All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United have held talks to sign a £5m Premier League defender who shares the same representation as current goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Meslier’s Leeds future up in the air after promotion

The Whites enjoyed a brilliant Championship campaign in 2024/25, winning the title in stoppage time on the final day at Plymouth Argyle.

Daniel Farke’s side reached 100 points from their 46 games, but that tally could have been so much more without errors from Meslier. His injury-time blunder away at Sunderland, shaky display against Hull City and mistakes against Swansea City cost Leeds six points.

Farke dropped the Frenchman for the final seven games, with Karl Darlow coming in as Leeds won six of their last seven, keeping five clean sheets in the process.

Meslier’s future at Elland Road is thought to be in doubt, with Leeds on the search for a new first-choice keeper and will offer the Frenchman to other clubs during the summer transfer window.

Joseph & Nmecha upgrade: Leeds plot big move for "incredible" £18m striker

Leeds United are plotting a move for a star who is even better than Lukas Nmecha and Mateo Joseph.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 18, 2025

The likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone have been linked with moves to Leeds to replace Meslier, but by the looks of things, Leeds are talking to the goalkeeper’s Gol International agency about another client – Alex Moreno.

Leeds open talks for Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno

According to Football Insider, Leeds have opened preliminary talks to sign Aston Villa left-back Moreno this summer.

The Whites have made contact over a transfer, with Villa ready to move the 32-year-old on following his loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 24/25.

The Spaniard made 19 appearances for Forest last season, and a new left-back is among the top priorities at Elland Road with Junior Firpo on course to re-join Real Betis following the expiration of his Leeds contract.

Moreno has been valued at £5m by Villa, and clubs in Spain are also working to land the left-back ahead of Leeds.

He actually made his Villa debut under Unai Emery against Leeds back in 2023, and the Villa manager has described the full-back’s speed as his best attribute.

Regular game time at left-back appears to be on the cards at Leeds with Firpo on course to leave, so that could be something that appeals to Moreno.

Steven Gerrard once called a Liverpool teammate better than Lionel Messi after being stunned by his abilities at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard names greatest Liverpool teammates

The Reds legend spent 17 senior years on Merseyside after coming through Liverpool’s academy, making his debut back in 1998.

During that time, Gerrard would never win the Premier League, however, he has gone down as one of the greatest players the top flight has ever seen. Across the world, Gerrard also became a superstar, having everything you need to be a top midfielder, and was known for scoring goals from distance.

He could have left Liverpool on numerous occasions during his career but remained a Red until 2015, and, following a brief stint in the MLS with LA Galaxy, would call time on his career.

Over the years at Anfield, Gerrard would play with some of the best around, including names such as Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres. The English legend has actually named his greatest Liverpool XI of stars he played with, and Gerrard quite rightly named himself in the side.

GK:

Pepe Reina

RB:

Glen Johnson

CB:

Sami Hyypia

CB:

Jamie Carragher

LB:

John Arne Riise

CM:

Xabi Alonso

CM:

Javier Mascherano

CM:

Steven Gerrard

FWD:

Fernando Torres

FWD:

Robbie Fowler

FWD:

Luis Suarez

However, one name not in that XI once came in for high praise from Gerrard, with the midfielder comparing him to a certain Argentine icon.

Steven Gerrard said Arsenal star was the Premier League 'GOAT' and better than Ronaldo

The Liverpool legend weighed in on the debate…

ByBen Goodwin May 21, 2025 Gerrard once called Liverpool flop Joe Cole better than Messi

In 2010, Messi was already a one time, and soon-to-be two time Ballon d’Or winner, regarded as one of the best on the planet.

However, Liverpool had just signed Joe Cole on a free transfer following his departure from Chelsea, and in his early days at Anfield, caught Gerrard’s eye.

In fact, Gerrard said Cole left him shocked in training and said that his fellow Englishman can do things better than Messi.

Gerrard may have backed Cole for the Player of the Year award in 2010/11, however, he scored just two Premier League goals in 20 appearances, and the following season, was sent out on loan to Lille before eventually leaving to join West Ham on a permanent basis in January 2013.

Games

42

Goals

5

Assists

3

Yellow cards

2

Red cards

1

Minutes played

2,117

Things didn’t work out for Cole at Liverpool the way he and Gerrard imagined, and it’s fair to say his and Messi’s careers went in completely different directions after that 2010/11 campaign.

