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Leeds United have emerged as contenders for the signing of West Brom star Matheus Pereira in the summer.

What’s the story?

The Baggies saw their relegation from the Premier League confirmed at the weekend after suffering defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.

And now, The Daily Express claim that Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are interested in signing the Portuguese winger this summer, although they are set to face significant competition from the likes of RB Leipzig and Leicester.

The report adds that with West Brom’s Championship status now confirmed, Pereira’s exit from the Hawthorns is now likely, with the Foxes currently at the head of the queue to sign him.

Bye-bye Costa

Dubbed as a “genius” who “who has a technical ability that I have never seen before” by former Nurnberg coach Nate Weiss, Pereira has emerged as one of West Brom’s standout performers since his arrival at The Hawthorns.

Weiss added: “How am I going to tell a player like that how he is supposed to shoot, how he is supposed to pass or how he is supposed to use his body? The things he is doing are so natural. How do you train that? How would you train Lionel Messi?”

That natural ability has been on display all season for the Baggies, with the £17m-rated star scoring ten goals and providing another five assists in the Premier League alone – including a sparking display at Chelsea when he scored two and made two in a thrilling 5-2 win.

With Helder Costa’s future at Elland Road very much uncertain at the moment amid claims that he could be one of the players Leeds look to sell this summer in order to raise some much-needed transfer funds, Pereira could be the perfect replacement for him.

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His performances at Premier League level show that the Baggies’ wing wizard is more than capable of shining in the top-flight, and it’s no surprise Bielsa is eyeing up a move for him.

Pereira’s arrival could then well be the move that sees Costa wave goodbye to Elland Road as well.

Meanwhile, this Leeds United transfer target would be a major upgrade for Marcelo Bielsa…

Raphinha and Jordi Alba starred as Barcelona came alive in the second half to beat Sevilla and got eight points clear of Real Madrid atop La Liga.

Barcelona can't seem to lose at the moment. The Blaugrana haven't been on the wrong end of a result since October, a run that continued with the visit of a lowly Sevilla side.

And Barca, as they have done for most of their La Liga campaign, delivered in style. They overcame a shaky first half and exploded with three goals in the second to run away 3-0 winners and take an eight-point lead atop La Liga.

After Real Madrid lost to Mallorca early in the day, Sunday night represented a massive chance for Barcelona. And in the first half, the Blaugrana looked unlikely to capitalise. Sevilla's defensive setup was difficult to crack, while an early injury to Sergio Busquets took the pace out of Barca's game.

Xavi's side were much improved in the second. Jordi Alba provided the breakthrough, darting into the box and meeting Franck Kessie's lay off with a tidy side-footed finish.

They added a second shortly after, with Gavi turning in Raphinha's angled pass from close range. Barca were well in a rhythm by the time the third came, as Alba fed Raphinha to finish a flowing move.

This was a big result for Xavi, a battering of a struggling but always dangerous opponent. And following Madrid's loss earlier in the day, Barca might just be edging close to something bigger.

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  The Winners

  Jordi Alba:

  Alba wasn't supposed to be in the XI on Sunday; he's fallen behind 19-year-old Alejandro Balde in Xavi's pecking order. But with Balde sidelined, Alba was given his chance. And he took it wonderfully. It was a classic Alba performance: constant runs, relentless energy and crucial quality in the final third. He created a few chances in the first half, and was even better in the second, scoring Barca's opener with a side-footed finish, before assisting Raphinha 20 minutes later. Alba benefitted from having little to do defensively, which suited his aging legs. Still, he showcased that he is still an impact player going forward.

  Franck Kessie:

  Speaking of unlikely heroes… Kessie was brought on as an emergency substitute after Busquets exited early with a nasty-looking ankle injury. The Ivorian seems an awkward fit in this Barca side. He doesn't necessarily have the same creative spark as Gavi or Pedri, and doesn't move the ball from a deep-lying role like Busquets. But on Sunday, he found his niche. Kessie played high up the pitch and was regularly in the Sevilla box. And from there, he assisted Barca's opener, a lovely little flick into Alba's path. He was also involved in the build-up to the second, spraying a pass to Raphinha, who, in turn, assisted Gavi.

