Tag Futebol

Aston Villa are one of the most historic clubs in English football. And with that history comes plenty of famous faces donning the claret and blue we see at Villa Park on a weekly basis. From acting greats to sports stars and musical royalty to actual royalty, if Aston Villa hosted a celebrity lunch, they wouldn’t be short on impressive guests.

With that said, we at Football FanCast decided to take a deeper dive into the aforementioned famous faces, as we discovered 10 Aston Villa-supporting celebrities courtesy of Birmingham World and the Birmingham Mail.

10

Ian Bell

One of England's greatest-ever cricketers, Ian Bell MBE, kicks off the list. Bell is also sometimes known by his nickname, The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice – which has to be one of the coolest, if not outright crazy, nicknames in all sports.

Bell had an outstanding career both domestically and with England that spanned over three decades, with his first professional game coming in 1999 and his final one 21 years later in 2020. In total, he earned 188 Test caps for England, scored 7727 runs, made 46 50s and 22 100s. He also excelled in ODI's, playing in 161 for England, scoring 5416 runs at a strike rate of 77.

His was a career full of unbelievable moments, and his retirement three years ago meant that James Anderson was – and just about still is – the final member of the practically mythologised 2005 Ashes series to be still playing.

Bell's love of Villa stems from his childhood in the 1980s when he fell in love with the team thanks to players like David Platt and Tony Daley, and he's been following ever since.

9

Chris Woakes

Another name, another English cricketing great. Granted, Chris Woakes isn't quite on the same level as Bell regarding all-time greats, but not many are. That said, Woakes is currently one of the best bowlers in England, and when he does eventually retire, he will be remembered as such.

The 34-year-old has had a fantastic career so far for both the club sides he's represented and whenever he's been asked to represent his country on the global stage. Since making his Test debut in the final Ashes Test of the 2013 tour, he has earned a further 48 caps.

While he's officially an all-rounder and can be handy with a bat – his 137 not out against India in 2018 proves that – his bowling gets him selected for international matches.

In his 48 Test matches, he has taken 148 wickets for an average of 29.13 and an economy rate of 3.03. He has also racked up five five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. However, his most remarkable series in an England shirt probably came in this summer's Ashes when he was drafted to play the final three Tests and ultimately named the Player of the Series for his unbelievable performances against the Aussies.

His love for the Villans stems from his childhood and the stories his father used to tell him about the club.

8

Benjamin Zephaniah

In a list full of athletes, actors and musicians, a Birmingham-born poet comes next. Benjamin Zephaniah is almost certainly one the country's most famous and successful poets in recent memory, with the Times including him in their list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.

While his poetry and writing have earned him a lot of attention over the years – and for good reason – he has also boosted his presence among the public with his role in the hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders.

Zephaniah's love of the Claret and Blue has been with him all his life, and he used to be a regular at games until fan violence in the 1970s and 80s stopped him from attending for many years.

7

Brendan Gleeson

Actor and film director Brendan Gleason is one of Ireland's most famous faces and has made his love for Aston Villa no secret over the years.

He played Alastor Moody in – you guessed it, Harry Potter – and also featured in Braveheart, Gangs of New York, Suffragette and 28 Days Later. He has been nominated for 45 awards in his career, winning ten.

His love for the club has rubbed off on his son – and fellow actor – Domhnall Gleeson, who told Aston Villa TV that the number of Irish players in the team when he was growing up was a big part of why he's now such a fan alongside his dad:

"We won the European Cup in 1982, I was born in 1983 – and then when I was growing we had the great team – Paul McGrath, Steve Staunton, Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton – I love Ray Houghton!

"These were brilliant Irish players and inspired me."

6

Oliver Phelps

Primarily known for his role in Harry Potter as George Weasly – twin to Fred Weasley – Oliver Phelps is also a diehard Villa fan and has been all his life.

Interestingly, Oliver and his brother had zero acting experience before landing their roles as the Weasley twins and skipped a day of school to audition for the parts. Oliver has also appeared in the television show Kingdom and the film A Minds Eye.

Just to show how much of a fan he is, Phelps went on ESPN's version of Mastermind and chose Villa's 2003/04 season as his specialist subject and managed to get a seriously impressive 16 questions correct in just 60 seconds.

5

Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)

We weren't lying when we said music royalty. Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor of the 1980s supergroup Duran Duran have been lifelong supporters of Aston Villa. The band have been nominated for 17 awards since their inception, winning 11 – including two Grammys.