Aston Villa now want to sign a “world-class” ace from Chelsea who could be a potential replacement for Emi Martinez, according to a recent report.

Latest on Emi Martinez’s future at Aston Villa

Martinez has now not only established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League but also one of the best in world football after his heroics with Aston Villa and his national team. His move to Villa Park back in September 2020 proved to be a real turning point in his career, but despite how good he’s become and the fact he is under contract until 2029, his future at the club is in extreme doubt.

That is because at the beginning of last month it was reported that Unai Emery is ready to move on from the Argentine and sell him this summer. It was reported then that teams from Saudi Arabia were showing the most interest, but now the likes of Manchester United and Atlético Madrid have also expressed significant interest.

Before the season ended, Emery refused to say whether Martinez would still be an Aston Villa player next season.

“We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don’t know. We will see about the team and the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”

He's scored at Villa Park: Aston Villa racing to sign "fantastic" £42m star

Only Jacob Murphy, Mohamed Salah and Anthony Elanga assisted more goals than him last season…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 12, 2025

Martinez has been away with Argentina, helping his country qualify for the World Cup in 2026, and speculation over his future hasn’t gone away, with his wife, Mandinha, speaking about her husband’s tears at Villa’s final home league game.

“He wasn’t in tears. No. Anybody who knows Emi knows he is an emotional character, and that’s who he is. It just shows you how much he loves the Villa fans. I love the Villa fans. We love Villa.”

Aston Villa want to sign Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea

But as Villa still weigh up what to do about Martinez’s future at the club, according to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa have registered their interest in signing Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea, after he spent last season on loan in France with Strasbourg.

The report states that Chelsea have now put their goalkeeper up for sale, given the Serbian asked to be left out of the club’s Club World Cup squad, as he wants assurances on regular game time. Chelsea’s decision to sell him has now alerted teams like Aston Villa, who could be in the market for a new number one.

The Villans are not alone in their pursuit though, as Brentford, Wolves, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Fiorentina have also registered their interest. The report states that the Blues would be looking to get £25 million for Petrovic, which is double the £12.5 million they paid back in August 2023 when they signed him from New England Revolution.

Apps

31

Clean sheets

10

Goals conceded

38

Goals conceded per game

1.2

Saves made per game

3.6 (74%)

Penalties saved

1/8

Passing accuracy per game

36.0 (79%)

Errors leading to shot

1

Errors leading to goal

0

Petrovic finished his campaign on loan with 10 clean sheets in 31 Ligue 1 games, as manager Liam Rosenior labelled his goalkeeper “world-class”.

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers require a major summer rebuild?

Wolves were in the relegation zone when Vítor Pereira was appointed in December, but he managed to win ten of his 22 Premier League fixtures in charge, including leading the club to their first six-match winning streak in the top division since October 1970.

This saw the Old Gold finish 16th, 17 points clear of the drop zone, but, with many of their key assets coveted by other clubs, it is set to be a busy summer at Molineux.

That has all started with Matheus Cunha’s departure.

Why Matheus Cunha was a wanted man

On Sunday afternoon, it was officially announced that Cunha had joined Manchester United, the Red Devils paying his reported £62.5m release clause.

This is obviously a blow for Wolves because, as Matt Furniss of Opta’s the Analyst outlines, he has been Wolves’ ‘most influential player’ across the last two seasons, describing Cunha as a ‘revelation’ and praising his consistent ability to over-perform his xG statistics.

Meantime, Steve Madeley of the Athletic notes that the Brazilian has undoubtedly been ‘Wolves’ player of the season’, adding that very rarely is an entire campaign linked ‘so intrinsically to one player’, with Cunha always the main character, ‘for better and worse’.

Since making him move from Atlético Madrid permanent for £44m two summers ago, Cunha has scored 31 goals in 72 appearances for the club, numbers that are going to be difficult for anyone to replicate.

However, is a current member of the Wolverhampton Wanderers squad primed and ready to become the main man?

Wolves' unsung hero ready to step-up after Cunha

When Wolves signed Jørgen Strand Larsen last summer from Celta Vigo, initially on loan but with a £23m obligation to buy, there was very little fanfare, it is fair to say.

Thus, the Norwegian striker certainly surpassed all expectations, scoring 14 Premier League goals, meaning only nine players across the entire division managed more.

