Manchester United are open to selling Anthony Martial this summer, and a new report has revealed which club are currently in pole position to secure his services.
When did Anthony Martial join Man United?
The Frenchman first arrived in the Premier League and indeed Old Trafford from AS Monaco back in 2015, and he’s since gone to clock up a total of 298 appearances during his eight years at the club, but last season didn’t pan out as he would have hoped.
The Red Devils centre-forward made just 11 starts in the top-flight during the previous campaign, primarily as a result of sustaining several separate injuries which kept him out of action for 17 matches, so due to not being available on a regular basis, he was only a bit-part player under Erik ten Hag.
Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…
Therefore, with the 27-year-old’s contract expiring in less than a year, the ongoing transfer window will be the club’s final big opportunity to cash in should they not want to risk losing their prized asset for free, and if the following update is to be believed, it sounds like that is exactly what the hierarchy are aiming to do.
Is Anthony Martial leaving Man United?
According to CaughtOffside, Man United will “allow” Martial to leave before September 1. The M16 outfit’s attacker has reportedly failed to “convince” Ten Hag that he is “worthy” of a place in the starting squad and has been viewed as nothing more than a fringe player ever since the departure of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Red Devils signing Rasmus Hojlund has made the striker’s future “even more uncertain” and he will therefore be given the green-light to find a “new challenge” if a suitable offer arrives.
Inter Milan are, as it stands, the only club “considering making an approach”, and whilst his salary is something that they “will not be able to match”, it’s stated that they have “requested to remain informed” on his situation in the closing weeks of the window.
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial.
How many goals has Anthony Martial scored?
Whilst Man United will be frustrated by Martial’s lack of availability last season, the fact that he still managed to rack up 12 goal contributions (nine goals and three assists) in 29 appearances across all competitions shows what he’s capable of, so getting rid of him this summer would be a mistake.
Sponsored by Nike, Ten Hag’s £250k-per-week earner also ranked in the 92nd percentile for pass completion, highlighting how strong his link-up play is with his fellow attacking teammates in and around the opposition's penalty area, making him a constant handful to deal with.
Martial, who is the “perfect” profile of player to fit the boss’ style of football, according to journalist Josh Bunting, can not only operate everywhere across the frontline but he additionally knows what it takes to be successful having helped secure five trophies during his time at the club, so keeping him in the building is vitally important to maintain that winning mentality.
Johnson, who turned 36 today, retired from Test cricket in 2015 with a tally of 313 wickets at 28.40 to his name
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-20171:24
No Filter Ashes: What did Mitchell Johnson sing to himself?
Steven Smith, Australia’s captain, may have called for his side to reopen a few English scars when the Ashes get underway at Brisbane later this month, but the man who, four years ago, inflicted more physical and mental pain on England’s cricketers than any other player won’t be adding to that grief on this tour.Mitchell Johnson, whose 37-wicket haul in 2013-14 was the impetus behind Australia’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash, has declined an offer to play for a Western Australia XI in England’s two-day warm-up at the WACA that gets underway on Saturday.Johnson, who turned 36 today, retired from Test cricket in 2015 with a tally of 313 wickets at 28.40 to his name. However, he remains a fixture in Australia’s Big Bash League, and returned the most economical figures in the tournament’s history last season, claiming 3 for 3 in the semi-final against Melbourne Stars.His record against England at the WACA was particularly formidable, with 15 wickets at 14.80 in two Test wins, including a memorable haul of 6 for 38 in a series-levelling win in 2010-11.However, according to a report in the West Australian, Johnson has opted out of using England’s first match of the tour to warm up for the BBL, which gets underway in December.Had Johnson come out of mothballs for this match, it would have revived memories of England’s traditional tour-opener at Lilac Hill in the 1990s, when another great former Western Australia fast bowler, Dennis Lillee, used to charge in for one more tilt at the Poms. In 1994-95, at the age of 55, Lillee dismissed both Mike Atherton and Graeme Hick in single figures.
Upon their promotion back to the promised land, Burnley have shelled out €91.6m (£78.3m) to flesh out the squad for Premier League football.
