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In recent weeks there has been a huge clamour from Leeds United fans for Javi Gracia to unleash teenage winger Wilfried Gnonto to aid their fight against relegation.

There were audible groans during the week as Crysencio Summerville came off the bench to replace the injured Luis Sinisterra, with the Italy international left on the bench to continue his recent lack of game time under the Spanish manager.

Given the gravity of the game and the impressive performances that Gnonto has produced in his first season in England, it is a huge source of frustration for Leeds fans that he has barely featured since the international break.

However, the main issue for Leeds is not with their attack, but with their toiling midfield and defence, with Marc Roca and Weston McKennie providing little protection for the back four, so Gracia must consider instead unleashing the rarely-seen Adam Forshaw.

Should Leeds start Adam Forshaw?

Forshaw has mustered just seven appearances in the Premier League so far this term and looks destined to depart Elland Road in the summer when his contract expires, but his experience could still be crucial for Gracia in the remaining games.

Since joining from Middlesbrough in January 2018, the midfielder has gone on to make just 86 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit, with injuries plaguing his time at Elland Road, but he has still caught the eye when enjoying a rare run in the first team, with Jermaine Beckford singing his praises on Sky Sports in 2021.

He said (via Leeds Live): “He’s been like a brand new player. So much energy, so much hunger. But I like that when Adam came in it was like there was nothing to worry about, nothing was missing.

“His passing ability, his movement, he breaks up play really well, he links up the game really well. Brilliant, brilliant football player.”

This desire and ability to break up the play could be the key to ending a rotten defensive record that has seen the Whites ship a league-high 63 times.

In the absence of the influential Tyler Adams, Leeds have leaked goals in recent weeks, suffering heavy defeats against Crystal Palace and Liverpool which have dropped them back into serious relegation trouble.

Gracia is seemingly unwilling to utilise Archie Gray or Darko Gyabi but needs to make a change to his midfield if he wants to keep the Peacocks in the Premier League, as Phil Hay emphasised in his build-up to the Leicester game in his Q and A for The Athletic.

He wrote: “Forshaw is also an option. Has to be something different to Roca-McKennie, I feel. That partnership is too easy to bully."

Some experience in the middle of the park could be exactly what Gracia needs to steady the ship, especially with some extremely tricky games coming up before the end of the season.

Therefore, while fans will continue to call for Gnonto on the wing, defensive security should be the priority, and Forshaw should be the man to come into the midfield for upcoming fixtures.

Journalist Dean Jones has been left 'surprised' by rumoured Arsenal talks to sign Leicester City star Youri Tielemans, sharing his own update.

What's the latest on Tielemans to Arsenal?

The midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move to north London this summer as his Foxes contract ticks down to expiry this summer. Indeed, there have been claims of Arsenal negotiations with Tielemans' representatives recently from a variety of different sources.

Both TEAMtalk and Football Insider reported last week that the Gunners have held discussions with the agents of Tielemans, coming after he was a real transfer target for Arsenal last summer. Ben Jacobs even stated at the time that he would love to join them with links re-emerging this year.

Tielemans has been tipped as a summer target amid sporting director Edu's alleged search for midfield options. The likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, to name a few, are also apparently in Arsenal's thinking for the 2023/24 season.

The 25-year-old will be available on a Bosman deal at the end of this season as things stand, potentially motivating the Gunners to reignite their interest according to recent reports.

However, speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Jones has offered quite a different update of his own contrary to the aforementioned claims of talks being held.

He says that Arsenal hold a long-standing interest in Tielemans, calling it 'common knowledge', but also explains there is now 'desire' to move beyond the Leicester dynamo.

Jones explained:

"I have been surprised to see reports of talks being opened around this because as far as I'm aware, any talks with Tielemans aren't that recent.

"Arsenal do have a long-term interest in him, they obviously know about his availability, that's common knowledge.

"But, there has also been a desire to move beyond him now because of the way the team has progressed so fast."

Should Arsenal move on from Tielemans?

