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Leeds United Transfer News: Contact Made Over Serie A Star

Leeds United have big plans on their return to the Premier League. Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is the latest high-profile named featured in Leeds United transfer news.

Reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Leeds are ‘seriously interested’ in De Paul. Udinese would be asking for around £30 million for the 26-year-old.

De Paul started 33 matches in central midfield this season. He would bring plenty of quality to Leeds’ middle third, though he is a more expensive option than other midfielders they have been linked with including their former player Ronaldo Vieira.

Leeds have already set down a marker in this window with the acquisitions of Robin Koch and Rodrigo. Adding De Paul would make it three major signings, all arriving with plenty of experience in top European leagues.

There’s ambition in Leeds’ transfer dealings so far, and De Paul would fit with that pattern. He’s an Argentine international and can do a bit of everything in midfield – he averaged 2.3 key passes and 1.8 tackles per match in Italy’s top flight last season.

Nixon Doubts Leeds Can Land Kent

Alan Nixon, who broke the news of Leeds’ interest in Ryan Kent, has claimed Rangers have warned off the Yorkshire club.

Wantaway striker Alfredo Morelos has impacted Rangers decision. The Glasgow-based club are not keen on selling both of their attacking stars.

Nixon, tweeting from his personal account, said, “Leeds. Ryan Kent deal now difficult. Rangers won’t let him go as well as Morelos. They are now aware of this.”

Kent’s desire to stay at Ibrox is an important part of this saga, too. The former Liverpool man said, “It’s a massive football club so I’ll continue to do right by Rangers.

"I can’t thank the fans enough, they’ve always been supportive of me even when I was on loan.”

With Kent not pushing for a move, and Rangers not keen on selling, Leeds face an uphill battle to sign the 23-year-old.

Bielsa Eyes Several More Deals

The Mail report Leeds are in the market for a winger and two midfielders before the transfer window shuts. It was also added that Leeds are monitoring the situation of Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Martinez starred for Arsenal in the Community Shield on Saturday, retaining his place in the first team despite the return of Bernd Leno from injury. As many as 10 clubs are interested in Martinez, whose future is uncertain.

Despite rumours to the contrary, The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath reported Martinez is nearing a new contract with the north London club.

Some believe Arsenal will listen to offers for Martinez. With Marcelo Bielsa considered to be an admirer of the goalkeeper, Leeds could be in the mix if Martinez leaves the Emirates Stadium this summer.

There haven’t been many goalkeeper links in this window so far for Leeds, making this a bit of an anomaly. The Martinez story will likely develop in the coming days.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 30, 2020

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By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Leeds United Transfers News: Major Blow To Kent Transfer Pursuit

The latest Leeds United transfer news doesn’t look positive for the Whites’ hopes of signing Rangers winger Ryan Kent. The Sun reported on August 30th that their bid for the former Liverpool winger ‘is in trouble’.

Steven Gerrard might have to sell star striker Alfredo Morelos this window, adding to his resistance to let Kent leave. Leeds’ bid of £10 million was rejected for the 23-year-old, and it appears Rangers are unlikely to accept an improved offer.

After Phil Hay claimed Leeds will be on the lookout for another attacking player following the signing of Rodrigo on Saturday, the Leeds hierarchy may have to look elsewhere.

If Kent is no longer an option, and Leon Bailey was previously deemed too expensive, there could be some new faces cropping up in Leeds United transfer rumours over the coming days.

Celtic Hold Talks Over Leeds Left-Back

Celtic have been in contact with Leeds about a move for left-back Barry Douglas, according to reports from The Daily Mail.

This news comes soon after rumours began that Leeds could be pursuing Joe Bryan. Signing Bryan would make it easier to let Douglas leave, and the fact talks have started makes it appear Leeds are willing to sell Douglas for the right price.

This isn’t the first talk of Douglas moving north of the border. Sky Sports noted this as a potential transfer earlier this month – Celtic could be looking to Douglas as a replacement for Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo.

