The Lowdown: Slot profiled

Slot began his senior managerial career with AZ Alkmaar back in 2019 but has been with Feyenoord since 2021.

The 44-year-old likes to play a 4-3-3 system and has averaged an impressive 2.04 points per game with Feyenoord, who currently sit top of the Eredivisie after 20 rounds of fixtures.

The Dutch manager is out of contract in 2025, but it looks as if a move to Elland Road could be a possibility in the coming days.

The Latest: Bailey’s post

Bailey took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to share an update on the club’s search for Jesse Marsch’s successor.

The reporter stated that ‘Leeds are set to go with a manager in work’, with Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola ‘a strong candidate’ and Slot now also ‘on their radar’.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Owner Andrea Radrizzani and Paraag Marathe, the president of investors 49ers Enterprises, reportedly have the key say when it comes to managerial decisions, and it looks as if a move for Slot could now be one to watch.

Dutch journalist Martijn Krabbendam believes Slot could ‘fit in’ at Leeds following Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch, whereas Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra also starred under the manager. The Colombian contributed to 37 goals in 48 games under Slot, so perhaps he could help the 23-year-old shine in the Premier League.

It may well be between Iraola and Slot, and it is crucial that whoever takes over hits the ground running, especially with Leeds flirting with relegation once again.

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The Lowdown: Marsch’s sacking appeared inevitable

After just 11 wins as Leeds manager, it’s no surprise to see Marsch sacked after yet another loss last weekend, however, the fact he was recently backed in the transfer window does raise some questions.

Marsch has had to stand on the touchline and listen on as Leeds fans chanted for him to be sacked in recent games, which may well have been a sign of him losing the fanbase, and it’s difficult to come back from that.

Some may see the decision to sack someone you’d just handed three new players to in January as a knee-jerk one after the Forest loss, but it appears many at Leeds had been unhappy with Marsch for some time now, according to Hay.

The Latest: Leeds considered Marsch’s future for some time

It appears as though some people high up at Leeds haven’t been convinced by Marsch since they lost 2-1 at Aston Villa in mid-January, as Hay highlighted on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show.

He said: “The first time his future was actively discussed was after the defeat to Aston Villa back in the middle of January. Again, dissent from the away end that evening, but the decision was made to keep him and Victor Orta in particular [was] very supportive of Marsch and very determined to try and make this work.

“You have to say that since then, it’s been kind of full-on support for Marsch via transfers and via the appointment of Chris Armas as his new assistant.”

The Verdict: Orta was potentially delusional

The fact that Orta was seemingly very keen on making his Marsch appointment work may well have blinded him from what was actually happening on the pitch.

Leeds haven’t won a league game this calendar year and indeed have just two wins in their last 17 league outings, which is quite telling of where Marsch was going to be taking Leeds if he wasn’t sacked soon.

Marsch was clearly out of his depth having won just 11 games and despite being backed with several American players and ones also from the Red Bull Group he is very familiar with. He simply couldn’t get a tune out of them, so the right decision was made, albeit perhaps a bit later than was necessary.

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The Lowdown: Mowbray must manage his squad effectively

Sunderland have an intriguing FA Cup replay against Premier League opposition Fulham this Wednesday as it will be welcome to test themselves against a side from the division above, but it also allows fewer days to rest and recover for the weekend.

The Black Cats will likely be excited about welcoming top-flight opposition to the Stadium of Light – something that’s been very rare in recent years following their slide down the divisions – and with a young and exciting squad, they may well fancy their chances.

Tony Mowbray already has one big selection headache to make with Joe Gelhardt cup-tied, and with him being their only striker, someone is likely going to have to play as a false 9. While it’s something Diallo has done this season, he’s been very impressive out wide, showing how ‘gifted‘ he is in those wider roles, so it could be a waste to move him centrally.

The Latest: Diallo could miss out

While speaking on The Roar podcast, Copley raised the question as to whether Diallo may be rested against Fulham to ensure he’s fit for Sunderland’s Championship clash against Reading this weekend.