The former Monaco star hit double figures for goal contributions in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Premier League campaigns (WhoScored).

However, Tielemans hasn't been able to hit those same heights this year, scoring just three goals and assisting one other in the top flight.

He does still stand out as one of Leicester's best-performing players by average match rating, though, with the international's status as a soon-to-be free agent coming as an attractive incentive for clubs to move.

There are both pros and cons to this potential swoop from an Arsenal perspective as Tielemans' debatable drop in form could deter Edu and co. Yet, his availability without a transfer fee could also be quite enticing.

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal do end up considering a move after being so heavily linked last year, but going by Jones' update, their interest isn't quite as intense as previously suggested.

Southampton are closely following Manchester City youngster Carlos Borges and are likely to make a move in the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Southampton building for the future

The Saints have been known for targeting Man City youth players in the past, bringing in Romeo Lavia for an initial £10.5m last summer, and they could be set to make a tidy profit on the midfielder.

Pep Guardiola’s side have a £40m buy-back clause which becomes active in the summer of 2024, while interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United could drive his price up in the upcoming transfer window.

City have also sold Sam Edozie, Juan Larios and Gavin Bazunu to Southampton in recent times, with the latter player going on to establish himself in the first team, making 28 appearances in the Premier League so far this season.

The Latest: Borges targeted

As per a report from The Athletic, the Saints have an ongoing interest in bringing Borges to the club in the summer transfer window, and they have a good chance of being at the front of the queue for his signature.

Scouts have closely monitored the 19-year-old this season, and with the City influence that is now at the club, a move could appeal to all parties at the end of the campaign.

The young attacker has made it clear that he wants to get more minutes, having noted the progress made by Edozie since making the switch to the South Coast, which means he could actively seek out a move in the summer.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Southampton have a proven track record signing quality young players from Man City and giving them the opportunity to develop in the first team, and the left winger would be another excellent addition to the squad.

While he is lacking in experience at first-team level, the Portugal U19 international has proven that he is ready for the step up with his performances for the youth team this season, notching an incredible 23 goals and 15 assists in just 27 outings.

That said, the starlet is not going to reach his huge potential until he is given a consistent run in the first team, which means a move to St Mary’s is perfect for all parties, if City again choose to include a buy-back clause in his contract.

Hailed as the ‘real deal’ with a ‘seriously bright future’ by journalist Tom Young, Borges should undoubtedly be one of Southampton’s priority targets this summer.

Leeds United manager Javi Gracia is planning to bring his own backroom staff to Yorkshire, according to Phil Hay. 

The Lowdown: Flexible deal

Gracia was officially confirmed as the new Whites head coach on Tuesday, over two weeks after the club parted ways with Jesse Marsch.

The 52-year-old has signed ‘a flexible contract at Elland Road’ and will hopefully be in charge against Southampton on Saturday, provided he obtains a work permit in time.

Former caretaker Michael Skubala looks set to remain involved under Gracia, but it appears as if the Spaniard has further coaching staff plans.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Hay shared a story for The Athletic on Tuesday following the announcement regarding Gracia.

The reliable reporter stated that Gracia plans to bring in staff from his native Spain, but didn’t name who they could be.

The Verdict: Good move

Allowing Gracia to add his own backroom staff makes sense, and hopefully, moves for a number of coaches can be wrapped up relatively quickly.

Keeping Skubala around the first team also appears to be a wise call, especially as he will be able to pass knowledge on to Gracia regarding a number of players in a short space of time.

Gracia doesn’t have long to work with the team before Saturday’s must-win meeting with Southampton at Elland Road, and it looks as if there could be a whole new look to the home dugout following Hay’s update.

Chelsea have made a promise to bring Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Aubameyang replacement?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is currently facing an uncertain future having been heavily linked with an exit in January, so Graham Potter needs to bolster his attacking ranks should the forward depart at the end of the term.

Ramos, a Portugal international, reportedly emerged as a target for the Blues last month, and despite a deal failing to materialise, it sounds like Todd Boehly has since vowed to make a serious approach.

