Brendan Rodgers is just a "pipe dream" appointment for Leeds United, according to presenter Conor McGilligan.

Rodgers could potentially be set rejoin Celtic four years after departing the Scottish Champions for Leicester City, but there were reports that Leeds could make a late push.

What is the latest Brendan Rodgers news?

According to a report from BBC Sport, Celtic have advanced talks with Rodgers over a potential return to Celtic Park, and despite the fact no deal has been reached, the Northern Irishman is the club's priority appointment.

The former Liverpool manager enjoyed a stellar time during his last spell at Celtic, winning two Scottish league titles, three Scottish league cups, and two Scottish cups, including an invincible season and two trebles.

A report from Scotland stated that Leeds were attempting to hijack Celtic's deal for the recently sacked Leicester manager, however, a new report states that the recently relegated Whites will instead pursue other managerial targets as it was suggested that Rodgers is not willing to take the step down to Championship football.

What did Conor McGilligan say about the situation?

Speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan hit back after hearing reports Rodgers is leaning more towards a potential return to Parkhead this summer:

"I think we knew all along, I’ve not been getting carried away with it, the lads behind the scenes on the debrief they have not been getting carried away with the Brendan Rodgers either, it’s a bit of a pipe dream, it always has been a bit of a pipe dream, to be honest with you.

"A manager of Liverpool finishing second in a title race, a manager who has won an FA Cup, a manager who has already battered the Championship, getting him back down to the Championship even on a big financial package was going to be difficult."

Would Leeds United be a smart move for Brendan Rodgers?

Leeds seemingly need an overhaul after a really disappointing campaign which resulted in relegation, with their defence being the worst in the league last season. Rodgers has a fantastic record in the Championship, with his Swansea side winning promotion via the play-offs the last time he competed in the division.

For Rodgers, who has been hailed as a "genius" in the past, the uncertainty around Leeds United with the pending ownership change and players who may want to leave following relegation in addition to the drop-down in divisions may turn the Northern Irishman away from the club, instead opting for a chance to win league titles and domestic cups in Scotland with Celtic to rebuild his reputation quickly.

Should the former Leicester City manager decide to join Leeds, it would be a major coup for the club, and surely make them one of the favorites to come straight back up.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is said to have been left impressed by Ryan Mason after their meeting on Friday at Hotspur Way.

Does Ryan Mason have managerial offers?

The 32-year-old former Spurs midfielder once again took the reins in north London following the departure of Antonio Conte and then Cristian Stellini.

Results were certainly mixed and Mason was unable to help the Lilywhites secure a spot inside the European places despite their emphatic victory on the final day of the season.

But now there is the prospect of Mason coaching under another manager in north London having already worked under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Conte.

With two stints now under his belt as the caretaker manager at Tottenham, perhaps he may view this as the perfect opportunity to take a managerial role for himself.

There have been reports suggesting the Englishman has interested suitors from the Championship including Swansea City.

However, after a meeting with Postecoglou last week in north London, it now seems as if the 32-year-old will be remaining at Spurs for the foreseeable future.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed the Australian manager was left seriously impressed with the Spurs coach:

"And from what I understand, Postecoglou was impressed with Mason, Mason was impressed with what Postecoglou had to say. And despite the fact that there's a few clubs interested in Mason, two or three in the Championship, a couple across Europe, Postecoglou convinced him; 'No, stick around with me'."

Who will be Postecoglou's coaching staff?

The Australian's arrival in north London has not come without some hiccups with Celtic holding firm over keeping their coaching staff who worked under the 57-year-old.

Indeed, it has been reported the Bhoys have a clause in the coaches' contracts which means they are unable to follow Postecoglou should he leave the club.

This does leave Spurs in a bit of a tricky spot with most managers usually bringing their own staff with them when they move clubs.

But it seems as if these concerns are not disrupting Tottenham's efforts to improve their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Reports now suggest the Lilywhites are moving in on a potential deal to bring in their next goalkeeper for the future with talks ongoing over a move for David Raya.

