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Leeds United had little to celebrate during their 16-year hiatus from the Premier League, with their misery only exacerbated as they even dropped into League One for a period.

It was the lowest the club had slumped to in their history and marked the most miserable period to support the Whites.

A return to the top flight seemed the most unlikely of targets but little did they know they were about to unleash a man who would take the team on his back to return them to within just one promotion of their dream.

The goalscoring exploits of Jermaine Beckford will go down in history at the Yorkshire outfit, as he appeared when they needed him most to inject some hope back into the club.

Whilst there were only a handful of heroes made before their eventual 2020 return, the 6 foot 2 striker certainly will remain one of those few to step up at their darkest hour.

How did Jermaine Beckford play for Leeds?

Having signed from Wealdstone after his incredible scoring record drew widespread attention, the young forward thrived on loan at Scunthorpe United where he foreshadowed his impressive League One form that would prove so important.

Upon his return to his parent club, who had themselves just been relegated from the Championship, he established himself as a mainstay in the side, scoring 20 times in 40 league matches.

The 39-year-old would not relent in his burning desire to propel the club to promotion, as the season following he would notch a further 27 goals as they again missed out on promotion.

It would be third time lucky though as once again Beckford showcased his imperious quality, scoring 25 times as they triumphantly returned to the second division. This was far from where they wanted to be but remained a huge step towards ensuring the further promotion that would come just a decade later.

Beckford’s exploits under Simon Grayson’s leadership even led journalist Oliver Todd to dub him a “Warneford Road legend” just months before his eventual departure.

Although it was a period the club would likely rather forget, to add a prime version of this hulking finisher up top for the current side would be a masterstroke, especially when Javi Gracia’s current outfit have scored just once in their last five games in all competitions, and Patrick Bamford has only mustered one league goal all season.

Not only this but similarities could even be drawn between the now-retired forward and Troy Deeney, who thrived in the Spaniard’s system as a target man who scored plenty.

Both boast incredible physiques and a ruggedness to challenge centre-backs, but arguably the former has far more speed which would make him even deadlier in the Spaniard’s preferred 4-4-2 alongside another frontman.

If anyone from the last decade or so could fix Leeds’ current goalscoring issues, then it’s certainly Beckford – just imagine if Gracia had him now.

TalkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has torn into Everton striker Neal Maupay after a below-par display in his side’s defeat to Aston Villa.

How did Maupay play against Aston Villa?

The Frenchman delivered a poor performance as Everton disappointed at Goodison Park, and was physically bullied, winning just one of his seven attempted aerial duels as per SofaScore.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s absence was notable as Maupay struggled to make an impact, and this led to criticism of the £15m signing from Brentford.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Agbonlahor questioned what Maupay offers physically or tactically, claiming that his only notable contribution was winding opposition players up.

“I think the big standout for me for Everton was the lack of a striker. Neal Maupay, he can’t hold the ball up. hasn’t got to pace in behind, and doesn’t show it, he can’t finish,” he stated.

“He’s just a striker who tries to wind up the opposition and today that didn’t work for him, and having Demarai Gray on the bench didn’t make sense to me.”

Should Everton have signed a striker?

Everton’s lack of transfer incomings in January could prove critical as they attempt to avoid relegation, and they should have added more goals to the side.

Calvert-Lewin’s fitness record has been poor in recent years, and he and Maupay have just one goal each to their name this season.

In yesterday’s game he lost seven duels, lost the ball nine times and only had a pass completion percentage of 73%. He also had less touches than Jordan Pickford with 28 and 32 respectively (Sofascore).

The club did recall young forward Ellis Simms from his loan at Sunderland, but it may be too soon for the 22-year-old to make an immediate impact in the team.

After also losing Anthony Gordon to Newcastle, the lack of goals upfront could harm Everton’s chances of survival, and with Maupay continuing to disappoint, there remains little solution within the current squad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had something of a resurgence since Julen Lopetegui took over as manager in November, and the January transfer window was a further indication that the Old Gold are back on track in the Premier League.