With big money being spent on Rodrigo and Robin Koch, Leeds probably need to make some sales. Moving Douglas to Celtic would be one way to cut the wage bill and potentially upgrade at left-back if Marcelo Bielsa thinks they can bring in Bryan.

Hay Reveals Future Transfer Plans

Following a wild Saturday on the transfer front, The Athletic’s Phil Hay shed some light on where Leeds move next in the market.

Unfortunately for Leeds fans desperate for another announcement or two, Hay suggests it could be quieter for a short period but insists they will be looking to make more moves before the window shuts.

Tweeting from his personal account, Hay said, “Would expect Leeds to keep their powder dry for a little while now. But still want someone who fits the winger/number 10 mould (no second bid for Kent so far).

"And I wonder if Bielsa will soften on an extra centre-back. Man Utd’s Axel Tuanzebe a name that’s been mentioned.”

Tuanzebe is an interesting name to see mentioned. He’s had two stints on loan at Aston Villa and struggled to get minutes at Manchester United last season.

It would almost certainly be a loan move again if he moves to Elland Road, and he could be a very useful depth option behind Koch and Liam Cooper.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 30, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Move For Bundesliga Defender Edges Closer

Leeds have agreed terms with Freiburg defender Robin Koch according to reports. The young centre-back has been at the forefront of Leeds United transfer news over the last few days.

Football Insider claim Leeds have agreed personal terms with the 24-year-old ahead of a potential move to Elland Road.

It’s believed the transfer fee will be around £12 million for Koch, who is expected to become Leeds’ second high-profile signing in quick succession after the addition of Rodrigo on Saturday.

Koch has less than a year left on his contract with Freiburg and he seemingly became Leeds’ primary defensive transfer target after they failed in their pursuit of a permanent deal for Ben White.

Brown Tips Rodrigo To Shine

Talking to Football Insider, pundit Michael Brown has spoken very positively of Leeds’ latest signing.

Rodrigo, whose transfer was confirmed on Saturday morning, spent the 2010-11 season on loan at Bolton, a stint which Brown believes will help him during his time at Leeds.

Brown said, “That will help him, he was a young man then and he’ll be much better adapted now. When you’ve been over and you’ve witnessed it it helps.

"It’s a big ask of players coming into this country and you see how they often say ‘it takes 12 months to settle’ but he’s had that start.”

Despite believing his past experience will help him, Brown also warned to be patient with Rodrigo.

“It is still a different era and it will take a bit of time. Don’t expect too much straight away you have to understand that with the Premier League. But it’s exciting when it goes through.”

All eyes will be on Rodrigo this season – it will be fascinating to see how he adapts to the Premier League after scoring just four goals in 23 La Liga starts in 2019-20.

Hay Discusses Leeds’ Next Signings

The Athletic’s Phil Hay responded to a tweet on Saturday, shedding light on Leeds’ transfer plans.

Asked if Leeds will sign another attacker and another defender with Rodrigo’s transfer completed and Koch on his way, Hay replied, “still in the market for a winger/10, yes (although they might take their time with that one).

"Getting the impression that Bielsa is softening on taking another CB too. That would it."

This is clearly a very exciting update for Leeds fans. Ryan Kent and Said Benrahma are two options that have been linked in the past to fill that winger/number 10 void, while Calum Chambers has been suggested as a potential defensive target.

Leeds are clearly not done in the transfer market, despite smashing their transfer record for Rodrigo. Koch is an important signing in defence, but Marcelo Bielsa wants a few more fresh faces in the squad as they prepare for their Premier League return.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 29, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Confirm Long-Awaited Striker Signing

Leeds United have confirmed the permanent acquisition of Valencia striker Rodrigo. The Spanish international has been the centre of Leeds United transfer news over the last week – Leeds have finally got their man.

Announcing the news through their social media channels and on their website on Saturday morning, Leeds report Rodrigo was signed for a ‘club record fee’.

