Morkel downplays Hardik, Abhishek fitness concerns

Both players were off the field for large portions of the second innings against Sri Lanka

Shashank Kishore26-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, has allayed concerns around the fitness of Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma leading into Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai.Hardik held his left hamstring and walked off the field after bowling the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings on Friday, in which he dismissed Kusal Mendis for a first-ball duck. Hardik didn’t return to take the field for the remainder of the innings.”Hardik had cramps, he will be assessed tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll then take a call on that,” Morkel said at the post-match press conference. India’s bowling coach was merely reiterating what India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.Meanwhile, Abhishek too spent the entire second half of Sri Lanka’s innings off the field. Abhishek showed signs of discomfort in the ninth over, when he clutched onto his right thigh while running. He eventually left the field in the 10th over, just before a Pathum Nissanka six was signalled dead ball because he hadn’t left the field before Varun Chakravarthy began to run in to bowl.Like Hardik, Abhishek too spent the rest of the innings being iced and treated with pickle juice to ease cramps. Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma came on as substitute fielders at different points. At one point, even Tilak Varma was briefly off the field, but he soon returned after a hydration break.With the Sri Lanka game stretching way beyond its scheduled close due to the Super Over finish, India are left with an even shorter turnaround time before they take the field on Sunday. Morkel stressed on the need for the players to recover, and stay away from training on Saturday.”The key for the boys is to rest,” he said. “They’re in an ice bath already. The recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully they can get a good night’s sleep.”There will be individual pool sessions for the guys organised. Then some massages before they get mentally ready for the big battle on Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround, and playing smart is going to be the key. There will certainly be no training.”‘Arshdeep, Harshit are X-factors’Morkel also touched upon the challenges players like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana face when being called upon to deliver at a crucial stage in the competition. On Friday against Sri Lanka, the pair returned combined figures of 2 for 100 of eight overs in India’s defence of 202, before a nerveless Arshdeep delivered in the Super Over to seal victory.”In our environment we want to move away from an excuse culture,” he said. “The effort they put in at training, we expect them to go out there and deliver. Yes, sometimes lack of game time is a factor. You can bowl as many overs as you like in the nets, but nothing beats game time.”The quality of work we put in, we expect the guys to deliver. At the moment, things aren’t happening for them but the team is winning, they’re all X-factor players and real match winners.”

Leeds now in contact to sign "exceptional" Brazilian ace, January move possible

Leeds United have made an approach to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, alongside two other Premier League clubs, and a January move could now be possible.

A lack of goals has been an issue for Leeds so far this season, having scored just ten Premier League goals, the joint-second lowest figure in the top flight, with Danny Murphy bemoaning their lack of quality attacking options back in September.

Murphy said: “I think the biggest problem for Burnley and Leeds is firepower. I agree with what we talked about earlier. I think all the newly promoted sides doing well is great for the Premier League.

“I’d like to see them all stay up, actually. But I don’t think it’ll be the case.

Since then, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has continued to struggle in front of goal, having found the back just once in nine league outings, although Daniel Farke will be glad Lukas Nmecha scored his first goal from open play at the weekend, albeit in a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

As a result of that loss, the Whites are just one point above the relegation zone, sitting in 16th place, and it has been revealed they have now made an approach to sign a new forward ahead of the January transfer window.

Leeds make contact to sign Gonzalo Plata

According to journalist Fabricio Lopes (via Sport Witness), Leeds have now made contact to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, and the Brazilian club could be willing to sanction a move in the January transfer window.

Indeed, Flamengo have become increasingly frustrated with Plata, given that he went to a nightclub before an important match, which means they will now be open to offers this winter, although there could be competition for his signature.

AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United have also made enquiries over a deal for the Flamengo star, who remains under contract until June 2029, putting his current employers in a strong negotiating position.

There may be some concerns over the 25-year-old’s off-field issues, but he certainly has plenty of ability, having been lauded as “exceptional” by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this year.

The Ecuadorian is established at international level, having scored eight goals in 45 appearances for his national side, while the versatile attacker, who is also capable of playing at centre-forward, has also chipped in with 17 goal contributions in 63 appearances for Flamengo.

