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Journalist Graham Smyth believes that Javi Gracia has to pick up stunning results if he is to keep the Leeds United job beyond this season.

The Lowdown: Survival is the only objective

It’s pretty clear that Gracia was not the main man Leeds wanted when they sacked Jesse Marsch and would’ve preferred a more long-term appointment, but they have had to settle for the Spaniard on a flexible contract.

However, Leeds have at least been able to bring in an experienced first-team manager until the end of the season, as leaving it in the hands of caretaker Michael Skubala was never going to end well for the Whites.

Even if Gracia does achieve his aim of keeping Leeds in the Premier League – which will be difficult given their league position – he may well be relieved of his duties come the end of the campaign unless something strange happens.

The Latest: Gracia is only a short-term option

Smyth insisted on the Inside Elland Road podcast that Gracia has to achieve something special to be kept on beyond this summer, with Leeds likely to look at other managers.

He said: “I think the word ‘flexible’ gives everyone sufficient scope to reassess in the summer. I would be stunned, if it went poorly, that Leeds would not find themselves changing manager again in the summer.

“I think for him to stay, I think he’s going to have to enjoy it, I think it’s going to have to go well, and I think they’re going to have to play good football for the fans to accept that he’s the man permanently. They’re going to have to be a Premier League club and they’re going to have to play football that they enjoy.

“Now, that’s a difficult one because there’s going to have to be an element of pragmatism to try and get results, to prioritise results and wins. They only have four all season so the aesthetic of how they play can’t really be his first concern.

“He’s said some great things in the past about winning any old way leaves you feeling empty if you don’t bring the fans on board; if the fans don’t feel involved, they’re not part of it. So you would think that he’ll try and play some kind of football that fans will like because that’s his philosophy.”

The Verdict: Leeds will look to reassess in the summer

It’s no surprise that Leeds haven’t openly come out and claimed how long Gracia’s contract is, as that could potentially cause unrest amongst the fans if it was a deal that stretches beyond this season – or even vice-versa.

Leeds will have to know what league they are in next season before looking at who the right appointment could be, as if they are in the top flight, someone such as Andoni Iraola or Arne Slot may be attainable, but if they are relegated, Gracia could be who they look to keep around and get them promoted.

The Whites have certainly left themselves in a massive mess by having to appoint someone that was clearly very far down their managerial shortlist – otherwise, the previously out-of-work Gracia would surely have come in as soon as Marsch was sacked – and he now only has 15 games left to work his magic in the league.

Glasgow Rangers are eyeing a summer swoop for a highly-rated Colombian talent as Michael Beale looks to bolster his squad at Ibrox…

What’s the latest on Kevin Mantilla to Rangers?

According to Football Insider, the Premiership giants are in ‘preliminary talks’ with Colombian starlet Kevin Mantilla regarding a potential summer move

The report adds that Rangers have ‘held a meeting’ to discuss the conditions of any kind of deal as Beale looks to plan ahead for next season, although they face competition from Liverpool for his signature.

Who is Kevin Mantilla?

The 19-year-old mainly operates as a centre-back, although he can also play on the right of defence, and his recent performances for Colombia at the South American U20 Championship earlier this month have attracted attention from Europe.

Colombia finished third in that tournament, duly qualifying for the U20 World Cup later this year. Mantilla played the full 90 minutes in every match for his nation and he has already played 26 times for his club Independiente Santa Fe.

Across 18 matches in the 2022 Clausura season, the youngster made 1.2 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 2.4 clearances per game while winning 55% of his duels, showing great maturity for someone so young.

Ross Wilson could possibly repeat Rangers’ masterclass on Alfredo Morelos in luring the teenage Colombian sensation to Ibrox, especially considering the trajectory of the early stages of their respective careers.

The current Rangers forward played for Independiente Medellin, another club from Colombia, making ten appearances before signing for Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki in 2016 aged just 19 – the same age that Mantilla is at the moment.

The striker burst into life once moving to Europe, eventually scoring 46 goals in just 62 matches for HJK. This attracted the attention of the Ibrox giants, who spent £1m to bring him to Glasgow in 2017, and it was a masterclass of a transfer decision.

Nearly six years later, the 26-year-old has netted more than 100 goals for the Light Blues and won a Premiership title along with becoming the club’s record scorer in European competition.

Mantilla will arguably be a player for the future, but with the success that his compatriot Morelos enjoyed while moving to Europe at such a young age, the 19-year-old could certainly surprise a few people in years to come.

With Liverpool also keen on the teenager, Beale will have to act swiftly in order to secure his signature, but the pursuit of the Colombian could well be a very wise move from Rangers, potentially allowing them to recruit another unpolished gem from the South American country.