The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer praised Strand Larsen’s performance during a vital 2-1 victory at Ipswich in April, saying “his hold-up play was excellent… his touch and his control were superb”, adding “I actually think they’ve looked a better team” without Cunha during his four-match suspension.

Meantime, manager Pereira described his form as “fantastic”, adding “he helped the team” a lot.

Nevertheless, the key question remains: does Strand Larsen have the quality to be Wolves’ main man for goals now that Cunha has departed?

Well, let’s compare the duo in an attempt to answer this question.

Appearances

35

33

Minutes

2,603

2,603

Goals

14

15

Assists

4

6

Shots

54

110

Shots on target %

61.1%

40%

Goals – xG

+3.7

+6.4

Big chances missed

13

2

Big chances created

6

13

Shot-creating actions

42

132

Goal-creating actions

6

16

Aerial duels won

67

13

Touches per 90

26

54

% of touches in opposition box

15%

8%

As the table outlines, Cunha’s statistics are largely more impressive, which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he’s the one who has just earned a big-money move to Manchester United.

However, what the table also crystallises is the fact that they are very different types of centre-forward.

Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst labelled Strand Larsen a ‘fox in the box’, documenting how he is a classic target man whose ‘presence alone keeps centre-backs occupied’, an assertion that is supported by the data, with 15% of his touches coming in the opposition penalty area, nearly double the ratio of Cunha.

While the Brazilian ranked second in the Premier League this season for non-penalty goals – xG, his teammate was not too far behind, sat seventh for the same metric.

Strand Larsen also ranked sixth for aerial duels won amongst strikers, albeit his big chances missed tally of 13 leaves room for improvement.

Nevertheless, still only 25 years old, the Norwegian has all the attributes to be a successful centre-forward in this league, so is well-equipped to fill the massive void vacated by the outgoing Cunha.

Romano: Wolves make approach to sign "highly rated" gem wanted in Europe

The Old Gold are making moves for the future…

BySean Markus Clifford May 30, 2025

The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month, and Leeds United are likely to be busy as they prepare for a season in the Premier League.

One player who is on the club’s radar is Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road, and the forward is reportedly open to talks over a permanent switch to West Yorkshire.

The 25-year-old attacker ended the season with ten goals and 12 assists in the Championship, and Leeds are now eyeing a new target who could be amazing for Solomon in the Premier League.

Leeds eyeing Premier League defender

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon (25/05/2025), Leeds United are eyeing a new target in the form of West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell.

Transfer Focus

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

The reporter claims that Daniel Farke is lining up a move to snap up the experienced defender on a free transfer when his contract with the Hammers expires at the end of next month.

Nixon adds, however, that there is also interest from celebrity-owned Championship side Wrexham, who have just been promoted from League One, which means that there is competition for the 35-year-old star’s signature.

The journalist also reveals that Leeds would view the veteran full-back as a squad player, rather than a guaranteed starter, but that does not mean that he would not be an incredibly valuable addition, particularly for Solomon.

Why Leeds should sign Aaron Cresswell

Junior Firpo’s contract is set to expire this summer, and it still remains to be seen whether or not he will put pen to paper on an extension, which means that there is a vacant spot at left-back to be filled as it stands.

Cresswell, as Nixon’s report suggests, may not come in to start all 38 games in the Premier League next term, but he is a vastly-experienced top-flight performer who could be relied upon to deliver quality displays when called upon.

Capped three times by England, he played 312 Premier League matches for the Hammers, and 369 games in total, during his time at the London Stadium, which means that Farke would have a defender who has been there and done it at that level.

Appearances

18

Starts

10

Pass accuracy

87%

Dribbled past

0.1x

Ground duel success rate

67%

Aerial duel success rate

50%

As you can see in the table above, Cresswell, who played as a left-back or as a wide centre-back in a three, started ten Premier League games this season and delivered solid defensive displays.

The veteran full-back, whose ball-striking was described as “lovely” by teammate Ryan Fredericks when lauding his left foot, has shown that he still has the physicality and quality to dominate opposition defenders in duels, whilst rarely being dribbled past.

This suggests that he could be amazing for Solomon, who is a direct winger who wants to constantly attack to score and assist goals, because he is not a defensively weak left-back who needs constant support and doubling up from his forward ahead of him.

This means that the Israel international, should he sign permanently at Elland Road this summer, could love to have Cresswell behind him because his defensively solidity could allow him more freedom to stay higher up the pitch to influence games in the final third.

