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Leeds United have reportedly offered former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino the Elland Road hotseat, only for the Argentine to turn them down.

The Lowdown: After the weekend

Jesse Marsch was sacked at the beginning of the week, but bringing in his long-term replacement has proven to be a challenge for Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises.

The Italian appeared to hint that an appointment wouldn’t be made until after the weekend, with Michael Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo set to take charge of the return meeting with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

A number of managers have been linked with the position, including Pochettino, and it looks as if a proposal was made.

The Latest: Offer made

Journalist Claudio Mauri took to Twitter on Friday, saying that the club have failed in their pursuit of Marcelo Gallardo.

Mauri added that Leeds also offered the job to fellow Argentine Pochettino, who has 132 Premier League wins under his belt, but he too turned down the Whites.

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The Verdict: Interim options?

Pochettino, 50, could have been a real eye-catching appointment following his spells with Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain, but it looks as if he has no plans to move to Yorkshire.

Therefore, the club may need to look at short-term solutions until the end of the season, something that Leeds appear open to doing if they can’t bring in any of their top targets.

Time is ticking, and with a potentially season-defining trip to Everton next weekend, bringing in a new manager as soon as possible appears to be required.

Everton return to Premier League action tonight, hoping to build on their recent success at Goodison Park with a famous away victory over bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

With neither team in particularly sparkling form, this could mark a fine opportunity for Sean Dyche and Jurgen Klopp to kickstart their sides’ respective seasons with the all-important run-in looming.

The Toffees could employ a couple of changes given the relative weakness of tonight’s foes in comparison to Arsenal, who they beat most recently, but the fundamentals will remain in place to try and strangle the Reds’ midfield.

With some small injuries to contend with and having had an extra week drilling the players, the visitors – who only have the short trip across Stanley Park to make – will surely arrive full of hope that they can claim another scalp.

What could Everton’s XI look like against Liverpool?

Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Doucoure, Gueye, Onana, Gray; Simms

Dyche is expected to make two changes from the side which recently hindered the Gunners’ title charge.

Jordan Pickford will remain in goal, having earned his first clean sheet in the league since late October in that aforementioned win.

He sits behind an unchanged back four, who will have another arduous task silencing a threadbare but ever-potent Liverpool front three most likely containing Mohamed Salah. Although the Egyptian has been out of sorts lately, not scoring in the league since Boxing Day, he does boast five goal contributions in eight Merseyside derbies.

Last week’s match-winner James Tarkowski will partner Conor Coady, who thought he had scored the winner in the reverse fixture last September before VAR cut his celebrations short. That pair will be flanked by Seamus Coleman and Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Where tonight’s game could be won or lost is in the midfield engine room, and after Everton’s latest performance, it would be foolish to alter the personnel there. Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure and in particular Amadou Onana excelled as they silenced Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.

They must continue that tireless form into tonight’s clash, which could be integral in allowing the Toffees to silence Anfield.

This gives way to the first change which could be employed, as Demarai Gray returns to replace Dwight McNeil on the left flank. 

Having been ruled out of the Arsenal clash due to a minor ailment, Dyche will surely have whipped the 26-year-old into shape in preparation for this match. As a clinical and decisive asset, his inclusion could be an attempt to exploit Liverpool’s defensive frailties in behind the full-backs with his blistering speed.

Meanwhile, Alex Iwobi will offer defensive security on the opposite flank.

That brings us to the main omission, as it was suggested that Dominic Calvert-Lewin would seriously struggle to be fit after feeling discomfort in his hamstring. Injuries seem set to yet again plague the 25-year-old, who last season was branded an “Everton hero” by journalist Adam Jones.

Therefore, it leaves an opportunity for young Ellis Simms to step up in his absence.

Expected to be preferred over Neal Maupay due to his hulking physique, his main role will be to perform in a similar manner to how he had done at Sunderland – being the “nuisance” that journalist Phil Smith lauded him.

Chances could be sparse for Everton tonight, but if Simms can disrupt the Reds’ back four enough to create chaos, then he will have done his job.

Leeds United are well placed to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer, providing they remain in the Premier League, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Leeds’ attacking options

Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers bolstered the Whites’ attacking options in January by bringing in Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim in a club-record deal. He is one of numerous central and wide attacking options on the books at Elland Road, with teenager Wilfried Gnonto impressing since his arrival last summer.

Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford and Rutter are the current centre-forwards in Yorkshire, but it looks as if that trio could be joined by Dembele.

The Latest: Dembele linked with Leeds

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Leeds and Dembele, with the player’s contract set to expire in the summer.

The report claimed that the Whites are ahead of relegation rivals Southampton in the race for the 26-year-old’s services and are well-placed to sign the Frenchman, so long as they remain in the top flight.