After a disappointing campaign, change is seemingly on the menu in north London for this summer and perhaps keeping a familiar face around in Mason will be a positive move.

It has been suggested in the past that the players at Hotspur Way have a lot of respect for the £58k-per-week Mason and he will provide Postecoglou with a clear understanding of the club's values.

Aston Villa are reportedly edging closer to a target they’ve had since January, with a La Liga star potentially following Monchi and Unai Emery to Villa Park.

According to Football Insider, the Villans will have a budget of £150m this transfer window, and with both Spaniards on board, it’s expected to be a busy summer in the Midlands.

Indeed, as per the same outlet, it looks as though they are set to utilise a fair wedge of that budget in order to complete a club-record £40m move for Villarreal defender Pau Torres.

Sources close to the site have revealed that Villa are ‘in contact’ with Emery’s former club over a potential deal with ‘some progress’ being made.

What could Pau Torres bring to Villa Park?

Hailed as “sensational” by former Spanish national team coach Luis Enrique, Torres has been a player on the radar at Villa since the winter.

Club and player were linked initially following Emery’s move to Villa Park from Villarreal, as his former centre-back at the Yellow Submarine emerged as a potential individual that the four-time Europa League winner could tempt to join him.

Claiming that he’d “never seen” a defender like the 26-year-old when speaking to football.london back in 2021, it was fine praise indeed from a manager that has coached some of Europe’s best in his career.

The 51-year-old may finally be reunited with his former star in the Midlands, in a move that could solidify Villa’s defence for years to come.

Ezri Konsa has been a shining light in Emery’s defence and could prove to be a strong contender to partner Torres should he make the move to Villa Park.

Winning 72% of his total duels this season, the Englishman featured in all 38 Premier League games this campaign, averaging 4.4 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.

The 25-year-old’s defensive expertise in the English top-tier could complement the talents of the Villarreal-born gem, who has emerged as one of the best progressive playing central defenders in the continent.

As per FBref, the La Liga star ranked in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe when it comes to progressive carries, averaging a monstrous 2.24 per 90 as well as recording an average of 5.81 progressive carries per 90, placing him in the top 4%.

Paired with the experience and defensive know-how of Konsa who has operated Villa’s defence since his arrival in 2019, Torres could provide an improved outlet of progressive play to give a new approach to the whole squad.

Emery could have the perfect combination in central defence of a right-footed and left-footed whizz both equipped with 'sensational' defensive stability and added creativity from the back.

West Ham United hold an interest in potentially bringing in Fulham's Joao Palhinha as a possible replacement for the expected departing Declan Rice.

How much will Declan Rice be sold for?

It was a trick 2022/23 campaign for the Irons in the Premier League which saw them battle away at the wrong end of the table for the majority of the campaign.

However, they were able to end their season on a monumental high earlier in the week after getting their hands on the Europa Conference League trophy.

Rice captained his side to European glory as well as Premier League survival which will mean the Hammers will play in the Europa League next season.

But it now looks unlikely that the 24-year-old will be playing in the second-string European competition at the London Stadium with speculation surrounding his future.

Indeed, according to reports, Arsenal are readying their initial bid for the England international as they look to bolster their side after putting in a serious title charge this term.

Although the Hammers look set to lose their biggest asset over the coming weeks, he will not leave east London for anything short of a significant fee.

It is believed the Hammers value Rice in excess of £100m ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

And with serious money soon to be in their pocket, insider Alex Crook has told TalkSPORT the Hammers are already eyeing Palhinha as a potential replacement for the 24-year-old:

"A name that was mentioned to me this [Friday] afternoon was Joao Palhinha of Fulham. He's somebody that West Ham have got serious interest in and you could understand why West Ham would have interest in him."

How much does Palhinha earn?

The Portuguese midfielder enjoyed a seriously impressive first campaign in the Premier League with Fulham where he racked up 35 league appearances.

Indeed, the 27-year-old was hailed a "tackling machine" by his teammate Harrison Reed and that is clear to see as he ranks inside the top percentile for tackles made (4.26 per 90 minutes) by midfielders across Europe (via FBref).