That puts it ahead of Rio Ferdinand’s signing from West Ham United earlier this century. It is believed Leeds paid around £27 million.

Capable of playing down the middle or on the wing, Rodrigo put pen to paper on a four-year deal, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2023-24 season.

This is Leeds’ biggest signing of the transfer window so far, but Marcelo Bielsa will be hoping for several more first team additions before the season kicks off next month. Another striker could come in and a centre-back is a clear priority.

The Elland Road faithful will be excited by the arrival of Rodrigo, as they should be for a player of his calibre. Aged 29 and with some injury troubles, though, there’s reason for concern after such an outlay.

Leeds Chase Left-Back

Fulham left-back Joe Bryan has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Leeds.

Football Insider reports Leeds, Leicester City, West Brom and Newcastle are all interested in Bryan, who had a brilliant 2019-20 season for the west London club and starred in their playoff final win over Brentford.

Bryan has two years on his contract, with a team option for another season, but a new deal would be a way to put off potential suitors.

Fulham signed a new left-back this summer, Antonee Robinson, though the plan is reportedly to have Robinson and Bryan compete for first team minutes.

It’s possible Bryan pushes for a transfer with so many clubs showing an interest. He arrived at Fulham for £6 million in 2018 and the Cottagers set an asking price of £5 million earlier this summer.

Pundit Questions Koch Signing

Pundit David Prutton has delivered his verdict on likely Leeds signing Robin Koch. The Freiburg defender seems to be on his way to Elland Road, as was reported by 888sport on Friday.

Prutton said, writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post, “The first port of call is whether a player from a different country can play football in England and forgive me for being stereotypical, but we have seen with German players that they have been typically robust in English football."

The former midfielder is confident Koch will adapt to the Premier League.

“Physically they understand the demands and culturally there are differences and the nuances but fundamentally there is not a huge chasm of difference between the two cultures.”

Leeds fans were celebrating on Saturday morning as Rodrigo’s signing was confirmed. It might not be long before they are welcoming another big name.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 29, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Priced Out Of Move For Basel Striker

Leeds have pulled out of their pursuit of Arthur Cabral according to a report. This follows this morning’s Leeds United transfer news suggesting Leeds are moving closer to Ollie Watkins.

UOL initially broke news of Leeds’ interest in the FC Basel striker earlier this week, but it appears Basel’s valuation is considerably higher than the Elland Road outfit would be willing to pay.

Cabral is one of a growing group of strikers linked with Leeds, who are believed to be after two forwards in this window. Rodrigo is seemingly on his way from Valencia, but it appears Cabral will not be joining the Spanish international in Yorkshire.

Basel were initially believed to be open to negotiation on their £18 million valuation of Cabral, though their approach has since changed.

They are demanding the full fee and the report claims that is more than Leeds are willing to pay.

Importantly, the report also suggests Cabral would be unlikely to land a work permit to play in the Premier League, ending any hopes of a transfer going through.

The striker is keen on a move to the English top flight, but it will not be with Leeds if UOL’s report is accurate.

Hay’s ‘Gut Feeling’ Gives Leeds Fans Hope

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has repeatedly spoken of Leeds’ interest in Freiburg defender Robin Koch.

Having claimed Leeds are progressing towards a move, Hay has gone further, saying he has a ‘gut feeling’ that Koch will move to Elland Road before the window shuts.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, he said, “The seasons coming around in two weeks and there’s an evident gap in the defence which is going to have to be filled.

"It always gets to the point where you have to move on [from White] and I think last Friday was that point.”

Hay continues, suggesting the deal for Rodrigo distracted from Leeds’ efforts to acquire the Freiburg defender.

“Koch could have moved quicker this week had it not been for the fact they were in the thick of the Rodrigo deal but I sense a confidence about Koch at Elland Road.

"Without wanting to tempt fate, my gut feeling will be that will probably happen.”

