Geovany Quenda breaks 22-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo record at Sporting CP as Portugal wonderkid stars in crucial victory over Benfica

Geovany Quenda broke a 22-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo record for Sporting CP after starring in the Liga Portugal against Benfica on Sunday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Quenda broke Ronaldo's record at Sporting CPBecame the youngest player to appear in Lisbon derbySporting CP beat Benfica 1-0Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

At 17 years and eight months, Quenda became the youngest player ever in Sporting CP's history to feature in the Lisbon derby as he played 72 minutes in a 1-0 victory. The record was previously held by club legend Ronaldo, who appeared in the derby against Benfica in December 2002 at the age of 17 years and 10 months.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Quenda has been a revelation for the Portuguese giants in the 2024-25 campaign. The youngster rose to fame under former manager Ruben Amorim, who handed him his senior debut in the summer. His impressive performances in the Liga Portugal have reportedly attracted interest from Manchester United, with Amorim said to be eyeing a reunion with the winger at Old Trafford.

DID YOU KNOW?

In August, Quenda became the youngest player in Sporting's entire history to score a league goal at 17 years and 95 days, as he found the back of the net in his team's 4-3 loss to FC Porto.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR SPORTING CP?

Sporting will be back in action after the winter break in Portugal on January 3 as they take on Vitoria in another important league clash on January 3.

Man Utd winger Antony takes legal action against Ajax over fines issued as Brazilian attempted to force Old Trafford transfer

Antony is set for a legal battle with old side Ajax over fines they imposed on him as he sought to join Manchester United.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Antony fined by Ajax before Man Utd moveBrazilian skipped training sessionsWinger files legal against old clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Before Antony swapped Ajax for United in August 2022 for £85 million ($105m), the winger was fined several times by the Dutch giants for reportedly skipping a few training sessions and an Eredivisie match as he sought to push through the transfer. Now, reports the 24-year-old has filed an arbitration case, with both parties facing off in court earlier in January.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The report adds Ajax withheld hundreds of thousands of euros from Antony's salary while they pushed for a bigger transfer fee but now the Brazil international wants it back because he allegedly believes the fines were imposed unlawfully. According to , this dispute has been going on for two years as Antony – who was not happy with how Ajax treated him at the time – still hasn't paid those fines. Fast forward to the present, and the Brazilian is regarded as one of United's worst-ever signings.

DID YOU KNOW?

Since moving to Old Trafford, Antony has scored just 12 goals and bagged five assists in 94 appearances. The club are looking to offload him this month, either on loan or permanently.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

While Antony and his legal team wait to find out what will happen over this fining matter, he will hope to feature for United away to Arsenal in round three of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Lopetegui wants "strong" £15m ace who West Ham may sign as early as January

Already looking ahead to the January transfer window, Julen Lopetegui now reportedly personally wants West Ham United to sign an exciting young attacking reinforcement for his side.

West Ham transfer news

Those at the London Stadium were far from shy when it came to splashing the cash in the summer transfer window, with the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Max Kilman and Niclas Fullkrug all arriving among several others to hand Lopetegui an instant boost at the start of his tenure. Not long into that tenure, however, and the Spaniard is already struggling to get results, with five points in six games summing things up.

4 G/A in 4 games vs Ipswich: West Ham star can be Lopetegui's hero

The Hammers are in desperate need of all three points on Saturday afternoon…

ByRobbie Walls Oct 4, 2024

They once again failed to secure three points last time out too, with Bryan Mbuemo’s early goal forcing West Ham to come from behind to earn a point against Brentford.

A start which could force a rethink, West Ham may yet turn back towards the transfer market when January arrives to solve any early issues within Lopetegui’s side once and for all.

According to reports in Spain, Lopetegui now personally wants West Ham to sign Adam Hlozek from Hoffenheim in a deal that could take place as early as the January transfer window. The Bundesliga side reportedly value their forward at €18m (£15m) in a price tag that the Hammers should have no issues matching when the time comes.

