Leeds now have less than ten days to land the striker they so desperately need this month.

Fortunately, there is reportedly growing confidence at the club that they will get the player they want, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is positive on the transfer front as one key figure needs questioning.

What’s the story then?

Sources at Leeds have told Football Insider that they are confident of bringing in a new attacker before the window slams shut.

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Indeed, the site report that they’ve been told Victor Orta is ‘hammering the phone’ trying to negotiate a deal for a forward.

While it’s good to see the Director of Football being so proactive, he shouldn’t have allowed it to get to this point.

Got to question Orta

Angus Kinnear stated that Leeds’ plan this month was to move quickly in the transfer window, but United haven’t been able to do that.

It gets even worse when you consider the Yorkshire club were reportedly expecting Eddie Nketiah to be recalled as far back as November. That’s over a month before the January window even opened.

Orta should have had a contingency plan in place weeks in advance for if they were left short up front, but instead, he’s now left with less than ten days to make a breakthrough in their pursuit of someone to bolster the Whites’ forward line.

Players like Che Adams have been linked while Andre Gray has also been at the forefront of their minds. It’s clear that work is being done but it’s all coming too late. After the Dan James saga of last year, it should be particularly worrying.

His deal collapsed before it could be completed before the deadline and it looks like Orta and co haven’t learned their lesson.

The worst part is the damage may have already been done, Leeds have failed to win in 2020, and a lot of that is down to their failure to find the net as they’ve scored just once since the turn of the year.

The hierarchy needs to find a solution and quick.

In other news, Phil Hay has made a huge transfer prediction for Leeds United.

Everton fans have been reacting on Twitter after Italian media outlet Corriere dello Sport, via AreaNapoli, suggested that they could be a possible summer destination for Hirving Lozano should Napoli decide to cash in on him.Corriere dello Sport was discussing whether an exit could be on the cards for the Mexico international, who has found first-team minutes hard to come by since Carlo Ancelotti was replaced by Gennaro Gattuso at the helm last month.The attacker has played just 47 minutes of the Serie A outfit’s previous five league games, and has just three goals and two assists in 27 appearances in all competitions following his summer move from PSV Eindhoven.Despite his poor statistics this term, it seems many supporters haven’t forgotten his impressive performances – including against Germany – for his country at the 2018 World Cup, as well as the fact he scored 40 goals and provided a further 23 assists in 79 matches for PSV previously.As you can see below from those replying to a tweet about the report from the Toffee Targets account, many would be up for the Merseyside outfit bringing the 24-year-old to Goodison Park, with one suggesting he would be a good replacement for Theo Walcott.Indeed, the former Arsenal man has failed to score and picked up just two assists in 21 outings in 2019/20.

However, not all fans were feeling positive about a move for the Mexican.

Indeed, one individual was clearly not impressed with his record this season, while another feels he isn’t needed because of the depth Everton already have in the attacking positions.

Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

The latter is certainly an interesting viewpoint, because the likes of Walcott, Bernard and Alex Iwobi have hardly been on fire when they have been on the pitch in wide areas this term.

In other Everton news, Alan Myers has offered an update on how many players he thinks the club will sign before next Friday’s deadline…

Aston Villa youngster Rushian Hepburn-Murphy has gone on loan to Derby County, as reported by Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett.However, it is detailed within his tweet that the youngster will be joining up with the Rams’ U23s, rather than being immediately considered for their first-team.

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It is this component of the move that has left some Villa fans confused about the logic behind it.

The fact that the academy graduate will be going into Derby’s U23s has been deemed “pointless” by some fans.

Excluding the move to Derby, Hepburn-Murphy has had two loans away from Villa – to Cambridge United and Tranmere Rovers – which will have given him a taste of first-team football, something he isn’t initially going to get from Phillip Cocu.

In his time with Tranmere, during the first half of the current campaign, he made 21 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals, which includes a hat-trick against MK Dons.

There has been the suggestion made by some that this move means the 21-year-old has “no future” with Villa.

Having come through the academy, Hepburn-Murphy has played 17 times for the club, after making his debut in 2015, scoring no goals.

Premier League experts will get full marks: The ultimate quiz on top flight transfer flops…

After his latest loan move, and the fact that his Villa contract ends in the summer of 2020, it seems that he will not be adding to that tally.

Meanwhile, keep up to date with the day’s proceedings by looking at the FFC live blog.

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has slammed Anthony Martial for his disappointing displays.

What did he say?

The France international has blown hot and cold in his Manchester United career so far, and this season has encapsulated that perfectly. Despite netting against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, the forward has also had a couple of goal-droughts, with his latest one seeing him failing to net in the Red Devils’ last three Premier League games.

And O’Hara has insisted Martial has not shown nearly enough since United spent £36m on bringing him in from French side AS Monaco back in 2015.

