New deal to include increase in Blast coverage, and more women’s fixtures than ever before

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-2022The ECB and Sky Sports have extended their broadcast partnership by a further four years, until the end of 2028.The new deal, which is set to begin in 2025, includes a commitment to 90 extra hours of cricket each year, and guarantees that the Hundred – the new competition that was a major factor in the last rights cycle for 2020-24 – will continue for at least another five seasons.That hike in live coverage includes a commitment to a 50 percent increase in the number of Vitality Blast fixtures being broadcast, including one game per round being shown free-to-air on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel.The exact details of the new deal’s free-to-air provisions will be confirmed at a later date – the BBC’s current agreement extends until the end of 2024 – although at least two women’s T20 internationals each year will be broadcast on terrestrial TV, as well as eight women’s Hundred matches – an increase of two from the current deal.Sky have also pledged to continue supporting grassroots cricket through the ECB’s Dynamos Cricket programme.Clare Connor, the ECB’s interim chief executive, said: “Sky have been fantastic partners for cricket for over 30 years. Their broadcast coverage is rightly lauded as the best in the world, but more significantly than that we have a shared commitment to growing the sport and investing in more opportunities, not only for people to watch and follow cricket in all its forms, but also to pick up a bat and ball.”Thanks to Sky and the support of other partners, we saw a record 14 million people playing, attending or following cricket in 2021. This year alone, 10,000 children will get the chance to have a free taste of cricket through Sky Dynamos Intros, while many, many more will benefit from facilities and opportunities to play which are only possible because of Sky’s investment. It shows this media rights model is working, and we are very grateful for Sky’s ongoing support.”We have worked closely with the wider game and our First-Class Counties to agree this new deal with Sky, which will see not only more live women’s and men’s cricket on Sky, but also more on free to air TV as well. I would like to place on record our thanks to the First Class County Chairs, to all of the Sky teams involved and to ECB colleagues including Tony Singh and Tom Harrison, who have played the central role in delivering this outstanding result for cricket.”Our shared values and vision with Sky will make cricket accessible to even more people over the coming years and will use the power of sport to inspire the next generation, while safeguarding the wonderful traditions which are such a key part of our game.”Stephen van Rooyen, Sky Sports’ EVP and CEO UK and Europe, added: “This is an exciting time for English cricket and we’re thrilled to be furthering our long and successful partnership with the ECB. Together we will continue to help grow the game while boosting participation in the sport by children from all backgrounds through initiatives like our Dynamos Cricket Intros.”On screen, we will continue to push boundaries in our BAFTA-winning coverage, bringing Sky Sports viewers even more live action from 2025 – including more women’s cricket than ever before – with men’s and women’s England internationals and domestic cricket. Sky’s investment over the last 30 years has contributed to a great deal of success on the pitch, and we hope to be at the forefront of much more to come.”

It wasn’t the most stylish of performances under Mikel Arteta, but Arsenal got the job done against Ipswich Town and cut the deficit from first-placed Liverpool to six points.

The Gunners have been hindered by injuries this season and lacked the brilliant potency of Bukayo Saka on Friday, who is expected to be out for more than two more months after tearing his hamstring against Crystal Palace.

But the well-eaned Premier League win over the Tractor Boys has lifted Arsenal into second, leapfrogging Chelsea after their loss against Fulham.

It was Kai Havertz who sealed the deal. He’s not perfect, but the German brings something unique to Arteta’s system.

Kai Havertz's performance vs Ipswich

Havertz hasn’t been the free-scoring striker that Arsenal have craved this season, but then he has still been comparatively clinical from different roles, playing deeper against Ipswich and still notching the winner, making it 12 goals from 25 matches in 2024/25.

The German saw plenty of action with 71 touches and made one key pass, as per Sofascore, but it wasn’t his finest display of the campaign.

Showcased was his elite-level movement, his tactical understanding and in-game intelligence, but Havertz still left something to be desired in his roving role, lacking the completeness that is well within his capability.

