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Leeds United could be set to replicate their appointment of Marcelo Bielsa, should they lean towards one managerial candidate in particular to fill the vacancy at Elland Road…

When was Knutsen linked to Leeds?

Partaking in a Leeds Live Q&A earlier this week, journalist Beren Cross was questioned about the possibility of Kjetil Knutsen making the move to Yorkshire. 

He wrote that the Bodo/Glimt boss would be interested in the position, but as it stood he was not one of the frontrunners on the Premier League club’s shortlist.

However, given the ever-changing situations of the various managers that Leeds have considered as Jesse Marsch’s successor, there remains a strong possibility that Andrea Radrizzani could come back around to secure his signature.

Can Knutsen emulate Bielsa at Leeds?

The shades of Bielsa are there for all to see with Knutsen, both in terms of playing style and squad building.

When the Argentine took over at Leeds in 2018, his first season saw them narrowly miss out on promotion as he slowly bolstered his squad. Then, in the following campaign, he blitzed the Championship as the Whites returned to the Premier League at a canter.

Bielsa was afforded time to implement his philosophies, which are now well-known, and the club would reap the rewards.

Knutsen endured a similar task with Bodo/Glimt, as his first season in 2019 also saw him finish second before romping to the title a year later in record-breaking fashion.

His outfit had been transformed from a relegation-threatened side into a team which won the most points in a season, won the title by the largest margin, lost just one league game all year, scored the most goals and recorded the highest-ever goal difference in the history of the division.

Although time is of the essence, many of the foundations are already in place at Elland Road for Knutsen to implement his philosophy with ease due to the similarities that he and Bielsa share.

His high-pressing system often sees his teams throw plenty of bodies forward in an effort to strangle the opposition into relinquishing the ball. The team would operate high up the pitch in a style which was befitting of the “kamikaze” label that Bodo/Glimt captain Irick Saltnes bestowed.

Indeed, Chris Sutton used that exact word to describe Bielsa’s system during the Argentine’s tenure at Leeds. His gameplan requires a similarly exhausting amount of work as Knutsen’s, hence one of his training sessions being dubbed “murderball” by Patrick Bamford.

There are marked similarities between the way in which these two managers view how the game should be played, and how to recruit effectively. 

Should the 54-year-old be appointed by the Leeds hierarchy, there will be hope that the foundation left by Bielsa will be strong enough to ensure that the Norwegian could hit the ground running in order to cement the Whites’ top-flight safety.

Versatile Sheffield Wednesday attacker Callum Paterson doesn’t require surgery on his muscle injury, reliable journalist Joe Crann has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Paterson a key squad player

The Scot hasn’t always been a key starter during Darren Moore’s time at the club but he is a player whose quality and influence are often important and understated.

Paterson’s ability to play across several positions can be priceless and he has chipped in at important moments this season, including the winning goal in the recent top-of-the-table League One clash with Plymouth Argyle.

Unfortunately, the 28-year-old has been missing through injury since that game and he is expected to be out for a number of months.

The Latest: No surgery needed

Writing on Twitter, The Sheffield Star‘s Crann did at least relay some positive news from Moore, however, saying Paterson doesn’t need surgery:

“Callum Paterson is going to be out of action for a while, but the good news is that the #SWFC man doesn’t need to have any surgery on his injury.”

The Verdict: Crumb of comfort

This is a clear piece of good news for Wednesday, even though Paterson’s expected long absence is still a big blow in their League One promotion push this season, considering he has been hailed as ‘brilliant’ by Crann himself this month.

As mentioned, the 17-time capped Scotland international isn’t necessarily one of the first names on the team sheet but he has huge experience, underrated technical ability – he has scored three league goals this season – and intelligence.

Without him, Moore is losing one of his most trusted on-pitch deputies and the hope is that he is back towards the end of the campaign, playing a part in those vital weeks in April and May.

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson has reportedly made goalkeeper Jack Butland his ‘preferred target’ this summer.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Butland is out of contract in June, meaning that he can leave Crystal Palace as a free agent once it expires.