Leeds may need a fresh injection of quality in attack if they are to avoid the drop, given that not a single one of their players has scored over two goals this season.

Leeds’ top scorers

Number of goals

Joe Rodon

2

Lukas Nmecha

2

Noah Okofor

2

Sean Longstaff

1

Brenden Aaronson

1

Anton Stach

1

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

That said, it would be a risk to sign Plata, given that the Ecuador international is unproven in the Premier League, and wasn’t exactly prolific in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A, netting four goals in 24 outings.

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New Dodgers Pitcher Roki Sasaki Announces Exciting Personal News in Spring Training

Roki Sasaki took the mound for the first time as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday as he threw live batting practice to some of his new teammates. The 23-year old's fastball and slider were reportedly on full display as he began a new chapter of his baseball life.

On Friday morning the Dodgers rookie announced that he was also beginning a new chapter of his personal life. In an Instagram post with a picture of two Dodgers hats Sasaki announced that he had gotten married. Since he's new to MLB fans, the announcement wasn't quite as unexpected as Shohei Ohtani's during Spring Training last year, but it was still pretty amusing.

According to Google Translate Sasaki thanked everyone for their support and said he had married a "non-celebrity" and was full of "hope and anxiety" as he begins his new personal and professional life.

The wedding vows probably don't translate perfectly either, but as long as his pitches do, the couple should be all set for a happy marriage.

Sasaki will make his Cactus League debut next week.

Champions League club make approach to sign Leeds’ Illan Meslier in cheap January deal

A Champions League club have made an approach for Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, with the Frenchman’s time at Elland Road likely to come to an end sooner rather than later.

The Whites have done well back in the Premier League so far this season, steering clear of the relegation zone and more than holding their own.

New signings have settled in well and last season’s Championship players have largely handled the step up to the top flight impressively, but one figure who hasn’t featured at all is Meslier.

The 25-year-old was once a highly-rated young goalkeeper of whom big things were expected, with some even predicting that he would be Hugo Lloris’ long-term replacement for France, but he has become an error-prone figure at Elland Road, leading to him being dropped last season.

It feels like a case of when Meslier departs Leeds rather than if, with Daniel Farke making it clear he isn’t an important figure, and it now looks as though his exit may not be too far away.

Champions League club make approach for Leeds ace Meslier

According to an update from Voetbal Krant [via Sport Witness], Club Brugge have made an approach for Leeds ‘keeper Meslier, as well as rivals Anderlecht.

They are hoping to strike a deal in the January transfer window, even though it is “not an easy proposition”, but his time with the Whites is still thought to be “coming to an end”.

It feels right for all parties for Meslier’s time at Leeds to reach its conclusion, with his current situation not helping anyone, in terms of having an out-of-favour player not featuring at all at the club.

The £30,000-a-week stopper will surely want to be starting games regularly at this point in his career, and that won’t happen with the Whites, with Farke brutally honest about his shortcomings last season.

“It’s fair to say he had a poor game against Hull and his mistake for the second goal was decisive. There were a few games where he could have and should have done better. There were perhaps one or two strikes where you would expect a player of his calibre could save it when he is on the top of his game. I spoke with Illan about this and although he has had many clean sheets and many good saves he could show this with more consistency. It’s important to be honest and open.”

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At 25 years of age, time is still on Meslier’s side, and he is a naturally gifted goalkeeper, but once the errors started creeping in at a more regular rate at Leeds, it became clear that he had no future at the club.

