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Leeds United took part in a spectacular Premier League fixture on Saturday afternoon, with Jesse Marsch’s side coming from two goals down to seal a breathless 4-3 win over AFC Bournemouth.

The Whites could not have hoped for a better start, with Marcos Senesi bringing down the electric Crysencio Summerville in the box with just three minutes on the clock, before Rodrigo sent Mark Travers the wrong way from the spot to give the home side the lead.

However, the Cherries fought back in astonishing fashion, with Marcus Tavernier drawing the visitors level just four minutes later, before Philip Billing fired Gary O’Neil’s side ahead on the 19-minute mark, with Bournemouth going on to dominate the remainder of the first 45.

When Dominic Solanke made it 3-1 shortly after the break, Leeds supporters would have been forgiven for thinking their side were staring down the barrel of a fifth defeat in six matches.

This was not to be the case, with second-half substitute Sam Greenwood curling a beauty beyond Travers with an hour gone, before Greenwood turned provider for the equaliser, with Liam Cooper heading home the 20-year-old’s corner with 20 minutes left to play.

Leeds were not finished there, with another of Marsch’s second-half substitutes in Wilfried Gnonto bursting forwards and playing in Summerville. Just like at Anfield last weekend, the Dutchman proved to be the Whites’ match-winner, with the winger coolly slotting home in the 84th minute to seal a comeback which will live long in the memory.

However, despite the thrilling victory, Marsch will nevertheless be disappointed with a number of his players’ performances in the first half, with Marc Roca and Robin Koch both having games to forget against the Cherries.

It was yet again the display of Jack Harrison, though, which will be the manager’s biggest cause for concern from Saturday, with the winger once more failing to make any impact on the match whatsoever.

Indeed, over his 45 minutes on the pitch, the £23m-rated attacker offered the Whites very little going forwards, having 37 touches of the ball, completing just 19 of his 28 attempted passes (a 68% success rate) taking no shots at the Bournemouth goal and losing possession 13 times, meaning that the winger lost the ball with every 2.8 touches.

These returns not only meant that the £60k-per-week wide man averaged a below-par SofaScore match rating of 6.8 but also saw him extend his run of games without a goal or assist to 10.

As such, with so much exciting attacking talent currently breaking into the first team, yet another disappointing display against Bournemouth will have done Harrison’s chances of retaining his spot in Marsch’s starting XI no good whatsoever, with the winger once again failing Marsch’s trust on Saturday afternoon.

Leeds United have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Cody Gakpo to Elland Road.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Dutch publication Voetbal International (via Sport Witness), who claim that, following the Whites’ failed attempts to convince the PSV Eindhoven forward of a switch to LS11 in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, Victor Orta could be handed a second opportunity to land the 23-year-old in either January’s or next summer’s market.

The report goes on to state that this is down to the fact that, due to the Eredivisie side’s current financial situation, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side will be forced to sell either Gakpo or Ibrahim Sangare before July 1 of next year in order to help balance their books.

Their answer to Haaland?

Considering that Fabrizio Romano reported that Leeds are “determined to try again in January” for Gakpo shortly after missing out on the winger’s signing this summer, coupled with just how impressive the 23-year-old has been in the Netherlands so far this season, Orta simply must do all he can to take advantage of PSV’s financial situation in order to finally land the attacker.

Indeed, over his eight Eredivisie appearances in 2022/23, the £31.5m-rated talent has been in extraordinary form, having already scored eight goals, registered six assists and created eight big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 4.1 shots – 56% of which have hit the target – making 4.3 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £7.4k-per-week forward average a simply breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 8.70, not only ranking him as Van Nistelrooy’s best performer in the league but also by far and away as the best player in the Dutch top flight as a whole so far this season.

For comparison, they seem to mirror that of Erling Haaland – the Premier League’s top scorer – who is having a similarly eye-brow-raising campaign.

Throughout his eight league fixtures in 2022/23, the £135m-rated striker has scored 14 goals, registered three assists and created five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 4.1 shots – 61% of which have hit the target – making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the Norway international average a quite ridiculous SofaScore match rating of 8.20, ranking him as the best player in both the Manchester City squad and the Premier League as a whole – but still falling short of Gakpo.

As such, with it being evident just how talented a forward the €45m (£39m) player who Josh Bunting dubbed both “electric” and “absolutely outstanding” truly is, Orta simply must do everything in his power to convince Gakpo of a move to Elland Road either this winter or next summer – as the Netherlands international could well prove to become Leeds’ own Haaland – a goalscoring monster capable of producing exhilarating displays in English football.

