Report: Sean Dyche could quit Everton this summer on one condition

A significant update has emerged regarding the future of Sean Dyche at Everton, in what represents a real surprise after his side's impressive turnaround in recent weeks.

Everton eye signings after season to forget

The Blues will want to forget all about the 2023/24 season in a hurry, with little to admire about it, apart from Dyche and his players battling bravely against relegation from the Premier League.

It has been hard for Everton to focus on on-pitch matters, due to a number of points deductions for financial breaches threatening to send them down to the Championship. There have also been constant issues regarding the takeover of the club, with 777 Partners' deal looking in more and more jeopardy as the new investors now face legal troubles with their other owned clubs.

Everton manager Sean Dyche

On the plus side, the Blues have been linked with some exciting signings even on a budget, at a time when they are also under threat of losing key players such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Andre Onana to other clubs. Southampton striker Che Adams has been backed to make a move to Goodison Park, for example, with a free agent exit from St Mary's expected after his side's Championship playoff final clash with Leeds United on May 26th.

Yukinari Sugawara is another player who has emerged as an option to join Everton in the summer window, having enjoyed an impressive season for AZ Alkmaar, registering 10 goal contributions (four goals and six assists) in the Eredivisie from right-back. Luton Town centre-back Teden Mengi is also considered a target, following a good season for the Hatters, despite their struggles.

Now, a surprise rumour has dropped regarding the future of one big name at Goodison before the trip to Arsenal – one that could cause shock among the fanbase.

Everton could lose "tremendous" figure

According to Football Insider, Everton manager Dyche could now quit as Blues boss this summer, having only taken charge last year.

The update claims that the Englishman "could sensationally look to leave Everton this summer due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club", with points deductions and takeover issues taking their toll on him. It is added that the condition is essentially a more stable offer from a new home, as the boss "could look to move on this summer if he’s offered more stability elsewhere following a chaotic past 18 months on Merseyside."

Everton manager Sean Dyche.

This would be a massive setback for Everton, with Dyche doing an admirable job to keep his team in the Premier League amid so much uncertainty at the club, being hailed as "tremendous" by Chris Sutton. Granted, the 52-year-old hasn't been perfect, with some performances and results not good enough at times, but he has done more than enough to suggest that he is the right man to take the Blues forward.

Seeing him leave at this point would potentially set the club back greatly, as they look for a new manager who then has to start all over again, rather than have an experienced boss in place who could guide Everton to happier days once the financial woes and takeover situation is sorted.

Everton

61

1.34

Burnley

425

1.34

Watford

49

1.37

The hope is that Dyche doesn't go through with his threat to quit, with off-field issues being resolved before the beginning of next season, but it appears to be a decision that he is weighing up.

Sourav Ganguly commits to India hosting England in February 2021

In a letter to the state associations, he said the series would be followed by the IPL in April 2021

Varun Shetty22-Aug-2020

Sourav Ganguly has said India’s 2021 home series against England will go ahead as scheduled•Getty Images

India will fulfill its Future Tours Programme (FTP) commitments and host England in February, before the 2021 IPL season, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said. In a letter to the board’s state associations with the subject line “Updates from BCCI”, Ganguly said the planning for the senior men’s team, including their tour to Australia in December, was in line with FTP commitments, while plans for the women’s team and domestic cricket were still under consideration.”The senior Indian men’s team will travel to Australia for its series starting in December this year and will come back to the country for a series against England starting from February next year,” Ganguly said in the letter dated August 20, accessed by ESPNcricinfo. “This will be followed by IPL 2021 in April. The tours of the senior Indian women’s teams are also under discussion and more details will be shared shortly.”Apart from a confirmation that India will be hosting the T20 World Cup next year and the 50-overs 2023 World Cup, this was the only definitive statement in the letter regarding India’s schedules. According to the FTP, India were already scheduled to play Australia in December, and host England for their last five World Test Championship matches in February 2021. While Ganguly said these long-term plans remain as they are, there was no mention of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in March that is part of their FTP cycle.Earlier this month, the BCCI had drawn up a tentative schedule for the domestic season that is yet to be ratified by the senior officers. In that plan was a truncated domestic season consisting only of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and the Ranji Trophy for men, starting from November 19, and a Women’s T20 League to begin from November 1. But in the letter, there is no indication of whether those dates have been finalised.”In the domestic cricket context, we are currently in the off season and the BCCI is making all efforts to ensure that domestic cricket resumes as and when the conditions permit,” Ganguly said. “The health and safety of players and all other involved in domestic cricket is of utmost importance to BCCI and we are constantly monitoring all aspects.”ALSO READ – India could begin Australia tour with white-ball cricket, not TestsThe last bit of senior domestic cricket that happened this year was on March 13, the last day of the Ranji Trophy final between Saurashtra and Bengal. Since then, the Covid-19 pandemic has put most cricket – even training – on hold in the country.It was understood that the BCCI was making a “priority list” of domestic tournaments, and this was reflected in the tentative schedule, which had no provisions for any 50-overs cricket for men, and a cancellation of all Challenger Trophies, across age groups, for both men and women.As for IPL 2021, it will be the first instance of two versions of the tournament being played less than six months apart, should it happen in April. That could challenge the scheduled IPL mega auction that was supposed to be held before the 2021 season.As things stand, the only confirmed women’s cricket at the start of the new season is the Women’s T20 Challenge that will be played between November 1 and 10, alongside the IPL. However, that would be in conflict with the tentative schedule, which has the Women’s T20 League running from November 1 to 19. There is no clarity yet on that front.”All Members will be duly informed about the future course of action and suggestions will be taken before we resume domestic cricket,” Ganguly wrote in the letter. “We are hopeful that the Covid-19 situation will improve over the next few months and we will be able to start domestic cricket in a safe and healthy environment.”