Leeds man was once the 'best in the league', now Farke needs to sell him

Renuka, Amanjot in India's World Cup squad; Shafali misses out

There were no real surprises in the squad picked for the World Cup

Sruthi Ravindranath19-Aug-20253:52

Nayar: India went for Rawal’s solidarity over Shafali’s flamboyance

Fast bowler Renuka Singh and allrounder Amanjot Kaur have returned from injuries and have been named in India’s Women’s World Cup squad.Shafali Verma, who fell out of favour in the ODI set-up last year, continues to miss out on selection, while Tejal Hasnabis and Sayali Satghare, who were all part of the recent ODI series against England, have been left out of the 15-member squad.Amanjot has, however, been rested for the three-match ODI series against Australia leading up to the World Cup, with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur saying she was at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence “working on a few small niggles”. Renuka has been named in that squad for the series, which starts on September 14 in New Chandigarh. Satghare will also play the three ODIs against Australia and will be replaced by Amanjot for the World Cup.Amanjot, who has risen through the ranks to become one of the key allrounders for India, missed the last two ODIs against England last month due to a flare up of a back injury. Renuka, meanwhile, has been out of international cricket since December 2024 with a stress fracture.”Renuka has been a precious player for us,” chief selector Neetu David said. “She had niggles and been out of the game, but is available. Is our main player. This is a main event, great she’s part of the team.”ESPNcricinfo LtdDavid said Shafali, who recently played in the three one-dayers for India A against Australia A in Brisbane, is still part of India’s ODI plans in the future. “Shafali played the Australia A series. She’s in the system, it’s not like she’s not. We’ve got our eyes on her. Hope she plays a lot more and garners experience, it’ll help serve India in the 50-overs format.”Kranti Goud, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the England ODIs, is among the pace bowlers in the squad alongside Renuka, Amanjot and Arundhati Reddy. Sneh Rana, who made an excellent comeback during the Sri Lanka tri-series, and Shree Charani are the two other specialist spinners in the squad, along with Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav.”We have Renuka and Kranti [to bowl] in the power play,” Harmanpreet said. “Then have Shree Charani, Deepti and Radha to bowl in the slog overs, Sneh Rana in the middle overs. We didn’t want to make a lot of changes and wanted continuity.”Pratika Rawal, who took over Shafali’s spot in the format last year and has been impressive across her 14 ODIs so far, is expected to continue opening alongside Smriti Mandhana. Harleen Deol, who has shown consistency with the bat in recent times, is expected to continue at No. 3, with Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues to follow at No. 4 and 5 respectively.Yastika Bhatia, who last played an ODI in October 2024, is also in the squad and will serve as a back-up option for wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. Though Satghare is not part of the World Cup squad, she is among the standbys alongside Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetry and Minnu Mani. Bhatia made two fifties in the Australia A series, which Hasnabis, Mani and Rawat were also part of.Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka are set to begin the tournament on September 30. India have never won the ODI World Cup but have made the final twice, in 2005 and 2017.The selectors also picked up an India A squad that will play the warm-up match against South Africa on September 28. All six standbys for the main squad and Shafali are part of that team. India’s main team will play their warm-up against England on September 25.India squad for Australia ODIsHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, N Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Sneh RanaIndia’s World Cup squadHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, N Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Sneh RanaStandbys: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetry (wk), Minnu Mani, Sayali SatghareIndia A squad for warm-up matchMinnu Mani (capt), Dhara Gujjar, Shafali Verma, Tejal Hasabnis, Vrinda Dinesh, Uma Chetry (wk), Nandini Kashyap (wk), Tanushree Sarkar, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Raghvi Bist

Man City ready to do battle with Real Madrid and Juventus to land Elche wonderkid with €20m release clause

Manchester City are reportedly prepared to challenge European giants Real Madrid and Juventus for the signature of Elche wonderkid Rodrigo Mendoza. The Spain U21 international, who has a €20 million release clause, has attracted widespread interest following his eye-catching performances in La Liga, with Arsenal also reportedly in the picture.

Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Juventus target Rodrigo Mendoza

City are reportedly in a fierce battle with Real Madrid and Juventus to sign Elche's highly-rated midfielder Mendoza. The 20-year-old Spanish international, who has a €20 million release clause in his contract, has emerged as a top target for several European powerhouses.

According to Tuttosport, Manchester City have "been moving on" Mendoza, who has also been "followed by Real Madrid for a while." Juventus are also strongly interested in the youngster, challenging top clubs for his signature. A report from AS further adds Arsenal to the list of clubs monitoring the Elche talent.

