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Before the season kicked off, you would have been hard-pressed to find many pundits, or fans for that matter, that predicted Ipswich Town would remain in the Premier League, and understandably so.

However, we are now six games in, and even though the newly promoted side have played three of last season’s top four, they are sat in 15th place with four points to their name, and most importantly, they look like they belong in the top-flight.

Kieran McKenna has his side playing some great football, and the draw against Aston Villa on Sunday is evidence of that, with a brilliant brace from Liam Delap and excellent performances all over the pitch.

In fact, one of the Tractor Boys’ most exciting players has now been compared to Premier League and Champions League winner Jack Grealish.

Grealish's career so far

Before he was winning things left, right, and centre for Manchester City, Grealish first rose to prominence with his boyhood club, Aston Villa.

There, he made 213 appearances across eight seasons, scoring 32 goals and providing 41 assists. However, it wasn’t just his goal involvement and connection to the Villans that made Villa Park fall in love with him; it was also his style of play and personality on the pitch.

During his time in the Midlands, the Englishman was seen as a star who played an ultra-aggressive, direct, and tremendously exciting brand of football.

He was the sort of player with unreal close control who could take on defenders and make something happen all on his own, even if it wasn’t always the smartest move for the team.

He eventually earned himself his big move to City in the summer of 2021, and while his first season was a bit of a struggle and some of that individuality that made him so fun to watch has since been drilled out of him, it’s a move that has undoubtedly worked out for him.

In his 132 appearances for the club, he’s won three league titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, the Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup as well.

Overall, while Grealish isn’t quite as fun to watch anymore, he is still an effective winger who has won practically everything there is to win in the club game and a brilliant player to be compared to.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Why Jack Clarke has been compared to Grealish

Yes, the Ipswich star who has been compared to Grealish is none other than summer signing Jack Clarke.

During his commentary on the game against Villa, former Arsenal and Leicester City star Alan Smith claimed the 23-year-old “has a bit of Grealish about him,” and it’s not just the hair.

While there are some obvious and shallow aesthetic similarities between the two wingers, Smith focused on how the former Sunderland ace’s brilliant close control and ability to make things happen with a quick bit of movement reminded him of the City star.

It’s an undeniably flattering comparison for the £20m man, but given how well he has played over the last couple of years and his almost talismanic form for the Black Cats, it’s justified.

For example, in 42 appearances last season, the “unplayable” dynamo, as pundit Adrian Clarke dubbed him, scored 15 goals and provided four assists, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.21 games

Appearances

50

42

Goals

11

15

Assists

14

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.45

He was even more impressive the campaign prior, racking up 11 goals and 14 assists in 50 matches, equating to a goal involvement every other game.

Ultimately, while it seems unlikely that Clarke will go on to have a career as decorated as Grealish’s, there are some undeniable similarities between how the talented wingers play, and with him in the side, Ipswich stand a great chance of staying up this season.

Ipswich struck gold on "scintillating" star whose value has soared 728%

The incredible goalscorer has been a star for the Blues.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 26, 2024

Crystal Palace appear to be working on having everything in place to sign a £10m player before the January window opens.

Crystal Palace’s summer signings

The Eagles were busy in the final weeks of the summer transfer window, bringing in a total of eight new players ahead of Oliver Glasner’s first full season in charge at Selhurst Park.

The most eye-catching deal from a financial point was landing striker Eddie Nketiah, who scored his first Crystal Palace goal in the week against QPR in the Carabao Cup.

Eddie Nketiah

Arsenal

€29.70m

Maxence Lacroix

Wolfsburg

€18m

Ismaila Sarr

Marseille

€15m

Chadi Riad

Real Betis

€15m

Daichi Kamada

Lazio

Free transfer

Louie Moulden

Wolves

Free transfer

Trevoh Chalobah

Chelsea

Loan transfer

Matt Turner

Nottingham Forest

Loan transfer

Michael Olise

Bayern Munich

€53m

Joachim Andersen

Fulham

€29.5m

Sam Johnstone

Wolves

€11.9m

Jordan Ayew

Leicester City

€5.9m

Scott Banks

FC St. Pauli

€400,000

However, in the Premier League, things haven’t exactly been going to plan for Glasner’s side, who remain without a win after four top-flight fixtures. Talking after the recent 2-2 draw with Leicester City, Glasner remained relaxed, saying:

“It was OK. Many parts of the game are OK. It’s a draw, so it’s our job that we play better, that we are more consistent in defence, that we concede fewer goals, and then we will get the win and I will be really happy.

