All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bolster his side's defence with the signing of Wolfsburg centre-half Micky van de Ven.

What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Tottenham?

The London outfit's desire for the Dutchman has been clear for the past several weeks, with Football Insider recently reporting that Spurs will battle against Premier League rivals Liverpool for his signature.

The indication is that Die Wölfe are willing to conduct business with suitors for a fee of around €30m (£26m), which could prompt Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to instigate a move following the club's dismal 22/23 campaign.

Given that Van de Ven is a left-footed central defender, he is something of a rarity and would be a fantastic addition to a Spurs backline yearning for some inspiration and exuberance to dispel the present misfortune.

How good is Micky van de Ven?

Tottenham capitulated in the closing weeks of the 22/23 Premier League season, winning just four of their final 13 matches and hurtling away from Champions League contention to squander European qualification in its entirety.

The crux of the matter? The disastrous defensive displays; the Lilywhites shipped 63 league goals, a tally bettering only Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and the three relegated outfits.

This is why Van de Ven's signing is so imperative to the club's progress, wiping away the cobwebs from a forgettable campaign and restoring the equilibrium at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

At just 22-years-old, the "complete" and "flourishing" defender – as hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – has made his mark in the German Bundesliga and earned an average Sofascore rating of 6.85, keeping 11 clean sheets from 33 games, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.4 tackles per game and succeeding with 64% of his ground duels.

Such numbers are impressive, particularly when you consider only two defenders in the squad – Cristian Romero (2.5) and Clement Lenglet (1.5) managed more tackles per match last term.

The Netherlands U21 international is a burgeoning titan and would likely leave Eric Dier quaking in his boots if he were to arrive in London under Postecoglou's wing, with the 29-year-old culpable of producing poor performances over the past year.

Rebuked by journalist Ryan Taylor for being "nowhere near the required level that Spurs are trying to achieve", Dier has since made 361 appearances since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4m in 2014.

Also said to be "not good enough" by pundit Darren Ambrose, Dier's ranking across metrics for progressive passing (bottom 40%) and ball-carrying (bottom 24%) could further leave him down in the pecking order, with Postecoglou favouring pass-proficient central defenders to complement his possession-based, free-flowing system.

And with Van de Ven ranking among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, he has the forward-thinking mentality to displace Dier, who also occupies the left side of the central defence.

That's not to mention his frightening pace either, with the centre-back clocking up a top speed of 35.97 km/h in the Bundesliga; a number that defeats even that of Son Heung-min's 34.4 km/h.

With journalist Jonathan Veal suggesting that Dier's "time is up" at Tottenham, it might be time to hoist him from his starting berth and provide Van de Ven with the license to cement a prominent role in an outfit craving a resurgence.

Aston Villa target Pau Torres is set to have his medical and complete his move to the Premier League this week, according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas.

Is Pau Torres an Aston Villa player yet?

The Spain international isn’t out of contract with the Yellow Submarines until the end of next season, but after 90min reported that he is keen to embark on a new adventure during this window, Unai Emery has been eyeing a reunion practically ever since.

Football Insider initially claimed that the Midlands outfit had made contact to enquire about a deal for the centre-back who was highlighted as a top target, and it wasn’t long before a breakthrough in negotiations after Sky Sports stated that the two parties were in advanced talks.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein most recently revealed that an agreement for the transfer of the 26-year-old had been “reached” alongside personal terms, and it sounds like he could be able to finalise the switch within the next few days.

What's the latest Villa transfer news?

Taking to Twitter on Sunday evening, Thomas confirmed that Torres will fly to England to undergo his medical tests this week to seal his move to Aston Villa. He wrote:

“Pau Torres is expected to travel to the Midlands next week to complete an initial £33m move from #Villarreal to #AstonVilla.”

Emery is not only a compatriot of Torres but he will also already know what he’s capable of having managed him during his time at Villarreal, and having been dubbed a “dream” signing for a Premier League club by content creator Ryan Haber, the centre-back would be a fantastic acquisition.