However, his aggressive style of play did come with some drawbacks considering he also racked up 14 yellow cards in the Premier League alone.

Although Palhinha did not provide the same attacking threat as Rice last season, the Portuguese midfielder did outperform the England international in almost every defensive department barring interceptions (via FBref).

Any potential move for the £50k-per-week midfielder this summer will be ambitious and could prove an expensive one to pull off given Fulham will be fully aware of the funds expected to be acquired for Rice's services.

The Warriors bowlers bundled Knights for 93 in Port Elizabeth for a dominant eight-wicket win, their third straight victory and fourth in five matches to stay second on the points table, behind Titans.Knights saw only the toss and a few early overs go in their favour before a run-out broke the opening stand in the last over of the Powerplay. They lost Patrick Kruger (37 off 26) and Andries Gous within the space of five balls, leaving them on 47 for 3. The collapse started with captain Theunis de Bruyn’s wicket as the Warriors bowlers combined to wipe out the remaining seven wickets for only 31 runs. Only four batsmen reached double figures. Andrew Birch, JJ Smuts, Ayabulela Gqamane and Colin Ackermann all struck twice each.Smuts troubled Knights when he opened in the chase too, striking a rapid unbeaten 49 off 35 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He saw two wickets fall – of Somila Seyibokwe and Colin Ingram (23) – before sealing their win with a six over long-on in the 12th over.Opener Cameron Delport blitzed a 33-ball 62, in an innings that featured six fours and three sixes, to help Dolphins ace their chase of 171 against table-toppers Titans in Durban. He added a 60-run opening stand off 34 balls with Morne van Wyk to set the tone for the chase.Although van Wyk and Kevin Pietersen were dismissed in quick succession – in the space of nine balls – Delport ensured the asking rate didn’t climb. By the time he was bowled by legspinner Shaun von Berg in the 11th over, Dolphins needed just 64 off 65 balls. Contributions from Cody Chetty (29), Khaya Zondo (26) and Robbie Frylinck (12) carried Dolphins home with four balls to spare.That Dolphins faced a challenging target after Titans were reduced to 35 for 3 was down to Farhaan Behardien’s unbeaten 40-ball 72. Frylinck took two of those wickets in the Powerplay. Subsequent partnerships with Heino Kuhn (30) and Albie Morkel (29) of 66 and 69 respectively brought Titans back into the game. Titans were able to plunder 59 off the last five overs.

Mauricio Pochettino's appointment during the off-season ensures the Chelsea head coach has a chance to run the rule over his players – of which there are many – before the Premier League season kicks off in early August.

It is set to be another busy window at Stamford Bridge, with numerous players linked with moves away and others being touted as possible replacements or indeed upgrades.

While it is true Chelsea are in need of a prolific goalscorer, the club cannot continue to throw large sums of money around in the hope of landing the perfect fit.

With Christopher Nkunku set to officially arrive from RB Leipzig this month in a deal worth over £50m, it looks increasingly likely that the Blues will splash out a further £30m to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

But the Blues may already have a new signing of sorts in their ranks ready to step up and play alongside Nkunku when needed.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Pochettino is ready to give Armando Broja a chance to shine during pre-season, amid previous suggestions the striker could be used in part-exchange to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Is Armando Broja good enough for Chelsea?

Broja has spent 14 years on Chelsea's books, but with his 22nd birthday fast approaching, he has made just 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

After catching the eye on loan with Southampton in 2021-22 courtesy of a nine goal haul, Broja was finally given a run in the Chelsea side last season, only to sustain a knee injury during the winter break that curtailed his season after just 12 league games.

On the basis of those appearances, though, Broja showed he deserves another shot. He scored at a rate of 0.30 goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was bettered last season by only Joao Felix (0.38) among Chelsea players.

Rather tellingly, though, Broja's figure of 0.30 came from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.24, compared to 0.47 for Joao Felix, suggesting he converted more times than expected based on the quality of his chances, whereas the opposite was true for the latter.