Just 22 years old, Hlozek represents a long-term option who could swiftly replace Fullkrug, given that the German is already 31 years old and more of a stop-gap than a permanent solution for West Ham’s attacking problems this season. At such a cheap price, Hlozek will undoubtedly be one to watch if West Ham decide to grant Lopetegui’s wish in the winter window.

"Strong" Hlozek can solve West Ham problem

Without a goal in his first four appearances, Fullkrug’s slow start at West Ham has left the door ajar for the likes of Hlozek to potentially arrive and instantly solve Lopetegui’s attacking problem. The Hoffenheim star only just arrived at his new club in the summer, but has impressed enough to attract the attention of the London side in what would be his biggest move yet.

Unlike Fullkrug, the Czech has picked up where he left off last season to score three goals in his first six games for his new club in an impressive run that could only get better and better in the Bundesliga. Over the last 365 days, he ranks in the 98th percentile for shots per 90 and the 88th percentile for goals per 90 – compared with other strikers in similar leagues (FBRef).

A player who’s always earned plenty of praise for his all action style, Hlozek was described as “strong” by former coach Zdenek Scasny, who previously said via the Bundesliga’s official website: “In training, he looks as strong as in a match. He’s an extraordinary talent who doesn’t play just because he is 16, but because he has earned it.”

Years on now and that praise still rings true for a forward who is beginning to find his most clinical form in front of goal just as clubs like West Ham begin to look his way.

Ponting: Depth around Australian cricket not where it needs to be

Former captain still insists that team can win the T20 World Cup if all first-choice picks are fit and healthy

Andrew McGlashan14-Aug-2021Ricky Ponting has questioned the depth in Australian cricket after the poor T20 results on the recent tours of West Indies and Bangladesh but believes the team can still challenge for the World Cup if their strongest side is available.Australia ended the twin tours with an 2-8 scoreline across the two T20 contests which was capped off by being skittled for 62, their lowest T20 total, in the final match in Dhaka.While Ponting acknowledged the challenging conditions in Bangladesh he was concerned that performances got worse as the matches went on. Only Mitchell Marsh emerged with an enhanced reputation with the bat although the bowling attack largely performed creditably.”The lack of knowhow and skill in those conditions brought us undone again,” Ponting told Tim Paine on the Test captain’s radio show. “It’s been the achilles heel for Australian cricket for as long as I can remember – more so in Test cricket, but we’ve always found a way to be very competitive in Sri Lanka and India in white-ball cricket. Just goes to show the depth around Australia cricket is not where it needs to be so there’s some work to do there.”The T20 World Cup is not far away so hopefully we get all the boys fit and healthy, because I still think with everyone fit and healthy in the UAE that Australian team can push really hard to win the title. Let’s keep our fingers crossed we can put our strongest XI on the field.”Captain Aaron Finch was ruled out of the Bangladesh series with a knee injury which meant Australia were missing up to eight players who could be considered among first picks including David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis from the batting order.”There were a lot of names not there…but it almost seemed they got worse during that series,” Ponting said. “There’s no doubt those conditions were really difficult, but that’s the worry for me. They’ve been there long enough and done some training on wickets you’d have thought were quite similar to what they played on yet the further the series went, whether a lack of confidence or skill or game awareness, I’m sure they would have been shattered.”It now seems likely that a number of the Australia players will prepare for the World Cup by returning to the IPL for its resumption next month although Pat Cummins is not expected to be available due to the birth of his first child.Ponting, the head coach of Delhi Capitals, said he was still waiting for confirmation on whether he would have Smith, who is recovering from an elbow injury, and Stoinis available but sees it as their best opportunity to be tuned up for the World Cup.”There’s no doubt it’s their best preparation, in those exact conditions playing probably the strongest domestic T20 tournament in the world,” he said. “I’m not saying it just because I want some of the Australian players there with Delhi, but it sounds like our domestic season will be pushed back so they’ll be no domestic cricket here before the T20 World Cup, so preparation wise it’s spot on.”Not sure if they’ll be any restrictions on the bowlers going there, there may well be, but certainly the guys like Smith, Davey, Maxi, Stoinis who have been out of cricket for three or fourth months they need to get back into the groove.”