“We have to invest to create chances and score goals, and sometimes how easily we gave them their goals. That says there’s a discrepancy, and this is what we all feel.

“But this comeback quality, this great impact from the subs, shows that we have a great group again and we will work hard to go from OK football to good football and then to excellent football.”

Before we know it, January will be upon us, allowing the Eagles to add to their ranks further. In recent days, Palace, and by extension chairman Steve Parish, have been linked with signing Real Sociedad forward Sheraldo Becker, claiming a move was being readied. Now, an exciting new update has been shared.

Crystal Palace transfer latest – Sheraldo Becker

According to reports in Spain, relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace now want to get ‘everything sealed’ on the transfer for Becker before the January market opens, so he can move to England at the beginning of the window.

The Eagles are ‘trying to close’ a deal with Real Sociedad and will reportedly pay £10m, with the La Liga side not putting any obstacles in the way.

In fact, Sociedad appear to be keen on selling Becker, as they will make a healthy profit after signing him for €3m in January. The 29-year-old, who is a Suriname international, has scored 48 goals during his career, turning out for the likes of Union Berlin, ADO Den Haag and PEC Zwolle prior to joining Sociedad.

Now, his next move could be to Selhurst Park, providing Glasner with another option out wide and through the middle.

Aston Villa are believed to be eyeing up a move to sign a 6 foot 1 defender who Leon Bailey already knows well, according to a new report.

Aston Villa summer signings and upcoming fixtures

NSWE and Monchi backed Emery during the most recent transfer window after he guided Villa to a top-four finish in the Premier League last season, signing a number of players ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Aston Villa summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Amadou Onana

Everton

€59.35m

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

€44.5m

Cameron Archer

Sheffield United

€16.65m

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

€16m

Samuel Iling-Junior

Juventus

€14m

Lewis Dobbin

Everton

€11.8m

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

€8m

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

€5.9m

On the pitch, Villa have continued their impressive form under Emery, winning four of their opening five top-flight fixtures and getting their Champions League campaign off to the perfect start after a victory away to Young Boys.

The games come thick and fast for Villa over the coming months, as the club look to qualify for the knockout stages in Europe and once again finish in the top four in the Premier League.

Ipswich Town vs Aston Villa

September 29

Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich

October 2

Aston Villa vs Man Utd

October 6

Fulham vs Aston Villa

October 19

Aston Villa vs Bologna

October 22

However, despite going from strength to strength, the club also appear to be working behind the scenes when it comes to potential 2025 additions.

Recently, Aston Villa have been linked with a New Year move to sign Besiktas winger Semih Kilicsoy, whereas Brazil U20 international striker Rayan Rocha is another mooted target. However, a new name has now emerged on the Villans’ radar, going on a fresh report.

Aston Villa in race to sign Jamaica international

According to HITC, Aston Villa are one of a number of Premier League clubs eyeing up a move to sign Richard King from Cavalier FC, the Jamaican Premier League champions for 2023/24.

The report states that Aston Villa are interested in bringing King to the Midlands to link up with Jamaica teammate Bailey, however, Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United are also keen.

It is West Ham United who are currently leading the way to sign the 6 foot 1 colossus, though, so if Villa want to win the race, they may need to up their interest before January.

Imagine him & Duran: Aston Villa could soon unleash incredible academy star

He could start alongside Duran for Aston Villa.

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 24, 2024

King is 22 years of age and has won 19 caps for Jamaica, now under the management of Steve McClaren, and has even made limited appearances as a full-back and a holding midfielder alongside his natural centre-back role.

He’s spent the majority of his career so far with Cavalier FC, although he did have a brief loan spell in Iceland with IBV. AT club level, King has made just under 90 appearances, and by the looks of things, he could be on his way to England in 2025, potentially with Villa.

West Ham United need to give more under Julen Lopetegui. There have been glimpses of success throughout the opening month of the campaign but four points from 12 possible leaves plenty to be desired.

This is not the worst thing in the world, however, with a host of exciting summer signings not yet earning roles from the outset in the Premier League, among those: Crysencio Summerville, Carlos Soler, Jean-Clair Todibo and the injured Niclas Fullkrug.