  Raphinha:

  The former-Leeds man hasn't quite seen his Barcelona career take off yet. He's shifted positions frequently, playing on both the left and right, without avail. But with Ousmane Dembele out, Raphinha has been handed an extended run in the side in his preferred position. And he's taken advantage, tallying three goal contributions in his last two games. He approached his best on Sunday night, highlighted by a standout second half in which he grabbed a goal and an assist. Barcelona will need him to continue this form while Dembele is sidelined.

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  The Losers

  Sergio Busquets:

  As soon as Busquets is starting to move into form, injury hit. The Spain international has been excellent in recent weeks, evoking memories of old with his metronomic passing and stout tackling. He was removed after five minutes against Sevilla, though, after twisting his ankle against the turf during a collision. It didn't appear to be a malicious challenge, but Busquets seemed in serious pain all the same. The good news for Xavi is that the 36-year-old was able to walk off. The bad news is he didn't look desperately comfortable doing it.

  Ivan Rakitic:

  Rakitic endured a forgettable night at his former stomping ground. The ex-Barcelona midfielder only managed 37 touches and had little impact on the game as his side was battered by a rampant home team. Rakitic is now 34 and was phased out of the Barca side almost three years ago with the arrival of Frenkie de Jong. Still, it must hurt for the Croatian to be on the end of such a one-sided result at a stadium where he enjoyed a successful spell.

  Real Madrid:

  Madrid lost to Mallorca earlier in the day, giving Barcelona a chance to go eight points clear atop the table. And the Blaugrana got their business done in style, leaving their biggest rivals with a lot of ground to make up in the coming weeks. Real now need Barca to drop points — which they seem increasingly unlikely to do.

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  Barcelona Ratings: Defence

  Marc Andre ter Stegen (7/10):

  Had one save to make. Celebrated joyously after Alba opened the scoring.

  Jules Kounde (7/10):

  Looked comfortable throughout, even if he doesn't have the best understanding with Raphinha yet. Kept Sevilla's wide men quiet, too.

  Ronald Araujo (7/10):

  Really impressive passing performance from an ever-improving centre-back. Good to get him a rest after Barca took a 3-0 lead.

  Andreas Christensen (7/10):

  His partnership with Araujo is really blossoming. Won all but one of his aerial duels and kept the ball moving.

  Jordi Alba (8/10):

  Unlikely starter after Alejandro Balde was ruled out with the flu. Turned in his best performance since the World Cup with a goal and an assist.

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  Midfield

  Pedri (6/10):

  Lots of tidy stuff, but Pedri didn't necessarily have his best game. Didn't matter in the end.

  Sergio Busquets (4/10):

  Subbed off after five minutes with a nasty-looking ankle twist. Barca will hope it's not too bad.

  Frenkie de Jong (7/10):

  Moved to the deeper "Busquets" role after the veteran was taken off. De Jong showed why he can be a viable replacement long term with an excellent 90 minutes.

Erik ten Hag has already been heavily backed since his arrival at Old Trafford, but more reinforcements will be needed for him to complete his squad

Manchester United spent over £220 million ($266m) in the summer transfer window, a new club record, to bring in Brazilian duo Antony and Casemiro, Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez, and Dutch full-back Tyrell Malacia.

They also managed to sign Christian Eriksen on a free transfer and Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on loan, with Erik Ten Hag wasting little time in beginning an extensive squad overhaul.

He still has work to do to finalise a squad in his image, though, and United could dip back into the winter market to boost their chances of finishing the 2022-23 season with the holy duo of silverware and Champions League qualification.

Cristiano Ronaldo's controversial exit has opened up a spot in attack, while Aaron Wan Bissaka's decline means United may have to look at extra options in defence, but who are the players most likely to join Ten Hag's revolution?

GOAL takes a look…

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  Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

  Napoli have been the surprise package of the 2022-23 season so far, recording 13 wins alongside just two draws to storm to the top of the Serie A standings while also reaching the Champions League knockout stages as Group A winners ahead of Liverpool.

  Osimhen has been key to their rise despite missing a decent chunk of the campaign with injury, scoring 10 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, including a spectacular late winner against Roma.

  The stunning goal encapsulated all of the Nigerian's best qualities: Speed, strength, intelligence and technique as he made a superb run in behind before outmuscling Chris Smalling and rifling an unstoppable volley into the far corner of the net.