‘Breach regulations’ – Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney & Tom Brady spending prediction as Wrexham & Birmingham chase Premier League promotion dream

Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Tom Brady may decide to “breach regulations” as Wrexham and Birmingham spend their way towards the Premier League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Red Dragons & Blues currently in League OneBoth teams intend to reach the top-flightAmbitious investors make that a realistic targetFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

That is the opinion of Dr Rob Wilson, a professor of economics at Sheffield Hallam University and football finance expert. He is among those watching on from afar as famous investors in North Wales and the West Midlands take aim at a standing among the elite of English football.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Both clubs find themselves in League One for now, having experienced contrasting fortunes in the last 12 months, but are sat among the third-tier frontrunners as automatic spots in the Championship begin to open up.

DID YOU KNOW?

Once that level has been reached then important decisions need to be made on how to approach one of the toughest and most competitive divisions in world football. Wrexham and Birmingham may, with funds at their disposal, look to flaunt Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in a bid to reach the big time.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty/GOALWHAT FOOTBALL FINANCE EXPERT SAID

Dr Wilson has told of chasing the dream: “In the Championship, Birmingham and Wrexham will be smaller fish in a much bigger pond because particularly with clubs that have come out of the Premier League that have had the parachute payments, it's very very difficult to compete with those. I think if they are promoted, particularly from Wrexham's perspective, more of a stabilisation in the Championship rather than a continued rise through the ranks.

“Birmingham would be interesting because obviously they were relegated last season so they're looking to bounce back in. But you would imagine both clubs would spend aggressively, so would comfortably be top half.

“Who knows if they sort of hit the play-off places then they might just try and push the boat out a little bit more and try and breach Championship regulations because they don't really count if you get into the Premier League. This is what we see lots of clubs do, historically and then they get into the Premier League and they stay put so they don't get done on a breach.”

Morris' form a Royal concern as Capitals sniff historic opportunity for glory

Marcus Stoinis is an injury doubt for Capitals, with Steve Smith the most likely replacement

Matt Roller24-Sep-20215:10

#PoliteEnquiries: Ian Bishop predicts the Orange Cap winner

Big pictureThe Delhi franchise have never won the IPL, whether playing as Daredevils or Capitals, and it is becoming increasingly apparent this might be their best opportunity to change that. Their eight-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game of the UAE leg – which put them top of the points table – was a complete performance, spearheaded by Anrich Nortje’s fiery spell of 2 for 12 in four overs and sealed by the returning Shreyas Iyer, who finished unbeaten on 47 on his return from injury.Rajasthan Royals’ first game of this phase was significantly more dramatic, Kartik Tyagi closing out an improbable, come-from-behind win against Punjab Kings after their attack had struggled for early breakthroughs while defending 185. Royals’ play-off chances looked slim heading into the second half of the season in the collective absence of Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes but they are well-placed to qualify at this stage as their young domestic core continue to step up.Watch IPL on ESPN+ (US only)

The 2021 IPL is available in the US on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the match on Friday here.

