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Leeds United managed to come away from Brighton with a point despite a sloppy performance on Saturday evening.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men struggled at the Amex Stadium, with the hosts missing two big chances and hitting the woodwork on three occasions in a 0-0 draw.

Here at The Transfer Tavern, we look into the three worst-rated Leeds starters as per statistical specialists SofaScore, with players required to feature for at least 45 minutes for ranking.

Raphinha – 6.3/10

Raphinha was brought back into the side but had an evening to forget. The influential winger was the Whites’ worst-rated performer with a rating of 6.3/10.

He lost the ball a whopping 21 times, was second-best in eight of his 15 duels and completed just one of his five attempted dribbles.

The Brazil winger also failed to register a shot on goal or complete a key pass, with nothing clicking for Leeds on the south coast.

Junior Firpo – 6.6/10

Firpo was another man who was brought back in by Bielsa, but he had a torrid evening and was replaced at the interval.

Booked early on, the Spaniard failed to cope with Tariq Lamptey, losing six of his 12 duels and committing four fouls.

The left-back gave the ball away eight times in 45 minutes and failed to make a key pass going forward prior to his early withdrawal.

Jack Harrison – 6.6/10

In front of Firpo was Harrison, who kept his place in the side following the defeat to Tottenham last time out but struggled against the Seagulls.

He lost eight of his 11 duels, gave the ball away on 19 occasions and made just one key pass all evening.

Harrison also failed to complete any of his crosses and didn’t register a shot on goal, making it an evening to forget for the left-hand side.

In other news: Big Leeds transfer rumour emerges regarding ‘magnificent’ player; two Premier League giants mentioned

A fresh update has emerged regarding Manchester City’s interest in Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, with a transfer potentially on the cards.

The Lowdown: Constant Vlahovic links

The Serbian is enjoying another superb season for Fiorentina, scoring 12 goals in his first 15 Serie A appearances and outlining his status as one of Europe’s best young strikers.

City have been continually linked with a move for the 21-year-old in recent times, as Pep Guardiola looks to bring in an out-and-out striker.

Vlahovic has been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by journalist Fabrizio Romano and his record of 43 goals in 100 appearances for Fiorentina speaks for itself.

The Latest: New update emerges

According to Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], City are ‘ready to launch the attack’ to sign Vlahovic, with the figures ‘being prepared’.

A move to Juventus is thought to be favoured by the attacker’s representatives, but Fiorentina would prefer that a move to City materialises.

Guardiola is reportedly ‘in love’ with Vlahovic as a player and wants him at the club.

The Verdict: Ideal striker option

While Harry Kane has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad, Vlahovic would be a better addition because of his long-term potential.

At 21, he is not only someone who could make an immediate impact but also a player who could be a star figure for many years to come, unlike Kane, who turns 29 next summer.

The one area City look short in is strikers, so acquiring Vlahovic’s signature midway through the season could only strengthen their Premier League and Champions League challenges, given them an extra dimension in the final third.

In other news, some City fans have flocked to another transfer update. Read more here.

A crushing Rangers transfer update has emerged, regarding the future of midfielder Joe Aribo…

What’s the talk?

According to AllNigeriaSoccer, the ex-Charlton man has informed the club of his unwillingness to put pen to paper on a contract extension.

The report claims the Gers opened talks with him over a new deal before being told that he does not want to extend his stay in Glasgow.

Premier League sides Brentford, Crystal Palace, and Watford are all reportedly interested in signing the playmaker ahead of the January window.

Gutting

This report will surely leave Rangers fans gutted as it opens the door to the possibility of Aribo leaving Ibrox in the coming transfer windows.

The Nigeria international has been in fine form of late and his exit would be a major blow to Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad, which is why this is a crushing update. He has been crucial to the club’s success over the past 18 months and his decision not to extend his contract could force the Dutch head coach into making a very difficult decision.

Aribo’s current deal expires in the summer of 2023 and van Bronckhorst may need to weigh up whether or not it is worth cashing in on him in January to get maximum value or to keep him at the club and run the risk of him leaving for a cut-price fee or for nothing. It is a tricky situation for the 43-year-old and Ross Wilson to manage, but they have little choice if the midfielder is refusing to play ball in negotiations.

His former Charlton teammate Ezri Konsa previously lauded him as ‘unique’ and compared him to Yaya Toure in quotes that sum up his importance to the Gers. He said: “Having Gerrard as his manager at Rangers, that has made him go up another level.

“Joe’s style is unique. When I was with him at Charlton he did remind me for a while of a left-footed Yaya Toure. But you don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around.

