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Leeds United outcast Ian Poveda is set to leave Elland Road in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update which has emerged on Tuesday morning.

The Lowdown: Poveda unwanted at Leeds

The 21-year-old has become almost surplus to requirements under Marcelo Bielsa, not making a single Premier League start last season.

While Leeds have gone up several gears, Poveda appears to have been left behind, with just one league assist coming his way in the last two years.

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The Latest: Summer exit on the cards

According to Football Insider, Poveda looks set for a ‘late-window exit’ from Leeds, having been demoted from the first-team by Bielsa at Thorp Arch.

A Thorp Arch source has told the outlet that the Whites will listen to offers for the youngster in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, with both loan and permanent moves mooted.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-12/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Time to move on

Poveda is a talented young player with potential, but he has got stuck at Leeds and it is hard to see a future for him given how limited his playing time has been.

The Englishman is comfortably behind the likes of Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford in the attacking pecking order and there is still time for another addition to come in, too.

Poveda will benefit from earning playing time elsewhere and Leeds will no doubt be keen to sell him permanently, in order to generate more funds for transfers.

In other news, Marcelo Bielsa has explained a key selection decision against Manchester United. Read more here.

West Ham United could capitalise on a ‘stalemate’ between Inter Milan and Cagliari to sign midfielder Nahitan Nandez, according to La Repubblica (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

The Uruguay international made 32 league appearances for Cagliari last season, averaging 1.8 tackles, 1.2 dribbles and one key pass per game (via WhoScored). His performances earned him a call-up to his country’s squad for the Copa America this summer.

Serie A expert Mina Rzouki has raved about Nandez, labelling him ‘unstoppable’ and claiming that he’s ‘one of the most underrated players’ in the Italian top flight. The 25-year-old, formerly of Boca Juniors, is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt.

The latest

The report from La Repubblica (via Sport Witness) claimed that Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has made Nandez a primary target, but the reigning Serie A champions have seen an offer rejected by Cagliari.

The player is ‘certain’ to leave the Sardinian club this summer, either in a permanent deal or on loan with an obligation to buy.

He is said to relish the idea of joining Inter but negotiations between the two clubs appear to have stalled. The Nerazzurri are under pressure to make a breakthrough, with West Ham waiting in the wings if the impasse between the Serie A duo isn’t resolved.

The verdict

Nandez appears to be an excellent all-round midfielder judging by his performance figures and the praise which has come his way, but West Ham’s priorities should lie elsewhere in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

Above all, they need to sign a starting centre-back to ensure that their defence doesn’t prove to be their undoing. The goals they conceded in Sunday’s 4-2 win at Newcastle made this abundantly clear.

After that, the focus should be on recruiting some cover and competition for Michail Antonio at centre-forward. A clear gap exists in that area of the squad, where there is no natural alternative to the injury-prone 31-year-old.

In other news, some West Ham fans were unhappy with this man’s performance at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts has slammed Tanguy Ndombele’s attitude – and exclusively told the Transfer Tavern the Frenchman simply can’t cope with the pace of the Premier League.

Ndombele was signed by Mauricio Pochettino for a club-record fee from Lyon two years ago, but the odd moment of brilliant aside, he’s generally struggled to justify his hefty transfer fee.

Following a tricky first 12 months under Pochettino and then Jose Mourinho, the midfielder appeared to settle down last term and found his best form, one exquisite individual effort against Sheffield United a prime example of his quality.

However, Ndombele then hardly featured under Ryan Mason and after failing to play a single minute in pre-season, was left out of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge against Manchester City.

The Spurs boss recently confirmed that his absence wasn’t injury-related, with the 24-year-old not deemed ready to be playing games.

It’s not yet unclear whether Ndombele will remain a Tottenham player after the window closes later this month, but Roberts told The Transfer Tavern that he isn’t suited to English football:

“His attitude over the last two years has not been good enough. I think he struggles in the Premier League; I think the pace of the game is very quick and he can’t cover the ground.

“He has got great ability, but if you can’t run or work hard, you’re not going to be in the Premier League. It’s like walking football.”

Leeds United are eyeing a late transfer window move for Orlando City striker Daryl Dike.

What’s the story?

According to reports in previous weeks and months, Marcelo Bielsa’s side were named among the clubs interested in signing the 20-year-old this summer, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea also said to have been impressed by his performances on loan at Barnsley last season.

And now, writing on Twitter, TEAMtalk’s editor, James Marshment, revealed: “TEAMtalk has been informed that Leeds are looking at the possibility of signing Daryl Dike on loan from Orlando City before the window closes. USA striker notched 9 in 19 for Barnsley last season. West Brom also keen. Story to follow….”

