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Leeds United have been handed an early injury boost ahead of their Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest next Monday.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by the Yorkshire Evening Post, in which it was revealed that, despite missing the 5-2 defeat to Brentford on Saturday afternoon after picking up a knock in training, the right-back is expected to be available for selection for the visit of Steve Cooper’s side in six days’ time.

Speaking about the Denmark international’s injury following the humbling defeat in west London, Jesse Marsch said: “Rasmus picked up the injury right at the end of training so Cody [Drameh] didn’t have much time to prepare. I thought, for the most part, Cody did okay.”

Marsch will be buzzing

While it is true that Drameh was one of the Whites’ only bright sparks in a defensive capacity at the Gtech Community Stadium last weekend – with the 20-year-old’s SofaScore match rating of 6.4 bettering that of all three of his fellow defenders – considering just how solid Kristensen has been for Leeds so far this season, the Dane’s return to fitness is sure to have left Marsch buzzing.

Indeed, over his five Premier League fixtures since his £10m arrival at Elland Road this summer, the £13.5m-rated full-back has impressed on the right of Marsch’s backline, helping his side keep one clean sheet, in addition to making an average of 2.0 tackles, 2.0 interceptions, 1.8 clearances and winning 3.4 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 25-year-old average an extremely solid SofaScore match rating of 6.82, currently ranking him as the Whites’ sixth-best performer in the top flight of English football – an incredibly impressive feat when taking into account that the defender will still be adapting to both life in Leeds and the pace of Premier League football.

Indeed, his metrics are incredibly impressive when compared to his teammates, with the full-back ranking sixth in the squad for tackles per match, joint-first for interceptions and fourth in terms of clearances, demonstrating just how vital he is to their cause.

As such, it is clear to see that the news Kristensen should be available for selection for the visit of Forest next week will provide the Whites’ chances of picking up all three points with a huge boost – a result Marsch will be desperate for after such a heavy defeat to Brentford last time out.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Matheus Nunes, and now a new update has emerged on the potential of a deal being done for the player before the transfer window closes.

What’s the latest?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Liverpool “might” still make a move for Sporting CP midfielder Nunes this summer.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT:

“There’s definitely been some feeling around Portugal that Liverpool might make an offer.

“Liverpool have had scouting reports on this guy and Manchester United have actually been linked too, but neither of those have pushed forward at the moment.”

FSG must act now

It is no secret that the Liverpool squad are already experiencing somewhat of an injury crisis in their midfield at the moment, so a new midfielder signing certainly would not be a wasted pursuit for FSG who will need to act now if they want to make a move with just two weeks left in the transfer window.

Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain unavailable for selection in the foreseeable future, with Naby Keita returning from illness in recent days meaning he will be available for the game against Crystal Palace tonight, but they are just one more injury away from a concerning situation at Anfield.

Keita is renowned for his fitness issues with 16 separate incidents of injury over the last four years, missing 62 fixtures in total so it could be a huge risk not to sign another midfielder to help the side compete comfortably and challenge for trophies once again this season.

Liverpool have already shown intent in signing a new midfielder this summer with Aurelien Tchouameni reportedly agreeing personal terms with the club, however, the young talent preferred a move to the club’s Champions League final opponents Real Madrid in the end.

Now the Reds find themselves in a much more desperate position in terms of finding a midfielder that can not only come into the team to add instant reinforcements for those missing players, but also an individual that can add quality to the team too.

Nunes has been impressing this season already in the Primeira Liga after the £51m sensation scored a wonder goal from midfield last weekend against Rio Ave at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, which was certainly the perfect message to send to the powers at Anfield in the remaining days and weeks of the transfer window.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool ramp up their interest, as their pursuit of the player could intensify if Jurgen Klopp’s side struggle to dominate in their upcoming performances against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

Everton are reportedly close to completing the signing of Amadou Onana, and a reliable source has given an update on another potential transfer target that the Toffees are currently pursuing.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Merseyside club are “interested” in signing Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi this summer.

Tavolieri tweeted that the Toffees are “interested” in a move for the 28-year-old, with approval from Frank Lampard. The reporter added that Chelsea are keen to offload the Belgian permanently.

Frank will love him

Following the news that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be sidelined for around six weeks with a knee injury, the potential signing of Batshuayi could not have come at a more urgent time for the Toffees.