On the pitch, the Midlanders have started to show discernible improvement after a woeful start to the campaign left them facing a grim battle against relegation from the top flight and confirmed the dismissal of Bruno Lage after 16 months in the job.

Last summer, the Wolves squad saw a more comprehensive reshuffle than in previous years, with Conor Coady, Willy Boly, Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker all departing. The ill-effects of the changes were initially felt, proving to be the final blow for Lage as his tinkering did not get the machine whirring as planned.

However, Lopetegui has reignited the fire among the squad at Molineux, and several well-placed winter signings have bolstered the ranks further after already showing hints of revival.

Since his first match in the dugout after the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Wolves have only lost three times from ten matches across all competitions, with the recent 3-0 drubbing of beleaguered Liverpool embodying the turnaround which has lifted the Old Gold to 15th in the Premier League table.

One player who is thriving is Daniel Podence, who has scored three goals from six league outings since the World Cup.

The winger has not always been a starring figure in Wolverhampton since his £16.6m arrival from Olympiakos in January 2020, but five goals from 16 top-flight starts this term is an indication of his marked improvement as a direct threat and an evolution from the graceful but ineffective force who plundered just two league goals last season.

With Everton eyeing a move for the ace – who is out of contract at the end of next season – earlier in the campaign, there was an increasing belief that a deal might have been forthcoming, but Lopetegui evidently views the 27-year-old as an integral part of his plans for the remainder of 2022/23.

Candidly, for all of Wolves’ improvements, their tally of 15 league goals this season is the lowest in the top flight despite the three-goal romp over Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, and effective firepower is a coveted component for the club at present.

With five goals in the league, the “delightful” Podence – as hailed by Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith last year – has come up with 33% of his team’s tally so far this term, and to have cast him aside based solely on the uncertainty over his long-term future would have been a costly mistake.

As it is, he looks set to continue making a mark on Wolves’ season, and the fact that the team’s most potent forward remains in the Midlands for the rest of the campaign could end up being the difference between them enjoying a sixth successive year of top-flight football or returning to the Championship.

Therefore, you could argue that Lopetegui has struck gold in a sense by warding off any interest in the 27-year-old.

Italian football expert Nicky Bandini isn’t sure that Tottenham Hotspur or any other club will meet the price tag on Nicolo Zaniolo’s head.

The Lowdown: Unrealistic price tag

Spurs are still yet to back Antonio Conte financially in the transfer market this month, which could well be down to the fact the Italian manager is yet to commit his future to the club with his contract set to expire in the summer – though they have recently moved to bring in Arnaut Danjuma on a surprise loan deal.

Reports have recently emerged about how Conte could leave at the end of the season, but if Daniel Levy was to put his hand in his pocket and bring in some new signings, things could quickly change.

Another player who is said to be admired by Conte and Spurs is Zaniolo of Roma, with Tottenham said to have lodged a loan offer for the player that was rejected out of hand by the Serie A giants.

The Latest: Zaniolo not looking likely to be on the move

Bandini has admitted live on Sky Sports that it would be surprising if Spurs spent big on Zaniolo, especially after he raised red flags by not turning out for Roma this weekend, despite being called up to the squad.

She said: “I think this weekend is one of those situations – he’s trying to force a move but also perhaps, he’s sort of raising some red flags, he’s the sort of player who will refuse to go to a game which he’s been called up for.

“Everything Mina [Rzouki] said is accurate, he’s a really sort of explosive, powerful player who can be very impressive, but strangely for Roma, he really hasn’t turned that into numbers, hasn’t really turned that into goals, hasn’t turned that into assists.

“So I’m sort of with Mourinho that that expectation that someone’s going to put €35-40m this transfer window seems unlikely, but he’s got potential, he really has got potential to be special.”

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The Verdict: This is a deal Spurs should avoid

While Conte will be desperate for reinforcements this month, bringing in someone who has had two ACL injuries in recent times and is failing to impress or even put the effort into his club at present is perhaps not the ideal recruit.