Havertz might have been the goal grabber, but he wasn’t Arteta’s most effective troop of the evening. Indeed, among his older and more experienced peers, Myles Lewis-Skelly was exceptional.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was Arteta's "brightest spark"

Ethan Nwaneri has stolen the limelight this season, but Myles-Skelly would argue that he is Hale End’s finest currently breaking through into Arsenal’s first team.

The 18-year-old left-back was immense once again in the Premier League, playing the full 90 and keeping a clean sheet against a resilient and spirited Ipswich side.

Journalist James Benge even called him “the brightest spark of the night” upon the final whistle. Lewis-Skelly made quite the impression once again, with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior all watching from the wings as he started his third Premier League fixture in succession.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – Stats vs Ipswich (27/12/24)
Match Stats	#
Minutes played	90′
Goals	0
Assists	0
Touches	86
Pass accuracy	58/59 (98%)
Key passes	2
Dribbles (completed)	3 (2)
Tackles + interceptions	3
Clearances	2
Total duels (won)	12 (9)
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, the teenage talent excelled for the hosts, with GOAL handing the youngster a remarkable 9/10 match rating following his effort, so composed and determined in his fight for stardom.

Lewis-Skelly’s confidence and composure is a beautiful thing, confirms that he has the natural-born style and gusto to succeed in the Premier League. And succeed he will.

Arsenal have a bit of a knack at churning out high-class prospects. With Arteta’s project making incremental progress, it feels like a matter of time until the varying points will converge and Arsenal will take that final, silver-edged step toward the pinnacle.

Arsenal could sign "one of Europe's hottest prospects" to replace Saka

The sensational talent would kickstart Arsenal’s title charge.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 25, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

Integrante do elenco campeão da Copinha, o zagueiro Ruan Santos vive expectativa para o início do Palmeiras no Campeonato Paulista sub-20. Atual pentacampeão do torneio, o time alviverde estreia na competição nesta quarta-feira, contra o Taubaté, às 15h, fora de casa.

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– Tivemos um começo de ano muito positivo com o título da Copinha e queremos manter a boa fase para a sequência da temporada. O Campeonato Paulista é o nosso próximo objetivo. Conseguimos vencer no ano passado com muito trabalho e dedicação e vamos nos doar ao máximo para conquistar o hexacampeonato – declarou.

O Palmeiras está no Grupo 10 da competição estadual. Além do Taubaté, a equipe enfrentará São José, Flamengo, União Mogi e Joseense na primeira fase do torneio.

Em 2021, o Palmeiras apresentou bom rendimento no início do Paulistão e ficou na liderança de seu grupo nas duas primeiras fases. No mata-mata, o time passou por São Caetano, Santos e Ferroviária até enfrentar o Mirassol na grande final, sagrando-se pentacampeão com uma vitória por 3 a 0 no placar agregado.

Filho do ex-jogador Narciso, Ruan chegou ao Palmeiras para integrar o elenco sub-15 em 2017 e está em seu segundo ano no time sub-20. O zagueiro esteve presente em 20 partidas da categoria na temporada passada e marcou um gol.

Aston Villa youngster Lamare Bogarde has signed a new long-term contract with the club after impressing Unai Emery behind the scenes.

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Bogarde pens long-term deal at VillaKey to Emery's future plansWere at risk of losing youngster this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The young Villan was attracting a lot of interest from some of Europe's top clubs but has put questions over his future to bed by penning an extension with the Midlands club to remain with Emery's side.

AdvertisementWHAT VILLA SAID

In a club announcement, Villa said: "Aston Villa is delighted to announce that Lamare Bogarde has signed a new contract with the club. The Dutch Under-21 international has been a regular in matchday squads for Villa this term, making 16 appearances in all competitions, including four in the Champions League.

"A versatile player, capable of playing in defence and in midfield, Bogarde joined the club in the summer of 2020 from Feyenoord and has previously spent time on loan with Bristol Rovers. Congratulations, Lamare!"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bogarde has made 18 appearances across all competitions this season, mostly as a late substitute. After committing his future to Emery and Co, he will be hoping to see more minutes between now and the end of the season, particularly due to his versatile nature of being able to play at centre-back or full-back.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BOGARDE?

