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Leeds United could be set to make a change in management, with the World Cup reportedly providing the perfect opportunity to do so…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to journalist Phil Hay, who issued a rather ominous claim on Jesse Marsch’s future at Elland Road and how long he might have left in the job.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show about the upcoming winter break, The Athletic reporter said: “It’s a sort of impromptu preseason that you wouldn’t normally have and there’s potentially no club that are more in need of that than Leeds.

“If you stand by Marsch then that gives you a long period in which to address issues and to think about recruitment in January, to talk seriously about what needs to change.

“If you decide to go in a different direction it actually gives you the flexibility where you don’t have to lump on a short-term appointment, or an interim appointment, or a caretaker, or anything else.”

His concluding statement was arguably the most damning for the 48-year-old: “Everybody has a gut feeling for where this is going and it will be incredibly difficult for him to survive.”

Big opportunity for Orta

With this upcoming break and with what Hay proposes, it gives sporting director Victor Orta a huge opportunity to either sound out Marsch’s replacement or back him to turn things around. However, given Leeds’ current form, it seems likely that he might opt for the first option.

The Whites are sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League, having not won since August. It will take something special to get out of this rut, and if the 48-year-old does not pick up points soon, then any decision over his future might be made for him.

Some might point to the job that he did in saving them from relegation as a reason for keeping faith, but his win percentage speaks for itself. He has endured a 29.2% win ratio, which by comparison is far worse than Marcelo Bielsa’s 47.6%, having replaced the Argentine eight months ago.

It might be somewhat gratuitous to attribute the Whites’ top-flight safety solely to the American- even so, it does not offer him nearly enough credit to keep performing the way that Leeds have been of late.

Two wins all season, having shipped 18 goals whilst only scoring 13, and sat in the relegation zone… it all points towards Orta having a big decision to make in terms of who he might bring in this time to replace Marsch, if the Elland Road chief pulls the trigger on the 48-year-old.

Either way, as Hay points out, the upcoming World Cup offers Orta an ideal opportunity to weigh up all the pros and cons before arriving at a decision.

Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to return to winning ways when they face Burton Albion at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.

Darren Moore’s side have lost ground in the automatic promotion race after dropping points against Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers in their last two outings, which has increased the gap to second-placed Ipswich Town.

The Owls looked vulnerable at the back against Joey Barton’s side in midweek but should be in confident mood ahead of the visit of Burton, with Dino Maamria’s side occupying a relegation spot in the third tier.

Here is how we at Football FanCast expect Moore to line his side up, with two changes from the side that started against Bristol Rovers in midweek.

David Stockdale unsurprisingly keeps his place in goal after some excellent saves kept the scores level in midweek.

The lack of centre-back options, due to the injuries suffered by Ben Heneghan and Reece James, as well as Michael Ihiekwe’s suspension, should see Moore revert back to the 4-2-2-2 formation he has utilised in recent home fixtures.

Mark McGuinness keeps his place at centre-back and is partnered by Dominic Iorfa, who will be looking to seize a rare opportunity to get back tot his best in the absence of usual centre-backs Ihiekwe and Heneghan.

This sees the “promising” Jaden Brown drop to the bench after he looked uncomfortable featuring as a centre-back in the 3-4-1-2 formation on Wednesday evening.

Liam Palmer and Marvin Johnson drop deeper as more natural full-backs, with Barry Bannan and George Byers likely to continue their partnership in midfield.

In attacking midfield, Josh Windass will likely keep his place but is supported by Tyreeq Bakinson, who returns to the side after dropping out on Wednesday night.

Finally, Lee Gregory and Michael Smith will look to cause Burton’s defence problems on Saturday, with the experienced duo scoring all of Wednesday’s goals between them in the last three fixtures.

Glasgow Rangers have been heavily linked with striker Jerry Yates recently after his superb start to the season and he could prove to be their next £18m talent should he move to Ibrox.

According to The Sun, the Gers and a number of English sides are all keen on the Championship forward after his impressive form so far this campaign, which sees him lead the way for goals in the Championship.