With Richarlison exiting the club earlier this summer, it has given Lampard the perfect opportunity to refresh his forward line, which has now become a much more pressing concern with the England striker ruled out of contention upon Everton’s return to Premier League action this evening.

Batshuayi is no stranger to the Everton boss after working with the 44-year-old at Stamford Bridge back in 2019/20, and the former Chelsea boss had plenty of praise for the forward, so he will surely love to reunite with the player at Goodison Park this summer.

Lampard once claimed of Batshuayi: “He’s positive, hard-working, loves scoring goals. That might sound simple for a striker but I’ve seen some who don’t love it quite as much. He loves scoring in training, he always stays out to do extra practice. I’m thankful to have him in the squad.”

The £90k-per-week gem has scored 136 goals in his senior club career across a number of different leagues, netting 25 goals and delivering six assists for Chelsea over 76 appearances so far for the west Londoners.

Batshuayi is also a consistent performer for his national team, scoring 25 goals in 45 appearances for Belgium, and if the Toffees manager can get the very best out of the player by giving him consistent game-time to flourish under his watchful eye, it could be a great signing for Everton if they go for him.

The Merseysiders are currently weakened in their attacking threat with Calvert-Lewin sidelined, and Batshuayi could be a great solution to fix that particular problem at Goodison Park.

Therefore, Lampard should be pushing for the signing of the 28-year-old, and the Everton hierarchy must do everything that they can to secure a deal for the Chelsea marksman.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for £60m Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi recently, and the Morocco international could be a game-changing addition to Erik ten Hag’s side.

It was reported by journalist Jacque Talbot earlier this month that the 52-year-old was keen on bringing the former Real Madrid man to Old Trafford, as he looks to forefront a revolution with the Premier League giants.

The report claims that Hakimi would be a costly option for the Red Devils but Ten Hag ‘really likes’ him, and considering the quality of United’s current right-backs, the 23-year-old could be well worth the investment.

Neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot contributed a single goal or assist in the Premier League last season, which emphasises their limitations in attack.

On the other hand, Hakimi contributed four goals and six assists for PSG in just 32 league appearances in 2021/22, averaging a solid 6.93 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

After the Moroccan starred for Inter, Brazil icon Ronaldo was full of praise for Hakimi, dubbing him an “extraordinary player”, and United could be the latest club to benefit from Real Madrid’s mistake in letting him go.

The 23-year-old has been superb in spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter, having been deemed surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu. If he were to make the move to Old Trafford, he could be part of Ten Hag’s attempts to revolutionise the Red Devils’ defence.

The new United manager has already signed Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez this summer as he looks to improve on a back four which conceded a shocking 57 goals in the top flight last season.

Hakimi would also drastically improve United’s right-hand side going forward, emphasised by the fact that he ranked in the 99th percentile for pass completion and the 94th percentile for progressive passes last season among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

He could re-establish an excellent partnership with Sancho having played alongside him at Dortmund, and he is certainly a big fan of the England international.

Hakimi praised the United winger in 2019, saying: “I think you’ve already seen he’s a great player. I’m a big fan of his, of how he plays, how he dribbles, the ease he has when one-on-one.

“He’s still young like me, we’ve got to keep working every day, learn everything we can, and I think if he continues like this then he’s going to have a really good career. As well as being teammates, we get on really well in the changing room and we share a number of things.”

Therefore, Ten Hag should do everything he can to bring in Hakimi this summer, as the Moroccan could help to reignite the Red Devils and push them back into title contention.

AND in other news: Glazers plotting Man Utd bid for “unbelievable” £38m talent, he “dominates in the middle”

Former Glasgow Rangers right-back Alan Hutton has now shared some exciting insight into a potentially imminent signing at Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Bell imminent?

As per Football Insider, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team have offered promising Everton defender Cameron Bell a contract and are ‘increasingly hopeful’ of reaching a full agreement for the 16-year-old.

Talks are ongoing, but a deal could be in place ‘imminently’, and he should follow another promising player in Millwall striker Zak Lovelace to the Gers.

The Latest: Bell insight

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton has now shared what he has ‘heard’ about Bell, claiming that he has ‘bags of potential’:

“I think it’s something that Rangers and Celtic as clubs want to improve on. Bringing boys through the academy, show them that there’s a pathway to the first team.