Leeds United scout Alex Davies was in the stands for Preston North End vs Coventry City on Tuesday amid links of a move for Viktor Gyokeres.

The Lowdown: Gyokeres links

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Coventry forward Gyokeres in recent months. Reports following Javi Gracia’s arrival at Elland Road claimed that the club are plotting a move to sign the 24-year-old regardless of what division they find themselves in next season as they think he could be a key addition.

Gyokeres, hailed by his manager Mark Robins for his “unbelievable” power and technique, has scored 15 Championship goals this season and can play anywhere across the front three.

The Latest: Davies in attendance

Jordan Webber, who appears on Swans Cast Media, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to say that Swansea’s chief scout, Lee Maybury, was at Deepdale for Preston vs Coventry.

Davies, who first mentioned Ben White’s name to Victor Orta, was also on that list to presumably cast a further eye on Gyokeres.

The Verdict: Disappointing display

Gyokeres struggled to back up a match-winning display on the weekend against Sunderland, with the game against Preston finishing goalless.

The Sweden international had an evening to forget, as per SofaScore, ending with a match rating of 6.4/10. He gave possession away 23 times, lost 13 of his 17 duels and failed to register a shot on target.

He was Coventry’s second-worst starter on the night, so Davies may have come away with some reservations about the forward, so it’ll be interesting to see if Leeds make their move in the summer.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has claimed that Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes should be banned for pushing the assistant referee in the club's humiliating defeat.

What’s the latest on Bruno Fernandes and the 7-0 Man Utd loss?

We witnessed incredible scenes in the Premier League this weekend as the Red Devils were thrashed 7-0 away from home by bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

In terms of the football, the entire Man Utd team let themselves down but Fernandes' antics without the ball at his feet have also drawn plenty of criticism as he supposedly gave the referee's assistant a push in one heated moment.

When speaking about the player on BBC Radio Show 606, Sutton asked if he was suitable to be the club captain and insisted that he shove was worthy of a ban.

The pundit said (03:29): "I want to talk about Bruno Fernandes pushing the assistant. Totally unacceptable and he should be banned.

"I know Harry Maguire was club captain at Manchester United. Is he [Fernandes] really the guy you want as your captain at Manchester United?

"A couple of dives there today. Looked like chucked it. I don't know what you thought, I thought he was an absolute disgrace."

What does the defeat mean for Fernandes and Man Utd?

It's certainly a pretty bad look for the man who wears the captain's armband and therefore is supposed to lead by example. What's more, he also appeared to throw his arms up in anger when he wasn't substituted off in the final stages of the game – apparently unhappy with the idea of having to finish the full 90 minutes.

Former player Gary Neville took issue with this and slammed the player for his antics too, labelling the midfielder as a "disgrace" who "whinges" at his teammates and everybody else.

Erik ten Hag is known for his strict management style – having dropped key man Marcus Rashford earlier on in the season for oversleeping – so it will be interesting to see what, if any punishment awaits Fernandes in the coming days.

Chelsea have identified Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong as their priority summer transfer target, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Mount leaving?

The Blues spent big in the January transfer window, bringing in Enzo Fernandez for a British record £106.8m to bolster their midfield, however, Graham Potter may be forced to part ways with some of his other options this summer.

N’Golo Kante is still yet to put pen to paper and extend his stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the end of the season, while discussions with Mason Mount are also proving to be ‘complicated’, with Liverpool eyeing a potential move.

The Latest: De Jong eyed

As per a report from Football Insider, Chelsea have now made De Jong their priority target this summer, and Barcelona may be willing to sell the midfielder, given that they need to raise money via player sales this summer.

It is noted that Todd Boehly is a huge admirer of the Netherlands international, with the owner still keen to strengthen his squad even further in the summer transfer window.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lauded as a ‘beast’ by Barcelona boss Xavi, the central midfielder particularly specialises in his dribbling ability, ranking in the 96th percentile for progressive carries and the 92nd for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year.

The 25-year-old has been a crucial player for the La Liga side this season, making 32 appearances in all competitions, recently starring in the 1-0 Copa del Rey victory away at Real Madrid, winning seven duels and recording a 90% pass accuracy.

It may be difficult to lure De Jong away from his current club if Chelsea are unable to qualify for the Champions League this season, so being able to compete for players of his calibre is just another reason why it is essential Potter’s side finish the season strongly.

Greg O’Keeffe has hinted at Abdoulaye Doucoure’s uptick in form may force Everton into handing him a new contract.

The Lowdown: Dyche getting a tune out of Doucoure

Sean Dyche has come into Everton and been able to get more out of certain players than Frank Lampard could, including the likes of Doucoure and Michael Keane in particular with the former turning into a goal-scoring machine lately.