The World Cup participant averaged 4.1 clearances, 1.7 aerial wins and 1.3 tackles per game last season in La Liga, via WhoScored, so was a real rock at the heart of the backline both on and off the ground, but he equally has an eye on making a positive impact driving forward.

The 6 foot 2 titan ranked in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and the 97th percentile for successful take-ons, so he loves to push his team as high up the pitch as possible and take on his marker when playing out from the centre of defence.

Having been crowned winner of the Europa League in 2020/21, Torres will additionally know what it takes to compete and be successful on the bigger stage – which is what Aston Villa will be up against next season – so he could help to create the winning mentality needed to gain results over European opponents.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing PSV star Xavi Simons as Mikel Arteta sets his sights on bolstering his squad this summer.

The Spaniard is set to have a busy transfer window at the helm, working alongside Edu to make sufficient reinforcements to ensure the Gunners can continue their form as title challengers.

The latest link could be a marquee signing for the north Londoners, in a player that has cemented himself as a sensational rising star in Europe.

What’s the latest on Xavi Simons to Arsenal?

Arsenal were first linked to Eredivisie sensation Simons earlier this month, with news from the Netherlands stating the Gunners claimed interest in the youngster.

News reported this week has kept the links between the Dutchman and the Emirates alive, with Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur – as relayed by Sport Witness – suggesting that Arsenal have been joined in their pursuit of the 20-year-old.

CIES Football Observatory has valued the La Masia graduate at €60m (£51m).

What could Xavi Simons offer to Arsenal?

This past season was an overwhelming success for the Amsterdam-born gem, who registered 34 goal contributions in a total of 48 appearances in all competitions for PSV (via Transfermarkt).

The versatile attacker, who has featured across the frontline but primarily as a central midfielder and left-winger, has skills in abundance that could suit those at the Emirates.

Lauded as “magnificent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 20-year-old is as creative as he is threatening in front of goal, registering an average of 1.7 key passes per game in the Eredivisie, as well as creating 11 big chances.

While his eight assists and 19 league goals are extremely pleasing in themselves, the Dutchman is mostly identifiable for his playmaking abilities, with him praised as being an “intelligent” asset by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

Arsenal have seen a host of playmaking geniuses in their time; from Dennis Bergkamp to Cesc Fabregas, north London has witnessed some magic in central midfield over the years, with one name prominently astounding in the Emirates era.

Mesut Ozil was integral to the Gunners for the majority of his time in the Premier League, and particularly shone in the 2015/16 campaign that saw Arsenal finish second.

Hailed as a “genius” by former manager and Premier League legend Arsene Wenger (via beIN SPORTS), the German recorded 19 assists that season, averaging a monstrous 4.2 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

Ozil ended his time in England having recorded 59 Premier League assists in 184 appearances (via Transfermarkt), with his creative mastery forever ingrained in the club’s folklore.

Arteta could discover his answer to the former midfielder in Simons, who at just 20 years old, is showing signs that he could emulate the playmaking efficiency of the Gelsenkirchen-born gem in north London.

As per FBref, the Dutchman averaged 2.31 passes into the final third per 90 in the Eredivisie this season, as well as recording 4.82 progressive passes per 90 to flex his ability of dispatching the ball into threatening spaces.

Acting as a key creator for PSV, Simons could reinstall an essence of Ozil to the Emirates this summer, as a player that could even succeed the German's influence based upon his impeccable strengths in front of goal – which surpass those of the World Cup winner.

In his best-scoring season, the former Real Madrid ace netted eight goals in the league for Arsenal, with Simons scoring 19 in Eredivisie this term aged 20, showcasing the talent Arteta could have in his possession.

Football FanCast brings you all the key information you should know as this summer's European Under-21 Championship gets underway.

England are seeking to win the tournament for the first time in nearly 40 years, but come into the competition with a poor recent record.

When do the Under-21 Euros start and where can I watch?

The eagerly anticipated Under-21 Euros begins on Wednesday, 21st June and runs through to Saturday, 8th July.

The tournament is made up of four groups of four nations, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 1st July and Sunday, 2nd July.

