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Leeds United have now opened talks with the entourage of an “incredible” player with 10 England caps to his name, according to a report.

Leeds looking to avoid drop by building experienced squad

Upon their return to the Premier League, Leeds’ main aim next season will be to avoid an instant return to the Championship, and it looks as though Daniel Farke is planning to avoid the drop by building a squad with a wealth of top-flight experience.

Indeed, the Whites have been linked with players in a range of different positions, many of whom have proven themselves over a number of years in the Premier League.

Target

Current club

Position

PL appearances

Yves Bissouma

Tottenham Hotspur

CM

191

Aaron Cresswell

West Ham United

LB

312

Jamie Vardy

Leicester City

ST

342

Callum Wilson

Newcastle United

ST

239

Aaron Ramsdale

Southampton

GK

183

The interest in Ramsdale comes about amid doubts over Illan Meslier, who was dropped for Karl Darlow during the promotion run-in, but the Southampton shot-stopper, who is available for £25m following the Saints’ relegation, is not the only English goalkeeper on the shortlist.

According to a report from Leeds United News, Leeds have now approached the entourage of Newcastle United’s Nick Pope, who has emerged as a top target for Farke now that Caoimhin Kelleher has decided to make the move to Brentford.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey also dropped a further update on Pope’s St. James’ Park future, saying: “Pope, he’s on a very good contract there and age is not on his side. It depends where Leeds want to go with it as well.

“Do they go experience or young? I think they are assessing all options. He’s a very solid option.

“Clearly he’s going to be on the radar, but I don’t think they have 100% decided which way they’re going to go just yet.”

"Incredible" Pope could be exactly what Leeds need

Meslier simply cannot be trusted, with the 25-year-old costing Farke’s side 10 points in the Championship last season, and there is every indication the Newcastle goalkeeper would be a more reliable option between the sticks.

The England international, who has 10 caps to his name, has proven himself in the top flight across spells with Burnley and Newcastle, making a total of 221 Premier League appearances, while also catching the eye in the Champions League.

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Journalist Liam Kennedy was left particularly impressed by the £60k-a-week goalkeeper’s performance in a 0-0 draw against AC Milan in September 2023, claiming the Magpies “wouldn’t have got a point without his incredible performance in goal”.

There is clearly a strategy to bring in proven Premier League players this summer, and Pope certainly ticks that box, while his Champions League and international experience indicates he could be a real upgrade on Meslier, who has been far too error-prone.

Manchester City have opened talks over a deal for an “incredible” defender, who is now high up their list of targets, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man City set sights on new full-backs

Pep Guardiola’s rebuild got underway during the January transfer window, with Kyle Walker being shipped out on loan to AC Milan to make way for Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes, while Nico O’Reilly has come into the fold on the opposite side of the defence.

It was an impressive debut campaign on a personal level for O’Reilly, who rotated with Josko Gvardiol at left-back, with the Englishman picking up five goals and two assists in all competitions, and Guardiola has praised Nunes for his defensive performances.

However, there have been suggestions the manager is now looking to upgrade his options at full-back, having identified Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento as a priority target for the summer.

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Livramento is not the only Premier League defender of interest to Man City either, with Romano recently taking to X to reveal they have now opened talks over a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Ait-Nouri is now believed to be “high” on City’s list of targets at left-back, and having now submitted an enquiry, talks are expected to continue as we approach the summer transfer window.

There may be competition for the defender’s signature, however, with Liverpool also being named as potential suitors earlier this month, at which point it was revealed that Wolves could look to hold out for a fee of £51m.

"Incredible" Ait Nouri impressing at Wolves

The Algerian was one of Wolves’ most consistent performers in the Premier League throughout the 2024-25 campaign, averaging a 6.95 WhoScored match rating, the second-highest in the squad, proving himself to be both solid defensively and a threat going forward.

Indeed, the 23-year-old is impressive at both ends of the pitch, as showcased by the fact he has regularly chipped in with goals over the past year, while also ranking highly for tackles per 90, when compared to other full-backs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.12 (88th percentile)

Assists

0.20 (84th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.82 (97th percentile)

Tackles

2.58 (82nd percentile)

As such, the France-born defender is able to play in a number of different positions, according to former manager Gary O’Neil, who said: “I’m enjoying working with Rayan, I think he’s an incredible talent, a great guy and he brings a real enthusiasm and life to the place. We can use him anywhere so, unfortunately, at the moment we have to because we don’t have many others.

