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Elliot Lee has joined Paul Mullin on the bench at Wrexham, with Phil Parkinson explaining why the 14-goal midfielder was a substitute against MK Dons.

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• Red Dragons boast strength in depth
• Able to rest & rotate when required
• Boss eager to avoid taking fitness risks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons have, courtesy of Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, been able to piece together a squad that boasts the depth required to deal with a gruelling 46-game League Two campaign. With so many matches to take in – as domestic cup competitions are also added to the pot – rest and rotation will be required at times.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Parkinson has taken to shuffling his pack of late, with star striker Mullin starting a couple of games among the replacements. He was joined on the bench by talismanic midfielder Lee for a trip to Stadium MK, with the pair handed cameo roles in a 1-1 draw that lasted less than half-an-hour apiece.

• WHAT PARKINSON SAID ABOUT LEE

  Explaining Lee’s absence from the Wrexham starting XI, with George Evans and James Jones among those currently nursing injuries, Parkinson said: “Elliot has played more minutes than any other player. I just felt that to play him again after putting so much effort in at the weekend and the midweek game at Sutton would put him at risk of maybe getting a little injury. With the injuries we have got, I didn't want to take that risk. I said to Elliot: 'it would be great for you to come on after 60 minutes when the game has opened up' and he was magic when he came on.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Parkinson added on the knocks picked up by Evans and Jones, who are recovering from glute and hamstring problems respectively: "Both look quite serious unfortunately for us. We have had setbacks in that department but that's the way it goes and we will have to address that.”

It was another tough game for Weston McKennie and Juventus as the U.S. men's national team star couldn't help his side avoid another Serie A slipup.

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• McKennie and Juve falter – again
• Settle for 2-2 draw vs Verona
• Scudetto slips further away

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Verona shocked Juventus with an early goal, with Michael Folorunsho's stunning long-range volley being a goal-of-the-season contender.

  The Old Lady, though, battled back, getting a goal of their own in the 28th minute. Dusan Vlahovic was the goalscorer, with the Serbian converting from the spot to make it 1-1.

  It stayed that way until the two sides exchanged goals early in the second half. Tijani Noslin gave Verona the lead once again in the 52nd minute, but Adrien Rabiot's 55th-minute finish made it 2-2.

  Juventus continued to push for the breakthrough, but it never came, as the two sides split the points in a match that will do little to help Juve's Serie A aspirations.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With the draw, Juve have now gone winless in four matches, all but ending their Serie A title hopes. In addition to their loss to Inter, Juve have faced three relegation contenders but have earned just two points from those three matches to fall out of the race.

  McKennie and co. do sit second, nine points behind Inter, who do have a game in hand as they eye a Scudetto run.

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  USMNT IMPACT

  McKennie was in fine form for most of the winter but, as we head into spring, he's seemingly slowed down a bit.

  Irreplaceable during the final months of 2023, McKennie's start to 2024 has been a bit quieter, with Saturday's match being another so-so performance from the American. McKennie wasn't bad but he isn't commanding games in the way he was earlier in the campaign. One has to wonder if their slip in form is factoring in.

  Weah, meanwhile, remains a supersub. Brought on in the 82nd minute, he provided a bit of life, but it wasn't enough to change the game in a big way.

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  GOAL'S RATINGS

  Weston McKennie (6/10):

  Had a few good moments, including a good defensive sequence late on to put an end to a possible Verona scoring chance. Still, hasn't been as influential in recent weeks. Time for a rest?

  Tim Weah (N/A):
  Was given less than 10 minutes to work as Juve chased a result.

A Leeds fan has been taken to hospital after reportedly falling from the top tier of the stand at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

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• Fan treated by medics at Stamford Bridge
• Leeds supporter reportedly fell celebrating
• Has since been rushed to hospital

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The supporter is said to have fallen from the top tier at the Shed End of the stadium while celebrating Mateo Joseph's opening goal for Leeds. He was treated by medics on the scene before being taken out of the stands on a stretcher and has since been taken to hospital.

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  Leeds took the lead just eight minutes into the fifth-round tie before Nicolas Jackson lashed home the equaliser. Mykhailo Mudryk then went on to give the home team the lead after a cut-back from winger Raheem Sterling. However, Leeds managed to pull level just before the hour mark thanks to another goal from Joseph.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea's struggles against Leeds add to a difficult period for the Blues. Mauricio Pochettino's men played out a 1-1 draw against reigning European and English champions Manchester City before losing to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  There will be concern over the fan's health until there is an update. On the pitch, Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to fire his team up when they take on Brentford in the Premier League this weekend. The Blues have fallen to 11th place in the Premier League.