The competition also acts as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games men's football tournament, although England cannot qualify as Great Britain are the country's Olympics team.

Unfortunately, the tournament is not being broadcast on UK TV, though all matches are available to view for free on UEFA.tv.

Where is the tournament being held?

The tournament will be co-hosted by Romania and Georgia. The latter nation will see fixtures played across three cities, with Batumi, Poti, and Tbilisi all due to host.

Romania will host the action in Cluj-Napoca and the capital city of Bucharest.

The opening match will be played in Romania, and the final will be held in Georgia at the Adjarabet Arena, Batumi.

Who are the tournament favourites?

Spain are considered the narrow favourites, with England, France and current champions Germany all expected to compete towards the latter stages of the competition.

Italy and the Netherlands are also among the predicted contenders whilst Israel and hosts Georgia are seen as the weakest nations, according to the bookmakers.

The Spaniards have been victors in three out of the last six competitions, and hold the joint record along with Italy for the most championships won.

Who is in England's group?

England are in Group C, which holds Germany, Czech Republic and Israel.

Head coach Lee Carsley will lead his side out on Thursday 22nd June, to kick off the Three Lions' opening match against the Czech Republic.

The fixture will be played at 5pm GMT (8pm local time) in Batumi, Georgia.

England fixtures, key dates and kick-off times:

Matchday 1: Czech Republic v England (22nd June, 5pm) Matchday 2: England v Israel (25th June, 5pm) Matchday 3: England v Germany (28th June, 5pm) Quarter-finals: 1st-2nd July Semi-finals: 5th July Final: 8th July (8pm) What is England's record at the tournament?

England are two-time winners of the competition, with their triumphs dating back to 1982 and 1984.

In recent years, however, the Three Lions have suffered group-stage exits in five out of the last six tournaments.

Nevertheless, Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey remains confident and notes that this squad has a different mentality.

“One thing that I will say about this group – when we’ve looked at previous groups before, and previous camps, there’s probably a different mentality,” he said.

Which players are involved?

Many fans will be familiar with Carsley's side, with several high-profile Premier League regulars named in England's 23-man squad.

Chelsea's Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke, Liverpool pair Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, Villa midfielder Ramsey, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, Manchester City forward Cole Palmer and Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe are all likely to feature.

But who else may catch the eye over the next few weeks? Here are the players who could make their name at the tournament…

Enzo Le Fée – Lorient (France)

The Lorient midfielder made 36 appearances in Ligue 1 last term, scoring six goals whilst providing five assists, helping his side achieve a top-half finish.

Lorient have set a £21.4m price tag for Le Fée, who is attracting interest from Stade Rennais, with some reports suggesting he has already chosen the club as his next destination.

The 5 foot 7 midfielder was the only player in Ligue 1 to record 100 tackles, shot-creating actions and dribbles last season.

Cameron Archer – Aston Villa (England)

Archer enjoyed a fruitful six-month loan spell at Championship side Middlesbrough last season. The 2001-born forward scored 11 goals in 17 starts for Michael Carrick's side and laid on six assists.

Archer netted four times in qualifying and is the only out-and-out striker named in England's squad, meaning he'll likely be a regular at this summer's tournament.

Similarly to Le Fée, the 21-year-old is being linked with a move away leading up to the competition, with Boro keen on bringing the forward back to the Riverside.

Zeno Debast – Anderlecht (Belgium)

The 2003-born centre-back enjoyed a breakout season for Belgian Pro League giants Anderlecht. Debast featured 49 times in all competitions, including 10 appearances in the UEFA Conference League, helping his side reach the last eight of the competition.

Standing at 6 foot 3, Debast has already been capped three times at senior level, starting in each of his three caps under Roberto Martínez.

He is the youngest member of the Belgium Under-21 setup.

Thijs Dallinga – Toulouse (Netherlands)

The towering 6 foot 2 centre-forward netted 18 times last season following a £2.1m move from Dutch second-division side Excelsior Rotterdam in 2022.

