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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Leeds United’s defence has been incredible this season.

Even the biggest critic of Marcelo Bielsa’s side has to admit that their backline is mightily impressive as they’ve conceded just nine goals in 16 matches in the league this term.

Ben White has been a vital component in United’s incredible defensive record as the centre-back has started every game for the Whites this season while both fans and journalists have named him as the club’s Player of the Season so far.

One of United’s former players has dished out huge praise for the defender this week, and he’s made a massive claim.

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What’s been said then?

Noel Whelan spoke very highly of Ben White.

“This kid is going places,” Whelan told Football Insider.

“He is going to be an England international and is heading for a top club, a Champions League club. There’s no doubt he’s good enough.

“Right now, he’s on a par with John Stones, if not better than him. Ben White is much younger, has room for improvement and has a massive career ahead of him.

“I’m not surprised he’s being linked with Liverpool and Man United. This kid could play in any team. He’s heading for a £50million move in the next year or two.”

Absolutely massive

The former Whites attacker hasn’t been coy about how highly he rates the Brighton loanee.

Saying that he will is headed for a Champions League club is huge praise, but the most interesting part of this is the fact that he’s said he’s on a par with John Stones.

Stones is a key component in arguably the best team in Premier League history, so for Whelan to say that Leeds have a player just as good as him shows how impressive White has been.

Certainly in their ball-playing abilities, they are very similar. The Manchester City defender has completed 93.2% of his passes while White maintains a rate of 85.5%. Of course, there is a difference in the quality of the league they’re playing in but some parallels can certainly be drawn.

There are also similarities in terms of their development. Stones first made his name in the Championship playing for Barnsley before heading to Everton and then onto Champions League football with City.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

It is a well-documented thing amongst Crystal Palace supporters.

The south London club only has one senior right-back within their ranks in Joel Ward, having failed to sign a replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka following his £50m move to Manchester United.

At the very least, it does seem as if the Eagles are looking to amend their summer mistake by targeting a right-back in January – two names from the Championship have cropped up as potential recruits.

West Brom teenager Nathan Ferguson, and Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash.

In the latter’s case, Everton and Southampton have also been monitoring the Forest man, with the Toffees said to be planning a £12m bid for the 22-year-old as reported by The Sun (print version, November 15, page 74).

With Ferguson, both Palace and Tottenham are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old’s situation at the Hawthorns.

West Brom’s No.36 is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and the Baggies are considering the decision to cash in on him this January to avoid losing him on the cheap this summer.

So, who would be the better option for Palace out of the two?

Well, in terms of the statistics, Cash betters Ferguson in almost every department.

Albeit three years older, Cash has scored two goals and recorded two assists from right-back this term, while also making an impressive 2.8 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game.

On the other hand, Ferguson has just one goal and one assist, while averaging 2.4 tackles per game.

So, on the basis of those numbers, Cash would be the better signing, right?

Well, while the Forest man has unquestionably enjoyed an impressive campaign so far, the Eagles should in fact sign Ferguson for one reason – his ability to play at right-back and left-back.

As aforesaid, Ward is Palace’s only right-back. However, it must also be noted that Patrick van Aanholt is the club’s only senior left-back as well, so the full-back areas are extremely weak for the Eagles.

In that respect, if Ferguson – who has made nine appearances at left-back and four at right-back – was brought to Selhurst Park this winter, Hodgson would have cover in both areas, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Cash looks substantially better than Ferguson on paper, although it is the teenager’s versatility that should see him favoured by those in charge of recruitment in SE25.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

West Bromwich Albion are widely regarded for their conveyor belt of young emerging prospects which are given a platform to succeed within their promising academy setup, but it’s often a double-edged sword as they quickly move on to bigger and better things.

Izzy Brown was the first major case of ‘the one that got away’ when he switched the west Midlands for Stamford Bridge aged 16 – six loan spells later, and he’s still contracted to Chelsea.

More recently, the Baggies were powerless in stopping Louie Barry and Morgan Rogers leave for pastures new as heavyweights Barcelona and Manchester City poached them in the summer.

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Nathan Ferguson appears to be the next name that Albion could lose out on as the Express & Star have reported that should the 19-year-old not sign a contract extension by January, then they are likely to sell him on for profit before they lose him for free in the summer.

In a not so obvious way, this would be a good thing as it shows that the club have learned from their previous mistakes because they are planning on actually getting some sort of substantial fee for a player, even if they are losing out on a potential future superstar.