Neither side is expected to make significant changes to their playing XI on the back of wins but Capitals are waiting on Marcus Stoinis’ scan results after he limped off with a calf injury after the first ball of his second over last time out. Otherwise, they have no reason to make changes to a successful combination.Royals, meanwhile, will be concerned by Chris Morris’ struggles earlier this week: their big-money auction buy made five off five balls and leaked 47 runs in his four wicketless overs. Morris has shown his value with both bat and ball, particularly at the death, in recent seasons and is unlikely to lose his place after an outlay of 16.25 crore ($2.2m approx.) – Royals will hope that his slow start was simply down to a lack of recent game-time.Can Kagiso Rabada help Delhi Capitals overcome their death-overs struggles?•BCCIIn the newsStoinis’ availability is unconfirmed at this stage, though Nortje was relatively optimistic during his press conference on Friday. “He looks good,” Nortje said. “I spoke to him this morning and he seems to be fine, but they’re just waiting on some results. I think he’s gone for a scan.” If Stoinis is unfit, Steve Smith is the most likely replacement (Sam Billings is still in quarantine) though Lalit Yadav could come in to bolster the bowling attack with either Tom Curran or Ben Dwarshuis replacing a local bowler.Likely XIsDelhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt/wk), 5 Marcus Stoinis/Steven Smith, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Avesh KhanRajasthan Royals: 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt/wk), 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Mahipal Lomror, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Chetan Sakariya, 10 Kartik Tyagi, 11 Mustafizur RahmanStrategy punt Capitals’ Achilles heel this season has been their death bowling: they are the most expensive bowling side in the final four overs of an innings, leaking 10.71 runs an over. Capitals could gamble by using Kagiso Rabada through the middle as a strike bowler but Royals’ batting line-up – which sees Morris carded at No. 8 – is well-placed to exploit that weakness. Liam Livingstone has looked invincible in T20 cricket since the start of the English summer, averaging 52.62 with a strike rate of 166.73 in that timeframe, but if there is one area of vulnerability in his game, it is his record against left-arm spin. Since 2019, he averages 24.11 and scores at a strike rate of 128.52 against left-arm spinners – expect Capitals to hold back some of Axar Patel’s overs to target him in the middle overs.Stats that matter Capitals’ five-match winning streak against Royals came to an end at the Wankhede in the early stages of this season, with David Miller and Chris Morris inspiring a successful chase of 148. Rishabh Pant needs 56 runs to overtake Virender Sehwag as Capitals’ all-time leading run-scorer. Sanju Samson has a surprisingly poor record against Capitals, scoring 164 runs across 10 innings with a strike rate of 126.15.

Leading the race: Liverpool want £67m talent who’s just like Zubimendi

Liverpoool have entered the October international break atop the Premier League table, with six victories claimed from seven top-flight matches under Arne Slot.

The new era at Anfield is moving apace, but Manchester City and Arsenal are snapping at the Reds’ heels in second and third and are considered title favourites above Liverpool by the majority.

That’s okay, the Merseysiders have proved that they have the quality to take such imperious outfits all the way, and that’s despite failing to sign a new defensive midfielder to upgrade on Wataru Endo, who was proved through pre-season to be a second-fiddle option in Slot’s mind.

Moreover, the Japanese, aged 31, is set to be sold in 2025, as per Football Insider, with Slot and co targetting a younger breed of number six to provide competition for Ryan Gravenberch.

Gravenberch has since stepped up to the plate in the deep-lying midfield department, arguably Liverpool’s best player so far this term. The Merseysiders can’t rue the botched attempt to sign Martin Zubimendi as vehemently anymore.

Liverpool's failure to sign Martin Zubimendi

It was August, in the week preceding the return to Premier League action, the beginning of something new at Liverpool, for Jurgen Klopp had stepped down and Slot had arrived, ready to lead the club and its talented squad.

But Liverpool had not made a senior signing all summer and were the only Premier League side to hold that tag. Federico Chiesa was of course purchased toward the end of the window for just £12.5m, but Zubimendi was the prize to supercharge this new ball-focused style.

Zubimendi still plays his football at his beloved Real Sociedad. It’s funny how things work out, with Gravenberch going from strength to strength as a product of this missed transfer bid. That said, Liverpool will need to pack their centre with some more talent, especially if Endo is sold.

Liverpool transfer news

The habitual Aurelien Tchouameni exit rumours are here, everyone. According to reports from Spain, Tchouameni is attracting interest from overseas, with Carlo Ancelotti not quite impressed with his midfield titan in the wake of Toni Kroos’ retirement.

Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni

It’s understood that the La Liga giants would consider a sale in the ballpark of €80m (£67m), which would be a loss on the deal rising to £85m that was paid back in 2022, with Real beating Liverpool to his signature.