“Like Toure, for a tall guy he’s got such great feet. But that languid style he’s got is actually fairly unique in the game.”

The 25-year-old beast averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.40 last season in the Premiership, scoring six goals and providing four assists in 26 appearances. This term, he has averaged a score of 7.38 and managed five goals and two assists in 16 games, highlighting his consistency and quality at this level, which is why fans will be gutted that he appears set on a move away from the club.

Losing a player who is able to perform to such a high standard, consistently, over an 18-month period could be a big blow for the Gers and fans will be fuming that he does not want to extend his stay at Ibrox. It could now be an interesting January window for Aribo if clubs act on their interest in him.

AND in other news, 64x possession lost: GVB must work his magic on £5.6k-p/w Rangers dud with 0 assists…

Newcastle United are now set to battle with former manager Rafa Benitez, now at Everton, to sign Gini Wijnaldum on loan in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Gini’s journey

It seems like an age since Wijnaldum rocked up at St. James’ Park, in a season where he contributed a very impressive 11 goals and five assists from midfield, as he played in every single game of the North East club’s 2015/16 Premier League term (Transfermarkt).

Unfortunately, they were relegated at the end of that campaign, prompting the Netherlands international to leave for Liverpool, where he enjoyed so much success.

Dubbed as being ‘absolutely sensational’ by Tyneside legend Alan Shearer when he was Anfield back in 2018, Wijnaldum was a regular in a Reds side which eventually won both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, further showing his credentials.

Nonetheless, he moved to PSG in the summer, and may already be looking for a way out of France…

The Latest: Wijnaldum battle

As per 90min, the Magpies are one of a number of teams to have now been approached by PSG in order to try and take Wijnaldum on loan next month, following their interest in the 31-year-old.

However, Benitez is set to battle with them in order to secure his signature, while Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City and Aston Villa are also not against the idea of snapping him up.

Any club who takes him on would have to pay a ‘significant portion’ of his hefty £300,000-per-week wages though, which could prove to be a stumbling block.

The Verdict: Do it

Wijnaldum would certainly be a popular addition among the Toon Army, given the albeit brief success that he had with them before.

The experience and winning mentality that he has gained since then at both Liverpool and PSG would also be vital to Eddie Howe’s squad, as they aim to get themselves out of the relegation zone by the end of the season.

Nonetheless, he has shown his quality before, and so would be a shrewd addition to the middle of the park.

In other news, find out which ‘warrior’ NUFC are now targeting here!

West Ham United have been linked with a move for Torino defender Gleison Bremer ahead of the January transfer window, with David Moyes desperate to reinforce his depleted backline.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Torino Granata, the Hammers are one of several sides keen to secure the highly-rated 24-year-old’s signature, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Napoli, AC Milan and Juventus all listed as potential suitors.

The report claims that the Serie A outfit’s current £95m debt is a major factor behind the Brazilian potentially leaving Turin over the coming months, meaning an imminent exit could be on the cards.

David Moyes can solve West Ham’s injury crisis

After arriving in Italian football from his homeland back in 2018, the South American has made a big impact at Torino, scoring 12 goals and providing a further five assists in 93 appearances for the Bulls.

Bremer enjoyed a real breakout campaign during 2020/21, though, playing a pivotal part as his side narrowly avoided relegation from the top-flight. And he’s gone from strength to strength in the current campaign.

As per WhoScored, the centre-back has averaged 3.5 interceptions per league game, a whopping 3.9 clearances and 0.7 blocks, while also winning 3.8 aerial duels, outperforming his teammates in each metric.

After achieving an overall rating of 7.32 out of 10 – comfortably outperforming all of his colleagues – Bremer has been labelled as the ‘best defender in Serie A’ this season by Italian football expert Carlo Garganese.

“Bremer has been highly-rated for a while, with the Brazilian heavily linked with a move to the Premier League last season,” wrote Garganese. “However, it is this season where he has truly exploded and demonstrated that he is certainly ready to join a big club.”

“The 24-year-old has undoubtedly been the best defender in Serie A in the first half of the season, despite playing for a mid-table Torino side. The centre back boasts excellent pace, is aggressive and is superb in the air.”

With first-choice centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma set for extended spells on the sidelines due to serious injuries, Moyes needs to invest in that position over the winter window.

As a result, a move for Bremer, who has been described as “incredible” in the past by former Torino manager Davide Nicola, makes sense for several reasons.

The £13.5m-rated beast has showcased his talent in a top league over an extended period of time, would be available as a reasonable price and would instantly solve West Ham’s injury crisis at the back.