The Latest: Chelsea eyeing Ramos

According to Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), Chelsea ‘will advance’ on a deal for Ramos this summer and have made a ‘promise’ to attempt to secure his services.

The Stamford Bridge outfit tried to get the ‘preference’ over the 21-year-old when signing his former teammate Enzo Fernandez, but Benfica declined the move.

The 6 foot 1 forward has a €120m (£105m) release clause included in his deal, but it’s claimed that his club would only demand a minimum fee of €100m (£88m) to let him go.

The Verdict: Splash the cash

Ramos has been dubbed a ‘lethal’ striker by talent scout Jacek Kulig and Chelsea should definitely splash out should the opportunity to sign him arise in the months ahead.

The Nike-sponsored star has had a remarkable return so far this season having recorded 13 goals and four assists in just 17 Liga Portugal appearances.

The Olhao native is also averaging a whopping 3.5 shots per league game and ranks in the 98th percentile for non-penalty expected goals and non-penalty expected goals plus assisted goals.

Ramos is the exact profile of clinical centre-forward that Potter has been missing so would be the perfect candidate to put pen to paper in SW6 ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their transfer plans for academy forward Josh McPake…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Light Blues are weighing up their options with the young winger as they attempt to part ways with the 21-year-old.

The report claims that they wanted to cash in on the forward in the January transfer window but no concrete offers came to the negotiating table.

It is stated that terminating his contract and paying him off is one of the ways they could go about moving him on after the window slammed shut last week.

Ditch him

The Light Blues have already decided that they do not see a future for McPake at Ibrox and terminating his contract, which would free him up to find a new permanent home, in the coming months could be a good solution for all parties.

Ross Wilson must reach an agreement to mutually end the dud’s deal as it currently has 18 months left to run and his time out on loan at Queen’s Park this season does not suggest that he is going to break into Michael Beale’s first team in that time.

The winger has reportedly had discipline issues off the pitch and has not done enough in the final third to make up for any problems that he has outside of matches.

In 20 Championship matches for Queen’s Park, McPake has scored two goals and provided three assists from out wide, an indication that the gem has struggled to consistently make an impact.

His form in the second tier of Scottish football comes after the forward scored one goal and failed to assist any in 19 appearances in League One and League Two in England during loan spells with Morecambe and Tranmere.

During his time in League One, the 21-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.46 and lost 62% of his individual duels – a score that left him 30th in the Morecambe squad.

McPake, who Harrogate manager Simon Weaver once described as “too hot to handle”, has not done enough in his last three loan spells to suggest that the gem has a long-term future at Rangers, given his lack of end product and poor standard of performance, coupled with his disciplinary issues this term. 

Therefore, Wilson must brutally ditch the academy product, whether that comes in the next few weeks or in the summer transfer window, to put an end to his Ibrox stories, so that both parties can move on.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that it’s unlikely West Ham United will sign any more players in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Two new signings

David Moyes has brought in two new additions this month in the form of Brazilian defender Luizao and Danny Ings from fellow Premier League side Aston Villa.

Ings sustained an injury not long after his arrival in east London, but Moyes said recently that the forward won’t miss many games.

The Irons boss also said that he was not looking to sell Michail Antonio this month, following reports claiming that Wolves were interested in the player.

The Latest: No more signings

Sheth claimed that West Ham won’t be signing any more players in January when speaking to GiveMeSport, but that could change if someone becomes available.

He stated, “I just can’t see how West Ham would consider that just now. Funnier things have happened; if a player suddenly becomes available and they think we can bring him in, we can allow Antonio to go; we know Ings and Scamacca are coming back, then maybe,

“But there’s so little time now to be able to do a couple of deals of that magnitude that it looks like that West Ham are going to carry on with the squad that they’ve got.”

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The Verdict: Depth still needed

We believe that West Ham are in need of new recruits late on in January, as they simply haven’t improved all the areas of their squad.

Former Hammers star Frank McAvennie was baffled that Moyes didn’t look to sign Josip Juranovic, who joined Union Berlin earlier this month.

