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After Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League to the Championship at the end of last season, they sent a raft of players out on loan to top-flight sides across Europe.

Among them was Jack Harrison, who capitalised on a clause in his contract that allowed him to make a temporary exit in the event of the Whites' demotion. Everton will have the option to buy the wide player at the end of the season.

Leeds United players on loan (selected)

Position

Club

Brenden Aaronson

MID

Union Berllin

Jack Harrison

MID

Everton

Rasmus Kristensen

DEF

Roma

Marc Roca

MID

Real Betis

Robin Koch

DEF

Eintracht Frankfurt

Max Wober

DEF

Borussia Monchengldbach

Diego Llorente

DEF

Roma

Luis Sinisterra

MID

Bournemouth

One loanee who's definitely played his last game for Leeds is Robin Koch, who was allowed to join Eintracht Frankfurt even though he was in the final year of his deal. Frankfurt have since reached a pre-contract agreement with Koch and will sign him on a free transfer this summer.

Elsewhere, Roma plan to exercise their option to purchase Diego Llorente, who's been playing for the Italian side since last January. They will then look to sell the Spanish defender on for a profit.

Luis Sinisterra made a swift return to the top-flight with Bournemouth, having joined Leeds from Feyenoord for an undisclosed fee just last summer. Sinisterra played 22 games in all competitions in 2022/23, scoring seven goals but missing 16 matches with three separate injuries.

The Colombian would appear four more times for the Whites at the start of this season before his move to the Vitality Stadium, and he scored in a 4-3 win over promotion rivals Ipswich.

Sinisterra now heading to Bournemouth permanently

Now, as reported by The Athletic's Phil Hay, Bournemouth will sign Sinisterra from Leeds on a permanent transfer. The loan agreement included an option to buy for around £20m, and it seems that they will exercise it.

An announcement is likely to be made on Friday, with Leeds satisfied that they've avoided a loss. Bournemouth winger Jaidon Anthony is currently on loan at Elland Road, and it remains to be seen whether he ends up making a permanent move in the other direction.

Leeds make good money on "animal" Sinisterra

Dubbed an "animal" by international team-mate Juan Cuadrado, Sinisterra has clearly impressed Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth this season. He may only have started four Premier League games, with most of his appearances (11) coming from the bench, but he's taken his opportunities when they've arrived.

The 24-year-old has notched six goal contributions (three goals, three assists) in 17 games across all competitions so far, doing so at an impressive rate of one every 114 minutes.

Related "One day" – Leeds United star reveals La Liga dream

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£20m represents a good return for Daniel Farke, who may have just seen his transfer budget for the summer window increase handily. He'll be hoping, of course, that Leeds spend the off-season preparing for a return to the Premier League.

Everton have an abundance of talent on show at Goodison Park, however Sean Dyche continues the battle to unearth his best XI.

The Toffees have struggled over the years to remain comfortable in their Premier League status, however have managed to secure survival in the dying embers in consecutive campaign’s, with the hope that change can be identified this term.

One area that has hindered the path of progression at Goodison is the squad’s difficulty in scoring, with the Blues ending the 2022/23 season as the league’s second-lowest scorers with just 35 goals in 38 games.

Dyche has finally begun to combat the woes in the final third, with Everton scoring seven in their previous three league fixtures, however there’s plenty of room for improvement, which could come from a spark already inside the club.

From Wayne Rooney to Francis Jeffers, Everton’s academy has unearthed some stellar talent over the years, with one shining star having the keys to one day get among the goals at Goodison.

Who is George Morgan?

17-year-old academy striker George Morgan was this week named in the Guardian’s ‘Next Generation 2023’ list, in which a young talent is selected from each Premier League club to be tipped to become the next big thing.

Born in Milton Keynes, but representing Wales at international level, the forward currently represents Leighton Baines’ U18 squad at Everton, and has made a fast start to the 2023/24 campaign.

In his four appearances in the U18 Premier League so far, the Welshman has scored two goals, both coming against Sunderland U18 during a 3-0 win, the Toffees’ first victory of the campaign.

Described on Everton’s official site as being a starlet that models his game on Polish talisman Robert Lewandowski, the young forward identifies his “power, speed and finishing” as the strongest areas of his game.

What could the future hold for George Morgan?