The latest name on the verge of a transfer to Turf Moor is Aaron Ramsey, in what would be a hugely exciting move for all parties.
What’s the latest Burnley transfer news?
According to reports, Aston Villa have already agreed to sell Aaron Ramsey to Burnley for around £14m.
However, the deal is yet to be completed as the Midlands outfit are finalising the add-ons and are insisting upon a buy-back option.
This has been confirmed by Unai Emery, who said: “Young players are very important for us. And we have to make a plan for them. In the past, present and the future and we don’t want to stop their career.
“Now, Aaron is so close to leaving and the idea is to have the possibility to recover him if he progresses over the next year or for more, deserving to play and come here."
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has also commented on the situation, adding: "The latest I've heard is that we're close. He's not our player yet but I hope he will be soon."
What is Aaron Ramsey's style of play?
The 20-year-old has been at Aston Villa since U9 level, and whilst his older brother Jacob has evolved into one of the club’s most important and talented assets, Aaron’s path to the first team looks far more complicated, hence Burnley’s interest.
Although he has made just one appearance for the senior side, the attacking midfielder has been sensational for the youth sides – in 53 appearances for the U18 and U21 sides, he recorded 37 goal contributions and his glittering academy performances meant a first-team beckoned.
Last season, this experience arrived in the Championship with Norwich City and Middlesbrough.
Aaron-Ramsey-Middlesbrough
Across 21 starts for both clubs, he bagged eight goals and crafted four assists in either a central or wide playmaking role.
Middlesbrough coach Michael Carrick was extremely impressed with the youngster, praising his positive impact on the side, saying: “AJ’s been terrific for a number of weeks. He’s so creative and a natural with the ball.”
During his time in north Yorkshire, Ramsey averaged the most dribbles per game (1.8) in the squad and his journey could be reminiscent of Morgan Gibbs-White’s glorious rise.
The 5 foot 7 technician had been at Wolves since 2008, and after 12 Premier League starts over four years, he was sent out on to Sheffield United for the 2021/22 season.
That year he starred in the second tier, as Ramsey was set to do a year later. Indeed, the attacking midfielder notched 22 goal involvements in the Championship and averaged the most key passes (1.6), and dribbles (1.4) per game, as per WhoScored.
As a result, last summer, Gibbs-White sealed a move to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and has emerged as an indispensable component of the side.
In 34 Premier League matches, the forward once again averaged the most key passes (1.9), and dribbles (1.3) per game. He has registered eight assists, a higher total than the likes of Jack Grealish, Martin Odegaard, and Son Heung-Min.
Gibbs-White progression from a successful Championship loanee to a guaranteed top-flight starter is something that Ramsey can aim for, and with his current potential, it is a very achievable feat.
Aston Villa are reported to be closing in on their fourth summer signing, with reports suggesting that Unai Emery could be about to spend once more in the transfer market.
The Spaniard was shocked in his first game of the 2023/24 calendar, losing 5-1 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park, however the biggest worry surrounding the club is their injury woes.
Tyrone Mings was forced to withdraw after just half an hour played in the North East, where it has since been confirmed that he will be out of action for the foreseeable future, just days after the revelation of Emiliano Buendia’s injury.
The Argentine will join Mings on the sidelines, with the club revealing prior to the opening fixture that he has sustained a significant injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, spelling an extensive period away from the action.
With injury worries and players rumoured to be departing, it’s expected that Emery will delve back into the market before the end of the transfer window.
Who could Aston Villa sign this summer?
The Villans finally landed Italian attacker Nicolo Zaniolo this week, in a move that will ease the blow to Buendia.
Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…
He isn't the only man they're close to signing, however. Indeed, Fabrizio Romano provided an update on the links to Sevilla full-back Marcos Acuna, with the Midlands club said to expect to “agree terms” with the Spanish outfit soon, with personal terms “already in place”.
The experienced left-back’s arrival could come at the perfect time, with speculation increasing regarding the future of current left-back Lucas Digne.
How good is Marcos Acuna?
Lauded as an “animal” by journalist Facundo Del Real, the 31-year-old has gained vital experience playing in Europe after leaving his home country to join Sporting Lisbon in 2017.