Like Black Sabbath, the band was involved in Birmingham's Commonwealth Games, performing a medley of their greatest hits at the opening ceremony.

4

Dan Bailey

The first American on this list is former NFL star Dan Bailey. The 35-year-old had a brilliant career in the NFL, playing for the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings as a Placekicker.

Speaking to Aston Villa TV in 2014, the former NFL star explained that he has always been a fan of the club, with Gareth Barry being one of the reasons he started following them:

"I grew up following soccer and following specific players. A lot of those players played for Aston Villa, so I just grew fond of the team, and it all took hold from there. I have continued supporting them ever since.

"I was a big Gareth Barry fan. He was a lot of fun to watch. I loved the way he played and his style on the pitch.

3

Black Sabbath

Aston Villa could make a pretty good gig from their famous fan cohort.

Formed in Birmingham, Black Sabbath qualify as both notorious Villans in the football world, and notorious Villains in the bat community. Sabbath are arguably the most influential band to come out of the midlands, with many often crediting the group for spearheading the development of metal music due to their heavy sound.

Most of the band have been lifelong fans of the Villa, with bassist Geezer Butler admitting to invading the pitch "after every game" he attended as a younger man.

2

Tom Hanks

Arguably the most unexpected name on this list – and possibly the coolest – Tom Hanks picked Aston Villa because he liked the club's name, according to Birmingham World.

The 67-year-old is one of the most iconic actors in the world and has starred in some of Hollywood's biggest movies, including; Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Catch Me If You Can and Sleepless in Seattle to name but a few of his blockbusters.

He is also among the most decorated actors working today, with an impressive 53 awards to his name and a frankly ridiculous 136 nominations for everything from writing, directing and acting. And if that wasn't enough, he's also an ordained minister and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2016 for services to American film and advocacy work.

Hanks made his first visit to Villa Park earlier this year when he was invited into the director's box to watch the club host Arsenal – a game they would lose 4-2 in the end.

1

Prince William

It's no secret that The Duke of Cambridge is a massive Aston Villa fan, but that doesn't make it any less interesting or strange.

He's been seen at plenty of games in the past, including Villa's 2018/19 play-off final at Wembley – a game they won, beating Frank Lampard's Derby County to earn a spot back in the Premier League.

William explained the reason behind his support for the club in an interview with the BBC in 2015, saying:

"A long time ago at school, I got into football big time. All my friends were Chelsea or Manchester United fans, and I didn't really want to follow the run-of-the-mill team.

"I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments. Aston Villa has always had a great history."

As reasons go, it's a pretty respectable one, and with him set to be King one day, we're sure Villa are delighted with his decision.

So, there you have it, the ten most famous Aston Villa fans.

They'd certainly make some dinner party, with a range of celebrities in different fields. It's always good to see those new to the sport pick teams outside the traditional Big Six, and we aren't sure many clubs can boast a more interesting and famous set of fans than Villa.

We're not sure about you, but we'd love to see how a conversation between Tom Hanks, Ozzy Osbourne, Benjamin Zephaniah and Prince William would play out.

Leeds United finally seem to be getting their transfer business underway once again this summer after a short hiatus, with numerous targets now appearing for Daniel Farke's perusal…

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

Just four additions have graced Elland Road amidst numerous departures thus far, making for a frustrating window despite the promise that surrounded a potential Premier League return upon first falling to the drop.

Now, things are looking bleak, with three Championship games having been played without a win.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Something needs to change, with the Daily Mail finally offering a beacon of hope as they suggest that the Yorkshire outfit are closing in on a deal to sign Swansea City forward Joel Piroe. The touted £12m fee actually represents fine value in today's market, especially given the funds already brought in by their mass exodus.

The widespread interest in the lethal finisher could prove a stumbling block for the Whites, but they will hope that the stature of their club can prove enough to tempt the Dutchman to lean in their favour.

How good is Joel Piroe?

To finally sign that much-needed striker would be to revolutionise everything that has been seen currently under the Farke era.

Despite largely dominating matches, maintaining plenty of the ball and raining down shot after shot, one loss and two draws have them sat at a lowly 19th.

In fact, across their three league matches, they are averaging 62.7% possession and 16 shots per game, yet cannot seem to find that cutting edge, via Sofascore.

Piroe would change all that, especially if his signing coincided with the reintegration of Wilfried Gnonto into the first team.

