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Leeds United are going to be busy in the summer transfer window on their way to, hopefully, building a squad that can avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites have already been linked with plenty of players to potentially arrive at Elland Road in the coming months, as Daniel Farke looks to improve his team.

Feyenoord forward Igor Paixao, Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Yves Bissouma, and Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson are just a few of the stars who have been linked with the club.

The West Yorkshire outfit are also reportedly eyeing a loan deal to sign Emiliano Buendia from Aston Villa, which would see him reunite with Farke, whom he thrived under at Norwich City.

Whilst there could be some high-profile, exciting, additions to the squad, there are also players in the current squad who are proof that players can turn their careers around.

For example, Leeds hit the jackpot when they decided to swoop for central defender Joe Rodon in the summer of 2023, despite his failure to make the grade at Tottenham Hotspur.

Why Leeds have hit the jackpot with Joe Rodon

The Whites initially signed the Wales international on loan from Spurs for the 2023/24 campaign, after he made just 24 appearances in all competitions in four years with the Premier League side.

Rodon went on to play 43 of the club’s 46 regular season matches and all three of their play-off games that term, forming partnerships with both Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu.

His form at the heart of the defence for the West Yorkshire outfit that season convinced the club to splash a reported fee of £10m out to sign him on a permanent basis from Spurs in the summer of 2024.

They were willing to take a gamble on a player who had not played much football after a difficult spell with Tottenham, and it is one that has paid off for the Whites.

24/25 Championship

Joe Rodon

Appearances

46

Starts

46

Pass accuracy

92%

Clean sheets

25

Dribbled past per game

0.1x

Ground duel success rate

68%

Aerial duel success rate

60%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Rodon was incredibly important to Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, as he started every single league game in the Championship – the only player in the squad to do so.

The highlights in the post above from his performance against Oxford United in April showcase the kind of quality that he provided in and out of possession for the Whites.

Leeds hit the jackpot because they unearthed a centre-back with the defensive strength to keep out opposition attacks, whilst also having the ability on the ball to start attacks, and they could repeat the masterclass they played with Rodon by signing another former Spurs defender.

Leeds eyeing deal for Championship star

According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United are one of the teams eyeing up a potential move to sign Millwall star Japhet Tanganga in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites, Burnley and Sunderland are all plotting swoops to sign the English central defender ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as they look to bolster their defensive options following promotion to the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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This means that there could be plenty of competition for his services this summer, with a number of teams keen on snapping him up from the Lions, and that suggests that Leeds will have to move quickly if they want to bring him to Elland Road in the coming weeks.

GIVEMESPORT adds that he has a release clause in his Millwall contract that would allow all three of the interested teams to sign him for just under £2m, in what could be a bargain deal.

The report also claims that Leeds have been keeping tabs on Tanganga for a long time and that they view him as a player who could bolster their efforts to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season.

It is now down to the club to beat Sunderland and Burnley in the race for his signature this summer because he could be a Rodon repeat for the Whites.

Why Tanganga could be a Rodon repeat for Leeds

Like Rodon, the former England U21 international played for Spurs in the past but failed to make the grade as a regular starter for the Premier League outfit, playing 50 times in all competitions across four years in the first-team.

Tanganga joined Millwall on loan for the 2023/24 season before joining the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, and he has been a terrific performer in the Championship for the Lions.

The 26-year-old titan was provided with an opportunity to revive his career in the second tier with Millwall, as Rodon was with Leeds, and he has taken it with both hands with his displays in the last 18 months or so.

Pundit Carlton Palmer claimed that the defender is “capable of playing in the Premier League” because of his “tremendous recovery pace” and that he “is a cut above” the Championship, which is reflected in the statistics below.

Japhet Tanganga (Championship)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

18

40

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

2.3

Clearances per game

3.3

5.4

Ground duel success rate

53%

61%

Aerial duel success rate

55%

63%

Dribbled past per game

0.2

0.3x

Clean sheets

5

14

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Tanganga is strong in duels with opposition attackers and rarely gets dribbled past, which speaks to his ‘tremendous recovery pace’.

This suggests that, as Palmer claimed, he has the physical attributes to be a success in the Premier League for Leeds if they decide to snap him up for a bargain fee of less than £2m this summer.