Fans will be buzzing

Just a few days after Bielsa himself admitted that any new signings could be unlikely before the end of the transfer window, it appears the Whites are still exploring every possible avenue behind the scenes.

The 20-year-old was in fine form after joining Championship outfit Barnsley on loan back in the January transfer window, netting nine goals in just 19 league games.

A player profile done by SBNation noted: “A physical striker, Dike is more than a bruising finisher. His ‘delicate touch’ and high level of technical ability belie his size, enabling a confidence in possession with both passing and dribbling. That said, he scores a lot of goals in a variety of ways. Headed finishes, short-range placement, and long-range bombs, the 6’2” attacker can do it all.”

Given the lack of genuine first-team cover behind Patrick Bamford up front – Rodrigo was deployed in the number nine role in the Carabao Cup second round clash against Crewe – Dike’s arrival, even on a temporary basis, would go a long way to addressing that need.

And with his style of play being so distinctly different to anything Leeds and Bielsa currently have at their disposal, he could give them a different dimension when starting games or even just coming off the bench.

After hearing news that they would be unlikely to make any further moves in the transfer market, this latest update on their pursuit of Dike is sure to have fans delighted.

Meanwhile, Leeds are eyeing this young record-breaker…

Middlesbrough have reportedly opened talks with Sheffield United winger Oliver Burke over a summer move to the club.

The Lowdown: Burke struggles at Blades

The Scotland international has struggled to make an impression at Bramall Lane, scoring and assisting just once apiece in the Premier League last season.

The Blades are thought to be willing to listen to offers for Burke this summer and he may not be without suitors.

The Latest: Middlesbrough move for winger

According to Football Insider’s Boro source, ‘discussions are underway’ between Middlesbrough and United over a move to the fellow Championship club.

Nottingham Forest, West Brom, Celtic and RB Leipzig are also thought to be interested in signing the 24-year-old, who has won 13 caps for his country.

The Verdict: Time to move on

Burke is a talented attacking player but he has been a disappointing signing for the Blades, so it makes sense for him to move on this summer.

The Scot still has two years remaining on his current deal, meaning United could receive a hefty fee for his services, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £5.4million.

Admittedly, selling Burke to another Championship team could help strengthen a rival, but Slavisa Jokanovic doesn’t appear to see a future for him at Bramall Lane, so there is little point keeping hold of a depreciating asset.

In other news, another Sheffield United player is set for an exit this summer. Find out who it is here.

Mike McGrath has revealed that Everton made a late enquiry to try to sign Kyle Walker-Peters in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Walker-Peters at left-back?

Predominantly a right-back, Walker-Peters has been playing on the left so far in the 2021/22 season (Transfermarkt).

With Niels Nkounkou allowed to leave on loan, perhaps the Goodison Park faithful were thinking that the Southampton ace could have been a suitable replacement.

The Latest: Enquiry

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, McGrath has revealed that the Merseyside club made an enquiry over the possibility of signing Walker-Peters during the final days of the window.

However, the Saints were not going to entertain the deal, and as such, he has stayed put at St. Mary’s.

The Verdict: Shame

It is a shame that Rafa Benitez’s team appeared to have missed out on the signing of Walker-Peters, given his versatility to be able to play at left-back as well as on the right.

Currently earning £50,000-per-week under Ralph Hasenhuttl’s management, he has plenty of experience of playing in the Premier League for both Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton (Transfermarkt).

At 24 years of age, Walker-Peters has not hit his peak yet, and being English, he would have also helped fill the homegrown quota.

Thus, it is a deal that the Toffees really should have made sure that they got done but it looks like they may have left it too late.

In other news, find out what transfer news has Blues talking here!

Former Premier League star Carlton Palmer insists Chelsea would never have sold striker Tammy Abraham to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

The striker joined Italian club Roma from the Blues, as Thomas Tuchel looked to restructure his squad.

Chelsea, of course, secured the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan, paying £97.5m to bring the Belgium international back to Stamford Bridge.

Abraham, as a result, was pushed even further down the pecking order, and he has subsequently been allowed to move to Italy to link up with Jose Mourinho in Rome.

He was also linked with a potential move within the Premier League, as both Arsenal and West Ham United were said to hold an interest in the forward.

But Palmer believes that Chelsea were always likely to send him to a club abroad, rather than allowing him to strengthen a rival, particularly Mikel Arteta’s side.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Palmer said: “I’m pleased the guy went and played his football. I don’t think Chelsea would have let him go to Arsenal, out of choice because of the rivalry and so forth.

“For Chelsea, from the club’s point of view, they’re happy for him to go abroad. I’m pleased for Tammy.”

Tottenham Hotspur could land one of their mooted transfer targets for a massive bargain this January, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Since the end of the summer transfer window, the north London outfit have been strongly linked with a move for AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie ahead of 2022.