The Italy international has endured a tumultuous summer personally, as he sought to push through his move to Everton, even recently handing in a transfer request.

However, with that move having since cooled down, reports have instead circled to suggest that Farke is willing to welcome the 19-year-old back into the fold.

The teenage sensation swiftly became a fan favourite last season with his dynamic performances on the flank, posting eight goal contributions across all senior competitions in England, having been branded a "pocket rocket" by pundit Tam McManus.

Now, with a year of English football under his belt, perhaps he could be set to take the division below by storm, utilising his pace, trickery and technical proficiency to help provide for Piroe. When compared to others in his role across Europe, he sits in the top 17% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

After all, the 24-year-old has proven himself as a reliable goalscorer for this level, with the two set to surely forge a fine partnership as the standout attacking options they would be.

Last campaign saw the Swans' star man notch 19 times in the Championship, having scored 22 and assisted six in his debut year following the departure from his homeland.

It is no surprise to see him lauded, with Tribal Football and EFL YouTuber Benjamin Bloom branding him as "prolific", before writing:

"When he joined Swansea in 2021 from PSV, Joel Piroe was something of an unknown quantity. However, he took to the Championship like a duck to water and is now coming to the end of a second brilliant season."

With Gnonto potentially set to devastate on the wing once more, and Piroe the perfect man to benefit from his creativity, perhaps the arrival of a striker could help the maligned winger reignite his relationship with the fanbase by firing them back to the top flight.

Pakistan’s Under-19 World Cup began with a loss to Afghanistan, and will now end with a clash against the same opponents in the third-place playoff. On their drive to Queenstown for that fixture, they will have time to reflect on what may-have been had they fielded better in the semi-final against India.There are frustrating ways to lose a cricket match, and poor fielding – Pakistan dropped four catches and missed three run-outs – is among the worst.”I won’t say it was because of the pressure,” Pakistan captain Hasan Khan said of the team’s catching. “We trained really hard for that, and I think it wasn’t our day today. It wasn’t the pressure or training. A lot of the boys were high on morale and were enjoying themselves. But Shubman Gill started well, and we misfielded a few as well.”I think we did well [in the first innings], given how the pitch was, our fast bowlers and spinners did well. If we had put in more effort in the field, we might have been able to keep them to a lesser total and it would have been a different story.”The pitch at Hagley Oval was the same as the one used for the Australia-Afghanistan semi-final on Monday. It was a touch slow, but there was no variable bounce or big turn. While a chase of 273 was certainly tough, it wasn’t impossible. But the pressure of batting second in a semi-final can do strange things and Pakistan suffered a meltdown after their top three were removed by outstanding catches.”Even if we’d won the toss, not much would have changed,” Hasan said. “The pitch wasn’t changing too much – both innings had more or less the same type of pitch. We played a few poor shots with the bat, and if you compare our batting with theirs, we had a higher rate of poor shots. That was one of the reasons why we couldn’t chase the target.”In what was a wonderfully sporting gesture, Hasan was among the first to congratulate Shubman Gill when he got to a century in the final over of India’s innings.”The way he batted was exceptional, he outclassed us throughout his innings,” Hasan said. “He was playing on merit, and didn’t give any chances either. It was difficult to bowl to him. The way he batted really made the difference.Hasan couldn’t help but come back to his team’s fielding. While lauding India for their agility and athleticism, he didn’t put down his team either and brushed off their effort as an aberration.”Their fielders are really good, everybody knows that,” he said. “But I think, at this level, there are a lot of teams who are very good in the field these days. There is high competition. We have also fielded very well throughout the tournament, only today was a bad day. We couldn’t take our chances, that was our mistake. India took their chances. That was the difference.”The one thing he’d take back home, though, is the camaraderie. This will be the culmination of the Under-19 journey for a number of players, who will now hope to step up and make a name for themselves in first-class cricket and beyond.”When we started at the Asia Cup in Malaysia, the team there and the team here, we’re totally different,” Hasan said of the lessons learnt. “The boys have gelled really well, and the boys have been doing really well in all the formats. Just one bad day here cost us badly.”

Newcastle United's strength in depth will be put to the test this season as Eddie Howe's side are set to compete across four competitions.

Who have Newcastle signed this summer?

The Magpies have bolstered their options, possibly to combat the extra games that the Champions League provides, by making three new first-team signings so far.

Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, and Harvey Barnes have all come through the door on permanent deals to bolster the head coach's roster, whilst Lewis Hall is reportedly poised to join on an initial loan from Chelsea.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Journalist Craig Hope recently claimed that the club are also eyeing up a new central defender and that Torino star Perr Schuurs, who has been valued at €40m (£34m), is one of a number of players they are interested in.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

The 23-year-old titan is a solid centre-back who enjoyed a good season in the Serie A last term, which means that he could be a shrewd signing for Howe.

Schuurs averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88 over 30 league games for Torino and won 55% of his duels on the ground as he displayed his strength in physical contests to win possession for his side.

As previously stated, depth will be important for Newcastle as they compete in two domestic cup competitions, the Premier League, and the Champions League.

This means that Howe needs to have players he can rely on if one of his first-choice options needs to be taken out of the side and Schuurs could arrive as an "outstanding" – as he was once described by journalist Josh Bunting – upgrade on Jamaal Lascelles.

The Magpies skipper is the current back-up to Fabian Schar and Sven Botman and struggled in his limited appearances as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.53 and lost 75% of his ground duels across seven Premier League outings.

This came after the ex-Nottingham Forest enforcer averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.73 and lost 57% of his ground battles over 26 top-flight matches during the 2021/22 campaign.

The 29-year-old dud's Sofascore ratings placed him 23rd out of 24 players within the squad last term and 16th during the previous season.

These statistics suggest that Schuurs would come in as a big upgrade on Lascelles in terms of the average level of his performances and his ability to come out on top in physical duels if he can translate his form from Italy over to England.

The Dutch colossus, who the aforementioned Bunting also once dubbed "dominant", could also provide more drive on the ball to push the team up the pitch.

Over the last 365 days, the Torino ace has completed 0.39 successful take-ons per 90, which places him in the top 17% of his positional peers among the top European leagues and competitions.

Lascelles, however, completed 0.04 per 90 during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign and ranked within the bottom 20% of centre-backs in the division.

This suggests that Schuurs could offer more in possession by taking on the opposition's press to gain yards and place his side in better positions to start attacks, which is another reason why he would come in as an upgrade on Lascelles to fill in for Botman or Schar when required.

Leeds United are considering an offer to bring Glasgow Rangers star Glen Kamara to the Championship, and the latest reports have shared two more targets the 49ers have had on their radar.

Who is Glen Kamara?

Kamara is primarily a defensive midfielder who has played his football at Ibrox since 2019 having joined from Dundee FC, and he’s become a regular feature of the first team during his four years at the club, but there’s a chance that he could depart before the end of the ongoing window.

The Finland international was handed just 12 starts in the Scottish Premiership last season which shows how low down in his manager’s pecking order he is, so despite still having another two years remaining on his contract, he’s only likely to receive more game time moving forward should he complete a move elsewhere.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

Football Insider previously reported that the Whites had opened talks regarding a deal for the 27-year-old, who has attracted interest from ten unnamed clubs in the second-tier as per the same outlet, but stated that Daniel Farke’s side were in pole position, and discussions must have been positive as they are now contemplating taking their initial interest one step further.

Are Leeds signing Glen Kamara?

According to The Daily Mail’s Transfer Confidential, Leeds are “weighing up” a bid for Kamara this summer.

The Elland Road outfit are in the market to search for replacements for Tyler Adams, who is reportedly close to completing a move to Premier League side Chelsea, and have identified the Finland talisman as an ideal candidate. The 49ers had also been “exploring” a swoop for Reims’ Dion Lopy, but he has joined Almeria.

Alongside the midfield, the boss is pursuing defensive targets and has “checked on” AZ Alkmaar centre-back Pantelis Hatzidiakos.

How good is Glen Kamara?

Leeds will know that Kamara wasn’t given a fair chance to prove what he was capable of last season but he’s more than shown what he has to offer over the course of his career, so should he put pen to paper, the defensive midfielder could be a promising addition for Farke.

The Tampere native, who pockets £21k-per-week, is extremely calm and composed in possession having recorded an 89.4% pass success rate during the previous term which was higher than any of the regular starters managed in LS11, showing that he'd be an upgrade on the boss' current options, but he’s also capable of getting involved in the final third.

The Nike-sponsored veteran has posted 31 goal contributions (20 assists and 11 goals) since first bursting onto the professional scene, and his performances have also been recognised on the international stage having been named Finland’s Player of the Year for 2022.

