of Toney, whose style of play even led Declan Rice to proclaim that he is "like Harry Kane", scoring 20 goals from 33 Premier League appearances last term but also providing four assists, winning 6.7 duels on average each game and creating a whopping 12 big chances.

To emphasise this point, Toney ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 17% for interceptions and aerial duels won and the top 12% clearances per 90, as per FBref.

Described as a "monster" of a centre-forward by Frank, Toney really could be the final piece of the puzzle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Postecoglou must ensure that the club prioritise his acquisition if funds are put aside to sign a new striker in the summer.

And while Son and Richarlison are both excellent players, the former's best qualities are found on the left wing and evidence suggests that Toney could match Richarlison's striking rate while blending different facets together to increase the cohesion and fluency down N17.

Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United are going after Newcastle's Dan Ashworth as they seek a new sporting director to work above Erik ten Hag, or indeed whichever manager is in charge next season.

Ashworth has apparently agreed terms with United already and told Newcastle that he's "going", but the Red Devils still need to prise him away from the Magpies, and he faces a significant period of gardening leave.

With CEO Omar Berrada already committed after defecting from local Premier League rivals Manchester City, Ratcliffe is assembling his new hierarchy at Old Trafford. Even before he's been appointed, there are suggestions that Ashworth could look to bring in head of recruitment Sam Jewell from former club Brighton to work alongside him.

Wilcox is United's latest target

Now, another candidate for a behind-the-scenes role has emerged, this time Jason Wilcox at Southampton. The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that the Saints director of football is aware of the active interest from United.

United are yet to approach the Championship club but they are nonetheless hard at work on a deal for a figure who's "extremely highly regarded" in Manchester. The plan is for Wilcox to report to Ashworth as part of a revamped set-up.

Wilcox has made an impressive start at Southampton

Like Berrada, Wilcox used to work at Man City, working his way up from manager of the under-18 team, to head of academy coaching and then academy manager. He left the Etihad at the end of last season to take up his role at St Mary's even as reigning treble winners City made an effort to keep him.

Man Utd ace who "loves a goal" has seen his value soar under Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has a big choice to make this summer over star’s future.

ByTom Lever Feb 15, 2024

Wilcox walked into an unenviable situation at Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League, with a raft of high-profile players leaving. However, they have responded well and have a strong chance of immediate promotion, having recently rattled off a 25-game unbeaten run. They're currently third in the table and have a game in hand on second-place Leeds in the automatic promotion places.

Player

Joined

Fee

Romeo Lavia

Chelsea

£55m

Tino Livramento

Newcastle

£33m

James Ward-Prowse

West Ham

£31m

Nathan Tella

Bayer Leverkusen

£21m

Mohammed Salisu

Monaco

£13m

Intelligent recruitment has played a part in their success. Wilcox looked to former club City to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis on loan and he's played 25 games as part of a backline that's kept nine clean sheets, while Ryan Fraser has chipped in with ten goal contributions since his temporary switch from Newcastle. January loan signings Joe Rothwell and David Brooks and have got off to strong starts after joining from Bournemouth, with the former scoring twice and the latter setting up a couple in his early outings.

The task at United would of course be very different, but decision-makers clearly believe that Wilcox possesses the fundamental skillset needed to thrive at a top-level club too.

Manchester United want to add two young centre-backs to their squad this summer, with Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans potentially set to leave at the end of their contracts and Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof both up for sale too.

One target for the Red Devils is Matthijs de Ligt, who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax and is now at Bayern Munich. United have apparently made contact with the Dutchman's camp and are leading the race to sign him ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal.

It's also been reported that the Old Trafford outfit have been keeping an eye on Giorgio Scalvini at Atalanta, alongside two other European giants in Bayern and PSG. The Serie A club are apparently coming under increasing pressure to sell the 20-year-old, with United "ahead" of the pack for his signature.

United lodge Scalvini enquiry

Now, in fresh Scalvini transfer news, it's emerged that United have made contact with Atalanta over a possible deal. The report from Italian outlet Calciomercato also notes that Borussia Dortmund have been in touch too.