Man Utd submit £51m offer for "excellent" player who Bruno Fernandes loves

Manchester United have reportedly submitted a £51m offer for an "excellent" player who Bruno Fernandes rates highly, as they look to get their first summer deal over the line.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils continue to be linked with a host of players this summer, with reinforcements needed all over the pitch, having fallen disappointingly short of any European qualification in the Premier League this season.

With Casemiro expected to move on before the 2024/25 campaign gets underway, finding a new midfielder has to be seen as key business, and Barcelona ace Frenkie de Jong has once again emerged as a transfer target, as has been the case a number of times in the past. It remains to be seen if he is willing to leave the Spanish giants, though.

florian-neuhaus-frenkie-de-jong-west-ham

Centre-back is also an important area of the pitch to focus on, with Lisandro Martinez the only genuinely excellent option at the heart of the defence. Sporting CP stalwart Ousmane Diomande has been backed to come in to partner the Argentine at Old Trafford, having recently won the Primeira Liga title, starting 25 games in the competition in the process.

Wolves forward Mathues Cunha is seen as another option to bolster Erik ten Hag's attack, having shown that he can thrive in the Premier League, while RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko continues to be looked at as an ideal replacement for the outgoing Anthony Martial.

Man Utd submit £51m offer for player

According to Record [via Man Utd News], Manchester United have submitted a £51m offer for Joao Neves, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe look to strike a deal for the highly-rated Benfica midfielder.

The bid has been swiftly rejected by the Portuguese giants, so it remains to be seen if the Red Devils will up the amount, which feels likely, considering how much they appear to like him.

Benfica midfielder Joao Neves.

Neves is a player who United should be looking to break the bank for this summer, seeing him as a massive part of the midfield rebuild, bringing him in as Kobbie Mainoo's long-term partner in the middle of the park.

He may only be 19 years of age, like the current Red Devils midfield hero, but he is already such an experienced player at a high level, making 75 appearances for Benfica and winning five caps for Portugal.

Neves will be hoping to add to that latter tally at Euro 2024 alongside Fernandes, in a team full of star talent, and the United captain has lauded his compatriot in the recent past: "He is an excellent player and an excellent kid. He will have a bright future wherever he goes."

Fabrizio Romano drops Man Utd exit concern regarding £240,000-a-week star

Paul Scholes loves him as a player.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 3, 2024

Neves is a player who has the potential to grow into one of Europe's best midfielders over time, and with United guilty of signing players for big money who are over the hill, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Raphael Varane, it is vital that they start bringing in exceptional young talent with world-class ceilings.

Arboleda participa de parte da atividade com reservas do São Paulo

MatériaMais Notícias

Os reservas do São Paulo na vitória sobre o Vasco, por 2 a 1, em São Januário, voltaram os treinamentos na tarde desta quinta-feira (05), no CT do Fluminense, já que a delegação do Tricolor permaneceu no Rio de Janeiro.

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Enquanto os titulares realizavam trabalhos físicos no hotel, quem começou no banco de reservas e entrou no decorrer da partida treinou no campo. E uma novidade foi o zagueiro Arboleda, que se recupera de uma contratura na coxa.