Danny Ings scored a last-gasp equaliser against Fulham last weekend, at least, but with Chelsea making the trip to the London Stadium, Julen Lopetegui would be wise to consider something of an overhaul.

Michail Antonio, particularly, has flattered to deceive up front, but he’s not the only one that needs to be put on the bench. Tomas Soucek, too, cannot start.

Tomas Soucek's start to the season

Soucek, aged 29, has been a stalwart for West Ham over the past several years, signing from Slavia Prague in 2020 for £15m. The towering Czech has scored 33 goals and supplied 11 assists across 212 appearances, winning the Conference League and offering a goalscoring dimension from the middle of the park.

But he’s not been at the races thus far this season, even if he scored a crucial goal in West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in August.

Writing in their post-match player ratings following the 1-1 draw against Fulham, Claret & Hugh branded the 29-year-old with a 3/10 score, stating: ‘Played far more in attack than in midfield but was a hindrance when trying to link play. Hoofed a shot high wide and handsome.’

With the likes of Lucas Paqueta, newly-signed Soler and Andy Irving on the bench, it might be time to make a change, with Soucek being hooked at the interval last time out and doing little to show that he can perform with coherence under Lopetegui’s wing.

Minutes played

45′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Shots (on target)

2 (0)

Accurate passes

4/7 (57%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles (completed)

1 (0)

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Clearances

1

Total duels (won)

6 (1)

It matters little at this point, with the transfer window over two weeks shut, but West Ham might come to rue the decision to let Flynn Downes leave.

Why West Ham let Flynn Downes leave

Southampton signed Downes from West Ham in a deal worth £18m after enjoying the midfielder’s talents on loan last season. He played a key part in Russell Martin’s side’s ascension to the Premier League.

It’s a little over two years since West Ham welcomed the boyhood Iron to the fold, completing a £12m transfer after several years of success with Swansea City.

Oh sure, he didn’t exactly set east London alight across the 2022/23 campaign, but David Moyes didn’t give the ace much of an opportunity, indeed starting him only seven times in the Premier League.

As per FBref, Downes ranked among the top 4% of central midfielders in the Championship last season for passes attempted per 90 and the top 1% for pass completion. He was, again, instrumental to Saints’ return to the top flight.

Martin is quite the fan, waxing worship on his metronomic midfielder last season: “Flynn has been monstrous. Physically he is a beast and he has so much composure on the ball. His teammates really appreciate the role that he has because it’s so tough being that guy.

“He is huge for us. He has really stepped up and been brilliant. He gives the team an edge and keeps the ball ticking over. He has aggression driving the ball forward. The next step for him is to impact games that way.”

Do West Ham miss him? Perhaps they do. Lopetegui has not actually lifted the Irons away from the counter-attacking tag that they wore on their chest under Moyes, going from a 41% possession average last year to 43% this year according to FBref.

Soucek is not going to influence that in a positive manner. He’s an impactful player and can make a big impact across the months to come, but he’s not bringing it all together.

Now, Southampton might have endured a torrid time so far this season, having been defeated in all four of their Premier League matches so far, but Downes can hold his head high as one of the better performers.

Matches (starts)

4 (3)

4 (4)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

0

Touches*

21.0

83.3

Shots (on target)*

2.8 (0.3)

0.5 (0.0)

Pass completion

66%

93%

Key passes

0.8

1.8

Dribbles (success rate)

0.0 (0%)

0.3 (20%)

Ball recoveries

1.5

3.8

Tackles + interceptions

1.6

4.8

Ground duels (won)

1.5 (38%)

4.3 (43%)

As you can see, Downes has the ball-playing acumen to make a real difference for Lopetegui’s team. Lopetegui’s advent in east London was anticipated to raise the bar in regard to possession and general ball retention, thus breeding more control and new ways to inflict damage on opponents.

This hasn’t quite been inculcated as hoped. It’s not just the lack of time on the ball but a consequent absence of creativity that has formed the crux of the indifferent start. Downes is no Paqueta, but his deeper-lying, control-centred style has seen 1.8 key passes placed per game this term and could open up channels from which more attack-minded teammates could use to exploit.

It’s early into the new era but Lopetegui has plenty to ponder. Defeat against Chelsea this weekend would cast a solemn blanket over the London Stadium and its denizens.