It remains to be seen whether Moyes and co. follow up their apparent interest in Bremer with a formal offer, but it’s certainly something the capital club’s hierarchy should carefully consider.

And, in other news…Moyes can seal West Ham masterclass with move for “unbelievable” £7.2m-rated “monster” 

Even before he was officially appointed as Everton’s new manager to replace Carlo Ancelotti, some fans of the Merseyside club had no qualms in expressing their displeasure at having the former Liverpool boss take charge of the Toffees.

Earlier this month, after going through October and November without picking up a win in the Premier League, Everton fans staged a protest at Goodison Park against Benitez and the club’s hierarchy.

Despite Everton owner Farhad Moshiri claiming that he is behind Benitez and will give him the chance to turn their season around, journalist Pete O’Rourke has dropped a claim on who could come in to replace the 61-year-old should Moshiri change his mind.

Speaking recently to GIVEMESPORT, O’Rourke had this to say on the situation.

He said: “I think [Paulo] Fonseca could be a good fit for Everton, especially if they do decide to get rid of Rafa. He could come straight in as he’s out of work. Fonseca, for me, would be the one if Rafa does get the sack.”

As O’Rourke mentioned, Fonseca is currently without a club after leaving AS Roma over the summer where he took charge of 101 matches in total, winning 53 of them in the process.

Prior to that, the 48-year-old took charge of 139 games with Ukraine club Shakhtar Donetsk across all competitions, winning an impressive 104 of them.

Having been linked with the Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United manager positions in recent months, his record and the possibility of seeing Benitez leave Goodison Park would surely be a thrilling prospect for a lot of Everton fans, especially if he could turn their fortunes around and end the season on a high note.

Moving forward, if results don’t improve for Everton in the next few weeks and months and Moshiri does change his mind about Benitez’s immediate future at the club and gives him the sack, they should definitely approach Fonseca to see if he would be interested in taking the job at Goodison Park.

If Moshiri does stick with Benitez until the end of the season and Everton don’t finish in the top half of the table, his future in charge of the team should definitely be under question and if Fonseca is still out of a job by then, it could be the right time for Everton to once again hire a new manager.

In other news: Rafa could finally replace James at Everton with “unbelievable” 18-goal sensation – opinion

With the 2022 January transfer window now open, this will allow clubs such as Leeds United to make any potential transfer deals that they may want to complete to strengthen their squad.

Looking ahead to the next few weeks, it seems as though Bielsa has his eye on one player that he would like to see in his squad in the future.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Pete O’Rourke had this to say about Bielsa’s interest in Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien.

He said: “I think he was interested in O’Brien. He does like him as a player. He thinks he’s got the style and profile that fits the way he wants to play football.”

As a product of Huddersfield’s youth system, O’Brien has made a total of 107 appearances for the Championship club across all competitions in which he has managed to score seven goals and provide eight assists along the way.

Having been linked with a move to Elland Road during the previous summer transfer window to the point that Leeds reportedly made four offers to Huddersfield for with a maximum reported transfer bid of £13m, this shows just how desperate Leeds were to sign the 23-year-old.

This also doesn’t make it much of a surprise to hear the extent of Bielsa’s interest in the player from O’Rourke.

However, it would still excite a lot of Leeds fans to hear just how infatuated the manager is with the player, potentially reopening the door for another move for the midfielder during the current January transfer window.

Although, with the Englishman putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal at Huddersfield back in September that will see him stay at the Championship club until 2025, it could take a lot more than the £13m bid Leeds offered a few months ago if they want to sign him this time around.

If Bielsa is still desperate to bring O’Brien to Elland Road, then Leeds’ hierarchy should definitely explore the possibility of potentially signing him this month and eventually granting their Argentine tactician his wish of adding the Terriers ace to his squad.

With Leeds only having three senior players in their squad that predominantly play in the central-midfield role, it could be worth the club signing another option for this position whether they are able to secure O’Brien’s signature or not to give them a bit of extra depth.

On the evidence of their injuries, primarily in that third of the pitch, it provides another reason for fans to be elated about their interest in him.

In other news: Bielsa can finally axe “humiliating” Leeds dud by signing “first-class” 28 y/o machine – opinion

Newcastle United want to sign both Sven Botman and Diego Carlos during the January transfer window, according to The Athletic’s Chris Waugh. 

The lowdown

Waugh’s colleague David Ornstein has written that Newcastle have as much as £100m available to spend this month, and they’ve only used £12m of that so far to sign Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid.