Leeds United’s fate has come down to the final day of the Premier League season.

The Yorkshire giants have to better Burnley’s result today to remain a top-flight outfit and that’s no easy task as they head to west London to face Brentford, whilst the Clarets face Newcastle United at Turf Moor.

Jesse Marsch’s side have stuttered in recent outings, picking up only two points from a possible 15, though the American has been boosted by the potential return of last season’s leading talisman, Patrick Bamford.

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As relayed by The Athletic’s Phil Hay, the England striker is expected to be involved in some form this afternoon. And whilst his presence will certainly bolster their fortunes in the final third, where they have struggled all season, he will not fix their defensive issues.

Indeed, the Whites have one of the worst backlines in the division, having leaked a whopping 78 goals from 37 outings. Only rock-bottom Norwich City (79) have conceded more.

Their opposition today have been in fine form, losing only one of their last five matches, and with the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Eriksen available, they could do Leeds plenty of damage.

As such, Marsch will need to make a bold call with his defence. It could be wise to bring Pascal Struijk back into the fold as the versatile colossus can play in the middle, on the left or in defensive midfield.

Once described as a “monster” by journalist Daniel Fraiz-Martinez, the Belgian-born defender has proven to be one of Leeds’ more busy and solid options, having averaged 2.2 tackles per game, a feat that neither Liam Cooper nor Diego Llorente can match.

Whilst a further average of 1.2 interceptions and a squad-best passing accuracy of 85.1%, via WhoScored, only further builds his claims to start in Norfolk today.

If anything, the 6 foot 3 titan should be rewarded for his injury-time equaliser last weekend, another fine reason why he should be in the starting lineup as he also provides threat from set-pieces – at both ends of the pitch.

“He’s going to become a supreme centre-back,” once suggested LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross.

“It’s all about Raphinha, it’s all about Joe Gelhardt. But Pascal is the future. And the longer he stays under the radar, the better, because he’s got the lot, to be honest.”

The £13.5m-rated man-mountain could be the one to guide Leeds towards safety and whilst Bamford’s return is encouraging, there’s no way of knowing just how much game time he can manage after playing only 100 competitive minutes since early December.

Struijk’s presence in the backline should, at least, help Leeds defensively and if they are keeping the Bees out, then they’ll only need to score to boost their bid to stay in the big time.

He simply must start in Marsch’s backline today.

AND in other news, Marsch must axe Leeds’ £55k-p/w “schoolboy” today, he’s a big “liability” to the team…

West Ham owners GSB are reportedly eyeing up a move for Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet as David Moyes seeks to boost his attacking ranks.

What’s the word?

The Telegraph has reported that the Hammers are keen on signing the Ivory Coast international as Moyes looks to strengthen his forward options ahead of next season.

Despite only joining the Clarets last year, the 25-year-old has a £17.5m relegation release clause in his contract; and with Burnley relegated from the Premier League following their six-year stay in the top flight, he could be set to move this summer.

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Everton are also monitoring the situation as the Irons face a battle for his signature.

Moyes would love Cornet

Moyes led West Ham to a fantastic season, securing European football for next term and coming so close to reaching a first continental final since 1976, and the turnaround in fortunes for the club has been remarkable during his second stint in charge at the London Stadium.

The 59-year-old has mainly relied on wingers for goals this term, with Jarrod Bowen (18) and Said Benrahma (11) contributing heavily. Although centre-forward Michail Antonio (13) has also been a big threat, Moyes would surely love to bolster his squad with another prolific attacker.

Cornet is valued at £12.6m and netted an impressive nine goals for Burnley as they struggled throughout the season. His pre-January form was superb, but he struggled following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, netting only three goals since the winter tournament.

Despite this drop-off, the prospective deal represents good value for the Moyes, who will get a proven Premier League scorer at a reasonable price.

Journalist Alan Nixon described the winger as a “top talent” before he moved to England, and this statement has certainly been spot-on. At only 25 years of age, West Ham could arguably be getting the player as he is heading into his peak years.

It could well be a fruitful summer for the Hammers, especially if Moyes can bolster his squad with prolific players such as the Ivorian winger.

AND in other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big West Ham summer transfer claim that supporters will love

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Josko Gvardiol to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that the RB Leipzig defender is one of Antonio Conte’s top transfer targets for the left-sided centre-back role in his three-man backline, despite the fact the 20-year-old would likely set Tottenham back an extremely large fee.

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A further report by the same publication claimed that Daniel Levy would have to pay a club-record fee – currently Tanguy Ndombele’s £63m signing from Lyon back in 2019 – in order to land the Croatia international this summer, with Jack Pitt-Brooke suggesting the former Dinamo Zagreb starlet will cost around £80m.

