Leeds United return to Premier League action today as they once again play host, this time welcoming high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion to Elland Road.

The Seagulls come to Yorkshire in scintillating form, with Roberto De Zerbi having overseen just one loss in 2023 in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Javi Gracia still has the unenviable task of revitalising a toothless side who have just one goal in their last five games played.

Defensive solidity will likely be the Spaniard’s best port of call for grinding out a result against the well-oiled machine that visits them today, and by quelling their biggest threats they can improve their odds of claiming an important result.

The first issue they must deal with is Kaoru Mitoma, who has starred this campaign. His pace and trickery might prove too much for Luke Ayling, but the steely Rasmus Kristensen could well rise to the challenge posed.

Will Rasmus Kristensen start for Leeds vs Brighton?

Having clearly been signed as per Jesse Marsch’s orders, the Danish full-back now finds himself without his former boss to oversee his development. The 25-year-old must force his way back into the side on merit, and has only made one appearance in their last nine league games.

His presence remains felt throughout the club even on the bench, as former manager Matthias Jaissle once dubbed the steely ace as a “leader”.

However, before his removal from the starting side, the £40k-per-week titan had shown the defensive qualities that suggest he could keep certainly the Japanese star quiet.

The biggest issue the Brighton man brings is his natural talent to waltz past defenders, outlined in his impressive 60% dribble success rate.

This is somewhat countered by the 2.7 tackles the defender averages per game, whilst evening the odds with his 58% duels won this season, via Sofascore.

Not only that, but last season Kristensen proved his penchant for pushing forward too. Even journalist Josh Bunting noted how he looked forward to watching him:

“Rasmus Kristensen is an extremely physical player, he’ll fit into the Premier League, so powerful driving forward from full-back”.

Whilst he is yet to showcase that in England, his seven goals, three assists and 1.2 key passes per 90, via Sofascore, are indicative of a threatening presence that will have Mitoma also thinking about his role in quelling that threat.

Whilst it may seem a tall order to topple the visitors, the physicality and unrelenting work rate of the former RB Salzburg general could prove imperative in unsettling their rhythm with the backing of a raucous Elland Road crowd.

As Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag looks ahead to the summer transfer window, one problem area that may need addressing is at right-back, with the Red Devils seemingly yet to find an ideal, long-term solution in that role.

While the top-four hopefuls do have Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka battling it out for a starting berth at present, neither man has truly been able to impress over a consistent period of time, hence the potential need for a replacement.

In the case of Dalot, the Portugal international had effectively been an everpresent in the first half of the campaign – having started the first 15 Premier League games – although the former Benfica man has looked a "bit off it" since returning from World Cup duty, according to The Mirror's Colin Millar.

The 24-year-old notably failed to impress in the Wembley win over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final last month, having been hooked at half-time after being given the run-around by Allan Saint-Maximim, memorably getting 'skinned' by the fleet-footed Frenchman early on, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

Those woes have seen teammate Wan-Bissaka now appear deserving of the "first-choice status" – as per Daily Express journalist Alex Turk – although it was not too long ago that the Englishman was being touted for an exit ahead of the January window, after making just one, four-minute appearance before the World Cup break.

That prior lack of action would suggest that Ten Hag may not be totally sold on the 25-year-old, despite his recent resurgence, hence the belief that a new option could be brought into the fold, with 90min having claimed earlier this month that United have been scouting Red Bull Salzburg starlet, Amar Dedic.

Who is Amar Dedic?

The 20-year-old sensation – who is also reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal – has put himself on the map as a result of his standout displays for the Austrian side of late, having been hailed as "phenomenal" and a "beast" by one Bosnian journalist.

The Austria-born, Bosnia international – who recently scored his first goal for his country against Iceland last week – has proven himself a real threat at club level this season, after providing five goal involvements in all competitions to date, more than both Dalot (four) and Wan-Bissaka (one) have achieved this term.

Such quality in the final third has also been mirrored by the £13m-rated man's defensive prowess, as the five-cap gem ranks in the top 3% among his European peers for tackles made, with that a far superior record to both Dalot (top 17%) and Wan-Bissaka (top 19%).