Leeds desperately defensive reinforcements, and it looks increasingly they will sign Koch.

The German international isn’t too panicked by the situation, however. He told Kicker he doesn’t ‘worry too much’ about the transfer rumours with only 12 months left on his contract.

If the transfer goes through, Leeds will be getting a highly regarded central defender who can play in a deep-lying midfield role when required. Koch has potential to improve and already has plenty of Bundesliga experience.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 28, 2020

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Horse Racing Tips Today: Saturday 29th August 2020

There’s plenty of good racing taking place across the UK on Saturday with ITV Racing covering seven races in all.

Those contests are spread across Windsor, Goodwood and Newmarket. Here is the latest going information for all three of those meetings:

Windsor: GOOD TO SOFT (Going Stick: 6.7)
Goodwood: GOOD TO SOFT (Going Stick: 6.3)
Newmarket: GOOD (Going Stick: 7.4) (Showers)

1:50 Goodwood - Prestige Stakes (7f)

Only six fillies go to post in this Listed affair but it is a competitive little heat nevertheless.

Pomelo is a Dubawi-filly and she won well on her debut at Newbury, pushed out nicely at the end and she was never in any danger. There is plenty more to come from her and she is worth a look in horse racing odds.

The Charlie Hills-trained Prado has also won her only race to date and she stayed on well in the final stages at Salisbury. The well bred Iffraaj-filly will have plenty of supporters with Ryan Moore aboard.

Consistency has been the name of the game for Richard Hannon’s Happy Romance and she seeks a hat-trick of victories here.

2:05 Newmarket – Hopeful Stakes (6f)

Stewards’ Cup victor Summerghand is in the form of his life at present and he looks more than equipped for the switch up to a Listed contest after racing in a string of top handicaps.

David O’Meara’s six-year-old is as tough as old boots and he has already clocked up ten career victories. This isn’t the deepest of Listed races in terms of the opposition and he should acquit himself well under William Buick.

If there is to be a fly in the ointment then the Robert Cowell-trained Raucous could pose the biggest threat to the favourite.

The seven-year-old won this very race last season, albeit on Good to Firm ground, and he has clearly been targeted for it once again.

2:25 Goodwood – Class 2 Handicap (7f)

The Ralph Beckett-trained Battered will be much more at home down Goodwood’s home straight than he was around the sweeping turns at Chester nine days ago, and the course and distance winner can make his presence felt in this field.

The six-year-old’s Goodwood triumph came back in August 2017 and conditions on Saturday will not be too dissimilar to that day.

Richard Hannon’s Oh This Is Us is also a course and distance winner and the seven-year-old has been running well in decent company all of this season.

This race looks a bit easier and he should run another solid race at a backable each-way price. He will be popular in expert horse racing tips this weekend.

Naturally any horses wearing Khalid Abdullah’s are always worth a second look, and Breath Of Air only went down by the smallest of noses at Haydock last time.

2:40 Windsor – August Stakes (1m 4f)

Hughie Morrison’s Le Don De Vie skipped an engagement at York’s Ebor meeting to line up here instead in this Listed event over 1m 4f.

Connections must be quietly confident that the gelding can bring home some decent prize money here and they are probably not that wide of the mark.

Having watched this four-year-old closely this season, Le Don De Vie has been crying out for this step up in trip and Saturday’s ground conditions will be right up his street too.

He looks like a major player in this six runner contest under the tactically astute racing brain that is Hollie Doyle.

Alounak for Andrew Balding is highly likely to be on the premises, while it would be foolish to leave out Desert Encounter who has won all of his four starts at Windsor.

3:00 Goodwood – March Stakes (1m 6f)

Just four runners go to post in the coveted March Stakes in the memory of John Dunlop, but it is a very select foursome and it will produce some very interesting tactics.

This Group 3 contest takes place over one mile and six furlongs and the talented stayer Cabaletta from the Roger Varian stable can showcase her racing prowess live on terrestrial television.