He is currently on loan at Manchester United until the end of the season, and will then return to Palace to see out the final days of his contract, with no plans of a renewal.

The Latest: Wilson interest

As per Football Insider, Rangers are plotting a move for Butland this summer, with Wilson making him his ‘preferred target’.

He has been on the radar at Ibrox for ‘some time’, and is thought to be ‘keen’ on the potential move.

The Verdict: No-brainer

It would be a no-brainer for the Gers to sign a player of Butland’s quality and experience on a free transfer.

The six-foot-five colossus has made nine times by England.

At 29 years of age, Butland is much younger than 41-year-old Allan McGregor and 35-year-old Jon McLaughlin, and so could establish himself as the number one for Michael Beale’s side for years to come, should they decide to sign him this summer and potentially part ways with one or both the veteran goalkeepers.

We have to admit, choosing Everton’s best players these days is a far more difficult job than it once was. This is a side fresh from a relegation battle, in which they came closer to the drop than ever before, and they remain in trouble this term. 

The Toffees have installed Sean Dyche as their new manager as they look to stave off relegation to the Championship once again.

It makes for a difficult task when it comes to ranking their best players, but we’ve had a go at listing the 10 best players in their squad.

Let’s take a look…

10) Alex Iwobi 

Yes, even we can’t believe that Alex Iwobi is on this list, but hear us out.

In the last season or so, the former Arsenal man has undergone a quiet transition into a reliable midfielder for Frank Lampard, and now for Dyche.

His passing ability has been shown off on certain occasions, too, as he unexpectedly rises up the rankings of importance at Goodison Park.

Since joining the club, Iwobi has clocked up over 120 appearances.

9) Ben Godfrey 

Since arriving from Norwich City in 2020, Ben Godfrey has been thrown into the deep end of relegation battle.

But, he has far from drowned, instead learning to swim the ever dangerous waters of the Premier League.

Given his reliability at times, his injury woes have somewhat stunted his development. 

Godfrey has only played four times in the league this season but he’s so good, he’s even played twice for England.

8) Michael Keane 

Admittedly, Michael Keane’s form has dropped off a cliff at times in the last season, but, at his best, which he will hope to return to this season, he remains Everton’s best central defender.

While he did fall out of favour towards the end of Lampard’s reign, he will now be hoping Dyche restores him to the XI. 

The two forged a fruitful partnership at Burnley, where Keane made 108 appearances, and he is a reliable option.

It remains to be seen if he will be back in the team any time soon.

7) Yerry Mina 

The third centre-back on this list, it becomes baffling just how Everton nearly went down in the first place last season.

But, with Yerry Mina’s injury problems playing a part, Lampard’s side conceded 66 goals last season, the sixth worst in the league.

When fully fit, Mina’s influence cannot be understated.

He’s back amongst it though, and even scored recently in the defeat to Wolves.

6) James Tarkowski 

Time will tell whether we regret putting James Tarkowski this high up on our list.

But, for now, we believe he is one of the best players in the current Everton squad.

He proved to be an excellent asset at Burnley, as they managed to reach heights such as the Europa League, before finally suffering the drop.

The defender can put that experience to good use at Goodison Park, especially now Dyche is in the dugout, someone he knows inside out.

5) Demarai Gray 

In the first couple months of his Everton career last summer, Demarai Gray looked like a player trying to prove a point; like someone ready to burst into life.

His winning goal against Arsenal epitomised the start of his time at Goodison Park.

And, whilst he has since dropped off slightly, he still has the potential to be a key player.

In total, he has already scored three goals in the Premier League this season and could be vital to Dyche as his rebuild takes shape.

4) Amadou Onana

Amadou Onana was snapped up from Lille in the summer, with the midfielder deciding to reject West Ham United in order to make the move to Goodison Park. 

He already looks like an absolute monster in the middle of the park, with his strength and technique setting him apart.

Onana has quickly become a key player, and was vital to Dyche’s first win, dominating Arsenal in midfield.

A constantly willing runner, the Belgium international is likely to climb this list the longer he remains in Merseyside.