Alaba 2.0

Considering the sheer amount of potential Gvardiol quite clearly possesses, it is not difficult to see why Conte would be interested in a deal to bring the 20-year-old to north London in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, according to FBref data, the £102m-rated talent ranks in the top 3% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for interceptions per 90, as well as the top 16% for pressures, the top 23% for blocks and the top 24% for tackles over the last 365 days.

The £21k-per-week defender is also extremely creative with the ball at his feet, with FBref ranking him in the top 4% of centre-backs for passes attempted per 90, the top 3% for progressive passes, the top 1% for dribbles completed, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 6% for progressive passes received over the last year.

Furthermore, it is evident that Gvardiol also causes the opposition problems in an attacking capacity, with FBref ranking the centre-back in the top 7% of his peers for shot-creating actions per 90, in addition to the top 15% for npxG, the top 13% for assists, the top 4% for xA and the top 3% for npxG+xA over the last 12 months.

As such, it is easy to see why the former Bayern Munich centre-forward and Croatia international, Ivica Olic, claimed “everyone is talking about” the “extraordinary” Gvardiol, while it is also not difficult to understand why the Bundesliga website compares the defender’s style of play to that of Real Madrid’s David Alaba.

Indeed, should Fabio Paratici be able to get a deal over the line for the RB Leipzig star this summer, the Italian would appear to have landed Tottenham the next Alaba – something that is sure to be an incredibly exciting prospect for both Conte and supporters of the club alike.

AND in other news: Paratici now closing in on “unreal” £15m Spurs signing, it’ll give Arteta nightmares

Just how busy Liverpool are this summer could depend on the number of outgoings from Anfield with both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah linked with the exit door.

There could also be a number of casualties in midfield where the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are being tipped to head for the departure lounge.

What’s the word?

In a bid to add further bodies to their midfield and offensive ranks, it looks as though a new target has emerged in the form of Mason Mount.

That’s according to reports via The Express who suggest that dialogue has been opened with a view to bringing Chelsea’s Mason Mount to Anfield.

His contract talks at Stamford Bridge have stalled as a result of the ongoing takeover and thus, he could seek an exit route out of west London.

With that in mind, both Manchester City and Liverpool are now in talks to potentially sign the England international with discreet enquiries made.

Football Observatory values the player as high as £102.5m but it’s unlikely a deal would cost that much.

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Their own Phil Foden

Underrated or overrated is one of the great debates that surround Mount but it’s hard to deny that the 23-year-old isn’t one of the most gifted in the Premier League.

The Chelsea academy graduate is one of the most exciting players in the top-flight on his day and his goal involvements in 2021/22 sum that up.

Mount scored 13 goals, 11 of which came in the league, while he also registered a mighty 16 assists, showing his ability to beat the goalkeeper and unlock doors on a regular basis.

Last term, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (19) in the Liverpool squad could better that which shows just what he’d add to Jurgen Klopp’s ranks.

With his style of play in mind, he could become the club’s very own version of Phil Foden with FB Ref’s similar players model dictating that they are alike.

That is based upon their stats in the last 365 days with the English duo comparable in a number of metrics. Below, you can see Mount’s statistics on the left and Foden’s on the right (all stats per 90).

Shots on target – 1.03 v 0.93

Completed passes – 37.7 v 37.5

Goal-creating actions – 0.57 v 0.55

Carries in possession – 43.6 v 42.8

Number of times the player was the target of a pass – 56.5 v 55.6

Foden is undoubtedly one of the darlings of the English game right now and if Liverpool can unearth their own version of the talented prodigy, it may well go a long way to helping them win back the title next term.

Described as a “player with that little bit of magic” by Joe Cole, he could be the added ingredient that Liverpool’s attack needs to continue pumping out the obscene numbers they usually produce.

AND in other news, FSG now plotting Liverpool bid for “astonishing” £34m signing, he’s Klopp’s next Mane…

Celtic will be ‘trying to do everything’ they can to seal the permanent signing of Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, according to Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers excels at Celtic

The 24-year-old was loaned out to the Hoops last summer, with Tottenham never granting him regular football

Carter-Vickers’ move to Parkhead proved to be a match made in heaven, as the American flourished at the heart of Ange Postecoglou’s defence, achieving the fourth-highest WhoScored rating of anyone in the squad after last summer’s transfer window.

Celtic are now trying to seal a permanent move for the centre-back, although there has been interest in him from other clubs in recent months.