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He said: “He just frustrates me, because I look at him and think he could just be so good with the ability he’s got. For me, if you’re playing as a no.9 for Manchester United you’ve got to have everything. First and foremost you need work rate and desire to hold the ball up and bring others into play and be a nuisance. As a centre-half you’d probably dream about playing against Martial.

“He’s been there long enough now to have stamped his authority on the football club and be like ‘I’m the main man’ – but he just hasn’t done it. They brought him in to be one of those superstars, and he hasn’t fulfilled his potential in terms of what he could achieve for the club.”

More needed

Only scoring 12 total goals in 27 games as a centre-forward this season for a side like United is extremely disappointing. And with Marcus Rashford out for the foreseeable future with an injury, the Red Devils desperately need Martial to step up in his absence, and really embrace the goal-scoring burden.

Instead, the Frenchman has floundered under the sheer weight of the responsibility, with just one goal in five games across all competitions since Rashford’s injury. Martial’s struggles naturally open him up to criticism, and at 24 now, age shouldn’t really be an excuse anymore. He has had plenty of time to get used to the pressures of playing at Old Trafford and in the Premier League too, so the demands for him to show a lot more is absolutely fair.

Quickfire Questions: Can you get 100% on this Man United prodigies quiz?

O’Hara’s particular gripe about Martial’s lack of work-rate and hold-up play as a number nine is also right – he wins just 3.7 total duels per game, a measly 36%. He needs to be far more physical and with a desire to win the 50/50s, and not simply get bullied off the ball. Perhaps Odion Ighalo’s arrival could be the catalyst for him to recognise a change is needed.

Meanwhile, Man Utd fans react after David Ornstein provides an update on their failed swoop for Josh King.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are preparing to offer Neco Williams a bumper new deal to reflect his growing status at the club.

What’s the story?

The 18-year-old has featured regularly in the cup so far this season – he has featured in four of the six matches in the FA Cup and League Cup the Reds have played this term.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

Now, it is being said that he will be offered a new deal after his “stunning emergence”.

Good business

As it is, Trent Alexander-Arnold has the right-back position on lock down. Even from that area of the pitch, he has been his side’s most creative force in the Premier League – he already has 10 assists in that competition to his name, more than any of his teammates – and at 21, he has years ahead of him in the game.

However, behind him, there are a lack of options. Joe Gomez has featured there this term, but he now looks settled at centre-back having helped keep eight clean sheets in his last nine games, whilst James Milner, the other alternative, is a central midfielder by trade.

Adding a back-up option to his squad in that position will have no doubt been on Jurgen Klopp’s mind. That would not necessarily by cheap, especially if he wanted to bring in some real quality – just look at Joao Cancelo, who cost Manchester City £27.5m plus Danilo.

However, Williams may be able to save his club a fortune. The reason why he can provide support for Alexander-Arnold is not just because he is already at the club and therefore is an easy fix – rather, he has already proven himself ready to appear. Albeit in the cups, the Wales U19 international has made two assists in those four matches, showing that he may just have similar abilities to the England international.

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This would be a shrewd bit of business from the Reds and sporting director Michael Edwards, and they should look to secure even more of their young talent on new contracts.

Elsewhere, this Liverpool man deserves to be named PFA Player of the Year.

When Scott Hogan was shunned by Stoke City in January, with the club wanting to cut his loan spell from Aston Villa short, it must have felt like a large blow for him.

During the first half of the season, he managed just four starts and nine substitute appearances, scoring three goals at the Potters.

However, he has truly begun turning his season around, as he already has three starts for Birmingham City since joining up with them until the end of the season, scoring three goals.

Having already scored goals against Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, the Republic of Ireland bagged the only goal of a vital win against Barnsley on Tuesday.

After receiving the ball from Jude Bellingham in the box, with his back to goal, Hogan took a couple of touches out of his feet and hit it into the top corner on the swivel with his left foot.

Are you a Championship expert? How much did each of these big-money signings cost?

Villa fans were delighted for him, with one saying he is “on fire”, while another told him they are “glad you are scoring again and building your confidence”.

There may be feelings of goodwill towards the 27-year-old, but Villa fans still took their opportunity to make a dig towards Birmingham.

Hogan has not played a league game for Villa since December 2018, which has led to one fans calling Birmingham “Villa reserves”.

While there may be pops taken at the club he is turning out for, there is still a feeling that Villans are happy for him.

Meanwhile, one Villa loanee could be set to get a new contract with the club.

Queens Park Rangers will be over the moon with their comeback against Stoke City, as they overturned a two-goal deficit to win 4-2.

This result leaves QPR 16th in the Championship, 11 points away from the relegation zone, while it is also Ryan Manning’s second game back in the side having spent four consecutive matches on the bench.

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Jordan Hugill, Eberechi Eze, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ilias Chair were the players who scored the Rs’ goals, but Manning also played a vital role in ensuring that Mark Warburton’s side left the game with three points, as shown in the graph below.

Considering Manning’s first game back in the team ended with a clean sheet against Swansea City, Warburton will likely be feeling particularly impressed with the 23-year-old following this match.