The Spanish tactician is sure to tinker away – he must do, in truth – but he might just come to regret that Downes is not a part of the squad. He’s a Hammers man, through and through, and it’s a shame that he wasn’t able to realise the full flight of his quality with his boyhood club.

He might have been the difference maker.

3/10 West Ham man must be dropped after Fulham performance

The Hammers centre-forward endured a frustrating afternoon against the Cottagers.

ByConnor Holden Sep 16, 2024

Southampton have been slow off the mark in terms of their transfer business this summer, not helped by a delay in appointing new manager Russell Martin, but that may be about to change.

Who have Southampton signed?

The Saints confirmed the arrivals of Derrick Abu and Josh McNamara from Chelsea and Manchester City respectively earlier this week, but neither player is expected to challenge for a first-team spot.

Southampton's lack of transfer activity is all the stranger when factoring in that Mislav Orsic has left for Trabzonspor, while the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi and Theo Walcott are among those to have been released following the club's relegation to the Championship.

Martin's side may be forced to make a move soon, though, as James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia continue to be linked with a return to the Premier League, meaning at least one midfield replacement will have to be brought in.

According to The Guardian, Southampton have made signing West Ham United's Flynn Downes a top priority, with the former Swansea City ace likely to take Lavia's place in midfield.

How good is Flynn Downes?

It is no coincidence that Lavia is reportedly wanted by pretty much each of the Premier League's top-six elite, with Liverpool said to be willing to pay £40m for the 19-year-old, according to Football Insider – though even that may still be £10m below Southampton's valuation.

Lavia stood out in a poor Southampton side last season and ranked in the top 12% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues in terms of possession won, as per The Analyst.

The teenager will leave big boots to be filled at St Mary's – as will skipper Ward-Prowse should he also depart – but Flynn looks a good choice to do exactly that.

Downes made very little impact in his first season with West Ham, having arrived from Swansea in a £12m deal last July, but he has proven pedigree in the second tier.

Indeed, the 71.9 passes per 90 minutes Downes completed in the 2021-22 season was the 10th-most of any player in the Championship, as per FBref, while his pass-completion rate of 92.6% was the best in the entire division.

The former England U20 international also led the way for pass-completion percentage among West Ham players in the Premier League last season (87.3), and will clearly bring some composure to Southampton's midfield should he arrive.

But he has many other qualities, plenty of which often go unnoticed. As Martin, who managed Downes at Swansea, put it: "He does the dirty work really well which sometimes goes unsung.

"He enables people to do their roles brilliantly. He plays with no ego at all and knows exactly what his role in the team is."

Doing the dirty work is an aspect Martin will need if Downes – now valued at just £4m by CIES Football Observatory – is indeed going to replace Lavia. With 1.18 tackles per 90 minutes in the middle third last season, Downes ranked second only to Lucas Paqueta (1.51) among Hammers players.

While West Ham may not have seen the best of Downes, the talented midfielder can clearly do a job at Championship level and may just be the player who truly kick-starts Russell's Southampton tenure.

Leeds United have been craving someone to replace Raphinha ever since his departure last summer. His exit was an expected one, as the Brazilian had offered all he could to the club that he had admittedly outgrown.

His future was destined to be at a much better and brighter side, and having won La Liga in his first year in Barcelona, this has been proven correct. Meanwhile, the Whites fell to relegation from the Premier League.

In an effort to finally recapture that true maverick, who can be a match-winner all on their own, now the 49ers must search for such an asset within their new level.

The Championship boasts plenty of untapped talent just waiting to be unleashed, but in Joel Piroe, many throughout this division will already know his name.

Standing at 6 foot 1 but retaining blistering speed and skill, the Dutchman terrorised defences for fun last term.

If the rumours are true, he could be set to repeat this feat again next season, but in Elland Road rather than Wales.

Is Joel Piroe similar to Raphinha?

Having come up through the academy at PSV Eindhoven, Swansea City secured a huge coup when they tempted him to join them back in 2021.

Ever since that switch, he has proven himself to be a more than dependable source of goals and assists in the Championship, recording 19 strikes last term, following the 28 goal contributions he had posted the season before even that.

