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Leeds United picked up a huge three points this weekend, but Luke Ayling was far from a standout performer at Molineux, according to journalist Beren Cross.

The Lowdown: Leeds pick up a big three points

Javi Gracia was looking for what would be just his second win as Leeds manager since replacing Jesse Marsch and he certainly got that away to Wolves – although the Whites certainly came close to throwing it away.

The Whites raced into a 3-0 lead at Molineux on Saturday afternoon thanks to goals from Jack Harrison, Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen, with the latter netting for the first time as a Leeds player.

Despite getting on the scoresheet for the first time this season, it was Ayling’s defensive woes that caught the eye of many at the match, including the likes of Cross and The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who noticed Daniel Podence was giving the defender a torrid time of things, while Ayling also struggled for composure on the ball, completing just 39% of his passes (Sofascore).

The Latest: Ayling’s defensive qualities questioned

Prior to Ayling finding the back of the net and doubling Leeds’ lead at Molineux, Cross was far from impressed by what he was seeing from the veteran defender as he and teammate Jack Harrison struggled to cope with Podence.

He said: “Ayling and Harrison being ripped to shreds by Jonny and Podence down United’s right. Hosts are getting through down that side every time. Leeds need far more composure in the rare moments they’re getting the ball too. Roca and McKennie not retaining anything.”

The Verdict: Gracia will be concerned

While seeing a defender score is always a positive and a bit of a novelty, their bread and butter must be at the other end of the pitch, which is something Ayling certainly didn’t do today being part of a side that shipped a couple of goals.

Leeds will be thanking their lucky stars that Wolves weren’t able to capitalise and complete their comeback, which was also largely down to the fact goalscorer Jonny was sent off for serious foul play.

That tackle was on Ayling, so the defender was involved in all sorts of incidents, but it could be time for Leeds to turn away from the ageing full-back, as he’s clearly struggling to cope with younger, more electric wingers such as today against Podence.

Tottenham Hotspur have now reignited their interest in signing Torino defender Perr Schuurs, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eyeing defender

Tottenham were linked with several defenders in the January transfer window, with Antonio Conte’s current options in defence underperforming in the first half of the season.

Eric Dier and Clement Lenglet both received criticism for their displays, leading to the likes of Milan Skriniar and Piero Hincapie being touted for moves, but in the end Spurs chose to hold off on bringing in a new centre-back.

The Latest: Schuurs interest reignited

According to a report from TuttoSport (via Sport Witness), Conte wanted to sign Schuurs from Ajax last summer, but he turned them down in favour of a move to Torino.

However, the north London club are said to have carried out new polls for their old target, who could cost around €50m (£44m) in a deal this summer.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as a ‘leader’ by former Manchester City goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus (via Tribal Football), there is some indication that the 23-year-old would be an upgrade on the current options in the Tottenham defence.

The Dutchman has averaged more tackles and aerials won per 90 than both Lenglet and Dier over the past year, while he has also shown that he can be a threat in the opposition penalty area, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists compared to other centre-backs in Europe’s top leagues.

Spurs will no doubt be in need of a new centre-back in the summer, given Lenglet’s performances make it unlikely that Conte will have any intention to make his loan stay permanent, and Schuurs, who has been likened to Virgil van Dijk, would be a very good acquisition.

Chelsea have spent a lucrative amount of money since Todd Boehly assumed ownership of the club last year, but could look to the esteemed Cobham Academy in order to replace one first-team star seemingly closer to the exit than ever before at Stamford Bridge.

Despite forking out over £550m on new additions, Chelsea might be set to unleash their next big midfielder from the ranks at the Cobham Academy, with dynamic midfielder Harvey Vale impressing of late.

With Vale looking to secure minutes for the first-team with greater regularity now that he approaches his 20th birthday, his ascension could coincide favourably with the prospective departure of a cemented figure at Stamford Bridge.

A recent report from the Daily Mail claims that Chelsea have now halted contract talks with Mason Mount, who is apparently looking to triple his current £80k-per-week wages.

A breakthrough in negotiations does not appear to be forthcoming at present, with the 24-year-old having already rejected a proposal, and should an agreement fail to materialise, separate reports from the likes of transfer guru Fabrizio Romano state that Liverpool might be poised to pounce on the player if an apt opportunity arises.