With a price tag going all the way up to around $40m (£35m), it would be a major outlay for Spurs to commit to, so it’s no surprise that they’re instead keen on an initial loan deal so they can see how he adapts to the Premier League and if his body can cope with it.

Zaniolo is still very young and clearly has potential, as Bandini highlighted, but his shocking injury record and lack of goal involvements this season will be huge red flags that Conte and Levy must assess before throwing money at Roma just for the sake of bringing in a new body.

Everton are believed to be working on a deal to sign Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga in January, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Elanga out of favour at United

The 20-year-old enjoyed something of a breakthrough season at United last term, scoring two goals and assists apiece in the Premier League, as well as netting once in the Champions League.

Elanga has struggled to enjoy regular football for the Red Devils in 2022/23, however, managing only five league starts and finding himself behind the likes of Antony and Marcus Rashford in the pecking order.

Everton have been linked with a move for the youngster recently, and another update has emerged.

The Latest: Everton working on deal

According to Football Insider, United are ‘working on a deal’ to sign Elanga, who is described as one of the Blues’ ‘top targets’ in the January transfer window.

They are thought to be in ‘negotiations’ with the player, whose current United deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026.

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The Verdict: Ideal wide addition

Elanga could be exactly what Everton need in wide areas, providing Frank Lampard with extra attacking ammunition ahead of their current relegation battle.

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He has been hailed as a ‘great talent’ by Zlatan Ibrahimovic – high praise from such a legendary figure – and his performances last season show what he is capable of.

At 20, Elanga is still a work in progress, but he could end up proving to be an upgrade on some of the current options, with the likes of Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil proving to be inconsistent, in terms of end product.

Chelsea are no longer in contact with Benfica over the signing of Enzo Fernandez, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

The midfielder, who won the Young Player of the Tournament award as Argentina lifted the World Cup in Qatar, has a €120m (£106m) release clause, though Benfica were previously adamant that they would not accept anything below this valuation in January.

Liverpool and Manchester United are also interested in the 21-year-old, but Chelsea looked close to a transfer after agreeing personal terms with the player.

However, Romano has revealed on his YouTube channel that the clubs are no longer in contact as the deal has broken down, with Chelsea attempting to negotiate a lower fee for Fernandez.

He said: “As of now, Chelsea and Benfica are no longer speaking and there is no new meeting scheduled between the two clubs.

“Last week, Chelsea had an agreement with the Benfica player, Enzo Fernandez, they had an agreement on the contract, a long-term contract for Enzo, everything in place on the player’s side – but not on the club’s side.

“In the last 7-8 days, Chelsea accepted to negotiate with Benfica around that value [of the release clause]. So this is why the two clubs were in direct contact and this is why the deal was verbally advanced between Chelsea and Benfica.

“They never triggered the clause and they never submitted an official proposal for €120m – they always discussed verbally of negotiating around the value of the clause with different payment terms.”

A good decision?

Given what Romano has revealed, the deal broke down simply because Chelsea were unwilling to pay the huge fee upfront, despite offering a large fee broken down into instalments.

Paying the release clause would have seen Fernandez become a British record signing, and this is a 21-year-old midfielder with half a season of experience at Benfica.

Whilst his supreme talent was on display at the World Cup, it is hard to justify such a large fee for an unproven player, and there are alternative options Chelsea could target now or in the summer.

A long-standing interest in Declan Rice could be explored, and he would arrive as a much more proven option, for potentially a lower fee.

It remains to be seen whether Fernandez will be on the move in January but it seems unlikely that anyone would spend the required funds in the middle of the season.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge. 

The Lowdown: Liverpool’s previous interest in Berge

The Merseyside club have been linked with a move for the Blades midfielder in the past, most recently during the previous summer transfer window.

This season has seen the Norwegian, who had a £25m price tag reportedly put on him last summer, score three goals and deliver three assists in 12 Championship appearances.