He said: “It’s a big question for Tony Mowbray.

“There’s no real natural fix. Max Thompson, it’s a bit of a big game to even have him on the bench, really.

“Do you think Sunderland just go with a false 9, Amad floating around, or would you maybe give him a break as well? It’s such a tough one.”

The Verdict: Sunderland should be looking to claim a scalp

While it’s fair enough for Copley to be thinking about the league as that’s the most important thing for Sunderland this season as they look to secure back-to-back promotions and end up in the Premier League, given that Ross Stewart is out for the rest of the season and Mowbray has just one striker in the form of Gelhardt to call upon, it may be unlikely the Black Cats are able to mount a serious play-off push.

Therefore, Mowbray should set his side out this midweek to take the game to Fulham and try to pick up a memorable victory which would certainly show they could perhaps hold their own in the top flight in the near future.

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The Lowdown: Out-of-character season

The Reds recently crashed out of the FA Cup after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before following that up with a heavy 3-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, in what’s proving to be a difficult period for the boss.

The Merseyside outfit are sitting 11 points outside the top four following an out-of-character campaign that has seen the 55-year-old receiving chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ by opposition supporters, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be leaving anytime soon.

The Latest: FSG’s stance on Klopp

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, FSG will ‘continue to back’ Klopp despite being ‘under-fire’ for Liverpool’s poor run of results.

The Reds owners are having ‘no doubts’ regarding the German’s position at the helm nor his ability to turn it around and are set to ‘stand’ by him no matter what happens during the rest of the season.

The Verdict: Correct decision

Klopp will of course be under pressure as the man expected to change his side’s fortunes, but FSG sticking by his side is completely the right decision given what he’s achieved over the years.

The Stuttgart native has lost just 73 of his 411 matches in charge, winning a staggering 254 and drawing 84, and he’s currently averaging 2.06 points per game (Transfermarkt).

Liverpool’s boss has also twice been the recipient of the world’s best club coach and he knows his group of players better than anyone, so if someone is going to bring out the best in the squad again, he’s the perfect man for the job.

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The Lowdown: Exit talk

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News recently reported that Erik ten Hag’s side want to sell the Frenchman in the summer.

Martial is currently out injured and will not be in contention for their Premier League clash against Leeds United at Old Trafford.

The 27-year-old has played only nine times in the league this season and has missed a number of those games due to various injuries.

The Latest: Goldbridge shuns links

Speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, Goldbridge believes it would be hard to sell the player at the moment due to his salary and can’t see him leaving any time soon.

He stated: “My reaction is, what a shame. The fact that we’re looking to sell him can only be based on injury, and if you’re looking to sell a player on injury, how easy is an injury player to sell?

“Martial’s on 200 grand a week, I think he’s got two years left on his contract. And who would want to buy a player, and give them 200 grand a week, who is injury-prone?

“So, to me, it doesn’t make any sense. But obviously, it’s the second time this has been mentioned now.

“I feel that it’s a tough one to get your head around, because how would you make that happen?”

The Verdict: Take what you can

We believe that if there’s a decent offer submitted for Martial, United should accept the offer and move him on.

Pundit Graeme Souness told TalkSport (via Metro) last year that the Frenchman is too ‘hit and miss’ and the club cannot rely on him.

Our view is that Martial has had so many opportunities under a number of different managers with the Red Devils, yet his goal return has never been consistent enough to be worthy of a regular Man United starter.

How many chances will he get before he’s finally deemed not good enough? The way we see it, if a Champions League-winning boss like Jose Mourinho can’t get a tune out of Martial, how can Ten Hag?

The Red Devils likely won’t make a profit on the £36m spent on the player back in 2015, but in our opinion, it’s better that they cut their losses and let him leave Old Trafford at the end of the current campaign.

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The Lowdown: Tottenham’s youth policy…

Spurs have seen many bright and exuberant youth prospects blossom into potential first-team stars, most notably Oliver Skipp and Dane Scarlett in recent years.