“But he is talented enough when we roll him in and play him in midfield a few times and we played him as a right 10 in the second half today.”

Guardiola will no doubt be pleased by O’Reilly’s emergence as a first-team regular, but should the manager decide to sign another left-back, Ait-Nouri has proven he could be a brilliant option.

Leeds United are said to have made an approach to sign a “fantastic” Premier League player in the summer transfer window.

Leeds eyeing signings for Premier League return

The Whites have secured their return to the top flight from the Championship, and it’s now a case of finding the right signings to bolster their hopes of survival.

In each of the past two seasons, the three promoted clubs into the Premier League have gone straight back down, so Leeds will be hoping they can buck that trend in 2025/26 by signing some top-quality players. With that in mind, 49ers Enterprises are thought to be willing to spend around £30m each on a new goalkeeper, centre-back and central midfielder, and have set further funds aside for a new striker.

Following Illan Meslier’s inconsistent form, Wolves stopper Sam Johnstone has been mentioned as an option to strengthen between the sticks. The Englishman has struggled for playing time at Molineux this season, so may jump at the opportunity to join Daniel Farke’s side.

A Kalvin Phillips reunion has also been mooted in recent days, with the Englishman’s career nosediving since leaving Elland Road for Manchester City, with injuries hampering him and a place back in Leeds’ midfield an enticing proposition.

Leeds want to sign "fantastic" Man City starlet

According to a new report from The Sunday Mirror [via MOT Leeds News], Phillips isn’t the only subject of interest at the Etihad, as Leeds have made an approach for City attacking midfielder James McAtee, seeing him as an exciting target this summer.

City value the 22-year-old at £25m and an exit is on the cards at the end of the season, with the Englishman only having one year left on his current deal. The Whites are set to battle Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen for his services.

McAtee could be exactly what Leeds are after ahead of next season, in terms of being a young player with lots of potential, but also already picking up some Premier League experience. In a star-studded City squad, the midfielder has still managed 15 appearances in the league this term, scoring three times in the process, and Pep Guardiola has described him as a “fantastic” player.

McAtee seemingly doesn’t have a long-term future at the Etihad, however, with too many elite players ahead of him in the pecking order, so a move to Leeds this summer could be an ideal outcome for all parties.

He would come straight in as a key starter for the Whites, rather than warming the bench for City, and his ability to shine in both a central attacking midfield role and out wide on the right flank would surely appeal to Farke.

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At 22, this is the right time for McAtee to become a regular starter in the Premier League, rather than wasting his best years as a substitute, and the 18-cap and seven-goal England Under-21 international should be considered a priority option for Leeds.

Middlesbrough missed out on a Championship playoff place this campaign, but could now raid rival top six chasers Blackburn Rovers for one of their star assets if reports are to be believed.

Championship playoff battle ends in despair for Boro and Blackburn

The race for a shot at Premier League promotion is now over in terms of the regular season, and supporters of concerned clubs will now look forward to a heated battle to claim a place in the top-flight. Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City secured a chance to reach the big time and the glamour that comes with it. However, for every success story, there are always hard-luck tales to offer some balance.

Michael Carrick will be feeling a sense of frustration after Middlesbrough missed out by a four-point margin following a run of one victory in their final six fixtures. Ultimately, the club’s decision to cash in on Emmanuel Latte Lath in January may have come back to bite officials at the Riverside Stadium.

The Ivorian striker scored 11 times before moving to Atlanta United, leaving a shortage of goals present in Carrick’s line-up barring Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway.

Middlesbrough’s unfateful run of results during Championship run-in

Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United

Millwall 1-0 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough 2-1 Plymouth Argyle

Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough 0-0 Norwich City

Coventry City 2-0 Middlesbrough

Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence could be an early arrival at Middlesbrough on a free transfer to add an offensive threat from midfield, and the Wales international is likely to be one of a number of targets under Boro’s watch over the coming weeks.

In similar fashion, Carrick’s men are now said to have another bargain deal up their sleeve that may come at the expense of rivals Blackburn.