There is still plenty to play for in Villa's season, including the Champions League and race for European places in the top flight. While Emery has his trusted men, Bogarde will be ready with renewed energy after signing his contract to contribute in any way that he can.

Kent buckle down in pursuit of survival and who-knows-what-else come season’s end

Paul Edwards28-Jun-2022

Surrey debutant Tom Lawes claimed a four-for•Getty Images

Towards the back of what will always be known as the Peter May Stand at the Kia Oval a small encampment has been created. There is a canopied seating area with open sides and you might call the thing a gazebo if that description did not sound incongruous in an urban setting of concrete and glass. And one hesitates to dub the place a redoubt before checking the definition and finding the following: “a temporary or supplementary fortification, typically square or polygonal and without flanking defences”. That sounds better, not least because those sitting under the canvas clearly have something to defend. “No City Franchises – Save Our Cricket” declares one of their banners. “Peter May Boys” announces another. I think we get the picture. Let’s assume the Boys didn’t contribute to Tom Harrison’s leaving gift.But it would be pleasant if every county’s guardians declared their loyalties so plainly. As one watched 19-year-old Tom Lawes delight both himself and all Surrey supporters by taking two important wickets in successive overs just before lunch and then another shortly after the resumption, it came as a renewed shock to realise that the 18 first-class teams have only a limited idea what they are playing for.Actually, of course, that is not altogether correct. The season is barely half over and a clutch of sides in both divisions have their eyes on their respective titles. Just as significantly, a four-day, first-class match is an intense affair in which the players invest considerable physical and emotional capital. Winning is important and careers depend on the outcome of such games. So Lawes’s joy when he bowled Jack Leaning off the inside edge for 75 and then had Ollie Robinson caught at fine gully by Ryan Patel carried both collective and personal significance. It began a slow collapse that saw Kent lose their last seven wickets for 91 runs and be forced to follow-on 342 runs behind. For his part, Lawes strolled off this great field with figures of 4 for 51 against his name in what is his first Championship match.At the same time, all English seasons since the introduction of two divisions have offered the prospect of promotion and the jeopardy of relegation. This summer, recommendations as to next year’s structure will be made by Andrew Strauss’s high-performance review panel before being polished by a small group of carefully chosen county chief-executives and voted on by the county chairmen in the autumn. Only then might the mere players find out what their professional lives will be like in 2023. You need to be rather arrogant to develop such a plan but no less deranged to blame England’s Ashes defeat on county cricket in the first place. Perhaps someone should ask the ECB’s howl-at-the-moon crazies whether the domestic game is also responsible for the 3-0 victory against New Zealand.In the meantime, Surrey’s players will keep chasing what would be their county’s 20th outright title and Kent’s will keep on keeping on. The visitors’ chances of scoring the 523 they needed to avoid the follow-on were slim this morning but Daniel Bell-Drummond and Leaning had taken their side to 216 for 2 before their 161-run third wicket stand was ended when Bell-Drummond chased a wide offspinner from Will Jacks and skewed a catch to Hashim Amla at point. Lawes then took his first two wickets and induced George Linde to play on after lunch. Apart from Jordan Cox’s 47, the remainder of Kent’s batting never threatened to change the shape of a game the result of which will be dependent on its third innings. However, a mention in dispatches is required for the short leg catch by Ben Geddes off Connor McKerr that dismissed Jaz Singh and ended Kent’s innings. It was an absurdly good right-handed reflex effort and worthy of a more pivotal moment in any match.It was also Surrey’s final wicket of the day. Rather than be overwhelmed by a deficit of 342, Kent’s batted out the remaining 44 overs with some ease, thus leaving Surrey’s bowlers with plenty of work to do on a fourth-day pitch offering them limited assistance. Joe Denly, in only his second Championship innings of the season, is unbeaten on 63 and was the more expansive of the pair; his eight fours included flourished drives and a whack over mid-on against Jacks’ off spin. Ben Compton was more restrained but passed 1000 runs for the season and needs only four runs to reach fifty for the tenth time in 15 first-class innings.The contrast between the pair was beguiling and almost unexpectedly satisfying. Patel bowled the last over and by that time Rory Burns was trying to unsettle the batters with unorthodox fields, the sort some would label “funky”. There was a silly mid-on and silly mid-off posted when the final ball of the day was greeted with Denly’s resolute forward defensive. The players left the field and almost at once one wondered how many opportunities fine cricketers of Compton’s ilk might get should red-ball cricket be reduced to a niche activity, one whose only purpose is the production of Test players rather than also being concerned with the maintenance of strong counties and all the benefits they bring to clubs and communities across the land. Members and supporters around the country are expressing their views and it’s no use thinking it will be easy to find consensus. Me? I’m with Peter May Boys on their redoubt and a few county chairmen might also be receiving their call-up papers quite soon.