Having netted just once all season, Doucoure now has two in his last three games for Everton and both of them have come away from home, although the Toffees are set to lose the Frenchman for free when his contract expires this summer.

Doucoure was not someone who was a regular under the former manager starting just one league game before Dyche arrived, but he’s seemingly been given a new lease of life under the former Burnley coach.

The Latest: Doucoure fighting for his Everton future

O’Keeffe has claimed on the All Together Now podcast that Doucoure’s recent purple patch of form, could see Everton be forced into handing him a new contract if he continues to net at an impressive rate.

He said: (6:20) “Doucoure, in particular, scoring a goal and creating a goal, he is just such a changed man it’s unbelievable.

“We would’ve happily been talking about his contract not getting an extension in the summer, fascinating to see what Sean Dyche will be thinking, a penny for his thoughts now.”

The Verdict: Everton have a tough decision to make

Given that Doucoure is now on the wrong side of 30, it will be difficult for Everton to justify handing him a new long-term deal, which the midfielder is likely to crave so he can have some security over his future.

Therefore, even if Doucoure keeps performing at this level, it could be best for Everton to let him walk away for free in the summer, see if he can keep up this purple patch of form for any other side and wipe his £120,000 per week wages off their books.

However, if Dyche is able to keep Everton in the Premier League, then Farhad Moshiri and the rest of the board must listen to what he wants in the summer, and if that means handing Doucoure a new deal, then that’s what should happen.

West Ham will be looking to seal their spot in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals when they take on AEK Larnaca at the London Stadium this evening.

David Moyes' side lead 2-0 after their win in Cyprus last week and are comfortable favourites, despite their disappointing form in the Premier League so far this campaign.

How should West Ham line up vs AEK Larnaca?

Although the Hammers don't have a Premier League game this weekend due to Manchester City's progression in the FA Cup, Thursday still represents an opportunity for Moyes to unleash some of the academy talents and fringe players available to him at the London Stadium.

Here is how Football FanCast expects West Ham to line up on Thursday evening, with eight changes from the team that started against Aston Villa over the weekend.

With Lukasz Fabianski still sidelined through injury, Alphonse Areola looks likely to keep his place in goal, and the Frenchman will no doubt be targeting another clean sheet against the Cypriot minnows this evening.

There are three changes in defence, as only Kurt Zouma keeps his place as the former Chelsea man continues to regain his match fitness following his injury problems.

Nayef Aguerd is rested with Angelo Ogbonna replacing him in the heart of the defence, while Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell are handed starts at right-back and left-back respectively, with Thilo Kehrer and Emerson dropping out.

Declan Rice might be West Ham's best player, with Moyes labelling him an "exceptional" talent earlier in the season, but if there were any game to rest him for, it would be this one.

This frees up 18-year-old academy talent George Earthy to start alongside Tomas Soucek in the middle of the park, with the 18-year-old boasting four goals and eight assists in just nine appearances in the U18 Premier League this season.

Forgotten men Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini are also given a chance to impress after underwhelming league campaigns which have returned just one goal and one assist between them, while Maxwel Cornet also earns a start after returning from his long-term injury in recent weeks.

Finally, Gianluca Scamacca starts as the lone striker, in what could be one of the last chances for the former Sassuolo man to win over Moyes, with the Italian having dropped down the pecking order at the London Stadium following a series of poor performances, as well as the January addition of Danny Ings.

Liverpool are ready to submit an offer to bring Torino defender Perr Schuurs to the Premier League and are in pole position for his services, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed

Football Insider reported in February that the Reds are willing to listen to offers for both Joel Matip and Nat Phillips this summer so backline reinforcements will be needed should they depart.

The Dutchman isn’t out of contract at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium until 2026, but being a regular feature this season having made 20 Serie A starts under Ivan Juric, has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp.

The Merseyside outfit have recently been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old and it’s claimed that they are the ‘first to move’ to secure his services, though it sounds like they may now be ready to take it one step further.

The Latest: Liverpool ‘at the forefront’ and preparing bid

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain are all keen on a deal for Schuurs, but it’s Klopp’s side that are currently ‘at the forefront’ of the race.

The Anfield outfit are ‘ready to offer’ a fee of €50m (£44m) to sign him during the upcoming window, but it turns out it’s not the first time the boss has had him on his radar.

The German manager ‘wanted’ the centre-back in 2020 with him and the hierarchy having ‘considered’ another approach last summer, though they never went as far as ‘sinking their teeth in’.

There is plenty of ‘fierce competition at the highest level’ for the defender whose agents have said that he already has several ‘juicy’ proposals on the table.

The Verdict: Gvardiol alternative?

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol in recent months but Schuurs could prove to be the ideal and potentially much cheaper alternative.