O equatoriano participou de parte da atividade no campo juntamente com os companheiros e depois fez exercícios físicos relacionados a sua recuperação física. Ele pode ser novidade entre os relacionados para a partida contra o Athletico-PR, no próximo sábado (07), às 18h, na Arena da Baixada.

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Agora é Choque-Rei na Libertadores! Veja os duelos marcantes entre São Paulo e Palmeiras na história

VEJA A TABELA DA LIBERTADORES E SIMULE OS RESULTADOS

Ainda sem Luciano e Eder, que ficaram em São Paulo para tratarem suas lesões, e Daniel Alves, com a seleção brasileira olímpica no Japão, Crespo tem dúvidas na escalação. Uma ausência certa é o atacante Rigoni, suspenso após expulsão contra o Palmeiras.Diego Costa, Marquinhos e William, lesionados, também não jogam.

Newcastle eyeing Gordon 2.0 in £43m star who earns more than Guimaraes

Ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is working tirelessly to improve his squad to try and bolster the Magpies’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League once again.

His side were plagued with injuries during the previous season, missing out on European football altogether after Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago.

However, it will give the Magpies a great opportunity to return to their best with a more manageable fixture congestion that could prevent a repeat of any injury problems the club were ruined by over the last 12 months.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.

The fitness problems have highlighted the club’s lack of depth in certain areas, with the Magpies’ forward line in need of attention despite Alexander Isak registering 21 goals in the Premier League during 2023/24.

Anthony Gordon has also excelled achieving double figures in goals and assists in the league for the first time in his professional career. However, despite the duo’s impact at St James’ Park, they need desperately to add one more player to the squad if they are to complete their already impressive attacking trio.

Newcastle interested in signing sought-after £43m star

According to The Athletic, Newcastle remain interested in signing Athlétic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams, but face competition from fellow Premier League side Liverpool for his signature this summer.

Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams.

The 21-year-old right winger has caught the eye in La Liga in recent seasons, however, he enjoyed his best campaign to date in 2023/24, scoring five and assisting 12 as the youngster demonstrated his qualities in the final third.

Williams has a £43m release clause in his current deal in Spain – a deal that would represent excellent business by the Magpies, especially considering the huge increase in player prices over the last few years.

Miguel Almiron is widely linked with a move away from Tyneside this summer, raising funds for a potential new addition, with Williams the perfect player to complete Howe’s attack, producing very similar stats to one current Newcastle forward.

Why Nico Williams could be Gordon 2.0 for Newcastle

When comparing the winger’s stats from the season just gone, the pair have produced very similar stats – as noted by FBref – with Williams the perfect player to feature on the right-hand side for the Magpies.

nico-williams-athletic-bilbao

Whilst Gordon has played slightly more games and contributed with more combined goals and assists, the Spaniard has averaged more assists per 90 based on his number of league appearances in 2023/24.

The youngster has also averaged more successful take-ons and progressive carries – highlighting his ability to run with the ball and create danger in the final third.

Games

35

31

Goals & assists

21

17

Shots per 90

2.5

2.2

Successful take-ons

40%

45%

Progressive carries

138

143

Assists per 90

0.3

0.4

The “dazzling” forward, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has demonstrated excellent qualities during his relatively short professional career at Bilbao, now deserving of an opportunity to feature in arguably the best league in the world.

He may cost a cheaper fee than expected for a player of his quality, but he does earn a reported £172k-per-week – a figure that is £12k-per-week more than Newcastle’s top earner Bruno Guimaraes, who earns £160k-per-week, which could make the youngster the club’s highest-paid player.

douglas-luiz-bruno-guimaraes-liverpool-opinion

The Magpies will certainly have to convince the youngster to move to St James’ this summer, but if they can repeat a deal they conducted for Guimaraes a couple of years ago, they would be signing a top-quality forward and one that may be able to feature for the club for the next decade.