3) Jordan Pickford

When your goalkeeper is this high up on a list like this, then you should know that the squad needs strengthening.

Unfortunately for Everton fans, Pickford has had to prove far too many times in the last season exactly why he is England’s number one between the sticks.

In the current campaign, the former Sunderland shot-stopper has again been integral to the way the club tries to play. 

If they are to stave off the drop again, Pickford will have to perform at his very best.

2) Dominic Calvert-Lewin 

If it wasn’t for his recent injury problems, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would probably have done enough by now to warrant the top spot in this list.

As things stand, however, injuries have denied him of that.

At the end of the 2020/21 season, in which he netted 21 goals in all competitions, Calvert-Lewin would have been on top of the world. 

This season, he is working his way back to full fitness and has only scored once, but the talent remains.

 1) Abdoulaye Doucoure 

Abdoulaye Doucoure is, in our opinion, Everton’s best player by quite some distance.

This is a midfielder who could be playing at a far higher level, and if the Toffees can build their foundations around him, then they’ll survive relegation, and pull away into mid-table this season.

Of course, Dyche doesn’t have an easy job on his hands, but having a midfielder like Doucoure makes it a lot less difficult, especially when he can be paired with Onana in the centre of the pitch. 

That is a truly dominant pairing; Everton just need to start winning some games!

So, there you have it, our ranking of Everton’s best current players. Do you agree with our list? Or, do you believe that we’ve left some players out? Let us know in the comments!

Presenter of the HLTCO podcast Dan Cook has accepted that Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha will leave this summer amid transfer links to Tottenham Hotspur.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Zaha and Spurs?

It’s no secret that there is plenty of doubt about the winger’s future with the Eagles as his contract is currently set to expire at the end of the season.

In recent times, rumours have suggested that the player is yet to make a decision on what step he’ll take next in his career. However, the latest reports from London World note that Spurs are “increasingly confident of securing” Zaha’s signature.

In reaction to all this, Cook told HLTCO that he is “resigned to the fact” that the 30-year-old will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the current campaign.

In full, he said (08:21): “With every week that passes and no fresh news on a potential new contract for Wilf, I am becoming more and more resigned to the fact that he will be waving goodbye at the end of this season.

“I don’t want to get too bent out of shape about it. But at the same time, you know, it is going to be a very sizeable hole that we are going to have to plug/

“I’m not 100 per cent sure how we’re going to manage that without the financial muscle necessary to replace him. But you know, it’s something that we’ve been kicking down the road in terms of this particular saga for a number of years now.”

Could Spurs sign Zaha at the end of his Palace contract?

Antonio Conte and his side did sign a new winger in the winter when Arnaut Danjuma arrived from Villarreal on loan. However, that deal doesn’t have an obligation to buy, so the club could be in the market for another forward this summer.

What’s more, Brazilian attacker Lucas Moura will definitely be leaving north London at the end of the season when his contract expires, so you can see how Zaha might fit in at Spurs.

The Ivorian would arrive with plenty of proven Premier League experience having scored 67 goals and provided 43 assists in 297 games in the English top flight.

With that in mind, the Tottenham decision-makers may view him as a clever summer signing, especially as he won’t set them back with regard to a transfer fee.

This certainly looks like one to keep an eye out for over the coming months.

Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic will be ‘in the squad’ for tonight’s Champions League game vs Borussia Dortmund, according to Graham Potter.

The Lowdown: On the sidelines

The Blues star sustained a serious knee injury during the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on January 5 and hasn’t featured since.

The American international, however, was spotted in the final full training session ahead of this evening’s encounter under the lights and a positive update on his fitness has now emerged.

The Latest: Pulisic fitness update

Speaking during his Monday pre-match press conference, Potter confirmed that Pulisic would be available for selection, whilst also providing updates on Reece James and N’Golo Kante.

As quoted by the club’s official website, he said:

“Reece we’ll make a decision on tomorrow.

“Christian is in the squad. He’s training well and looking good.