The Verdict: One to watch

Sponsored by Adidas, Dembele is currently valued at €18m (£16m) by Transfermarkt and is still just 26 years of age. He has scored 140 senior goals for Celtic, Fulham and Lyon, so he could be a shrewd addition on a possible free transfer, especially considering that he netted 21 times in Ligue 1 just last season.

Leeds have struggled in front of goal in recent weeks, netting just twice in their last five Premier League games, so Dembele could add some much-needed firepower at Elland Road, making this one to keep an eye on if the Whites manage to avoid the drop.

Pundit Frank McAvennie doesn’t think that Celtic manager and reported Leeds United target Ange Postecoglou will leave the Scottish champions in the summer.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Postecoglou

The Whites were linked with a move for the 57-year-old this month to replace Jesse Marsch, but as we know, they eventually brought in Javi Gracia until the end of the campaign.

However, those rumours haven’t gone away, with Football Insider relaying a claim from sources in Australia suggesting that the Celtic boss will quit at the end of the season for Leeds if the Whites avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Postecoglou won his 10th senior trophy as a manager on Sunday, with Celtic defeating arch-rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.

The Latest: McAvennie’s comments on Postecoglou

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie admitted that he has been conversing with Postecoglou and believes that the 57-year-old won’t be leaving Celtic ‘for a couple of years’.

The former Hoops striker said of the Leeds managerial target: “I think he has got principles and I really do think he is an honourable guy.

“I have spoken to him a couple of times and he seems like a really nice guy, he is what he says on the tin. He has got that authority and the players will run through brick walls for him.

“I think he has got a project at Celtic. I think he will be here for a couple of years. Of course he is that good he is going to move but he will not go for a couple of years.”

The Verdict: Leeds move seems unlikely

It seems as if the speculation regarding Leeds and Postecoglou in recent weeks was just noise, so a summer move may be unlikely, especially with the manager enjoying plenty of success in Glasgow.

The Whites’ main managerial targets appeared to be Andoni Iraola from Rayo Vallecano and Arne Slot from Feyenoord, but should Gracia keep the club in the top flight, you’d like to think that he would be in the Elland Road hierarchy’s thinking for a potential permanent deal.

Leeds must ensure that they are a Premier League club for 2023/24, though, with plenty of work still to be done between now and then amid their precarious position in the table.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, with the Red Devils a ‘concrete threat’ to the Serie A side.

The Lowdown: Bastoni superb for Inter

The 23-year-old is arguably one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders currently, producing a string of influential performances for Inter in recent years.

Bastoni has made 19 appearances in Serie A so far this season, averaging 1.7 tackles per game in the competition, as well as 2.5 clearances in the Champions League, as per WhoScored.

The Italian is out of contract at Inter at the end of next season, however, meaning there could be potential suitors eyeing up his signature this summer.

The Latest: United linked with move

According to Inter Live [via Sport Witness], United are a ‘concrete threat’ to Inter with regards to Bastoni, as the Serie A giants desperately try to keep hold of one of their star men.

The Red Devils could reportedly ‘go as high as’ offering the young centre-back €8million (£7m) a year at Old Trafford, which is ‘triggering a new alarm’ at the Nerazzurri.

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The Verdict: Could be an outstanding signing

Bastoni could be a magnificent signing by United, considering what a formidable defender he already is, despite having most of his career ahead of him still.

The 17-cap Italy international could be viewed as a long-term successor to Raphael Varane at the heart of United’s defence, with the Frenchman turning 30 next month and never too far away from an injury layoff.

Bastoni and Lisandro Martinez could forge a wonderful long-term centre-back partnership at Old Trafford – one that may have the potential to match great pairings of the past, from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, to Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister.

Whether or not Inter allow one of their most prized assets to move on remains to be seen – he won the league title in 2020/21 – but the player himself may jump at the chance to join the Erik ten Hag revolution.

Newcastle United have been enjoying a fantastic season so far and Eddie Howe will be absolutely thrilled with the rapid progression his squad has made in the short time they have been together.

The Magpies are currently fifth in the Premier League table following the incredible form that has seen them concede just two defeats over their 23 outings – fewer than any other side so far – as well as getting to their first domestic cup final since 1999 at Wembley last weekend.

Despite the success on Tyneside of late, there is still plenty of work to be done to fine-tune the squad so that Newcastle can really become competitive for trophies and comfortably compete in Europe, should they qualify this season.

As a result, Howe will surely be looking for areas of his team that can be improved upon and the left-back position is one of the most obvious places to start with centre-back Dan Burn currently occupying the spot on the left flank.