The former has been labelled a ‘future Spurs captain’ and already has a few noteworthy performances in the bank. Meanwhile, the latter has been likened to Marcus Rashford by former Lilywhites boss Jose Mourinho, with the promising Englishman currently on loan at Portsmouth.

The Latest: Spurs ‘doing everything’ to keep Moore…

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham ‘expert’ Wenham claims that the club hold another youngster in Moore, who is yet to make a first-team appearance, in very high esteem.

Spurs are currently attempting to tie down the 15-year-old with a long-term contract and are believed to be ready to give it their all to keep him.

Wenham explained: “I thought the selection of players was very interesting when the club shared an image of Alan Shearer at the training ground. Tottenham chose some academy players to line up next to Shearer. You had Jamie Donley there, a very highly-rated striker.

“Luca Gunter, a very highly-rated England youth goalkeeper. Then two 15-year-olds, one of which being Mikey Moore.

“Tottenham are trying to tie him down to a long-term deal. We can only do so much, we are involving him in everything that we can.

“He’s started in the Youth Champions League and the Under 18s’ League this season. I get the indication that he will stay and the club are doing everything to make sure that happens.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

The 15-year-old has already displayed real promise in the youth leagues, not just for Spurs but also at international level.

The England under-16 international has two goals in two caps for the young Lions and has plundered three goals and four assists in nine appearances for Tottenham’s under-18s (Transfermarkt).

Moore has attracted huge praise from those who follow the Spurs academy with real intrigue, not least Wenham, who has previously raved over the teenager before this latest appraisal.

The striker has been called a ‘hugely promising’ and ‘hugely impressive’ youngster by the Spurs expert before, and Wenham claimed in another interview last year that the teeanger put in ‘outstanding’ displays in the UEFA Youth League (Football Insider).

If recent form and plaudits are anything to go by, Moore is another hot prospect who could soon emerge from the Hotspur Way academy.

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The Lowdown: Rice attracting Chelsea’s interest…

The England international has been attracting interest from Premier League leaders Arsenal alongside the Blues as both clubs aim to further enhance their midfield options.

Despite the marquee signing of Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez last week, the west Londoners and owner Todd Boehly are thought to be targeting Rice heading into this summer.

The 24-year-old has been in brilliant form for an under-performing West Ham side, and with his contract slowly running down towards its June 2024 expiry, it’s entirely possible that he could be on the move this year.

The Latest: Chelsea have ‘already started’ laying Rice groundwork…

According to journalist Simon Phillips, writing for GiveMeSport, Chelsea have ‘already started laying down some groundwork’ to sign Rice ahead of a proposed summer move.

While there will be ‘serious competition’ from London rivals Arsenal, Phillips has also shared ‘more optimism this week’ that the Blues can land the 24-year-old.

The Verdict: Perfect player for Chelsea?

Rice will be expensive, with some reports suggesting that West Ham could be set to demand as much as £120m for the signature of their prized asset.

Homegrown tax and his status as a proven Premier League player will have contributed to such an eye-watering demand, but the figures suggest that the 24-year-old is justifying such a valuation.

As per WhoScored, the Three Lions ace stands out as West Ham’s best performer in the league this season and averages a higher rate of intercepted passes per 90 than anyone in their squad.

Named club captain last year after Mark Noble’s retirement, Rice has also gone on to add goals (one) and assists (two) in the top flight under David Moyes.

The colossal midfielder has been called a ‘force of nature’ by members of the press who hold him in very esteem following several years of heroics at the London Stadium.

Chelsea may well attempt to whittle down his £120m price tag but could still have to pay a marquee sum for such a brilliant player.

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The Lowdown: Hasenhuttl profiled

Hasenhuttl, once labelled as an “exceptional” manager by Pep Guardiola, is currently out of work after leaving Southampton back in November.