Middlesbrough in pole position to sign Tyrhys Dolan

According to EFL Analysis, Middlesbrough could sign Tyrhys Dolan on a free transfer from Blackburn, and they are leading the race for his signature as his contract veers closer to expiring at Ewood Park.

Set to become available as a free agent, talks have taken place between his camp and Boro representatives. It has been made clear that he is primed to seek a new challenge away from the Lancashire outfit.

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Labelled “outstanding” by John Eustace, Dolan has registered seven goals and six assists across 47 appearances in all competitions this season, playing a major role in Rovers’ own close shave with earning a playoff place. Despite competition from a number of sides, Boro are at the front of the queue and are taking a proactive approach to atone for missing out on a shot at promotion to the top-flight.

Completing an average of 1.3 dribbles per match on Championship duty, Dolan has emerged as a rising talent and reportedly fits the bill as Middlesbrough seek depth to put the building blocks in place for a better season next time out.

Crossing paths to join another club in the same league may sour relations with his current employers, but it would also be a mark of Carrick’s ambition heading into pre-season.

68 days on from the sacking of Philippe Clement, the search for Rangers’ new permanent manager goes on at Ibrox.

For now, Barry Ferguson remains in interim charge, and he will remain in situ for the rest of the season, most recently overseeing the Gers’ 2-2 draw in Paisley on Saturday.

This means the Light Blues have now won only three of their last eight Premiership outings, conceding at least twice in ten of 12 outings across all competitions since mid-February.

However, with the 49ers takeover seemingly imminent, could the new owners land their dream appointment, one that would reinvigorate the club captain?

James Tavernier's recent form at Rangers

Sunday’s Old Firm at Ibrox will be James Tavernier’s 510th appearance in a Rangers jersey, only ten men have accumulated more for the club, making him an undisputed, bona fide legend in Govan.

During Rangers’ title-winning season of 2020/21, Jordan Campbell of the Athletic exclaimed that Tavernier was ‘the best player in Scotland’, stating that he was ‘playing on a different level to the rest of the league’, adding that the ‘extraordinary’ right-back put in one of the most ‘impressive individual seasons’ in Scottish football history.

However, in more recent times, Tavernier’s place in the Rangers team has come under scrutiny.

The Englishman himself admitted “I started the season off slow”, not reaching his usual high level, with Joshua Barrie of the Rangers Review labelling his performance against Motherwell in November’s League Cup Final as “passive”.

In an attempt to combat his defensive lapses, interim manager Ferguson has shifted Tavernier around, deploying him at centre-back against Athletic Club in the Europa League at San Mamés, before also trialling him as a right-wing-back on occasion, as was the case last weekend.

Given the 33-year-old’s attacking output, the latter role certainly suits him, so could the current front-runner to be the next Rangers manager get the best out of the skipper?

The current favourite to be the next Rangers manager

According to a report by The Daily Record, Marco Rose is currently the ‘nailed-on favourite’ to become the next Rangers manager.

The 48-year-old German is out of work, having been sacked by RB Leipzig in March, but boasts a pretty impressive CV.

Marco Rose’s managerial career

Club

Tenure

Matches

Win %

Trophies

Lokomotive Leipzig

2012-13

30

30%

0

RB Salzburg

2017-19

114

72%

Austria Bundesliga x2 & ÖFB-Cup

Mönchengladbach

2019-21

88

47%

0

Dortmund

2021-22

55

59%

0

RB Leipzig

2022-25

128

56%

DFB-Pokal & DFL-Supercup

All stats from Transfermarkt

TEAMtalk notes that a move for Rose could be feasible because Rangers’ new prospective owners, 49ers Enterprises, led by Paraag Marathe, already own Leeds United, who have minority investment from Red Bull GmbH, with whom Rose already has a working relationship, having been employed in both Salzburg and then Leipzig for nigh on a decade.

So, would Rose be a good appointment, and what is his style of play? Well, Scottish football expert Kai Watson has already declared that “he’s a level above Gerrard,” another of Rangers’ shortlisted candidates.

Meanwhile, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout certainly thinks so, labelling him “one of the most promising coaches in world football”.

As further noted by Luis Kircher of Total Football Analysis, Rose likes his teams to ‘press hard and make quick transitions’, with ‘intensity’ and ‘committing players forward’ key aspects of his style.