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Asif Ali, Glenn Phillips, spinners see off St Lucia Zouks

Against a Tallawahs batting line-up boasting Glenn Phillips, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Asif Ali and Carlos Brathwaite, St Lucia Zouks’ 158 for 7 was never going to be enough. Roston Chase did his best to drag Zouks towards credibility, providing substance to the innings with his 52 off 42 – his maiden T20 half-century. But the batsmen who should have played more explosive innings around him were unable to raise the tempo for long enough – the next highest score on the Zouks’ batting card being Najibullah Zadran’s 25 off 21.Zouks did make a good start with the ball, dismissing Chadwick Walton and Nicholas Kirton inside the powerplay, but soon Phillips got his big-hitting game humming, before Powell and Asif also produced aggressive innings. From the end of the powerplay onwards, there were no serious wobbles in the Tallawahs innings – they cruised home with seven balls remaining.Zouks falter at the death
Although Zouks were never motoring through the course of their innings, they did seem to be in a reasonable position at 144 for 5 after 17.2 overs. The remainder of the innings, however, went horribly. Not only did they lose their set batsman Chase, they also failed to hit a boundary from that point on. In the last 22 balls, they managed only 14 runs, and a total that seemed to be headed towards 175 fell well short.Tallawahs’ spinners keep it tight
Offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled two of his overs during the Powerplay and two at the death. Legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane bowled his four overs in one spell, through the middle of the innings. Together, they prevented Zouks from ever hitting a high gear, delivering their variations cleverly and accurately. Lamicchane was the more economical of the two, giving away 23 runs from his four overs, while taking the wicket of Najibullah Zadran. Mujeeb had the tougher job of course, and his figures were even more impressive – he dismissed Chase as well as Mohammad Nabi, and conceded only 25. Between these two young spinners, Tallawahs may feel they have the best slow-bowling combo in the league.Asif Ali shows his wares
Although Asif is new to the Tallawahs, he has been lighting up T20 tournaments around the world, and his first outing for his new team emphasised his value. His 47 not out off 27 was better even than Phillips’ innings at the top of the order. He announced himself with a slog-swept six off Rakheem Cornwall to make his first runs for the Tallawahs, before settling into a clinical innings, taking full toll of Zouks’ bowling mistakes to clobber five fours and a further six. The leg side was his more productive half of the field, but it was through extra cover that he struck the winning runs.

Ronaldo’s three-fingered goal celebration explained – with Al-Nassr superstar offering nod to son Cristiano Jr after going through iconic ‘Siuuu’ routine

Cristiano Ronaldo added a new section to his famous goal celebration after netting again for Al-Nassr, with three fingers being held up to the crowd.

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  • Portuguese superstar on target once again
  • Son was in attendance to see penalty strike
  • He had netted twice himself earlier in the day
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Portuguese superstar was on target once again when lining up against Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. He put Al-Nassr on their way to a 3-0 win, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner converting from the penalty spot.

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    Ronaldo went through his usual ‘Siuuu’ routine after crashing the ball into the back of the net, but the celebrations did not stop there. The evergreen 39-year-old went on to direct a hand signal in the direction of son Cristiano Jr, who was sat in the stands.

  • THE EXPLANATION

    According to , Ronaldo was referencing the fact that the Ronaldo boys had scored three goals between them on the day – with Cristiano Jr having earlier bagged a brace for Al-Nassr’s U15 side in a 4-0 victory over Al Qadsiah.

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  • WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

    Cristiano Jr, who is 14 years of age, is hoping to follow in the illustrious footsteps of his famous father by one day becoming a professional superstar himself. He has the best possible mentor in that quest, with the art of goalscoring seemingly coming naturally to the Ronaldo family.

Arsenal's 'inferiority complex' to Man City may stop Gunners from winning Premier League title as Graeme Souness blasts Mikel Arteta for 'extreme' defensiveness vs Man City

Graeme Souness has blasted Arsenal's defensive set-up against Manchester City, criticising their 'inferiority complex'.

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Arsenal went ultra defensive after red cardSouness criticises 'negative' approachSays Gunners have 'inferiority complex'WHAT HAPPENED?

The Scottish pundit called Sunday's top-of-the-table clash a "horrible spectacle", criticising Arteta's decision to park the bus after going down to 10 men against Guardiola's side. According to Souness, the Gunners should have utilised their attacking talent more, claiming: "If you play like that 100 times, 95% of the time you'll concede goals."

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Arsenal have received plenty of criticism for their defensive approach in the second half of the City game, but ultimately they had a lead to defend and almost left the Etihad with all three points. Arteta has fired back at these complaints, and argued that trying to play more expansively with 10 men would have been a naive approach.

