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Leeds United may have to pay up to £15m for Huddersfield Town star Lewis O’Brien this summer.

The Lowdown: O’Brien links

The Whites have had O’Brien on their radar for some time now and still have an interest in the central midfielder heading into Jesse Marsch’s first full season as head coach.

The 23-year-old, labelled an “exceptional” player by his manager Carlos Corberan, suffered playoff heartbreak with The Terriers last weekend but may still be plying his trade in the Premier League next season.

Leeds are thought to be one of five top-flight clubs chasing a move for the midfielder, however, recent reports that suggested a £12m release clause may be wide of the mark.

The Latest: £15m?

MOT Leeds News relayed an update regarding O’Brien from Friday’s print edition of The Huddersfield Examiner.

They cited a £15m figure when it came to the midfielder last summer and said that his stock has risen over the past 12 months, and with no mention of a release clause in the report, £15m could be the minimum Leeds may have to pay this time around.

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The Verdict: Midfielder needed

Leeds need to add to their central midfield ranks this summer after they wrap up a move for RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen, even if Kalvin Phillips remains at the club.

New signing Brenden Aaronson is expected to be used as an inverted winger, so O’Brien could be a perfect partner for Phillips in either a 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2 system.

Marsch has limited options in the middle of the park and just one holding midfielder in Phillips, so O’Brien, who is extremely versatile after playing in seven positions last season, could be a shrewd signing, despite a fee potentially going up.

In other news: Reporter says Leeds and Orta may now hijack rivals’ move for ‘outstanding’ star. 

Leeds United are reportedly looking to sign Derby County attacker Tom Lawrence on a free transfer. 

The Lowdown: History with Leeds supporters

Lawrence, labelled as ‘magnificent’ by Wayne Rooney, has been with The Rams since 2017 but is out of contact at the end of June.

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The Wales international has made 185 appearances for Derby, scoring 37 times and registering 25 assists. He’s played against Leeds on 11 occasions and has been on the losing side seven times.

The 28-year-old also has history with Whites supporters following the club’s playoff semi-final with Derby during the 2018/19 season. Lawrence and a number of his Derby teammates teased the south stand over ‘Spygate’ after they booked their spot at Wembley following a 4-2 win at Elland Road, but it now looks as if Victor Orta is keen to sign the soon to be free-agent.

The Latest: Leeds interest

TEAMtalk shared a story on Thursday morning regarding Lawrence, claiming that Leeds are ‘battling to secure his signature’.

The Derby captain looks set to leave Pride Park following their relegation to League One and is attracting interest from three other Premier League clubs – Bournemouth, Fulham and Southampton

The Verdict: Bizarre

Lawrence has hit double figures for goals in each of the last two Championship seasons in what has been a struggle for Derby both on and off the pitch, however, a move to Elland Road does seem to be a strange one.

Not only does Lawrence have previous with Whites fans, but he’s also primarily a winger. Jesse Marsch currently has a number of wide options and he may even look to implement his preferred narrow formation for his first full season in charge.

Brenden Aaronson’s arrival appears to outline Marsch’s plans for a potential 4-2-2-2 system, so signing a player with just four games of Premier League experience may not go down too well as Leeds aim to build on a disappointing campaign where they only just avoided the drop.

In other news: Phillips partner: Leeds now want ‘extraordinary’ int’l for free; Orta’s already spoke with agent

Liverpool have been heavily linked with Aurelien Tchouameni and are currently battling with Champions League rivals Real Madrid for his signature, with a new update emerging on the player.

What’s the latest?

According to a journalist for Foot Mercato, Liverpool will “step up” their chase for the Monaco midfielder after the Champions League final.

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The reporter tweeted: “There is not yet a full agreement between Real and Monaco for Tchouameni.

“The people of Madrid remain in pole position for the moment. Liverpool will step up after the UCL. Paris have not said their last word and are ready to offer more than other clubs.”

Supporters will be buzzing

After Fabrizio Romano revealed that Tchouameni reportedly preferred a move to Real Madrid it seemingly put a dampener on Liverpool’s chances, however supporters will be buzzing that the club hasn’t given up on the potential signing yet.

It is clear that Jurgen Klopp is keen to bolster his midfield by injecting youth into his ageing squad, with Gavi and Ibrahim Sangare both also linked with a move to Anfield this summer but it’s clear that the intent is to sign the Ligue 1 star if possible.

The £60m ace who was hailed a “monster” by France U21 boss Sylvain Ripoll, has been an absolute force for Monaco this season with the youngster scoring two goals, creating six big chances and completing the most interceptions (101) of any player in the top five European leagues this season.

Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are all in their 30s, so making plans for the next generation of the team to come through and add a fresh perspective to the team is clearly something Liverpool want to achieve and Tchouameni is capable of providing as he identifies as the exact type of midfielder Liverpool need.

According to ESPN, Real Madrid are prepared to pay an estimated €80m (£68m) so Liverpool will need to offer something in a similar region to compete with the La Liga giants this summer and get the deal over the line to secure his services in their midfield on Merseyside for the future.

Should FSG do so then given his qualities, the entire of Anfield will be beaming with joy.

AND in other news: Huge boost: Paul Joyce drops major Liverpool update that’ll excite supporters

Leeds United have been handed a huge boost ahead of their Premier League meeting with Brentford this Sunday.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to injury analyst Ben Dinnery, who revealed that Ethan Pinnock – who missed the Bees’ 3-2 victory over Everton on Sunday with a thigh injury – only has a 25% chance of making a return to first-team football against Leeds at the Brentford Community Stadium this weekend.

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Speaking ahead of the win at Goodison Park, Thomas Frank said of the centre-back’s condition: “Ethan will not be ready for Everton, maybe Leeds.”

Marsch will be buzzing

Considering the fact that Leeds simply must secure all three points against Brentford if they are to have any hope of avoiding relegation this season, in addition to how impressive Pinnock has been in the heart of the Bees’ defence this term, the news that the 28-year-old looks likely to miss out against the Whites this weekend is sure to have left Jesse Marsch buzzing.

Indeed, over his 32 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, the £9m-rated talent has been an absolute rock at the back, helping his side keep seven clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 4.6 clearances and winning 6.8 duels – at a success rate of 68% – per game.

The centre-back has also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring one goal, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.4 key passes and completing 0.3 dribbles per fixture.

These returns have seen the £27k-per-week Jamaica international average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Frank’s second-best performing defender and sixth-best player overall in the top flight of English football.

As such, should Pinnock indeed be ruled out of Sunday’s final day clash, it is clear to see that it would provide Leeds’ chances of securing all three points – and subsequently, survival – with a huge boost, with the 28-year-old’s absence being exactly the sort of marginal gain that Marsch will be hoping for in the buildup to the fixture.

AND in other news: Orta must ruthlessly axe £40k-p/w Leeds “mistake” who’s “nothing short of a liability”

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has now made a behind-the-scenes exit decision with a player told he’ll leave north London this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Mass exodus?

According to The Times and reliable journalist Gary Jacob, Spurs could get rid of as many as eight players – including Sergio Reguilón, Emerson Royal, Steven Bergwijn, Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele as Conte looks to ‘offload’.

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This comes as the Italian sets his sights on six major incomings to head in the opposite direction with Jacob claiming Conte wants to add three defenders, a midfielder and a forward in the next transfer window.

The Lilywhites could be set for a big summer of change, and in an exit development, it appears the former Inter Milan boss has already wielded his axe on another Spurs player in Pierluigi Gollini.

The Latest: Conte call made…

According to a ‘Spurs source’, speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham have now ‘told’ the loanee goalkeeper he is leaving this summer as they decide not to take up the £13 million option to sign him on a permanent deal from Atalanta.

This comes as Conte and his coaching staff are left unconvinced by Gollini who, has made just eight appearances in all competitions and zero in the Premier League.

The Verdict: Correct call…

This move has been a regrettable one for the 27-year-old, who was rising to prominence in Italy after returning there from Aston Villa.

Called a ‘big’, ‘imposing’ and ‘commanding’ shot stopper by Serie A football critic Carlo Garganese, Gollini unfortunately hasn’t been given enough chances to truly display his ability.

The colossal 6 foot 4 man has been raved about behind-the-scenes at Spurs with defender Eric Dier even calling him ‘amazing’ earlier this campaign but it’s perhaps best for both the keeper and Lilywhites to part ways.

West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone is thought to be edging nearer a move to Hotspur Way and his signing could not only add quality, but also go some way to solving the club’s homegrown quota issue.

Indeed, Gollini should certainly make way for the Baggies ace.

In other news: In the last 48 hours…ESPN source makes five-word claim as Spurs push for ‘statement’s signing, find out more here.

Manchester United are set for a huge revolution at Old Trafford this summer with the arrival of Erik ten Hag, and now transfer speculation surrounding one particular transfer target has emerged.

What’s the latest?