Finally, Kamara, who has been dubbed a “monster” by his former manager Steven Gerrard, is a versatile operator having previously been deployed in six different positions, including everywhere across the midfield and even at right-back, so he would be a wonderful option for the manager to have at his disposal should he want to tinker with his team selection.

West Ham United's Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca could leave the club this summer as, according to journalist Alex Crook, he will "keep pushing" for an exit after an offer from Inter Milan was rejected.

Is Gianluca Scamacca leaving West Ham United this summer?

It hasn't been the transfer window West Ham fans would've been dreaming of so far this summer.

Whilst the loss of club captain Declan Rice was something most people expected to happen, the apparent reluctance to spend any of the £105m they received for their star is more surprising.

It now looks like another big-name player will be following the England international out the door before anyone comes the other way, with Italy international Scamacca looking increasingly likely to return to Serie A, with Inter Milan seemingly intent on signing him.

Read the latest West Ham United transfer news HERE…

According to the Daily Mail, the Italian giants have made an offer worth £25m to the Conference League holders, which was turned down as they hold out for at least £30m.

The Hammers only signed the striker last summer in a deal worth £35m, so, understandably, they would want to recuperate as much of that initial outlay as they can, but with last year panning out so poorly for the player, he will continue to agitate for an exit, per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on TalkSport, which was posted to their YouTube channel:

"It's a good few weeks since Declan Rice completed his British record £105m move to Arsenal, but still not a single player signed and actually more players looking to follow Declan Rice out the exit.

"Gianluca Scamacca – hasn't worked out for him at all – certainly is one of those. We know there was a bid of around about £17m from Inter Milan that was rejected instantly but he will keep pushing."

How good was Gianluca Scamacca last season?

It wasn't a great debut season for the former Sassuolo man last year, but a lot of that is down to terrible luck with injuries, as he missed a total of 23 games for the Hammers last year and spent 172 days on the sidelines since suffering an initial injury in mid-November.

That said, when he has donned the Claret and Blue, he has often flattered to deceive.

In the 16 Premier League games he has played for the east Londoners, he has scored only three times, provided no assists, maintained a poor passing accuracy of 66.9% and averaged a fairly mediocre match rating of 6.50, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are nothing to shout about and suggest that his poor return at the London Stadium can't just be chalked up to bad luck.

According to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the 6 foot 5 titan's best statistics are that he sits in the top 13% for interceptions, the top 10% for tackles and the top 30% for total shots, all per 90.

None of those numbers paints the picture of a great striker and, worse still, he sits in the bottom 17% for non-penalty expected goals and expected assists, the bottom 11% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, and the bottom 6% for assists, also all per 90.

At the end of the day, his performances have certainly been limited by injury, but when he has had the opportunity to show what he can do, he has totally underperformed.

He also failed to produce for Italy last season, with former striker Christian Vieri telling Il Corriere della Sera (via West Ham Zone):

"He (Scamacca) is far behind, I thought he'd get regular playing time at West Ham.

"He must show something more and score more goals."

Ultimately, if the Irons can get the £30m they want and lose just £5m to get him off their books, it might be best for all parties involved and give Scamacca a chance to rebuild his career.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will look to 'fast-track' youngster Kobbie Mainoo and will keep him around the first-team rather than sending him out on loan to continue his development, according to journalist Steve Bates.

Who is Kobbie Mainoo?

Mainoo is a talented 18-year-old midfielder for Manchester United who is steadily making a large impression at Old Trafford due to his displays in the engine room at underage levels.

Last term, combining his exploits in various elite development competitions and in the first-team, Mainoo racked up 20 appearances and registered two goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

In the Red Devils' 1-0 victory over Lyon in a pre-season friendly earlier this week held at Murrayfield, Mainoo put in a strong performance and backed up the hype he has continued to build over the last few weeks.

Football analyst Statman Dave took to Twitter to share his positive impact on proceedings, stating: "Kobbie Mainoo’s game by numbers vs. Olympique Lyonnais: 94% pass accuracy 48 touches 2 blocks 2 interceptions 1/1 dribbles completed. Bright future."

According to The Manchester Evening News, Manchester United did consider loaning Mainoo out this campaign to continue his development; however, it is now understood that he will be kept in and around the first-team squad after impressing senior figures at the club.

The Stockport-born midfielder is capable of playing in a variety of central positions and will travel on Manchester United's tour of the USA after featuring in friendly victories over Leeds United in Oslo and against Lyon in Edinburgh.