He scored a brace in the Coupe de France final to help his side win their first-ever major trophy, thrashing Nantes 5-1.

AC Milan have been linked as potential suitors for the Dutch striker, with the Rossoneri said to be a very feasible destination, but the 22-year-old's dream move is thought to be La Liga giants Barcelona.

Aston Villa are rivalling Tottenham in showing an interest in Galatasaray attacker Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, according to a new report from Italy.

Is Zaniolo on the move this summer?

The 23-year-old has has a curious career to date, in many ways, with horrendous bad luck with injuries coming his way and limiting his progress hugely. He has had a string of fitness issues down the years, including a cruciate ligament rupture, but he is still battling hard to reach his potential.

Zaniolo is currently plying his trade at Galatasarary, having joined from Roma in the January transfer window, and he has shone there, scoring five goals in 10 Turkish Super Lig appearances.

While the Italian signed a deal with the Turkish giants until the summer of 2027, a potential move to the Premier League in the upcoming window is being mooted.

That's where Villa come into play, as they look to do some massive business between now and the start of the season, in what feels like one of the most pivotal summers at the club in years.

Could Villa seal signing of Zaniolo?

According to TuttoJuve [via Sport Witness], Zaniolo is going to be "one of the key players" in the summer transfer window, when it comes to potential outgoings. Juventus are interested in making a move for him, but Villa and Spurs are also believed to be in the mix.

He has a "bigger offer on the table" from an English club, compared to Juve, and the Villans reportedly "dream of signing him" in the coming weeks and months. The £76,000-a-week winger has a €35m (£29.9m) release clause in his Galatasaray contract, so it's a case of whether clubs want to trigger it or not.

Zaniolo could be a really exciting signing by Villa this summer, having racked up 11 caps for Italy to date, scoring twice along the way. A tally of 24 goals and 18 assists for Roma also shows that he can shine in one of Europe's top leagues, and while there would be concerns about his injury problems down the years, the hope is that he is now beyond those woes.

At 23, he is still such a young player who could develop into even more of a force – Claudio Ranieri has hailed him as "decisive" – and Villa signing him would feel like a big statement of intent, as they prepare to play in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season.

Manchester United are internally discussing a move for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, as a potential alternative to Harry Kane, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Which striker will Man United sign?

Erik ten Hag's biggest priority this summer is to bring in a new striker, and the manager has picked out a number of targets, including Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, with "concrete talks" recently being opened with the 20-year-old forward.

However, Terry Flewers adds that Harry Kane is Man United's "number 1 target", while also claiming they could look at bringing in both players, rather than settling on Hojlund, who only has limited first-team experience.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Kane signing Kane has become an "obsession" for the Red Devils, but it has recently emerged that Tottenham Hotspur may be unwilling to let him join a fellow Premier League club this summer.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, United have been told by Spurs that Kane is not for sale, so they have started to turn their attention to other targets, including the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos.

Man United initially thought that £100m may be enough to tempt Tottenham into selling the England captain, however with that move now on the rocks, they are now discussing other targets, with Ramos re-emerging as an option.

How many goals has Goncalo Ramos scored?

The Benfica star registered 27 goals in all competitions last season, with his tally of 19 in the Liga Portugal ranking him second in the entire division, and he also impressed on the international stage.

All the pressure was on the 21-year-old to perform for Portugal against Switzerland at the World Cup, after getting the nod over Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI, and he more than delivered, netting a hat-trick, while also bagging an assist.

Gary Lineker described the youngster's performance as "remarkable", while football scout Jacek Kulig has also praised him for his displays at club level since returning from Qatar, which helped Benfica win the Liga Portugal title.

Of course, Man United will be gutted to have missed out on Kane, given that he is a proven goal-scorer at Premier League level, weighing in with an impressive 30 goals in the top flight last season.

However, Ramos has proven that he could be a viable alternative, and at 21-years-old, he still has plenty of time to develop further.

Liverpool are mulling over issuing a swoop for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, who has found regular minutes hard to come by at Camp Nou.