Despite naturally being a centre forward, he has been deployed from the right wing too, enabling him to cut into his deadly left foot with devastating effect. Such blistering form in front of goal even led his former manager Russell Martin, who has since departed for Southampton, to brand him "clinical".

Their former Brazilian trickster was also a star down that flank, scoring 11 league goals as the Yorkshire outfit narrowly avoided the drop before his departure. He could beat a man, create and, quite clearly, score with ease.

Although Piroe might represent a far more physical alternative to the 26-year-old, his ability to win matches on his own makes him even more similar than could be imagined. Not to mention that he also maintained 0.8 key passes per game (sixth-best at Swansea) and an 83% pass accuracy last season too in the league, suggesting he is far more than just a classic brutish number nine.

Should Daniel Farke, who is the frontrunner for Leeds' vacancy, opt to keep Patrick Bamford as his striker for next season or even subscribe to the links for Viktor Gyokeres, this £12k-per-week 23-year-old could still thrive should he join even if his favoured position is occupied.

This versatility, plus his ability to do the spectacular, only emphasises the dynamic that the 49ers could recapture in acquiring Piroe.

Liverpool are interested in signing Rennes and Belgium attacker Jeremy Doku in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Have Liverpool been linked with Doku before?

The 21-year-old has been seen as a potential target for the Reds in the past, although a move for him has never materialised over the years, as he forges an impressive career for himself.

Currently plying his trade at Rennes, Doku has become a key player for the Ligue 1 side, scoring six goals and registering two assists in the league last season, as well as two of the latter in the Europa League. The winger has also caught the eye for Belgium since making his debut, netting twice in 14 caps, and possibly being seen as a long-term starter as he matures with age.

With Liverpool looking to enjoy a busy summer in the transfer market, it looks as though their interest in Doku isn't yet dead in the water.

What's the latest on Doku to Liverpool?

According to journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter on Twitter [via Get French Football News], the Reds' level of intrigue is "powerful", suggesting a move is far from out of the question this summer.

Not a huge amount else is provided on the matter, which suggests a bid hasn't been tabled, but it certainly looks as though Anfield is a potential next destination for the Belgian.

Doku is a massive talent who could have a big future in the game – journalist Robin Bairner has described him as "devastating" in the past – so in many ways, it is exciting to see him being linked with a move to Anfield. That being said, there have to be questions marks over whether Liverpool actually need to bring him in right now, considering they already have Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo as strong attacking options.

It is hard to see where Doku would fit in, especially in terms of playing regular football, with his preferred right-sided role filled by Salah, who is one of the most indispensable players at the club and has been a regular over the years, scoring 186 Liverpool goals in 306 appearances.

If the Rennes star was happy to warm the substitutes' bench most weeks, possibly playing a role as an impact substitute looking to break through down the line, then a move that could work out – he could be viewed as a long-term starter – but the Reds' money could be spent on more pressing areas of the pitch, such as midfield.

A big update has emerged on Aston Villa and their attempts to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Pau Torres to Aston Villa?

According to Football Insider, the Villans are in contact with Villarreal over a deal to sign central defender Pau Torres in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Unai Emery has made the Spain international his number one target and that the club are now closing in on a swoop for the 26-year-old titan.

It states that they are making progress over a transfer and that it is set to take a fee of at least £40m, which would be a club record, to get it over the line.

Would Pau Torres be a good signing for Aston Villa?

The Premier League side appointed Monchi as their new president of football operations recently and securing a deal for Torres would represent his first blinder as the LaLiga ace would be a terrific addition to the squad.

It would be a masterclass from the former Sevilla supremo as he would be providing Emery with a top-quality left-footed defender who excels at keeping the ball away from his own box and using his ability in possession to progress his team up the pitch.

Over the last 365 days, the Villarreal star, who talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed "wonderful" on the ball, ranks in the top 4% or higher amongst his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Whereas, Tyrone Mings does not rank higher than the top 47% of players in the same category for either statistic over the last 365 days of action.

This suggests that Monchi could improve Villa's ability to play out from the back by landing an upgrade on the left-footed England international on the ball, given that Torres is one of the best players in the major leagues when it comes to breaking lines and driving up the pitch to make things happen for his team.

The Spaniard has also produced consistently impressive and dominant performances for his club in LaLiga in recent seasons.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.04 across 34 league outings in 22/23 and won 61% of his individual duels, which came after the colossal ace won 66% of his battles and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 in 21/22.