“It’s too soon for N’Golo. He’s had two full training sessions, so too soon, but he’s looking good. We’re going to continue with that progress.”

The Verdict: Boost for Potter

Pulisic has been dubbed a ‘dragon’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and ‘sensational’ by Sporting News journalist Kyle Bonn, it’ll be a huge boost for Potter to have him back at his disposal after such a long spell on the treatment table.

The SW6 winger has posted 47 goal contributions in 136 appearances since arriving at Stamford Bridge and offers versatility having operated in five different positions prior to his injury (Transfermarkt).

The Hershey native is also a two-time recipient of the footballer of the year award for the USA, highlighting the individual leadership he can display on the big stage.

Chelsea only have a one-goal deficit to overcome tonight and the chances of them getting a result against their opponents will increase with the return of Pulisic.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is believed to be reluctant to offload Harry Kane in the summer to another Premier League side.

Will Spurs sell Kane in the summer?

Kane’s future in north London is seemingly hanging in the balance ahead of the summer transfer window with the England captain only having one more year remaining on his deal.

And there have been strong reports suggesting Manchester United could be one of the sides that could look to put in a serious bid for the all-time Spurs record goalscorer.

It has been claimed the Lilywhites’ struggles which could see them miss out on the top four may potentially see them lower their £100m valuation for their talisman in the summer.

However, speaking on TalkSport, insider Alex Crook has suggested the Spurs chairman would be reluctant to allow Kane to leave for another Premier League club:

“I was told at the turn of the year when these links with Harry Kane first started to emerge that Daniel Levy – notoriously difficult negotiator – would be reluctant to sell Harry Kane to a Premier League rival.

“If he does leave Spurs, he would prefer him to go abroad. We know that Bayern Munich are showing interest. So I was of the impression that would be the more likely outcome.”

Where could Harry Kane move to?

Along with the reports crediting United with a strong interest, there is a belief that the Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich could potentially make a move for Kane in the summer.

Bayern have been linked with Kane over recent months, however, there will be natural reservations as to whether the England captain would be open to a move abroad.

Kane will have turned 30 years old by the time the summer transfer window opens and a move abroad would raise the usual issues of relocating the family as well as adjusting to a new culture.

But with Kane, the Spurs striker also has the Premier League goal record on his list of targets with just 59 goals now separating him and Alan Shearer.

This could prove a real issue for the north London club if Kane is to demand a move away in the summer and set his eyes on remaining in the Premier League.

If he is to demand a move, this summer will offer Spurs their final opportunity to bring in significant money for their star striker but it will leave them with a huge decision to make.

Kane has already seen an opportunity to move to Manchester City fall through as a result of Spurs’ resistance to selling him to another Premier League side.

And with this in mind, it will be intriguing to see whether Kane would be willing to go to another level to force his way out of Spurs this summer with his age clearly a potential concern going forward.

Robbie Mustoe believes that Roberto De Zerbi would be a great David Moyes successor at West Ham.

The Lowdown: Pressure growing on Moyes

The pressure is certainly growing on David Moyes with every passing week and every passing Premier League fixture at least as the Hammers find themselves outside of the bottom three but only via goal difference.

While West Ham are very impressive in Europe this season having won every game in the Conference League, if they end up winning that competition but get relegated, not many people will be impressed.

Despite West Ham’s poor run of form this entire season, there have been no grumblings from inside the club with reports suggesting Moyes does indeed still have the backing of the board.

The Latest: De Zerbi would be a top appointment

While nothing appears to be imminent in terms of sacking Moyes, Mustoe has admitted on The 2 Robbie’s podcast that Brighton’s De Zerbi would be a top replacement for Moyes having shown his ability this season averaging 1.44 points per game in the Premier League.

He said: (59:30) “If I was Director of Football at West Ham I would be like, let’s stick with David Moyes, trust him to get us out of it as he’s done it before but in the summer let’s have a look around a little bit.

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“De Zerbi, Roberto De Zerbi I think there’s quite a lot [of potential managers] but how good would he be for West Ham by the way.”