One report even suggested that Spurs could use wantaway club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele as a makeweight in any potential future deal.

But now an exciting development has emerged.

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Ivory Coast international could be available for as little as €9m (£7.5m) as it will be the last chance the Serie A giants can sell him for money before he leaves for nothing later in the summer.

It seems rather unlikely that Kessie will renew his current contract at the San Siro, though the Lilywhites aren’t the only team interested, with Premier League rivals Chelsea also linked.

Paratici must swoop

Make no bones about it, if the Milan midfielder is available for as little as that, then Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici and the rest of the club’s hierarchy would be foolish to not try and sign him.

After all, Transfermarkt currently value him at a whopping £49.5m – and they’ll be getting him for 85% cheaper than his supposed worth.

Although, they shouldn’t only be making a move from a purely financial sense as the player himself is actually a massive talent that could bolster Nuno Santo’s engine room instantly.

Kessie is a powerful and industrious box-to-box beast that can also take a mean set-piece.

He ended last season as Milan’s fourth highest-rated player (7.15) and their second top goalscorer (13) behind only Zlatan Ibrahimovic (15), as per WhoScored.

In addition to that, he averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.2 dribbles per league outing.

Kessie’s current boss, Stefano Pioli, waxed lyrical about the Ivorian’s ability earlier this year, claiming that “Franck is a complete player” who gives his side “physicality, energy, quality, protects the defence and knits the moves going forward too.”

This merely echoed the thoughts of another manager who once stood in the San Siro dugout, Vincenzo Montella, who described the midfielder as an “extraordinary player” with “sublime intelligence.”

In the need to add more goals to the side, Nuno could really do with a player like Kessie as he can contribute in the final third just as much as he can in the team’s own half.

If Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is in need of a solid partner, then it should be the Milan monster they turn to, especially given the astounding claims mentioned in the report.

AND in other news, £75k-p/w dud must never play for Spurs again, had fewer touches than Lloris yesterday…

Lots of Wolves fans have been left buzzing as an exciting update emerged on the talented Morgan Gibbs-White.

As shared by the official Twitter page of Sheffield United, the Midlands club loanee managed to score after just a few minutes of their EFL Championship home game against Preston North End, in which they eventually drew 2-2.

Gibbs-White was the highest-rated Blades player on Sofascore (7.5), as he managed to win three of his duels, and also record three key passes and two accurate long balls in the match (Sofascore).

Nonetheless, the central midfield player is clearly enjoying his loan spell away from Molineux, and it looks like it is paying off so far, with Bruno Lage surely keeping a close eye on his progress.

Wolves fans on Gibbs-White news

These WWFC supporters were left buzzing as the news of Gibbs-White’s goal was shared on Twitter, with one Wanderer even going as far as to claim that the Englishman was a ‘baller’:

“Bossing it”

Credit: @cal_wolvesfc

“Baller”

Credit: @andyturnock

“The boy is a player!!! Come back soon”

Credit: @bo88om

“Go on lad”

Credit: @wwfcglover

“What a player”

Credit: @_tomwwfc

“Legend”

Credit: @wwfcsam1

In other news, find out what news before Brentford has Wanderers fuming here!

Aston Villa make the trip back down to Chelsea on Wednesday night looking to make it into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Dean Smith’s side’s last visit to Stamford Bridge ended in a 3-0 defeat, and the Villa boss will no doubt be tempted to shake things up in terms of his team selection, especially when you consider Manchester United loom on the horizon at the weekend.

With that in mind, below is a look at how Villa might line up when they face Chelsea tonight.

In goal, Jed Steer could play his second game in as many weeks, with Emi Martinez being given the chance to have a proper rest following his late arrival at the weekend in order to play the game against Everton.

In front of him, Tyrone Mings may be axed from the starting line-up to give Kortney Hause an opportunity, with the 28-year-old having had a day to forget when the two sides met in the Premier League a couple of weeks ago.

Ashley Young come could into the team in place of Matt Targett, while with Axel Tuanzebe ineligible to face his parent side United at the weekend, he is a shoo-in to start tonight.

The midfield could see Morgan Sanson make a rare appearance in the starting line-up – something we’ve called on Smith to do here on FFC – while he could be joined in the engine room by one of Villa’s brightest academy prospects in Carney Chukwuemeka.

Further forward, Jaden Philogene-Bidace should feature out wide with Bertrand Traore on the opposite flank, while Emi Buendia will be hoping to start just behind Ollie Watkins after only making the bench for the game against the Toffees at the weekend.

Predicted XI: Steer; Cash, Tuanzebe, Hause, Young; Sanson, Chukwuemeka; Traore, Buendia, Philogene-Bidace; Watkins.

Meanwhile, Dean Smith must start this Villa “warrior” vs Chelsea…