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Leeds United started a new era at the Yorkshire club earlier this season when they replaced Marcelo Bielsa with current manager Jesse Marsch.

Even though the American still has a few Premier League games left to get through before the season draws to a close and the summer transfer window opens, we have an idea for one potential deal the Whites could look to get done in that period.

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Back in the January transfer window, Leeds were linked with a potential move for Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino.

Eventually, nothing came of these links in January and the Japanese international stayed at Anfield.

However, with the Reds having the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz in their squad, Minamino has found regular playing time in the Premier League hard to come by.

With 23 appearances to his name across all competitions this season, the attacker has only started eight of them, showing just how difficult it is for him to get into the team.

Despite his lack of regular game time, the 27-year-old has still managed to show what a capable attacking player he is by scoring nine goals.

Having been praised for his “complete” performances in the past by Jurgen Klopp, the £72k-per-week winger has also been compared to former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez by journalist Ian Doyle.

Given how the Uruguayan has scored 437 goals in 695 club appearances throughout his career, this is quite the compliment.

In terms of a potential move to Leeds, should he find himself waving goodbye to Anfield in the summer in search of regular game time, the Yorkshire club should definitely be in the mix for his signature once again.

Taking into account how the Japanese star racked up 20 goal contributions in 22 appearances for his previous club RB Salzburg under the management of Marsch, a reunion between the two could be a match made in heaven for Leeds.

Also, with the Whites finding it hard to score goals at times this season, having an attacking and creative talent such as Minamino in their squad could be just what they need to become a deadlier team going forward.

With the summer window in mind, launching a move for the Liverpool outcast should be at the top of Victor Orta’s to-do list and potentially deliver Leeds their own version of Suarez.

AND in other news: “Going to sign…”: Insider drops big Leeds transfer claim, supporters will be buzzing

Ryan McLaren has been called in to replace the injured Albie Morkel in the Twenty20 squad to face Zimbabwe over the weekend

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2010

Ryan McLaren, the South Africa allrounder, has been called in to replace the injured Albie Morkel for the two-match Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe over the weekend. Morkel picked up a side strain while playing for Chennai Super Kings in their run to the Champions League Twenty20 title last month.”We are anticipating that Albie will be fit in time to take his place in the three-match ODI series that starts next week,” selection convener Andrew Hudson said.McLaren, 27, was part of the side during their last Twenty20 assignment – two matches during the tour of West Indies in May, and took a five-wicket haul in the first of those matches. He was surprisingly overlooked when the squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe series was announced.Since he made his international debut last November, McLaren has fared well for South Africa, being named the Newcomer of the Year at the 2010 SA Cricket Awards in July. He gave up his Kolpak status last year, thus making himself available for national selection. He was called up for South Africa’s ODI squad to face Kenya and Bangladesh in October 2008 but English county Kent refused to release him.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Ruben Dias will not be available to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. 

The lowdown: Hamstring issue for Dias

The 24-year-old has been sidelined since the beginning of March with a hamstring injury that he sustained in the FA Cup victory over Peterborough United.

Dias has been a revelation since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in 2020 and was named the Premier League Player of the Year for last season.

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Having already sat out six matches this term, the Portuguese defender looks set to miss out once again…

The latest: Dias not fit for Sunday

Speaking ahead of the crucial clash with title rivals Liverpool this weekend, Guardiola confirmed that Dias wouldn’t be available.

During the pre-match press conference, as quoted by Manchester Evening News, the Spaniard was dismissive of the Portuguese ace’s chances of featuring, saying: “Everyone is fit. Not Ruben. No.”

Despite initial hopes that the 37-cap Portugal star could return after the international break, it now seems that a comeback against Atletico Madrid next week is the earliest feasible date.

Aside from this blow, young striker Cole Palmer was also ruled out of contention for Sunday, but Kyle Walker is set to return to the fold following suspension in the Champions League.

The verdict: Huge loss for City

There can be no denying that the absence of Dias’ towering presence from the City defence will likely be felt hard by Guardiola’s side against Liverpool.

Although the 51-year-old has very capable backup in the shape of Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake, Dias has often been the leader of the backline, as illustrated by an outstanding 7.10 average Sofascore rating this season whilst helping to keep 11 clean sheets from 25 Premier League outings.

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by Guardiola in the past, the manager will no doubt be hoping that the talismanic defender can make a recovery as the run-in intensifies, whilst in the meantime devising a plan to stop Liverpool.

In other news: Journalist shares news as Man City pursue striker deal, find out more here.