What's the latest on Franck Kessie to Liverpool?

According to Inter Live (via Sport), Liverpool have reportedly lodged an early opening offer for the Ivorian midfielder after a lacklustre maiden year in Catalonia.

The La Blaugrana ace joined Xavi's side from AC Milan last summer and has won LaLiga, but has failed to reach the same heights that he achieved in Italy, and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp could now offer him a lifeline.

Valued at €35m (£30m), the 26-year-old engine would add a new facet to Anfield's centre after James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departed upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.

Should Liverpool sign Franck Kessie?

The box-to-box menace played an important role in Milan's Serie A-winning 21/22 campaign, earning an average rating of 7.07 – as per Sofascore – playing 31 league matches, scoring six goals and completing 89% of his passes as he provided a robust presence at the heart of the outfit.

At Barcelona, while he has played 43 times across all competitions, Kessie only started seven times in the Spanish top-flight and will be sweating over the future prominence of his role with his club's vested interest in signing a new midfielder.

The 60-cap international, should he be signed by Liverpool, would add an invaluable sheen of physicality and a progressive presence, hailed as a "beast" by journalist Sacha Pisani, and could be the perfect replacement for departee Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Forgetting the central exodus for a moment, the Reds' centre has already been sapped of energy and vitality this term in a stark decline that has resulted in failure to qualify for the Champions League, and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke must now implement the optimum strategy to rekindle the former fire.

'Ox' had failed to effectively contribute for the lion's share of this stricken season, playing just 13 times across all competitions and starting on just four occasions in the Premier League, including just 20 minutes in the league across the final 18 matches of the term, missing at least 14 matches due to injury.

Kessie, who did play a peripheral role this year, has missed only seven matches due to unavailability, according to Transfermarkt, across the duration of his career, and boasts the kind of progressive nature that Klopp needs to get the Merseyside machine whirring again.

This is evidenced by his ranking among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes received and touches in the offensive box per 90, as per FBref, illustrating a knack at driving forward into danger areas.

Described as "sensational" by reporter Carlo Garganese, the £150k-per-week ace would be an excellent addition for Klopp and co, bolstering the ranks, adding some much-needed physicality and resurrecting the steely tenacity that has faded like fallen autumn leaves on the brink of winter.

Recent reports have seen West Ham United linked with a move for New York City FC forward Valentin Castellanos, with the Hammers believed to be ‘back in charge’ in the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, with his current side likely to demand a £12m fee.

It would appear that GSB are hoping to rekindle an interest in the Argentina-born ace, having reportedly seen two bids rejected for the £10.8m-rated man back in January, amid their search for a new centre-forward recruit.

That hunt for a new striker addition is still ongoing, with Michail Antonio still the only real recognised centre-forward in David Moyes’ squad, albeit with the Jamaica international having only been a makeshift option himself initially.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

Despite emerging as the club’s leading scorer in the Premier League era, Antonio’s recent woes have heightened the need for an upgrade – or at the very least a worthy understudy – with the former Nottingham Forest man having scored just two league goals in 2022.

Not only have the club potentially found his successor in Castellanos, the £3.5-per-week gem’s arrival would also evoke memories of a certain Carlos Tevez, who adorned the claret and blue jersey for one hugely memorable campaign during the 2006/07 season.

There are of course obvious comparisons between the compatriots due to their place of birth and playing position, although the similarities don’t simply end there, with the younger man mirroring the 38-year-old in his dynamic attacking style.

Equally, like Tevez, the MLS starlet has the chance to go from being a relative unknown into a Hammers icon, should he trade New York for London this summer.

In his solitary season at Upton Park, Tevez netted seven Premier League goals to help fire the club to safety, notably scoring a vital goal on the final day against future employers Manchester United to confirm their survival.

Although his signing – alongside that of Javier Mascherano – was mired in controversy, he remains a firm fan’s favourite among the Irons faithful, illustrated by his recent welcome return to the club earlier this season.