Arsenal and Manchester United both hold an interest in the 24-year-old, but it is Slot’s Reds who are believed to be leading the race at this preliminary stage.

Why Aurelien Tchouameni would be perfect for Liverpool

Tchouameni’s ever-appearing exit rumours at Real Madrid do point toward a transfer away at some stage. The France international is one of the finest midfielders in Europe and would be a credit to any side worth their salt – and Liverpool have clearly done their share of due diligence.

kalvin-phillips-aurelien-tchouameni-liverpool-opinion

Having played 99 matches for Madrid, Tchouameni has won Champions League and La Liga titles and earned himself a reputation as one of the best in the business, with talent scout Jacek Kulig claiming he’s “destined for great things” before his transfer away from France.

Liverpool have profiled the talent and, further to the point, might be especially interested in snapping him up due to his likeness to the aforementioned Zubimendi. According to FBref’s player comparison tool, the Spaniard is indeed one of Tchouameni’s most comparable players.

Let’s take a look at how the two stars compare in La Liga this season, with Gravenberch’s metrics in the Premier League chucked into the equation too, for contextualisation.

Matches (starts)

7 (7)

7 (6)

8 (8)

Goals

0

1

0

Assists

0

0

0

Touches*

81.4

71.9

81.6

Pass completion

89%

87%

93%

Key passes*

0.6

0.8

0.3

Dribbles*

1.0

0.7

0.4

Ball recoveries*

6.0

3.2

4.6

Tackles + interceptions*

3.8

3.5

4.3

Total duels (won)*

5.9 (64%)

5.6 (66%)

5.0 (63%)

It’s hard to determine which of the three midfielders is enjoying the grandest of campaigns, but Gravenberch’s ability to rise and match such established talents after playing a bit-part role for Klopp’s Liverpool is impressive.

Still, Tchouameni still seems to be the gold standard, described as “world-class” by Transfermarkt’s Stefan Bienkowski, for he is the toughest-tackling and crispest ball-playing of the three. Zubimendi slightly outmarks the others in duelling success but all three boast similar and noteworthy metrics in that regard.

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi

As per Squawka, Tchouameni also outranks Zubimendi for forward passes (23.9 to 18.9) and has misplaced fewer passes (7.1 to 10.2) per 90 minutes in La Liga this season, further emphasising his anticipated suitability within Slot’s Liverpool set-up.

Let’s be honest, there’s a reason why Liverpool joined Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in holding a vested interest in the Frenchman while he plied his craft with AS Monaco, and, more to the point, there’s a reason why he chose Los Blancos – who are plainly the most prestigious team in the world.

But he’s had a taste of Spain and Liverpool aren’t exactly minnows either. Slot is cooking something at Anfield and will need more verve in his midfield zone to truly reach the lofty heights desired.

Gravenberch might have a thing or two to say about meeting such high-standard competition for his place at the nub of the engine room, but if Endo is to be sold in 2025, added impetus will be required.

What better than to sign one of Europe’s elite? Tchouameni coexists with some top-class talents in the Spanish capital, and pulling this one off would reinforce Liverpool’s claim for the top spot on the English and European scene.

Liverpool wanted £235m star in the making but signed Szoboszlai instead

Liverpool’s midfield would have been taken to another level with this addition.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 7, 2024

England Young Lions to tour Sri Lanka with plenty of experience on board

Under-19 tour includes five ODIs in preparation for next year’s World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2021England have named a clutch of youngsters with county experience in a Young Lions squad to tour Sri Lanka later this month.The Under-19 tour will include five ODIs and is key to preparations for the ICC Mens’ Under-19 World Cup, which starts in the Caribbean in January.England’s 19-man squad will arrive in Sri Lanka on November 22, with all five matches being played in a bio-secure environment at Colombo’s Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground. The squad is largely the same as the one which defeated West Indies Under-19s 4-2 in their ODI series, in September but with Worcestershire’s Josh Baker, Yorkshire’s Ben Cliff and Harry Crawshaw, of Durham, coming in for Archie Lenham and Harry Petrie.Dan Ibrahim and James Coles – who along with Lenham were part of a teenage brigade which impressed for Sussex during the latter half of the 2021 domestic season – retain their places in the Young Lions squad, as do Barbados-born Jacob Bethell, of Warwickshire, and Hampshire’s Tom Prest, who shared captaincy of the England side against West Indies.Schedule