Being the son of former Wales international Craig Morgan, the 2006-born marvel knows exactly what it takes to become a professional at the sport.

Despite Everton’s recent woes, the guidance of a former player as accomplished as Baines could hand Morgan the blueprint to one day break into the first team at Goodison.

The club have some young talents currently succeeding in the squad, with the likes of 21-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite being an individual that has “impressed” so far this season, as per former Toffee Trevor Steven.

While the defender has been one to watch and one for academy players to be inspired by due to his tender age, Morgan has his sights set on replicating one star in particular, with the teenager naming his favourite Blue as Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Signed by Everton as a 19-year-old in 2016, Calvert-Lewin has become one of Goodison’s prized forwards over the years, scoring 49 goals in the Premier League between the club’s struggles and his own battles with injury.

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The assumed benchmark for aspiring strikers on Merseyside is to replicate the success of the 26-year-old, who elevated his game in the top flight with the Blues, seeing him dubbed a “top striker” by former boss and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Although Dyche welcomed a new striker in Beto this summer, the 25-year-old is yet to claim a Premier League goal after five appearances, and although it’s still the early days into his career, there could still be an opportunity for another talisman to break into the first team.

If the former Udinese forward takes time to adapt, as many players do, there could be a chance in the near future for a rising talent such as Morgan to pounce on the chance to break through.

At just 17 years old, the forward has a long way to go on his journey to becoming a professional in the English top-flight, however taking into consideration the questionable demographic of strikers at Goodison today, who knows just how quickly good form and hard work could speed up the process.

Sunderland have had their opening bid of €4m (£3.4m) for Matija Frigan immediately turned down by Rijeka, who are set to hold out for a higher offer, according to recent reports from Croatia.

What's the latest Sunderland transfer news?

Sunderland have already completed the signing of one striker this summer, with Benfica's Luis Hemir Silva Semedo joining for an undisclosed fee, agreeing on a five-year deal, but Tony Mowbray is still keen to bolster his attacking options further.

However, the Black Cats lost the race for former loanee Ellis Simms, with the forward putting pen to paper on a move to Coventry City, and they could now be set to miss out on another one of their attacking targets.

It has been reported that Mowbray would "love" to sign Amad Diallo again for the upcoming season, however, his performances in the Championship last term have alerted Burnley and Sheffield United to his potential availability.

Diallo led the charge for the play-offs last season, scoring 13 league goals, but he could be attracted by a move to the Premier League this summer.

Sonny Perkins has also been named as a potential target for Sunderland, with Leeds United thought to be willing to let the striker leave on loan next season, however, there has seemingly been little progression in their pursuit of the 19-year-old since the end of June.

The Black Cats appear to have turned their attentions to Friga, who has also been targeted by Scottish Premiership side Rangers this summer, with reports from Croatia claiming Mowbray has now sanctioned a €4m (£3.4m) bid for the striker (via The 72).

However, the offer has immediately been knocked back by Rijeka, with the Croatian club unwilling to sell any of their players for lower than their value, and they are set to seek more money if they are to let the 20-year-old leave. It remains to be seen whether Sunderland are willing to return to the negotiating table with a higher offer for the forward.

Who is Matija Frigan?

Although he is still very young, the Rijeka star emerged as a vital player in the 2022-23 campaign, weighing in with a very impressive 14 goals and three assists in 27 league appearances for his hometown club.

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Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the starlet as a "very interesting talent", while he has also lauded him as a "complete forward", with similar strengths to those of Lazio striker Ciro Immobile, including finishing, instinct and movement.

It could be a risk for Sunderland to take a chance on a player unproven outside of Croatia, but the 6 foot 1 attacker is clearly very clinical, given his goal return last season, and he could still improve considerably, given that he is only 20-years-old.

Last season, the forward averaged a SofaScore match rating of 6.98 in the Croatian top flight, the third-highest figure in the squad, and he could now be ready to test himself at a higher level, so it would not be a surprise if Sunderland come back in with another offer, making this one to keep an eye on.

Glasgow Rangers’ youth academy is starting to bear fruit some wonderful talents that Michael Beale will be able to utilise in the coming years.

Youngsters such as Zak Lovelace, Robbie Ure and Adam Devine are all emerging into prominence after excellent displays for the B team and could form the cornerstone of the Rangers side in years to come if they continue to improve.