Leeds could land their best winger since Raphinha by signing £25m "machine"

Leeds United could land their best winger since Raphinha by swooping for this star.

2 ByDan Emery May 26, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur face a significant summer of changes, both in the dugout and at squad level, with the future of a key player seeming far away from north London.

Ange Postecoglou facing Spurs exit after dismal campaign

Spurs could still qualify for the Champions League next season by winning their first major trophy since 2008.

Tottenham: Robinson thrilled after hearing Levy could appoint 52-year-old

Spurs are said to be closing in on his arrival.

2 ByEmilio Galantini May 13, 2025

All eyes are on the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21, which has the potential to save Tottenham’s season in a crunch, all or nothing encounter against Premier League rivals Man United, who’ve also endured a horror-show season.

Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to their 20th top-flight loss of the season against Crystal Palace last weekend, breaking their all-time record for most recorded Premier League defeats in a single campaign, with the 59-year-old under intense scrutiny.

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

More and more credible media sources are reporting that Postecoglou could leave Spurs regardless of whether they win the Europa League, and he’s likely to be joined by some big-name players.

Cristian Romero linked with Spurs summer exit

One of them, star defender Cristian Romero, is a top target for Atlético Madrid and Diego Simeone.

Some reports even suggest that Romero has already agreed terms on a move to Atletico, but both the Lilywhites and La Liga side are yet to find any common ground when it comes to the 26-year-old’s final price tag.

According to information from Marca, there is still negotiating to do when it comes to Spurs and Atlético shaking hands on a fee.

Cristian Romero clear he wants Atletico move amid £84m plan

As per the Spanish newspaper, relayed by Sport Witness, Romero is clear he wants a move to Atlético from Tottenham, but the Premier League side value him at around £59 million and are very unlikely to go anywhere below £42 million.

It is unclear whether Simeone’s men will reach their minimum figure, but they’re set to open talks, and are planning a spending spree worth up to £84 million this summer.

Taking into account they wish to use this cash on a host of other targets, despite Romero’s obvious quality when at his very best, Atlético want to whittle his price down as much as possible.

“He’s the best centre-half at the club,” said pundit Paul Robinson about Romero in 2022, to Football Insider.

“I think they probably tried to get one in during the window but it didn’t work out. But in Romero they have got a phenomenal defender. He makes others around him better.

“What they have got isn’t enough. They need more, but he is certainly the best that they have got. He could play in any side in the top four of the Premier League. He is a Champions League player, a top player.

“If Spurs are going to go places Romero is the type of player they will need to keep and build around.”

Manchester City have submitted a £55m offer for a “wonderful” midfielder, who has been identified as the heir to Kevin De Bruyne, according to a report.

Man City eyeing replacement for De Bruyne

De Bruyne is set to leave Man City at the end of the season, but rival Premier League clubs clearly seem to believe the Belgian has a lot left to give, with a number of sides recently expressing an interest.

Arsenal are now holding discussions over a shock deal for the 33-year-old, alongside Aston Villa, with club chiefs willing to back Unai Emery if he decides he wants to snap the City midfielder up on a free transfer this summer.

As such, Pep Guardiola will need to bring in a suitable heir, and although it will be a tall order to find any player capable of replicating what De Bruyne has done in a City shirt, a number of targets have now been identified.

Man City set to fend off Liverpool hijack and win race for £73k-a-week star

They have been working on a deal since January.

ByHenry Jackson May 3, 2025

River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono is one player of interest, although, given his age, the 17-year-old Argentine may not be ready to go straight into the side, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz may be more of a ready-made replacement.

Man City are also looking at options from within the Premier League, and according to a report from Spain they have now submitted a €65m (£55m) offer for Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison.

Guardiola is known to be a huge fan of Maddison, and City have now made a concrete approach for his services, with the Englishman viewed as the ideal successor to De Bruyne in attacking midfield.

The 28-year-old is deemed to fit into Guardiola’s style of play perfectly, given his creativity and ability to connect with the attack, while his ability from set-pieces is also outlined as a major strength.

"Wonderful" Maddison impressing at Spurs

It has been an extremely disappointing season for Spurs in the Premier League, but the attacking midfielder has been one of their stand-out players, picking up 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 matches in all competitions.

As such, the former Leicester City man ranks highly across a range of key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.39 (93rd percentile)

Progressive passes

8.14 (98th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

4.82 (85th percentile)

The England international has also been singled out for high praise by BBC Five Live’s Ben Haines in the past.