Rangers are among the teams interested in signing a “highly-rated” midfielder from the English Championship in this transfer window, according to a recent report.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers made it back-to-back wins on Wednesday night, as they brushed aside Aberdeen 3-0 to ease a bit of the pressure on manager Philippe Clement. Despite the victory, Rangers remain 13 points behind leaders Celtic, and for that reason, the Scottish side could be busy in what remains of this January transfer window.

Rangers now agree £2m deal to sell Ibrox attacker with "blistering" pace

Philippe Clement’s Rangers squad is set to be weakened as a player closes in on an exit.

ByBrett Worthington Jan 15, 2025

Instead of talking about who could arrive at Ibrox however, this month has so far been more about who could leave the club. It was reported earlier this week that Rangers could look to sell striker Cyriel Dessers. The forward, who got on the scoresheet against Aberdeen, has been in and out of the side in recent weeks, and given there is interest from Italy, Rangers could “sacrifice” the player this month.

The Gers also look set to lose winger Rabbi Matondo, as the club have agreed to loan him out to an unnamed European club, who will have a £2 million option at the end of it. The 24-year-old is another player who has fallen down the pecking order at Ibrox and now looks set to move on.

Meanwhile, it has also been claimed that West Ham are leading the race to sign Vaclav Cerny at the end of his loan with the Gers, making it harder for the Scottish giants to secure his services beyond this campaign.

Rangers eyeing move to sign "highly-rated" player this month

As there could be a few exits on the cards at Ibrox, the Gers now have their eyes on a potential incoming, as Football Insider reports that Rangers are eying a move to sign Allan Campbell from Luton Town this month.

Campbell is currently on loan at League One side Charlton Athletic but is said to be keen on a move back to Scotland this month, and that has alerted the interest of Rangers as well as Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian, who could look to make a permanent move for the midfielder.

The 26-year-old is already known in the Scottish Premiership, as he came through the academy at Motherwell. Campbell played 160 times for the Scottish side, scoring 16 goals in the process, and one of those came against the Gers during the 2017/18 campaign, when he netted in a 2-2 draw.

Apps

122

Goals

14

Assists

6

Campbell, who was labelled as “highly-rated” by Graham Alexander while at Motherwell, was an excellent performer for Motherwell, and that earned him his move to Luton in 2021. However, after two seasons as a regular, he has now lost his place at Kenilworth Road, and his future appears away from the club.

Campbell’s ability to play across multiple positions in midfield would make him a very useful addition for Clement at the moment.

حُسم موقف نادي كلوب ليون المكسيكي من المشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، نسخة 2025 في أمريكا، بعدما أصدرت محكمة التحكيم الرياضي قرارها النهائي.

الأمر يعود إلى مارس الماضي، بعدما أقرت لجنة الاستئناف التابعة للاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، بأن ناديي باتشوكا وكلوب ليون انتهكا لوائح كأس العالم للأندية فيما يخص الملكية المشتركة لأكثر من نادِ.