While Antonio Colak has proven himself to be a huge success since his summer switch from PAOK, bagging an eye-catching 11 strikes in 12 Premiership matches, Rangers can seemingly no longer rely on the goals of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe, as they have just three between them so far this term.

Therefore, January additions are a must if Giovanni van Bronckhorst wants his side to compete for the title this season after they crashed out of the Champions League, and Yates could be an excellent option to improve his attack.

The 25-year-old could even prove to be worth £18m in the future if he is to follow the path of a player rated extremely similar to him in Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson.

The Wales international is ranked as the seventh-most similar player to Yates in terms of style of play according to FBRef, which is certainly not a bad comparison when you consider his form in recent seasons.

After a superb loan spell with Lincoln City which saw him manage 13 goals and 14 assists in League One, Johnson was given his chance to impress in Forest’s first team, having progressed through their academy.

He played a huge part in Steve Cooper’s side winning promotion last season, hitting 19 goals and nine assists as the Reds recovered from an awful start to earn a spot in the Premier League via the playoffs.

Johnson was linked with a move to Premier League Brentford in January but they fell short of Forest’s £18m valuation, which turned into a great decision by the Reds as he played such a vital role in them going up.

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As per FBRef, this season has seen Yates and Johnson register extremely similar numbers in terms of dribble success rate (48.6% vs 50%), xG per 90 (0.29 vs 0.23) and tackles in the attacking third (three each).

Therefore, they are clearly similar types of players and if Rangers take a gamble on the “immense” Yates – as dubbed by Tangerines reporter Sean McGinlay – perhaps he could be worth as much as Johnson in the not-too-distant future.

Newcastle United reportedly remain in the mix to sign Shakhtar Donetsk sensation Mykhaylo Mudryk, although are likely to face stiff competition for the youngster’s signature.

What’s the word?

Reports back in September revealed that the Magpies were one of those who were reportedly tracking the Ukraine international, while fellow Premier League side Arsenal are also said to be “interested” at present, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The transfer guru suggested that the 21-year-old could command a fee in the region of €65m (£57m), while Shakhtar’s sporting director Carlo Nicolini has claimed that the asking price could be greater than the €100m (£86m) that Manchester United forked out on Brazilian winger Antony over the summer.

Amid that interest in the exciting forward, journalist Pete O’Rourke – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has provided an update:

“For sure they’re in there. It’s going to be very hard, I think, for Newcastle to persuade Mudryk to move to St. James’ Park.

“I’m sure Mudryk will be looking to join one of Europe’s elite clubs right now with the form that he’s shown for Shakhtar, especially in the Champions League this season.

“So, he’s not going to be short of takers, you’ve got the likes of Arsenal and other clubs in the Premier League as well as clubs across Europe who I’m sure are interested in Mudryk.”

Moussa Diaby alternative

Mudryk has no doubt warranted such interest as a result of his sparkling form in his recent times, with the highly-rated “baller” – as described by journalist Sacha Pisani – notably catching the eye in the Champions League with three goals and two assists in six group stage games.

Two of those three strikes came against Scottish champions Celtic with the eight-cap ace proving a real thorn in the side of Ange Postecoglou’s men, having also showcased his quality domestically with nine goal involvements in just eight league games.

The explosive wide man – who now boasts 25 goal contributions in just 40 games in all competitions for his current side to date – could well be the man to help bolster Eddie Howe’s attacking options at St James’ Park, with the Tynesiders having been unable to bring in a new winger over the summer.

One man the northeast side had reportedly been tracking was Bayer Leverkusen gem Moussa Diaby, although a move for the Frenchman was ultimately shelved due to the potential fee and salary demands.

Turning to Mudryk could well be an ideal alternative to Newcastle’s summer target, with the two men seemingly sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

In the case of Diaby, the fleet-footed speedster notably ranks in the top 4% for assists and the top 3% for non-penalty goals among those in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, while his counterpart compares favourably as he ranks in the top 4% and the top 1% for the same two metrics, showcasing their ability to impact games in the final third.

Turning to the latter man may well be the better solution, however, with Mudryk having provided 14 goals and assists in just 14 games so far this term, while that man Diaby has ten goal involvements in 20 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.

