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In some Leeds United news which was perhaps to be expected, it has been confirmed that both Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi will leave the Premier League club this summer.

Hernandez in particular has played such a huge role in the Whites’ ascent to the top flight from their days in the Championship, amassing an impressive 174 games for the club, scoring 36 goals and providing 41 assists, and his last-gasp winner against Swansea in last year’s promotion run-in has gone down in legend.

With the Premier League season coming to an end after Leeds’ clash against West Brom on Sunday afternoon, Marcelo Bielsa must surely grasp the opportunity to give Hernandez a well-deserved send-off in front of the returning Elland Road fans.

The Spaniard turned 36 last month and it has been incredibly telling that the highest number of minutes he has played in one top-flight game this season is the 67 that he completed against Leicester way back in early November.

Dubbed as an “inspiration”, the £21,000-a-week earner has previously stated that he wouldn’t want to overstay his welcome at Leeds if he felt like the time had passed him by. He said: “If you talk about football tactically or technically, this is probably the best time of my career. Physically I feel good but obviously 10 years ago, I felt better. I can’t change this.”

Now that the time has come for him to leave, the Spaniard should be given the chance to say his goodbyes on the pitch when Leeds welcome the Baggies to Elland Road.

It’s a sentiment which has been echoed by former Leeds ace Andy Couzens, who suggested that Hernandez and Berardi should both feature this afternoon.

The 45-year-old said: “All good things have to come to an end!! Two players that have given everything to this great club and will be forever in the club’s hearts. Let’s see them both play for the last time on Sunday and with only 8.5 thousand fans in the stadium they will still get the best send-off.”

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Hernandez deserves the opportunity to play one last time in a Leeds shirt, and Bielsa should be all for it. The Elland Road faithful would surely be absolutely buzzing to see it.

Meanwhile, Leeds are eyeing a move for this South American starlet…

Luke Edwards has dropped a big claim on the potential takeover of Newcastle United as news emerged on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The Lowdown: KSA on priority watch list

As per The Athletic journalist Matt Slater, the KSA are staying on the US government’s priority watch list for Intellectual Property (IP) theft for the third straight year.

Slater claimed that this is ‘not a good look’ for the Saudis’ quest to prove they are taking digital piracy seriously, given that they want to invest in football, most notably the KSA group wanting to buy the St. James’ Park faithful off of the hands of Mike Ashley.

The Latest: Edwards reacts

Quoting the tweet from Slater, Daily Telegraph journalist Edwards has since given his reaction to the news, claiming that he does not think Ashley will win the pending arbitration case between him and the Premier League over the failed takeover in the North East by the KSA consortium.

He also claimed that the takeover ‘collapsed ten months ago’ in his opinion, in other words saying that he cannot see a way back into the Tyneside club for the Saudis.

The Verdict: Takeover not done yet

While the latest news with the KSA is alarming, it does not mean that a takeover of the Magpies can be ruled out just yet.

The result of the arbitration hearing will likely give a much clearer picture over the direction of where the potential deal is heading, and Ashley would not have pursued with the case if he was not at least somewhat confident of winning it.

Still, even if the Toon do not end up winning the case, then they still have the anti-competition lawsuit that they launched separately against the top flight to fall back on, which could present the potential takeover with a new pathway.

Nonetheless, Ashley and NUFC will not have given up hope of winning arbitration just yet, as the legal battle with the division looks set to be an intriguing one.

In other news, find out which ace Callum Wilson dubbed ‘unbelievable’ Newcastle are eyeing here!

Reliable reporter Alan Nixon has regularly interacted with Celtic supporters on social media during the club’s search for a new manager.

And on Wednesday evening, Nixon provided an update on the situation regarding Eddie Howe moving to Celtic Park.

The Lowdown: All roads point to Parkhead…

Celtic’s interest in Howe has been no secret over the last nine weeks.

They met the 43-year-old at the beginning of April, and their pursuit of the Englishman was given a massive boost following Bournemouth’s Championship playoff exit last weekend.

The Daily Record claimed that all roads now lead to Parkhead following the Cherries’ failure to return to the Premier League, with Howe poised to bring a number of staff members from Bournemouth to Glasgow.

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The Latest: Nixon answers Howe questions

Celtic released a statement on Wednesday afternoon regarding plans for season ticket holders, admitting they intend to finalise the appointment of a new manager shortly.

Nixon, who writes for The Sun, was asked for an update on Howe’s move to Celtic.