Instead, manager Slaven Bilic can delve back into the academy to find the next Ferguson and repeat a similar rise as he clearly has the golden touch for developing young players.

The versatile defender’s performances have led to transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid.

Next in line would surely be one of the members of that FA Youth Cup side, which managed to reach the semi-finals last season.

Aksum White is a natural left-back who has the potential to either replace Ferguson should he depart or offer further strength in a similar role.

The official West Brom website describes him as ‘strong’ and ‘hard-working,’ claiming that he also loves a tackle.

He seems an ideal comparison to the England U20 international as he averages 2.4 tackles per match, which is the most in the squad.

If he does indeed get a chance, the hierarchy at the club must ensure he is tied down to a long-term deal otherwise lightning will have struck for the umpteenth time in the west Midlands.

Despite there being uncertainty over when football will return, that hasn’t stopped talk of big-money summer transfers dying down.

And in Liverpool’s case, it appears they are drawing up contingency plans if they lose one of their high-profile stars at Anfield.

According to a recent report from Football Insider, the Reds have earmarked a potential move for Wolves winger Adama Traore in case either Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah make their departures from Merseyside.

It further claims that the “club’s recruitment team have placed Traore on their shortlist of attacking targets as they assess potential wide forward options”, and that “his profile also fits that of the super-quick, technically gifted and mobile forwards demanded by manager Jurgen Klopp”.

And based on his performances throughout this season, it is little surprise to see why the Reds have got Traore in their sights. The Spaniard has enjoyed a barn-storming campaign at Molineux, proving himself to be a potent attacking weapon for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

As per Transfermarkt, he has scored six times and provided a further ten assists across all competitions, and when looking at his underlying numbers, he does seem like a Klopp prototype.

He averaged a ridiculously impressive 5.2 dribbles per game in the top-flight this year, putting him first amongst all players in the Premier League. He also managed 1.1 tackles per match too, and that kind of willingness to track back, and embrace the defensive side of the game, will only put him in Klopp’s good books.

The Liverpool manager himself meanwhile has also been left in awe on a couple of occasions this season, first describing him as a “big, big talent”, before simply admitting that he is “unplayable” after a 2-1 win at Molineux. Having seen first-hand what he can do, Klopp may be able to take his game up a level just like he has done with Salah and Mane.

If either of the Reds’ attacking duo do end up leaving Anfield, that will leave a massive gap for Liverpool to try and fill. But having now established himself as one of the Premier League’s elite wingers, there can be no question Traore would represent a logical signing to help replace that lost quality.

It would be the kind of Michael Edwards masterstroke that can help ensure the Reds continue to move forwards, and not feel as though their dominance is coming to an end.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans react to this James Pearce tweet. 

Leeds United’s takeover rumours have been reignited in the past week and chairman Andrea Radrizzani has spoken out about the fresh speculation for the first time in an exclusive interview with Gianluca Di Marzio.

What’s he said?

It was 90min who reported the news first, claiming that Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners, the QSI group, were keen on adding the west Yorkshire outfit to their portfolio.

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They believe that the financial powerhouses have several options on the table in terms of English clubs, but it is the Elland Road outfit they desire most.

And now Radrizzani has made a huge admission in the wake of the information. Speaking to the Italian journalist on Tuesday, he said:

“These are rumours that have been ongoing for more than a year now. What is true is that we have a great relationship on a personal level.

“There’s a desire to do something together maybe even in football but there’s nothing concrete at this time.

“In the last few weeks everything took a back seat.

“My desire to have a great Leeds that is a protagonist in the Premier League and to do so we will need partners on top of the San Francisco 49ers, we’ll evaluate this when we are in that league.”

Andrea Radrizzani to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Investment needed

What is evident is that the chairman is actively seeking ways to bolster the club’s finances, which is something they ultimately need to do after Phil Hay’s damning revelation earlier in the week.

The Athletic’s reliable United correspondent revealed that Radrizzani pumps around £1m of his own cash in order for the club to stay afloat. That’s an awful lot of money and it isn’t sustainable whatsoever.

If Leeds do indeed gain promotion, they’ll receive a lucrative amount of cash – approximately £170m was the prize for Villa’s playoff-winning promotion – yet, they’ll still need to finance other sources of income.