And Vale could certainly adopt the role in the Blues’ burgeoning squad, capable on the offensive left flank and in a more central midfield role, much like Mount, the 19-year-old has impressed thus far across the maiden period of his career, and could soon earn regular shots for action under Graham Potter, who has been known to lay trust in the younger members of his teams before.

A player who has been “impressing” – as lauded by Henry Winter – for some time now, Vale has scored three goals and served two assists from just four appearances in the Premier League 2 this term, having scored five times and registered three assists from 22 appearances in the competition last year.

Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was impressed with the 19-year-old after his substitute appearance for the senior squad during last season’s 3-2 FA Cup victory over EFL Championship outfit Luton Town, with the young ace coming on and looking threatening with his pace and ball-playing prowess.

Loftus-Cheek said: “He did really well, he held his own against some physical and strong players.

“He didn’t look out of place at all. Well done Harvey, I’m sure it felt natural to him. It looked very natural. Hopefully he can kick on now.”

The Athletic’s Liam Twomey remarked over Vale’s apparent ease in gelling together with Potter’s squad, saying “Harvey Valelooks at home at this level and that’s not nothing” after he made a cameo against Brentford last season. 

And with the maestro penning a new three-year deal with the west London club in September, he is evidently entrusted with the confidence in his skill set and blossoming into a player of Premier League-level capabilities.

While the majority of Chelsea’s young stars fail to earn sustained prominence within the first-team fold, Vale is certainly of the mould to nurture his ability into one of the side’s most dynamic members, and if given the opportunity to flourish, he might just take it.

From a young kid who had “begged” his mother to change his name to Ronaldo, he is now beginning to make his own name in the game. Such is the funny nature of football, perhaps it won’t be too long before Chelsea supporters are wishing they were called Vale.

Aston Villa are creeping towards a stature that head coach Unai Emery will be satisfied with following his arrival in October, and could complete the jigsaw with a successful January bid for Olympique Marseille’s Matteo Guendouzi…

What’s the latest?

According to a report from 90min earlier this month, the Villans had registered an interest in the former Arsenal star, but the Midlands outfit would be expected to part with a sum in the region of €50m (£44m) to secure his signature.

More recently, according to journalist Dan Bardell, Villa are expected to make an official transfer bid for the player, with Guendouzi deemed to be the perfect star to shape the club’s fortunes and dictate from the centre as Villa seek a top-half Premier League finish.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “From my understanding, it sounds like Marseille have a suspicion that a bid is coming.

“So hopefully over the next few days – because I know Villa fans are keen for this one – there’ll be that concrete offer from Villa, because he’s a player that’s worked with Emery before. You get the sense now that Emery’s very much in charge of everything at Villa now, he has the final say on everything, he’s in control, and Guendouzi’s someone who would fit in very nicely into that hybrid wide/central midfielder role.”

Huge Nakamba upgrade

While Emery has found much success on the transfer front this month, clinching deals for Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran and reportedly looking to complete the signing of Gerard Deulofeu, the addition of a central midfielder of first-rate quality would go a long way towards continuing the fantastic form that has seen Aston Villa clinch victory across five of the seven league matches with the Spaniard at the wheel.

And with Guendouzi indeed flourishing out in France, the dynamism and intensity that he would instil from the centre of the Villa Park midfield would go a long way toward riding a vein of form that could be maintained, among the prominent outfits of the English top-flight.

Emery once hailed the seven-cap France international as “unique”, and it is this distinctive set of skills that will serve him well in the pursuit of prominence.

This season in Ligue 1, the 23-year-old has averaged 1.2 tackles and 0.9 intersections per outing, also completing 0.8 key passes per match in a bid to serve from multiple areas of expertise, consequently chalking up an average rating of 6.93, as per Sofascore.

As per FBref, Guendouzi ranks among the top 20% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of assists, the top 12% for progressive passes received and the top 13% for touches in the attacking penalty area, which would provide a layer of creativity on top of his defence and deep-lying presence.

With this in mind, it appears a no-brainer that Villa technical director Johan Lange ensures a massive upgrade on Marvelous Nakamba is completed, with the 29-year-old yet to make an appearance for the Claret & Blue this season despite sitting on the bench on multiple occasions.