The versatile left-back, with the ability to play in a more advanced role on the flank, has since become an important player for Sevilla, after making the move to Spain three years ago to endeavour on a new journey in the continent.
Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna.
Now, the full-back could open his eyes to the joys of the English game, with Villa knocking firmly on his door to join Emery at Villa, as well as rekindling his relationship with Monchi, who originally signed him for Los Nervionenses.
At 31, Villa could integrate a player with great playing experience to their side, in what could be the perfect addition following the departure of veteran Ashley Young, who gave a widely valuable knowledge of the game to Emery’s side.
Aside from their extensive experience in professional football, the two bring very similar playing styles to a squad, as supported by their almost mirrored averages last season.
As per FBref, Acuna averaged 2.68 tackles and 4.80 progressive passes per 90 in La Liga last term, showcasing strengths in areas typical for a full-back, with Young following closely in recording 2.21 tackles and 4.73 progressive passes per 90.
Hailed as a “top defender” this week by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after securing an assist against City in the UEFA Super Cup final, the £30k-per-week Argentine has been identified as a player of significant value by arguably the best manager in the Premier League.
After bidding farewell to Young this summer, Emery could almost instantly restore the attributes and quality displayed by the Englishman in the Midlands by signing Acuna, who could bolster the squad’s left side.
If England lose in Perth the Ashes will be gone and a whitewash will loom, leaving players, coaches and selectors with tough questions to answer
George Dobell in Perth13-Dec-20171:41
‘If England win it will be a black mark on WACA history’
Just as it is remarkable how a player can make the journey from ‘promising’ to ‘has been’ in the blink of an eye, so a team that looked as if it was rebuilding nicely can suddenly be reduced to rubble.Just three months ago, after they had won Test series against West Indies and South Africa, England were looking forward to this Ashes tour with realistic if guarded optimism. While their squad had some obvious flaws – not least the reliability of the top-order batting, a lack of pace bowling and the on-going issues over spin – it was also given depth by the presence of several allrounders who offered the chance to rebuild with the bat and spread the burden with the ball. They weren’t favourites, but they had a decent chance.Now, as the mushroom cloud from the Ben Stokes affair continues to fall, it seems this England team are coming to a precipice. If England lose the WACA Test – and it bears repeating they have lost their last seven Tests in Australia and their last seven on this ground – the series will be gone and the possibility of a whitewash will rear into view. As a result, there will be scrutiny on both the management – the coaches, the selectors and all those who appoint them – as well as the players. History suggests that someone – maybe several people – will pay with their jobs.So while we become accustomed to hyperbole before games – they’re all huge or massive or big and sometimes all three – when Joe Root said England were playing “one of the biggest games of our lives” this week, he was probably spot on.If England lose, there will be greater reflection on the culture of the team and questions asked about the management style of the coach and the England director. Have the players been given too much leniency and is a firmer hand required? Have England’s Test results improved since Trevor Bayliss was appointed, or might all involved be better served if he concentrated on the white-ball sides? If England lose, both Bayliss and Andrew Strauss will, rightly or wrongly, be left in uneasy positions.If England lose, there will be questions asked about selection. Why was James Vince, for example, recalled to bat at No. 3 despite a County Championship batting average of 32.94 in 2017? What was the experiment with Liam Dawson about and why was Adil Rashid discarded despite the wickets he took in India a year ago? If England lose, James Whitaker will, rightly or wrongly, be left in an uneasy position.Joe Root, James Anderson, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad at the singing of the national anthems•Getty ImagesIf England lose, there will be questions asked about whether it is time to invest in younger players. The likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Alastair Cook will all come under scrutiny as questions are asked whether the time has come to make a change ahead of the next Ashes series in 2019. There will be an immediate pressure to bring in new players. We already know that Mark Wood will join the squad for the final two Tests, but the likes of Joe Clarke, Liam Livingstone and Dan Lawrence – all in Perth as members of the England Lions squad – could also be added to the party. If England lose, several of this squad will, rightly or wrongly, be left in uneasy positions.Meanwhile, there will be a focus on the county system and the success of the performance