The likes of Alex Lowry and Leon King have already made a name for themselves in the previous year or two, and it is the young centre-back who surely has the highest ceiling in terms of potential.

Under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, King was thrust into the starting XI during the early part of the season due to injuries and played 11 matches in the Premiership, more than holding his own as he won 56% of his duels and lost possession just 5.7 times on average per game.

He hasn’t made an appearance under Beale yet, however with the Englishman looking to build a new dynasty at the Ibrox side, he firmly remains in his plans.

The club could also have a youngster emerging through that might just follow in King’s footsteps – Cameron Bell.

Who is Cameron Bell?

The 17-year-old defender joined Rangers last summer having spent a few years working his way through the youth academy at Everton, however, a move back to his homeland was too good to turn down.

It looked as though Van Bronckhorst was keen on luring the best young talent to Ibrox and the Light Blues could repeat their King masterclass with the signing of Bell.

The centre-back has made four appearances for the Scotland U17 squad, making his debut aged just 16, suggesting he is mature beyond his years and this could stand him in good stead looking ahead to the future.

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He had been turning out for the Everton U18 side before returning north of the border and his potential already looks frightening.

There is no doubt he will be boosted by the fact King made his senior bow for the Gers aged just 16 during a League Cup tie under Steven Gerrard and with the club trailing in the race for the Premiership title, there may just be some opportunities for the precocious talent come the end of the season.

The future is looking bright for Rangers, especially with talents such as Cameron Bell coming through the ranks, and it will surely only be a matter of time before he is unleashed.

The shift in momentum at Manchester United since Erik ten Hag assumed the managerial position last summer has been extraordinary, and gilt-edged success is emerging as a genuine possibility.

Last week’s monumental derby day triumph over Manchester City, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford courtesy of strikes from Bruno Fernandes and the resurgent Marcus Rashford, the Red Devils have now closed the gap on their imperious neighbours to a single point in the Premier League.

With nine successive victories across and the club indeed firing across all cylinders, still active in every competition available, there is an embedded sense of optimism that overflows from the brim at the Theatre of Dreams.

But now with a pivotal away clash in the league against Crystal Palace, Ten Hag must ensure cohesion remains gelled and energy levels stay relentless, preventing a lackadaisical display that will hamper the monumental strides taken across recent months.  

With reports that Anthony Martial faces a race to find fitness following his withdrawal against City at the weekend, the talismanic door swings wide open to offer a platform for Wout Weghorst to make his debut for the club.

Signed from Burnley on a six-month loan deal – cutting his previous spell with Besiktas short – the 30-year-old Weghorst has been signed to provide the ambitious outfit with an imposing figure to lead the line following the mutual agreement to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with the club in November.

The £35k-per-week Weghorst offers a formidable 6 foot 6 presence to lead the line, and ranks within the top 16% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won over the past year.

And if he can continue his golden touch on the offensive front, United will flourish. This season, for Besiktas, the “pressing monster”, as lauded by Mark Goldbridge, has scored nine goals and registered four assists, with his hold-up play an enticing prospect for United’s pacy flankers as they look to use his stature to weave in behind backlines.

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Palace have lost all three matches since the new year, and might see a continuation of the current woes that plague manager Patrick Vieira’s January, with United’s high-octane and fluid system more than capable of bypassing a defence that only kept one clean sheet in the league since October.

Victory on home soil against the Eagles on Wednesday night would cement the club’s stature firmly within the title race, and with United indeed searching for a tenth successive win, Weghorst could be vital in adding the dimension the attack so craves, and with the wealth of creativity and attacking prowess surrounding his centre-forward position, his debut might just bear fruit.

West Ham United’s recent defeat to Crystal Palace saw summer signing Thilo Kehrer deputise at right-back, with Vladamir Coufal forced to watch on from the bench.

The German, clearly playing out of position, was handed the worst SofaScore rating of anyone on the pitch (5.9) yet still managed the full 90 minutes.

Whether Moyes has an issue with the Czech Republic international, or just wanted added defensive solidity up against the Eagles’ fluid front three, he blundered massively with this tactical decision.

If he is so keen on leaving Coufal out of the side, perhaps he could turn to the academy to unearth a success story similar to the one Ben Johnson has enjoyed in recent years.