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Posts ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025

Tanganga may not have made the grade at Spurs, just like Rodon, but that does not mean that he is not a quality operator, as shown by his form for Millwall, and that is why the Whites could repeat their Rodon blinder by signing the English star this summer.

In what could finally see them get their hands on a long-term target, Manchester City chiefs have reportedly been preparing to make their summer move to sign a midfielder worth over £80m.

Man City's Champions League run-in

Whilst their sights may not be set on Premier League glory for the first time in four seasons, Manchester City have still followed the trend of finding their best form when it matters most.

Just when they seemed likely to miss out on a Champions League place, Pep Guardiola’s side have put together a ruthless run of nine straight games without defeat in all competitions, in a run that has seen one defensive change pay dividends.

Now, all eyes will be on the final three Premier League games and chasing second-place Arsenal in what would be quite the turnaround this late into the season. All of a sudden, Guardiola’s team in ‘crisis’ could end the campaign sat in second with an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to boot.

The City boss recently had his say on his side’s final run, telling reporters: “We are better than weeks ago, winning games in a row. It’s good to win when we play the way we played today, but we cannot relax — Southampton, Bournemouth, and Fulham [left to play].”

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It’s not just on the pitch that Champions League qualification will be celebrated, either. Away from the action, a place in Europe’s elite competition will allow the Citizens to spend big once more and potentially attract stars such as Morgan Gibbs-White and one other Premier League midfielder.

Man City chiefs preparing for Paqueta move

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City chiefs are now preparing to make a summer move to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United, having failed to get their deal over the line for the Brazilian last year. Then reportedly worth around £85m, the deal may yet come cheaper a year on as those at The Etihad prepare to spend big once more to sign a player Guardiola loves.

The move wouldn’t be without major risk, however. It’s worth noting that the midfielder is still waiting to hear the verdict of his betting case, which could yet see him banned for an extensive period of time. Should that prove to be the outcome, then City’s investment would be an instant mistake.

That said, there’s no denying Paqueta’s ability with or without the controversy. Former West Ham manager David Moyes was a particular fan of the 27-year-old during his time at the London Stadium, telling reporters in 2023: “Lucas was terrific.

“He drives me mad sometimes but everybody who watched him would have said: ‘This player has got incredible talent’. There is a word that goes around, a maverick. He is that for us. It is really important we get him in and adapt to him and accept some of his things.”

Arsenal were finally back in action on Tuesday night, and after months off with a hamstring injury, so was Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon didn’t start the Premier League game against Fulham, but he did come off the bench midway through the second half and then, just seven minutes later, scored what ended up being the winning goal.

It was a cameo that reminded everyone of just what the Gunners have been missing since December, and if they are to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League, it’ll no doubt be in part down to him.

In even more exciting news, Andrea Berta seems intent on supporting Saka next season by signing an international star who’d be his dream teammate next season.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Following what is likely to be another season without any silverware, it’s no surprise that the transfer rumours around Arsenal are already coming thick and fast, with one of the most significant in recent days concerning Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is supposedly another one of Berta’s targets, as not only has he seriously impressed for Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, producing 19 goal involvements in 29 games, but he worked with the Italian during his time with Atlético Madrid and has a release clause of around £62.5m in his contract.

Someone who could join for free in the summer is Bayern Munich ace Leroy Sané, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season and has reportedly held “concrete” talks with the North Londoners.

However, with the German set to turn 30 midway through next season, fans might want the club to sign a younger winger for the long term, which is what appears to be happening with Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to the Guardian’s Ed Aarons, Arsenal are currently “exploring a summer move” for the Athletic Bilbao gem, who has a release clause worth about £48m in his current contract.

In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that, as one of “his first acts as the club’s sporting director”, Berta has already “held talks” with the player’s representatives.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ incredible ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be unreal alongside Saka.

Why Williams would be a dream for Saka

When it comes down to it, there are a couple of intertwined reasons why Williams would be such a good signing for Arsenal and, specifically, Saka, with the first being his raw output.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored eight goals and provided 16 assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games.