No Rashford, Giggs 2.0 signs: The dream XI Ashworth could build at Man Utd

Plenty of changes are set to occur at Man United.

ByTom Lever Feb 15, 2024

Atalanta have apparently demanded €40m, which is about £34m, to sell Scalvini, and they have no intention of budging. They know that this could go down as pure profit in their books given that the player came through the club's academy.

"Accomplished" Scalvini fits the bill for United

In encouraging news for United elsewhere, journalist Dean Jones says Scalvini is prepared to move on from La Dea this summer and is "very interested" in a switch to the English top-flight. Described as "accomplished" by Yash Shah in a piece for WhoScored, he has to be considered one of the most exciting young centre-halves in European football right now.

Having been nominated for the 2023 Golden Boy award, he was ultimately the best under-21 Italian player at the ceremony. He's already been capped seven times by his country and made his debut aged just 18 years and six months in June 2022, becoming the youngest centre-back ever to play for his country and the eighth-youngest player overall.

Rank

Player

Debut

Age (Y/M/D)

Position

1

Rodolfo Gavinelli

April 1911

16/3/8

Striker

2

Renzo De Vecchi

May 1910

16/3/23

Left-back

3

Simone Pafundi

November 2022

16/8/2

Attacking midfield

4

Gianluigi Donnarumma

September 2016

17/6/7

Goalkeeper

5

Luigi Barbesino

July 1912

18/2/0

Midfielder

6

Giuseppe Bergomi

April 1982

18/3/23

Right-back

7

Davide Santon

June 2009

18/5/4

Left-back

8

Giorgio Scalvini

June 2022

18/6/3

Centre-back

If United want to rebuild their backline with players who can perform at an elite level in the short-term and become superstars long-term, then they should look no further than Scalvini.

Celtic decided to bring Brendan Rodgers back for a second spell at Parkhead last summer after former boss Ange Postecoglou had moved to the Premier League.

The Hoops chiefs backed him during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2023/24 campaign with nine new signings to bolster his playing squad.

Paulo Bernardo, Nat Phillips, Marco Tilio, Odin Thiago Holm, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, and Hyun-jun Yang were all snapped up, either on loan or permanently.

Rodgers was then able to add two new players to his group during the recent January transfer window as Nicolas Kuhn was signed from Rapid Wien on a permanent deal and Adam Idah arrived on loan from Norwich City on deadline day.

It was reported by Football Insider that the Hoops were also keen to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart, although they did also claim that it could wait until the summer, and were unable to do so before the window slammed shut.

Celtic's goalkeeping situation

The Hoops will likely need to dip into the market to land a new number one ahead of the 2024/25 campaign as the former England international has officially confirmed that he will be leaving the club this year.

His contract expires this summer and the veteran shot-stopper has revealed that he is set to call time on his playing days after – what Rodgers described as – a "phenomenal" career.

This means that the number one jersey will be available for someone to take next season, and it remains to be seen who will be handed that honour.

The Scottish Sun reported in September 2023 that Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is a target for Rodgers, as the Ireland international is currently second choice to Alisson at Anfield.

However, the Hoops appear to have already missed out on the chance to sign a dream heir to Hart's position in the team with 2023 target Andriy Lunin.

The Daily Record claimed in October 2023 that the Scottish giants had their eyes on the Ukraine international as a possible replacement for the English veteran.

They also stated that the Bhoys had been interested in a swoop to sign the young colossus during the summer transfer window, in 2023, but they were not able to convince Real Madrid to do business with them.

The Daily Record added that Lunin had become frustrated since the summer as the Spanish giants signed Kepa Arrrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea, which left the Hoops target on the bench.

His frustration with the La Liga side reportedly put Celtic on 'alert' ahead of the January transfer window, but the situation appears to have changed.

Lunin has earned his place as the first-choice goalkeeper for Real and it was recently reported that they are planning to offer him a contract extension, whilst the player himself has confirmed that he would like to stay at the club.

This suggests that the Hoops have already missed out on their chance to secure his services, and that last summer may have been the perfect time to strike but they could not do enough to convince the Spanish side at the time.

They may look back on that failure with regret as the talented gem is now starring for a Champions League giant and could have been a sublime replacement for Hart.