Another fine right back in the making is young Harrison Ashby, who will be hoping to build on his seven senior appearances for the Hammers.

Upon first making his debut for the first team back in 2020, journalists Sam Delaney and Roshane Thomas spent time on the U Irons Podcast to praise his talents (via This Is Futbol).

Labelling him “one to watch”, the former was particularly vocal in his praise, stating: “He’s big as well. He’s like a big unit. He’s only young, but he’s like a giant.

“Usually, you’re used to seeing smaller players in those wing-back positions, but he looked big, strong, he was very fearless, decent on the ball.”

The powerful 20-year-old full-back has endured a tumultuous year, struggling for consistency given his constant swap between the youth and senior team. This has resulted in a lack of goal contributions, of which he recorded nine last season.

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What was a previously crowded position at right wing-back seems to be thinning out with each season, and soon Ashby could announce himself as the outstanding candidate for the position for the foreseeable future.

With Moyes clearly keen on handing youngsters a chance to show what they are capable of, outlined in the four academy graduates that started in their midweek win over FCSB, there is a huge possibility that soon this bombing Scotsman could be ready to set the Premier League alight.

It has already proven a busy summer for Scottish champions Celtic with seven major deals having been wrapped up thus far, although the indication is that more incomings could be on their way, with manager Ange Postecoglou having even hinted as much at the weekend.

One name that has emerged as a surprise target of late is Marseille starlet Bamba Dieng, with the Parkhead outfit believed to be one of a number of clubs who are keen on signing the 22-year-old in the coming weeks.

The Senegal international is courting a great deal of attention due to his uncertain future at the Stade Velodrome, having been given the cold shoulder by new boss Igor Tudor despite enjoying a breakthrough season last term.

The suggestion is that the 5 foot 10 menace could be available for a fee of around £15m with a departure seemingly inevitable, ensuring that the Hoops would have to potentially pull off a club record deal to secure his signature.

That sizeable asking price may appear hefty for a player who has made just 42 senior appearances for his current side thus far, although on the basis of his recent form it would surely prove a worthwhile investment.

Last season saw the “serious talent” – as described by journalist Graeme Bailey – score eight goals and provide three assists in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit, proving himself a real livewire under former boss Jorge Sampaoli.

Capable of featuring anywhere across the front line, the youngster’s versatility would no doubt suit the often fluid attacking approach that Postecoglou favours, with the 56-year-old also likely to be demanding even further attacking depth with the start of their Champions League voyage to come in the near future.

The hope will be that the “explosive” asset – as dubbed by Sampaoli – can replicate the success of another striker who arrived in Glasgow from France in Odsonne Edouard, with the current Crystal Palace marksman having thrived in Scottish football.

After joining the Hoops – initially on loan – in 2017 from Paris Saint-Germain, the 24-year-old went on to score a remarkable haul of 86 goals and provide a further 39 assists in 179 games in all competitions, winning a plethora of major honours in that time.

Much like Dieng, the Frenchman had limited senior experience prior to his move to Scotland, having scored just once in 17 games while on loan at Toulouse, after failing to ever make a first-team outing at the Parc des Princes.

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That lack of experience mattered little, however, as he became a key figure for the club over the next four years, before joining the Eagles on a £14m deal last summer – with Celtic making a profit on their £9m investment.

Although Postecoglou won’t be thinking about losing Dieng before he’s even signed, there will be a consideration as to how they could potentially recoup a greater fee later down the line, while hoping to reap the benefits of his impressive displays in the short-term.

As the club saw with the case of Edouard, the French market can be particularly fruitful.

According to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is finished with left-back Sergio Reguilon after the arrival of Ivan Perisic.

The Lowdown: Reguilon out of favour

The 25-year-old swapped the Bernabeu for the Premier League when he joined the Lilywhites on a five-year deal from Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2020, where he has made a total of 67 senior appearances during his two years at the club to date.

The appointment of Conte as Spurs manager in November of last year doesn’t appear to have helped the Spaniard, who has fallen down the pecking order under the Italian since his entrance at N17.

Following the recent announcement confirming the signing of Inter Milan’s Perisic, The Times have claimed that this has now moved the full-back even closer to the exit door than originally thought, with the report stating that the £25.2m-rated star could return to Real as a result of their buyback clause.