ولا يمكن لأكثر من نادِ المشاركة في بطولة واحدة طالما ينتميان إلى ملكية واحدة، ونتيجة لذلك قرر الأمين العام للاتحاد الدولي استبعاد نادي كلوب ليون من المسابقة.

وتقدم على الفور كل من باتشوكا وكلوب ليون باستئناف، احتجاجًا على موقف فيفا ولضمان المشاركة لكليهما بشكل طبيعي في المونديال.

ليس هذا فقط، بل تقدم كلوب ليون باستئناف إضافي ضد قرار استبعاده من البطولة، في حين تقدم نادي ألاخويلينسي الكوستاريكي باستئناف آخر من أجل قبول مشاركته كبديل.

ونظرت محكمة التحكيم الرياضي في كافة تلك الأمور بشكل مجمع، يوم 5 مايو، واتفقت مع فيفا في قرارها تجاه استبعاد كلوب ليون من المشاركة (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

كان كلوب ليون يتواجد في المجموعة الرابعة رفقة كل من الترجي التونسي، تشيلسي الإنجليزي وفلامينجو البرازيلي. 

ولتعويض كلوب ليون، تقرر إقامة مباراة فاصلة بين فريقي كلوب أمريكا ولوس أنجلوس للمنافسة على البطاقة المتبقية في كأس العالم للأندية.

وتم اختيار فريق كلوب أمريكا بالنظر إلى وجوده في المركز الثالث في التصنيف العام، في حين أن لوس أنجلوس هو وصيف بطولة كونكاكاف التي حسمها كلوب ليون في 2023.

ولم يُحدد بعد موعد المباراة المذكورة، مع العلم أن كأس العالم للأندية سينطلق في أمريكا يوم 14 يونيو المقبل، على أن يستمر حتى 13 يوليو. 

 

 

Jude Bellingham is facing the threat of another ban, with the Real Madrid star angrily kicking a VAR monitor following defeat to Valencia.

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• Los Blancos came unstuck on home soil
• England international frustrated at final whistle
• May face punishment from authorities

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Los Blancos suffered a serious setback in the defence of their La Liga title when going down 2-1 at Santiago Bernabeu to Los Ches. Real are now four points adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona with eight games left to take in this season.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham cut a frustrated figure when making his way off the pitch at the end of a contest that saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side toil against struggling opposition. A 95th-minute winner from the visitors compounded Real’s misery.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  England international Bellingham needed some way of venting his anger when heading for the dressing room, and a pitch-side screen caught his eye. When passing the monitor, which is used for VAR reviews, the 21-year-old midfielder lashed out.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

Let’s talk contracts. Why not? It’s a new subject, fresh and gripping and rarely discussed on Merseyside right now.

Or maybe this isn’t the time to be facetious: Liverpool have been plagued by the uncertainty circling three of their superstars this season, with Arne Slot’s brilliant tactics serving as the tonic that has saved the club from spinning out of control.

As it is, Liverpool are in pole position in the Premier League and have been hailed as “the best team in the country” by renowned journalist Henry Winter.

Slot is a bright new voice in the English game, en route to a silver-laden finish in a first-step campaign. How has he done it? How has he succeeded Jurgen Klopp with such success, merely dipping his pinky into the summer transfer market?

Federico Chiesa is the only first-team signing at the club, and even he has scarcely featured due to injuries. Liverpool need to make signings in 2025, to be sure, but they must also sell, such is the way of football.

Liverpool planning to sell

Slot has no wish to command a bloated squad on Chelsea’s scale, or example, and thus will only move to strengthen if certain players move on.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will all need replacing if they leave. More precisely, FSG will need to target cream-of-crop quality to keep Slot’s system afloat.

It’s safe to say that sporting director Richard Hughes would keep them all on the books if he had his way, however, wages and technicalities of all shapes and sizes are hindering resolutions.

Elsewhere, there are a few first-team stars who would be willingly sold. According to reports, Darwin Nunez has been made available for transfer as his goalscoring troubles continue, with Liverpool looking to reclaim an ambitious £60m sum for their record signing.

