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Leeds United managerial candidate Marcelo Gallardo has ‘no intention’ of accepting the job at Elland Road, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Gallardo is a top target

The Whites sacked Jesse Marsch earlier this month and have since been on the hunt to find his successor, with several names having been linked with the vacancy.

The Argentinian is a free agent having left River Plate back in December 2022 and has reportedly been identified as a top target to take over by Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta.

However, the following update would suggest that he’s not keen on a move to the Premier League…

The Latest: Romano’s update

According to Romano (via CaughtOffside), Gallardo would be the perfect manager for Leeds, but it’s claimed that the feeling isn’t currently reciprocated. He said:

“Personally, I’d go for former River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo, I think he would be an amazing choice and a top coach in my opinion, but at the moment he has no intention to accept a job at Leeds.”

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The Verdict: Huge blow

Gallardo has an excellent managerial track record so it’ll be a massive blow for Leeds to learn that they are likely to miss out on securing his services.

The Merlo native won 232, drew 101 and lost just 91 of his nine trophies.

The Yorkshire outfit’s target also has a preferred formation of 4-3-3 which is exactly the attacking style of football needed, though it sounds like the club will now have to divert their attention from the 47-year-old to elsewhere.

Rangers boss Michael Beale appears to be keen to further strengthen his ranks before the end of the window, with the Englishman having already acted in recent days to secure the signing of Norwich City playmaker, Todd Cantwell.

The suggestion is that the 42-year-old could be set to raid the Championship once again in order to sign Swansea City’s Morgan Whittaker, with the Old Firm outfit having already had an offer rebuffed for the 22-year-old.

That suggestion is that Russell Martin’s side are demanding a fee of around £2m if they are to sanction a sale this month, albeit with the player himself seemingly interested in sealing the move to Ibrox.

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has suggested that the former Derby County man, alongside Cantwell and Standard Liege’s Nicolas Raskin, are the priority targets for the Gers at present.

The transfer insider revealed: “He’s wanted Todd Cantwell for a while, he’s got him and now he’s looking at Morgan Whittaker, so those are the three targets he’s had all January, and listening to him he’s been quite confident in all three.

“He’s ended up getting Cantwell, but this one is another one that seems to be changing every day as it seems to be now that he’s linked with Benfica.”The “flamboyant” forward – as previously described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has only recently been recalled by the Swans after starring in the third tier for Plymouth Argyle in the first half of the season, scoring nine goals and laying on seven assists in just 25 games in all competitions.The dynamic winger – who can also feature in an attacking midfield berth – also boasts a respectable haul of five goals in just 22 games for his parent club, after also netting five times in only 20 outings while on loan at Lincoln City last season.A player who is seemingly flourishing at present, Whittaker could well prove a notable upgrade on current Ibrox dud, Rabbi Matondo, with the Welshman having failed to make an impact since his summer arrival from Schalke.Although it is too soon to write off the 22-year-old just yet, the one-time Manchester City youngster has shown little during his time in Scotland to date, having failed to score in 21 appearances in all competitions this season, albeit while registering four assists.The struggling wide man is said to be suffering a “crisis of confidence”, in the words of his manager, having been restricted to just eight starts during his time at the club to date.Although a possible loan exit for the 11-cap international appears to have been ruled out this month, it would be no surprise to see that situation change later in the year, should Matondo continue to underwhelm.The signing of a direct and in-form competitor such as Whittaker, however, could make life even harder for the former Stoke City loanee to prove his worth to Beale and co.As such, this latest transfer approach for the Swansea starlet could prove to be the beginning of the end for Matondo at Rangers.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda recently and his arrival at Molineux could be a potential repeat of the disastrous deal to sign Nelson Semedo in 2020.

According to Estadio Deportivo, the 18-year-old’s stock is really beginning to rise after some impressive performances in Spain, with the teenage defender complimentary of Julen Lopetegui amid links with the Old Gold.

The Spain U19 international has made just 13 senior appearances in his career but is also said to be attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund as a result of his rapid progression under Juan José Rojo Martín at Valladolid, with any deal likely to set back interested sides around £18m.

In his nine appearances in the Spanish top flight so far this campaign, the teenager has averaged a solid 6.73 rating from WhoScored for his performances, registering an impressive 3.2 tackles per game, which is also the most of any player in Valladolid’s squad.