With seven goals in just ten league games this season, Castellanos has already proven he has a similar goalscoring knack to that of his fellow Argentine, while his work ethic also seemingly mirrors that of the veteran ace, having been dubbed “difficult to play against” by manager Ronny Deila for his tireless, “fighting” displays in leading the line.

It was the tireless attacking approach of Tevez that impressed then-boss Alan Curbishley and “captured the imagination” of the club’s supporters back in 2006, with Moyes and co likely to be similarly enthused should they manage to secure their current target in the upcoming window.

IN other news, Cost £1.5m per goal: GSB made a colossal blunder on “strong” £40k-p/w West Ham flop 

Everton are plotting a summer move for FC Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet according to reports from Spain.

What’s the story?

A Spanish outlet is reporting that the centre back is one of the players that Barcelona want to sell ahead of next season in order to raise cash to help fund their rebuild.

He’s rated at £12.6m and Everton are reportedly one of three teams interested in him, along with Sevilla and fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

The back-four has been one of the weakest areas of Frank Lampard’s team this campaign, and if they do avoid relegation, they will need to drastically improve it to make sure they aren’t in a battle for survival next year.

He’s an upgrade on Keane

It wouldn’t be hard to improve on a defence that has far from impressed the Everton faithful, and signing Lenglet could make all the difference. He’s an experienced player and has lifted La Liga during his time in Catalonia.

He could be the perfect player during the Toffees’ transition, and given the Spanish giants want him gone, they wouldn’t have to break the bank either.

One of the players he would be competing with at Goodison Park, or perhaps sitting alongside, is Michael Keane. The former England international has received a lot of criticism this season, and with Everton’s leaky defence having conceded 56 goals, it seems justified.

If you look at their statistics you can see that Lenglet would be a clear upgrade. The Frenchman has tackled a higher percentage of dribblers at 67% compared to Keane’s 60%.

He’s been described as a “top player” by French national team manager Didier Deschamps and a “monster” by Yahoo France and it would be somewhat of a coup for Everton if he moved to Merseyside.

As well as defending one on one, the Barcelona man is also more reliable with the ball. He has an impressive overall pass completion percentage of 90% which is considerably higher than Keane’s 77%.

If the Toffees survive, then the 26-year old should be high on their list of priorities. They’ll struggle to attract big names out of fear they may be in the same relegation battle again, but he’s a player that would easily be available and would consider a Premier League move.

The pressure will be on Lampard to produce results next season and he needs a quality defender like Lenglet to help him do just that.

IN other news: Lampard must brutally axe £22.5m-rated Everton “danger” who’s just “not that good”…

Pundit Micah Richards has made a claim on Leeds United defender Liam Cooper after his injury scare on the weekend.

The Lowdown: Cooper set for scans

It was a weekend to forget for the Whites on all fronts, with relegation rivals Burnley and Everton picking up three points each to leave Leeds on the brink of the bottom three.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Leeds fell to a 4-0 defeat to leaders Manchester City, with Stuart Dallas suffering a broken leg at Elland Road.

Dallas wasn’t the only Leeds player injured on Saturday evening, though, with captain Liam Cooper withdrawing from the starting line-up after pulling up in the warm-up due to a knee problem which requires a scan.

The Latest: ‘Massive’

Speaking live on BBC Monday Night Club, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Richards, who contributes regularly for BBC Radio 5 Live and Match of the Day, had this to say on Cooper and his latest problem.

“Cooper being out is massive for them.

“While they’ve conceded the most, when you’re going up against Man City, especially from set-pieces, if they pick you apart you hold your hands up.”

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Cooper’s return to action last month following a hamstring problem coincided with a change in form at the back for Leeds, so this fresh injury concern could be a big problem.

Jesse Marsch’s side picked up five points from nine and conceded just once in games with Southampton, Watford and Crystal Palace with Cooper back in the side from the off.

The Whites star has been the club’s second-best performer this season, with Dallas third, as per WhoScored, so Leeds officials will be desperate to find out the centre-back’s knee problem isn’t too serious heading into the final four games.

In other news: Leeds want to sign ‘X-factor’ attacker despite possible relegation.