  That explosive turn of pace and quick thinking in the final third is exactly what Ten Hag's goal-shy United have missed this term, and Osimhen looks like he also has the physical toughness to be a big hit in the Premier League.

  The 23-year-old is under contract in Naples until 2025, and is reportedly being valued in excess of £100m ($121m), but such a fee could prove a bargain investment for United if he continues to improve at such a rapid rate in the coming years.

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  Denzel Dumfries (Inter)

  Louis van Gaal took an unfancied Netherlands side to within a whisker of the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, and there was no player more important than Denzel Dumfries during the Oranje's impressive run.

  Deployed in his favoured right-wing-back role, Dumfries provided an invaluable extra attacking outlet while also sticking to his duties in defence, with his standout display coming in the last 16 against the USMNT as he laid on two assists and scored one himself in a 3-1 victory.

  The 26-year-old's showings will have come as little surprise to fans of Inter, who have seen him wreak havoc on the right flank throughout his first 17 months at San Siro.

  United lack depth in that position, with Diogo Dalot having replaced Aaron Wan Bissaka in the line up after the Englishman's alarming decline over the past year.

  Dumfries would be an upgrade on Dalot, and is reportedly available for around £42m ($51m) in January, but United will have to move quickly to secure his services amid rival interest from Chelsea.

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  Goncalo Ramos (Benfica)

  Ronaldo's contract was terminated by United at the start of the World Cup on the back of his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, during which he spouted off against the club for his lack of playing time in the first half of the season.

  The 37-year-old's fortunes did not improve in Qatar as he was also benched by Portugal boss Fernando Santos, and to rub salt in his wounds, his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, instantly hit the ground running.

  Ramos hit a stunning hat trick as Portugal steamrollered their way to a 6-1 win against Switzerland in the last 16, and although he failed to follow it up with another starring display in their quarter-final loss to Morocco, Europe's biggest clubs are now on alert.

  United are among those being linked with Ramos, who has hit nine goals in 11 Primeira Liga games for Benfica this season, but again, they may need to break the bank to win the race for his signature.

  Benfica president Rui Costa has insisted the 21-year-old won't be sold unless his buy-out clause is met, which reportedly stands at a whopping £103m ($125m).

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  Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

  Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix represents another Portuguese option for United, with the playmaker having reportedly been on their radar since his breakthrough as a teenager at Benfica.

  Felix has struggled to settle in the Spanish capital since his £113m move in 2019, and Atletico president Gil Marin has admitted he could be sold in 2023.

  ''The relationship between him and the boss [Simeone], the minutes played, his motivation right now – it makes you think that the reasonable thing is that if there's an option that's good for the player, good for the club, we can look at it,'' Marin recently told when asked about Felix. ''I'd love him to stay personally, but I don't think that's the player's idea."

  Marin's claims of friction between Felix and Simeone were further backed-up when the 23-year-old declared "when the conditions are favourable, things go better'' after his stellar World Cup turn for Portugal against the Swiss.

  Felix recorded two assists and one goal in Qatar, but his market value has dropped significantly this season as he only has seven goal contributions from 18 appearances for Atletico to his name.

  United are well placed to offer Felix a fresh start, and he could be tempted by a club reunion with his international colleagues Bruno Fernandes and Dalot.

GOAL previews the continent’s stars expected to feature for their respective clubs around the world this weekend

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  Preview of Africans in Europe

  Liverpool’s African contingent will look to heap more pressure on Riyad Mahrez’s Manchester City but they have to outdo a tricky Tottenham Hotspur game on Saturday night.

  Elsewhere, Ismaila Sarr and his Watford teammates could be relegated this weekend if they are beaten by Crystal Palace.

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  Edouard Mendy

  Chelsea’s goalkeeper has had a tough few weeks with clean sheets few and far between.

  Last week’s defeat by Everton means the Senegal goalkeeper has kept only one shut-out in his last four Premier League games, a situation he hopes to change against goal-shy Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

  Wolves have not found the back of the net in their last three games, giving the Blues the edge as they look for back to back wins at Stamford Bridge to keep Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at bay in the battle for the final two Champions League positions.

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  Ismaila Sarr

  Watford’s relegation from the top flight could be confirmed this weekend, with Sarr and his colleagues facing the drop of they fail to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

  In fairness, the Hornets are facing a losing battle anyway, with 10 points separating them from 18th-placed Everton who have a game outstanding.