And with the Zimbabwean midfielder failing to record an average rating of over 6.63 across any completion while in Villa colours, his departure would continue the upswing that Emery is looking to surge the club into riding.

Indeed, compared to the French midfielder in question, Nakamba ranked in the worst 10% of players in just the Premier League last term for assists, the worst 11% for progressive passes and the very worst percentage for touches.

Bearing this in mind, the “warrior” that is Guendouzi – as dubbed by Robert Pires – is undoubtedly the better fit to ensure that the recent purple patch does not fade away, and Villa’s newfound confidence and swagger can be maintained over the coming campaigns, perhaps returning the club to a position in-and-around European contention.

Leeds United are back in action on Wednesday evening as they welcome Cardiff City to Elland Road, where a place in the FA Cup fourth round is up for grabs.

The two teams drew nearly two weeks again, with manager Jesse Marsch needing a stunning comeback from his side after they were two goals down by half-time.

A favourable clash with either League One outfit Accrington Stanley or non-league minnows Boreham Wood awaits, so it’s in the American’s best interests to end the Whites’ third-round hoodoo tonight.

It was his second-half substitutions that inspired the Premier League giants to earn a replay against the Championship side and with a full squad available – bar new signing Georginio Rutter – he has the freedom to deploy his strongest XI.

There may well be bigger fish to fry than a run in the FA Cup, given Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa put them just two points above the relegation zone, but the former RB Leipzig boss will be under even more intense pressure if he were to lose to lower-league opposition.

If Marsch is not only wanting to win this encounter but also keep his role in the Elland Road dugout, then his blind and unrelenting faith in £25m summer signing Brenden Aaronson would be a good place to start.

His fellow countryman has struggled to replicate his early season form and as such, hardly warrants his place in the starting XI right now.

As a versatile attacking midfielder, often deployed as the no.10 or out on the right flank, the 22-year-old dynamo has provided just one direct goal contribution in his last 14 appearances, all of which have been starts. His other five outings at the start of the 2022/23 campaign drew double those returns, per Transfermarkt.

His downward spiral in influence and form is also highlighted by the fact that he has struggled to register a Sofascore rating above 6.8 since the 3-2 defeat to Fulham back in October.

In that run, he’s had some stinkers against West Ham United (5.9) – where pundit Jay Bothroyd described him as “sloppy” [Sky Sports News, 4th January, 20:51] – and the aforementioned Villa game (5.9) – where journalist Joe Donnohue claimed he “struggled.”

Meanwhile, against the Bluebirds in the original tie, he struggled to do much in his 86 minutes on the pitch as he lost possession 14 times from 47 touches and he lost 56% of his duels up against a struggling second-tier outfit.

Despite all the negatives, Aaronson has still kept his place in the lineup every game and that’s a cause for concern because he’s simply not delivering on his hefty price tag.

Therefore, if Marsch wants to keep his job, he must make the bold call to ditch the American from his starting XI, starting with this evening’s FA Cup third-round replay against Cardiff.

AND in other news, Orta could replace Klich at Leeds by securing January move for “unbelievable” £25m maestro…

Leeds United return to action today but divert their attention away from the Premier League with a trip to Cardiff City in the FA Cup.

It is a wholly winnable clash, and despite the Whites’ precarious league position, Jesse Marsch will view the cup as a fine opportunity to gain some much-needed momentum after their poor run of form.

They have won just twice in their last 15 games in all competitions and as such sit just two points above the relegation zone.

It is a feeling that will likely be all too familiar for fans at Elland Road, given their narrow escape from the drop last season too.

The only saving grace is that the Bluebirds are in a similarly torrid run, as they are winless in their last seven games in the Championship.

Of that aforementioned 2021/22 campaign, one of the true villains to emerge for Leeds was Luke Ayling, who offered little defensively. This culminated in his reckless challenge against Arsenal for which he received a red card, an indiscretion that journalist Phil McNulty branded “reckless” and “awful”.

Although Ayling might have impressed in their hard-fought stalemate against Newcastle United a week ago with a 6.5 Sofascore rating, it is quite fair to say that Rasmus Kristensen has improved the Whites since his signing in the summer.