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When asked about his playing philosophy, Rose himself stated “we want to be very active… when we lose possession, lots of sprinting. We want to win the ball high up the pitch”, believing this “is a style that continues to excite” supporters.

Often favouring a back three, but the principle is the same in a four, as outlined by Marcel Seifeddine of Total Football Analysis, the width in a Rose team often comes from the full-backs, not deploying wingers, instead utilising central number tens, with the full-backs overlapping.

This has allowed attacking full-backs such as Lutsharel Geertruida, Benjamin Henrichs, David Raum, Raphaël Guerreiro, Ramy Bensebaïni, Stefan Lainer and others to thrive under his stewardship.

Thus, not only would the appointment of Rose be a major coup for Rangers, it could be the ideal hire to reinvigorate an out-of-form Tavernier.

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Leeds United are interested in signing an in-demand French striker who is also wanted by Scottish giants Celtic.

Leeds transfer rumours following promotion to the Premier League

The Whites and Daniel Farke are preparing for life back in the Premier League following a successful Championship campaign.

Promotion was secured for Leeds over the Easter weekend which resulted in a party at Elland Road on Monday evening. Farke’s side secured wins over Oxford United and Stoke City, whereas Sheffield United fell to defeat against Burnley to guarantee a top two finish for the Whites and the Clarets.

Talking after sealing promotion to the Premier League, captain Ethan Ampadu said: “It’s amazing. If you look at the scenes here, as it was after the final whistle, just pure excitement. Within ourselves we’ve got another target, so we can enjoy this now, but we’ve got another target we want to achieve. But right now, it’s very good.”

Centre-back Joe Rodon added: “For me it hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will until the end of the season, but I’m just delighted for everyone involved with the club, the fans and what it means to them. It’s what everyone has worked for all season and I’m buzzing.”

With top flight football back in Yorkshire for the 2025/26 season, the 49ers Enterprises may look to splash the cash on several new signings, and a new centre-forward is thought to be on the wishlist.

2024/25 signings that helped Leeds secure promotion

Player

Fee

Joe Rodon

£10m

Jayden Bogle

£5m

Ao Tanaka

£2.95m

Manor Solomon

Loan

Largie Ramazani

£9.3m

Joe Rothwell

Loan

Isaac Schmidt

£2.5m

Josuha Guilavogui

Free

Alex Cairns

Undisclosed

There are doubts at Leeds over Joel Piroe’s ability in the top flight, despite the striker scoring four goals in the first half against Stoke on Monday. There are also concerns over Patrick Bamford.

There have been some forwards linked with moves to Elland Road recently, including AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham. However, a new up-and-coming young forward appears to be on the Leeds radar, going off a recent update.

Leeds keen on French forward Moussa Soumano

According to Africa Foot, Leeds are one of several sides keen on Ajaccio forward Moussa Soumano. Aged just 19, Soumano is also wanted by Celtic and Leicester City, whereas Brentford have already made an offer worth €3m (£2.5m) to sign the attacker.

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Also capable of playing on the wing if required, Soumano has scored five goals and provided two assists in 66 appearances for his current employers. Not exactly a prolific record, however, the 6ft French attacker has been hailed as a promising talent and is ‘considered one of the great hopes of Corsican football’ in Africa Foot’s report.

Soumano could be one to keep an eye on, with Leeds potentially looking to bring in some talented teenagers alongside some big names, just like they did with Crysencio Summerville and Mateo Joseph when they were last in the top flight.

With relegation back down to the Championship a growing certainty, Ipswich Town now reportedly face the prospect of losing both Liam Delap and one other attacking star this summer.

Liam Delap clause emerges

The Tractor Boys may sit 18th and as many as 12 points adrift of safety, but that should not stand in the way of praise for Delap. The former Manchester City man has been excellent, and with or without Kieran McKenna’s side, should keep hold of his place in the Premier League.

His form certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with a plethora of clubs already chasing his signature amid a reported relegation clause worth just £30m this summer.

With both Chelsea and Manchester United keen on his signature, Delap looks destined to have a decision to make when the summer arrives. Ipswich, meanwhile, are likely to watch on as the player they signed for a reported £20m walks out the door for just £30m.