Joe Hart's form for Celtic this season

The current Celtic number one has endured mixed success throughout the season with some solid performances domestically but struggles in Europe.

In the Scottish Premiership, Hart has kept ten clean sheets in 25 appearances and saved 70% of the shots on target against his goal, which is an improvement on his save success rate of 65% in the division last season.

However, he only saved 61% of shots against him in six Champions League group stage matches as the Hoops finished bottom of their group.

Hart conceded a whopping 15 goals from 13.3 post-shot Expected Goals, which means that the experienced titan conceded 1.7 more than expected based on the quality of efforts faced.

The 36-year-old giant also ranks within the bottom 22% of Champions League goalkeepers this season for percentage of crosses stopped at 1.2%, and the bottom 10% for defensive actions outside of his penalty area per 90 (0.17).

Why Lunin could have been the dream Hart replacement

Meanwhile, Lunin has been a star for Real Madrid in Europe's premier cup competition this season, and caught the eye with his displays in LaLiga.

The 25-year-old colossus has started 13 top-flight matches for Carlo Ancelotti this season and boasts an extraordinary save success rate of 81%.

Lunin has only conceded seven goals in those 13 games from a post-shot xG of 12.2, which means that he has prevented 5.2 more goals than expected.

That incredible form has also extended to his performances in the Champions League, which is a tournament Real have won 14 times in their history – seven more than any other club. The Ukraine international has only featured in three games in the competition this term but has prevented a staggering 3.1 more goals than expected in those three outings.

Sofascore rating

9.6

Goals conceded

Zero

Saves made

Nine

Goals prevented

2.44

Run out success rate

100% (1/1)

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 2023 Celtic target recently caught the eye with a phenomenal display against RB Leipzig in Real's last 16 first leg clash against the Bundesliga outfit.

Alongside his outstanding shot-stopping quality, which is illustrated by his aforementioned statistics in LaLiga and the Champions League, Lunin is a commanding goalkeeper.

Over the last 365 days, the 25-year-old star ranks within the top 10% of goalkeepers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for percentage of crosses stopped at 10%.

This shows that he excels at coming out to collect crosses and alleviate pressure on his defence by being dominant and controlling his penalty box.

Couple that with his incredible shot-stopping and this suggests that Celtic missed out on a deal to sign an elite goalkeeper who could have been a dream replacement for Hart.

In fact, Lunin's shot-stopping and ability to deal with crosses could have made him a huge upgrade on the Englishman, given his superior statistics in Europe and in a higher domestic division.

Rodgers may now watch the Real star's career from afar with a tinge of regret at not being able to secure his services last summer, before he emerged as the Spanish side's number one.

Leeds United have been handed a major boost on the injury front as a key man has returned to action ahead of the final run-in.

Leeds stall after historic winning run

The Yorkshire outfit are flying this season under Daniel Farke, but may well need a record points tally to be promoted automatically from the Championship come the end of the campaign.

As it stands, they sit in third place, two points behind Ipswich Town and six points ahead of fourth placed Southampton, though the Saints have a game in hand on the sides above them.

With 76 points to their name, Leeds can theoretically reach 106 points by the end of the campaign should they re-continue their impressive recent run, but even should they amass far fewer than that they would be making history.

The record points tally required to claim the second automatic promotion spot currently sits at 93 points, and no team with more than 90 points (Sunderland 1997/98) have ever failed to be promoted.

The highest points tallies in Championship history

Leeds and Burnley recently made second-tier history.

ByCharlie Smith May 17, 2025

But with Ipswich on 78 points already, there is a strong chance that 93 points won't be enough to secure automatic promotion (5 wins and 5 losses from their final 10 games would see them reach that figure).

The run in

Ipswich Town vs…

Leeds United vs…

Cardiff City (A)

Sheffield Wednesday (A)

Sheffield Wednesday (H)

Millwall (H)

Blackburn Rovers (A)

Watford (A)

Southampton (H)

Hull City (H)

Norwich City (A)

Coventry City (A)

Watford (H)

Sunderland (H)

Middlesbrough (H)

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Coventry City (A)

Middlesbrough (A)

Hull City (A)

QPR (A)

Huddersfield Town (H)

Southampton (H)

To overturn that record, Leeds will need all the help they can get, and to that end they have been handed a timely update.