Primarily, the Irishman was a solid presence defensively, successfully completing two of his three attempted tackles, while he also made two clearances and came out on top in three aerial duels.

There was also a clear willingness to make things happen, as Manning completed two dribbles and completed the same number of key passes.

Are you a Championship expert? How much did each of these big-money signings cost?

The clearest indication of this came for QPR’s first goal of the day when he cut inside and played a perfectly-weighted reverse pass, which allowed Hugill to finish it off with a first-time strike – he didn’t have to break stride.

This highlighted the precision in his play, which is also shown through his statistics, as both of his attempted shots were on target, while his pass success rate of 70% is respectable.

All of this saw him receive the highest WhoScored rating of any QPR player with 8.2, showing that he took his opportunity to impress Warburton, while also playing an integral part in ensuring the team came away with three points.

Meanwhile, QPR fans were very impressed by one man’s display against Stoke.

Manchester United may be set to sell Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira during the summer transfer window, as suggested by The Express.

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This comes with growing interest in signing Aston Villa talisman Jack Grealish, and the belief that the two players sales can help to fund that move.

Regardless of whether Grealish does end up moving to Old Trafford, United fans seem delighted by the prospect of seeing Lingard and Pereira leave.

Fans have had enough of watching the two players in a red shirt, with one saying “get Andreas to Spain and Jesse to Italy”.

Lingard has played 200 games for United, scoring 31 goals and assisting 19, while Pereira has 70 games under his belt, scoring three goals and adding five assists.

Quickfire Questions: Can you get 100% on this Man United prodigies quiz?

However, neither player has done enough during this time to convince the fans that they are deserving of representing their club.

This potential decision has also got fans praising the “ruthless” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for being the man who could get them out of the club.

One has gone as far as to suggest “if Ole does that he deserves another year just because of that”, showing the extent to which they want them gone.

Neither player was used against Watford on Sunday, and there is a chance they may have to get used to this treatment.

Meanwhile, Laurie Whitwell has shown concern for one key man’s poor trait.

It has been a tough few years for Mamadou Sakho.

The former Liverpool centre-back, who signed for Crystal Palace from the Reds for £26m in 2017, has been dogged by injuries – he has missed at least 9 matches in each of the last four seasons due to a number of different issues.

This term, he has managed just eight appearances for the Eagles between different spells on the sidelines – not a very big return for the £100,000 a week he earns at the club.

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He does have a good track record, having featured for PSG and Liverpool, whilst he also has 29 caps for France to his name. Had he not struggled with so many injuries, he may have featured a lot more than the 63 appearances he has managed for the London outfit so far.

There has been some news on his fitness recently – he is now back in full training, and recently played 90 minutes for the club’s U23 side. However, it all seems to little, too late for his Palace future. Given that Palace are obviously a side with restricted funds – they have spent just over £17m across this season and the last – he is becoming a burden on the side.

Roy Hodgson’s side may have struggled in front of goal – they have managed just 25 in the Premier League so far this season, which only Newcastle have been unable to match – but they have been solid at the other end of the pitch. Only five sides have conceded less than their 32, with Gary Cahill, Scott Dann and James Tomkins getting the job done between them.

When Sakho has featured, he has done little to boost the backline – he may have only been included in the first XI six times, but only one of those ended in a clean sheet – and even in that clash he was sent off after 19 minutes.

Despite spending so much time in the treatment room, the 30-year-old still earns that huge wage – only three players receive more for the Eagles. How can Palace justify such a big fee for someone who just can’t be relied upon?

Some may see Sakho’s return as a boost, but the fact of the matter is, he is no longer needed at Selhurst Park.

Hodgson may need investment in some areas of the playing squad, but centre-back isn’t one of them.

Despite being one of the side’s biggest-ever signings, he is now almost surplus to requirements.

Elsewhere, Dougie Freedman should avoid signing this Premier League ace.

Darren Bent is the latest figure to weigh in on the debate surrounding Leeds United shot-stopper Kiko Casilla following the Football Association’s official wording on his eight-game ban for racially abusing Jonathan Leko.The former Premier League striker took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the decision and in the politest way possible, he slammed the punishment, labelling it “mediocre”.He said:

The FA released their reasoning for the suspension on Tuesday, claiming the 33-year-old had breached FA Rule E3(2) resulting in him also receiving a £60k fine and ordered to attend face-to-face education.

But that isn’t enough in the eyes of Bent – and you have to agree with him.

Another issue out in the public eye at the minute is Daniel Sturridge’s ban for breaking gambling regulations – his six-week suspension has been extended to four months as per The Guardian, which makes a mockery of this situation.

Whose Line Is It Anyway: Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Adrian Durham?

A player found guilty of racially abusing a fellow professional receives less than a private tip-off to a friend. That’s absolutely absurd.

And in other news,ÂThe FA may have just saved Leeds £5m, read on…