Mings, on the other hand, has averaged a rating of 6.91 in the Premier League across the last two campaigns, indicating that Torres would also be an upgrade on the current Villa defender in terms of his average performance level at the back.

Therefore, Monchi could land his first masterclass by getting this deal over the line for the defender as his statistics suggest that he would be a sensational addition to Emery's options in defence.

Aston Villa are reportedly in "advanced talks" with Liverpool's soon-to-be-out-of-contract midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Is Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving Liverpool?

The 29-year-old has spent six up-and-down years at Anfield, winning almost all there is to win in the game, including the Champions League, but also struggling to consistently be a key man.

A serious knee injury back in 2018 arguably took Oxlade-Chamberlain down in his prime, and while he still contributed positively to Liverpool overall – he scored 18 goals and registered 15 assists in 146 appearances – it has become increasingly clear that his future lies away from the club.

The £120,000-a-week former Arsenal man is out of contract with the Reds at the end of this month, and with no extension coming his way, he will then be able to join a new club on a free transfer from July onwards.

With Villa looking to make numerous key reinforcements during the summer transfer window, a fresh report suggests that Oxlade-Chamberlain could be a primary target.

Are Villa eyeing move for Oxlade-Chamberlain?

According to Football Insider, the Villans are in "advanced talks" with the Englishman over a summer move to Villa Park, with the club working on a deal to bring him in, having already locked up Youri Tielemans from Leicester City on a free.

Villa are believed to see Oxlade-Chamberlain as a "key target who is proven in the Premier League and capable of slotting straight into their team", while Unai Emery admires his "versatility, dynamism and ability to create and score goals".

The 35-cap and seven-goal England international could be a really shrewd signing by the Villans this summer, coming in as someone with a wealth of experience at the top level, and who can thrive in various positions, from central midfield to out wide.

Granted, his injury problems down the years are far from ideal, so Emery would have to accept that he is a risky signing, but the free element of the deal would make it less of an issue, should he spend too much time on the treatment table.

When fully fit and in-form, Oxlade-Chamberlain can be a real handful, with Jurgen Klopp once describing him as "spectacular", and he could bolster Villa's squad great with his versatility, especially at a time when they are preparing to play in the Premier League, UEFA Europa Conference League, FA Cup and EFL Cup next season.

Leeds United have "opened talks" with now former Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber over a move to Elland Road, according to a new report.

Who is Stuart Webber?

The 39-year-old has been a highly thought of figure at Carrow Road for some time now, having joined as sporting director back in 2017, despite only being in his early 30s at that point.

Webber has previously enjoyed roles at the likes of Liverpool, QPR, Wolves and Huddersfield Town, working his way up in the game and enhancing his reputation, with former Norwich boss Daniel Farke once saying he "can't ask" for a better sporting director. However, it has been announced this morning that he will leave the club this summer.

With Leeds on the lookout for a new man in that job, following Victor Orta's exit and 49ers Enterprises' subsequent takeover at Elland Road, it looks as though they have eyes on the soon to be free agent.

Are Leeds looking to bring in Webber?

According to Football Insider, the Whites have "opened talks" with Webber over a summer move to the club, seeing him as an ideal figure to come in and fill the vacant sporting director position.

The report claims that the "recently relegated Yorkshire giants have turned their attention to hiring the recruitment expert from the team who will be their Championship rivals next season", as they look to gain an immediate advantage over those they will be battling with for Championship promotion.

Interestingly, it is stated that he is a "United fan", which could certainly work in Leeds' favour, with Webber potentially dreaming of having some sort of involvement with his boyhood team throughout his life.

This could be such an exciting appointment if Leeds manage to acquire Webber's signature in the near future, at a time when the job of a sporting director is seen as so vital. He could immediately make the Whites strong in the transfer market, identifying the right players, and while Orta had his plus points, the Englishman could come in as a more stable and less volatile figure who allows things to run smoothly behind the scenes.

Should Farke end up becoming Leeds' new boss, as has been mooted in recent days, Webber could be an even more perfect appointment, with their relationship at Norwich clearly strong, as mentioned, allowing the Whites to have a manager and sporting director who are both on exactly the same wavelength.

This summer is so important at Elland Road, with a quick return to the Premier League needed, and bringing in Webber would be a great place to start.