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Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes that any of the Whites’ four centre-back options could start on the opening day of the season.

The Lowdown: Leeds blessed with strong options

Marcelo Bielsa will be looking to enhance his squad this summer in order to keep competition for places strong and allow him to rotate abundantly.

One area which doesn’t need strengthening is centre-back, though, with Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk all representing good options in that role.

The quartet could all justify being starters for Leeds next season – all four were among the squad’s top 10 performers last term, according to WhoScored – giving Bielsa a selection headache going into their Premier League curtain-raiser away to Manchester United next month.

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The Latest: Whelan lauds depth

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan hailed the Whites’ depth at the back, admitting that it is impossible to guess who will start at Old Trafford. He said:

“It could be any of the four. We are blessed with four quality centre-halves. I cannot remember a time where we have had this much competition in that position.

“It’s going to be a really difficult decision to make. Every single one has got a case to play.

“You have internationals in Cooper, Llorente and Koch and a great young player in Struijk who I thought was excellent last season. He really stepped up to the plate and showed what a fantastic centre-half he is. He just got better and better.

“It is going to be a hell of a jostle in pre-season for those two spots. I am excited by it.

“Llorente really showed what a top player he is when he came in. He got a good relationship going with Struijk. He also had a good one with Cooper as well.

“It is going to be a real tussle between the four of them. You just hope that none of them get any kind of injury that halts their pre-season. Competition is so important to get the best out of players.”

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The Verdict: Dilemma for Bielsa

Bielsa finds himself with a genuine dilemma this summer, albeit an enivable one, with four such strong centre-back options from which to choose.

The fact that Cooper made the most Premier League starts (25) out of the centre-backs last season suggests that he is the front-runner to start at Old Trafford on 14 August.

Struijk (22) is second in that respect, but Llorente’s performances improved steadily as the season went on, also making him a strong option. With just 13 starts, Koch is arguably the least likely to play, but again there would be few qualms if he makes Bielsa’s starting line-up for the season opener next month.

Whelan is right – Bielsa could face quite the selection headache when it comes to choosing his two starting centre-backs.

In other news, Leeds have reportedly pulled out of a move for one player. Find out who it is here.

Arsenal have edged one step closer to signing Ben White…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s ever-reliable David Ornstein, the Gunners are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Brighton for the England centre-back following talks over a potential deal.

It’s thought that the Seagulls want a guaranteed £50m and that the north London outfit are offering an initial £45m with the rest coming in add-ons.

There are yet to be any offers from other bidders and, with negotiations continuing, it seems that Arsenal are now in pole position to clinch the 23-year-old this summer.

Major coup

This latest development will surely leave the Emirates Stadium faithful absolutely buzzing as it signals their intent heading into the 2021/22 campaign.

Mikel Arteta’s side agonisingly missed out on qualification to any of UEFA’s three competitions for the first time since 1996 so they need to spark a reaction, and that can be done by bolstering the Spaniard’s backline.

He has lost David Luiz, who leaves the club next week following the expiry of his contract, whilst Konstantinos Mavropanos has joined Stuttgart in a £5m deal, so there’s certainly a spot or two available now.

White has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season in the Premier League, where he rated among Graham Potter’s best-performing central defensive options.

Only Lewis Dunk (89.4%) recorded a better passing accuracy than the former Leeds United loan star (83.2%), via WhoScored, whilst an average of 1.4 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 1.4 aerial duels won per game shows that he’s more than just a ball-playing defender.

Lauded as a “warrior” and a “special talent”, White could slot right in at Arsenal next season, and he’s also a signing that many supporters have been crying out for.

In reaction to this news, much of the Gunners’ fanbase have been sent into a meltdown. As relayed by football.london, one supporter claimed the club was finally “showing ambition”, whilst another urged Edu and co to make a move for James Maddison next.

It may be a small sample size but the general feeling in north London right now is very good. It’s an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Xhaka: Edu could land Arsenal their next Vieira in £49.5m-rated “huge talent”…

Bruno Lage has only been in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers for a matter of hours but he’s already begun work on his first signing at Molineux.

With a number of players potentially heading for the exit door, he’s had to move swiftly in order to identify replacements.

What’s the word?

Taking to Twitter in the aftermath of Lage’s arrival, renowned reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Wolves were in talks to sign Jose Sa.

The Old Gold are in danger of losing Rui Patricio to Roma and are trying to land the Olympiacos goalkeeper as his replacement.

Sa is rated at just £6.7m by Transfermarkt so could be a bargain for Wolves in the transfer market.