Cabaletta has been holding her form well all year and she was a nice winner of the Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at Newbury back in July.

Racing off an official mark of 106, she is the top-rated horse of the four and she will never have had a better opportunity to pick up a decent prize pot and add some more kudos to her pedigree. She is one of the best Saturday horse racing betting tips.

Glasgow Stakes winner Subjectivist on a rating of 104 ranks as her the biggest danger and the Mark Johnston-trained colt will not go down without a fight.

3.15 Windsor – Winter Hill Stakes (1m 4f)

Fox Chairman may well have found the perfect race to put him back in the winner’s circle here at Windsor.

The Kingman-colt was a decent second to Aspetar in the York Stakes last time and this race represents a step back down in class.

He has form on soft ground at the tail-end of last season so should cope with anything the weather throws at him this weekend.

Extra Elusive is penalised for his Haydock win last time out, but even with Hollie Doyle aboard, he may just struggle to concede weight to all of his rivals.

3.35 Goodwood – Celebration Mile (1m)

The pitter-patter of rain this week will have been music to the ears of Sir Busker’s connections as it was the determining factor as to whether or not he would race on Saturday.

William Knight entered Sir Busker on the premise that there would be some give in the ground and that is exactly what they have got.

Sir Busker almost nabbed Montatham in the Clipper Logistics Handicap at York last week and he has come out of that battle well according to Knight. He should have a leading chance again.

Benbatl is the star of the field, but has not been seen since running third to Maximum Security in the Saudi Cup. He looks rather short in the betting considering he won’t really have his optimum ground conditions this weekend.

The Richard Hannon-trained Urban Icon is worth a second look in the betting. He kept on well on the closes stages of the Golden Mile and could figure at the business end of proceedings.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alastair Grant / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 28th August 2020

August 28, 2020

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Make Ollie Watkins Breakthrough

Leeds could be close to another big-name striker acquisition in the form of Brentford star Ollie Watkins. Watkins has featured in Leeds United transfer news throughout the window, but things had gone quiet of late.

According to Football Insider, Brentford have lined up Peterborough goal-getter Ivan Toney as their permanent replacement for Watkins, opening the door for the 24-year-old to leave the club this window.

Several Premier League clubs have interest in Watkins, including Aston Villa, who are led by Watkins’ former manager Dean Smith.

Sources told Football Insider Leeds retain interest in Watkins even with the progress they are making towards a deal for Valencia forward Rodrigo.

Marcelo Bielsa is looking for two new strikers this offseason to accompany Patrick Bamford. Sam Greenwood, set to arrive from Arsenal, is unlikely to be involved with the first team straight away.

Brentford want around £25 million for Watkins, however, a fee that has put off some Premier League clubs.

Leicester, Fulham, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Brighton have all joined Leeds and Villa by showing interest in Watkins, but at this stage, Villa appear to be in pole position.

Hay Doubts Links To Lazio Star

It was reported by 888Sport on Thursday that Leeds have shown an interest in Lazio centre-back Luiz Felipe.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay doubts the legitimacy of these links. Leeds were allegedly preparing a bid over £25 million for Felipe, but when asked by a Leeds fan on Twitter, Hay was sceptical of the reports.

Replying to a fan asking about the ‘Lazio links’, Hay said, “They’re so far on with Koch that I doubt it”.

Hay is referring to Freiburg defender Robin Koch, a player Leeds have been pursuing for a while since they missed out on Brighton defender Ben White.

The suggestion of a move for Felipe came out of nowhere, and it appears there is little in it.

Given the figures being mentioned for attacking options, Felipe might be out of Leeds’ price range for a centre-back. Koch could be a much better value signing.

Mills Warns Leeds Of Overspending

Former Leeds man Danny Mills believes Leeds should be cautious of their spending in this transfer window. He thinks they should abandon their move for Rangers winger Ryan Kent.