Mendoza joined Elche's academy in 2019 and was promoted to their first team in 2022. He was part of the squad that secured promotion to the top flight. This season, he has already made 10 appearances for the La Liga side, including nine in the league where he has scored one goal, and one in the Copa del Rey where he also found the net, as per Transfermarkt. His rapid rise has not gone unnoticed by scouts across Europe.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportElche's efforts to retain Mendoza amid growing interest

Elche recognised Mendoza's burgeoning talent last summer when they reportedly turned down offers from Saudi Arabia for his services. In August, they moved to secure his long-term future by offering him an improved contract, extending his stay until 2028. This new deal, however, includes a €20 million release clause, which, while substantial, is considered "negotiable" and "certainly affordable" for clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Mendoza's performances have been particularly notable, including a goal in nine La Liga matches and another in the Copa del Rey this season. He also impressed at the U20 World Cup and recently contributed an assist for Spain U21s in their 7-0 victory over San Marino, further cementing his reputation as a rising star.

Despite Elche's efforts to tie him down, the mounting interest from Europe's elite clubs suggests that his future at the club beyond the current season is increasingly uncertain.

Mendoza's playing style and tactical fit for interested clubs

Tuttosport describes Mendoza as a player who "needs a physical and dynamic midfielder next to him to perform at his best." This tactical insight offers a glimpse into how the interested clubs might integrate him into their respective systems.

For Juventus, the report notes that the club has "plenty of them," referring to dynamic midfield options such as Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, and even Teun Koopmeiners, should he be deployed in midfield after his successful stint in defence. Observers have also compared Mendoza's skillset to that of Barcelona star Pedri, suggesting a highly technical and creative player.

Real Madrid, known for their penchant for signing young, talented midfielders, have been tracking Mendoza for some time. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, are also known for developing technically gifted players who can thrive in possession-based systems. The €20 million release clause makes him an attractive proposition for clubs seeking a long-term investment in midfield.

The race for Mendoza's signature extends beyond just the three European giants. Tuttosport also revealed that clubs from the Saudi Pro League and the Red Bull group had shown interest, with the latter attempting to bring him to Paris FC. Como, under the tutelage of Cesc Fabregas, were also reportedly hoping to add Mendoza to their youth Spanish contingent.

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Getty Images SportWhat next for Rodrigo Mendoza?

Mendoza's immediate future remains with Elche, where he is under contract until 2028. However, the upcoming January transfer window and the summer market of 2026 will likely be crucial in determining his next career move. With a €20 million release clause and fierce competition from top European clubs, a move to a major European powerhouse seems increasingly probable.

For Elche, the challenge will be to either retain their prized asset against overwhelming interest or to maximise his transfer fee. For Mendoza, the decision will involve choosing a club that best suits his developmental needs and tactical preferences, allowing him to continue his ascent in European football. Juventus, Manchester City, and Real Madrid will undoubtedly be closely monitoring his performances in the coming months as they prepare their strategies for his signature.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Thrown Out at Home After Ball Ricochets Off MLB Umpire

An MLB umpire unintentionally made the highlight reels during Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Wednesday night at Petco Park.

With the Dodgers up 5–0 and looking to add to their lead, Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani worked a walk in the top of the fourth inning, then advanced to second on a Mookie Betts flyout. The next batter, Teoscar Hernandez, grounded an 0–2 pitch down the third base line for what surely seemed like extra bases—and an easy trot home for the speedy Ohtani.

Only, the ball was stopped in its tracks when it collided with third base umpire Mark Ripperger, who was unable to get out of the way in time after it deflected off Padres third baseman Manny Machado’s glove. Machado was then able to make a play on the ball and promptly threw out Ohtani as he was attempting to score.

What a play by Ripperger! In all seriousness, this was just a case of the umpire being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even still, Ohtani was visibly upset with Ripperger from the Dodgers dugout.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, the bizarre play seems like it won't have any adverse effect on the final result of Game 4, as the club is still in the driver's seat with an 8–0 lead.