Leeds boost as key man set to return soon

Now, Leeds have been handed a major boost on the injury front as it has emerged that Pascal Struijk is set to make his long awaited return from injury in the coming weeks. The defender underwent surgery in January after picking up an adductor injury over Christmas, and is yet to make his return. However, he is now back in training and gearing up for his long-awaited re-introduction to Championship action.

Daniel Farke admitted that he believes Struijk could be the man to make the difference, hailing the return of his 'key player'.

"It feels a bit crazy that we didn't speak about him last two months and thank God we didn't have to because our defensive behaviour was spot on", the Leeds boss began.

"He's a cornerstone for our future. We play without such a key player for two months, once he's back in team training it's not like you press a button and he's back to his best. I expect him to be back in team training other side of international break at latest. Hopefully as soon as possible back in best possible shape."

He added that he felt Struijk could be a 'big factor' for the final ten games of the season, though he admitted he may not be back until after the international break. As it stands, Leeds have the best defensive record in the Championship, having conceded just 28 times all season. It could well be that the defender is not risked in light of his deputies having made such an impression, but it is nonetheless a major boost to Farke's squad planning given Struijk's lengthy absence.

Leeds are next in action away to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, with the Owls themselves fighting for their Championship lives in a congested relegation scrap.

Chelsea’s 2023/24 campaign has been filled with both positivity and negativity, which is expected at the start of a rebuild.

Mauricio Pochettino has often faced backlash for the poor results that have landed the Blues in an 11th-place position in the Premier League.

However, the FA Cup trophy can still be won, with a tough tie against Leicester City around the corner, but a triumph in that competition would certainly end the season on a high.

That said, one huge positive from this season was the signing of Cole Palmer, but there’s a Chelsea player who’s currently earning over three times more than him, despite barely playing.

Cole Palmer’s salary at Chelsea

Chelsea’s purchase of Palmer this summer from Manchester City for a fee of £40m could very well go down as the signing of the season if he continues to perform at the standard he has so far.

The 21-year-old has been unstoppable this season, taking on the role as the focal point for the Blues, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in just 19 Premier League starts.

Gareth Southgate has rewarded Palmer’s excellent performances by handing him a spot in the England squad for the upcoming international break, which just proves how influential he’s been.

However, his current wage doesn’t reflect his impact on the field, with the number ten earning 'just' £75k-per-week, as per Capology, which is far less than a certain somewhat forgotten ace…

Cole Palmer is now being outscored by a Chelsea flop who left on a free

The former Blues man is on fire this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 15, 2024 What Reece James earns at Chelsea

There’s no doubt about it, when Reece James is fit and playing, he’s certainly “world class,” as described by football creator George Benson, with his five goals and nine assists in the 2021/22 campaign serving as evidence for that.

However, that’s where the problem lies for the Chelsea defender, as reliability and availability have been a huge issue over the last few seasons.

The England defender has dealt with 12 injuries since the start of the 2021/22 season, with a hamstring injury being a common occurrence.

Unfortunately, injuries have also ruined his campaign under the Argentine, and he has missed 29 matches to date. James’ last match for Chelsea was the 2-0 away defeat to Everton at the start of December, having made just seven appearances prior.

Nevertheless, if the 24-year-old can find a solution to his constant setbacks, then he still has a minimum of four years left on his contract, which expires in June 2028.

Raheem Sterling

£350k

Reece James

£250k

Wesley Fofana

£200k

Ben Chillwell

£200k

Cole Palmer *16th

£75k

As you can see, James is also the second-highest earner in the entire Chelsea squad at £250k per week, with only Sterling having a higher salary than the right-back.

This clearly shows that the number 24 earns just over three times more than Palmer does, despite being unable to influence the team on the pitch.

With James’ return to action not entirely known, if he is sadly out for the entire campaign, he would cost Chelsea £2.6m per start this campaign.