Crystal Palace were laughed at when they decided to appoint Patrick Vieira at the helm, with many assuming them already relegated and the French manager first to be sacked.

However, 14 months on he has established himself as a fine Premier League manager that has quickly put together a youthful and vibrant team capable of troubling any opposition.

The likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise supplement their true talisman Wilfried Zaha brilliantly, whilst the likes of Tyrick Mitchell and Marc Guehi headline an English core to their defence.

One man who would be able to jump into this fold without missing a beat is Yannick Bolasie, who at his peak was one of the most feared wingers in England.

Signed in 2012 by Dougie Freedman, the DR Congo international helped spearhead a similarly exciting front line as they pushed Palace to an unlikely promotion.

Already possessing a fine rapport with Zaha given their time together, to return the prime version of this attacker to the current Eagles side would be a seamless process.

A raw talent in the Championship, his 2014/15 season proved his credentials in the top-flight with four goals and an impressive 11 assists. He dressed this fine return up with a flair and trickery seldom seen nowadays.

The season following saw another five goals and four assists, sparking Everton to unload £25m for his services. A devastating cruciate injury would see him never return with the same explosive speed, but few will forget the terror he struck into the hearts of Premier League fullbacks at his brilliant best.

Standing at just under 6 foot 1 but blessed with wicked speed, the “silky” magician – as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand – was a physical marvel. It made him an even more terrifying prospect, and he could certainly come in to teach the likes of Olise and Eze a thing or two.

To see him partner back up with his former Ivory Coast teammate would be wonderful for football fans, who would delight in being able to see this cult duo reunited once more.

He would perfectly fit in with the current atmosphere that Vieira seems to have built around Selhurst Park, with an enthralling play style to match the rest of the expressive teammates he would join.

Aston Villa have started this season off poorly in terms of what Steven Gerrard was initially hoping for before the campaign kicked off.

With just one win from three matches in the Premier League, a drastic upturn in fortunes is required otherwise the pressure will quickly descend upon him.

The 42-year-old has added some quality during the summer transfer window, signing Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and making Philippe Coutinho’s move permanent and they all add that extra bit of class to the Villa side.

Gerrard will have to make do without Carlos for a large chunk of the season, however, with the Brazilian suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in the match against Everton, and his thoughts now turn to a replacement.

There is one defender that has been linked who could be a like-for-like alternative to the former Sevilla centre back and that is Jason Denayer.

The 27-year-old is currently a free agent following his release from Ligue 1 side Lyon, where he enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career, racking up 139 appearances in a four-year spell.

He joined the French side for €10m (£8.5m) in 2018 but a recent dispute over his contract now means he is available for nothing, something that might give Gerrard some serious food for thought.

With the club seeking a replacement for the injured Carlos, the 35-capped Belgian could fit the bill perfectly. FB Ref’s similar player model has ranked the defender as the seventh most comparable player to the injured Brazilian.

In terms of passing, both players had an excellent pass completion percentage last season as Denayer (94.2%) and Carlos (88.6%) demonstrated their ability to move the ball effectively from the defence in order to start attacks.

The 27-year-old Belgium international appears to be the more mature one out of the two, receiving only two cautions last season, with Carlos being cautioned eight times plus one sending off, although he did play 25 more games.

Both players were similarly strong in the tackle, however, with the former winning 0.54 per 90 minutes compared to the latter’s 0.50. They also apply successful pressures at a comparable rate, with Denayer amassing a success percentage of 32.1 to Carlos’ 31.3.

When joining Lyon, he was described as “powerful” by Florian Maurice, Lyon’s recruitment chief at the time, and if he showcases the ability he did in France upon potentially signing for Villa, Gerrard will certainly have an excellent Carlos replacement on his hands.

Nottingham Forest are showing ‘serious’ interest in Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi and have even made a first bid, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Forest linked with Malinovskyi

The Reds were linked with a move for the 29-year-old earlier in the week, with the club seeing him as someone who could further take their midfield up a gear.

Malinovskyi has won 49 caps for Ukraine and made 128 appearances for Atalanta, registering ten goal contributions (six goals and four assists) in Serie A last season.

While Forest are yet to get their man, a new update suggests that they are pushing hard.

The Latest: Interest ‘serious’, bid made

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], the Reds are ‘serious’ about bringing in Malinovskyi, having ‘already made’ a €15million (£12.6m) bid for him.