When talking to West Ham Zone, the ex-striker said that the Croatian would’ve been the ‘ideal’ for the club.

McAvennie’s concerns are certainly justified as it’s an area where West Ham have very few options – Ben Johnson and Vladimir Coufal are the only traditional options in that position.

Earlier this month, it was claimed by Sky Sports that Coufal was growing frustrated at West Ham and was labelled as ‘one to watch’ on a potential exit.

Johnson is still very much on the club’s fringes and has made very few appearances far this season for the Irons.

In our view, it’s a big mistake for West Ham not to address their lack of options at right-back, particularly given Coufal could well leave in the near future and Johnson is clearly not in Moyes’ plans on a consistent basis.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is scouring the January transfer market in search of quality acquisitions to bolster his side’s prospects of establishing a competitive edge within the Premier League, with a new phenom distinguished.

What’s the word?

Marseille’s Matteo Guendouzi has been identified as the perfect fit to complete the jigsaw at the heart of the Villa midfield, with the former Arsenal ace impressing during his time in the French Ligue 1.

That’s according to prominent publication L’Equipe, who – as translated by Get French Football News – have stated that an unnamed Premier League outfit have cemented a concrete offer for the ace.

The report continues to allude to Marseille officials holding the belief that Emery, who signed and managed Guendouzi at the Gunners, is the manager with interest in his signature, and a move could materialise over the next few weeks.

Villa’s own Modric

Guendouzi did not quite find his feet after signing for Arsenal in an £8m deal in 2018, at just 19 years old.

He made 82 total appearances for the Gunners, scoring one goal and registering five assists, but was shifted towards a series of loan moves after being alienated by Mikel Arteta, before signing for Marseille on a permanent £9m deal in 2021. 

He did win the 2019/20 FA Cup for his efforts in north London, but ultimately fell out of favour in a transitional period for the illustrious outfit.

Speaking to The Athletic, former Arsenal performance director Dan Burgess said: “When he arrived, from a physical perspective he certainly wasn’t in a position to play in central midfield for a top-six Premier League club.

“He worked really hard at improving himself physically so that by the end of that first year, he was absolutely capable. He showed massive improvement.”

There is now a belief within the Villa camp that the 23-year-old can flourish as a centrepiece within a top-flight project in England, with the £35m-rated ace’s performances in France and his inclusion within Didier Deschamps’ 2022 World Cup squad indicators that increment to his game has expanded year-by-year.

Indeed, claims of “world-class potential” from scout Jacek Kulig are beginning to ring true with this French “monster” now having the makings of a fine top-flight midfielder.

Now having made 78 appearances for Marseille, his eight goals and 17 assists affirm an upgrade in proficiency, while his impressive 7.00 and 6.88 ratings over the past two campaigns are further evidence of a maturing confidence and ability on the field.

As per FBref, the maestro ranks within the top 11% of midfielders in Europe’s top leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 9% for progressive passes received, illustrating his growing offensive presence on the pitch – and his assured average 85.2% pass accuracy is certainly not to be sniffed at.

He bears striking similarities to legendary Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, with the Croatian indeed Guendouzi’s most comparable player on FBref, and could now start to grow into a role of the 37-year-old’s mould.

Modric, 2019 Ballon d’Or winner and five-time Champions League victor, has forged 456 displays for Los Blancos, scoring 36 goals and 74 assists as the supreme orchestrator in the middle, with his composed presence and knack for instigating offensive manoeuvres two traits that Guendouzi can hope to nurture to continue to draw comparisons.

And with the 162-cap Modric’s average career passing accuracy of 88.9%, Guendouzi will need to develop his ball-playing ability even further to finally emerge as one of the hottest midfield prospects in world football.

Already praised for his “masterclass” performances, the French ace can pave the foundation for a prosperous career at a highly ambitious and competitive Villan outfit, and with Emery at the helm, the partnership could result in devastating consequences for opposing teams.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte will be sweating on the availability of star winger Dejan Kulusevski ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace…

What’s the latest?