Overall, James’ unfortunate luck when it comes to injuries is extremely sad to witness, especially when he has displayed so much potential, and hopefully he can justify his large wage in the near future.

At present, however, it is looking hard for the Blues to justify forking out his exorbitant salary…

Without the distractions of European football, Ange Postecoglou has had plenty of time to instil his philosophy at Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Even with the departure of the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, Harry Kane, Spurs are in an excellent position to qualify for the Champions League.

This highlights just how impressive the Australian boss has been since joining, especially in regard to how he’s changed the culture at the club, which had become rather toxic in recent years.

Under Postecoglou, the Lilywhites have been particularly impressive in the final third this campaign, only failing to score once all season, with Heung-min Son at the forefront of that, but there’s a star at the opposite end of the field who’s arguably become Spurs’ best player this term.

Heung-min Son’s 23/24 Premier League season

For years, the partnership of Harry Kane and Son has torn Premier League defences apart for fun, with the South Korean scoring 160 goals in 399 appearances for the Lilywhites.

With Kane leaving for Bayern Munich in the summer, the expectation was that Son’s performance would see a slight drop-off, but that certainly hasn’t been the case for the captain.

This season, Son has alternated between a left-wing role and a false nine, thriving over his 26 appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists, which is a mightily impressive return.

The number 11 is absolutely instrumental to the way Postecoglou’s side plays, with Son registering ten more goal contributions than the next best in the Spurs squad, Richarlison.

However, there’s one player in the squad who has potentially been Spurs’ best player this campaign, especially for his influence at the heart of the backline, with his performance against Luton Town highlighting that.

Cristian Romero’s performance against Luton Town

Spurs’ Argentine rock, Cristian Romero, has been simply superb this campaign, becoming a leader in the side at just 25 years of age.

The World Cup winner has started 24 matches in the Premier League this season, keeping six clean sheets while also being a threat in the final third, scoring on four occasions.

Romero further underlined his importance in the side against Luton on Saturday, where he was completely dominant, earning a 7/10 rating from the Evening Standard.

With the visitors scoring early, the Hatters became content with holding onto their narrow lead, sitting back and attempting to catch Spurs out on the counter-attack.

Clearances

3

Dribbled past

0

Duels won

5/6

Passes completed

92

Pass accuracy

91%

Touches

106

As you can see in the table above, Romero wasn’t provided with an opportunity to showcase that he’s a defensive "monster", as dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, with three clearances and six duels being his only defensive actions.

However, it was the former Atalanta defender’s ability on the ball that separated him from the rest, taking 106 touches and 92 passes with a remarkable pass accuracy of 91%.

Amazingly, this has just become the norm for the number 17, as displayed by his average rating of 7.30 this season according to Sofascore, and he may just prove to be Spurs’ best player over the campaign if he continues to perform at this level.

Glasgow Rangers finally return to Premiership action following a 16-day break as they take on Hibernian at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.

The Gers were due to face Dundee in the league just three days after their 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the Europa League, but a waterlogged pitch meant the game was postponed, giving Philipp Clement and his men an unlikely day off.

The Belgian will have spent the international break working on bringing back some of his injured players ahead of the title run-in, as the likes of Danilo and Abdallah Sima could potentially make all the difference for the Light Blues.

One game at a time will surely be the mantra Clement preaches to his side, starting with the clash against the Easter Road outfit on Saturday.

A win for Rangers would see them leapfrog Celtic and return to the summit of the Premiership, which could be crucial in terms of applying pressure on their Old Firm rivals.

With this in mind, here's a look at the that Clement could choose for the league tie at Ibrox, as a few players may come into the team having started on the bench against Benfica…

1 GK – Jack Butland

There is no doubt Butland will have been disappointed to have missed out on a call-up to the England side for their recent friendlies, yet this could motivate him over the next few weeks.

In 29 Premiership games this term, the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper has conceded just 16 goals, which is the best defensive record in the top flight.

A 24th clean sheet of the campaign would go a long way to seeing the Gers claim all three points against Hibs.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The long-serving skipper has enjoyed playing against Hibs throughout his spell in Glasgow, scoring eight goals and grabbing five assists since his first meeting way back in 2015.