McKenna, as many are, is well aware of the talent that he has on his hands and attempted to instil belief that Delap could yet stay at Portman Road recently, telling reporters: “It’s not something that’s been discussed loads internally at because everyone’s focus, honestly, has been on Bournemouth, on Wolves, now on Chelsea. But if you ask me, is that a possibility?

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“I think it’s certainly a possibility. Liam’s a young striker. He’s developing really, really well at the football club. He’s happy and he’s improving every week and we’re enjoying working with him.

“I’m sure there’s lots of different possibilities. But Liam’s an Ipswich player. He enjoys being an Ipswich player and that’s where his full focus is.”

Meanwhile, although the focus has been on Delap in recent weeks, reports are now indicating that another attacking star could yet be heading for a summer departure.

PSV eyeing Jack Clarke move

According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, PSV are now eyeing a move to sign Jack Clarke from Ipswich this summer in a deal that would see the winger potentially leave alongside Delap.

A Champions League club, the former Sunderland man would be completing quite the move by going from likely Premier League relegation to the Eredivisie and one of Europe’s elite.

Like Delap, Clarke only arrived at Portman Road last summer – and for a hefty fee, at that. The Tractor Boys reportedly secured his signature for as much as £15m, but have since watched on as he’s struggled to make his mark in England’s top flight. Now, they will be desperate to at least recoup what they paid if PSV come swooping in.

Dubbed “talented” by McKenna earlier this season, Clarke could yet realise his potential away from English football and away from Ipswich this summer.

If it wasn’t clear already, Liverpool’s victory over Everton in the Merseyside has surely silenced the last whispers of doubt. There is no doubt: Arne Slot will lift the Premier League title in a few months.

Leading the charge, of course, is Mohamed Salah, who has posted 27 goals and 17 assists in the top flight alone this term, a haul which has established him as European football’s runaway goal involvement leader this term.

Most Goals + Assists in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues (24/25)

Player

Goals

Assists

G+A

1.

Mohamed Salah

27

17

44

2.

Harry Kane

22

9

31

2=

Omar Marmoush

20

11

31

4.

Robert Lewandowski

25

2

27

5.

Mateo Retegui

22

4

26

5=

Ousmane Dembele

21

5

26

Stats via Transfermarkt

The Egyptian, 32, has grown into a stature as one of the Premier League and indeed Liverpool’s greatest players of all time since signing from AS Roma in a deal worth £34m almost eight years ago.

It was a signing that didn’t exactly send shockwaves through English football when completed, but one which has in hindsight proved to be the most brilliant of blinders from FSG.

Now, Slot’s Liverpool are looking to repeat the trick, dipping back into the Italian market.

Liverpool's summer transfer plans

While The Athletic’s David Ornstein has suggested Liverpool aren’t placing midfielders on their priority list in the transfer market this summer, the right market opportunity will as always tempt FSG into pouncing, and Atalanta’s Ederson may just be that man.

Indeed, the robust midfielder has been an important part of Gian Piero Gasperini’s success over the past several years, and his progress has caught the eye of Europe’s elite.

So then, according to Tutto Atalanta, the Brazil midfielder has been on Liverpool and Manchester United’s radar for a while and interest may come to a head this summer, the Red Devils having failed with a bid one year ago.

Should their interest be genuine, Liverpool will hope that their superiority over their arch-rivals holds sway, for they are set to lift the Premier League title while Ruben Amorim’s side languish in the bottom half of the division.

Atalanta are resigned to losing their midfield general but will want to bank a pretty for his sale, fielding enquiries in the ballpark of €60m (about £51m), with Liverpool among those ready to ‘knock on the door’ and come forward with an offer.

Why Liverpool should sign Ederson

Liverpool have been brilliant this season, on course for the league title. However, there’s been a debate of late pertaining to Slot’s midfield’s lack of combativeness, and a player of Ederson’s ilk could make all the difference in firing across multiple cylinders next season.

Hailed as a “machine” in the middle for Atalanta by reporter Carlo Garganese after his performance against Bayer Leverkusen to win last season’s Europa League title, Ederson is renowned for his physical presence but is also an underrated technician, ranking among the top 17% of midfielders in Serie A this season for passes attempted, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

The 25-year-old, moreover, has been excellent in the Italian top division this term, starting 26 matches, winning five duels and recovering 5.1 loose balls per game, as per Sofascore, while also keeping it crisp with an 88% pass success rate.