centre at Loughborough. Coaches and managers involved will come under greater scrutiny. Why is that England are not producing more fast bowlers – or fit ones, anyway – or potent spinners? Why has it taken so long to find a new opening pair after the retirement of Strauss? If England lose, the likes of Kevin Shine (lead fast bowling coach) and Peter Such (the ECB’s spin bowling coach) will, rightly or wrongly, be left in uneasy positions.There may be further reflection on Stokes, too. Views around the England squad may well have hardened towards Stokes in recent days. While there is still fondness for him as a man and respect for him as a cricketer, there are a few who are only now realising how their own lifestyle has been impacted by that incident. There might well be some resentment. If England lose Stokes will, rightly or wrongly, be held partially accountable.And England will suddenly be, whether for better or worse, at the start of a new rebuilding phase. And that means change, lots of it.The good news – for England at least – is that they can win. They are certainly not favourites, but the margins between these sides are nothing compared to those in 2013-14 and this surface, once so full of pace and fury, has settled into a more sedate dotage. The Australia team is good, but there’s nothing to fear there.In an attempt to close the gap between the side, the England management have decided to make a minor tinker to their batting order. Jonny Bairstow will move back to No. 6, with Moeen Ali returning to No. 7 to ensure there are not left-handers at No. 5 (Dawid Malan) and No. 6. While it does seem fair to ask why they couldn’t have envisaged that problem at the start of the series, it is also probably fair to accept that few could have predicted the extent to which Nathan Lyon should trouble them.Olly Stone was among those at England training on Wednesday. Stone, like Jamie Overton, George Garton, Josh Tongue and Zak Chappell, is the sort of pace bowler who might make a difference the next time England make this trip. If the ECB can find a way to ensure they play enough cricket to develop while not compromising their pace or their fitness, England will have greater firepower next time.But if England lose at the WACA, the future will be a lot closer than many of those involved currently think.
Tottenham Hotspur have started life without Harry Kane impressively, drawing away against Brentford before beating Manchester United in London, but the club still need to sign a new centre-forward.
Kane, Spurs' record goalscorer, completed a £100m move to German giants Bayern Munich this month and is yet to be replaced, with the £13m signing of Argentinan striker Alejo Veliz, aged 19, deemed one for the future at this stage.
The transfer window is now only one week away from closing, and if new manager Ange Postecoglou wishes to provide his squad with the best chance of reclaiming a place in the Champions League, a talisman must be targetted.
What's the latest on Jonathan David to Tottenham?
According to reporter Ben Jacobs, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs Podcast, the Lilywhites are considering a bid for Canadian striker Jonathan David, with the Lille striker also open to moving to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…
Whether Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would be willing to meet the French side's reported £55m valuation, however, remains to be seen.
How good is Jonathan David?
David has maintained his shooting boots wherever he has played thus far during his career, having scored 59 times from 138 games for Lille after plundering 37 goals from just 84 matches during the maiden period of his career for Gent.
The 23-year-old has also posted 25 strikes from 42 caps for the Canadian national team, and he has been hailed as a "phenom" and "one of the best strikers in the world" by radio host Tony Marinaro.
It's hard to dispute that David is not one of the most consistent goalscorers around, having scored 26 goals from 40 displays last season and opened his account with one strike from two games this term.
He even ranks among the top 3% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
Jonathan David
This illustrates a ball-playing faculty to mirror that of Kane, who himself ranks among the top 10% of positional peers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.
Having been lauded as an "unbelievable finisher" and a "predator" by Goal reporter Austin Ditlhobolo in the past, there is no doubt that David boasts the pace and the link-up play to thrive in the central striking position with Spurs.
With the creative James Maddison pulling the strings and orchestrating the play from the centre, he could maintain his exemplary rate of scoring, with the three-cap England international already bagging two assists from the opening two games of the season.
Maddison completed a move to Tottenham from Leicester City for £40m this summer after the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League.
This was despite the £170k-per-week playmaker's best efforts, scoring ten goals and supplying nine assists from just 28 starting appearances.
He even ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and the top 17% for progressive passes per 90.
