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Leeds United are reportedly willing to meet the financial demands of Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz ahead of a potential summer transfer.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news involving Diaz?

On the pitch, the Whites are currently looking to avoid relegation from the Premier League in the final five games of the season, with this weekend’s trip to Bournemouth appearing to be key.

However, off the pitch, it appears as if the club, who look likely to be under new owners in the 49ers Enterprises this summer, are working on possible signings. Diaz is one player who has been linked with a move to Leeds recently, and a further update has now emerged.

Sport Witness shared news from Defensa Central regarding Diaz in the last 48 hours. They said that the Whites have come forward to sign the forward on a free transfer.

The report claims that Elland Road could be an option for Diaz if he wants to earn €4.5m-a-year (£3.98m) as Leeds are ready to meet his ‘financial demands’.

Only if Leeds are in the Premier League…

The figures shared in the update work out at £76,500-a-week, which could see Diaz become the second-highest earner in Yorkshire behind top scorer Rodrigo.

He has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Patrick Bamford, whose costly late miss against Leicester City could prove pivotal in the club’s survival hopes come the end of the season.

However, if Leeds manage to remain in the top flight for a fourth successive season, Diaz could be a risky signing. The 29-year-old, an out-and-out centre-forward, has won 11 major honours with Madrid but has made just 82 appearances for the club across two spells, contributing to 15 goals.

His only eye-catching campaign came with Lyon, scoring 18 Ligue 1 goals during 2017/18 season, where he was labelled as a “powerful” player by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas during his time in France.

Diaz has struggled for game time at the Bernabeu in recent years, though, so offering him a big deal could be a major gamble, but it looks as if Leeds may be willing to take that risk over the coming months.

Eddie Howe delivered some important injury news following Newcastle United's 6-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

What's the latest Newcastle injury news?

The Newcastle boss took to his post-match press conference to confirm that Allan Saint-Maximin will not be available for selection in the mid-week clash with Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday.

Howe confirmed the absence of the French winger but was unable to give a clear update on Fabian Schar's availability: "I think Everton will be too early for Maxi.

"With Fabian, I don’t know how he is yet. We’ve got a couple of knocks in there."

Will Anthony Gordon start vs Everton?

The Magpies will be keen to continue their strong pursuit of Champions League football next season with a successful trip to the blue side of Merseyside and Anthony Gordon could be the perfect player to get under the skin of his former club.

The 22-year-old has been a consistent feature from the bench – averaging 36 minutes per performance – but a golden opportunity to start on the left flank against Everton could prove to Howe that he is more than worthy of more minutes and a starting spot in the competitive forward line.

Over 25 Premier League appearances for his two clubs, Gordon has scored three goals and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 shots on goal per game, proving that he is keen to make an impact in front of goal.

Indeed, the £60k-per-week ace – hailed as "different class" by former teammate James Tarkowski – is yet to find the back of the net but could be involved in bittersweet success on his return to Goodison Park later this week, success that could even be the catalyst in relegating the Toffees.

It has also been reported this week that Saint-Maximin could be set to leave St James' Park this summer, so it will be important for Gordon to make a good impression on his manager to deter Howe from bringing in another winger who could ruin his chances of becoming a nailed-on starter in the future.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Howe should unleash Gordon in the starting XI during the Frenchman's absence as an opportunity to get a look at the player in a full performance would be advantageous to Howe whilst giving the patient winger the minutes he deserves.

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Check Out Several Bookmakers

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The Fewer the Selections, the Better

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Learn All the Basics

Even though sports betting is very simple, it can be complicated, especially if you lack basic knowledge. You will be much better when you learn all the sports betting basics before you begin placing the wagers. This way, you can enjoy the betting experience and make profits as well.

Tottenham Hotspur's turbulent season reached a new low on Saturday afternoon as the Lilywhites slipped to an agonising, 3-2 defeat to a struggling AFC Bournemouth side at N17, with January signing Dango Ouattara netting a 95th-minute winner for the Cherries to boost their hopes of survival.