That is further reflected in the shots on target metric, with Broja – on as little as £40k-a-week, according to Capology – doing so from 83.3% of his attempts. The next-best Chelsea player in that regard was Noni Madueke with 50%.

When you also factor in the Albania international's team-high 0.61 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, which considers passes, take-ons and fouls directly prior to a goal, plus his 2.73 aerial duels won per 90 – only two others fared better – it is hard to argue against Pochettino not using Broja.

As Albanian coach Sergio Porrini said last season: "With the necessary comparisons, he's somewhat reminiscent of [Rafael] Leao in how unstoppable he becomes if he stretches the ball into space On the other hand, he is less good with his back to goal, in the construction of the action, but in the spaces he is devastating."

That is not to say Jackson is not a great striker himself – 12 goals in 26 LaLiga appearances last season tells you all you need to know – but Chelsea may well have an answer to their problems already raring to go without the need to waste more money.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the verge of their squad taking a huge hit this week as captain Ruben Neves is set to complete a move away from the club.

The Portuguese midfielder is poised to join Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a deal reported to be worth €55m (£47m) as the Premier League side have decided to cash in on the former Porto prodigy with one year remaining on his contract.

Julen Lopetegui will now be in the market to replace the 26-year-old with The BBC claiming that the funds from the sale will be used to strengthen the squad.

Who could replace Ruben Neves at Wolves?

Wolves could find their heir to the current skipper by securing a deal to sign reported transfer target Kouadio 'Manu' Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach, who is valued at £35m by the German side.

The 22-year-old dynamo is a defensive-minded midfielder who could unlock the best out of Old Gold forward Matheus Cunha by providing a shield in front of the back four to free up the attackers to do what they do best in possession.

He made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match in the 22/23 Bundesliga campaign and this suggests that the French talent is able to have a similar impact to Neves, who made 3.7 per Premier League outing in the season just gone.

His ability to drive forward with the ball could also mean that Cunha is able to take up better positions in the final third instead of needing to drop deeper in order to get involved in the game.

Kone ranks in the top 4% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues over the last 365 days for successful take-ons completed per 90 (1.97) and has made 2.04 progressive carries per 90 in that time.

Whereas, Neves has averaged 0.57 successful take-ons and 0.83 progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League for Wolves over the last 365 days, suggesting that the Gladbach powerhouse would be a significant upgrade in terms of moving the team up the pitch to open up space for others to thrive in the final third.

Cunha only scored two goals in 19 domestic matches for the club in 22/23 but his tally of 13 goals and 11 assists in 56 league games for Atletico Madrid and Hertha Berlin combined through 20/21 and 21/22 suggests that there is far more to come from the Brazilian ace.

Kone, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once described as a "one-man army", could slot in behind Cunha in the team and use his defensive screening and progressive dribbling to provide the ex-LaLiga ace with a better platform from which to build a successful Wolves career next term.

Arsenal have been linked with a host of players ahead of the transfer window, with the latest news suggesting that the Gunners are eyeing a fellow Premier League ace.

Mikel Arteta will hope to arm his squad with the necessary depth to challenge once more for the league title, after falling short this season to treble-winners Manchester City.

What’s the latest on Timothy Castagne to Arsenal?

As reported by Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg – relayed by Sport Witness – Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne has been eyed by Arsenal.

The report runs off the narrative of Belgium’s match-ups against Austria and Estonia, stating that the ties will be a chance for players to show their worth ahead of the transfer window.

It’s suggested that Castagne could have a potential suitor in Arsenal, following his relegation to the Championship with the Foxes.

The full-back is currently valued at £26m as per Football Transfers.

What could Timothy Castagne bring to Arsenal?

Lauded as “brilliant” by teammate Jamie Vardy, the Belgian has been a revelation since trading Serie A for the Premier League, signing from Atalanta for £21.5m in 2020.

A flock of players have been linked with moves away from the Foxes following their relegation, with movements starting with Youri Tielemans who has made the switch to Aston Villa.

Arsenal could land themselves added defensive quality in moving for the 27-year-old, in a move that could finally see Cedric Soares depart.