FBref suggests that Fresneda ranks in the top percentile for defenders across Europe when it comes to tackling, and it is here where his similarities with Semedo begin, as the Portuguese right-back also scores impressively in this metric.

The same website suggests that the former FC Barcelona man is the most similar player to Fresneda when compared with other full-backs across Europe’s top leagues, which doesn’t bode well for Wolves when you consider how much Semedo has struggled in his time at Molineux.

Despite his tackling ability, he has been exposed as a defensive “liability” – in the words of The Athletic’s Tim Spiers – on a number of occasions in a Wolves shirt, producing a disasterclass in the defeat against Brighton before the World Cup break, as he was sent off for a rash last man tackle.

This season has seen the two defenders register remarkably similar numbers with regard to expected goals per 90 (both 0.01), passes that led to a shot (both 15) and interceptions (both 13).

This emphasises that while both players can be trusted to make a good tackle, neither offers much going forward, which suggests that the Spaniard could follow in Semedo’s footsteps at Molineux and considering the 29-year-old has averaged a shocking 6.43 rating from WhoScored this season, that can hardly be a good sign.

While Fresneda is regarded as a “very special talent” – in the eyes of ESPNUK’s David Cartlidge – and undoubtedly has the potential to go far, his similar style of play to Semedo suggests that Wolves could be heading for another disaster if they were to sign him this month.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies was fortunate not to connect with Ashley Young in the challenge which earned him a yellow card, according to Dermot Gallagher.

What’s been said?

Antonio Conte’s Spurs were handed yet another disappointing result on Sunday as they hosted Aston Villa and saw Unai Emery’s men take all three points back to Villa Park. And it was a display which saw referee John Brooks dish out the cards.

All three of Tottenham’s centre-backs were handed yellow cards during the first half of the game in north London but there may be some who feel as if Davies was fortunate not to have been shown a red.

The Wales international appeared to go leaping into a challenge with Young which left the Villa man in a heap on the ground after Davies dove into the challenge with his studs.

And having watched the replays, Gallagher has suggested the pair are fortunate Davies did not connect fully with Young as the nature of the challenge not only could’ve seen Davies sent off but also a serious injury to the 37-year-old Villa defender:

“I think it’s not a wise challenge. I think it’s a yellow card because what happens is he seems to go two-footed, but when he actually arrived he actually arrived one-footed,” Gallagher said on Sky Sports Ref Watch.

“Two things is he lands just in front of the player, which is lucky for Ashley Young. And luckily for the player, he didn’t go that extra half a yard because if you hadn’t ended up on his shins it was definitely a red card.”

A day to forget for Davies

It was yet again another dismal display from Conte’s men which saw their hopes of Champions League football suffered another blow after only managing to salvage a draw against Brentford on Boxing Day.

Spurs’ defensive woes seem to only get worse and worse as the weeks go on as the defeat to Villa made in 10 consecutive games in which the Lilywhites have conceded first.

And Davies has played a big role in this dismal Spurs defence of late with 14 appearances to his name in the Premier League alone this season (via Transfermarkt)

During the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Davies lost possession 14 times and did not manage to land either of his two crosses to one of his teammates (via SofaScore).

But in relation to the challenge on Young, we have to agree that it was an odd decision from the Welshman to make by going into the tackle in the manner which he did.

Not only was it endangering his opponent, but it also could have left Spurs even more vulnerable against Emery’s men with one less player potentially on the pitch had he landed on Young.

With Spurs defending in the way they are at the moment, the last thing Conte could do with is a red card to one of his defenders.

West Bromwich Albion have been reaping the rewards of their new leadership of late, with Carlos Corberan having masterminded their five-match winning streak despite having not made any signings of his own.

It therefore makes the January transfer window all the more promising, as he can add to a group of players who are currently on a roll.

Of the rumours swirling around, the most plausible and prominent is linking the Baggies with a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Jon Russell, with the Jamaican having broken into the first team under Corberan during their mutual time at the John Smith’s Stadium.

He became a mainstay for the Terrier’s promotion push last season which only ended in a Championship play-off final defeat, anchoring the engine room with composure and class beyond his years.

Adding him to Albion’s squad and pairing him with Tom Rogic could form one of the best midfields in the Championship, offering the perfect balance between defensive steel and attacking impetus.

The 22-year-old could be particularly impressive playing alongside the Australian, who has recorded a goal and an assist in his last two matches. This has seen his average Sofascore rating for the campaign increase to 6.85, despite only averaging 33 minutes per game.