Arsenal would now consider selling Saliba to sign "strong" Real Madrid star

With Real Madrid setting their sights on William Saliba, Arsenal would now reportedly consider selling their star defender for the chance to sign a talented midfielder from the Spaniards in return.

Real Madrid eyeing Saliba move

After a disappointing season which could yet end without a trophy, it could be all change in the Real Madrid technical area this summer. Recent reports have indicated that Carlo Ancelotti is in negotiations to become the new manager of the Brazilian national team, which would likely see Xabi Alonso make his way to the Bernabeu ahead of the next campaign.

With Alonso possibly arriving, the Spaniards could yet be in for a busy summer transfer window too. Already, they’re in negotiations with Trent Alexander-Arnold over a free move upon the expiry of his current Liverpool contract at the end of the season and have now also reportedly set their sights on Saliba.

Recent reports in Spain have suggested that the Frenchman is on Alonso’s list of targets should he step into the Madrid technical area in the coming months. Following another season without a Premier League title and with Arsenal’s Champions League fate hanging in the balance, it remains to be seen whether Saliba will be able to turn down the lure of the Bernabeu.

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If that does prove to be the case, then there’s no doubt that his departure will be a major blow. At the same time, however, it looks as though the Gunners will at least aim to get something in return.

Arsenal now considering Saliba sale on one condition

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal would now consider selling Saliba to Real Madrid if they got Aurelien Tchouameni in return. Mikel Arteta is reportedly a big fan of the Frenchman and may yet have the perfect chance to welcome him to North London.

What his arrival would also do is replace Thomas Partey, who is currently on course to leave Arsenal as a free agent upon the expiry of his current contract this summer.

Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

Filling that gap in the middle of the park should be among the Gunners’ top priorities, especially if they are to finally claim Premier League glory next season. And there’s no doubt that Tchouameni should be a top candidate to do exactly that.

Minutes

2,364

2,437

Progressive Passes

149

165

Interceptions

42

32

Ball Recoveries

124

120

Dubbed “strong” by Ancelotti earlier this season, Tchouemeni has matched and even outperformed Partey in a number of areas this season. At the sacrifice of Saliba, Arsenal could land an instant upgrade in midfield.

Whether it is worth losing one of the best centre-backs in European football to boost their midfield is a question that those at The Emirates must ponder, however.

Partey replacement: Arsenal looking to sign "monster" Zubimendi alternative

It looks set to be a massive summer of transfer activity for Arsenal this year; Mikel Arteta even said as much.

Based on fan sentiment and the number of reports in recent weeks, it’s no surprise that the club’s focus is on rejuvenating the attack, but the midfield also looks like it will be addressed.

Thomas Partey might now be getting a new deal, and perhaps most excitingly, the deal to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi looks increasingly certain.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the club could also be looking at a potential alternative to the Spaniard, someone who could also replace Partey.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth reviewing the situation with both Partey and Zubimendi.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Regarding the latter, news initially came out back in January that Arsenal were close to agreeing a deal to sign him in the summer, and while there have since been reports from Spain claiming that he could go to Real Madrid, other stories have reaffirmed the original news that he should be on his way to the Emirates for £51m.

Partey, on the other hand, looked like he was set to depart the club upon the expiration of his current contract in the summer, but that changed last week.

Ahead of the game against Crystal Palace, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that the club now wanted the midfielder to remain and were set to enter negotiations over a new contract with him.

However, with reports now linking the team to Hugo Larsson, re-signing the Ghanaian might not be necessary.

Yes, according to a recent report from the print edition of SportBild in Germany, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the Eintracht Frankfurt star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Manchester City and Liverpool are also keen on the young midfielder, who’s valued at £51m by his team.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but given Larsson’s ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be an ideal Partey replacement.

Why Larsson could replace Partey

So, the first argument for why Larsson could prove to be a good Partey replacement is also one that could be used to argue for him being an alternative to Zubimendi: his age.

At just 20 years old, the Swedish international is 11 years younger than the Gunners’ number five and six younger than the Sociedad star. Now, while that’s not a massive advantage compared to the Spaniard, who is still in his prime years, it is against the Ghanaian .