To be able to have such an all-round figure in the backline would surely be of real benefit to Ten Hag, with the former Ajax boss also likely to enjoy the prospect of working with such a young, up-and-coming talent.

Not only that, but Dedic also offers the benefit of being able to feature on the opposite flank and at centre-back if required, with such versatility likely to prove vital amid the suggestion that United could allow a raft of defensive assets to depart this summer.

While the 5 foot 11 ace may not be the marquee addition that some Red Devils supporters may be craving, it would appear that he could potentially be the end to the club's right-back woes.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Ajax teenager Amourricho van Axel Dongen, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Business under Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has enjoyed a positive first season at Old Trafford, ending the club’s six year wait for a trophy by winning the Carabao Cup last month.

He has been backed in the transfer window by those at the top, with big-money moves for Casemiro and former Ajax stars Antony and Lisandro Martinez. In total, United have spent €243m (£213m) under Ten Hag, and it looks as if this summer could be just as expensive ahead of his second season in charge.

Reports have suggested that Ten Hag and United have made a new forward and midfielder their transfer priority, with Victor Osimhen, Harry Kane, Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham named as potential targets.

None of those players would come cheap, but it looks as if the ed Devils are eyeing a cut-price move for Van Axel Dongen.

The Latest: Van Axel Dongen rumours

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update on Van Axel Dongen, where United were named. The transfer expert said that the Red Devils ‘are one of the clubs informed on the situation’ regarding the youngster as a ‘potential free agent’.

He added that ‘Ten Hag knows him’, however, Ajax have offered him a new deal until 2027, although there is still no full agreement.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Van Axel Dongen is primarily a left-winger who is the current captain of Ajax’s U21 side and is already sponsored by Adidas. The 18-year-old actually shares the same agency as United players Luke Shaw and Anthony Elanga and has made three senior appearances for Ajax this season, registering one assist.

The Sun have described Van Axel Dongen as a ‘wonder kid’ and he appears to be a star in the making, so could be a shrewd signing in a cut-price transfer.

He turned down a move to Chelsea back in 2020, so the possibility of United securing his services over the coming months is an exciting one, with Ten Hag knowing the player from his time at the club.

Should a move materialise, United may look to use him sparingly in the first-team to start with, especially due to the club’s plethora of senior wide options, with Van Axel Dongen potentially gaining most of his minutes in the U21s or even out on loan, making this one to watch.

Liverpool are reportedly battling bitter rivals Manchester United to sign Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen in the summer.

The Lowdown: Verbruggen profiled

Verbruggen is one of the rising goalkeepers in European football, and has just come off the back of a man-of-the-match performance for Anderlecht in their UEFA Europa Conference League second leg last-16 tie against Villarreal on Thursday night.

Achieving a 9.5 rating on SofaScore, by far the highest of anyone on the pitch, the 20-year-old made a remarkable nine saves in total, with five of those coming from shots inside the box, as Anderlecht won 1-0 away in Spain to go through 2-1 on aggregate.

In the Belgian top flight, Verbruggen has only conceded 13 times in 12 appearances, keeping five clean sheets (first senior call-up to the Netherlands squad ahead of the upcoming international break.

The Latest: Liverpool interest

As per Belgian news outlet HLN, Liverpool are set to battle United for Verbruggen’s signature this summer, with both Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag ‘charmed’ by him.

Anderlecht want to keep him if possible, after rejecting an offer from Vincent Kompany’s Burnley last summer, but there is a ‘real chance’ that he could leave for financial reasons.

Still, Verbruggen has a €10m (£8.8m) price tag over him, and Anderlecht are insistent that he will not leave for less.

The Verdict: Kelleher replacement?

The Merseysiders have reportedly put back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher up for sale this summer, as he is not part of their long-term plans at Anfield.

This means that a goalkeeper position should open up next season, and Verbruggen could take that with open arms alongside number one Alisson.

HLN describe him as ‘excellent’ with his feet, making him a ‘huge weapon’ for teams that like to play out from the back:

“Verbruggen is an excellent line keeper, but is also excellent with the feet. A huge weapon for teams that like to build from behind.”