The Portuguese defender went on loan to Fulham in January with his place in Arteta’s squad out of reach, however the 31-year-old only made six appearances at Craven Cottage, failing to make an impact this campaign.

Arsenal are in need of defensive depth, after a double blow to William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu back in March left Arteta with minimal options for quality cover, having a significant impact on the Gunners’ season.

Based upon Castagne’s statistics from this season, and Cedric’s last term at the Emirates, the Belgian could prove to be an upgrade in depth on the out-of-favour right-back.

As per FBref, the £67k-per-week ace averages better than the German-born Portugal international over a range of defensive attributes.

The Leicester defender averaged 2.41 tackles and 1.19 interceptions per 90 this season in the league, as well as winning 51% of his total duels with an average of 4.5 won per game.

Last season, the Arsenal right-back averaged 2.30 tackles and 0.97 interceptions per 90 as per FBref, and won 49% of his total duels with three won per game on average, showing that the Gunners could land a worthy upgrade in the newly relegated gem.

Another area that suggests that Castagne could be a good fit for north London, is his ability to get forward, most prominently identified through his average of progressive passes he received per 90 this campaign with 4.12, via FBref. It's that sort of performance level that's seen him dubbed a "constant threat" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Arsenal whiz Ben White scored 3.65 in this area this season, showing the ability the Belgian has in getting into attacking positions considering the success of the Englishman in the defensive flank role under Arteta.

With no moves made yet ahead of the window, only time will tell if rumours are to be believed, however, the Gunners could finally wave goodbye to Cedric to make way for the FA Cup-winning defender.

Glenn Maxwell has said his next goal is to win back his place in Australia’s Test squad for the series against India

Brydon Coverdale01-Dec-2016

Allrounder Glenn Maxwell has conceded that batting below wicketkeeper Matthew Wade in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side this year has been “a little bit painful”, especially with a potential Test recall on the cards. Maxwell has his sights set on winning a place on Australia’s Test tour of India in February-March, and he could be a viable candidate if the selectors decide a fifth bowling option is required in the XI.Maxwell’s first-class batting average of 39.92 stacks up well compared to several other batting candidates, although he has spent little time batting above No.6 and even has a first-class hundred from No.8. Controversially left out of Victoria’s side for the first Shield round of the summer, Maxwell then found himself at No.6, behind keeper and captain Wade at No.5, and made 81 in his first innings of the campaign.”That’s probably a little bit painful at times,” Maxwell said on Thursday in Sydney, where he is part of Australia’s squad for Sunday’s first ODI against New Zealand. “I think probably batting below the wicketkeeper is also a bit painful as well. I think the wicketkeeper should be batting at seven unless you’re trying to squeeze an extra bowler into your line-up.”I’ve been just trying to bat wherever I can and trying to make as many runs as I can. I got a hundred from No.8 for Victoria so there is always opportunities to get runs wherever you are in the order but the way the Vics have been going you’re generally coming in trying to set a total up or trying to win the game with not many runs to get.”When asked why he had batted below Wade, Maxwell said: “I think because he’s captain and he chooses the batting order. That’s my view on it.”Wade was recalled to Australia’s side for the Adelaide Test against South Africa and Maxwell, under the captaincy of Cameron White, moved up to No.4 in the most recent Shield game against South Australia. He had also been bumped up to No.3 in the second innings against New South Wales in a round that was effectively a Test audition, and fell for 3 trying to help Victoria gain quick runs to set a target.”Everything I did in that game was trying to make sure we won the game,” Maxwell said. “In the second innings, going out there and getting told team up, there was no way I was going for a not out. I know there’s a lot of other cricketers who probably would have poked around and tried to get the not out. That’s not the way I play.”Glenn Maxwell hammered an unbeaten 145 in the first T20 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele•AFP