The Sweden sensation missed the New Year’s Day defeat to Aston Villa with a slight muscular problem and he was sorely missed as Spurs struggled to muster up many chances in the final third.

Conte gave an update in his pre-game press conference, where he rated the 22-year-old’s chances of featuring at 50%. He said (via the club’s official website):

“He’s 50-50, we have a day and a half to make the right evaluation. For sure, it’s up to the player, the decision, because if his feeling is good, is positive, he can start to play. Otherwise, we won’t take a risk,” before adding: “We have to monitor him day by day, then take the best decision. We have today and tomorrow to check the injury, and if the player gives his availability, he could play.”

Kulusevski is needed

Even if he’s involved this evening, it’s hard to imagine the former Juventus dynamo starting, given Conte’s comments on the situation and this will surely leave the Italian sweating as his side were so poor a few days ago.

Against Villa, the Lilywhites only mustered up two shots on target, with the lightweight and relatively inexperienced Bryan Gil featuring alongside Harry Kane and Heung-min Son for the first time in the Premier League.

Kulusevski provides a lot in attack. He’s a goal threat and a creative talent, and is perhaps one of the most important players in the squad. The Swede has provided six goals and 13 assists in 33 appearances across the last 11 months.

He is currently leading the squad for assists in the top-flight this campaign and only Son matches his key passes per game output, so it’s understandable that Tottenham labour immensely without him in the starting XI.

It’s no wonder Kulusevski has been described as a “non-stop machine” and an “absolute monster” by journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsar in the past, whilst the £53m-rated gem has previously been dubbed very “important” to the team by Conte himself, only adding to how badly he’ll be missed if absent again.

AND in other news, Levy could match Conte’s lofty ambition with dream Spurs swoop for £44m “phenomenon”…

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a former starlet to slot into the centre of the park this winter and could make their move imminently. 

What’s the word?

Ismael Bennacer has risen to prominence in Italy, currently plying his trade for AC Milan and starring, playing 31 times in the league last year as the club won the league title in a resounding fashion.

And now after such composed and assured performances, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set on bringing the player back to the Emirates Stadium to play a role in the Gunners’ own bid for domestic glory. 

TuttoMercatoWeb reported at the weekend that Arsenal are indeed among the interested parties, perhaps even the frontrunners, and that the player himself would be open to a move back to the Premier League, with a club he knows well from his development days. 

A return home 

Having been on the books at Arsenal for two years, the club confirmed that the midfielder, then 19-years-old, would complete a permanent move to Italian outfit Empoli in 2017, being sold by a certain Arsene Wenger for just £850,000.

Since signing for AC Milan, Bennacer has seen his stock rise like a hot air balloon, worth an estimated £37m at present, and he has now attracted the Gunners’ interest once more, who view him as a sterling opportunity to bolster the thriving midfield.

Once described as “simply amazing” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he has made 21 appearances for Milan this term, scoring one goal and registering one assist. Bennacer has been in fine fettle, with Sofascore recording his average rating at a commendable 7.29, with his 89% pass accuracy complemented by 2.0 key passes and 2.3 tackles per outing.

And as per FBref, the Algerian dynamo ranks within the top 5% of midfielders across Europe’s big five leagues this year for shot-creating actions, while also within the top 11% for dribbles completed and 15% for progressive passes. 

It is the rounded nature of this skill set that will have caught Arteta’s eye; Arsenal will already be aware of such talents, but the way that he has grasped them and moulded them into the making of a towering midfield presence on the continental stage will bode very well indeed with the hierarchy as they plot and plan for the future. 

The 40-cap Bennacer could also come as an alternative for Youri Tielemans, who the Gunners are reported to hold heated interest in, with a view to a deal emerging this winter or upon the expiry of his contract next summer.

With other potential suitors likely to circle like sharks for the Belgium technician, Bennacer could be a shrewd alternative, with suggestions that Arsenal allegedly begrudge the decision to depart with the ace five years ago.