His team-mate and former Premier League defender Jan Vertonghen is also full of admiration for Verbruggen, claiming that he has the potential to become ‘one of the best goalkeepers in Europe’:

“Verbruggen has the potential for me to become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. If you see where he is now at 20. We are also very close, we are practically neighbors in Antwerp. I’ve rarely seen such a personality at that age. Modest, but very driven and ambitious. If I’m a top European club and I have the money to spend, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

Nonetheless, Verbruggen looks to be a very capable understudy to Alisson for next season, should he move to the Reds.

Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, who is a contender for the Tottenham job after Antonio Conte, was actually interviewed for the role back in 2021.

Managers linked with the Spurs job

Chairman Daniel Levy looks set to begin his search for a permanent Spurs manager this summer after Conte and the north Londoners agreed to part ways by mutual consent. Cristian Stellini, alongside assistant coach Ryan Mason, will take charge of the Lilywhites for the rest of this Premier League season while the hunt for Conte's successor goes on in the background.

There are many names linked with the managerial role at Tottenham, perhaps most notably Mauricio Pochettino, a real fan favourite at the club, and former Bayen Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann in the last week. Ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, who is also a free agent after leaving the Spain national team, has also been heavily tipped as a contender for the now-vacant Spurs managerial role.

In terms of bosses currently in employment, one coach who has been mentioned consistently as a Spurs target is Glasner – with rumours suggesting that contact has even been made.

The Bundesliga manager is out of contract in 2024, meaning he could leave Frankfurt next year, and no progress has been made on tying him down to a new deal so far. Reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has now provided his own update, writing for football.london and naming Glasner as one of the managers Levy could turn to after sacking Conte.

He adds a pretty interesting bit of background, namely that the Austrian was actually a candidate to replace Jose Mourinho back in 2021. Gold claims that Spurs "interviewed" Glasner that year as Levy weighed up who could come in after Mourinho, but the Lilywhites chief eventually turned to Nuno Espirito Santo.

Could Glasner work wonders at Spurs?

Interestingly, the 48-year-old does have plenty of credentials if Spurs do consider him for the role this summer. Glasner deploys a similar three at the back system to Conte, meaning players like Pedro Porro, who were arguably signed for his formation, could slot in seamlessly.

As well as this, Glasner's Eintracht side have been praised for their 'intense' and 'aggressive' football by rival managers like Marco Rose. Having won a Europa League last year, beating Scottish giants Rangers in the final and knocking out West Ham in the semis, Glasner also possesses a degree of trophy-winning pedigree.

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is in the ‘final stages’ of agreeing a new contract at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When is Kante out of contract?

The Frenchman’s current deal with Graham Potter’s side is set to expire at the end of the season and his future has been extremely uncertain having not yet put pen to paper on fresh terms. Despite spending a lot of time on the sidelines through injury, the Blues star has a match rating of 7.20 this term, which is higher than any of his teammates, showing just how much of a valuable player he is in the capital.

Premier League rivals Liverpool, alongside Paris Saint-Germain, had been credited with an interest in the 31-year-old at one stage when it looked like he could have been on his way out the door, but an update has now emerged which supporters will be pleased to hear.

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed that Chelsea and Kante are closing in on an agreement over a new contract at the Bridge. He wrote:

“N’Golo Kanté was back on the pitch for friendly game earlier this week… and the negotiations over new contract are still ongoing and progressing well to final stages. Discussions on last details as new deal could be valid for next two years plus one season club option.”

Are Chelsea right to hand Kante another contract?

Kante is Chelsea’s second-longest serving player after Cesar Azpilicueta, so whilst he can certainly be classed as a veteran of the squad, the hierarchy are absolutely correct to extend his stay.

The £290k-p/w talisman is absolutely tenacious in the middle of the park and was averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game prior to his absence, showing that he loves getting stuck in and winning back possession, but he is also equally as strong in the offensive aspect of his play (WhoScored).

The Paris native has clocked up 28 goal contributions during his time in SW6 and ranks in the 99th percentile for midfielder progressive carries per game, highlighting his desire to make a difference in the final third. The Adidas-sponsored gem can additionally operate in four various positions across the midfield so is a useful player to have available should any unexpected injuries or formation changes occur.