For example, research conducted by The Athletic revealed that central midfielders tend to peak at around 25 years old, so while the Frankfurt gem has years to keep getting better, the former Atlético Madrid ace is undoubtedly approaching the end of his career, and considering his usually dire injury record, this might make handing him a new deal particularly foolish.

Eintracht Frankfurt'sHugoLarssoncelebrates scoring their first goal with Ansgar Knauff and Arthur Theate

Furthermore, besides being substantially younger, the “transitional monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, also looks just as good when we look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, he comes out ahead in plenty of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, key passes, shots on target, shot-creating actions, blocked shots and passes, errors leading to goal, ball recoveries and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.19

0.15

Progressive Passes

4.70

6.09

Progressive Carries

0.64

1.14

Shots on Target

0.38

0.26

Key Passes

0.85

0.63

Shot-Creating Actions

2.33

2.07

Goal-Creating Actions

0.13

0.48

Tackles Won

1.06

1.77

Blocked Shots

0.42

0.26

Blocked Passes

1.19

0.59

Interceptions

1.06

1.18

Errors Leading to a Goal

0.04

0.15

Dispossessed

0.42

0.52

Ball Recoveries

4.58

4.43

Ultimately, while he might not be the most exciting name out there, Larsson looks like he could be an incredible player in the future, so instead of a Zubimendi alternative, Arsenal might be wise to sign him as well and then not offer Partey a new deal.

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Leeds: Boost for 49ers after new permanent transfer update on £20m Solomon

Leeds United have been given a boost in their efforts to sign Manor Solomon on a permanent transfer this summer.

Leeds on course for Premier League return after crucial Championship weekend

The Whites and Daniel Farke enjoyed a brilliant afternoon in the Championship on Saturday, winning 2-1 against Preston North End at Elland Road thanks to goals from Solomon and Jayden Bogle.

Promotion rivals Sheffield United also threw away a victory at bottom placed Plymouth Argyle, conceding twice late on at Home Park to lose 2-1.

As a result, Leeds now sit top of the table and are five points clear of the Blades in third, while also having better goal difference with four games to go.

Sheffield United also have to go to second place Burnley, meaning Leeds need a maximum of seven points from their remaining four games to all but guarantee promotion on goal difference, providing the Blades win all four of their remaining fixtures.

Leeds (88 pts)

Sheffield United (83 pts)

Burnley (88 pts)

Oxford United (a)

Cardiff City (h)

Watford (a)

Stoke City (h)

Burnley (a)

Sheffield United (h)

Bristol City (h)

Stoke City (a)

QPR (a)

Plymouth Argyle (a)

Blackburn Rovers (h)

Millwall (h)

If Leeds go up, 49ers Enterprises may quickly look to seal a number of new signings while also expanding Elland Road, and one target is loanee Solomon.

Leeds given boost in permanent Solomon deal

There have been claims that the winger, on loan from Tottenham, is wanted by Leeds on a full-time basis, should promotion be achieved.

Now, according to reliable reporter Alasdair Gold for football.london, ‘Solomon would certainly consider a move to Leeds if they got promoted after enjoying his time at the West Yorkshire club’.

The Isreal international is expected to have more interest from Premier League clubs and from teams abroad, but it seems as if the 25-year-old is open to moving to Yorkshire on a permanent basis.

Back in January, Solomon said on Leeds: “I love it here. I love the fans. I love the club. I love the players, the manager. Especially now, I’m really enjoying it and I love living here. Of course, it’s different to London, less things to do and we have less friends here. All the Israelis, they live in London, but we found our place here.”

Farke was also quick to hail Solomon on the weekend after he scored his eighth goal of the campaign and registered his 10th assist.

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“Always a joy to work with. A top character. Yes can be tricky, he’s emotional! Especially when he doesn’t finish a game. But top.”

It has been rumoured that Solomon could cost up to £20m this summer amid interest from Everton, so it is a boost for Leeds knowing that the attacker will consider a permanent transfer to Yorkshire.

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