The Verdict: West Ham have a huge decision on their hands

The idea of bringing in De Zerbi to West Ham will be exciting and something the Hammers faithful would likely love to happen, but given where Brighton and West Ham are in the table, it would be a big decision for him to leave the Seagulls.

As things stand, Brighton are on the cusp of securing European football for the first time in the club’s history and that would likely be too good to ignore and not want to build on for next season from De Zerbi’s point of view.

Even if Moyes is able to turn West Ham’s season around, it would be quite a surprise for them to stick with the Scott heading into next season, just because he seems unable to get the most out of an expensively assembled squad under his watch.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a ‘dream signing for any manager’ amid their links to Leeds United defender Robin Koch, says reporter Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Spurs target Koch…

In the last few weeks, reports have suggested that Spurs and sporting director Fabio Paratici are targeting the German who is currently excelling at Elland Road.

The 26-year-old could be one of this summer window’s talking points as the Lilywhites reportedly scour for an elite-level centre-back.

It is believed Paratici and co are prioritising the addition of a central defender this summer with some transfer plans being made amid all the noise surrounding Antonio Conte.

The Spurs head coach is widely expected to leave north London after his furious post-Southampton rant, where he fired digs at both the squad and club board.

The Latest: O’Rourke thrilled by Koch links…

As the N17 side eye a move for Koch, O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport that he is a ‘dream signing for any manager’ due to his versatility and Premier League quality.

The journalist claimed:

“He’s a good player and a good versatile player as well.

“He’s comfortable playing a number of positions, can play centre-half, and he can also play centre midfield, so I’m sure he’d be a dream signing for any manager considering his versatility.

“And I think he’s only going to get better, he’s a Germany international, and has proven at Leeds that he can mix it with the best in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Fantastic player…

The 6 ft 3 Leeds mainstay has been pivotal under both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia this season as they battle relegation to the Championship.

Indeed, only goalkeeper Illan Meslier has played more league minutes than Koch this season, highlighting his real importance to their cause (WhoScored).

The former Freiburg star has averaged more clearances per 90 than any Leeds player in the top flight this season and sits just behind Liam Cooper for most aerial duels won (WhoScored).

Koch’s disciplinary record is perhaps one small caveat to his game, having been booked more times (5) than any other Leeds player bar midfielder Marc Roca.

Current Spurs star Cristian Romero has similar issues with his game and Paratici may want to avoid two hot-headed centre-backs in the squad of Conte’s eventual replacement.

The Leeds ace is wanted by many clubs also and the north Londoners could face a real battle to secure his services amid the growing interest.

A number of fans online have flocked to Twitter to praise Arsenal star Bukayo Saka after he stole the show against Ukraine with England.

What did Bukayo Saka do for England?

On Sunday evening, the 21-year-old started for the second time in the current international break – following on from the Three Lions’ win over Italy – and really caught the eye at Wembley.

Indeed, playing for Gareth Southgate and co in another qualifier for Euro 2024, Saka was vital as he set up Harry Kane for the opener with a brilliant cross before then doubling England’s lead with a stunning effort.

In the end, that was enough to seal a 2-0 win and the Arsenal star can now focus on the Premier League once more with his team top of the table with only ten games left to play.

Saka certainly is having a brilliant season as the £70k-per-week star already has 12 league goals and ten assists to his name. It seems he managed to bring that form to England too with four goals and two assists (including penalties won) in his last six international games.

There’s no denying, he stole the show against Ukraine with Jacob Steinberg giving him a 9/10 in The Guardian player ratings, writing: ‘The winger enjoyed himself against Vitaliy Mykolenko. Saka made England’s opener and then underlined his quality with a stunning goal.’

What’s more, as per SofaScore, Saka was the best player on the pitch as he was awarded an 8.8 rating for his efforts. Seeing as he won the joint most number of duels (eight), had the second most key passes (three), created the highest number of big chances (two), and played a vital role in each goal, it’s not hard to see why the fans were singing his praises at full time.

Indeed, here are some of the best reactions on Twitter…