While it may be a real challenge for Dan Ashworth and co to prise their highly-sought target from Ukraine, amid rival interest, it could well prove to be a worthwhile venture.

Leeds United have a new striker in their sights heading into January…

What’s the word?

According to reports in Spain, the Yorkshire outfit are plotting a bid to sign Osasuna striker Luis Ezequiel ‘Chimy’ Avila after impressing in LaLiga this season.

Despite renewing his contract in Pamplona, there is a chance that the 28-year-old will still be on the move after the Qatar World Cup. His return to form post-injury has piqued the interest of Spanish top-flight rivals Sevilla, as well as the Whites.

As per the report, Avila has a €30m (£26m) release clause – as is the norm with contracts in Spain – and it’s believed that director of football Victor Orta is willing to pay around €22m (£20m) in what would be considered a ‘very generous’ offer.

Time to ditch Bamford

The Elland Road natives have long been in the market for a striker, even seeing a late move for Bamba Dieng fall through on deadline day in the summer and whilst that was soon averted by the addition of Wilfried Gnonto, 19, he arrived with the future more in mind.

Further injuries to Patrick Bamford have meant that the forward problem has resurfaced in recent weeks.

The long-serving Englishman missed a large chunk of last season, being restricted to just nine top-flight appearances as Leeds narrowly avoided relegation a year on from him registering a 17-goal campaign.

It now appears as if even more issues have emerged after he missed their 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday – the fourth time he has been missing with a problem.

Whites boss Jesse Marsch can no longer afford to rely on the 29-year-old heading into 2023, so it would make sense for Orta to priortise a new frontman and use his contacts in his home country to do so.

Avila would be an intriguing addition – across 13 league appearances this term, the uncapped Argentinian has found the net six times, including three from his last three outings. He has also done so by playing in multiple positions, potentially giving Marsch some much-needed versatility in attack, too.

Once described as a “wrecking ball”, the Los Rojillos forward isn’t the most towering of players at 5 foot 8 but WhoScored list one of his key strengths as being aerial duels and having won an average of 1.5 per game in LaLiga this term, that certainly appears to be the case.

None of Leeds’ forward options have matched or bettered this return in the more physically-challenging Premier League, whilst ranking in the top 3% of strikers in Europe for interceptions will match Marsch’s high-intensity, press-from-the-front system to a tee.

Avila as a forward offers some statistical similarities to Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman Raul Jimenez, whilst as a winger, FBref also liken his quality to that of Jarrod Bowen at West Ham United.

Being compared to two players that have proven their worth in the English top-flight is an encouraging sign that he could make a seamless switch in January, so if Orta can land his target, then Marsch could finally ditch the now injury-prone Bamford in the long run.

AND in other news, Forget Adams: Marsch “should be sacked” for playing 55-touch Leeds flop, he was awful vs Spurs…

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford will be offered a new contract at Old Trafford, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Rashford back in form

The 25-year-old has looked much more like his old self again this season, having dipped way below those standards for a sustained period.

Rashford has scored seven times in the Premier League and Europa League combined in 2022/23 to date, also netting in England’s 6-2 win over Iran at the 2022 World Cup on Monday.

The Englishman’s current United deal runs out at the end of this season but it looks as though his stay at the club could be extended.

The Latest: New deal incoming?

Writing on Substack [via Caught Offside], Romano claimed that the Red Devils would offer Rashford a new contract, with Erik ten Hag considering the forward an ‘important player’.

“Manchester United will offer Marcus Rashford a new deal, it’s part of their plans.

“Even though his current contract expires in 2023, nothing is expected to end next summer as Man Utd have the option of a clause to extend his contract for one more year.

“Erik ten Hag considers Rashford as really important player for the present and future.”

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The Verdict: Still a big role to play

There was a point when Rashford arguably looked like his long-term future at United was in doubt, but his form this season suggests he still has a key role to play.

While that doesn’t necessarily mean he is a guaranteed starter in Ten Hag’s strong starting lineup, he possesses the pace and end product to be a handy figure in the squad, having been called ‘brilliant’ by Dion Dublin.

At 25, he is still a relatively young player, too, so selling him at this point in his career would feel like a risk, considering he still has so many years ahead of him.