Rogic has now established himself as a cemented starter at The Hawthorns, and if Russell could come in and perform similarly to last season, he could inspire another club to potential play-off glory.

During the 2021/22 campaign, he averaged a 7.03 Sofascore rating as he maintained an 87% pass accuracy. He paired that with a hulking physique, as the 6 foot 4 titan recorded 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and one clearance per game (via Sofascore).

He would offer West Brom a metronome-like quality in midfield, along with a work rate and solidity which could see them dominate their battles in the middle of the park.

Such is Russell’s ability that Danny Schofield claimed that the Terriers always knew he would be a “special talent”, with the former Huddersfield boss adding: “He’s got real ability with the ball, very composed in central areas…”.

To acquire a player of his talent and to pair him with someone of Rogic’s experience has the makings of a powerful midfield partnership. Should Corberan make it happen, West Brom will surely not be in the Championship for much longer. 

The upcoming January transfer window could prove to be one of the biggest in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ history.

The Old Gold have brought in Julen Lopetegui as their new manager and it seems as if the Spaniard will be targeting a number of new signings at Molineux, as he looks to stave off relegation to the Championship.

Wolves currently sit bottom of the Premier League after a woeful start to the season, which has seen them manage just eight goals in 15 top-flight appearances, while their defensive solidity from the 2021/22 campaign has completely abandoned them.

Unsurprisingly, the Midlands club are being linked with a plethora of names in the build-up to January, with Atletico Madrid duo Felipe and Matheus Cunha seemingly on the brink of joining in a combined deal.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke shared his views on the potential double signing in a recent interview with Football FanCast.

He said:

“They would be two massive signings if Wolves could get Cunha and Felipe in. Obviously, they are going to back the new manager Julen Lopetegui in the transfer market to try and help them climb away from trouble at the wrong end of the Premier League table.”

It is easy to see why Lopetegui is targeting a centre-back and a striker ahead of the January window.

Wolves have looked extremely suspect at the back with a partnership of Max Kilman and Nathan Collins, while a lack of depth in that position was seriously exposed when the latter was sent off earlier in the season, as neither of Toti or Yerson Mosquera possesses the necessary experience for a Premier League relegation battle.

Attack has certainly been the main problem for the Old Gold this season, as injuries to Sasa Kalajdzic, Pedro Neto and Raul Jimenez have left them incredibly short up front, while summer arrivals Goncalo Guedes and Diego Costa have done little to suggest they were worth bringing in.

Felipe and Cunha both have experience playing in the Champions League and at the top of La Liga with Atletico, so hopefully the two Brazilians can have a big impact at Molineux should they arrive next month.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has dropped a hint over a potential Leeds United move for Atletico Madrid attacker Matheus Cunha. 

The Lowdown: Leeds’ interest in Cunha

The Premier League club were linked with the Brazilian in the 2021 summer transfer window before he joined Atletico from Hertha Berlin.

More recently, it was reported that the Whites are keen to secure a deal for Cunha in the upcoming January transfer window, with the player looking to leave the La Liga club.

This has led to Jones sharing his thoughts on the situation surrounding Leeds and the 23-year-old, hinting at a possible swoop from Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani.

The Latest: Jones hints at Cunha swoop

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones admitted that this particular transfer link has been “spoken about a fair bit” and that the Whites may have the necessary funds to try and make it happen.

He said: “We know that they’re going to have some reasonably decent money to throw at an attacker, but I’ve seen this one being spoken about a fair bit.

“He’s a good player, but I think the key here is that Marsch really has to make sure that he gets the profiles of his attackers right.”

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The Verdict: Exciting for LeedsHaving only started in two of his 11 La Liga appearances for Diego Simeone’s side this season, it’s safe to say that Cunha is not at the top of the pecking order in Madrid, which makes it easy to see why he may be looking for a move away in January.Last season saw the 23-year-old score six goals and provide four assists across 29 league games, only eight of which he started. Hailed as a player with “enormous” potential by former Hertha sporting director Michael Preetz, Cunha ended 2021/22 with the highest rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes (3.13) and shots on target per 90 minutes (1.19) at Atletico.This showcases what he would be able to offer Jesse Marsch’s side and why a move for him would be a very exciting one for Leeds in January if they go for him.

Wolves are considering a move for Queens Park Rangers manager Michael Beale, according to Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Beale profiled

Beale is currently just five months into his first senior managerial role after joining the Championship side in the summer.