Mohammad Asif made a breakthrough for Pakistan when he removed Andrew Strauss, but bad light and rain meant just 12.3 overs were possible on the opening day of the final Test at Lord’s

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan26-Aug-2010
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Asif was rewarded for a probing spell when he removed Andrew Strauss•Getty ImagesMohammad Asif made an important breakthrough for Pakistan when he removed Andrew Strauss, but bad light and rain meant just 12.3 overs were possible on the opening day of the final Test at Lord’s. It was no surprise that Salman Butt put England into bat and conditions favoured the seamers, but England’s openers had combated the early threat until Asif made his mark.There wasn’t much Strauss could have done about his dismissal as the ball pitched just outside off and swung back into the left hander and hit middle. It continued Strauss’s relatively lean series but on this occasion it was bowling skill rather than a batting error that brought the wicket.Alastair Cook should have gone in the third over of the day when he edged Mohammad Amir to third slip only for Umar Akmal to drop a regulation catch. Pakistan’s fielding improved hugely at The Oval and was a key reason for their victory and this was a worrying return to previous form for the slips.Amir, who began the Test with five wides down the leg side, wasn’t quite at his best and was a touch too wide to make the most of conditions. However, he thought he’d removed Cook caught behind on 9 but the review system proved the ball missed the edge and bat had clipped pad.Asif was metronomic from the start of his spell and beat Cook with a couple of beautiful deliveries which shaped away late before bringing one back into Strauss with perfect results.By then the conditions were becoming an issue despite the floodlights coming on, although Jonathan Trott didn’t have much trouble opening his account with a sweet clip through midwicket which he followed with a positive off drive. A few moments later the players were off and didn’t return.Both teams were unchanged from The Oval with England using the same XI throughout the series and Pakistan resisting the temptation to rush back Umar Gul following his hamstring injury. Gul’s replacement, Wahab Riaz, was an able stand-in with a five-wicket haul on his debut at The Oval.

Farhad Moshiri is interested in a move to appoint Wayne Rooney as the next Everton manager.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Kaveh Solhekol, with the Sky Sports journalist revealing on The Transfer Show that the Derby County boss is one of the leading candidates for the vacant managerial position at Goodison Park following the sacking of Rafael Benitez on Sunday.

Regarding Moshiri’s shortlist of targets for the role, Solhekol said: “Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney are leading candidates for the job.”

Fans would love him

While it is true that Rooney’s CV in management is extremely limited, considering the history between the 36-year-old and the Toffees, in addition to the fact that the former England captain has done a rather extraordinary job at Pride Park, it is easy to see why the appointment of the Evertonian would be one that the Goodison Park faithful would love.

Indeed, after taking over the Derby job last season, Rooney managed to seal the club’s survival from relegation to League One in the most dramatic fashion, with a 3-3 draw on the final day of the season in a relegation shootout against Sheffield Wednesday being enough to keep the Rams up and send the Owls down.

Furthermore, the 36-year-old has done an even more astonishing job at Pride Park so far this season, as, despite the fact that the club have been docked 21 points for breaking financial regulations and being entered into administration, are operating with a skeleton squad and are under a transfer embargo, the manager has guided his side to eight wins, 11 draws and just seven losses from their 26 Championship fixtures.

These results would leave the club sitting in an extremely healthy 11th place – just seven points off of the play-offs – if it were not for their points deductions, something which Rooney simply must be given huge credit for.

As such, it is clear for all to see that the Everton academy product has an extremely bright future in management, and, considering his affiliation with the club, his appointment at Goodison Park would undoubtedly be a very popular one with fans.

In other news: Moshiri may repeat Silva disaster as EFC eye boss who “wasn’t ready” for a “big club”

A last-wicket stand of 55 between Rikki Clarke and Boyd Rankin gave Warwickshire their first batting bonus point for five games, but they ended the second day well adrift at Chester-le-Street