First ODI: November 30

Second ODI: December 3

Third ODI: December 5

Fourth ODI: December 8

Fifth ODI: December 10

Spin duo Josh Baker and Rehan Ahmed performed well for Worcestershire and Leicestershire respectively during the English summer to be named in the squad. Also named were James Sales of Northamptonshire and fellow seamer Sonny Baker, who was the leading wicket-taker during West Indies’ visit with 10 wickets at 16.50 including 4 for 41 in the final fixture, having made his Somerset debut and played eight Royal London Cup matches for the club this year. Two other Somerset debutants from the class of 2021, James Rew and George Thomas, were also included.Richard Dawson, the Young Lions head coach, said: “It’s a great opportunity for our squad to experience touring the sub-continent. It will give them a chance to play in a pressurised environment against their international peers in unfamiliar conditions.”This trip is an integral part of their future development and will also provide good preparation leading into the ICC Men’s U19s World Cup.”Young Lions squad: Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire), Josh Baker (Worcestershire), Sonny Baker (Somerset), Nathan Barnwell (Surrey), George Bell (Lancashire), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Josh Boyden (Lancashire), Ben Cliff (Yorkshire), James Coles (Sussex), Harry Crawshaw (Durham), Alex Horton (Glamorgan), Dan Ibrahim (Sussex), Will Luxton (Yorkshire), Tom Prest (Hampshire), James Rew (Somerset), James Sales (Northamptonshire), Fateh Singh (Nottinghamshire), George Thomas (Somerset)

£12m forward about to decide future with formal Tottenham bid now possible

A £12 million forward is on course to decide his next club, with the prospect of a “formal bid” from Tottenham Hotspur emerging in the background.

Tottenham face Crystal Palace with winning form restored

Barring their disastrous 3-2 defeat at Brighton just before the international break – a match which saw them let a two-goal lead slip past half-time – Lilywhites head coach Ange Postecoglou will be thrilled with his side’s recent winning form.

Ange without "very strong" Tottenham player through injury alongside Son

He’s set to miss Crystal Palace on Sunday with Son a huge doubt too.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 25, 2024

Spurs have won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions – including impressive victories over Man United and West Ham – but lowly Crystal Palace represent a tough next task at Selhurst Park considering Oliver Glasner will be desperate to secure the Eagles their first win of the Premier League campaign.

Postecoglou echoed that sentiment in his pre-match press conference, stating that, despite their form right now, Palace remains a very tough challenge for his Tottenham side, who’ve done well to bounce back from their embarrassing loss at the Amex.

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

October 27

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

November 3

Tottenham vs Ipswich Town

November 10

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

Tottenham vs Fulham

December 1

“It’s always dangerous in the Premier League,” said Postecoglou on facing Crystal Palace.

“You just mentioned the Brighton game, and there’s never a game when you go in thinking it’s going to be a comfortable afternoon or evening. Especially away from home, the Premier League is always challenging.

“As you said, they’re going through a tough spell. I have no doubt they’ll get out of it because they do have some quality in the front third and they’re a hard-working team. I think for us what’s important is that we’re on a good run, we’ve been on a good run for a while, and we want to continue that. And the basis of that good run is how and we’re working and sticking to our principles.”

Son Heung-min is likely to miss Spurs’ trip to Palace, while right-back Djed Spence is sidelined with a groin injury he picked up in training last week.

While Postecoglou prepares his side for their Sunday clash in south London, technical director Johan Lange is scouting a potential transfer upgrade in the background.

Andreas Skov Olsen set to decide future ahead of possible Tottenham bid

According to GiveMeSport, Club Brugge winger Andreas Skov Olsen is being watched on a regular basis by Spurs. It is believed a formal Tottenham bid could be submitted for Skov Olsen, with the Denmark international set to decide on his next club very soon.