A double swoop for Lille’s Botman and Sevilla’s Carlos could end up consuming the vast majority of that budget, though, with The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones claiming that the duo could cost up to £70m.

The latest

In The Athletic’s matchday discussion on Saturday, a supporter asked Waugh if it was ‘likely to be one or the other’ of Botman or Carlos to be signed.

The journalist replied: “The plan seems to be both, Ben – which surprised me. I thought it would be one of the other, but they’d ideally like two signings.”

The verdict

How surprising is it that Newcastle are willing to plough so much money into their defence? Not very.

As per Understat, they have the joint-worst record in the Premier League in terms of goals conceded and the outright worst in terms of expected goals against. They are currently on course to concede a whopping 84, which would be only five short of the all-time record for a 20-team season in the league’s 30-year history.

The hope would be that Botman, who has been eyed by ‘an array of top clubs’, and Carlos, himself a former target of Liverpool and Manchester United, could turn a porous backline into a solid foundation. Waugh’s comments suggest that the Magpies mean business in trying to get at least one of them to Tyneside by the end of the month

In other news, Luke Edwards reveals Newcastle’s interest in this attacking talent

Liverpool could secure a major upgrade on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain by signing Olympiacos’ midfield starlet Aguibou Camara.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that Jurgen Klopp’s side, along with Serie A giants Milan, have been monitoring the 20-year-old ahead of a potential move.

The report adds that the Guinea international, who is a compatriot of Liverpool’s Naby Keita, could see his price soar in the January transfer window depending on his performances at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Forget Naby Keita

With Keita struggling to live up to expectations at Anfield since his big-money move from RB Leipzig in 2018 – he has played 92 times for the club, scoring only ten goals and providing just five assists – a swoop for his international compatriot Camara could be a hugely exciting one.

The 20-year-old predominantly plays as an attacking midfielder but is equally capable of playing slightly deeper in midfield or even out wide on the right, like he has done on occasion for Olympiacos this season.

Christophe Galtier, his former boss at Lille, has previously waxed lyrical about his development and mentioned his versatility as something that makes him stand out – something which Oxlade-Chamberlain has shown at Anfield, too.

Galtier said of the young Guinean: “I found him very solid in his game, disciplined tactically. He arrived last season, I saw him play in the reserve team. I find him, at 19, having a certain personality in the game he doesn’t lose a lot of balls, he’s solid on his supports, and also versatile because he can play right or left.”

Comparing Camara to Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular sees the former come out on top, with the Guinea starlet boasting a far better passing accuracy, making significantly more tackles per game and winning more duels per match as well.

Camara’s all-action style could see him become a real upgrade on Oxlade-Chamberlain and also lead to Keita becoming a bit-part player at Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are eyeing this exciting Dutch star…

Jack Harrison netted his first-ever hat-trick to hand Leeds United an impressive win over West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side avenged last weekend’s FA Cup heartbreak by clinching all three points at the London Stadium, moving them nine points clear of the relegation zone.

The Argentine was without several players due to injury once again and named a bench that contained only one first-team star and even despite picking up further problems to Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo, the Yorkshire giants sealed the victory.

A fierce strike to open the scoring, a delightful dink and the all-important match-winner from the former Manchester City dynamo was enough to steer Leeds to glory.

However, there was an unsung hero amongst the starting XI – Pascal Struijk.

The Dutch colossus returned from injury, slotted straight back in and centre-back and looked like an absolute Rolls-Royce once again.

As per SofaScore, he led the visiting side for touches (71), proving to be a key cog in starting most of their attacks and in the absence of Kalvin Phillips, it was Struijk who stepped up with those long diagonal balls that set the likes of Harrison and Raphinha racing through.

Indeed, he made five accurate long balls from his 43 total passes.

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Elsewhere, the 22-year-old was an absolute brick wall at the back, registering a team-high five tackles, three clearances, two blocks and one interception. He also won 100% of his ground duels up against a tricky talisman in Michail Antonio, which is mighty impressive.

LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross was equally excited by Struijk’s display, also reinforcing the way in which he kept the Jamaican international quiet.

‘Excellent on his return to the side. Looked so solid and anticipated danger very well all afternoon. Kept Michail Antonio largely pocketed for the full 90 minutes,’ he wrote in his post-game column.

It’s no wonder the £18m-rated defender has been lauded as a “beast” by other reporters in the past. He looked like he had never been out of the side down in east London and deserves just as many plaudits as the goalscoring hero.

Struijk arguably stole the show against the Hammers, at the very least, he’s was an underrated and influential reason behind their stunning victory.

AND in other news, Beren Cross drops positive Raphinha contract update…