The north London outfit had looked to have snatched a point prior to that last-gasp effort as their own winter arrival Arnaut Danjuma lashed home with just minutes remaining, with the visitors having led since early in the second-half courtesy of goals from Matias Vina and Dominic Solanke, following an early strike from Son Heung-min.

On a day of overwhelming frustration for Spurs, as their bid to secure a top-four finish was dealt a notable blow, the latter man's performance was one of the few positives to take from the performance as the South Korean sensation bagged his eighth Premier League goal of the season, having looked 'full of confidence again' in the opening stages, in particular, as per football.london's Alasdair Gold.

That sparkling outing from the 30-year-old – in which he looked 'back to his old self' according to 90min's Sean Walsh – also saw the winger register two key passes and win both of his ground duels, ensuring that he ended the defeat with a standout match rating of 7.8, as per Sofascore – the highest of any of his teammates.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man had managed to open the scoring with a sweeping, left-footed finish after a clever pullback from veteran Croatian, Ivan Perisic, with the latter man racking up his seventh top-flight assist of the season so far from his wing-back berth.

That creative impact had come with the former Inter ace looking like a "constant threat" in those early exchanges, according to the Bournemouth Echo's Tom Crocker, with the 34-year-old looking more like the player that Spurs have been wishing for more regularly this season.

How did Perisic perform against Bournemouth?

There is no denying that it has not been smooth sailing for Perisic since his free transfer arrival last summer, with the £180k-per-week gem having looked like a "complete liability" at the back at times, as writer Andrew Gaffney noted following the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

That being said, however, the 125-cap machine was far more influential this time around having produced 'one of his better Spurs performances' – according to Walsh – at left wing-back, showcasing his creative prowess after providing three key passes in total, while also attempting 19 crosses from the flanks.

That desire to make an impact did see the one-time Bayern Munich man lose possession on 33 occasions from his 85 touches, although the ageing talent was able to pose a real problem for the opposition after completing four of his five attempted dribbles and creating two big chances.

One such moment of quality saw the wide man tee up Richarlison from a corner late on only for the Brazilian to inexplicably fail to convert, with that errant effort having ultimately come back to bite the hosts as Ouattara stuck the killer blow at the death.

That all-round display from Perisic ultimately saw the Split native record an impressive match rating of 7.7, as per Sofascore, with that only bettered by his partner in crime, Son, for the north Londoners.

While an encouraging performance from the veteran – in which he also won eight of his 11 total duels – will be of little consolation to Cristian Stellini and co, it was noteworthy to see the 6 foot 1 ace able to make a nuisance of himself down the left flank.

Newcastle United hold concrete interest in signing Watford striker Joao Pedro this summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Will Newcastle sign a striker this summer?

Since returning from injury, Alexander Isak has hit a rich vein of form for Newcastle, scoring five goals in his last five Premier League games, though Eddie Howe is still running the rule over new strikers for the summer transfer window.

Marcus Thuram is one target for the Magpies, and they have recently been handed a boost in the race for his signature, as the Borussia Monchengladbach man is said to have rejected a contract offer from Inter Milan.

Goncalo Ramos has also been linked with a move to St James' Park – however, it has now been reported that any potential suitor will now need to fork out €120m (£105m) in order to win the race for the Benfica forward.

There are more affordable options available, however, with Football Insider claiming Newcastle have a concrete interest in signing Watford striker Pedro, who they have tried to sign before.

The Magpies had a £30m offer rejected for the 21-year-old last summer, but they are still said to be keen, and have been closely monitoring him throughout the current campaign.

The starlet is regarded as a top talent, with the versatility required to play in a number of different roles at the top level, and another bid appears to be on the cards this summer.

Would Joao Pedro be a good signing for Newcastle?