Adding the PSG trailblazers would potentially elevate their potential onto a whole new level. You’re probably talking European ambitions instead of avoiding relegation next season.

Radrizzani’s desire is there, QSI appear keen, so it’s time the two parties came to some sort of agreement.

AND in other news, £13.5 WASTED: One Leeds player has been ransacking the club for 87 weeks…

Loads of Leeds United fans have drooled over Pablo Hernandez after the Championship shared a remarkable statistic about the midfielder. 

The league’s official Twitter account tweeted that since the start of the 2017/18 season, Hernandez has created 26 assists in the English second division, the most out of all of his closest rivals in that period up until now. 

Ever since he first arrived at Elland Road on loan from Stars League side Al Arabi, the Spaniard has become a firm fan-favourite, scoring 6 goals and producing 6 assists for Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites this season, taking 2.3 shots per game, averaging 2.3 key passes, and successfully completing at least 1.1 dribbles on average (via WhoScored). His current market value is estimated at just £1.08m according to Transfermarkt.   

Hernandez has played for a number of clubs throughout his long career so far, including the likes of Valencia, Getafe, and Swansea City. The 35-year-old also won 4 caps and netted one goal for his national team (Transfermarkt). 

Despite the fact he is surely heading towards the twilight of his career, the veteran has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and supporters will be delighted to find out his contract still has two years left on the original agreement. 

Unsurprisingly, many Peacocks have been praising the latest revelation online, with one fan exclaiming “what a player.”

Scroll through the rest of the best reactions down below…  

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Speaking to Football Insider, Alan Hutton has claimed Rangers would “seriously think” about selling Glen Kamara this summer if they received a big-money bid for him.

What did he say?

The Finland international has been a virtual ever-present for Steven Gerrard’s side this season, making 39 appearances across all competitions. The 24-year-old has proven himself to be great value for money for the club, after initially arriving for a measly £50k.

Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Ligue 1 side Marseille are lining up a swoop for the midfielder this summer, and that Kamara is now being valued at around €10m (£8.8m).

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After hearing about the French outfit’s interest, Hutton claimed that Rangers could potentially cash in on their ace, and make some big profit. He said: “It’s unbelievable. Really, from a financial point of view at Rangers, that’s what you’re looking to do. Unearth a gem, get him in, get him playing well and then kind of move him on for a decent sum of money. It would be amazing value if they were to sell him.

“He’s come in and he’s done unbelievably well. From Dundee, to make that step up to a massive team and play week in, week out, especially in Europe and stuff, I think he’s done excellent. He’s still got plenty of time on his hands but ultimately I think everybody’s got a price on your head no matter who you are. If somebody was to come in with a concrete offer at the figures we’re talking, I’m sure Rangers would seriously think about taking it.”

Decision

Whilst Gerrard’s side could make a potentially tasty profit on their midfielder, the real question is whether Rangers would benefit more from actually keeping him, rather than selling him and trying to find an adequate replacement.

That will be the key decision that the club will have to make if Marseille or any other side put in an offer for Kamara, but it’s a testament to their recruitment team that a player they bought for absolute pittance, is being talked about as someone who could fetch almost £10m.

A lot of credit goes to those involved behind the scenes at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur have made an initial approach for Rennes forward Mbaye Niang, according to L’Equipe via @TalkingTHFC.

The French outlet reports Spurs have made contact with Niang’s representatives.

Jose Mourinho is in the market to find a backup for Spurs talisman Harry Kane who can also provide the England international with some healthy competition.

Some fans will no doubt remember the club have been linked with the Senegalese in the past.

He ended up joining AC Milan instead, but struggled to nail down a place at the San Siro Stadium, and was subsequently shipped out on loan to a number of European clubs, including Montpellier and Watford FC, before being sold to Serie A rivals Torino.

It is worth noting the Hornets didn’t make a bid for the Senegal international after he failed to make much of an impression at Vicarage Road.

Niang eventually joined Stade Rennais after a successful loan spell, and he has continued to impress for Julien Stephan’s side this season, scoring 10 goals in 26 games in Ligue 1, taking 2.5 shots on average via WhoScored. Moreover, he can play in a variety of different positions, and his versatility is surely an added bonus.

However, he has failed to register a single assist all year, and has averaged a mere 0.4 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game in the French top flight (WhoScored).

Although the 25-year-old certainly has an eye for a goal, he clearly needs to make improvements to his overall game, including his passing accuracy and link-up play.