29-Jun-2010
ScorecardA last-wicket stand of 55 between Rikki Clarke and Boyd Rankin gave Warwickshire their first batting bonus point for five games, but they ended the second day well adrift at Chester-le-Street. They also had coach Ashley Giles on the field after Jim Troughton and Andrew Miller were forced off while the Durham openers, Michael Di Venuto and Mark Stoneman, both survived slip chances to reach 78 without loss in the second innings.That gave them a lead of 142 after dismissing Warwickshire for 224, with Clarke the last man out for a classy 68, leaving Rankin unbeaten on 10. With the ball swinging and some help in the pitch for Durham’s quartet of seamers, Clarke was the only batsman to look settled, although he was dropped on 40 by Callum Thorp at gully.That was one of four sharp chances Durham put down as well as fumbling a run-out opportunity, although the day’s worst miss was by the Bears’ Darren Maddy at first slip off Neil Carter with Di Venuto on eight. A misfield by Ian Blackwell gave Clarke the two runs which took him to 50 and prompted extra jubilation from his team-mates as it also brought up the 200, earning the batting point.Clarke finally sliced a drive to point to leave Chris Rushworth with career-best figures of 3 for 46 as he and Thorp shared the last seven wickets. Both swung the ball in the morning but remained wicketless as Steve Harmison’s hostility accounted for the openers, although Maddy clearly did not agree with his caught-behind decision.With Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell helping England Lions to victory against West Indies A, and Varun Chopra injured, Warwickshire had 18-year-old Ateeq Javid at No. 5. He slapped a long-hop from Thorp to point before Tim Ambrose and Troughton put on 48 for the fifth wicket.Troughton led a charmed life before he departed for 44 when Rushworth had him caught behind, while the recalled Ambrose scored most of his 31 runs behind square on the off side before Rushworth brought one back to pin him lbw.Thorp took the next three as Carter drove to mid-on, Miller lobbed a catch to second slip and Imran Tahir twice edged fours to third man before Claydon was posted there and promptly held a high slice.The pitch appeared to be easing in the evening sunshine and after their early escapes the Durham openers prospered, mixing crisp strokes with alert running. Stoneman finished unbeaten on 42 with Di Venuto on 31.

Cricinfo previews the return match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in Chennai

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran02-Apr-2010Match factsApril 3, 2010
Start time 16.00 local (1030 GMT)Michael Hussey adds solidity to the Chennai middle order•Getty Images

Big pictureThere isn’t much to separate Rajasthan Royals from Chennai Super Kings in terms of points. Rajasthan have the upper hand thanks to four consecutive victories but they slipped badly against Delhi Daredevils on Wednesday, just showing how unpredictable they are. They are up against a team which heaved a huge sigh of relief after gaining a much-needed win, against Royal Challengers Bangalore, to take the first step in fighting for a spot in the final four.A sell-out crowd is expected to witness the 2008 finalists go head-to-head for the second time in the tournament. Chennai still have a long way to go, as they need at least four more victories to the three already have to stand a realistic chance of qualifying. The great news for them is that their two Australian imports – Michael Hussey and Doug Bollinger – are finally here. It only remains to be seen if Chennai can fit both into the line-up. The sooner Bollinger can acclimatise, the better for Chennai because they desperately need him for his pace and wicket-taking abilities. He’s coming off a great summer with Australia and Chennai will be glad to have him on board.Rajasthan’s latest defeat prompted an unwelcome remark from the Delhi captain, Gautam Gambhir, about them being “ordinary” and increasingly reliant on Yusuf Pathan. But that remark may just spur them to deliver their best in the forthcoming games.Form guide (most recent first)Chennai Super Kings WLLLL
Rajasthan Royals LWWWW
Team talkHussey didn’t show any signs of jet lag after arriving from New Zealand as he battled the radical weather change and hit the nets. Whether he plays or not hasn’t been decided. If both Hussey and Bollinger play, then Albie Morkel and Thilan Thushara will have to sit out.The Rajasthan players had a two-hour training session at the stadium but didn’t reveal any details of their team composition. Their star overseas pick, Shane Watson, too arrived from New Zealand and he sweated it out in the nets. If he plays, then Michael Lumb may have to sit out.Previously…Rajasthan 3 Chennai 2A Naman Ojha special in Ahmedabad helped Rajasthan to 177 but Chennai fell 17 short the last they met in the tournament. A last-ditch effort from Morkel gave Chennai hope but it was too late in the day.Prime numbersChennai have never beaten Rajasthan in an IPL game in India. Both their victories came in South Africa last year.In the spotlightIt’s quite inexplicable why Manpreet Gony is a shadow of the bowler he was back in 2008. An economy rate of 11.50 after three games, a bad shot against Punjab and a dropped catch against Bangalore all indicate that the three departments of the game have let him down. With Joginder Sharma and Sudeep Tyagi not at their best either, L Balaji is the most logical replacement for Gony.Siddarth Trivedi: He has just three wickets from six games, but the Gujarat medium pacer is turning out to be a useful defensive option, a bowler who can keep the runs down. In the last game against Chennai, he conceded just 18 off four overs, and his spell was vital in not allowing Chennai an opening to cut loose.The chatter”The race for the four berths is close. Though we have lost five matches, it is not end of the world for us. We can turn it around.”
Michael Hussey believes a few more wins will leave the tournament wide open