The Latest: Reguil-gone

Taylor says the Croatian’s arrival in the capital will have a huge impact on the future of Reguilon. He told GiveMeSport: “I think Sergio Reguilon will be moved on now.

“Sessegnon is still very much a part of Conte’s plans and it’ll just be a balancing act between them two for the Premier League and Champions League.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Perisic a better option

Ever since Conte replaced former manager Nuno Espirito Santo in the Tottenham dugout, the six-cap Spain international has only made 20 outings under the Italian and hasn’t been a hugely regular feature of his starting XI.

As per FBRef, Perisic has a much better defensive record than Reguilon, and considering the World Cup finalist also managed 15 goal involvements in Serie A this season, you could comfortably say he’s better on both sides of the ball.

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Despite still having three years remaining on his current contract in north London, Reguilon’s time at Spurs looks like it could well be coming to an end, but whether he’s sent back to Madrid or gets another move remains to be seen.

In other news… Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that there has been a ‘deal agreed’ for Spurs’ next signing.

Manchester United will travel to Spain to take on a huge clash against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side in the Champions League round of 16 first leg today, and Ralf Rangnick will be hoping his side can get off to a good start away from home ahead of the knockout game at Old Trafford in a few weeks.

The team have had players return from injury and illness in recent weeks with Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani and Raphael Varane all returning to full fitness, meaning the German coach will have the pick of his best players for the challenging game.

With that being said, this is how Football FanCast expects Rangnick to set up his side against Atletico on Wednesday evening…

We expect to see three changes from the team that beat Leeds United 4-2 at Elland Road at the weekend, with the manager combining Champions League experience with young talent.

The first change we predict is Raphael Varane coming into the side for Victor Lindelof, which would be a no brainer at this stage of the European competition, with the defender one of the most successful player’s in the history of the Champions League, winning four titles, so his experience will be hugely influential in the defensive line.

The second change we expect to see is Diego Dalot in the side over Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Rangnick has been able to rely on Dalot during the time that his positional competitor has been injured, and despite being dropped from the starting line-up against Leeds United, it would be surprising if the Red Devils manager didn’t show his loyalty to the reliable right-back by giving him the starting position in the Champions League clash.

Last but not least, youngster Anthony Elanga could be given a golden opportunity to start against Atletico after coming on in the 65th minute against Leeds United to replace a struggling Jesse Lingard.

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He had a much better impact on the game, as the player hailed a “nightmare” by Gary Neville bagged the fourth goal in the victory and we think that Rangnick may reward the young forward’s hard work by axing Lingard, and starting the £3.6m-rated gem in Madrid tonight.

In other news: Rangnick must unleash Varane against Atletico Madrid

Despite losing their previous Premier League game 3-2 against West Ham United going into the latest international break, Liverpool have had a fairly good start to their 2021/22 season, with 22 points on the board in the league and remaining unbeaten in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

One man who has played a big part in Liverpool’s campaign and deserves a lot of credit is Diogo Jota. With 14 appearances under his belt for the Reds this season across all competitions, the 24-year-old has scored five goals and provided two assists in the process.

As well as his goals and assists, the winger – who is currently valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt – has averaged 2.2 shots and 1.6 key passes in the league, showing how much of a danger he can pose to opponents.

The Portuguese forward has also showed his worth to Jurgen Klopp in the Champions League this season by either providing an assist or scoring a goal in Liverpool’s group games against his former club Atletico Madrid.

With this in mind, it seems as though Jota is having a similar sort of season to last year after joining the Reds from fellow Premier League side Wolves in a deal worth a reported fee of £41m, with 13 goals in 30 appearances in the 2020/21 campaign.

Even though fellow Reds wingers Sadio Mane (eight) and Mohamed Salah (15) have scored more than Jota at this point in the season, the former Wolves man – who has been described as “incredible” by fellow Reds teammate Adrian – has certainly proven himself to be an unsung hero for Klopp who can step up to the plate whenever he’s called upon.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, with Salah and Mane set to spend a period of time away from Anfield in January to take part in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, it’s safe to say that Klopp will be relying on Jota to fill in for the duo when that time comes.

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Thankfully, the 24-year-old has proven during his time on Merseyside  that he is capable of doing just that, and he could help the team push closer to the top of the table in the forthcoming absence of Salah and Mane.

In other news: Liverpool handed huge injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash, Klopp will be buzzing