One player who has been linked to Newcastle and could replicate Kieran Trippier’s impact on the opposite side next season is Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo – a talented and versatile fullback who could make the move to the North East for free as his contract expires in the summer.

Could Howe repeat his Kieran Trippier masterclass with Grimaldo?

There is no doubt that Burn is solid in his defensive attributes but finding a player who can offer the progressive presence that Trippier provides on the right would be massively advantageous to Howe and could considerably improve the pressing machine that the manager has developed in every other area of the pitch.

Over 21 Liga Portugal appearances, Grimaldo has scored two goals, delivered six assists, and created a whopping 13 big chances, as well as averaging 86.4 touches, 50.5 accurate passes, 2.1 key passes, 1.1 successful dribbles, two tackles, and 4.7 duels won per game.

Meanwhile, Trippier has created 3.1 chances per match and produced 18 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in total, which shows that both players excel at making things happen in the final third on a regular basis.

Not only that, the Spanish sensation – hailed “incredible” by presenter Alexandra Jonson – ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the ‘Men’s Next Eight Competitions’ for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive passes, shot-creating actions and pass completion rate over the last 365 days, proving that he is extremely effective in progressive play.

When comparing Grimaldo with Burn over the season so far, it is clear that the Benfica ace would be a huge upgrade, outperforming the defender in a number of attributes including tackles and interceptions won (64 v 45), goal-creating actions (11 v 1), progressive passes (118 v 71) and ball recoveries (114 v 98).

Just like Trippier, the 27-year-old is extremely experienced in his position with 325 appearances tallied up in the left-back role, so not only can the powerbrokers at St James’ Park save millions by acquiring Grimaldo’s services for free but also add a player who is proven and confident in the position.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Newcastle to secure the signing of Grimaldo this summer and if he can replicate his current output in the Premier League, it would add some great quality to the squad next season and could be a case of Trippier 2.0 for Howe.

Referee Kevin Clancy and his VAR team may have made a key mistake as they missed a possible penalty for a foul on Alistair Johnston in the most recent Celtic match.

What’s the latest on VAR and Celtic?

In the Scottish Cup this weekend, the Bhoys travelled to Tynecastle Park as they faced Heart of Midlothian in the quarter-final stage of the competition.

In the end, goals from Aaron Mooy, Kyogo Furuhashi and Cameron Carter-Vickers were enough to hand Ange Postecoglou’s side a comfortable 3-0 win.

However, the scoreline could have looked even healthier had any of the officials been able to spot a possible foul on Johnston inside the Hearts penalty box.

Why did VAR not give Celtic a penalty?

As the footage shared online shows, the Celtic right-back was clearly fouled and he looks to be just inside the box even if it is very tight.

Indeed, Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday fails to get close to the ball but clatters into Johnston and can count himself fortunate not to be punished.

Referee Clancy didn’t spot it live but the VAR technology was in operation for the cup match and so official Willie Collum really should have reviewed the challenge and instructed his colleague to point to the spot as it was an obvious mistake.

The score was still just 1-0 at the time and so this could have potentially been a turning point in the game had Hearts managed to get themselves level.

In the end, Celtic had too much quality for it to matter but Postecoglou still have the right to feel a little aggrieved today.

Tottenham Hotspur have ‘another talented’ unseen youngster in their ranks as members of the media heap praise on Jamie Donley.

The Lowdown: Spurs academy line…

In the last few years, Spurs’ N17 academy has produced gem after gem with the likes of Oliver Skipp and Dane Scarlett drawing praise in particular.

The former has been called a ‘future Spurs captain’ and the latter was handed his debut by ex-Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho – who likened the player to Marcus Rashford.

Elsewhere, the likes of Japhet Tanganga and Troy Parrott have turned heads at various points.

In recent weeks, the north Londoners have been rewarding their best and brightest with fresh terms – including promising young shot-stopper Alfie Whiteman.

The likes of Mikey Moore and Donley, who are yet to make first team appearances, remain unseen as far as Antonio Conte is concerned but the media are convinced Tottenham have a real gem in the latter man.

The Latest: Media praise Donley…

After Spurs rewarded the 18-year-old with a new deal, members of the media heaped praise on Donley, claiming he is a real one to watch.

They explained:

“Can either play as a forward or a number 10 type. Has excellent movement, ability to pick a pass and read the game and fantastic finishing ability.” – Spurs pundit John Wenham, via his Lilywhite Rose account.

“Another talented forward off the N17 production line… Donley has been a key part of the U18s and U21s this season.” – George Session, PA Media.

“There’s that new three-and-a-half year Spurs contract for Jamie Donley, with an option for another year. He’s got plenty of potential.” – Alasdair Gold, football.london.

The Verdict: Exciting player…

The England Under-18 international has been seriously impressing at youth level for Spurs.