Mills said, "You are talking about another wide player that possibly can score goals. It would still be a little bit of a gamble, he's not proven in the Premier League as yet.”

It wasn’t just Kent that Mills was critical of, however.

"Also how much money have Leeds got to spend, how much do they want to spend? Do they want Rodrigo and then do they want Ryan Kent and then do they want somebody else and do they need a centre half.”

Mills is not the first, and won’t be the last, to question Leeds’ transfer policy. Only time will tell if the club have got it right.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 28, 2020

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Leeds United Transfer News: Leeds Face Premier League Competition for Ukrainian Defender

Leeds are one of several Premier League clubs linked with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko. Matviyenko isn’t the first defender in Leeds United transfer news this window, and it’s unlikely he will be the last.

Per 90 min, Matviyenko is available for £20 million this summer and multiple Premier League clubs have shown an interest. Everton, West Ham and Wolves could all provide stiff competition for Leeds.

Several clubs around Europe are also thought to be interested in Matviyenko, who featured for Shakhtar on their way to the Europa League semi-finals earlier this month.

His primary position is centre-back, but the Ukraine international is comfortable playing on the left when required. The £20 million fee isn’t cheap, though it is certainly affordable for Premier League clubs.

Matviyenko could be lured in by other clubs around Europe, however, with Napoli, Leipzig, Monaco and Bayern Munich interested.

This could become a bidding war. There might be better value options for Leeds on the market.

Arsenal's Chambers Linked With Leeds

According to reports from TEAMTalk, Leeds have begun talks with Arsenal about acquiring Calum Chambers.

This comes just days after news broke Leeds were interested in Chambers’ teammate Rob Holding.

Covered at 888sport, Leeds have prioritised bringing in defensive upgrades this window and there’s no doubt Chambers or Holding would be just that.

Having spent six years with Arsenal, the Gunners are clearly keen to part ways with Chambers. They have bolstered their defensive ranks with the permanent transfer of Pablo Mari and are on the verge of signing Gabriel from Lille.

Chambers has been loaned out from Arsenal in the past, but it seems they are looking sell on this occasion. It is unknown what fee Arsenal would demand for Chambers, who they signed for £12 million from Southampton.

Leeds Chase Barcelona Target

Leeds have ‘accelerated’ their move for Lazio defender Luiz Felipe in recent hours, according to La Lazio Siamo Noi. Felipe, a 23-year-old Brazilian, is reportedly wanted by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but that has not deterred Leeds.

La Lazio Siamo Noi claims Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has been in contact with Leeds as the clubs look to work out a deal.

At this stage, Leeds allegedly are offering around £27 million for Felipe, but Lazio are holding out for somewhere closer to £35 million.

Since the Ben White deal fell through, centre-backs have been linked with Leeds on a daily basis. Felipe is just the latest, and Phil Hay of The Athletic recently claimed Robin Koch would be their priority.

Whether the deal goes through or not, it is exciting for Leeds fans to see their club linked with players of Felipe’s calibre.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

August 27, 2020

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The Most Famous British Players To Play In Spain

La Liga is widely regarded as one of the best domestic leagues in world football and some of the best British players have made the switch to Spain’s top flight.

Nowadays, Gareth Bale is the standout British player in La Liga but the likes of Mark Hughes, Gary Lineker and David Beckham have all played at the highest level of Spanish football.

All of the players on this list joined Real Madrid. Most Spanish clubs have preferred to sign homegrown players – Kieran Trippier became the first Englishman to join Atletico Madrid in 116 years back in 2019.

Without further ado, it is time to look at our take on the five most famous British players to play in La Liga. These men certainly swung football betting odds on more than one occasion…

5) Jonathan Woodgate

Woodgate’s move to Real Madrid will go down as one of the most bizarre transfers of all-time.

His switch to the Santiago Bernabeu came during the height of the Galacticos era but he fell some way short of expectations in Spain’s top flight.

His La Liga career got off to the worst possible start, scoring an own goal before receiving a red card on his Real debut.