Kante has been dubbed “magic” by ITV pundit Ally McCoist and it will be a massive boost for Potter that he’s about to sign on the dotted line and commit his future for many more years to come.

Everton have found themselves struggling to comfortably compete in the Premier League again this season and Sean Dyche is tasked with the challenge of preventing the club from suffering relegation to the Championship over their remaining fixtures.

The Toffees are currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone just one point clear of the bottom three ahead of their important clash with Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow night and taking all three points will be absolutely crucial to their chances of survival.

No matter their fate, the club have a lot of issues to face when the season is over as they are currently being investigated for Financial Fair Play breaches and could find themselves in an even more troubling position depending on the deciding punishment from the Premier League over the coming weeks.

Dyche will need to not only offload a number of squad players who aren't contributing to the first team, but he will also likely only have a modest budget to work with when the transfer window opens this summer.

As a result, the former Burnley boss can repeat his Ellis Simms masterclass by unearthing more academy talents who deserve their opportunity to take the step into the senior team, with Reece Welch surely a great option to bolster defensive personnel.

Who is Reece Welch?

The 19-year-old centre-back has been rising through the ranks of the Everton academy since he was seven years old and, in October 2022, was rewarded with a brand new four-year deal to secure his future on the blue side of Merseyside after impressing over his development so far.

Upon putting his pen to paper on a new contract, sporting director Kevin Thelwell lavished praise on Welch:

"This four-year contract is reward for Reece’s hard work and progress at the club.

"Reece now has the opportunity to continue to learn from the talented defenders we have in the squad, and to keep pushing for more first-team football, ahead of what we all hope is a long and successful career with Everton."

The Goodison Park faithful should be familiar with the £1.7k-per-week youngster as former manager Frank Lampard gave him an opportunity to impress in the first team earlier this season against Fleetwood Town in a 1-0 League Cup victory back in August.

Over his 64-minute performance, the rising star showed he had no trouble getting stuck in, completing four clearances, winning two tackles and 100% of his aerial duels.

Comfortable with the ball at his feet, the teenager also tallied up a 92% pass completion rate.

His aerial ability, combined with his elegance in possession, would mark him out as a fine replacement for one of the club's more experienced professionals.

Indeed, despite making just 18 appearances in all competitions over the last two seasons, Yerry Mina remains one of the highest earners at Goodison Park collecting £120k-per-week. However, he is also one of the players who will be out of contract this summer, which will free up the wage bill considerably.

With that being said, Mina's prospective exit could provide a clear path for the "composed" Welch -as dubbed by Paddy Boyland – to become a first-team regular in the future as Dyche searches for defensive depth.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are thought to be one of a number of Premier League clubs keen on signing Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

What’s the latest on Wolves and Ugarte?

Ugarte has made a total of 75 appearances for Sporting after joining back in 2021, 37 of which have come during the current campaign. Primarily a defensive midfielder who can also turn out in a central midfield role, the Uruguay international appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation.

The 21-year-old actually shares the same agency as ten Wolves players and it looks as if a move to the Premier League could be on the cards this summer. MOT Leeds News relayed an update from the print edition of Portuguese newspaper O Jogo in the last 48 hours regarding Ugarte, claiming that Leeds are in the race for the midfielder.

However, the report also added that Wolves, and by extension chairman Jeff Shi and sporting director Matt Hobbs, are keen alongside Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham, AC Milan and AS Roma. Ugarte has a £52.7m release clause in his current deal and is under contract until 2026.

Would Ugarte be a good signing at Molineux?

It looks as if manager Julen Lopetegui could be in need of a new star midfielder this summer, especially with speculation that Ruben Neves is already negotiating a move to Manchester United.

Should an exit materialise for Neves, a move for someone like Ugarte could be viewed as key by those at Molineux, with Neves the top performer for Wolves this season, as per WhoScored. The joint top scorer has averaged a Premier League match rating of 7.00/10, and leads the way for number of passes per 90 and shots per game.