Maddison's creativity and David's dynamism would create a marvellous blend of fluidity and cohesion, with the Brooklyn-born attacker benefitting from his peer's supplementation while returning the favour and dropping deep at times too, weaving the play together and allowing the likes of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski to make forward inversions and opening up a wealth of new dimensions.
Therefore, David could prove to be the perfect profile as the focal point to latch onto Maddison's creative ingenuity, and Tottenham would only benefit from securing his services as a resurgence is targetted after a miserable campaign.
England’s women cricketers have been recognised in the New Year Honours following their World Cup victory at Lord’s this summer.
ESPNcricinfo staff29-Dec-2017England’s women cricketers have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours following their World Cup victory at Lord’s this summer.Heather Knight, the captain, and Mark Robinson, the head coach, have both been awarded OBEs, while Tammy Beaumont, the player of the tournament and Anya Shrubsole, whose six-wicket haul sealed a pulsating final against India, have been awarded MBEs.In addition, Clare Connor, the ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket, has been awarded a CBE in recognition of her role in the remarkable growth of women’s cricket in this country. The former England captain, who won the Ashes in 2005, has previously been awarded an MBE and an OBE.”Our sincere congratulations to Heather, Tammy, Anya, Mark and Clare on their inclusion in today’s New Year’s Honours List,” said Colin Graves, the ECB chairman. “It’s fitting recognition for the way in which the team’s magnificent achievements this summer captured the imagination of the sporting public.”Winning the World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s was a truly game-changing moment not just for the team, but for the wider women’s game.Clare Connor said: “I am immensely proud of our England players and staff for their incredible hard work, dedication and passion which came together this summer to create something very special.”The memory of Anya Shrubsole claiming the final Indian wicket, arms out-stretched and screaming in celebration to the sky, will stay with us all for a long time. And for that moment to have been seen by a full Lord’s cricket ground and by a television audience of 180 million around the world is testament to the vast progress our sport has made.”
The 23-year old opener began his Test career with a bang against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe but facing India has been a much sterner challenge
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2018Aiden Markram enjoyed a remarkable start to Test cricket, scoring two hundreds in his first three matches, but those scores of 143 and 125 came against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The 23-year old South African opener was faced with a far stiffer challenge at Newlands, where on a surface with plenty of movement and against a fast-bowling attack with more menace, he scored 5 and 34.”It was a massive step up,” Markram said of playing against India. “There’s a reason why they are the No 1 team in the world. They have quality players in all departments. They tick all the boxes and they have come here to compete, which is great. For me as a young guy, it is awesome.”Aiden Markram gets behind the line•AFPAlthough he was worked out in the first innings, when conditions greatly favoured new-ball bowling, Markram made a better impression in the second, finishing one run shy of the top-scorer AB de Villiers. He made 34 off 43 balls, hitting seven fours in the process. When asked about the knock, he said: “You obviously have a game plan according to wickets, and you might have to adapt on certain pitches. I didn’t want to lose the intensity that I bat at – it’s something I keep close to me and gauge often. I generally feel when I’m batting at the right intensity I move a bit better and my positions are stronger, so that’s something I challenge myself to achieve. It starts in training. Luckily we have a great attack to face and it’s never easy.”South Africa have wanted conditions that assist quicks and negate spin when they play at home against Asian teams, and their head coach Ottis Gibson has made it clear that he wants to fit four fast bowlers into the XI as often as possible. Given that, and the fact the series is moving upcountry, where pitches are quicker as well, there is likely to be little respite for the batsmen on both sides.”We got an insight into how the pitches are going to be in this series,” Markram said. “It’s about forming a game plan according to that. We’ve had a couple of days off now to think about that. That’s the direction we want to go in, to feel that as batters it’s not that we can’t score runs here. And look to score, according to how the wicket is going to play.”Each player needs to adapt his game plan to conditions. It’s something your partner needs to understand, and see when you’re getting a bit loose. There isn’t a fixed blueprint but it’s something we’re chatting about to keep that positive affirmation happening.”In that regard, Markram was pleased he usually walks out to bat with Dean Elgar. “He’s very experienced now in Test cricket. We’ve come a long way playing together at the Titans. He helps to calm me down a bit – it’s something familiar. There are quite a few unfamiliarities for me so it’s nice to have Dean at the other end to calm it all down and make it feel more comfortable.”The venue for the second Test is Centurion and, based on previous experience, Markram said: “it’s a wicket where if you set yourself up as a batter, there are runs to be had. But as a bowler, with the pace and bounce, you always have a shout as well. It’s going to be an exciting match.”