He gave a six-word reply:

“Sorting out staff… there’s a few…”

Minutes later, Nixon was quizzed on a potential announcement regarding Howe, with the reporter believing the Hoops are ‘restless’ following their Wednesday statement.

“It’s ongoing… Celtic statement today tells me they’re a tad restless all the same…”

The Verdict: Don’t panic…

Even though Nixon feels the Hoops are ‘a tad restless’ on the situation, we think Celtic fans shouldn’t panic over a deal potentially collapsing.

Club chiefs in Glasgow had their fears that Crystal Palace could scupper a move, but it looks as if things are now slowly piecing together for Howe to move north.

Agreeing on deals with Bourmeouth for multiple staff members could prove to be a slow process, especially with their second-tier heartbreak still raw.

Celtic are bound to feel restless after their deal for defender Ben Davies collapsed back in January, however, showing nothing is done until it’s done, but it seems as if Howe has his heart set on a move to Scotland, and hopefully, a deal will be announced over the coming days.

In other news: Hoops reportedly win race for English teenager, find out more here. 

A number of Liverpool supporters are delighted with the news that Alisson is set to sign a new deal at Anfield imminently.

The Brazilian has proven to be a colossal signing for the Reds, having arrived from Roma in the summer of 2018.

Along with Virgil van Dijk, Alisson helped turn Liverpool from a good team into a great one, with Champions League and Premier League glory sealed in back-to-back years.

The 28-year-old continued to be a key man in 2020/21, despite a dip in form after sadly losing his father, famously scoring a last-gasp winner at West Brom last month.

According to BBC Sport, Liverpool will open contract talks with the Brazil international after he returns from Copa America duty this summer, tying him down a new long-term deal.

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Liverpool fans react to Alisson update

These Reds fans took to Twitter to provide their happy thoughts on the news.

“Boss news”

Credit: @garylouth

“Goal bonus included yesssssss”

Credit: @BradburyLeigh

“Some good news after Trent”

Credit: @DrKennethNois10

“Great news, hopefully Virgil, Fabinho and Salah next”

Credit: @CathalRobinson

“Give the man whatever he wants”

Credit: @mike1danaher

“One of the best things to happen to us!”

Credit: @ethan27d

In other news, some Liverpool fans are fuming after news emerged regarding the future of one Reds player. Find out who it is here.

Chris Wilder is still in the race to be appointed as the new West Bromwich Albion manager this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Express & Star, who claim that, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise, Wilder is still in contention to be appointed as Sam Allardyce’s successor at The Hawthorns.

Indeed, Football Insider claimed that West Brom had cooled their interest in the former Sheffield United manager last week and were set to pull out of negotiations with the 53-year-old.

However, this does not appear to be the case, with further talks between Wilder and West Brom believed to have taken place over the weekend, with the unemployed coach thought to be extremely keen on taking the job.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering Wilder’s track record of leaving clubs in a better position than when he took over, the news that the 53-year-old is still in the picture to take over at The Hawthorns this summer is sure to have fans of the club buzzing.

Indeed, so far in his career as a manager, Wilder has taken a mid-table Oxford United side to the League Two play-offs places, a relegation-threatened Northampton Town side to the League Two title and guided a League One Sheffield United side to a top-half Premier League finish in the space of just four years – before leaving the club last season.

As such, considering the size of the club and the comparatively greater resources that would be available to him if he were to take over at West Brom, it is not a difficult scenario to imagine that Wilder would be a massive hit with the Baggies – with his potential appointment certainly appearing to do the club’s hopes of securing an immediate return to the Premier League next season no harm whatsoever.

So, the fact that the 53-year-old is still in with a shout of landing the West Brom job would certainly seem to be very good news for all involved with the club.

In other news: West Brom handed transfer boost over “fantastic” £8m beast that’ll have fans buzzing

At long last, Celtic have the pleasure of a new permanent manager.

The Hoops can forget all about Eddie Howe and bask in the glory of Ange Postecoglou, a 55-year-old from Australia with lofty ambitions.

He wasn’t the hierarchy’s first choice at Parkhead but he arrives with a brand of football that fits perfectly into the Celtic philosophy.

After signing on the dotted line, Postecoglou was keen to stress the importance of the transfer market. “We have already begun work on our plans for adding to the squad – we aim to bring players of quality to Celtic to enhance the existing core of great talent,” he revealed.

Indeed, with the Bhoys set to lose Kristoffer Ajer and Odsonne Edouard this summer, cracking on with recruitment is of utmost importance.

Strengthening their backline should be the biggest priority for the Australian. After all, they conceded 16 more goals than Rangers in the Premiership this season.