The experienced defender has been on the losing side against Hibs on just six occasions, aiming to secure his 19th victory against the Edinburgh side on Saturday.

With plenty at stake between now and May, Tavernier will surely be up to the task of containing them on Saturday.

3 CB – Connor Goldson

With over 300 appearances for the Light Blues, Goldson knows what it takes to win a league title, although this is the first time he has really been involved in a proper title race.

The centre-back has missed just four matches throughout 2023/24, proving to be a pillar of consistency under Clement.

4 CB – John Souttar

The Scot will continue his fine partnership alongside Goldson on Saturday afternoon, with the duo shining together over the previous few months.

Souttar endured an injury-ravaged debut season at Ibrox, yet he has missed only 15 matches this term, with the majority of them due to injury.

The defender played just 22 minutes for Scotland during the recent international break, thus he should be fresh and ready to go.

5 LB – Borna Barisic

Ridvan Yilmaz was injured on international duty for Turkey, meaning he will miss the Hibs clash at least.

This gives Clement a selection headache, however. Dujon Sterling suffered a hamstring injury against Hibs in the Scottish Cup clash at the start of the month, with his return unlikely for Saturday’s match.

This means Clement could be forced to unleash Borna Barisic, yet the Croatian has started just three league matches in 2024 and has proven to be a liability when unleashed in the starting XI.

6 CM – John Lundstram

The midfielder is one of the first names on Clement’s team sheet – missing just one match under the Belgian thus far – and his performances have been excellent.

His contract is due to expire at the end of the season, but his displays recently should ensure he is offered an extension to his current deal.

7 CM – Mohamed Diomande

The January signing has hit the ground running at Ibrox, scoring twice across his opening ten matches, while chipping in with an assist too.

The Ivorian could be at the heart of the midfield for the foreseeable future, with the Gers surely looking to make a major profit on the starlet who will join permanently in the summer for a fee of £4.3m.

8 RW – Scott Wright

Wright hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of seasons, scoring just twice in all competitions, yet his display against Benfica was lively and may have secured him a place in the starting XI on Saturday.

Against the Portuguese side, he completed one key pass along with succeeding with three of his five dribble attempts, proving to be a threat on the right wing.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

The attacking midfielder – who cost just £1.5m from Norwich City a year ago – returned from injury against Benfica, coming on for the final 17 minutes to get some much-needed game time.

He will take the place of Tom Lawrence in the starting XI, as the Englishman – whom Brian Laudrup lauded as "wonderful to watch" – has scored six goals and grabbed four assists this term, showcasing his talents in the number ten role.

10 LW – Rabbi Matondo

The winger, like Cantwell, also came off the bench against Benfica for the final 20 minutes as he stepped up his progress towards a full start.

This could come against Hibs, especially as Clement could move Fabio Silva into a more central position, leaving the left-wing slot available for the Welshman.

Four goals and four assists this season indicate that he has been productive, and he will be keen for more on Saturday.

A major European newspaper claims that a "special" manager is being talked up as Manchester United's potential next boss after Erik ten Hag.

Erik ten Hag under pressure at Man Utd

United's current boss finds himself under enormous pressure to keep his job beyond the summer, with his side continuing to struggle this season. They are now languishing in sixth place and 12 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth, with Champions League qualification looking close to impossible.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear that he is going to be ruthless since becoming part owner of the Red Devils, and it looks as though he is already considering potential candidates to replace Ten Hag if things don't drastically improve.

Impressive Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been linked with coming in, guiding his current team to within touching distance of promotion from the Championship to the Premier League this season. The 37-year-old is not only a big talent, but he also has ties with United, managing the Under-18s and also being assistant manager for a period in the past.

Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also seen as an option to take over at Old Trafford soon, with journalist Ben Jacobs saying: "One is Graham Potter, who couldn't handle the Chelsea dressing room for various reasons, perhaps some not in his control, but is still highly thought of after his time at Brighton. INEOS liked Potter with a view to Nice long before the investment was completed at Manchester United, and that's why he's been linked."

It remains to be seen what decision will be made with Ten Hag – Ratcliffe could yet decide that he is the right man for the job if the rest of the season goes well – but another name has now been thrown into the mix.