Maddison is clearly a quality player, but the Tottenham star is set to turn 29 in November, meaning he is unlikely to be a long-term heir to De Bruyne, and his attacking numbers suggest he is not at the same level as the City legend, so there should be some reservations about the move.

Tottenham Hotspur could only secure a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at the London Stadium this afternoon, with all attention undoubtedly on Thursday night’s Europa League clash.

Wilson Odobert scored his first Premier League goal for the club to open the scoring, but Jarrod Bowen’s effort just 13 minutes later levelled proceedings.

The result leaves Ange Postecoglou’s side in 16th position, a point behind Everton and Manchester United, with all eyes on a potential European showdown with the latter.

Given their lowly league standing, there’s nothing left to play for in the league for the Lilywhites, but such a game does hand Postecoglou the opportunity to assess his first-team squad.

Numerous players failed to deliver in the clash across the capital, with the manager desperately needing to take action during the upcoming summer window.

Spurs’ poor performers against West Ham

Striker Richarlison was handed the responsibility of leading the line for Spurs this afternoon, but struggled with the responsibility at the top end of the pitch.

The Brazilian featured for 68 minutes before being replaced, understandably so, given his tally of just four passes completed – an average of one every 17 minutes.

He wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with centre-back Ben Davies unable to produce his best showing after being recalled to the starting eleven after being benched last Thursday.

The Welsh international only managed to win 50% of the duels he entered and committed two fouls, leading to a booking after a being ajudged to have brought down Niclas Fullkrug.

Ange will undoubtedly be disappointed once again with his side’s display, potentially looking to cash in on the aforementioned duo and one other starter in the coming months.

The player who Ange needs to sell from Spurs this summer

Given the situation where the club have found themselves in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, it’s no surprise that sales will be needed to correct the dismal campaign.

Such funds can be used to allow for new additions to Ange’s squad, hopefully enabling them to mount a serious push for the top four once again next season.

Countless players face the chop, such as Davies and Richarlison, but another first team member in Yves Bissouma needs to be sold after his failures throughout this year.

The Malian was once seen as an important cog in the midfield department, but has struggled to produce his best performances on a consistent basis – a signal of his decline in North London.

He was one of the players to keep his place from Thursday’s first leg win, but failed to deliver, producing an awful outing as seen in the figures he produced.

During his 90-minute showing, he managed a total of 47 touches, but lost possession on ten separate occasions – resulting in him giving the ball away every 4.7 touches he had.

The 28-year-old also only managed to win one of the three tackles he entered, and came out on top in just 50% of the ground duels he entered in East London.

Minutes played

90

Touches

47

Tackles won

1/3

Ground duels won

3/6 (50%)

Possession lost

10x

Successful dribbles

0/1 (0%)

Fouls committed

1

His dismal performance saw former footballer Adam Alfi label the midfielder as a “pub league player”, with The Standard’s Dom Smith handing him a measly 6/10 match rating – highlighting how poor he was at the London Stadium.

After such a showing, Ange simply can’t afford to start Bissouma in the second leg against Bodo Glimt next week – needing all of his players to be at the top of their game.

The bigger picture must be that the former Brighton ace is sold this summer, handing the manager the funds he requires to catapult the Lilywhites back up the division in 2025/26.

Luka Modric 2.0: Spurs in danger as Real Madrid chase “unstoppable” talent

Tottenham have a big summer ahead of them after a disappointing campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair May 3, 2025

Aston Villa sporting director Monchi has held talks over a move for a £10m+ player this week, according to a new update.

Villa transfer rumours heat up as Emery pushes for Champions League football

Unai Emery and his Villa side still have so much to play for between now and the end of the season as they look to qualify for the Champions League once again.

They put in an incredible second-leg display against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals earlier this month, winning 3-2 at Villa Park, however, they were knocked out 5-4 on aggregate. Villa also have the chance to win silverware in the FA Cup, with a semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley this weekend.

Romano: Aston Villa star club are "happy" with could leave for right offer

He’s future at Villa Park isn’t guaranteed.

ByBarney Lane Apr 22, 2025

It promises to be a dramatic end to the campaign, and talking about Villa’s plans to get into Europe once more, Emery spoke after Villa’s Champions League exit.