After a slow start to life in English football, scoring just three goals in 28 Premier League games during the 2021-22 campaign, the Brazilian is starting to find his feet, albeit in the second tier, emerging as a vital player for Watford.

The marksman is the Hornets' top scorer in all competitions, having scored ten goals so far this season, also weighing in with four assists, which indicates he could be ready to make the step up to the top flight.

Football Scout Jacek Kulig seemingly echoes that view, given that he described the £25k-per-week forward as "one of the Championship's best players" earlier this season, also lauding him as "elegant & skilful".

Over the past year, the attacker ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90, when compared to his positional peers at a similar level, while he also places in the 92nd for aerials won, showcasing his dominance in the air.

It may be difficult for Pedro to immediately break into the Newcastle starting XI given Isak's recent performances; however, he is still very young and could go on to be an important player in a few years' time.

Newcastle United strengthened their top-four bid with a commanding, 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, with the Magpies moving up into third place to raise hopes of Champions League football next season.

With the likes of Liverpool, Brighton and Hove Albion, Fulham and Chelsea all dropping points below in the table, Eddie Howe's men capped a fine weekend with that convincing win over the Old Trafford outfit, in front of what was a raucous St James' Park crowd.

On a day in which both Joe Willock and Callum Wilson got themselves on the scoresheet, the star attraction for the hosts was seemingly that of midfield maestro, Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazilian ace having been handed the Player of the Match award by Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville.

The former Lyon playmaker produced a display that was 'fit for the Champions League', according to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder, having registered three key passes and completed 100% of his attempted dribbles, while also winning nine ground duels to showcase his class both in and out of possession.

The £40m man was not the only figure to impress in that relentless encounter, however, with fleet-footed Frenchman, Allan Saint-Maximin also looking "back to his best", according to the Northern Echo's Scott Wilson.

How did Saint-Maximin perform against Man United?

It is fair to say that Diogo Dalot will likely be glad to see the back of the Newcastle wide man, with the Portuguese full-back having previously endured a torrid time of it up against Saint-Maximin in the Carabao Cup final, being 'skinned' early on at Wembley – as per Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst – before getting hooked at the interval.

While Dalot would last the entire 90 minutes this time around, it was a similar story in truth, with the Red Devils defender having again looked 'uncomfortable' against his opposite man, according to Luckhurst.

The former Porto ace simply couldn't live with the relentless and dynamic attacking threat of Saint-Maximin, with the latter man having looked 'dangerous' throughout, as per Ryder, having provided a real creative spark after registering six key passes.

The £70k-per-week maverick notably picked out teammate Willock for the game's opener with an inventive header back across the box, with that the winger's first goal involvement in the league since registering an assist against Southampton back in November.

It has no doubt been a frustrating, injury-impacted campaign for the former Nice wizard, although on the evidence of Sunday's display he could well be getting 'back to his best', with the 26-year-old having made "intelligent decisions", according to his manager.

Such a standout performance – which also included winning four ground duels – ensured that Saint-Maximin was able to record a 7.8 match rating, as per Sofascore, before being withdrawn late on, with that only bettered by teammate Kieran Trippier (8.1) among any player for either side.

The former France U21 international will, of course, need to maintain such momentum between now and the end of the season, although it would be a truly exciting prospect for Howe if Saint-Maximin can truly catch fire over the coming weeks.

As Antonio Conte seemingly edges closer to an early exit from N17, it does appear that Tottenham Hotspur could make a move to re-appoint former boss Mauricio Pochettino, with the beloved Argentine having been without a club since being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

While there are said to be doubts among members of the Spurs hierarchy with regard to bringing back the 51-year-old, the out-of-work boss is clearly under consideration at present, having previously left the club back in 2019 – just a matter of months after guiding the north Londoners to the Champions League final.

As journalist Shaun Custis told talkSPORT, the one-time Espanyol head coach is believed to be "pushing like mad" to make a return to his former employers, having even reportedly made contact with members of the Tottenham squad in recent times – as per Sky Sports.