The 6 foot 3 colossus currently averages 3.5 clearances and two aerial wins per league game highlighting the rock he can be at the heart of a backline but he is also strong in the offensive aspect of his play (WhoScored).

Torino’s tank, who is sponsored by Nike, has posted 37 goal contributions in 219 career outings showing the threat he provides when it comes to getting on the end of set pieces.

The Nieuwstadt native also knows what it takes to be successful having won six trophies during his spell at Ajax so would match the winning mentality that’s already on Merseyside.

Finally, Schuurs has been hailed a ‘top-class’ player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, making him the perfect candidate to put pen to paper ahead of the 2023/24 term.

HLTCO host Dan Cook has claimed that Brighton may be a more "attractive proposition" for Mateo Retegui amid transfer links to Crystal Palace.

What's the latest on Mateo Retegui and Crystal Palace?

The Italian striker made headlines last week as he scored on his national team debut against England and then followed this up with another effort against Malta.

The 23-year-old was actually born in Argentina – and is currently on loan at Tigres from Boca Juniors – but qualifies to play for Italy thanks to his grandfather.

After the most recent game, his national team manager Roberto Mancini was full of praise but warned that he still needed to do more to prove himself as a top player.

He told the press: "He unlocked the match, he was essential today. But I repeat: he needs time, he still needs to learn more about European football."

According to Corriere dello Sport (via FC Inter News), Retegui could be set for a move to a big team in Europe this summer with Inter Milan named as a possible option.

Beyond the Serie A team, Palace and Brighton were also linked and while speaking on the HLTCO podcast, Cook explained why it might be a hard deal to pull off for the Eagles.

He said (8:12): “I hate to say this in a Crystal Palace podcast, but I'm not sure we are necessarily anything like as an attractive proposition at the moment as Brighton and Hove Albion.

"They are upwardly mobile, there is every chance they will get into Europe by the end of this season.

"And you look at our current plight, you know, hopefully Roy Hodgson can steady the ship and keep us afloat in the Premier League.

"But without a permanent manager, and without a guarantee of even the division that we're going to be playing in next season, you do wonder whether or not he may well plump for the seagulls."

Why would Mateo Retegui want to join Brighton?

It's certainly true that Palace are struggling to maintain their status as a Premier League side sitting just three points above the bottom three with only ten games to keep themselves up.

All the while, bitter rivals Brighton have lofty ambitions as they look to bright European football to the Amex next season, currently seventh in the league, level on points with Liverpool in sixth (with a game in hand too).

With that in mind, it's not hard to see why Retegui – who has six goals in eight league games with Tigre this term – may feel as though Brighton is the more appealing destination should he seek out a move to England in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are still monitoring Norwich City's Max Aarons, although interest in the right-back is now growing, according to a recent report.

Do Tottenham need a right-back?

Tottenham have strengthened considerably at right-back in recent years, firstly bringing in Emerson Royal from Barcelona back in September 2021, in a deal worth £25.73m, before signing Pedro Porro in the January transfer window.

However, Emerson has been much-maligned this season, with journalist Josh Bunting launching a scathing attack on the Brazilian back in October, labelling him "dreadful", while Porro did not hit the ground running.

The Spaniard failed to dislodge Emerson in the starting XI to begin with, however he has since come into form, and Dan Kilpatrick from the Evening Standard said he looked 'technically sound' in yesterday's 2-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Even though the right-back has started to find his feet in the Premier League, Tottenham could look at strengthening in the summer transfer window, and The Sun report they are still monitoring Norwich City's Aarons.

The 23-year-old has been reluctant to leave the Canaries in the past, turning down two offers from unnamed Premier League clubs on deadline day, in order to focus on winning promotion from the Championship.

However, the Englishman could reconsider his stance this summer, amid growing interest in his signature, with Wolfsburg conducting a recent scouting mission.

The defender will be well known to Tottenham fans, having emerged as a top target for Jose Mourinho back in 2020.

Would Max Aarons be a good signing for Tottenham?

Members of the media have hailed the Norwich City ace this season, with Jack Reeve describing him as "superb", while also claiming he has the "maturity of a veteran."

One of the full-back's best attributes is his dribbling, ranking in the 98th percentile for progressive carries per 90 in the past year, and in the 85th for successful take-ons, when compared to other players in his position.

That said, similarly to Porro, the £29k-per-week ace does not always offer a lot to his side defensively, making far less clearances and blocks than an average full-back makes, over the course of the past year.

With Porro improving week-by-week, Tottenham have no real need to sign a player with very similar attributes in the summer transfer window, and they should instead focus on signing a new centre-back, given their defensive struggles, conceding 42 goals in the Premier League this season.