It didn’t get much better for Woodgate, with a host of injuries having an adverse impact on his chances of success at the Bernabeu.

Unsurprisingly, he was voted the ‘worst signing of the 21st century’ by Marca readers in 2007.

However, he did see a mini revival after returning to the Premier League as Woodgate was named Middlesbrough’s Player of the Year in 2006/07.

4) Michael Owen

Owen attracted attention from Real Madrid after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2001.

Three years later and the England star joined Los Blancos – and it would be fair to state that Owen wasn’t given a fair chance during his short stint in Spain.

With Raul and Ronaldo ahead of Owen in the pecking order, the former Liverpool striker was left frustrated but he made the most of his limited opportunities.

In fact, he notched an impressive 13 league goals to record La Liga’s highest goals per minute ratio in a debut season.

In the end, Owen was frustrated at his lack of game time and pushed for a move back to the Premier League.

He signed for Newcastle United in the summer of 2005 but he failed to get back to top form after his Bernabeu tenure.

3) Steve McManaman

Who’d have thought it? In terms of popularity, McManaman probably ranks second on this list.

The former Liverpool star was a fan favourite during his time at Real Madrid, winning the fans’ Player of the Year award twice in the space of four years.

The scorer of one of the best Champions League final goals, McManaman helped the La Liga giants to two Champions League triumphs during his stint at the club.

In addition, he played a key role in their two La Liga titles in 2001 and 2003.

However, McManaman lost his place in the side during Real’s shift in policy.

Despite enjoying plenty of success in Spain, he wasn’t a big enough name for the Galacticos and McManaman found himself shipped off to Manchester City ahead of the 2003/04 Premier League season.

2) Gareth Bale

Real Madrid paid a then-world record fee of £85 million for the Welshman back in August 2013 and it would be fair to suggest that he’s had a mixed time at the club.

Having helped Real to four Champions League titles, on paper Bale has been a roaring success.

However, the Bernabeu crowd have struggled to take to him.

Coupled up with the clear issues between himself and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, Bale’s Real Madrid status is up in the air – transfer betting odds are hard to predict.

Bale has suffered in the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, with the Bernabeu crowd using the Welshman as a scapegoat for recent failures.

Despite this, Bale’s record is actually very good with 105 goals in close to 250 matches for the club.

1) David Beckham

The world stopped for a second or two when David Beckham joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2003.

A key figure for Real during their Galacticos era, Beckham fell slightly short of expectations at the Bernabeu.

Arguably the biggest brand in football during his heyday, Beckham was more than a player – he was a gold mine.

Known by every football fan around the world, Beckham was the most famous sportsman on the planet during those Madrid years.

Beckham didn’t do much wrong at the Bernabeu but he failed to hold down a regular spot in the starting line-up.

However, Beckham’s contributions were key to Real winning the La Liga title in 207 – this was the only major title won by the Englishman during his time at the club.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 27th August 2020

August 27, 2020

Football

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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2021 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame: Who Should Be Elected Next?

The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2021 is weak. The new names added are unlikely to gather much support, forcing attention onto the pre-existing candidates.

Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are all controversial figures.

Schilling’s right-wing outbursts online, including jokingly supporting the lynching of journalists, have worked against him, though he received 70% of the vote in 2020, 5% short of a place in Cooperstown.

Clemens and Bonds, two players who should have been first-ballot based on their statistics, have faced accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs.

With so many voters strongly against voting for players associated with steroid use, Bonds and Clemens are unlikely to make it into Cooperstown – they each received 61% in 2020.

There will be a lot of talk about the ballot’s ‘character clause’ ahead of 2021 balloting.

Bonds & Clemens - Top Contenders

Bonds had a Mike Trout-level dominance in online MLB betting odds. The question of the best player in the game was not worth asking when Bonds was at the peak of his powers.

There is a grey area over Bonds’ use of steroids, and it is important to note the context. Bonds played through the steroid era when performance-enhancing substances were common across MLB.