However, Ugarte has actually outperformed the Wolves man this season, averaging a better match rating, while also completing more tackles and interceptions per 90. His displays have resulted in football talent scout Jacek Kulig has labelled Ugarte as a "midfield machine", so he could prove to be a shrewd replacement for Neves, potentially making this one to keep an eye on, providing Wolves remain in the top-flight.

Crystal Palace are thought to be keen on signing Italy international Mateo Retegui this summer.

The Lowdown: Retegui profiled

Retegui is 23 years of age and is currently on loan at Club Atletico Tigre from Boca Juniors. Tigre have the option to buy the player permanently, with Retegui an out-and-out centre-forward.

The player enjoyed a successful Liga Profesional campaign last year, scoring 19 times in 27 games, continuing that form this year with six goals in eight.

The Argentine-born striker actually made his debut for Italy against England on Thursday, scoring in a 2-1 European Championship qualifier defeat. Italy manager Roberto Mancini has praised Retegui, even comparing him to legendary Argentine forward Gabriel Batistuta.

“I can say that he looks like Batistuta when he arrived in Italy. He may need some time to get comfortable, but it won’t be long. He is very smart.

“Coming from Argentina and playing in the national team, not even for a club, is not easy. He is an educated, intelligent, young boy. We have confidence, but we have to give him time. He is a classic centre forward.”

His form appears to have been catching the eye in England, with Selhurst Park seemingly a potential destination for the forward.

The Latest: Palace interest

Sports Witness relayed a transfer update from Corriere dello Sport regarding Retegui, where Palace and rivals Brighton were named.

They claimed that both clubs are interested in the player, with his agent set to fly to London where they plan to hold ‘appointments, meetings and market contacts’ ahead of a possible transfer. The report adds that Tigre plan to spend €2.1m (£1.8m) this summer to sign him permanently before selling him on for a major profit.

The Verdict: Smart move?

Even though Palace are unsure as to who will be in charge of the club heading into the 2023/24 campaign, with Roy Hodgson in temporary charge over the coming months, looking to bring in a new attacker appears to be necessary in the transfer window.

The Eagles are the joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League with 22 goals in 28 games and could lose star winger and top scorer Wilfried Zaha for free when his contract expires in the summer.

Therefore, looking at bringing in someone like Retegui who has been in free-scoring form over the last 12 months appears to be a wise move, however, Palace will know that they will need to remain a top-flight club to stand a chance of securing his services.

Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto is wanted by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Gnonto excelling for Leeds

The 19-year-old joined the Whites from FC Zurich last year, coming in as a highly-rated young player with a big future ahead of him for club and country.

Gnonto has made an immediate impression for Leeds, catching the eye with his fearlessness out wide, registering five goal contributions (two goals and three assists) in the Premier League.

The Italian will be an important figure for Javi Gracia’s side in these final few months of the season, as they look to pull further clear of the relegation zone after picking up a vital 4-2 victory away to Wolves last weekend, pushing them into 14th place in the table.

While Gnonto’s performances have been hugely entertaining and positive for Leeds, on the downside, his displays are likely to be attracting attention from other clubs, who could be circling like vultures in the near future.

That certainly appears to be the case according to a new update, in what represents a worrying development.

The Latest: Youngster wanted by trio

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via MOT Leeds News], Arsenal, Chelsea and City are all interested in snapping up Gnonto at the end of the season.

The youngster is expected to depart Elland Road if Leeds are relegated to the Championship, acting as a further incentive for them to stay in the top flight.

The Verdict: Worrying

To lose Gnonto so early in his Whites career would be a massive blow for the club, given the influence he has already had, having been described as ‘superb’ by journalist Phil Hay, who has also lauded his ‘good pace’ and ‘vision’.

The eight-cap Italy international is a player of unbelievable promise, having averaged 1.1 key passes and one dribble per game in the Premier League this season, and it would be a crying shame to see him at someone like Arsenal, Chelsea or City so soon.

That being said, it would be hard to begrudge Gnonto a summer exit if Leeds are relegated, and as mentioned, it really should be viewed as one of many key reasons to avoid the drop.

The hope is that the £20,000-a-week winger remains a Whites player for many years to come, becoming the next attacking superstar at Elland Road in the process.