It has been an up-and-down year for Maxwell, who in January was named Australia’s ODI Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal ceremony, yet lost his place in the one-day side on the mid-year tour of West Indies and then his place in the squad for the ODI series in Sri Lanka. However, he was part of the T20 squad in Sri Lanka and struck an outrageous 145 not out in the first game.Preparing for the home summer, Maxwell said he had worked on some technical and mental aspects of his game, notably in an effort to start his innings more steadily and reduce the risk of throwing it away early. He said he was disappointed not to have been picked for the Adelaide Test, where Nic Maddinson slotted in to the No.6 position on debut, but was eyeing off the India tour next year as his next Test goal.”I thought I might have been a chance,” Maxwell said of the Adelaide Test. “I thought the way I batted in my first game back, at the MCG against the reverse-swinging ball against Queensland, I thought that was a really good sign of the improvements I’ve made in my defence, in my technique, in the way I leave the ball. I thought that was a really good sign of the work that I’d done over the last couple of months. I know one score probably doesn’t show it enough.”To not get picked was a little bit disappointing. But as I said there are plenty of Tests on the radar. They’ve made it quite clear the direction they’re going to try and go. In saying that they picked an absolute gem in Peter Handscomb and he played absolutely beautifully. Unfortunately for Maddo he came out at probably the toughest time to bat which was against Rabada bowling 145 and above, under lights and swinging the ball.”Being part of the squad for the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Series means Maxwell will not be playing in the Shield for Victoria next week in a pink-ball day-night game against Tasmania in Hobart. However, Maxwell said he would have been more concerned had he been missing a Shield game on a turning wicket at the SCG.”I’m looking more to the India series now having missed the boat for this Australian home summer, with the way that selections have gone,” he said. “Whether that comes from white-ball cricket or any sort of cricket I’m playing, whether they come down and watch me at Fitzroy-Doncaster and see how I’m going in club cricket it doesn’t matter.”

تتزايد الشكوك لدى لاعبي فريق مانشستر يونايتد تجاه إمكانية بقاء المدير الفني، إريك تين هاج، في منصبه الموسم المقبل، حسبما ذكرت تقارير صحفية.

وذكرت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” الإنجليزية أن لاعبي مانشستر يونايتد تزداد لديهم حدة الشكوك الخاصة بإمكانية بقاء تين هاج في منصبه كمدرب للفريق، الموسم القادم.

وخسر مانشستر يونايتد أمام مانشستر سيتي، في قمة منافسات الجولة السابعة والعشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي أمس، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف.

وأوضحت الصحيفة أن تين هاج لا يزال يحظى بدعم غرفة الملابس، على الرغم من بعض الشكاوى بشأن شدة نظام التدريب الذي يتبعه.

ومع ذلك، تدرك الصحيفة نفسها أن الكثيرين في فريق مانشستر يونايتد يعتقدون أنه من المحتمل أن يقوم المالك الجديد للنادي، السير جيم راتكليف، بإجراء تغيير في نهاية الموسم وإقالة الهولندي بعد عامين على رأس الفريق.

ورغم أن تين هاج صرّح بشكل علني أنه يحظى بثقة ودعم راتكليف، إلا أنه أسر إلى طاقمه التدريبي وممثليه بأنه ليس لديه أي ضمانات تخص مستقبله في “الأولد ترافورد”، وفقًا للصحيفة نفسها.

اقرأ أيضًا.. برونو فرنانديز بعد خسارة مانشستر يونايتد: نعرف ما يفعله مانشستر سيتي أمام أي فريق

وأشارت إلى أن تين هاج قد يحافظ على منصبه حال التمكن من الفوز ببطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي والتأهل إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا الموسم القادم.

من جهة أخرى، هناك استياء بين بعض اللاعبين بسبب كثافة الدورات التدريبية والأسلوب المتشدد من قبل تين هاج وطاقمه التدريبي.

وكان بعض اللاعبين غير راضين عن عدم حصولهم على يوم إجازة إضافي بعد مباراة لوتون تاون، الشهر الماضي، على الرغم من عدم وجود مباراة للفريق في منتصف الأسبوع.

هناك اعتقاد بأن تين هاج بحاجة إلى تجديد الجلسات وتسهيل التعامل مع اللاعبين للحفاظ على لياقتهم البدنية لبقية الموسم.