Now that the January transfer window is around the corner, the Reds have reportedly reignited their interest in the player.

The Latest: Liverpool eyeing Sander Berge

According to a recent report from Jeunes Footeux, Liverpool, and fellow Premier League side Chelsea, have been keeping their eye on Berge for several months.

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The report also adds that the two sides could make moves to sign the 6 foot 5 midfielder during the January transfer window and exactly why – as Liverpool ‘anticipate the departures’ of both Naby Keita (end of contract) and Arthur Melo (end of loan).

The Verdict: A useful signing for Liverpool

In addition to his goals and assists this season, Berge has also racked up the highest passing accuracy percentage (81.7%) out of any Blades player that has attempted more than two passes in the league.

The 24-year-old, who has been praised for his “outstanding” attitude in the past by Chris Wilder, has also racked up the fourth-highest number of shot-creating actions (41) and goal-creating actions (5) at the Yorkshire club, as well as the second-highest total of successful dribbles (20).

This showcases how much of an attack-minded midfielder he is and what he’d be able to offer Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Having already experienced life in the Premier League and English football, this could make it easier for the Norwegian to settle into Liverpool if he does end up at Anfield in January.

Bearing in mind how Liverpool have a significant number of central-midfielders in their squad in and around the age of 30, bringing in Berge could be a smart long-term investment for the Merseyside club to make based on his age.

Arsenal ‘really appreciate’ transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk ahead of a potential move for him in January, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Mudryk wanted by Arsenal

The 21-year-old has emerged as arguably one of Europe’s most exciting young players, producing some magical performances for Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mudryk has scored three goals and registered two assists in the Champions League this season, not to mention being praised by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

The Gunners have been strongly linked with a move for the winger, and January could be a time to snap him up.

The Latest: Romano provides update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano claimed that Arsenal are still big admirers of Mudryk, with a potential bid imminent:

“They will sign players if they are the right players for Arsenal’s project in January. We know they’re following Mykhaylo Mudryk. He is a player they really appreciate and he’s a winger they really like.

“They had contacts with his agents for a long time because – last summer – they wanted Mudryk, but they never negotiated with Shakhtar as they knew they wanted more than €40-45million. Now they want way more than that.”

The Verdict: What a signing he would be

It can be easy to overhype young players before they have time to fully reach their potential, but Mudryk does look like a special player with a massive future ahead of him.

His displays for Shakhtar in the Champions League have really caught the eye, not least one superb finish against Celtic, and he could be add further brilliance to an already exciting Arsenal attack.

To have Mudryk as another left-sided option alongside Gabriel Martinelli would provide Mikel Arteta with extra depth, and he could be the sprinkling of extra genius that helps get the Gunners over the finish line in the Premier League title race.

West Bromwich Albion finally stopped their rut on Tuesday night, ending a three-match losing run as they beat Blackpool at the Hawthorns.

Although it took an 85th-minute winner to seal the three points, it was another solid performance as Carlos Corberan’s side dominated 64% of the ball and had 11 shots, via SofaScore.

This impressive display is highlighted by the average SofaScore rating given to the team of 6.96.

However, this further highlights the outlier for the Baggies, as Jed Wallace recorded yet another disappointing display with his 6.4 rating.

This marked the 28-year-old’s 18th successive start in the Championship since joining in the summer, yet was another game where he did not manage to find the net.

Not since mid-September has he scored; a nine-game barren run.

With the likes of Grady Diangana forced to watch from the bench, it makes his continued inclusion all the more baffling.

This is a winger who just three years ago, at the age of 21, scored eight and assisted seven in one season in this division.

Few at the Midlands club have had a good season thus far, hence why they sit two points adrift in 23rd.

But for a side that has scored just 21 goals in 18 games, Wallace has seldom contributed according to the underlying numbers.

They paint the picture of a winger that offers little goal threat, and despite making 14 carries per 90, has only seen one end in a goal this campaign.