The experienced ace would no doubt be hoping to rejuvenate the fortunes of a team who are currently scrapping for a top-four berth, having also been unsuccessful in their attempts to claim long-awaited silverware.

Pochettino's arrival could also, however, help to improve the fortunes of those individuals who have been rather underwhelming this season, with the previously relentless Heung-min Son one such figure who does appear in need of a revival.

Would Pochettino's return benefit Spurs?

It was, of course, Pochettino who was in charge when the South Korea international was signed from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of just £18m back in 2015, with that relative bargain capture going on to prove a real masterstroke, with the wide man having regularly delivered the goods over the years.

The fleet-footed forward notably scored 75 goals and provided 39 assists in 203 games under the tutelage of the one-time Southampton boss, having also been hailed for his all-round impact by the former Argentina international in 2019:

"He works so hard, always pushing, never gives up. He tries, tries, tries. He’s like this in his effort with and without the ball, he's very regular and consistent and that is most important."

Also lauded as "one of the best offensive players in the world" by his former boss, Son would likely benefit from a potential reunion should Pochettino return any time soon, with the 30-year-old having endured a "dreadfully disappointing" campaign to date, as Sky Sports' lead commentator Rob Hawthorne noted during the defeat to Aston Villa on New Year's Day.

The previously prolific menace – who scored 23 league goals last season to finish as the division's joint-top scorer – has been a shadow of his former self this time around, having racked up just six goals in 26 league games to date – with three of those coming against Leicester City back in September.

For whatever reason – be it Conte's potentially pragmatic style of play – the 108-cap dynamo has simply not been able to hit his usual heights this season, with the hope being that a change in the dugout could be just what is needed to spark the struggling dud back into life.

Bringing in a figure whom Son clearly knows such as Pochettino – who has been lauded as an "excellent manager" by Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola – could well be the best remedy for lifting the 6-foot sensation from his current slump.

Tottenham Hotspur will head to the south coast this afternoon for their Premier League clash with Southampton and Antonio Conte will be hoping that the winning confidence shown against Nottingham Forest can shine through away from home.

The Lilywhites are currently fourth in the top flight table with Newcastle United just one point behind following their victory over Forest last night, so another three points collected today will be crucial to keep good distance between themselves and their rivals for the last Champions League qualification spot.

Southampton have only won two of their 10 Premier League home games against Spurs since they were promoted to the top flight and haven't beaten the side at Sy Mary's since January 2020, so today's meeting should put the visitors in a good position to chalk up another win.

Conte will still be without a number of his key players going into the game with Hugo Lloris, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ryan Sessegnon still unavailable for selection due to various ongoing injury issues.

However, the Spurs boss has been given a boost with Emerson Royal returning to training earlier this week following a knee injury and he could be the secret weapon needed to snatch another victory.

Will Emerson Royal start vs Southampton?

There is no doubt that Emerson has struggled to hit the high expectations set since joining the club back in 2021 from Barcelona and the arrival of Pedro Porro on loan in January has provided tight competition for the right-back position in north London this season.

However, the Brazilian 24-year-old has had a few moments of magic over the campaign so far scoring twice in his last seven league outings with a goal against Manchester City and more recently in the victory over West Ham United.

Over 21 league appearances, the £40k-per-week ace – hailed “important” by assistant manager Cristian Stellini – has scored two goals, registered one assist and successfully completed 68% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 51.9 touches, two tackles, 2.3 clearances and 4.7 duels won per game.

In fact, Emerson’s only assist this season came in the opening game of the season at home in a 4-1 victory over the Saints – so there’s no reason why Emerson can’t terrify his opponents again this afternoon.

With that being said, the opportunity to either start or bring Emerson on from the bench will be a big boost for Spurs and will give Conte more depth to the attacking threat inflicted on Ruben Selles’ side.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has heaped praise on Hugo Lloris stand-in Fraser Forster, calling him ‘fantastic’ and ‘reliable’.