According to the Daily Mirror, the new Man United boss wants to sign N’Golo Kante from Chelsea this summer and reportedly believes the midfielder still has the ability and experience to help the young players at Old Trafford next season.

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Kante has one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and the report suggests that ten Hag believes the midfield at his new club needs a drastic overhaul, with the manager searching for upgrades to better the quality in the centre of the pitch.

Ten Hag needs Kante

There is no doubt that Man United’s midfield is in desperate need of a player that can look after the ball better and dominate possession which is why it makes perfect sense for the club to sign Kante because when you look at the current choices Ten Hag definitely needs him.

On average per game the Red Devils lose possession 134.9 times in the Premier League, with the side recording their lowest possession percentages (28%) since Premier League records began against Liverpool at Anfield this season.

With that being said, adding the quality and experience of the 31-year-old French World Cup winner into their midfield next season would be a no-brainer for Ten Hag as he endeavours to improve the squad and compete for trophies.

The £45m-rated gem, who was initially signed for £30m, was dubbed “faster than the train” by France manager Didier Deschamps has made 145 ball recoveries, won 145 duels, made 25 interceptions, has a tackle success rate of 53%, scoring two goals and contributing four assists in 24 Premier League appearances this season.

Kante has been the recipient of high praise for his career achievements with the star winning back to back Premier League title’s with Leicester City and Chelsea, as well as picking up a Champions League and a World Cup and Ally McCoist claimed the midfielder was “magic” following his performances in the London club’s successful campaign in the Champions League last season.

Ultimately, the Frenchman would be a fantastic signing for Man United in their pursuit to make a comeback following a disappointing campaign this season and would surely add the star quality needed in the centre of the pitch if Ten Hag could secure his signature this summer.

AND in other news – Deal close: Man Utd nearing the signing of £63m-rated “genius”, he’s better than Pogba…

Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2024Update: This poll has ended. Rishabh Pant’s performance goes into the semi-finals. Check the other polls here.ESPNcricinfo LtdVVS Laxman’s maiden Test ton was the first of many special innings against Australia•AFP via Getty ImagesVVS Laxman – 167 in Sydney, 2000Australia won by an innings and 141 runs, and won the series 3-0After heavy defeats in Adelaide and Melbourne, India were running on fumes by the time the final Test began at the SCG. VVS Laxman wasn’t meant to open in Australia but the lack of viable options meant he had to perform a role he didn’t particularly enjoy.Up until Sydney, Sachin Tendulkar was the only Indian batter to have shown fight on the tour, but after India capitulated once again in the first innings, Laxman let rip. A blow to the helmet from Glenn McGrath was the trigger that made him play like he had nothing to lose.A maiden Test hundred off just 114 balls, full of gloriously languid drives and flicks that rivalled the watching Mark Waugh’s repertoire, grew into an innings of 167 with 27 boundaries. As he walked off the field to applause from the Australians on the field and in the stands, it was just the start of Laxman’s very, very special love affair with Australia.By Shashank KishoreWatch the highlights of these performances on the Star Sports network at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm IST, from November 2 onwards.Rishabh Pant helped India achieve the unimaginable at the Gabba•Patrick Hamilton/AFP/Getty ImagesRishabh Pant – 89* in Brisbane, 2021India won by three wickets, and the series 2-1All the things that didn’t make sense on this tour – India all out for 36, their three jillion injuries, the hassle of cricket in quarantine – found meaning when Rishabh Pant began to play the innings of a lifetime. He was 23 and he helped obliterate a record that had stood for way longer than he’d been alive. Australia’s undefeated streak in Brisbane was 32 years old when it was finally laid to rest. “This is one of the biggest things in my life right now,” Pant said after a performance that proved just how dangerous a batter he could be when he adopts even the smallest bit of restraint.Chasing 328 at the Gabba – 324 on the final day – India still needed 161 runs with about 43 overs to go when Pant walked in at No. 5. He got going, and kept going, even as wickets fell and the overs ticked by. Eventually, with only minutes left on the clock, he lashed Josh Hazlewood down the ground to accomplish one of the greatest series wins in Test history.By Alagappan Muthu

In an interview with Andrés Cantor for Futbol de Primera, Mauricio Pochettino discusses the work behind the USMNT’s recent turnaround – and calls out coaches who have criticized his approach.

U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino has had no shortage of critics in the early months of his tenure. After a rocky start, though, he's finally shaping something that resembles a team on the rise. The U.S. are unbeaten in their last five matches, and with a new culture taking hold – supported by clear tactical tweaks – the sting of the Gold Cup final and Nations League semifinal losses is starting to fade.