Matches (starts)

29 (19)

36 (22)

15 (7)

Goals

9

11

2

Assists

3

8

2

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.3)

3.0 (1.3)

1.4 (0.5)

Big chances missed

20

27

3

Chiesa could also be on the move, though Slot is understood to have rejected the prospect of the Italy forward leaving this month as a charge across multiple fronts is mounted over the coming months.

Away from Slot’s senior crop, Ben Doak is also at risk of being sold, with no shortage of suitors looking to bring him in.

Liverpool willing to sell their biggest talent

Liverpool loaned Doak, 19, to Middlesbrough in the summer and he has since gone from strength to strength with the Championship side, with his teammate Tommy Conway gushing over his ability to “cause carnage on the pitch.”

The plan has been for Doak to return to Kirkby at the end of the term, but January bids from Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town have caused Liverpool to re-think things.

While the clubs’ respective £16m and £15m offers were deemed unacceptable, FSG have responded with raised stakes, suggesting they’ll play ball, so to speak.

Despite holding out for a tall £30m figure, Liverpool would reluctantly accept £25m for the Scotland international, as per Football Insider.

This would be a grave mistake.

Why Selling Doak would be a dreadful mistake

Doak has clinched eight goal contributions from 21 Championship matches this season, exhibiting his creativity and combativeness to an emphatic effect.

Liverpool welcomed the youngster from Celtic for a nominal fee back in 2022, but that doesn’t mean that they should let him go just because they’d claim a big profit. Just take a look at Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke, who Liverpool sold to Bournemouth for £19m six years ago.

The intervening years allowed Solanke, now 27, to foster his attacking skills, but there’s little question that he’s endowed with the faculties fit for Liverpool’s senior squad now, and the same could be said for Doak, who is probably an even bigger talent than the number nine was in his youth.

Former Scotland manager Craig Levein has claimed: “this kid could be a world-class player.” You’d have to admit that he’s in the tallest echelon of teenage talents plying their art right now, behind the likes of Lamine Yamal and Endrick but not by the longest distance.

As per FBref, Doak ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Championship this season for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90. This perfectly highlights his pace and his ability to make things happen with the opportunities he crafts for himself.

Liverpool chiefs may well use the Solanke sale as a gauge, observing that Doak might only have scratched the surface of his full potential and thus must be kept at the club for the coming years. Slot may even entertain the notion of another loan move next year, perhaps in more prominent territory.

Whether Liverpool would have used Solanke’s talents is almost immaterial, for Bournemouth banked a whopping £65m cheque for the England international when Tottenham came calling this summer. Might Palace or the like be claiming a similarly hefty figure for Doak in several years?

Solanke has scored 11 goals and added five assists across 26 games for Tottenham this season, noted for his “unbelievable” quality by Ange Postecoglou.

While you can’t rue the deal to sell a young and inexperienced Solanke on too greatly, he’d perhaps be a regularly starting member of Slot’s current unit, more complete and clinical than Nunez at present.

Ultimately, FSG will have informed Hughes to accept a sizeable bid worth £25m for Doak’s touted signature and will have no scruples about putting the cash in the bank.

However, there’s little question that the Reds may come to feel the bite of Doak’s quality if they do allow him to foster his high-class talent at a divisional rival.

Solanke is now thriving as the focal frontman of a struggling Tottenham team, yes, but also one that boasts one of the most fearsome frontlines in the country.

Gakpo upgrade: FSG target £90m ace who'd be Liverpool’s best LW since Mane

Liverpool may look to strengthen their frontline this year, but perhaps not on the right flank.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 7, 2025

Leeds United extended their place at the top of the Championship table after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Year’s Day.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Whites because they took the lead in the 88th minute, through Pascal Struijk’s penalty, before Danny Batth equalised just 90 seconds later.

Thankfully, for Daniel Farke and his side, Sheffield United were then beaten by Sunderland and Burnley were held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke, which meant that Leeds moved to three points clear at the top.