As the Manchester United pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat heats up on transfer deadline day, director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves has reportedly flown to Italy.
What is the latest transfer news on Man United and Sofyan Amrabat?
The Red Devils have been chasing the Fiorentina midfielder for some time but don't appear to be able to pay full price for the player.
Indeed, as per The Times, Man United "cannot afford to meet Fiorentina’s £30 million asking price" but they are trying to loan the Morocco international instead.
That same report notes how Amrabat himself doesn't even know what the future holds as he said this week: “If I go away, I don’t know . . . maybe I could stay."
As per The Athletic, the Premier League outfit did make a €2m (£1.7m) loan bid but it was unsurprisingly turned down by Fiorentina.
Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…
But in a fresh update, shared by David Ornstein on Twitter, "Manchester United director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves has flown to Italy" to try and complete a deal. However, there is "no agreement" between the clubs for the 27-year-old as of yet.
Interestingly enough, there were reports in the Manchester Evening News about a private jet which has been booked from Florence to arrive at Manchester Airport on Friday afternoon at 12.52pm (UK time).
That article also noted that: "United have not denied the possibility they have arranged the private jet".
And while, after Ornstein's latest update, it might seem unlikely that another flight would be booked quite so soon after Hargreaves' has arrived in Italy, as it is a private flight, it is possible the scheduled time could be pushed back to allow for protracted negotiations.
Now, in a further update from Fabrizio Romano, the player is "on his way in order to undergo medical tests as new Man Utd player after agreement reached."
How many goals has Sofyan Amrabat scored?
As per The Athletic, Hargreaves is a former executive at Adidas and was only appointed to his role at United in March, starting work this summer. So this will be one of the first major deals he would have been involved with for the club.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if he returns to Manchester alone, or if he can successfully complete a loan deal for the 27-year-old midfielder.
In Amrabat, United certainly won't be getting an attacking player. After all, in 107 games at his current club, he has scored just one goal, while also picking up only one assist. In fact, across his entire senior club career, he has only netted five times having made 228 appearances for four different teams.
However, the Red Devils should be landing a pretty feisty defensive midfielder if they can get this deal across the line. Indeed, during the 2022 World Cup, Moroccan journalist Amine El Amri called the player a "raging bull" when speaking to TalkSPORT.
"Sofyan Amrabat is a great footballer in addition to being a raging bull," they said. "I’m trying to be as objective as I can, but I think he’s been the best midfielder in this World Cup.
“I have nothing but respect for guys like Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Rodrigo De Paul and many others, but I think he’s been absolutely the best player in midfield in this World Cup.”
Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League earlier this year and went through a mass summer of change during the transfer window.
Who left Leeds United this summer?
Alongside manager Sam Allardyce, who was replaced by Daniel Farke, the Whites allowed a staggering 15 players to depart the club either on loan or permanently.
Rodrigo
Permanent
Joel Robles
Permanent
Adam Forshaw
Permanent
Tyler Adams
Permanent
Tyler Roberts
Permanent
Robin Koch
Loan
Max Wober
Loan
Rasmus Kristensen
Loan
Marc Roca
Loan
Luis Sinisterra
Loan
Brenden Aaronson
Loan
Sam Greenwood
Loan
Cody Drameh
Loan
Sonny Perkins
Loan
Jack Harrison
Loan
The Yorkshire-based outfit moved on a number of first-team stars, alongside a few of their younger players to gain experience, to shift the mood amongst the group in preparation to attack the Championship with a positive mindset under the German head coach.
One of the players who moved on was right-back Rasmus Kristensen and, as it stands, the decision to sign him in 2022 was a huge howler by then-manager Jesse Marsch, before his departure later that season.