Unsurprisingly given his failed spell at the Hornets, loads of Spurs fans slammed Niang’s transfer link, with one supporter branding him “garbage,” and another labelling him as a “Watford reject.”

Meanwhile another labelled him “Clinton Njie number 2”, perhaps alluding to the fact that he too came from Ligue 1 to Spurs but failed to impress, scoring zero goals in his time at the club (Transfermarkt).

Scroll through some of the scathing responses down below…

Tottenham fans, have you seen enough of M’baye Niang to convince you? Let us know in the comments section!

Tottenham star Tanguy Ndombele has continued to divide opinion all week. 

According to ESPN, Ndombele has told Jose Mourinho he never wants to play for him again.

Sources told ESPN a row broke out in a training session on Monday which carried on into Mourinho’s office at Enfield.

Ndombele, who is the club’s most expensive signing, is reportedly fed up with the constant criticism coming from Mourinho and gave him a piece of his mind.

The Spurs duo have dominated the headlines in recent months after they were forced to apologise for breaking government guidelines to train together during the nationwide lockdown.

However, their relationship is rumoured to have taken a downturn ever since, as the Portuguese is apparently frustrated by Ndombele’s lack of effort in training.

Tensions have reached breaking point and his representatives are working around the clock to try and find a resolution.

One option on the table is a move away from north London.

Barcelona are interested in the Frenchman but the La Liga giants do not have the money to fund a move, so will have to rely on a loan or swap deal.

Similarly, Bayern Munich may also make an approach, as Thiago Alcantara is seemingly set to leave.

The Bundesliga champions are also looking to sell Corentin Tolisso, amid interest from Manchester United, and could try to orchestrate an exchange for Ndombele.

However, Spurs will likely reject their proposal if an offer arrives.

Despite Mourinho’s reservations, Daniel Levy has insisted the 23-year-old is not for sale, as the board are convinced the record signing will eventually live up to his £55m fee.

Furthermore, Levy will not allow him to be used in swap deals, so the chances of him leaving in the summer are slim.

Tottenham fans, do you think Mourinho should give Tanguy Ndombele another chance? Let us know in the comments below!

Sunderland shareholder Charlie Methven has revealed the reasons behind Chris Coleman’s departure from the club in 2018.

Welsh manager Coleman arrived at the Stadium of Light in November 2017 with the club placing much hope on his shoulders to turn around what was a disastrous start to the Championship season of 2017/2018.

After just six months in charge of the club, former Fulham defender Coleman was unable to halt Sunderland’s relegation to League One, which was confirmed in the 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion.

Coleman’s time in charge of the Wearside club was documented via Netflix series Sunderland Til I Die, which included his sacking just days after relegation in April 2018.

Aside from Coleman’s exit, Sunderland underwent a change in owners with Stewart Donald replacing Ellis Short.

By Donald’s side, Methven acted as a key figure in the club’s new approach and the shareholder has now spoken about the reasons why the decision was made to sack Coleman. Speaking on Sasikumar Ramu’s YouTube channel and quoted via Roker Report, Methven said:

“We appointed the new manager. Chris Coleman and Kit Symons are very respected managers but they were part of the cost base that just couldn’t be sustained.

“Chris Coleman, when you’ve got to the semi-final of the European Championships, you don’t work for a third division salary, you work for a Premier League salary and all the accoutrements that come with a Premier League salary.

“Again, we felt that the club had to re-base, we felt very strongly that the club couldn’t pretend to be a Premier League club any more.

“If it’s going to succeed, it has to understand and comprehend the competition that it’s actually in and almost have enough respect for your competition to then to be able to succeed.

“So we then needed a manager who is going to be excited to be in the third division because it was a step up to manage Sunderland and who had come into that job with fresh, positive energy and would help us with our reset.”

Since Coleman’s departure, Sunderland have been unable to get themselves out of League One and back into the Championship. Finishing eighth this term, current boss Phil Parkinson will have tremendous pressure to turn things around next season.

It’s not hard to see where Methven was coming from in terms of Coleman’s salary and his Premier League reputation, but you have to wonder where Sunderland would be if the Welshman had stayed on.

That being said, he struggled to find any form or consistency during his time at the club, not helped by the club’s modest transfer activity during the winter transfer window two years ago.

Do you think Chris Coleman should have continued as Sunderland manager? Let us know in the comments section below…