Atalanta want ‘closer to €20m (£16.9m)’ though, and the level of interest in the Ukrainian means they can drive up his price.

It is stated that he ‘could indeed be the next to go’ from the Serie A club this summer, however, giving Forest hope.

The Verdict: Is he needed?

Malinovskyi’s pedigree speaks for itself, given his international experience and the fact that he has made nine appearances in the Champions League in the last two seasons.

That being said, Forest just need to make sure they don’t overbuy in the summer transfer window, to a point at which Steve Cooper has too many options all of whom need bedding into an unfamiliar system.

Midfield does still arguably look the most in-need area for reinforcements, but a move for Cheikhou Kouyate looks all but done and Lewis O’Brien and Orel Mangala have already been added.

Nottingham Forest’s attempts to sign Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet appear to be off after the player failed to agree personal terms at the City Ground, as per talkSPORT.

The Lowdown: Cornet interest

The Reds have been extremely busy in the transfer market ahead of their long-awaited Premier League return, with signings into double figures. Forest’s summer spending is approaching £100m, but more new arrivals could be on the way, with Cornet another player linked with a move to Nottingham.

Described as ‘terrific’ by Owen Hargreaves, the 25-year-old was believed to be of interest to Steve Cooper, but it looks as if a transfer is unlikely.

The Latest: talkSPORT update

talkSPORT shared a story on Saturday morning regarding Cornet, who has been a man in demand following Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.

They claimed that the 25-year-old failed to agree on personal terms over a potential transfer in what has been described as a boost to Newcastle.

The Verdict: Not ideal

Cornet has scored an impressive 67 goals for club and country throughout his career and made a good impression in the Premier League with Burnley.

He would have added plenty of versatility to Cooper’s squad as he is capable of playing as a full-back, midfielder, winger or centre-forward.

Forest haven’t been dealt too many setbacks this summer with players continuing to arrive, but unfortunately it looks as if Cornet won’t be playing at the City Ground this season.

Celtic have seen numerous players come and go at Parkhead throughout the current transfer window.

One deal that the Hoops have secured over the past few weeks is a permanent move for Cameron Carter-Vickers following his loan deal with the Bhoys last season.

Bearing in mind how the former Tottenham defender ended the previous Premiership campaign with 22 tackles won and more interceptions made (43) than any other Celtic player, it’s easy to see why the Hoops were keen to bring him back to the club on a permanent basis this summer.

As there are still some weeks left before the transfer window closes, this could give Ange Postecoglou the chance to strengthen his defence even more and bring in a player who could form a scary partnership alongside Carter-Vickers.

One player who has been mentioned with a move to Parkhead this summer and who could fit this particular bill is Gent centre-back Joseph Okumu.

After making 41 appearances for Swedish club Elfsborg, the centre-back joined his current employers last summer.

In 47 appearances for Gent so far, the defender – who is currently earning £2.1k-per-week – has found himself on the scoresheet three times. However, it’s his defensive capabilities which will have caught the attention of Celtic and potentially make him a solid addition to their ranks alongside Carter-Vickers.

Throughout his 27 appearances in the Belgian league last season, the Kenyan ended up making 49 interceptions and winning 41 tackles, the third-highest for each metric at Gent.

This highlights how tough an opponent he can be without the ball and shows the similarity of attributes that he has in comparison to Carter-Vickers.

Lauded as “something special” by Dan Egner, Okumu could be a smart prospective signing for Celtic this summer, not just because of the unflappable defensive partnership that he could form with Carter-Vickers, but also given how Christopher Jullien has been linked with a move away from Parkhead this summer.

Should the Hoops seen an opportunity to land the Gent defender in the coming weeks, this is a potential deal that the Scottish champions should not think twice about completing.

AND in other news – “Still working…”: Ange drops huge Celtic transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Former Premier League manager Alex McLeish has been left stunned over some news on Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: McGinn news

Football Insider were informed by a Villa source recently that the club are willing to entertain offers for the Scotland international this summer.

Despite the player contributing to 37 goals over his four seasons in the Midlands, Steven Gerrard isn’t believed to be totally convinced by the 27-year-old, who could depart over the coming months should a top-tier offer come in. The report claims that McGinn is not the easiest player to manage and is always “whinging” behind the scenes.

The Latest: McLeish reacts

McLeish, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding their news on McGinn.

He was stunned at the possibility of the Scottish midfielder leaving Villa Park and labelled the midfielder an ‘integral part of the rise of Aston Villa’.

The former Villa manager said of his compatriot:

“I’m quite amazed, I don’t believe that.