Crystal Palace have been heavily linked with former full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka in recent weeks and it seems as if the defender is desperate to leave Manchester United after the World Cup.

What’s the word?

The 24-year-old has made just one substitute appearance in all competitions so far this campaign, so it seems highly likely that he will be moved on after the World Cup, and a return to Selhurst Park could be on the cards if reports are to be believed.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke shared the latest news on Wan-Bissaka in a recent interview with Football FanCast.

He said: “I’m sure Crystal Palace will be looking to rekindle that interest in January to see if they can get their former right-back back at Selhurst Park. And I’m sure other clubs might be looking at Wan-Bissaka who I’m sure will be desperate to go out in search of first-team football after a frustrating six months or so.”

Vieira would love him

The right-back was sold to the Old Trafford outfit after some superb performances at Crystal Palace, which saw Palace coach Scott Guyett labelled him “incredible”, with the Red Devils paying an extraordinary £50m for his services in 2019.

After a promising start to life with the club, his attacking deficiencies were quickly discovered, and it seems clear that new manager Erik ten Hag wants him gone in January. That, however, could be the Eagles’ gain.

Patrick Vieira has struggled for right-back options so far this season after Nathaniel Clyne’s injury problems, and while the former Liverpool man returned to action just before the World Cup break, it is still an area in which the Eagles could improve.

Both Clyne and Joel Ward are approaching the end of their Premier League careers, whereas Wan-Bissaka still has a lot of potential to improve, and could be a superb addition to Vieira’s side if he can rediscover the form that made him a £50m player in 2019.

The 2020/21 campaign saw the right-back average more tackles (2.6), more interceptions (1.7) and more blocks (0.8) per game than either Clyne or Ward have managed so far this season, which suggests that he could be a great long-term upgrade at Selhurst Park.

Therefore, Vieira would surely love to have Wan-Bissaka back at Selhurst Park. Not only would he add further quality to the side, but he’d fix an area of the squad that has clearly been a cause for concern.

As a result, Steve Parish should certainly be looking to get a deal done with Manchester United ahead of the January window.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters got to witness two of their stars in action at the World Cup on Monday as both Heung-min Son and Rodrigo Bentancur started for their respective nations.

Neither were able to come up trumps with a much-needed victory in Group H, leaving their chances of making the knockout stages looking rather slim heading into the final matchday.

Portugal were perhaps a little fortunate to edge their way past Uruguay, whilst South Korea were stunned by Ghana in what was a five-goal thriller.

Those that were a little more eagle-eyed would have seen one of Spurs’ mooted transfer targets put in one of the performances of the week – not only did Black Stars sensation Mohammed Kudus find the net twice but he put in an all-encompassing display that should have Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte purring.

The Italian duo are thought to be keen to bolster the frontline in the January transfer window and the Ajax youngster is among the potential options, with Calciomercato (via Sport Witness) even suggesting that he would be scouted in Qatar.

Kudus is in the midst of an emerging season for the Eredivisie giants, where he has scored ten goals and laid on two assists across all competitions – including efforts against Liverpool and Serie A leaders Napoli in the Champions League.

The 22-year-old has continued that fine form into the World Cup. After being one of Ghana’s main bright sparks in the 3-2 defeat to A Seleção, Kudus netted two important efforts against Son and co to all but send them home.

Deployed out wide, rather than through the middle or upfront like for his domestic side, Kudus was a constant thorn in Paulo Bento’s side as he offered the Black Stars a dynamic outlet from midfield, where he was able to arrive late inside the box and wreak havoc.

The impressive Ajax starlet deftly headed home Jordan Ayew’s deep cross and bagged the match-winner by firing an excellent effort past the goalkeeper just before the 70th minute.

As per FBref, Kudus also registered a 100% tackle success rate from his two attempts – a feat only bettered by Ayew – and registered one interception and one block, which suggests that he was a bundle of energy along the flank and did anything to help his side over the line. His ten recoveries were double that of any other Ghana player and his three dribbling attempts further hints at his endeavours in the final third.