Lage may be forced to spend smaller fees in the window this summer due to a lack of finances at Molineux.

Capable replacement

This move would tick all of the boxes if you’re Fosun and Jeff Shi.

Sa is Portuguese, a client of Jorge Mendes and is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in Europe.

The 28-year-old initially caught the eye of Wolves all the way back in 2019 after a string of impressive performances in the Champions League.

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Olympiacos lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich but it would have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for Sa who produced a mind-boggling nine saves. It was a performance that earned congratulations from a certain Manuel Neuer, who was quick to applaud his opposite number.

Sa is still playing in the Greek league and his numbers this term are actually more impressive than Patricio’s.

The Wolves ‘keeper had a clean sheet ratio of just 27% this term which was streets behind his potential replacement who kept 51.7% in the league.

His displays caught the eye in Europe again, producing a save success rate of 77.4% in the group stages of the Champions League.

Once more, this statistic usurps Patricio who saved 68.6% of his shots in the English top-flight.

Standing at a colossal height of 6 foot 4, Sa also has a bigger reach than the 33-year-old Wolves stalwart.

Portugal’s number 1 stands an inch shorter which could make all the difference when saving shots heading for the corner or when coming out to claim crosses and set plays.

With Wolves lacking financial muscle this summer, getting the Olympiacos star would be a smart piece of business.

AND in other news, Better than Vitinha: Wolves must sign £13.5m-rated gem who was nicknamed Maradona…

Everton’s hunt for a new manager is beginning to build a head of steam as they aim to replace Carlo Ancelotti in swift fashion.

What’s the word?

The Toffees have held talks with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo and their hopes have been boosted after Crystal Palace pulled out of the race for the 47-year-old.

An informal approach has been made to David Moyes, while Manuel Pellegrini and Rafa Benitez have both reportedly been contacted over the vacancy at Goodison Park.

However, Farhad Moshiri and co are beginning to make their move on another coach, with Lille boss Christophe Galtier on the radar.

That’s according to Duncan Castles, who was speaking on the Transfer Window podcast this week. He said: “The guidance I have is that Everton have made contact with Galtier’s agent.”

Castles added: “They want a ready-made and experienced manager who could fit straight into their camp and not make too many radical changes.”

Exciting news

This is an update which should leave supporters at Goodison Park absolutely elated. After all, Galtier has a vast array of qualities which would no doubt suit what Everton are trying to achieve.

The Merseyside club are currently stuck in mid-table mediocrity and, when Galtier arrived at Lille, they were also a club stuck in limbo.

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They finished 17th in his first season at the club, which meant a fourth consecutive year outside of the top four. However, he then guided them to second and fourth-placed finishes before miraculously beating PSG to the Ligue 1 title this year.

Lille have often been on the periphery of Champions League football but have now qualified in two of the last three successive seasons.

A place at Europe’s top table has been the goal for Moshiri for a number of years but, despite managerial promises, qualification for the Champions League has eluded them.

Roberto Martinez told Bill Kenwright when he took over that he’d bring Europe’s premier competition back to Goodison Park, while Ancelotti reiterated a similar goal after his appointment. Unfortunately, no manager has steered them into the top four since David Moyes.

Galtier has a proven track record of achieving above expectations, and for Everton that should be eye-catching. It also bodes well for the fan base dreaming of a place among the continent’s elite clubs.

AND in other news, Everton line up move for “fantastic” 61 y/o manager, he’s a great Moyes alternative…

Manchester City have been linked with both Ben White and Pau Torres in recent months, but who would be the better addition to Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium this summer?

Ben White

According to journalist Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window Podcast, City have held preliminary talks with White ahead of a potential summer move following an impressive Premier League debut season which saw him earn a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championship.

The 23-year-old centre-back was already on the radar of many top clubs after he played every minute for Leeds United in their Championship title-winning 2019/20 campaign, and he was a mainstay in Graham Potter’s Brighton team last season, making 36 appearances in the top flight.

His performances earned him the glowing praise of Jamie Redknapp, who said: “There’s a centre-back there who is going to go right to the top. He is so comfortable on the ball, you can see why Leeds wanted to keep him.

“He’s destined for an amazing future, that young man, I love him.”

Pau Torres

According to the Daily Express, City are keeping tabs on the Villareal and Spain centre-back, who is also attracting interest from rivals Manchester United after his impressive performances in La Liga in recent seasons.

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Last season saw the 24-year-old make 33 appearances in the Spanish top flight, contributing two goals and two assists, whilst he also helped Unai Emery’s side to win the Europa League.