This is exemplified in his 6.91 average Sofascore rating, which is vastly superior to the 6.57 of Ayling this season and the 6.61 from the season prior.

The Denmark international has offered a fine foundation on the right flank despite Leeds’ overall defensive deficiencies, as outlined in his match averages of 1.5 interceptions, 2.8 tackles and 2.4 clearances (via Sofascore).

This is again a vast improvement on the 0.6 interceptions, 0.7 tackles and 0.8 clearances per game of Ayling (via Sofascore), who has a proven history of letting his team down, as evidenced by that red card against Arsenal last year.

The 31-year-old may have been a more than capable servant to the club across 231 appearances, but if Marsch truly values a run in the cup, thern he will want to return Kristensen to the starting line-up today in place of the £20k-per-week stalwart.

Having endured a torrid 21/22 campaign, Everton manager Frank Lampard would have taken solace from a fantastic run of form in the dying embers of the campaign to stave off the threat of relegation and a promising transfer window, bolstering the proud football club ahead of a fresh slate.

Offensive issues remain the sticking point, but a fresh face to instil further assurance and stability among the backline would go down a treat; Stoke City’s Harry Souttar might just be the answer.

According to a report from the Daily Mail earlier in December, Stoke might now be looking to cash in on a player that has seen a sizeable lift in transfer value following his efforts at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Everton and Tottenham Hotspur the two leading contenders for his signature.

And last year it was reported from The Sun that the Toffees had scouted the Australian colossus, clearly etching his name into the club’s transfer wish list for a considerable amount of time now.

Everton’s own Van Dijk

Souttar has only made four appearances for the Potters this term, returning in the weeks preceding the World Cup following a major injury suffered to his ACL last year.

Despite finding his feet moments before his nation’s exploits, he showed little sign of ring rust as he played a pivotal role in the triumphant qualification from a group stage holding the likes of France, Denmark and Tunisia.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old recorded an average rating of 6.97 in Qatar, playing every minute of the three group fixtures and the round-of-16 tie against Argentina, where the Aussies fell to defeat despite a valiant collective effort against the eventual world champions.

Souttar impressed with his physicality and presence in front of Matthew Ryan’s goal, helping to keep two clean sheets and making 1.5 tackles and 5.5 clearances per match, also displaying a passing prowess that will only further the piqued interest from potential Premier League suitors.

Speaking to BBC 5Live, pundit Pat Nevin praised the titan for his aerial ability, proclaiming he has a “magnet in his head”, and his command of the space above the heads of those around him is just another factor that hints towards a momentous career at a top-flight outfit.

He bears semblance to Liverpool’s esteemed central defender Virgil van Dijk in this regard, who signed for the Reds in a then-world record £75m deal for a defender, with the Dutch sensation a master of assurance, composure and domination in the air.

Down the Merseyside Road at Goodison Park, the Toffees can emulate the success of their detested neighbours with a swoop for Souttar, who ranks within the top 5% of defenders playing in the ‘next eight’ leagues for aerials won over the past year, as per FBref.

Parting with such a hefty fee of £25m might seem somewhat off-putting, but with the likes of Yerry Mina and Michael Keane both considered dispensable and likely to be in the twilight stage of their career with Everton, Lampard must act with swift conviction to bring a Van Dijk-esque presence to turn the club’s ship around.

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will be assessed by Uruguay’s medical team following an injury scare in Friday’s win over Ghana in the World Cup.

The Lowdown: Group stage elimination

The 25-year-old started every World Cup game for his country in Qatar, but despite a 2-0 win over Ghana in their final group game, Uruguay were eliminated on goals scored.

It meant heartbreak for Bentancur but joy for his Spurs team-mate Son Heung min, who produced a brilliant late assist to help South Korea qualify alongside Portugal.

The Latest: Bentancur injury scare

Bentancur only played 34 minutes on Friday and was substituted after feeling discomfort in the first half.

The midfielder was visibly upset when leaving the pitch, and Sport Witness relayed an update from Uruguayan outlet El Pais on his condition. They claimed that Uruguay’s medical team are set to assess Bentancur, with an official report in the ‘next few hours’.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Bentancur has been a key member of Antonio Conte’s squad this season, starting 19 games in all competitions.