On this date in 1998, Barry Bonds became the first player in MLB history with 400 home runs and 400 steals after homering against the Marlins.

He remains the only player in the 400 HR - 400 SB club. pic.twitter.com/4CuJpAK3xJ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 23, 2020

For a player great enough to be in an all-time MLB team, Bonds’ Hall of Fame candidacy is puzzling.

He had a Cooperstown-worthy career before any accusations of steroid use, and his career-ending CV is up there with Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as arguably the greatest player to ever play the game.

Clemens is in a near-identical situation to Bonds.

He’s eighth all-time in career bWAR, and his seven Cy Young awards is two more than anyone else in the history of the game. On record alone, Clemens should have been a lock for the Hall, potentially a unanimous selection.

This is where MLB is in a difficult situation. Controversy has been a feature throughout the sport’s history.

While steroid use in the early 2000s might be the greatest ‘scandal’ of all, blocking players from Cooperstown for playing in that period causes problems down the line.

If Jose Altuve or Alex Bregman build Hall of Fame careers, will they be left out because of their involvement in sign stealing? How will it impact voters’ support of Carlos Beltran in years to come?

Bonds and Clemens should be in the Hall. Barring a massive turnover of voters, it’s very unlikely they will be elected. Schilling is closer, his career was not on the same planet as Bonds and Clemens.

Bonds and Clemens should be getting a much greater share of the vote than Schilling. If Schilling can be elected with his hard-right views, Bonds and Clemens should have been elected a long time ago.

Rolen in Contention

Scott Rolen has the numbers in his favour, but he’s the sort of understated player who can be overlooked when it comes to Hall of Fame voting. He was seldom a baseball betting candidate for MVP.

The 10.2% earned in his first year suggested he didn’t have much chance. That number shot up to 17% in year two and over 35% in year three.

Voters have had time to ponder Rolen’s candidacy, and his supporters have made their case for him. Importantly, space has opened up on ballots with recent inductions. Rolen should see his backing swell further in 2021.

Any way you put it, Scott Rolen is a Hall of Famer.

The voters *cannot* let public perception dictate their selections.#RolenHOF pic.twitter.com/CrCWrEDNS8
— STLSportsCentral (@stlsportscntrl) November 22, 2019

His career WAR is ninth among third basemen, and he was a true two-way star, excelling on both sides of the ball. Only Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson won more Gold Gloves at third.

He looks set to follow a similar path to Larry Walker, who started slowly, but was eventually elected to the Hall in 2020, his final season on the ballot.

Rolen shouldn’t be waiting that long. Being elected in 2021 is a big leap from where he is now, though with Tim Hudson and Mark Buerhle as the highest profile names arriving on the ballot, Rolen could be close.

Wagner Faces Bullpen Disrespect

Relief pitchers might not be the first thing covered in baseball for dummies, but they are an increasingly important part of the sport. They deserve greater recognition in Cooperstown.

Billy Wagner is one of the best relievers ever. Lee Smith was inducted into the Hall by the Veteran’s Committee in 2019, but Wagner shouldn’t have to wait for his place in Cooperstown.

The flame-throwing lefty is sixth all-time in saves and holds the records for strikeout percentage and hits given up per nine innings of pitchers with over 800 career innings.

Only eight pitchers are in the Hall with their primary achievements as a bullpen arm. That number should be higher. Wagner, who had 31.7% of the vote in his fifth year on the ballot, is among the greatest ever in his role.

Being top five or top 10 all-time at your position is enough to make Cooperstown for most others – the same should be the case with relief pitchers.

An elite bullpen arm will alter baseball betting tips. Wagner was of that ilk, a pitcher so dominant the game was effectively over when he took the mound. He should join Smith, Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera in the Hall.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Jeff Roberson / AP Photo*

August 27, 2020

Baseball

By Sam Cox

https://twitter.com/SamRCox_">

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