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Bates has issued an important update on the future of Mainoo at Manchester United.

Bates wrote: "AS soon as Manchester United signed Mason Mount, Erik ten Hag’s phone started ringing with clubs eyeing up a chance to grab one of his midfield stars. The clamour for one player was loudest – rising young academy star Kobbie Mainoo. But the multiple enquiries to take the 18-year-old star on loan met with an immediate and emphatic response from the Dutch boss – “No chance”.

"But ten Hag wants to oversee Mainoo’s development at the club’s Carrington training ground after tying the youngster to a new four-year deal last season."

What now for Manchester United?

Manchester United manager Ten Hag will be focusing all of his attention on preparing his side for the new season over the next few weeks and trying to secure key transfer targets.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana travelled to the Carrington training complex to complete his medical ahead of a £43 million move to Manchester United and is expected to be announced imminently, according to The Daily Mail.

The Red Devils are also in advanced talks with Atalanta over striker Rasmus Hojlund to iron out the structure of the fee they will pay for the Denmark international, who has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League giants, as per The Independent.

Talking on the ESPN YouTube channel, journalist Rob Dawson revealed that Manchester United's short-term signing Jonny Evans could end up penning a longer deal at the club, stating: “United privately are saying they are not ruling anything out with him. Possibly he could sign a longer deal for the coming season, spend a year at Old Trafford as a back-up for Varane and Martinez. If that were to happen it would cast a massive doubt on the future of Harry Maguire. If they were to bring Jonny Evans in, there really wouldn’t be a place for Harry Maguire.”

Leeds United will look for several signings spread across 'several positions' as Daniel Farke aims to ready his squad for Sky Bet Championship action, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

How has Leeds United's transfer window panned out so far?

Ethan Ampadu has become Leeds United's first signing of the transfer window, joining from Chelsea in a deal worth £7 million plus add-ons and providing some flexibility as he can operate in defence or holding midfield, as per BBC Sport.

The Wales international featured just 12 times for the Blues and was farmed out on loan to Sheffield United, RB Leipzig, Spezia and Venezia during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Clipped on Leeds United's official Twitter account, Ampadu made his reasoning clear for joining the Yorkshire outfit in his first interview since arriving at Elland Road, stating: "As a club, the history of it doesn't have to be sold, everyone knows how big Leeds is."

One strange feature of Leeds United's transfer window so far has been the unusual event of several players leaving on loan deals following their relegation from the Premier League, with Robin Koch, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca departing Elland Road on temporary deals, as per Transfermarkt.

Rodrigo Moreno has left the building to join Qatari side Al-Rayyan while experienced goalkeeper Joel Robles has linked up with Saudi Arabian second-division club Al Qasdiah, as per The Yorkshire Evening Post.

Welsh striker Tyler Roberts has moved to Birmingham City on a permanent basis. At the same time, out-of-contract midfielder Adam Forshaw faces an uncertain future at Leeds United despite being offered a new deal by Farke, as he has interest from European clubs and Saudi Pro League side Al Akhdoud, according to The Daily Mail.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer expert Romano has detailed that Leeds United will be identifying targets to pursue in multiple positions this summer.

Romano stated: “Leeds will look for players in different positions. So, I think they will be really busy in the next week.

“At the moment, Leeds are not happy with their proposal. Gnonto will be a crucial part of the transfer window for Leeds this summer.”

Who do Leeds United want to sign then?

Leeds United are hard at work this window and transfer expert Romano has laid out some further information indicating that the Elland Road outfit are keen on Paris Saint-Germain youngster Edouard Michut, stating on Twitter: "Excl: Leeds United are among several clubs interested in Edouard Michut from Paris Saint-Germain. Deal will depend on conditions decided by PSG in the coming days."

Strengthening the goalkeeper position will also be a priority for Farke, who is reportedly eyeing a swoop for Newcastle United stopper Karl Darlow, according to iNews.

As per Sport Mediaset relayed via Sport Witness, Leeds United have been linked with a sensational move for AC Milan striker Divock Origi, who is also attracting interest from Crystal Palace.

Nottingham Forest will allow striker Emmanuel Dennis to leave the club this summer and have green-lit his departure, which has put Leeds United on red alert as Farke aims to bolster his attacking options, as per Football Insider.