“So it’ll be a case of getting these top talents in through the door, showing them the Rangers way and letting them progress naturally and hopefully make the first team.

“I’ve heard some things about him [Bell], he’s obviously very young and so this is one that has bags of potential for the future.”

The Verdict: Exciting

To be getting young talents like Bell and Lovelace through the door is exciting for the Light Blues and their future.

Bell in particular looks like a real prospect, having already played for Scotland’s U17’s when he was just 15 years of age.

Journalist Lewis Bower said that Premier League and UEFA Champions League runners-up Liverpool even took him on trial at the end of last year, so he is clearly held in a high regard.

Nonetheless, Bell is a player who will be able to develop in the Teddy Bears’ youth set-up, and will surely be someone van Bronckhorst has an eye on ahead of a potential breakthrough into his first team squad.

Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has provided an update on Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur’s battle to sign Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus.

The Lowdown: Jesus transfer rumours

According to Melissa Reddy of Sky Sports, the Gunners are ‘cautiously optimistic’ as they lead the race for the Brazil international’s signature, having put in nearly six months of work with Jesus’ representative Marcello Pettinati to ensure that they were in pole position to recruit him from the Premier League champions this summer.

The 25-year-old voiced his desire to join Arsenal at the start of June, following the arrivals of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund and Julian Alvarez from River Plate.

However, a number of other clubs have been linked with a move for the striker, with the Gunners’ north London rivals Tottenham also reportedly keen on signing him this summer.

The Latest: Di Marzio’s claim on Jesus

Di Marzio has now shared the latest news on the Jesus transfer saga.

Taking to Twitter, he claimed: “.@Arsenal are ready to do everything to close Gabriel #Jesus deal from @ManCity. Meanwhile, @SpursOfficial are also interested and will give it a try. #AFC #THFC”

In the corresponding article, it is reported that Spurs are now moving ‘under the radar’ to intervene in Arsenal’s negotiations with City. The journalist claimed that the deal would be difficult for Tottenham to execute, but Fabio Paratici is nonetheless trying to get it done.

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The Verdict: He’d be a fantastic signing

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Jesus ranks in the 96th percentile for non-penalty expected goals and also for touches in the attacking penalty area (via FBRef).

With Conte’s attacking football often played down the wings, this style of play could suit the Brazilian, who can also be utilised out wide when needed.

With Spurs’ sole striker Harry Kane in need of a backup option, Jesus could come in and play anywhere across Conte’s front line. The 25-year-old also brings the reliability of scoring 95 goals in 236 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, making him a proven operator at a high level.

Therefore, this would be a great signing for Tottenham for multiple reasons.

In other news: Tottenham push for this transfer target ‘in the last few days’

Manchester United have been linked with Braga centre-back David Carmo recently, and the Brazilian could form an excellent partnership with Raphael Varane under Erik ten Hag next season.

What’s the word?

According to the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils have already held two rounds of talks with the 22-year-old defender and have him ready as a backup plan should their move for Ajax wonderkid Jurrien Timber fall through.

Considering that Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf have reported that the latter is now considering staying at Ajax in order to boost his World Cup chances due to the regular football on offer with the Eredivisie champions, Ten Hag may well end up turning to the Braga ace as he looks to bolster his defensive options at Old Trafford.

Imagine him and Varane

Ten Hag arrives at Old Trafford with a number of defensive options. However, given the disappointing form of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in particular, with both averaging below a 6.7 rating across the 2021/22 season from WhoScored, the 52-year-old may well be looking for a more assured partner for Varane at the heart of a back-four.

Carmo has certainly caught the eye for Braga in recent years, recovering from a serious ankle injury to play a part in their Europa League run this season, while he also averaged a solid 6.75 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Primeira Liga.

As a left-footed centre-back, he would also offer Ten Hag something new in the centre of United’s defence, as Maguire predominantly featured on the left-hand side of the back four in the 2021/22 season and was guilty of numerous errors which led to goals.

Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal was full of praise for Carmo after he made his return from injury last season, saying: “He is a fantastic centre back, one of the best in the country. He gives us a lot defensively, but offensively he is a super player, has speed on the ball, gives speed to our game and finds players near and far with long passes. We need a player like him and we will continue to operate with him in the team.”