One of the biggest factors in their dismal defensive record was their goalkeeping department.

Vasilis Barkas signed for £4.5m last summer but made repeated errors and was then named in the starting XI on just two occasions after the New Year period.

Scott Bain has hardly been a pillar of solidity either. He was at fault for numerous goals away at Slavia Prague in the Europa League and should have done better for Alfredo Morelos’ strike in the Old Firm drubbing last month.

With that in mind, Celtic and Postecoglou should consider signing another stopper.

One player they were linked with last summer was Roma’s Robin Olsen. The Sweden number one eventually signed for Everton on loan but has now headed back to Italy after playing just 11 times for the Toffees.

Jose Mourinho doesn’t want to keep him in the Italian capital and with a £4m fee being touted, Olsen is hoping to use the European Championships as a shop window.

“Clearly it is a good showcase. I hope to have a good Euros, first of all for Sweden, then obviously if the tournament can help me showcase myself then so be it. With the work done in England I returned to the levels I was at before moving to Roma. I grew and improved, even if I clearly hoped to play more at Everton. In any case it was a good season,” Olsen commented recently.

Standing at 6 foot 5, the Swede has an enormous advantage in terms of his height. Celtic saw firsthand the positives of having a tall goalkeeper between the sticks when they had Fraser Forster at Parkhead.

The Englishman was a man-mountain at 6 foot 7 and was an imperious figure inside the penalty area. Forster was so impressive that he saved four penalties during the 2019/20 campaign and then made an awe-inspiring 11 saves in the League Cup final against Rangers.

In the words of SB Nation Roma blogger Chiesa Di Totti, Olsen has “massive limbs”, an outstanding quality that Celtic missed this term.

An experienced international at the age of 31, Postecoglou should certainly consider reviving the club’s interest. He has all of the tools that Forster had.

AND in other news, Celtic eye move for 31 y/o that Strachan dubbed “fantastic”, McKay is wasting his time…

Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is a shock target for Arsenal, as reported by The Sun.

The Lowdown: Sheffield United eye 2021/22 redemption

Sheffield United will be looking to immediately bounce back to the Premier League in 2021/22, in the wake of their unfortunate relegation to the Sky Bet Championship [Guardian].

Though player incomings may will be a crucial part of kick-starting their promotion push, keeping hold of their assets may take precedence for newly appointed boss Slaviša Jokanović [BBC].

In recent times, Blades midfielder Sander Berge has been linked with a move to Arsenal [Yorkshire Live], meanwhile Wolverhampton Wanderers have previously shown an interest in striker Oliver McBurnie [GIVEMESPORT].

Surprisingly, it may turn out to be a different player who departs Yorkshire for the Gunners according to latest stories.

The Latest: Ramsdale an Arsenal target; £20 million fee quoted

As Bernd Leno’s future becomes exceeding unclear between the Emirates sticks, Ramsdale has emerged as a potential acquisition for the Londoners as they restructure their squad [The Sun].

Sheffield United are said to be holding out for around £20 million for the 23-year-old [The Sun], who has replaced Dean Henderson in England’s EURO 2020 roster, after the Manchester United stopper sustained a hip injury [Guardian].

Arsenal are also said to be interested in Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who may prove to be a more financially prudent alternative in the last line of defence [Daily Cannon].

The Verdict: Losing Ramsdale would be a bitter blow for the Blades

Without question, losing Ramsdale would come as a bitter blow to Sheffield United as they set out to conquer the English second-tier.

In 2020/21, Ramsdale was ever-present for the Bramall Lane outfit, making 42 appearances across all competitions [Transfermarkt].

Though he endured a tough campaign last time out, there is no doubt that he has the ability to become a top-class goalkeeper at Premier League level in the coming years, evidenced by his call-up to Euro 2020 duty.

Once described as ‘simply outstanding’ by former Trinidad and Tobago international Shaka Hislop [Bournemouth Echo], Ramsdale has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur in the last few weeks [HITC].

Continuity is key to breeding success in football, and losing his commanding presence would be a sore setback to the Blades as they prepare for next term.

In other news, a pundit exclusively gives his take on Sheffield United star Oli McBurnie.

John Kennedy is considering his future at Celtic, according to a report from the Daily Mail, cited by the Glasgow Evening Times.

The Lowdown: Kennedy’s spell as caretaker

It’s safe to say Kennedy has had a busy few months at Parkhead.

The 4-4-2 style coach was placed in interim charge following Neil Lennon’s resignation back in February and took charge of 10 games, averaging 1.6 points per game.