He has been the club’s second-best performer in the Premier League behind Harry Kane, as per WhoScored, highlighting his importance in Tottenham’s midfield.

Therefore, with club action set to return later this month, everyone associated with Spurs will be hoping for a positive update on the Uruguayan’s condition; and by the looks of it, they’ll know sooner rather than later.

West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro and the Portugal international could be David Moyes’ own version of Manchester City star Joao Cancelo at the London Stadium.

According to French news outlet Jeunes Footeux, the Hammers are looking for an upgrade at left-back and could try and sign the versatile 28-year-old, who has been hugely impressive during his time at Signal Iduna Park.

GSB could seek to sign the Portuguese full-back on a cut-price deal, as his contract with the Bundesliga outfit is set to expire in June of next year, meaning that he could be approached on a pre-contract deal at the beginning of 2023.

During his six and a half years with Dortmund, Guerreiro has been a mainstay in the first team, contributing an impressive 37 goals and 39 assists in 206 appearances, which emphasises how much of a threat he can be in the final third.

Dortmund manager Eden Terzic was full of praise for the former Caen man last season, saying:

“An amazing player. So you see especially against a deep defending side, we want him to get on the ball because he makes things happen.”

Aaron Cresswell and Emerson Palmieri have both flattered to deceive this season, with WhoScored awarding them 6.79 and 6.11 average ratings for their performances in the Premier League, which suggests that Guerreiro could be a big upgrade.

So far this campaign, the £59k-per-week star has contributed one goal and two assists in the Bundesliga, earning a strong 6.88 rating, while he has also been superb in the Champions League, with a 7.32 average rating from WhoScored to his name.

Should he make the move to the London Stadium, he could have a similar impact to Cancelo in Moyes’ side, which would make him a no-brainer signing considering the former Juventus man’s wonderful performances in recent seasons, which saw him included in the PFA team of the year after the 2021/22 campaign.

According to FBRef, Cancelo is the most similar player to Guerreiro when compared with other full-backs in Europe’s top leagues.

The two players have registered extremely similar numbers this season with regard to goals and assists per 90 (0.24 vs 0.26), progressive passes (62 vs 66), blocks (both 14) and shot-creating actions per 90 (2.80 vs 2.82).

This emphasises that both are modern full-backs who love to get forward but can also be trusted defensively, so it would surely be a superb signing by GSB if they can bring Guerreiro in during the winter transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone following a woeful 4-0 defeat to Leicester City last weekend.

Steve Davis will remain in charge of the side until 2023 following a recent update from chairman Jeff Shi, and he will hope that this can give the club some stability as they aim to push up the table.

The Old Gold travel to Brentford this afternoon, a game which represents an opportunity for the Midlands club to secure just their third league win of the season.

With Davis likely to rotate a few players following the Leicester performance, we at Football FanCast predict the starting XI which will take to the pitch to face Thomas Frank’s side…

Wolves predicted XI vs Brentford

Jose Sa will continue to keep his place in goal, despite conceding 18 times in his 12 league appearances so far this term.

The back four sees two changes from last weekend’s defeat. Max Kilman and Nathan Collins keep their places at the heart of the defence. In the full-back positions, youngster Hugo Bueno could be replaced by Rayan Ait-Nouri – who has been dubbed “superb” by Liam Keen – while Nelson Semedo comes in for Jonny at right back.

Davis might make a big call and drop Joao Moutinho – giving the veteran a rest after starting the bulk of Wolves’ matches this term, even despite his positive performance against Leicester – with youngster Boubacar Traore coming into the starting XI. Ruben Neves joins him in forming the central midfield axis.

Matheus Nunes will occupy the number ten role and hope to replicate or better the two key passes that he played against Brendan Rodgers’ side last week. Adama Traore and Daniel Podence take up their positions on the right and left wings respectively.

With a shortage of centre-forwards, Diego Costa will be tasked with leading the line, even though he hasn’t scored since joining the club in September.

This means three changes from their last match and Davis will be hoping that Wolves can emerge from what will likely be another tough game with all three points and temporally alleviate any relegation fears.

Predicted Wolves XI (4-2-3-1): Sa – Ait-Nouri, Kilman, Collins, Semedo – Neves, B Traore – Podence, Nunes, A Traore – Costa