The West Yorkshire outfit are chasing automatic promotion to the Premier League, after they lost in the play-offs last term, and will be hoping to bounce back with a victory over Hull City this weekend, having dropped points on Wednesday.

Farke could look to use the January transfer window, which officially opened for business on Wednesday, to bolster his squad over the next few weeks, to ensure that he has the best possible chance of leading the team to the top-flight.

One Leeds player who has provided moments of quality, but also inconsistent performances at times, has been Wales international Daniel James.

Dan James' performances this season

The former Manchester United attacker ended the 2023/24 campaign with a return of 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances for the Whites, as they went on to lose in the play-off final.

James did have a moment to equalise in the final against Southampton at Wembley last May, crashing a shot off the crossbar and could have kept the dream alive if he had kept his effort down.

The Welsh winger has tried to provide more moments of quality in the Championship so far this season, in an attempt to help Leeds to earn promotion to the Premier League, and has offered plenty.

To date, the 27-year-old whiz has scored five goals and provided three assists in 19 appearances in the second tier, starting 14 of those matches, and this shows that he has been a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

However, there have been inconsistencies in his performances and James’ last two displays for Leeds suggest why the club may be in the market to add another forward to the group.

Minutes

19

90

Goals + assists

0

0

Pass accuracy

40%

79%

Big chances missed

1

0

Big chances created

0

0

Possession lost

3x

25x

As you can see in the table above, the ex-Swansea dynamo failed to contribute with a goal, assist, or ‘big chance’ created in 109 minutes of action, losing the ball a staggering 28 times across those two outings.

With every game being crucial for the Whites in their battle with Burnley and Sheffield United to land automatic promotion, Farke may want more consistency from his attackers in the second half of the season.

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That is why the German head coach could look to use the transfer market to create more competition for places, and there is one Leeds transfer target who could come in as an even bigger talent than James.

Leeds United's interest in Championship star

Last month, journalist Alan Nixon, on his Patreon page, as relayed by Leeds Live, reported that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign Burnley winger Mike Tresor.

It was claimed that the Clarets outcast, who has not played a single minute of Championship action so far this season, has emerged as a target for the Whites, as they look to add more firepower to their squad before the end of the January transfer window.

The reporter revealed that it will be a difficult deal for Leeds to get over the line before the deadline because Burnley could be wary about selling to one of their promotion rival, despite not deeming the player to be a regular in their own promotion-chasing side.

Nixon stated that Clarets chairman Alan Pace would like Tresor to play for the team before they make a decision on whether or not to part ways with him this month, but it remains to be seen whether or not Scott Parker, who has opted not to select him thus far, is prepared to use him.

Why Leeds should sign Mike Tresor

Leeds must, now, try to take advantage of this situation by swooping to sign the Belgian whiz before the end of the window, because he could arrive at Elland Road as an even bigger talent than James.

He has not had the best time in England so far, with no appearances this season and only three starts in the Premier League last term, and has not had the opportunity to showcase the best of his abilities, due to his lack of game time.

Farke could offer the 25-year-old star, who former coach Michael Ribeiro claimed has “exceptional” technique, a chance to play regular minutes in England for the first time, in the hope that he can recapture his form for Genk.

Prior to his move to Turf Moor to play for Burnley, Tresor caught the eye with his sensational displays as an attacking midfielder or winger in the Pro League in Belgium.

Appearances

39

19

Goals

8

5

Big chances missed

3

3

Big chances created

22

9

Assists

24

3

Key passes per game

2.8

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the creative maestro’s performances in the Belgian top-flight in his last season of regular football were extraordinary, with a staggering 24 assists – the most in a single campaign at that level in history.

These statistics suggest that there is the potential there for Tresor to be an even bigger talent than James for Leeds, given his threat in the final third, with a similar goal return but far more creativity at the top end of the pitch to win matches and consistently deliver quality in the second half of the season.

However, it is down to the club to get a deal done for the Belgian dynamo and then up to Farke to get the best out of him, in a way that Burnley have been unable to.

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