“It is now most important to get Europe again. The most important competition is the Champions League. The challenge we have for the last six matches is to try and get Europe and the Champions League. The players showed their capacity to compete at this level. Hopefully we can come back quickly to play in the Champions League. This is our objective and to play in the FA Cup as well for a trophy.”

Should Villa qualify for the Champions League, it could help Monchi when it comes to summer signings. One of those heavily linked with a move to Midlands has been Rosenborg star Sverre Nypan. There have been claims that Villa have made an offer to sign Nypan in a deal that could be worth up to £12.5m, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Villans are looking to win the race for the in-demand teenager.

Now, a new update has emerged on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Nypan.

Monchi holds new Aston Villa talks to sign Nypan

According to reports in Norway, relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi was spotted in Norway watching Nypan in a 2-0 win for Rosenborg over Valerenga.

Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi.

Monchi and scout Alberto Benito held talks with Nypan’s father before the match to discuss terms of a transfer, however, the Villa chief refused to comment when quizzed by newspaper Nettavisen at the hotel where he was staying.

Further developments are expected in the coming days or weeks when it comes to Villa’s move for Nypan, and by the looks of things, Villa could be getting a future star who is being likened to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

Games

63

Goals

14

Assists

11

Norwegian football expert Jesper Mathisen said last year: “Sverre Nypan is extremely exciting. I get a bit of the same feeling as when I saw Martin Odegaard break through as a boy.”

Sheffield United look as if they’ll be narrowly missing out on automatic promotion at the very top of the Championship with their opponents on Easter Monday in Scott Parker’s Burnley perhaps clinching a return to the Premier League at their expense.

Indeed, the Clarets can seal an immediate return to the promised land of the top-flight if they beat the travelling Blades, with Leeds United also only one victory away if Burnley get the job done against Chris Wilder’s men and they win themselves.

The South Yorkshire titans don’t have the most glittering record when it comes to the lottery of the playoffs unfortunately, with the Blades losing out during their last five playoff adventures, away from triumphantly managing to go up via the more drama-free top-two.

Wilder has only ever got his side up via these automatic spots, with other bosses such as the passionate Neil Warnock also clinching a passage up to the top-flight at the end of the 2005/06 season without the agony of the playoffs courtesy of Phil Jagielka’s heroics at the back.

Jagielka's heroics at Sheffield United

Before Jagielka went on to cement himself as a Premier League regular at Everton, the Blades youth product would initially make a name for himself at his boyhood side.

The 40-time England international amassed a whopping 305 appearances for United across two spells, with his efforts at the back during the aforementioned 05/06 campaign more than helping his team leap up to the top-flight, having bagged a sizeable eight goals as a titan defensively.

He went on to help himself to a further four goals the following campaign even whilst Warnock’s men tragically fell straight back down to the EFL, leading to Everton swooping in to land the 5 foot 11 defender to make him a recognised name in the big time.

Amazingly, Wilder might well be brewing United’s next Jagielka now during the dramatic promotion run-in.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Sheffield United's modern-day Jagielka

Wilder has shown this campaign that he’s unafraid to make a team selection that throws the cat amongst the pigeons, with faces such as £10m striker Tom Cannon regularly left out.

Last time out in the second tier, the Blades boss even left out ex-Liverpool defender Jack Robinson to gift Crystal Palace loanee Rob Holding a start, a decision that was immediately vindicated when assessing his top display against Cardiff City.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

70

Accurate passes

58/61 (95%)

Accurate long balls

11/14

Clearances

4

Blocked shots

1

Tackles

1

Total duels won

4/8

The brand-new United number five was calm and controlled on the ball throughout, particularly considering it was just his second league start since a January switch.

That was epitomised by his pass completion rate, with only three of his 61 passes missing their intended target during his time on the field.

Moreover, he also battled well against the relegation-threatened Bluebirds with four clearances tallied up alongside four duels being successfully won, leading to Wilder lauding the ex-Arsenal man as “outstanding” post-match.

As a result, the club may well have unearthed their next version of Jagielka. That’s considering Holding – much like his now retired counterpart – has a wealth of top-flight experience under his belt, having amassed 162 appearances for the Gunners in total away from injury issues.

With discussions centring in on the fact United could try to tie down Holding to a permanent deal, Wilder would love for the 29-year-old – like Jagielka – to continue putting in stern displays when called upon to try and clinch promotion.

Worth more than Ballard: Sheffield United have hit gold on "dominant" star

Sheffield United already have a dominant performer defensively in this standout star.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 16, 2025