The versatile machine, thought to be worth around £15m, was like a sniper with his passing at short-to-medium range as he misplaced just one of 13 attempts. It was his balls over 30 yards that let down his passing accuracy but as a likely forward option for Conte in north London, that won’t matter whatsoever.

It’s perhaps little surprise to have seen the FIFA Man of the Match dubbed a “special talent” in the past by Opta analyst Owuraku Ampofo, whilst over in Qatar, journalist Rahman Osman claimed he was one of the stars of the tournament “alongside [Jude] Bellingham and [Jamal] Musiala.”

Forget about Bentancur, it was Kudus who stole the show this week and that should have Paratici eager to get out the chequebook heading into January. His obvious ability to play anywhere behind the striker, as well as upfront, would be a big benefit to Spurs and Conte in what will be a challenging few months with plenty at stake.

His price tag may have risen well beyond that £15m now but he would surely be worth every penny.

AND in other news, Sky Sports journo claims £34m-rated “rare talent” is “someone Spurs might look at” in 2023…

Liverpool are reportedly concerned that the club’s current director of research Ian Graham could make a controversial move to bitter rivals Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Graham leaving Liverpool in May

It has recently been confirmed that Graham is currently seeing out a 12-month notice period at Anfield, having decided to leave his role at the club. That means he will depart next May after playing a crucial part in Liverpool’s much-heralded recruitment during the Jurgen Klopp era.

Given Graham’s reputation in his role, it is a clear blow for the Reds to lose him, and a recent report could potentially make the manner of his departure even worse.

The Latest: United move on the cards?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool ‘fear’ that Graham could now move to United, in what is described as a potentially ‘controversial’ development.

It is also noted that former Reds sporting director Michael Edwards has been eyed up by the Red Devils as they look to replicate their Merseyside rivals’ success of recent years.

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The Verdict: Wouldn’t go down well

While Graham’s possible move to United wouldn’t be comparable to the blow of a Liverpool player heading to Old Trafford, it is still unlikely to go down well at Anfield or among the Reds’ fan base.

The intensity of the rivalry is arguably unrivalled in the English game, and the idea of Graham strengthening United moving forward would surely not sit well with Kopites.

That being said, it is still his job and it is only natural that he could consider such a high-profile role – ultimately, his final decision could boil down to how much respect he has for Liverpool.

The popularity of world cup betting has grown exponentially in recent years. With the advent of online betting, more and more people can place bets on their favourite teams from the comfort of their own homes. This convenience has made world cup betting one of the most popular forms of gambling worldwide.

This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide to World Cup betting. We will discuss the different types of bets that can be placed on the world cup, as well as the venues where you can find the best bookies for free bets on the World Cup online.

So, if you are interested in learning more about world cup betting, then read on!

What are the different types of bets that can be placed on the World Cup?

There are a variety of bets that can be placed on the World Cup. Let’s learn the most common ones:

-Picking the winner of the tournament;

-Picking the top scorer;

-Picking the team to make it to the final;

-Picking the team to win each group;

Read below to see how you can read the odds for them!

How to read odds for World Cup betting?

Here, we’ll explore the different ways to read odds for World Cup betting. The most common way is to use the decimal system, which most bookmakers use. In this system, the odds are represented as a decimal number. For example, if the odds are 2.5, this means that for every $1 you bet, you will win $2.50.

The other way to read odds is using the fractional system, which is more commonly used in horse racing. In this system, the odds are represented as a fraction. For example, if the odds are 2/1, this means that for every $1 you bet, you will win $2. If the odds are 1/2, this means that for every $2 you bet, you will win $1. If the odds are 1.5, this means that for every $1 you bet, you will win $0.50.

What are the best venues for World Cup betting and why?

There are a few different ways to approach World Cup betting, and the best venue for you will depend on your personal preferences and goals. If you’re simply looking to place a few bets and have some fun, then online sportsbooks like Bet365 and William Hill are great options. They offer a wide variety of markets for all of the World Cup games and are very user-friendly.

If you want to make some serious money from your World Cup betting, you’ll need to find a more specialized venue. For instance, Pinnacle is an excellent option for those who are willing to put in the time to do their research. They offer very low margins on their markets, which means that there’s more potential profit to be made.

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