Williams’ recent record

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

37

38

Goals

8

9

Assists

16

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.42

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Then, this season, he’s scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 38 appearances, which comes out to a slightly reduced but nonetheless impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.37 games.

Having a player who is this productive on the left wing will not only reduce the burden on the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, but with how frequently the Spaniard scores or assists, he will likely see his own tally increase.

Moreover, the fact that he’s so dangerous will force opposition defenders to focus on both wings instead of doubling up on the Englishman as they do today, which should open up space for the 23-year-old, which is the second reason he’d be a dream teammate.

Finally, according to FBref, the Bilbao dynamo sits in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for successful take-ons per 90, which again, should see him pull defenders away far more than the North Londoners current left-wing options do.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Williams this summer, as his output is spectacular, and even when he’s not scoring or assisting, he has the ability to make things happen, which will make him a dream to play with for Saka.

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Though there is ostensibly an organisation to look after their needs, it doesn’t really fulfil that purpose

Karthik Krishnaswamy17-Jul-2024On June 30, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced a reward of Rs 125 crore (about US$15 million) for India’s victorious T20 World Cup contingent.On July 2, Sandeep Patil appealed to the BCCI via newspaper column to provide financial aid for the treatment of his former India team-mate Aunshuman Gaekwad, who is currently battling cancer in London. Patil wrote that he and Dilip Vengsarkar had sought BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar’s help on this. “I’m sure he will facilitate this and, at the risk of sounding macabre, save Anshu’s life.”Eleven days later, Kapil Dev stepped in. “I know the Board will take care of him,” he wrote in a letter to the BCCI. “We are not compelling anyone. Any help for Anshu will have to come from your heart.”Related

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Last Sunday, the BCCI announced that it would release Rs 1 crore (about $119,000) for Gaekwad’s treatment.If these two events – the windfall for the World Cup winners, the plight of the former player and coach – don’t already strike you as juxtaposable, throw in this fact: Gaekwad is the president of the Indian Cricketers’ Association, the official, BCCI-recognised body responsible for the welfare of retired cricketers.The ICA, which came into existence in 2019, has through its brief history been more notable for what it isn’t than what it is. Its membership is restricted only to former players, and it isn’t affiliated to the World Cricketers’ Association (formerly known as the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations). The ICA falls well short of being a genuine player union, and it falls short by design. Even the Lodha Committee – tasked by the Supreme Court to recommend sweeping reforms to the BCCI in the wake of the IPL betting scandal of 2013 – specified, when it called for the formation of the ICA, that it would not act as a union.India and Pakistan remain the only two major cricketing nations without a recognised players’ body.

The BCCI’s munificence towards those at the top of the player pyramid can be viewed as a mechanism for weakening the collectivising impulse within them