As per Transfermarkt, Donley racked up a pretty incredible 16 goals and six assists in 18 appearances for the Under-18s last season.

The teenage talent has continued that form into 2022/2023, scoring three goals and assisting three others in five Premier League Under-18 appearances this term.

That form resulted in a promotion to Tottenham’s Under-21s, where he has 14 appearances under his belt this campaign.

Indeed, going by the numbers, he could well be one to watch in the next few seasons.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has been reacting to Aston Villa’s reported interest in AS Roma forward Tammy Abraham.

The Lowdown: Abraham rumours

Villa are seemingly planning for the summer ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, where a new forward appears to be high up on their transfer wishlist.

Abraham, hailed as ‘magnificent’ by journalist Henry Winter last year, has been linked with a return to the Midlands, with reports suggesting that Villa and Premier League rivals Everton are ‘in the front row’ for the forward, with Roma’s asking price €75m (£66.4m).

Alternative reports have suggested that an offer over €40m (£35.3m) could now be enough to secure Abraham’s services, which would still be a club record at Villa Park either way.

The 25-year-old has contributed to ten goals in 27 Serie A appearances this season, with his last goal coming at the beginning of February.

The Latest: Taylor’s comments

Taylor, reporter for The Daily Express, was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa’s potential move for Abraham. He said that the forward is ‘the kind of name Villa are looking for’ and questioned whether or not that could push top scoter Ollie Watkins out wide.

“Would that push Watkins out wide? I’m not sure Watkins is a winger and based on the past few games, he’s proven he can come up trumps and score goals.

“It will be interesting to see what Villa do, but that is the kind of name [Abraham] Villa are looking for, and obviously, he’s played for the club before.”

The Verdict: Two up front?

Bringing in a new forward appears to be a wise move despite Watkins’ fine form in front of goal in recent months, with teenager Jhon Duran the only other centre-forward available to Emery at this moment in time.

Ashley Preece suggested that ‘a new No.9 to partner Watkins is at the top of Villa’s shopping list this summer’, so Emery could look to use a front two next season. The Spaniard has played with two in attack on a number of occasions since domestic action returned after the World Cup, although he has returned to a 4-2-3-1 system in recent weeks for games against Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bournemouth.

As Taylor says, it’ll be ‘interesting to see what Villa do’, but moving Watkins wide might not be the best idea following his purple scoring patch as a centre-forward in 2023, where he has scored six in his last eight.

Newcastle United are currently gearing up for what could be a potentially pivotal game in the battle to secure a top-four berth, with the Magpies making their return from the international break at home to Manchester United on Sunday.

That Premier League encounter comes just over a month on from the meeting between the two sides in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, with the Red Devils ultimately running out 2-0 winners to ensure that the wait for silverware goes on at St James' Park.

One potential regret that manager Eddie Howe may have from that showpiece defeat is the decision not to include club-record signing Alexander Isak in the starting lineup, with the Sweden international having been "electric" after entering the fray off the bench, according to his manager.

While Howe had seemingly found it a "tough" decision to choose between the former Real Sociedad man and fellow forward, Callum Wilson, it would appear that the choice should be far simpler this time around, with Isak undoubtedly the man of the moment at present.

After netting three goals across his last two league games prior to going on international duty, the 6 foot 4 striker has continued that momentum for his country – despite not scoring over the past week – having notably produced a standout display against Azerbaijan on Monday evening.

How did Isak perform for Sweden?

There is no doubt that it has largely been a season of frustration for the 23-year-old due to injury, although with the one-time Borussia Dortmund man now boasting six goals from just ten league appearances, it does look as if Newcastle are finally beginning to reap the rewards of their £63m investment.

As pundit Jermaine Jenas noted, it looks as if Isak "could be the one to get them into the top four", with the 39-cap sensation having proven himself a real "handful for defenders" due to his all-round attributes, as per former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth boss, Harry Redknapp.

During his recent outing with Sweden, the dynamic ace proved that he can offer much more than just putting the ball in the back of the net, having registered an impressive haul of three key passes from just 23 touches during that 71-minute outing, illustrating his creative potential.

The all-action ace also showed his dynamism after completing one of his two dribbles as well as putting in a shift defensively, having won 75% of his total duels – including winning both of his aerial duels.

While the pacy marksman was unable to contribute with a goal of his own – having seen three shots blocked – he was able to play a key role in his side's second of the night, after surging into the opposition penalty area before seeing his clever pullback deflect in for an own goal.

The manner in which Isak was able to burst clear in behind was another example of just what a 'handful' he is, with Howe likely hoping that the £120k-per-week man can continue to shine on a consistent basis over the coming months.