The 42-year-old was previously Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Rangers and Aston Villa and was Liverpool’s U21 boss prior to that. He likes to play an attacking 4-3-3 system and currently has The R’s fourth in the second tier, a point off the top spot.

The Latest: Wolves interest

Keen took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon to provide an update on the hunt for a new boss at Molineux.

He revealed that ‘Beale is being considered by Wolves for their head coach vacancy’ after his impressive start to life in first-team management, however no official contact has been made yet.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Beale has certainly made a positive impact with QPR, winning seven of his 15 games in charge so far. Gerrard has also struggled at Villa Park this season without Beale, which may show how important the latter of the two was at both Rangers and Villa.

Therefore, it could be one to keep an eye on, as you’d like to think the club will step up their search this week after parting ways with Bruno Lage over two weeks ago.

In Saturday’s home defeat against Sheffield United which sent West Brom bottom of the Championship, new manager Carlos Corberan had just one natural centre-back on the pitch.

The Spanish manager, who was appointed early last week, opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation with Darnell Furlong and Erik Pieters featuring as centre-backs, despite both having played as full-backs for much of their careers.

It was clear to see that neither were particularly comfortable in that position as the Blades came away with a comfortable 2-0 win at the Hawthorns, so Corberan must reconsider his team selection if he wants to continue with a three-at-the-back formation in the future.

Corberan is currently without Kean Bryan, Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley through injury and inheriting a defensive crisis is the last thing the former Huddersfield boss needs as he looks to turn a woeful start to the season around.

Even when the likes of Ajayi and Bartley have been fit, they have disappointed, with WhoScored ranking them as the 12th-best and 14th-best players in the squad so far this season, with abysmal 6.49 and 6.38 average ratings respectively.

This begs the question of why Steve Bruce allowed Cedric Kipre to join Championship rivals Cardiff City on loan during the summer transfer window.

The 25-year-old defender, who joined West Brom from Wigan Athletic in 2020, has struggled for regular game time during his time with the Baggies, making just 19 appearances in all competitions.

He has already nearly eclipsed that with the Bluebirds, making 16 appearances for them as they currently sit 17th in the second tier, which is a far more comfortable position to be in than the Baggies.

The Ivorian defender earned a lot of praise from his former coach Tommy Wright when he was younger, who highlighted qualities now that a certain Corberan would love in his side.

He told The Athletic: “You could see at 18 that Cedric had everything. He was probably the most ripped player I have ever seen at 18. He had muscles bulging out of him that I didn’t know existed! But he could also play. He was so elegant on the ball — almost like a Rolls-Royce.

“He’s like an assassin; really quiet but with a presence about him. He wouldn’t be the one that you’d go around taking the mickey out of because he could destroy you physically but he was a very quiet, focused 18-year-old, who didn’t speak much English at the time and was settling into a new country.”

Kipre has impressed in his time with Cardiff thus far, averaging a 6.82 rating which is only bettered by one defender in West Brom’s squad, which emphasises just how poor a decision it was by Bruce to send him out on loan this summer.

Indeed, the club’s new boss would now get a great deal of use from the Parisian centre-back.

Manchester City are still in with a shot at signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, despite reports claiming he’s chosen to join Real Madrid, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Contrasting updates

The 19-year-old has three years remaining on his contract with the German giants, though it’s been revealed that he could be set to leave for £83m next summer.

Several Premier League clubs alongside the Sky Blues, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, have all been heavily linked with the teenager, though the same outlet state that he is set to snub these sides for a move to La Liga.

The Latest: City still targeting Bellingham

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs denied such claims and insisted that City remain in the race to sign Bellingham, with his former teammate already trying to convince him to put pen to paper. He wrote:

“Am told Bellingham has not ‘picked’ Real just yet. He’s keeping his options open. Definitely a move that’s of appeal, but Liverpool and Manchester City still very much involved in an open race. Erling Haaland has already told him to join.”

The Verdict: Gundogan replacement

Ilkay Gundogan will be turning 32 next month, and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Bellingham would be a suitable long-term replacement for the City captain.

The England international currently averages three dribbles, 2.6 shots and 2.9 tackles per Bundesliga game (WhoScored), showing his ability to affect the game at both ends of the pitch.

Bellingham’s existing connection to Haaland should give City a significant advantage in the race for his signature, so this will definitely be one to watch in the weeks ahead.