The Spanish defender is currently valued at £45m by Transfermarkt and certainly wouldn’t come cheap, especially when you consider that he would likely be behind Ruben Dias and John Stones in the pecking order at City considering their superb performances last season.

Who would be better?

Although White would also be very expensive, with Brighton having already reportedly rejected a £40m bid from Arsenal, he has a lot of advantages over Torres in that he is homegrown, younger and has plenty of experience in the Premier League.

He has learned from Marcelo Bielsa and Potter, suggesting that he could comfortably adapt to Guardiola’s playing style at Manchester City, whilst he has also featured as a defensive midfielder at times for Brighton, so his versatility would surely be appreciated by the Spanish manager.

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Therefore, City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain should forget about signing Torres this summer and instead focus on bringing White to the Etihad.

In other news… Bye-bye Laporte: Txiki should swoop for £40.5m-rated beast likened to Hummels

Tottenham Hotspur are still on the hunt for their next manager and Roberto Martinez has constantly been linked with the job and former Wigan Athletic manager, Paul Jewell, believes that a good Euros campaign could help his case.

Martinez has had three spells as a manager in England having been in charge at Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton before he took up the job as the Belgium national team’s manager.

The Spaniard played attacking and possession-based football which always saw his teams score a lot of goals, but this came at a cost as they often leaked a high number of goals in their own goal.

There has been a fresh twist in the Tottenham manager saga as it emerged that Martinez is in continued in talks with the club over becoming their new manager after the Euros, and Jewell believes that he would play good football at Tottenham, speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on the topic:

“He always likes his teams to play good football and he’s done a terrific job at Belgium, with fantastic players though, I have to say.

“What you usually find is that after the Euros or World Cup, there’s a manager who does really well and all of a sudden they’re the favourite for all the top jobs in Europe. So that might happen to Roberto.”

Several managers have been linked with the job including Erik ten Hag, who only signed a one-year extension at Ajax last month, but Spurs could still persuade him to move to London.

Another strong candidate that has been linked is Graham Potter, who Spurs Chief Scout Steve Hitchen recommended as his number one choice to Daniel Levy.

Interest is growing in Derby County centre-forward Martyn Waghorn ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claimed that Ipswich Town are considering a move for the £1.8m-rated 31-year-old as the striker looks likely to become available on a free transfer upon the expiry contract at Pride Park this summer – unless the Rams offer him a new deal.

Waghorn must go

So far this season, Waghorn has been in rather disappointing form over his 31 Championship appearances for Wayne Rooney’s side, with the 31-year-old scoring just three goals and registering three assists, as well as losing an average of 64% of his duels and giving away possession of the ball 8.1 times per game.

The £7,900-per-week forward also averages of a mere 0.3 interceptions, 0.5 tackles and wins possession 0.2 times per game, demonstrating his overall lack of commitment to the cause – something which is also reflected in his average SofaScore match rating of 6.62, ranking him as the Rams’ 11th-worst performer in the second tier.

As such, regardless of what league Derby happen to be playing their football in next season, it would seem as if they would not be any worse off without Waghorn on their books, as the former Ipswich forward – whom Frank Lampard signed for £5.04m in 2018 – does not appear to be giving anywhere near 100% for the side, something which would more than likely continue to be the case if he were offered a new deal in the summer.

If we were Rooney, the 31-year-old – of whom Ryan Conway has previously, and somewhat surprisingly, claimed he would “never question his work-rate”, as well as dubbing the forward a “problem” for defenders – would be getting nowhere near the starting XI for the crucial fixture against Sheffield Wednesday coming up on Saturday, where defeat would ensure that Derby will be playing their football in League One next season

In other news: Rooney must avoid Derby swoop for 29 y/o flop who “plays like he’s on roller-skates” – opinion

With Wolves’ season essentially done and dusted for another year, the focus at Molineux is on next campaign.

Nuno Santo has already made it clear that he wants the club to plan better for the transfer market and with nothing left to play for this term, they should have no trouble making early preparations.

What’s the word?

Equally as important as signing new players will be to keep the ones they already have.

Pedro Neto has been regularly linked with the exit door while another player who could be heading for the departure lounge is Adama Traore.

Wolves have been growing frustrated over his contract talks with an update a few weeks ago revealing the Old Gold hadn’t met his demands.

However, reporter Tim Spiers had an exciting update for supporters on Tuesday, announcing some fresh details on where Traore and the club stood.

In his latest column for The Athletic, he wrote that talks had moved from ‘deadlocked’ to ‘ongoing’.

There is still a difference in opinion over the Spaniard’s salary demands but Wolves feel as though they’re in a strong position at the negotiating table.