WHAT SOUNESS SAID

"Arsenal had such an inferiority complex against City," Souness said on the podcast. "They’ll be coming away from that game thinking: ‘Wow, they’re so much better than us, we’ll never win the league’. Even in the first half they weren’t really matching City blow for blow. City are a fabulous team but when you go there, you have to be brave and take them on. Right now, teams are going to the Etihad and they’re beaten before the game has even started… They’ve shown an inferiority complex when it comes to City. They were happy to sit back and take whatever came their way at the Etihad, without getting up the pitch and trying to cause a problem. I don’t think that was a great sign."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

The opinions of pundits like Souness won't bother Arteta, given that the Spaniard was only seconds away from masterminding a famous away win at the Etihad. His team will have to lick their wounds and go again; this Saturday, they welcome newly promoted Leicester to the Emirates. Nothing less than three points will do for Arsenal.

Liverpool want to sign £85m ace who’s got "Virgil van Dijk in him"

Jurgen Klopp's departure marks a significant step in Liverpool's history. Away from the poignancy, the pathos and the raw pain of losing the man who transformed an outfit that had fallen by the wayside, the pendulum has swung with far more dramatic and long-lasting overtones.

Michael Edwards, FSG's CEO of Football, heads a new infrastructure that has recently seen a manager leave and a head coach take his place.

The terming of this switch is key: Arne Slot will control the first team and Liverpool's football, its on-pitch performance and progress, but there is little doubt that Klopp's exit has seen the metaphorical flight of managerial power at Anfield.

But that's okay, Liverpool are in good, intelligent hands and there's a tentatively optimistic sense that all the newly-formed facets will dovetail to unleash an institution of lasting synergy and success.

Especially when Edwards appears to be engineering a move for an exciting young defender – who could potentially solve Slot's most pressing early concern.

Liverpool lining up exciting defender

According to French outlet Le Parisien, Liverpool have entered the race for coveted Lille defender Leny Yoro, who may cost as much as €100m (£85m).

The 18-year-old is regarded as one of Europe's foremost young talents and is also attracting interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, with the former having long been admirers.

Lille defender Leny Yoro.

But Carlo Ancelotti's side are set to welcome Kylian Mbappe and Endrick to the Santiago Bernabeu and might not have the means to launch a bid this summer, suggesting that Edwards and co might find success in an incisive swoop for Yoro's signature.

Leny Yoro's season in numbers

Last year, Yoro's high-class performances in Lille's academy saw him prematurely promoted to the senior set-up, completing eight starting appearances in Ligue 1 and leading journalist Zach Lowy to pronounce him as the latest in a "treasure trove of ballers" emerging from Les Dogues' youth ranks.

Tentative steps into the big league saw Yoro earn the confidence and admiration of manager Paulo Fonseca and he is now an essential part of the team's backline, starting 30 times in the French top flight and playing 44 matches in all competitions, scoring three goals.

As per Sofascore, the French teenager featured 32 times in the league this season, bagging twice, keeping 13 clean sheets, completing 92% of his passes, averaging 3.9 ball recoveries and three clearances per game while winning 63% of his contested duels.

His ability is reflected in the quality of his performance against Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League. Lille were defeated on penalties in the quarter-finals but only on penalties, losing 2-1 in England before securing an impressive 2-1 victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in the second leg.

Leny Yoro: UECL Stats vs Aston Villa

Stat

First leg (A)

Second leg (H)

Minutes played

90'

120'

Touches

67

98

Accurate passes

58/62 (94%)

82/87 (94%)

Possession lost

4x

5x

Long balls

3/5

7/10

Tackles

1

1

Interceptions

1

2

Clearances

3

6

Duels won

1/1 (100%)

4/4 (100%)

Fouls

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

Sure, Lille crashed out against one of Europe's most exciting, fast-rising teams in Unai Emery's Villa, but if Yoro's two-legged performance was an audition, he passed with flying colours, winning every single one of his duels across the tie and maintaining superlative control and composure.

Yoro is contracted at Lille for 12 more months and his team will be desperate to ascertain whether he would consider agreeing to fresh terms in the coming months. If not, Yoro's market value would suggest that cashing in this summer would be the prudent move.

How Leny Yoro would fit in at Liverpool

Said to be "world-class material" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it's easy to forget that Yoro spent the opening few months of the 2023/24 season as a 17-year-old, and spent some time observing him in action, his youthfulness becomes all the more perplexing.

How is the future France star performing with the guileful swagger of a seasoned veteran, tried and tested and draped in illustrious praise? Yoro is simply destined for greatness, and he would be the perfect successor to Van Dijk's throne in the Liverpool defence.