With a more assured, left-footed option next to him in defence, Varane could be relied upon to produce the sort of performances which made him so successful at Real Madrid.

Therefore, Ten Hag and United must consider bringing Carmo to Old Trafford this summer.

In other news… Glazers can cure big Ten Hag headache with this “unbelievable” prospective signing

West Bromwich Albion are expected to have a huge transfer window following Steve Bruce confirming plans for the summer, and improving the squad is a necessity if the club wants to compete for Premier League promotion next season.

The Baggies manager claimed (via Birmingham Live):

“I think we need to freshen the whole squad up. How big? I would think it would be substantial – I hope.”

“I think we need as many as five or six – a major overhaul is needed.”

Bruce has a huge challenge on his hands to identify areas and players that need to be moved on this summer as well as securing deals for the right players that can make an instant impact and improve the squad ahead of the next Championship season.

One player who has failed to make a positive impact on the side and contributed to the disappointing campaign for the Baggies is Grady Diangana.

The £18m flop who was dubbed “disappointing” by Kevin Phillips, has only scored 11 goals and contributed eight assists in 94 appearances for West Brom since he joined the club in 2020, with glimmers of potential in his first season with the side, the winger has failed to impose himself on opponents this season.

Scoring two goals and contributing one assist in 41 league appearances Diangana has failed to offer a reliable attacking threat in the team, making only 0.8 key passes and taking 0.2 shots on target on average per game, as well as losing possession of the ball every 3.2 touches, losing the majority of his duels (63%) and unsuccessful in the majority of his dribbles (56%) too.

With that being said, West Brom have been linked on numerous occasions with out of contract Milwall winger Jed Wallace who could definitely offer an upgrade on Diangana this summer if Bruce can seal a deal for the player.

The 28-year-old who was hailed “unbelievable” by Gary Rowett has been far more prolific in his position for Millwall in the Championship this season scoring six goals, contributing 12 assists and creating an impressive 14 big chances, making 2.5 key passes and taking 0.7 shots on target on average per game.

Ultimately, the Baggies would need to make a lucrative offer for Wallace this summer if they did want to pursue him as a move to Turkey could be an option for the player with both Konyaspor and Galatasaray allegedly interested too.

AND in other news: WBA can replicate Clarke masterclass by signing £6m machine who’s “solid as a rock”

West Bromwich Albion are eyeing a move for Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson this summer.

What’s the story?

That’s according to i News journalist Mark Douglas, who tweeted: “WBA one of clubs who want him [Anderson] for next season.”

Labelled a “League Two cheat code” by Douglas after his loan spell at Bristol Rovers, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder is the subject of interest from a plethora of clubs in the Championship.

Bruce needs Anderson

Although the teenager is expected to be involved in pre-season training with the Magpies, another loan move seems very possible given the serious interest from a variety of suitors.

Anderson joined Joey Barton’s side on transfer deadline day in January and has since scored eight goals and registered five assists in 21 appearances for the Gas in the fourth tier, who secured an unlikely promotion back to League One yesterday after a 7-0 battering of Scunthorpe United.

In fact, the former Newcastle player has directed plenty of praise in the 19-year-old’s direction during his loan spell, claiming that the attacking midfielder “has been brilliant for us from the first day we brought him in.”

Prior to his move to the West Country, Anderson was on fire for Newcastle’s under-23s, scoring five goals in seven appearances in Premier League 2.

It’s that goal threat and creativity from the middle of the park which the Baggies have been lacking this season, with Steve Bruce’s men scoring just 52 goals in 46 matches this term, with only six other teams scoring less often in the Championship in 2021/22.

Alex Mowatt ended the season as the Baggies’ top-scoring midfielder with just four goals, whilst only one positional colleague found the net for Albion in loanee Jason Molumby, who scored once.

Granted, with no experience in the second tier, signing Anderson would a risk for the West Midlands outfit., although it would certainly seem like one worth taking.

Bruce will be tasked with orchestrating a promotion push next term, especially after this season’s thoroughly disappointing 10th-place finish, West Brom’s worst in more than 20 years.

Therefore, the 61-year-old needs to add some creativity and firepower to his squad, something that Anderson has certainly provided in abundance in League Two.