“McGinn is still an integral part of the rise of Aston Villa. The fans love him as well. He has done a fantastic job for club and country.

“I just can’t believe it if that is what Steven [Gerrard] has said and actually thinks about McGinn.”

The Verdict: One to watch

Should this claim prove accurate, it wouldn’t come as a shock if one of Manchester United or Tottenham came knocking. Both clubs have been linked with a summer move for McGinn, so it could be one to watch.

If the Villa star does leave, you’d expect that Gerrard would need to bring in another marquee midfielder. Boubacar Kamara has already joined on a free transfer from Marseille, but another may well be required if McGinn seals an exit which would leave McLeish and many others surprised.

The summer transfer window is now officially underway and Newcastle United will be looking to improve their squad in the next few months.

Eddie Howe was busy in January as he worked without a full-time sporting director, bringing in Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes on permanent deals.

The club recently announced the appointment of Dan Ashworth as the club’s sporting director to help the head coach and he will now be working to bring in fresh recruits to bolster their Premier League squad.

One player the club are reportedly lining up a swoop for this summer is Serbia international midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Lazio are said to want at least €70m (£60m) for the midfielder and the Magpies have already failed with one approach to land him.

Instant Ashworth blinder

By securing a deal to sign the gem in the coming months, Ashworth can land an instant masterclass after taking up his role at St. James’ Park.

The midfielder would be a sensational signing who would represent a real coup for the club, which is why bringing him in would be a blinder from the former Brighton chief.

Milinkovic-Savic’s form in Italy suggests that he would be an incredible addition to the team as he has shown that he can deliver to a high level on a consistent basis.

In the 2021/22 Serie A campaign, he produced 11 goals and 11 assists in 36 starts for Lazio as he averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.28.

The Serbian managed eight goals and nine assists in the previous league season and this shows that he has proven his quality in the final third.

Meanwhile, no Newcastle player managed more than eight goals or five assists in the Premier League in 2021/22. This suggests that the 27-year-old would come in and be a huge upgrade on Howe’s current options in the attacking areas of the pitch.

Parma’s sporting director Demetrio Albertini previously hailed the Lazio star, saying: “Milinković-Savić has the characteristics of a great champion; he has extraordinary elegance.”

These comments suggest that he also has the mentality to make it at the top level, as a high-ranking Italian chief believes that he has a champion’s mindset. Newcastle would be bringing in a winner who has proven his quality in a major European league.

Therefore, Ashworth will be pulling off a blinder by sealing a deal for the midfielder this summer and must now ensure that he can win the race for Milinkovic-Savic’s signature.

AND in other news, Ashworth now preparing Newcastle bid to sign £21m sensation, he’s Luis Diaz 2.0…

Everton are looking to the transfer window to improve their squad this summer following a turbulent season in the Premier League, and Frank Lampard could reignite with one of his former players by bringing him back to Goodison Park.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Paul Brown, the Toffees manager is looking to sign Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour this summer.

When asked about Gilmour and Conor Gallagher by GIVEMESPORT, the Daily Star reporter replied: “I know Everton have looked at both players. I think they’ve got very little chance of getting Conor Gallagher because Gallagher knows he’ll get a chance at Chelsea.”

Supporters will love it

Not only has Lampard been the saviour in Everton’s relegation battle this season, but his connections in the Premier League as a legendary Chelsea player and former manager at Stamford Bridge should also put the Toffees in good stead to make some decent signings this summer to improve their squad.

Gilmour was given his top-flight debut by the former Chelsea boss in August 2019 and has gone from strength to strength ever since; and despite Norwich City’s relegation to the Championship this year, the youngster has shown glimpses of his talent whilst on a season-long loan at Carrow Road.

The 20-year-old made one key pass, 1.7 tackles, 1.2 clearances and 61.9 touches per game, delivering one assist and creating one big chance, whilst completing the majority of his dribbles (68%) in 24 Premier League appearances this term.

Gilmour will return to Chelsea this summer, but there is no reason why he won’t be offered out for another opportunity to prove himself next season after a campaign of struggle with Norwich, and Lampard’s Everton could offer a golden opportunity for the player to prove to Thomas Tuchel that he can be part of the long-term picture at Stamford Bridge.

With that in mind, the Toffees should do everything they can to sign the youngster this summer. It would not only be a good financial decision to bring in a loan player, Gilmour will surely be eager to impress, and he could work with a manager who has in-depth knowledge of his strengths and capabilities.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals Everton have now “approached” £20m target, it would be a huge coup