As per FBref, Yoro ranks among the top 7% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, speaking of his technical prowess and composure in the rearguard. He's not, at this primitive stage, very creative, but that's okay, especially given he still has striking similarities to Van Dijk – journalist Antonio Mango noting that he sees "Virgil van Dijk in him"…

Van Dijk, aged 32, is out of contract in 12 months but Liverpool will address this in due course, hopeful to tie their captain down to fresh terms.

He has been utterly imperious throughout the campaign, leading Liverpool's resurgence and holding the backline together despite the incessant injury issues.

In the Premier League, the Netherlands phenom completed 91% of his passes, averaging 4.7 recoveries and 3.9 clearances per game while incredibly winning 76% of his duels.

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Tom Cunningham

May 23, 2024

Yoro's finely wrought array of abilities makes him a real contender for Europe's finest centre-half down the line, and while he would be the perfect player to adopt Van Dijk's presence at Liverpool, signing him this summer could give Slot's system the security it needs to flourish, augmenting a crop containing Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah, but not much else.

Moreover, he could absorb the fruits of the Dutchman's prowess over the next year or two to put him in a brilliant position to forge a career that will live long beyond the day he decides to hang up his boots.

Leicester still eyeing Potter alternative who could be perfect for Justin

Leicester City will hope winning the Championship title last season sets them up for a fantastic season in the Premier League to follow, even with it being all change in the managerial dug-out at the King Power Stadium.

A change in the Foxes hot-seat does have the potential to make a few players in the East Midlands feel uneasy, with Ricardo Pereira waxing lyrical that the recently departed Enzo Maresca is the "best coach" he's had in his stay at Leicester, but the newly promoted side cannot dwell on the blow of the Italian moving onto Chelsea.

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca

Any disappointment about the title-winning boss leaving would soon be put to one side if Leicester can get in either of these two faces, who look to be the two major frontrunners for the vacancy according to reports, ahead of the new top-flight campaign getting underway.

Leicester manager hunt narrowed down to two names

As per an exclusive from Football Insider, sources have revealed to the site that Graham Potter and Steve Cooper are the two major names in the running.

Potter, according to the site, is the slight favourite over Cooper, but a stumbling block could be in the club's way, with the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion manager unconvinced by the job post, having rejected other offers before being contacted by Leicester.

Graham Potter as Chelsea manager

That could open the door for Cooper to sprint in and become Maresca's successor, therefore, who would get so much more out of the likes of James Justin in the Foxes camp in the top-flight, based on working his magic previously with various players at Leicester's near neighbours and rivals Nottingham Forest during their promotion heroics.

Capped one time by the senior England side, Cooper could use what he did with Djed Spence at the City Ground on the former Luton Town man, who could be transformed back to his best under the Welshman, after a solid but a little unspectacular season under Maresca last time out.

How Cooper can get more out of Justin

Spence has never quite been the same since leaving Forest behind after promotion glory was secured under Cooper, now finding himself playing out on loan in Italy at Genoa, after a major move to Tottenham Hotspur just did not work whatsoever for him – having made just six appearances for the north London side.

Under Cooper, Spence was a different beast altogether to the one he is now, picking up eight goal contributions when alternating between right-back and right-midfield duties from 46 total games during the 2021/22 season, with Justin operating in a similarly gung-ho fashion in the past.

Stat

Spence (21/22)

Justin (18/19)

Games played

46

52

Goals scored

3

3

Assists

5

9

Fee moved on for

£12.5m

£8m

Justin would pick up 12 goal contributions as an attack-minded full-back for Luton back during the 2018/19 campaign, with the 26-year-old struggling to ever reach these heights since exploding into life in League One, when moving to Leicester for a bumper £8m.

Last season under Maresca was his most fruitful season in a Leicester strip funnily enough, amassing four goals and assists along the way to the Foxes becoming second-tier champions, but plenty more could come from the 5 foot 10 defender if Cooper is handed the reins.

This stunning strike from the Leicester number two the season just gone showcases Justin's prowess when involving himself in attacks, and the "incredible" Cooper, as he was once labelled by Sam Allardyce on the No Tippy Tappy Podcast, could really take the 26-year-old up a notch.

Eager to get back in and amongst it, after finding himself waiting on the wings for a new job role after his sacking by Forest last year, the Foxes could begin to get impatient with Potter and just opt to appoint their other option soon in Cooper.

Leicester looking at "outstanding" replacement for Maresca

Leicester City are still very much eagerly looking for an Enzo Maresca successor.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 10, 2024

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