The emergence of Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne and Ben McDermott as players of national interest has been confirmed by their inclusion in Cricket Australia’s national performance squad for 2017.Carey enjoyed a strong season as wicketkeeper for a South Australian side that made the Sheffield Shield final for a second consecutive season, while Labuschagne enjoyed a strong season for Queensland and McDermott produced one of the innings of the Big Bash League for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Melbourne Renegades.At a time when the national selectors are looking ardently towards youth, the trio will be aware of their standing when reminded of the fact that three members of last year’s squad – Matt Renshaw, Hilton Cartwright and Sam Heazlett – all went on to play for Australia during the 2016-17 season.”It’s been really pleasing see three players from the 2016 National Performance Squad go on to play international cricket in the past 12 months,” the national talent manager and selector Greg Chappell said. “In Matthew Renshaw and Hilton Cartwright at Test level, and Sam Heazlett at ODI level, the NPS program is having a real impact in developing Australia’s emerging talent into cricketers capable of playing at the game’s highest level.”There is a wealth of talent in this squad, and a nice balance between players with domestic experience pushing to play for Australia in the near future, and players who we believe can make the step up from underage championships, to domestic level and hopefully international cricket over the next couple of years.”Pace bowlers will be the first to arrive at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on May 8, before the full intake begins on May 29. The players will be sent to the Snowy Mountains for a boot camp before other keynote events including a five-day spin camp in June, a visit to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in July and a fielding and wicketkeeping camp in August.”Our spin camp has been running now for a number of years, and each year I see it getting better. We have international conditions, international spinners and international coaches coming through as part of that particular program as well,” the NPS head coach Troy Cooley said. “With the facilities we have, we can replicate Indian conditions and Australian conditions, and it really is a good opportunity for both batsmen and bowlers to develop their game outdoors in the sun.””We’ve done some excellent work with the State Talent Managers and the National Selection Panel to select this squad, and we have another talented group of young players. Our role in this important pathway program is to value-add to the hard work the States are doing with these players.”Our facilities are world renowned, and provide plenty of opportunities for cricketers to learn and develop their craft in a multitude of different conditions to not only improve on their current skills, but replicate the touring life of an international cricketer.”There are several specialist camps as part of this year’s program, including a boot camp in the Snowy Mountains to test our players’ adaptability and resilience away from the game, and a trip to the MRF Academy which adds a real international flavour to the program, and further sub-continent experience.”National Performance Squad 2017: Alex Carey, Jackson Coleman, Michael Cormack, Brendan Doggett, Jake Doran, Daniel Fallins, Jordan Gauci, Ryan Gibson, Ryan Hadley, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lewin Maladay, Ben McDermott, Tom O’Donnell, Ben Pengelley, Henry Thornton, Param Uppal, Mac Wright

Everton have already got a plan in place should they lose Jordan Pickford, with the Toffees lining up a move for Sam Johnstone.

Are Everton signing Sam Johnstone this summer?

The current Crystal Palace goalkeeper only joined the Eagles back at the beginning of the 2022/23 season but could already be off. He managed nine appearances for the SE25 outfit in the top flight this term, conceding ten goals along the way.

It meant that he had to make do with plenty of time on the bench and having been a first-team option with West Brom prior to the move, he likely won't have been too happy to merely sit on the sidelines.

Indeed, he impressed when given the chance to play frequently in the Premier League in the past. When West Brom were last in the top division, he played on 37 occasions and despite his side being relegated that year, he was dubbed one of the best 'keepers in the league by Big Sam Allardyce.

Continuing to play often in the Championship, he played a further 36 times for the Baggies and was then eventually given a way back into the Premier League by Palace.

Now, according to various reports (via The Daily Mail), the shot-stopper may have another chance to play regularly in the top flight. That's because Everton appear to be preparing a move for Johnstone, should they end up losing Jordan Pickford.

The former Man United goalkeeper would cost little – he has a release clause of just £10m – and has experience at the top-level, and is seen as a good replacement for the England number one. Pickford is a wanted man by the Red Devils himself and should they opt to sign him, it could trigger a chain of events that sees Johnstone end up at Goodison Park.

When does Johnstone's contract expire?

His current deal at Palace only expires in 2026 but that clause in his deal could mean that he leaves the club already – and for relatively cheap as well.

He's clearly seen as a very good and reliable option in goal, with former boss Steve Bruce calling Johnstone "wonderful" as a player during his time at West Brom. It was his performances for the Baggies and prior to his stint there that earned him a move to Palace – and now, he could end up being the first-team choice at Everton too, should Pickford be sold.