Denmark international Skov Olsen.

The 24-year-old has scored four goals and registered an assist in 10 Jupiler Pro League outings so far this season, making three Champions League appearances, and Skov Olsen already boasts an impressive 35 international caps.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Milan Posts, claim the player could cost as little as £12 million – despite possessing a “ridiculous” quality of repeatedly cutting inside to hit the mark (Danish Scout).

Leeds United wages: Who is the best paid player at the Whites and everything you need to know about Leeds' salary bill

How much do the Leeds players earn annually and who receives the most into their account?

Leeds United, one of the most storied clubs in English football, narrowly missed out on a Premier League spot after losing to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley during the 2023-24 season. However, they've quickly put that disappointment behind them and now find themselves battling for promotion once more.

This term, things are looking bright once again for Daniel Farke and his players. Thanks to their exceptional management, as well as convincing displays, the Whites are strong favorites to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

On the other hand, they are one of the strongest clubs financially in England's second division. Their wage bill reflects their ambitions, featuring some of the highest-earning players in the league, many of whom bring valuable experience from playing at top European clubs.

So, who is the highest earner at Elland Road this season? And who is on the opposite end of the spectrum?

GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!

*

Getty Images SportGoalkeepers

With close to 200 appearances for Leeds United, Illan Meslier is the joint-highest paid goalkeeper in the squad along with Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Meanwhile, 32-year-old Alex Cairns finishes at the bottom of this three-man list.

Name Salary

Illan Meslier£1,560,000Karl Darlow£1,560,000Alex Cairns£260,000AdvertisementGetty Images SportDefenders

Former Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo is one of the club's top earners, and deservingly the highest-paid defender in the Leeds United squad. The Dominican has been immense offensively.

Dutch centre-back Pascal Struijk, who has spent his entire career at Leeds United, is the club's second-highest paid defender, with the third spot belonging to Wales international Joe Rodon.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Isaac Schmidt is the lowest-paid defender at the club.

Name Salary

Junior Firpo£3,120,000Pascal Struijk£2,600,000Joe Rodon£2,080,000Maximilian Wober£1,820,000Jayden Bogle£1,560,000Sam Byram£1,040,000Isaac Schmidt£520,000Getty Images SportMidfielders

Topping the list for midfielders is USMNT star Brenden Aaronson. The top three is completed by Ethan Ampadu in second and Ao Tanaka in third.

Joe Rothwell is the lowest-paid midfielder at Leeds United.

Name Salary

Brenden Aaronson£2,340,000Ethan Ampadu£2,080,000Ao Tanaka£1,300,000Ilia Gruev£780,000Joe Rothwell£416,000ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportAttackers

It’s no surprise to see Patrick Bamford at the top of the list as the highest-paid attacker, but fans are bound to be concerned about the wages he's earning, especially considering that his last official goal for Leeds United came back in April 2024. Given his long goal drought, many supporters may feel his current salary isn’t reflecting his recent contributions on the pitch.

Second on the list is Israeli winger Manor Solomon, who is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. However, many fans might feel that it should be Daniel James sitting at the top of this list, given how crucial the Welshman has been for Leeds in recent seasons. James’ consistent performances and impact on the team’s attack have made him a fan favorite, and some might argue he deserves more recognition in terms of his wages.

Italy international Wilfried Gnonto is the fourth-highest paid attacker, ahead of Largie Ramazani.

Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph are the joint-lowest paid attackers. Piroe is Leeds' leading goal scorer this season, yet his wages seem to tell a different story. Despite his vital contributions up front, his pay does not appear to match his importance to the team.

Name Salary

Patrick Bamford£3,640,000Manor Solomon£3,120,000Daniel James£2,600,000Wilfried Gnonto£1,560,000Largie Ramazani£910,000Joel Piroe£780,000Mateo Joseph£780,000

Game
Register
Service
Bonus