Against this backdrop, Shah’s reward begins to look like, well, a Shah’s reward. Who sat and decided what the players, coaches and selectors – all of whom are among the beneficiaries – would receive as a performance bonus? Did the players, coaches and selectors have a say? Or was it all decided, as it seemed to the outside world, arbitrarily, minutes before it went out on X, formerly Twitter?And if the BCCI can make such a decision so quickly, why does it take so long to take notice of other matters?These questions are, of course, rhetorical, because this is how things have always been.The BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world, by far. India’s cricketers are among the richest in the world too, but there’s a caveat here. It’s true – well, kind of – if you’re talking about India the cricket team, but not so much about Indian cricketers at large. Most of the professional cricketers who play in the BCCI’s senior tournaments aren’t contracted in the IPL or the WPL, where the most money is concentrated. They aren’t contracted by their domestic teams either, despite a growing demand for this to happen, and continue to mostly get by on match fees.It’s a precarious way to earn a livelihood, in a career that stretches into your late 30s if you’re lucky. A measure of this precarity came when Covid-19 tore through the 2020-21 domestic season, forcing the cancellation of the Ranji Trophy, the tournament with the most match days and therefore, the highest earning potential. Because of this, the average male domestic player, ordinarily earning somewhere around Rs 12-14 lakh per season (about $15,500 at the current exchange rate), stood to take home something in the region of Rs 3-4 lakh ($4800) for 2020-21.A PCA event in 2023. The UK’s PCA is a full-fledged players’ organisation of the sort India and Pakistan lack•Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesThe BCCI eventually paid the players 50% of their normal match fees for tournaments cancelled in 2020-21, but that compensation only arrived in January 2022. Another delay to place next to the promptness of the World Cup reward announcement. Or next to another delay: it took the BCCI nearly 15 months to disburse the prize money – awarded not by them but by the ICC – to India’s squad for their runners-up finish at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup.The bigger picture is clear enough. There are two Cs in BCCI, and Control comes before Cricket. To this end, it has historically done everything in its power to prevent players from organising – even the Lodha Committee, so adversarial towards the BCCI in so many respects, took on board its “apprehension of unionisation”. Even the BCCI’s munificence towards those at the top of the player pyramid can be viewed through this prism, as a mechanism for weakening the collectivising impulse within them.It isn’t unknown for top international players to look out for their less fortunate colleagues. In 2017, for instance, Australia’s biggest stars rejected a financial deal from Cricket Australia that would make them richer at the expense of domestic players, and stood their ground through a bitter and protracted dispute. It’s reasonable to assume that India’s international superstars worry about the livelihoods of their Ranji Trophy team-mates and their counterparts in the women’s system, but there’s no real way for them to do anything about it. They can ask the BCCI nicely, but that’s about it, in the absence of an Indian equivalent of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) or Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).What exists in this hypothetical body’s place, the ICA, seems to have little scope even to serve the needs of the retired players it represents, including its president. Like everything and everyone else in Indian cricket, it can only appeal to the goodness of the BCCI’s heart.

With just over a year until the 50-over World Cup, a few of the questions facing Aaron Finch’s team

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Chance for Abbott
For a cricketer of the quality of Sean Abbott, 13 international appearances since a debut in 2014 is scant reward. Injury has not always been kind to him – his recent tour to Sri Lanka was ended before it started due to a broken finger – and as a pace bowler (and pace-bowling allrounder) he is in a skillset where Australia are well served. But with Pat Cummins rested from these two series and six matches in quick succession it would be a surprise if there wasn’t an opportunity for him at some stage. He was in the side for the three games against Pakistan earlier this year where he had stronger returns with the bat than ball in what were tough conditions for pace bowlers. He enters this series on the back of a useful spell for Manchester Originals at the Hundred which included a return of 4 for 8 where he became the first bowler to complete two maiden sets of five balls in the men’s competition.Cameron Green could be down at No. 8 in an allrounder-heavy side•Getty ImagesHow many allrounders?
Abbott is also part of a wider debate about the balance of Australia’s one-day side. Ahead of next year’s World Cup there is a move to lengthen the batting at the expense of another specialist bowler. In the six matches Cameron Green has played this year he has batted at Nos. 7 and 8, effectively becoming one of three quick bowlers alongside whichever pair of specialists is selected. He took the new ball during the series against Pakistan although was sparingly used against Sri Lanka given conditions. Australia are trying to work out if the combined overs from the likes of Green, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Marnus Labuschagne give them enough bowling depth alongside two specialist quicks plus Adam Zampa. Having the batting ability of Green as low as No. 8 should, in theory, allow them to go harder earlier in an innings and push for totals well beyond 300.Related

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Who at No. 3
The day before the opening match, Aaron Finch confirmed that Steven Smith would slot in at No.3. It makes a lot of sense. Marsh has been a resounding success since moving to No. 3 in Australia’s T20I side and in his most recent ODIs – three games against West Indies last year and three against Sri Lanka after recovering from a side strain – he has taken the same role. In the 50-over format he has yet to enjoy the same returns, with a top score of 29 in six innings against West Indies and Sri Lanka, and was seen as a player capable of exploiting the powerplay. However, the knock-on effect was moving Steven Smith and Labuschagne a spot lower down in the order. Smith makes no secret of liking to start an innings as soon as possible – he made a half-century at No. 3 against Sri Lanka when Marsh was sidelined – and in 2020 against India (he has only played two ODIs since) he scored back-to-back hundreds from 62 balls from No. 3. Overall, his ODI average in the position is 53.85 – putting him comfortably inside the top 10 – it drops to 35.61 at No. 4.