With such a strong core of skills already, it feels like a transfer to Merseyside could be the perfect step, the launchpad, for the next stage in his career, emulating Salah in leaving Serie A having made his name and taking a seat among the uppermost echelon of midfielders on the continent.

To be sure, Salah has come on leaps and bounds since arriving in Liverpool, but there’s no question he was highly regarded for his exploits with Fiorentina and Roma, with Luciano Spalletti saying upon his transfer to Anfield: “He is the best player I’ve coached in my career.”

Ederson can now repeat the trick, giving Slot his own Salah signing to take an already impressive Liverpool side to the next level.

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The Sri Lanka captain returned to bat in the 23rd over after they lost their third wicket

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Oct-2025

Chamari Athapaththu was stretchered off early in the innings•Associated Press

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu was stretchered off the field early in their innings against England, raising serious concerns for the Sri Lanka camp. However, she returned to bat in the 23rd over after Sri Lanka had lost their third wicket.She had merely been cramping, but her having been carried away – rather than helped off the field – suggests Sri Lanka are not taking any risks with her, given their heavy World Cup schedule coming up. Athapaththu is vital to their chances in the tournament.In any case it was a largely unremarkable, jogged single that put Athapaththu out of commission. Having dragged a Linsey Smith delivery to deep midwicket in the sixth over, Athapaththu began to limp as she made her way to the other end. Almost immediately upon reaching the non-striker’s crease, she collapsed on to the ground, and lay face first until Sri Lanka’s physio arrived to treat her.After several minutes of stretching and treatment however, the stretcher and further medical staff were called for. At no stage after initially going down did Athapaththu get back on her feet.After returning to bat, Athapaththu added eight more runs before being bowled by Sophie Ecclestone for 15 in the 29th over.Athapaththu had been on the field for the entirety of England’s innings, and had bowled five overs for 21 as well. Conditions have been extremely humid in Colombo over the past few weeks, which is normal for this time of year.Sri Lanka’s captain had also been seen receiving extra stretching assistance from the support staff during training on the eve of the match.They were chasing 254, after England made 253 for 9, thanks to a Nat Sciver-Brunt hundred.

Southampton and Sport Republic have seemingly made their permanent St Mary’s manager decision during the international break.

Southampton's manager targets

The Saints are yet to announce Will Still’s full-time successor after parting ways with the 33-year-old following the 2-0 defeat to Preston North End earlier this month.

A number of candidates have been linked with the St Mary’s vacancy, including former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, Stoke City’s Mark Robins and even Frank Lampard at league leaders Coventry City. There have also been suggestions that former West Brom and Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray could be an option on a short-term basis.

Tonda Eckert has been in caretaker charge of the Saints following Still’s exit, recording back-to-back Championship victories against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday to steer Southampton clear of the relegation zone.

He was quizzed on taking the role on a permanent basis prior to the win over the Owls, to which Eckert said:

Eckert is still in his role as interim manager during the international break, and by the looks of things, it could get even better for the 32-year-old.

Southampton on course to appoint Eckert as full-time manager

According to talkSPORT, ‘Eckert is going to be given the job full-time’ at St Mary’s after impressing in his two games in charge.

The Saints are seriously considering their caretaker and appear to have made the decision, should this claim prove accurate.

Tonda Eckert’s coaching career

Role

Years

1.FC Koln U17

Assistant manager

2013-2016

RB Salzburg YL

Assistant manager

2016-2017

RB Leipzig YL

Assistant manager

2017-2019

FC Bayern U17

Assistant manager

2019-2020

Barnsley

Assistant manager

2020-2022

Genoa

Assistant manager

2022-2025

Eckert has already impressed supporters with back-to-back victories, and he has also come in for praise from Saints star Finn Azaz, who called him “top level”.

“Since his first meeting, I was really impressed. It hasn’t been drastic changes. He’s been able to watch from outside and tweak a few things. He has been able to instil his message and new energy and his drive and a new voice. As I say, it hasn’t been drastic changes.

“We are playing in the same shape almost. We went out there with similar personnel, [there were] just a few tweaks. I would like to thank him. He’s been top level.”

Southampton can land Still upgrade by hiring manager who's won 13 trophies