  Wilfried Zaha netted the winner in Palace’s turnaround at Southampton last time out and the wide attacker will look to score his 13th league goal of the season.

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  Premier League title race

  Liverpool could go top of the league if they beat Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night which heaps pressure on Riyad Mahrez and his Manchester City teammates who host Newcastle United on Sunday.

  Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Joel Matip are likely to play from the off against Antonio Conte’s men who need a victory to stay within touching distance of Arsenal in fourth.

  For Mahrez’s part, it remains to be seen how the Cityzens react to Wednesday’s hurtful defeat by Real Madrid.

  Having said that, with the league Pep Guardiola’s only chance of a trophy this season, the leaders will back themselves against the Magpies at the Etihad Stadium.

Based on value, performances and their overall impact on their new teams, these are the 2018-19 arrivals who have most stood out across Europe

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  15Borja Iglesias (Celta to Espanyol – €10m)

  While Espanyol are going to finish mid-table in La Liga, their star striker Borja Iglesias has caught the eye since joining from Celta, banging in 17 league goals and attracting interest from Premier League side Everton.

  Before this season, the 26-year-old had only ever made one La Liga appearance – for Celta in 2014-15 – but came of age leading the Espanyol line this campaign after years of playing in the lower leagues.

  Last season he was plying his trade for Segunda club Real Zaragoza, where he struck 23 times in 43 matches.

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  14Ricardo Pereira (Porto to Leicester City – €19.8m)

  The Portuguese full-back's winning goal against Manchester City in December threw a spanner in the Premier League title race that Pep Guardiola's team eventually fought back from.

  Pereira was a constant menace down the right flank, combining his defensive duties with providing an attacking outlet – contributing seven assists.

  The 25-year-old will form a crucial cog in Brendan Rodgers' plans to get Leicester further up the table next season.

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  13Fabinho (Monaco to Liverpool – €50.4m)

  Fears were raised by supporters when the Brazilian midfielder had yet to play a Premier League game as mid-October rolled around.

  But Reds coach Jurgen Klopp was letting the 25-year-old get his fitness up and settle into Anfield before unleashing him on opponents.

  Fabinho became an indispensable part of the team once he made his debut, and even filled in at right-back and centre-half when called upon.

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  12Raul Jimenez (Benfica to Wolves – €34.5m)

  After struggling to be prolific in front of goal during his career, the 28-year-old found his best form while on loan at Wolves, scoring 13 goals and getting eight assists in 38 Premier League matches.

  The Mexican striker's highlights included scoring against Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, with Wolves flying high after promotion to finish in seventh position.

  Jimenez's performances saw Wolves sign him permanently on a four-year contract.

Goal takes a look at each of the goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers named in Gareth Southgate's side

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  1 – Jordan Pickford | GK | Everton

  Jordan Pickford recovered from a slow start to his Everton career to prove himself as one of the best keepers in the league.

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  2 – Kyle Walker | DF | Man City

  Kyle Walker has been a key player in one of the best Premier League teams ever as Man City hit 100 points this season.

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  3 – Danny Rose | DF | Tottenham

  Danny Rose hasn't featured much for Tottenham this season playing only 10 games in the league, but the class he has shown in previous season's has been enough to merit a call-up.

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  4 – Eric Dier | DF/MF | Tottenham

  Eric Dier's consistency and versatility has made him one of the most important players in Gareth Southgate's squad.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee expressed his concerns over the lack of natural goalscorers at his old club.

First-choice striker Callum Wilson has scored 10 Premier League goals this season; however, no other Newcastle player has been able to show that level of proficiency during the 29-year-old’s time on the sidelines.

The likes of Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin have really struggled in front of goal overall, with the former managing to score just once in the current English top-flight campaign so far.

Unsurprisingly, it is a huge worry for Lee, who believes this predicament has left manager Steve Bruce and the club in big trouble.

Speaking exclusively with FFC, the ex-Newcastle star said:

“If you haven’t got someone who’s a natural goalscorer scoring goals, you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble. You look at all the teams down there and none of them have a natural goalscorer, none of them. They [the teams that go down] never do. Throughout the years, they never have a natural goalscorer.