AND in other news: Forget Grant: West Brom’s 74-touch ace who “works so hard” stole the show vs Barnsley

Cheteshwar Pujara faced 1258 balls. Cheteshwar Pujara scored two match-winning hundreds… stop, enough already

Yazad Aria20-Jan-2019Cheteshwar Pujara.Ugh.What. A. Guy.All I have heard this past month is “Pujara this” and “Pujara that”.Enough.It ends now.I have held my tongue for too long.The world deserves, nay, needs to know the truth about the type of man that Cheteshwar Pujara really is.His list of crimes read like the titles of books.Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you the Cheteshwar Pujara.Mr SelfishM Vijay may have played his last Test Match. KL Rahul was dropped, recalled, and will likely be dropped if Prithvi Shaw is fit to play India’s next Test match.And it is all Cheteshwar Pujara’s fault.Get this: he batted 1258 balls in the entire series.The only reason he was able to do is because Rahul and Vijay chose to selflessly give him the chance to test himself in tough conditions, against the best bowling attack in the world. They also gave him the chance to essentially hone his game as an opener, and prove that the new-ball bursts could be negated if batsmen applied themselves.Were they rewarded for this selfless behaviour? No.Did Pujara not realise that he was making them look bad? He probably did.Did he care? Nope.If you are not yet convinced, sample this.At Adelaide Oval, while the rest of India’s front-line batsmen threw their wickets away with simply atrocious shot selection, Pujara dug in and scored 123. Pujara was like that friend who gets full marks in the exam that you failed. Never mind that you failed because you didn’t apply yourself, and they scored full marks because they worked hard. Never mind that you were inspired by them, worked hard, and did well on your other exams by following their example.You blame them for making you look bad, just as I blame Cheteshwar Pujara for making the rest of the batsmen look bad.Mr DisrespectfulIndia’s 2-1 series win in Australia was possible due to not one, but two match-winning centuries by Pujara.He scored 123 in Adelaide, and 106 in Melbourne.Now that is all well and good, apart from one teeny problem.They were match-winning centuries.Look, scoring centuries in Australia is all right, but centuries?It is practically a rite of passage: the valiant but ultimately futile century by the Indian batsman in Australia. So near, yet so far, and all that sort of jazz.Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have each scored six centuries in Australia. Do you know how many were match-winning? Zero.Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman have each scored one match-winning century in Australia. That’s right. One.There are some of you who will think that all this proves is the immensity of Pujara’s performance, that scoring match-winning centuries in Australia is incredibly hard work. That this feat must be lauded.You are all wrong.It clearly proves that Pujara not only spits in the face of tradition, but is trying to somehow imply that he is better than everyone else.Mr Poor Role ModelSample this quote: “As a batsman, you just need to get used to pace and bounce. Playing in different conditions, in South Africa, in England, in county cricket has helped me improve my technique. For me, it’s about the right preparation”.Instead of complaining about how tough it is to bat overseas, he pushed himself out of his comfort zone and played overseas to improve his game.Instead of being content with the fact that while he had not done so well overseas, he had at least scored runs in India, he chose to score 521 runs in Australia.What sort of message is he sending children everywhere? That you ought to be ambitious, work hard, and do your best to succeed no matter what the circumstances?Do you want your children emulating Cheteshwar Pujara?That’s what I thought.Mr BullyNobody likes a bully.Cheteshwar Pujara is a bully.Australia were still reeling from the ball-tampering scandal, their cricketing culture is being scrutinised, and the last thing they needed was a home series defeat.And then Pujara came along.Everybody knows that this is a weak Australian team.David Warner and Steven Smith are not playing.Their absence is the only reason Pujara scored three centuries, and 521 runs.It is simply obvious that if Smith and Warner were playing, Pujara would not have scored any runs.None at all.And I’m not talking about the ball-tampering.Smith and Warner are secretly the greatest bowlers in the history of the universe.Smith started out his career as a legspinner, as the next Shane Warne, and has taken as many as 17 Test wickets.David Warner has taken four Test wickets.Pujara is a bully who kicked his weakened opponents when they were down.Cheteshwar Pujara may have scored all those runs against perhaps the most well-rounded bowling attack in the world, but it is that he would have failed against the part-time legspin of Smith and Warner.