But the questions haven’t gone away. There are still debates to settle and plenty of decisions to explain. In a wide-ranging conversation with legendary Argentine announcer Andrés Cantor for , Pochettino tackled many of them head-on. He acknowledged that the job has proven to be a bigger undertaking than he expected, and opened up about roster decisions, culture-building, and why he believes the USMNT should approach next summer’s World Cup believing they can win every match they play.

Here are thefive main takeaways from an enlightening conversation with the U.S. manager…

Getty ImagesMore changes needed than expected

This may have gotten a bit Eric Cantona-esque from the manager, but he did admit that the challenges in the job were perhaps more apparent than he had suspected. A lot of his rhetoric since he took the job has been about "cultural resets" and problems within the problem. It was no secret that Pochettino was going to be more than just a teddy bear. But what neither side, presumably, realized was just how much things needed to be changed in order for Pochettino to shape the team in his vision. Results take time; the "ship" needed to be steered.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGold Cup changed everything

Pochettino has faced consistent questions about his squad selection. He has leaned heavily on an MLS contingent and introduced a number of players who might not have been involved in previous cycles. In total, the Argentine has brought 71 different players into camps and handed out several debuts.

That approach creates opportunities for new faces and also carries the possibility that some players may not remain in the picture long term. Pochettino noted that the strategy has begun to show signs of progress. Aside from the lopsided loss to South Korea, the USMNT have shown improvement since the Gold Cup and are currently on a five-match unbeaten run.

Getty Images Sport'We let him rest'

Pochettino has also dealt with disagreements with European clubs regarding player availability for international duty. He described the situation as a balance handled on a case-by-case basis.

Last summer, Christian Pulisic requested time off during the Gold Cup to recover after a long club season. Pochettino acknowledged the request and agreed to give him a break, and Pulisic returned to the squad once he was fit. Chris Richards, meanwhile, joined the U.S. for the Gold Cup before immediately entering Crystal Palace’s preseason. In response, Pochettino left the defender out of the most recent camp to manage his workload.

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Getty'I would never have criticized a coach'

One recurring topic when a foreign coach takes over a national team is whether they understand the culture surrounding the program. In Pochettino’s case, some observers questioned whether he grasped the expectations around the USMNT, suggesting his reaction to the Nations League semifinal and third-place losses reflected a lack of familiarity with the U.S. sporting landscape.

Pochettino rejected that characterization, saying the defeats were difficult for him and formed part of a broader rebuilding process. He noted that winning the tournament would have been positive, but emphasized that his priority at the time was addressing what he viewed as structural issues within the team.

While most batters have struggled in Australia over the last four summers, Head has thrived saying he enjoys the greener pitches more than flatter ones

Alex Malcolm24-Oct-2025Travis Head is hoping for seam-friendly pitches in the Ashes and says he enjoys batting on such surfaces more so than flatter ones believing that it presents more opportunities to score.The pitches that will be presented in the Ashes is a major talking point with the Test surfaces in Australia over the past four summers trending heavily in favour of the seam bowlers compared to decades past.Head was the player of the series in the 2021-22 Ashes following stunning centuries on challenging pitches in Brisbane and Hobart. He is hoping for more of the same this summer.Related

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“I probably enjoy batting on those sort of wickets,” Head told ESPNcricinfo. “The flatter wickets, with the grind, that more so challenge technique, I think, over longer periods of time [trying] to eke out runs has never probably come as natural to me with being a stroke player and wanting to get on with it. And the slower, flat wickets probably don’t tend to that. But fast-paced pitches that nip, you can maybe get away with a few things.”And then obviously the way I want to play is if they present opportunities to score, you score. So when they’re greener, they pitch up a little bit more and a bit fuller, and the style that I play, if they miss a little bit, I’m able to hopefully score and get busy.”It’s a run based game. You see some of the great players, like Steve Smith, Joe Root, you blink and they’re on 30 or 40. And that’s something that I’ve always appreciated, and definitely [on] these wickets, you know that you potentially have got one with your name on it. You can still play well. You can still get runs. Sometimes you’ve got that go about it in different ways. But ultimately, it’s a game where you go try and score as many as you can.”Since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, top seven batters have averaged just 30.22 per dismissal in Test matches in Australia and combined for 24 centuries across 20 Test matches. In the four summers before that, from the start of 2017-18 Ashes to the end of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series, top seven batters averaged 38.14 across 20 Tests with 34 centuries scored.