“We actually have one, but he’s injured and it seems the whole of our team is based around him and how he plays. And we haven’t got a replacement and then we don’t have any players from midfield [who can score goals].”

Indeed, Newcastle’s lack of goals at the minute is a huge concern. Furthermore, Bruce will be delighted to have Wilson in training again and hoping his return from injury has not come too late.

Celtic have made contact with former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre.

That’s according to a report from Football Insider, with a Hoops source informing them the club has put the feelers out to the 63-year-old over possibly taking on the vacant post.

This comes after Eddie Howe’s representative revealed that the former Bournemouth boss isn’t planning to return to management until the summer.

Favre has been out of work since December and is considered a genuine contender to replace Neil Lennon.

The Swiss coach, who has had four managerial positions in the last 10 years, prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation – the same system as Lennon.

Transfer Tavern take

When it comes to both Favre and Howe, we think there is a standout contender for the Hoops.

Howe has had previous experience of leading a successful rebuild, with the Englishman taking Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League in the space of six seasons.

He’s also 20 years Favre’s junior, so in the long run, could be the smarter option.

Finally, when it comes to the pair’s wage packets, Howe is the cheaper option. Favre picked up €7.5 million at Dortmund, whereas Howe collected £3 million a year on the south coast.

In other news: Transfer update emerges on £14k-p/w Celtic ace who has sights set on Hoops exit; not Edouard, find out who it is here. 

Liverpool could be set to commit a huge transfer mistake with the club apparently not eyeing a striker in the summer window.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Reds are currently happy with their forward line and have no ambitions to swoop for a big-money forward having previously been linked with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Speaking exclusively to GiveMeSport, when asked if the Reds could be in the mix for Haaland this summer, Romano said: “I think Liverpool is complicated in this moment because they are happy with the team they have, so they’re not planning to do something like (sign) a central striker for this money.”

This could be a decision that comes back to bite the reigning Premier League champions.

The Reds have certainly not been at their prolific best throughout the 2020/21 league campaign. Jurgen Klopp’s troops have only scored 48 goals this season.

Whilst not the worst total, with only four sides in the entire top-flight having found the net with more regularity, it is a stark drop-off from the 66 that they had plundered at the same stage last season.

As a matter of fact, a huge reason behind the Reds’ dramatic poor form this season has been their inability to find the net. In their last 13 Premier League matches since the turn of the year, Liverpool have scored just 11 goals – failing to score in eight matches alone since mid-December.

That lack of goalscoring threat comes directly from their strikers.

Whilst the likes of Mo Salah and Diogo Jota have all found the net with ruthless efficiency, strikers Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi have only seven between them in all competitions.

For a side that harbours aspirations of challenging on all fronts under Jurgen Klopp, that is simply not good enough.

The arrival of a striker would go some way in rectifying those problems and it would be a huge mistake for Michael Edwards not to at least try to sign a clinical frontman in the summer despite Klopp being “happy” with his squad, according to Romano.

If you would like to see the full interview with Fabrizio Romano, click here.

AND in more news, take a look at which former Premier League midfielder the Reds should avoid signing in the summer…

According to 90min.com, Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing Hatayspor forward Aaron Boupendza.

Rangers eye Boupendza

Rangers are said to be eager to sign Boupendza, who currently plays in the Turkish Super Lig. However, there could well be plenty of competition to capture him, with eight English Premier League clubs also interested, as well as Celtic and Fenerbahce.

Hatayspor are said to be looking for a fee of around £8.5m to part ways with the Gabon international.

In form

Boupendza, an international teammate of Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is enjoying a fantastic season in Turkey. In 28 games in all competitions, he has managed 18 goals (Transfermarkt), and he is actually the league’s top goalscorer above the likes of Vincent Aboubakar and Cyle Larin (ESPN).

Of course, £8.5m would be a lot for the Gers to pay to sign Boupendza – they have only twice spent more than that on new signings, and not since the 2001/02 season (Transfermarkt).

However, Alfredo Morelos has recently revealed he dreams of playing in the Premier League (Radio Caracol) – the Gers would likely bring in a considerable fee if he were to depart Ibrox this summer, and they would need to reinvest in another forward capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis. Given his form this term, Boupendza could just be that man.

In other news, many Rangers fans slam this Union Bears statement.