Nuno will be thrilled

If contract talks are being moved on again, then it should be music to the ears of the Wolves boss.

After all, the last thing he wants is another of the club’s major players departing when the transfer window opens next month.

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Last summer was an arduous one for the Molineux outfit as they saw a whopping 25% of their goals wiped away. Matt Doherty left for Tottenham while Diogo Jota completed a big-money move to Liverpool.

Keeping Adama, therefore, is absolutely imperative.

He has only scored two goals this season but he is still one of the most exciting players in the entire Premier League.

Covered in a thick and shiny coating of baby oil, the flying winger is incredibly difficult to stop when he gets going, combining electric speed with tricky dribbling.

No player in the Premier League has completed more than his 143 dribbles throughout the current campaign. He is ahead of the next player by 48, succeeding with 4.1 take-ons per match.

Those numbers are remarkable and if they lost him, Wolves would be without a player who can create a moment of magic from nowhere.

Once Dubbed “unplayable” by Jurgen Klopp, he’s caught the eye of plenty in the top-flight with Leeds in particular strongly attracted to him.

Thus, if he fails to pen fresh terms in the Midlands, there’s every chance he’d be causing danger against Wolves, rather than for them.

For Nuno and Fosun, that would be simply disastrous. They must keep him at all costs.

AND in other news, Wolves could sign the next Van Dijk in 6ft3 colossus who’s “physically very strong”…

‘The reality’ is that Freddie Woodman will leave Newcastle on loan once again next season, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder.

The lowdown

The goalkeeper spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Swansea City, where he kept a league-high 21 clean sheets for Steve Cooper’s promotion chasers. The Swans reached the Championship play-off final, but it was heartbreak for Woodman and his team-mates as they were beaten 2-0 by Brentford at Wembley.

Nonetheless, Woodman was included in The Athletic’s Championship team of the season in recognition of his starring role. Despite his ‘hugely impressive’ performances, though, the door to the Newcastle first team is seemingly shut given that the incumbent Martin Dubravka signed a six-year contract as recently as the 2019/20 season.

The latest

Ryder says that both Swansea and the player himself are ‘keen’ on a return next season, although Woodman – who is ‘attracting so much attention’ – may have his head turned.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton and Scottish giants Celtic are now said to be ‘in the mix’ for the 24-year-old. Ryder noted that the Hoops first expressed an interest in Woodman back in 2018.

His colleague Mark Douglas had urged the club to sanction a sale for a fee of £15m, provided the deal included ‘smart clauses’ such as first refusal on future transfers or a ‘hefty sell-on’. However, it seems a seventh temporary departure (after earlier spells at Hartlepool, Crawley, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen) is in the offing instead.

The verdict

The likelihood of another loan for Woodman probably speaks to the weakness of the market right now, and it underlines the difficulties Newcastle may have in raising funds to boost a transfer budget which could be as meagre as £12m.

Still, a successful stint at Southampton or Celtic should only boost his price tag in time for next summer, while he remains fairly young and therefore could still attract a sizeable fee.

In other news, Newcastle are in pole position to land this forward.

After progressing past Granada in the UEFA Europa League in midweek, Manchester United’s attention switches firmly back to the Premier League this weekend.

The Red Devils host Burnley at Old Trafford aiming to all but secure their position in the top four and with it, a return to the Champions League next season.

How many changes could Ole Gunnar Solskjaer make for this game?

Considering the relatively quick turnaround, there will likely be four changes to the Manchester United side to take on the Clarets.

The first change is set to occur in goal where the Norwegian appears to have settled on Dean Henderson for his pick in league matches. He will once again replace David de Gea.

There will also be a couple of alterations in the United backline, too. Both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were suspended for the clash with Granada.

Maguie – who currently earns £190k-a-week – and Shaw, will likely earn recalls this weekend at the respective expenses of Axel Tuanzebe and Alex Telles.

Solskjaer’s final alteration is almost sure to take place in midfield. Veteran Nemanja Matic started against the Spaniards on Thursday and despite playing the full 90 minutes, he will most likely drop out for fellow midfielder Scott McTominay, who was also suspended in midweek.

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The likes of Fred, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes will all join the Scot in the centre of the park.

United’s attack should also have a relatively familiar look to it as well with Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani starting the game as an attacking duo.

Marcus Rashford is fit but having been still carrying a problem in the clash against Granada, he was left on the bench and might not be risked again against Burnley.

AND in more news, take a look at which recent signing has seen his transfer rating take a tumble at Old Trafford…