The Latest: Whelan talks up permanent move for Carter-Vickers

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the Hoops will be doing all they can to acquire Carter-Vickers’ signature, with the player likely to reciprocate that, given how well the 24-year-old has done at Parkhead.

The former BBC radio pundit said:

“I think happiness to a player is very important, feeling wanted and belonging in a place. I think he’s definitely got that from Celtic as a football club and the fans.

“He plays regularly, we’ve seen the progression and how good he’s looked in the Celtic shirt. It’s an exciting team to be involved with as well with the style of play and the players they have been brought in.

“They won’t be looking to sit on that either, they’ll be looking to strengthen. With Carter-Vickers, he’s been an integral part of that defence. That’s why they’ve been so solid over the past season as well.

“I think Celtic and Carter-Vickers will be trying to do everything to make it happen, for him to stay there.

“They’re a European club, they’re massive, they’ve just won the Premiership. Why would you not want to be at a successful side who are playing in the Champions League as well?”

The Verdict: Simply has to happen

Given Carter-Vickers’ influence at Celtic this season – he has been lauded as ‘immense’ by Chris Sutton – it is imperative that they get a permanent deal over the line.

He has already looked at home at Parkhead, slotting in seamlessly next to Carl Starfelt, and he could be a fixture in green and white for many years to come. An average of 4.2 successful aerial duels per game and a pass completion rate of 89.5% in the Premiership is a testament to his quality.

With Champions League football returning to Celtic in 2022/23, that should surely be enough to persuade him to sign permanently, rather than head elsewhere and risk undoing all the progress he has made in Glasgow.

In other news, Celtic have reportedly set their sights on another signing. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool will look to sign a new midfielder during the summer transfer window, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

The Lowdown: Liverpool’s midfield ageing

Jurgen Klopp currently has a wonderful squad at his disposal but there is no doubt that his midfield is slightly on the ageing side.

James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago and now all in their 30s, while Fabinho turns 29 later in the year, highlighting their advancing years as a unit.

Liverpool may have missed out on Aurelien Tchouameni, who signed for Real Madrid on Saturday, but their midfield interest is unlikely to end there.

The Latest: Liverpool backed to strengthen midfield

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke backed Liverpool to sign a new midfielder this summer, believing it to be a transfer priority for the Reds. He claimed:

“I’m sure Jurgen Klopp and his recruitment team will be looking at possible midfield alternatives to see who they can possibly bring in to strengthen the squad, because I’m sure Nunez up front and possibly someone for midfield are probably the two key positions Liverpool need to fill this summer.”

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The Verdict: Key area of focus

Liverpool’s defence and attack currently look very strong, with a mix of youth and experience, but midfield is the one area which could do with some fresh legs.

Granted, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are both young players with big futures, but the Reds could do with someone in their mid-20s, possessing enough experience but also having their best years ahead of them.

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For now, the likes of Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago remain regular starters, but they will need to be phased out eventually, and a new signing would enable Klopp to begin that process gradually with someone who’s ready to hit the ground running.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for a La Liga player. Find out who it is here.

Sunderland would be one of the main beneficiaries if the EFL were to scrap Saturday’s 3pm blackout, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: EFL’s AGM

According to a report by iNews, the Saturday 3pm blackout was set to be at the top of the agenda for the EFL’s recent AGM.

It is reported that clubs will be consulted about how to expand streaming services in conjunction with the abolition of the long-standing Saturday afternoon blackout. This would provide the clubs outside of the Premier League with the opportunity to create a sizeable new source of income.

The Latest: Maguire’s claim

Maguire believes that scrapping the blackout could be extremely lucrative for Sunderland given their huge support (average attendance just under 31,000 last season), which is comparable to many teams in the Premier League.

Speaking with Football Insider, he claimed: “For a club such as Sunderland that has a huge following and sells out every away match, this could be beneficial.

“Those fans who want to go to matches will continue to do so, while this is perfect for the remaining elements of the fanbase would be able to buy some form of iFollow pass.

“Significant elements of that money go to the club itself and therefore I think they would be financial beneficiaries. It would certainly be better for a big club like Sunderland than it would be for a smaller side who don’t sell out.

“I think the EFL deserve some credit for the way they have distributed money through the iFollow scheme to date.”

The Verdict: Could be huge

According to Football Insider, Sunderland earned an impressive £5.4m in broadcast income for the 2020/21 season, the latest on record. Following the Black Cats’ promotion to the Championship, this figure is expected to soar.

Therefore, if the EFL do end up abolishing the blackout, Sunderland could indeed be in for a big financial boost going by Maguire’s comments, which could help them once again compete for promotion, this time to the Premier League.

In other news: Tom Coleman reveals ‘interest’ in this Sunderland ace