The Hoops were also knocked out of the Scottish Cup by rivals Rangers under the 37-year-old’s guidance, and it seems as if his days at the club could now be numbered.

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The Latest: Kennedy exit update; Postecoglou’s plans

According to the Daily Mail, cited by the Glasgow Evening Times, Kennedy could look at options elsewhere as he has ambitions to become a full-time manager.

He looks set to oversee Celtic’s pre-season preparations before Postecoglou can take over, with the new Hoops boss then likely to bring in his own backroom staff.

That could spell trouble for Kennedy, Gavin Strachan and Stephen McManus, with the trio possibly not in his thoughts, the report states.

The Verdict: Should Postecoglou keep Kennedy and co around?

Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Muscat had been linked with a reunion with Postecoglou as his assistant, however, those rumours have since been squashed.

Muscat has experience of winning in Scotland, as does Kennedy, so there’s perhaps an argument for the Australian to keep the Scot around as part of his staff.

However, on the flip side of that, you could say Celtic are now looking at a complete off-park rebuild with Dominic McKay replacing Peter Lawwell and Postecoglou replacing Lennon, so a clean slate could also be a good idea.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Kennedy, but it appears he has plans to pursue a managerial career.

In other news: Hoops linked with move for Yokohama F. Marinos forward, find out more here. 

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans may be ‘scratching their heads’ after learning of the club’s contact with Ernesto Valverde, Noel Whelan has told Football Insider.

The lowdown

Spurs are still chasing a new manager, having dismissed Jose Mourinho prior to the Carabao Cup final in April.

Former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca was expecting to be appointed imminently, only for Spurs to pull the plug. The club then briefly pursued Gennaro Gattuso before ending their interest amid a backlash from numerous supporters.

Fabrizio Romano tweeted last Friday that ‘a new name’ had been approached in former Barcelona manager Valverde.

The Spaniard led the Catalan giants to consecutive La Liga titles and they were top of the table when he was sacked in January 2020. He won 97 of 145 matches during his tenure, a win rate of 67%.

However, his failures in the Champions League, most notably the dramatic 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the 2019 semi-finals, contributed to the decision to sack him in January 2020.

The latest

Whelan says it doesn’t reflect well on Valverde that he is still out of the game since getting the chop from Barcelona and believes that while he represents a ‘big step up’ from candidates considered previously, his appointment would apparently fail to excite Spurs supporters.

“You question why he has been out of work for so long,” the former Leeds striker told Football Insider.

“Usually managers are not out work for longer than a few months. 18 months is a long time for a manager to be away from the game.

“But Valverde would be a big step up from what Spurs have been looking at recently, though, the likes of Fonseca and Gattuso.

“I’m not licking my lips at the thought though and that will likely be the case with a lot of Tottenham fans.

“I imagine a lot of them will be scratching their heads a bit and thinking, ‘What? Why?'”

The verdict

Although his Barcelona tenure was perhaps defined by the collapses at Roma and Liverpool, Valverde still left with four trophies under his belt. His impressive CV also boasts a run to the UEFA Cup final with Espanyol, a Supercopa with Athletic Bilbao and a La Liga Coach of the Year award.

He may not have been the most attractive candidate at the start of the managerial search, but a couple of months into this farcical process, you might think that Tottenham could do an awful lot worse despite Whelan’s misgivings.

In other news, Alasdair Gold names a candidate to replace Serge Aurier.

Carlton Palmer believes there could be interest in Kalvin Phillips this summer, but said Leeds would demand big money for the midfielder.

Phillips, who’s currently impressing for England at the Euros and was named man of the match against Croatia, has proved a vital cog in Marcelo Bielsa’s machine in recent seasons.

And the 25-year-old has quickly proved himself as one of the most complete defensive midfielders in the Premier League, despite the 2020-2021 campaign Phillips’ first in the top-flight.

Phillips featured in 29 of Leeds’ 38 league matches last season, scoring once and assisting twice, as Bielsa’s team finished ninth on their return to the Premier League.

Not only is Phillips a fan of the Yorkshire club, but he’s been with them since he was a teenager, a factor which the Leeds faithful will hope to ensure he stays at Elland Road for many years to come.

Phillips still has three more years on his current deal, which means Leeds would demand a huge fee for the midfielder should interest come their way this window, according to Palmer who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“Kalvin had a tremendous game against Croatia in the first game of the Euros and had a fantastic season for Leeds, so there are going to be teams that covet him.

“But Leeds United are not going to want to sell him and if they do sell him, they’ll want big money for him.”