This lines up with the simple one-word summation from Lewis Cox on one of the former Millwall winger’s displays this season: “wasteful”.

His poor midweek performance was likely overlooked due to the relief that came with a win at last, but this was not a one-off.

Wallace must improve soon, or else risk being forced to the bench.

With Corberan now at the helm permanently, he will be assessing who in his squad he can trust to perform consistently.

But with SofaScore ratings of 6.4 and 6.7 respectively in his first two games, the wide man has not made a good first impression.

Decision effectively rules him out of T20 World Cup 2022, but he’ll reconsider if team’s circumstances become difficult

Mohammad Isam27-Jan-2022Tamim Iqbal has made himself unavailable from T20Is for the next six months, effectively staying out of contention for the T20 World Cup later this year. Tamim, however, said that he could reconsider this decision if the BCB asks him again before the World Cup, although he doesn’t believe it will be required.The announcement follows recent discussions between Tamim and top BCB officials including president Nazmul Hassan, who tried to dissuade him from taking the decision. Tamim had been mostly away from Bangladesh’s T20I side for the past 12 months.In a press conference in Chattogram on Thursday, Tamim insisted that it was a cricketing decision, and that his focus is on Tests and ODIs this year, but he will only reconsider T20Is if circumstances get difficult for the team.”There have been discussions about my T20I future,” Tamim said. “In the last few days, I have been doing meetings with the BCB president (Nazmul Hassan) and Jalal (Yunus) and Kazi Inam (Ahmed). They wanted me to continue T20Is till the World Cup (this year). I had a different sort of thinking. I will not be considering T20Is for the next six months. My full focus will be on Tests and ODIs. We are preparing for the World Test Championship and qualification for the 2023 World Cup. I will not be thinking about T20Is in the next six months. I hope that those playing will do so well, that the team won’t need me in T20Is. But if God forbid the team or cricket board needs me, and I am ready, I will possibly think about it.”Related

Tamim Iqbal announces retirement from T20Is

BPL draft: Dhaka sign Mashrafe, Tamim and Mahmudullah

Tamim drops out, says other players deserve a chance

Ahead of last year’s T20 World Cup, Tamim voluntarily pulled out of the tournament in order to give the other openers like Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim opportunities. Tamim said at the time that since he missed the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, it was only fair for him to skip the tournament.His last T20I was against Zimbabwe in 2020, after which he missed the rest of the three-match series due to a knee injury.Tamim is Bangladesh’s third highest run-getter in T20Is. He has played 74 T20Is for Bangladesh and four for World XI teams – three in Pakistan in 2017 and one against West Indies at Lord’s in 2018. He has 1701 runs for Bangladesh, at an average of 24.65 and a strike-rate of 117.47, while his overall T20I record is 1758 runs at 24.08 and a strike-rate of 116.96. He is Bangladesh’s only centurion in the format.Till the end of 2018, Tamim was one of the most regular members of the T20I side, having played 75 out of 84 T20Is (89.3%) that Bangladesh played. But in the last three years, he has only played three out of 38 matches.Tamim will continue to play in domestic T20 leagues, having already made two half-centuries for Minister Group Dhaka in the ongoing BPL.Tamim insisted that the new players who will be tried in his place should be given a long rope. He drew an example from his, and other senior Bangladesh cricketers’ early days, to compare the situation for the likes of Naim, Sarkar and Saif Hassan.”We handed chances to a number of youngsters in the last (T20I) series. We cannot lose hope in them quickly. We have to give them time. I think six months is a good enough time. I am pretty confident that I won’t be needed in T20Is. Even then, if the team management or cricket board feels otherwise, I will be open for discussion.”The team has to go forward. You know my stand ahead of the last T20 World Cup (of giving the young openers more opportunities), so it won’t be wise to judge anyone after one or two series. Many of us seniors went through three or four bad series, and then bounced back with maybe three good series on the trot. Considering those who will play in my place, I am sure they will find their feet and do well,” he said.