Man Utd links to "special" manager heating up

According to a front page report from Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United see Bologna manager Thiago Motta as an option to replace the Dutchman in the near future, and the links are gathering pace in Italy.

It does look as though there is more hype than anything surrounding the update however, with the report admitting that no concrete interest from the Red Devils has emerged and it could just be a case of using a huge club's name to drum up interest elsewhere.

Should Motta become a genuine managerial option for United this summer, or even before then, he would be an exciting candidate, considering what an excellent job he has done at Bologna to date.

Bologna

68

1.72

Spezia Calcio

40

0.98

Genoa

10

0.90

The 41-year-old has been hailed as a "special" manager by journalist James Horncastle, and his team sit fourth in Serie A, as they close in on a place in next season's Champions League. A recent report has claimed that internal talks have happened within United, no doubt involving Ratcliffe, and he is one of Europe's most exciting young bosses currently.

Ratcliffe eyes Man Utd move for £75k-p/w "complete" star amid FFP concerns

The United owner could look to take advantage of a worrying situation.

ByBen Browning Apr 6, 2024

Motta prefers to play a possession-based 4-2-3-1 formation, with a report on his tactics from the Coaches' Voice adding the system "delivers more fluidity, despite still working to an overall structure", and he would represent a vibrant choice to come in and be an upgrade on Ten Hag.

Leeds United are braced for interest in one of their stars this summer after it emerged that one European giant is keeping a close eye on his performances in the Championship.

Leeds stuttering in Championship race

Recent results have seen Daniel Farke's side chances of promotion to the Premier League this season take a massive hit.

Leeds have managed just one win in their last five outings, having previously been unbeaten in 2024. It means that with just three games left of the season, they sit third in England's second tier, two points behind league leaders Ipswich Town and a point behind Leicester City, though the Foxes have a game in hand on both of their rivals.

Leeds preparing to sell player who Daniel Farke doesn't want

The Whites are planning for a future without the player.

ByDan Emery Apr 17, 2024

Perhaps more concerning for the three league leaders is the form of Southampton, who now sit just three points behind Leeds with a game in hand, albeit with a worse goal difference.

Despite the dip in form, it is still likely to be a record-breaking season for one team, but possibly for all the wrong reasons. This comes in the form of the current record for most points failing to secure automatic promotion, which currently stands at 90 (Sunderland, 1998). With the fourth-placed side in the Championship just six points off that tally with four games left to play, it could be broken this campaign despite recent wobbles at the top.

The Championship run in

Match

Leeds United

Southampton

Ipswich Town

Leicester City

43

N/A

Cardiff (A)

N/A

West Brom (H)

44

Middlesbrough (A)

Leicester (A)

Hull City (A)

Southampton (H)

45

QPR (A)

Stoke (H)

Coventry (A)

Preston (A)

46

Southampton (H)

Leeds (A)

Huddersfield (H)

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Should Leeds be the team that misses out, there could be some squad changes come the summer.

Archie Gray in Bayern's sights

Now, it has emerged that German giants Bayern Munich are one of the sides tracking young sensation Archie Gray. The teenager has been a key part of Leeds' side this season, racking up 41 Championship appearances, and has drawn admiring glances from Premier League sides.

Farke has also made no secret of his love for the midfielder this season. Back in October, he was quizzed about the teenage talent and was quick to endorse his ability.

"First of all, we are not here just to make sure we develop Archie in a perfect position. Although we love Archie and want to develop him and I have a reputation perhaps to bring some young players through and bring them on to another level, our main target is that we as Leeds United want to be successful."

The midfielder could soon receive another new contract at Elland Road, one that will likely see a significant hike on his £5,000 per week wages.

But that could change, with Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg revealing that Bayern are 'monitoring' Gray, a 'ky player' for the Whites, ahead of a possible move and know 'about his quality'. However, it is added that at present it is 'not a hot topic' and that there is 'no contact between Bayern and the player's management', news which will be a relief to the Leeds faithful at this moment in time.

Despite this good news, that could all change in the months to come should Leeds not secure promotion, and bigger fish begin to circle.