How much did Leeds pay to sign Rasmus Kristensen?
In June of last year, the American head coach snapped the defender up from his former club RB Salzburg for a reported fee of £10m, whilst Sky Sports claimed that he was also a target for German giants Borussia Dortmund and Premier League side Brentford.
He was also on a reported wage of £40k-per-week throughout the 2022/23 campaign, which added an extra £2m to the amount of money they paid for his services last term.
It was a significant fee to pay for a player who had yet to prove himself in a major European league, albeit he had played 27 matches for Ajax earlier in his career, and the gamble did not come off for the Whites.
Why did Leeds sign Rasmus Kristensen?
Marsch snapped him up after a campaign of sublime performances for Salzburg during the 2021/22 campaign that suggested that he had the potential to be a superb signing for the club.
Kristensen averaged a phenomenal Sofascore rating of 7.31 across 29 Bundesliga matches as he caught the eye with his displays at both ends of the pitch, whilst no outfield player for Leeds managed a score higher than 6.99 that season.
The marauding full-back chipped in with seven goals and seven 'big chances' created, to go along with an impressive haul of 1.2 key passes per match, for the Austrian side.
Former Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen.
He also won 72% of his aerial duels, which highlighted his dominance in the air against opposition forwards, and was only dribbled past 0.4 times per game as players found it difficult to get past him on a regular basis, as per Sofascore.
What happened to Rasmus Kristensen?
Kristensen was, unfortunately, unable to make the step up to Premier League football after his impressive year with Salzburg in Austria.
The 24-year-old warrior averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.70 across 26 top-flight outings for Leeds as they were relegated to the Championship.
This was the 11th-highest average score within the squad and that suggests that he was far away from being one of the team's top performers, which does not shine well on the right-back given how poorly the side performed on the road to finishing within the bottom three.
Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen.
The Denmark international was dribbled past 1.3 times per game throughout the season. Luke Ayling (1.5) was the only defender who was dribbled past more times per match than him, which shows that opposition forwards found it far too easy to take the ball past him week-in-week-out to create chances for their respective sides.
Kristensen did not make up for his sloppy defensive work with quality attacking play from right-back as he rarely created opportunities for his teammates going forward either.
The £10m signing averaged 0.3 key passes per outing for Leeds and created just two 'big chances' in total, which led to one assist for the Dane.
To put that in context, 18 players within the Leeds squad averaged more key passes per game than Kristensen, showing that he was one of the worst attacking players on the team as he struggled to make things happen at the top end of the pitch with regularity.
Where is Rasmus Kristensen now?
The 24-year-old, who was rather harshly described as like a "League One defender" by Leeds YouTuber Conor McGilligan last season, was sent out on loan to Italian giants AS Roma to work with Jose Mourinho this summer.
It appeared to be a fantastic move for the Danish defender on paper, given his poor performances for Leeds, but it has not gone to plan for him so far.
Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen.
He averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.44 and scored one own goal across his five pre-season friendly appearances with the Serie A outfit and carried that form into the opening match of the league season with a rating of 6.4 against Salernitana.
Mourinho gave him another chance from the start against Verona in their next Serie A clash but embarrassingly substituted him at half-time, which led to the Whites flop being an unused substitute for their most recent game against AC Milan.
Kristensen has been dealt another blow this week as the Portuguese head coach has opted to exclude him from the club's squad for the Europa League group stages this season.
This does not bode well for his chances of being a regular starter in the Serie A for the remainder of the campaign as the former Chelsea manager seemingly has other options that he would prefer to use.
A lack of time on the pitch this season with Roma could be more bad news for Leeds as it is likely to lower his possible resell value even further. Indeed, any onlooking clubs are currently seeing him struggle at a second club for a successive year and may be wary of spending money to sign him.
This could affect their chances of being able to cash in on the Danish defender next summer, or in January if Roma opt to cut the loan deal short.
Overall, this transfer has certainly turned out to be a huge howler by Marsch and one that has been an expensive failure for Leeds, barring a miraculous turnaround in fortunes and performances before his time at Elland Road comes to an end.