The 55-year-old, previously of RB Leipzig, was in charge of 173 games at St Mary’s, averaging 1.26 points per game. The Austrian likes to play a 4-4-2 double 6 formation, and it seems as if he is of interest to Victor Orta and co.

The Latest: Leeds claim

Douglas shared a story for The i in the last 48 hours following Marsch’s dismissal at Elland Road.

He stated that Hasenhuttl is an early contender to take over in Yorkshire, with reports since stating that the available manager has actually turned down the chance to return to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.

The Verdict: Pros and cons…

Hasenhuttl would bring a wealth of Premier League experience to Leeds, something which could be crucial as the club look to avoid relegation once again.

However, on the flip side, the out-of-work manager struggled towards the end of his time with the Saints, losing six out of nine top-flight fixtures to leave Southampton in the drop zone before he was sacked, showing that a move could still be a gamble.

Therefore, in regards to the long-term project, it may well be wise to look elsewhere, with Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot thought to be contenders for the vacancy at Elland Road after impressing for their respective clubs.

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The Lowdown: On-field changes now needed

Leeds have taken the first step to make changes at Elland Road to ensure they secure their spot in the Premier League for next season by sacking Jesse Marsch.

However, things on the pitch have to be addressed by whoever the next manager to walk through the door is to replace the American. This includes the defence, which is performing much worse than they should be compared to their expected goals against (xGA) total (as per FBref).

One thing that looked to have been addressed last month was the left-back situation, with Pascal Struijk deployed there until the January signing of Wober.

However, his arrival has done little to improve their fortunes at the back. Indeed, he has been slotted into centre-back instead of left-back – where he had been playing for RB Salzburg this campaign.

The Latest: Koch has to return

Something Hay wants to see addressed quickly is getting Germany international Koch back in at centre-back in order for Wober to take up a role at left-back.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, he said: “They’ll be helped by Robin Koch coming back, which might allow Wober to play at left-back – which to my mind, would be no bad thing and probably needs to be done.”

The Verdict: Round pegs have to go in round holes

If Leeds want to have a fighting chance against the drop this season, they have to be playing players in their most-suited positions – even if that means dropping others from the side.

Therefore, if Koch is available, he should go straight in at centre-back alongside either Liam Cooper or Struijk and take the Dutch youngster out of the firing line, as it has been an experiment that’s failed miserably.

Leeds currently have two more conventional left-backs on their books in the form of Wober and Junior Firpo, so there is no need to be playing a 6ft 3in centre-back there and making the team unnecessarily lopsided.

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The Lowdown: Isco an option for Everton

The 30-year-old is a free agent, having had his contract terminated by Sevilla earlier this season, and it has recently been reported that Goodison Park is a potential destination, with the Spaniard able to sign for a new club outside of the transfer window.

While it has been claimed that the midfielder prefers a move to the MLS, casting doubt on whether he would be open to joining Everton, a new update appears to indicate that a deal could be struck with the Premier League club.

The Latest: Isco talks underway

According to Rudy Galetti, writing for Tribal Football, talks are well underway regarding a possible move to Everton for Isco, and a new meeting is scheduled with the aim of advancing the negotiations.

It is claimed that a possible move to Union Berlin broke down earlier in the January transfer window after the player was told that he would not be included in the Europa League squad list, but no MLS teams are explicitly named as interested parties.

The Verdict: Get it done?

In truth, the 30-year-old has not been at his best for many years, last recording more than four goal contributions across a single league season in 2017/18, after showing such promising signs at Real Madrid earlier in his career.

That said, the Toffees are at a point where they need to take a gamble, considering that they failed to strengthen Sean Dyche‘s squad at the end of the January transfer window, even missing out on Andre Ayew, who joined Nottingham Forest.

Signing Isco would be a risk given his decline in form, but he can still make an impact at a high level, scoring and assisting in the Champions League this season. He has also been hailed as a ‘magician’ by football scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

A fresh start in a new league could be exactly what the playmaker needs in order to reignite his career, and Everton should take the plunge on him, at least on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

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