The Lowdown: Forster called…

The former Celtic star, signed on a free transfer from Southampton last summer, has been forced to stand-in for the injured Lloris recently.

The France international suffered a knee problem last month, ruling him out of action for around six to eight weeks and forcing Spurs to cope without one of their figureheads.

Lloris has been out of form this Premier League season but his presence as a veteran with real experience is invaluable, making Forster’s job to replace the 36-year-old a great one.

The Englishman, however, appears to have earned the respect of Conte for his temporary job as Spurs’ number one.

The Latest: Conte praises Forster…

Speaking to the media on Thursday, via reporter Alasdair Gold, Conte heaped praised on Forster for his reliability – calling him a ‘fantastic signing’ for the club.

The Italian stated:

“For sure Fraser is playing very well. He’s showing to be a reliable player. He’s showing to be a really good guy.

“I remembered him well from in the Champions League when we played Celtic with Juventus. He impressed me and the way to be a keeper.

“At the same time, He’s a really good person, a positive person for this dressing room. I think it was a fantastic signing for the club and he’s showing he deserves credit.

“For sure Hugo is our keeper but before to come back he has to stay well. We won’t force the situation because he needs to be right and Fraser deserves credit. We are really happy with Fraser but when Hugo will be ready he is our first choice.”

The Verdict: Great player…

The 6 foot 6 keeper has been a brilliant stand-in for Lloris, but ahead of this summer, Spurs still need to contemplate the Frenchman’s long-term replacement.

It is believed that Spurs are looking for an heir with the north Londoners targeting Illan Meslier and Robert Sanchez from the English top flight.

Elsewhere, the Lilywhites have also been looking at Diogo Costa from FC Porto and Mike Maignan from AC Milan – so the club aren’t exactly short of options.

Whoever they opt to make their top target, it is perhaps one of sporting director Fabio Paratici’s most crucial decisions of the summer window, if he is in fact there for that long amid Juve’s financial scandal.

Manchester United brushed aside their 7-0 humiliation against Liverpool by taking charge of their Europa League last 16 first-leg clash against Real Betis, defeating the La Liga side 4-1 at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag must be praised for bouncing back from their Anfield disappointment and the result certainly sets them up well for the second leg.

Before that, however, there is a Premier League tie against Southampton to negotiate and with the Saints fighting to retain their top-flight status, it could be a tricky tie for United.

There will likely be some changes for the match, with a few of the side underperforming against Betis and with the club still in three competitions, Ten Hag must rotate his squad.

One such player was Fred, and he should be ditched against the south coast side this afternoon.

Will Fred start for Manchester United against Southampton?

His performance against Betis wasn’t his finest in a United shirt. The Brazilian midfielder received a Sofascore rating of 6.4/10, which ranked him as the worst player on the pitch for the Red Devis on the night.

He completed just 26 passes, had one shot, failed with both his dribble attempts, and lost ten duels during the tie and it is a surprise United still won as convincingly as they did so while he was clearly a passenger in the middle of the park.

The dud hasn’t exactly displayed his true talent in the Premier League either this term as the Brazil international has struggled for form in the division.

The £120k-per-week player ranks outside the top ten when it comes to overall Sofascore rating in the league this season (11th) while the lightweight also ranks out with the top ten for accurate passes (15th), interceptions (11th), and shots on target per match (13th), which suggests that he has underperformed since ten Hag took charge.

Following his poor display against Leicester City – in which Gary Neville dubbed him “sloppy” during Sky’s live broadcast – last month, Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst described it as “another nightmare” performance and it would be no surprise if the Dutchman drops him to the bench today.

Having just turned 30 at the start of the month, you have to wonder, how long does he have left at United if the midfielder continues to produce disappointing performances on a weekly basis?