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Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia isn’t sure when 2022/23 top scorer Rodrigo will be back from injury, as per Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Rodrigo’s comments

The forward has been out of action since the end of January after suffering an injury against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. The 31-year-old has had surgery on his ankle following bone and ligament damage but recently admitted that he is targeting a return before the March international break.

Hailed as a ‘class above’ by Pat Nevin, Rodrigo has been the main man in front of goal this season and is the club’s top scorer with 12 goals – eight more than any other player.

The Latest: Rodrigo return date uncertain

Hay was present for Gracia’s pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of Leeds’ FA Cup clash against Fulham tonight and said on Twitter that the manager’s ‘policy is going to be to say as little as possible about injuries/team news’.

However, The Athletic reporter did relay some news on the striker, with the Whites manager ‘not certain at this stage when Rodrigo will be available again’.

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

The Whites could really do with having their star striker fit and available prior to the international break, as Rodrigo has previously targeted, with the Spaniard scoring three times as many goals as Leeds’ next most potent forwards.

Gracia could be holding his cards close to his chest, or he may be being honest when it comes to the forward and an unknown return date.

Should it be the latter, the 52-year-old will have to rely on Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter over the coming weeks. The English forward hasn’t scored in his last five Premier League games while the January signing is yet to get off the mark, so the quicker that Rodrigo can return, the better.

Everton twice squandered the lead today, as they were forced to settle for a draw on the road to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

It was a fine opportunity to make huge strides up the Premier League table, and when Demarai Gray dispatched an early penalty to see the Toffees’ pressure bear fruit, it seemed like they might be set to earn just their second away win of the season.

However, they could not account for the stellar performance of Brennan Johnson, who proved to be a constant threat throughout which culminated in his two goals.

His second, to cancel out Abdoulaye Doucoure’s deft header, was the pick of the bunch, as he drove into space and then fired a return pass into the top left corner with his weaker foot.

Whilst the hosts seemed the more likely to push on for that winner, in the end, the points were shared. 

However, it noted yet another anonymous display for a few of Sean Dyche’s men, most notably Amadou Onana.

How did Amadou Onana play vs Forest?

The Belgian started yet again alongside Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye, and whilst the scrutiny was initially focused around the Senegalese stalwart given his recent displays, it quickly shifted after the full-time whistle had gone today.

He arguably only retained his place throughout the game due to a lack of alternative options, with his performances having waned since the World Cup. During the competition, he also drew scorn from journalist James Smart, who branded him “clumsy” for the Red Devils.

This was another display to support such a claim, as the £100k-per-week earner offered little throughout in the way of going forward.

The 21-year-old could only muster 31 touches all game and converted that into just 12 completed passes. For comparison, even goalkeeper Jordan Pickford managed more touches (34).

Defensively he was at least present, but he hardly had the desired influence given his distinct lack of offensive contribution. He mustered three interceptions and two tackles, but of his 11 competed duels he could only win five, via Sofascore.

Dyche will have expected more from his young hulking maestro and will demand more as they enter the business end of this league season.

Today marked a wholly winnable game, and arguably a huge chance missed to move out of the relegation zone.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to keep their slim hopes of securing silverware this season alive with victory at home to AC Milan in the Champions League, last-16 this evening, with Antonio Conte’s side going into that second-leg clash having lost 1-0 in the reverse fixture at San Siro.

With the odds somewhat stacked against them, the Lilywhites also head into tonight’s encounter having endured a miserable week on the domestic front, first slipping up away to Sheffield United in the FA Cup, before losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux just a few days later.

That latter result will likely lead to changes for the visit of the Serie A outfit later today as the north Londoners look to get their season back on track, with the returning Conte needing a big performance from his players to overturn the first-leg deficit.

One alteration that could be made from the side that lost to the Old Gold on Saturday is at wing-back, with Emerson Royal in line to make his return to the side having only featured off the bench in the weekend defeat.

While January arrival Pedro Porro produced an encouraging performance in his place, it is the Brazilian who is arguably deserving of a starting berth amid his recent resurgence, having shaken off his early woes at N17.

Will Emerson Royal play against Milan?

Despite having previously been branded a “liability” by ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara and a ‘weak link’ by pundit Chris Sutton in his Daily Mail column, Emerson has looked reborn in recent months, with club legend Glenn Hoddle (PL Productions, 26/02/2023, 13:15) lauding him as like a “different player” as a result of his upturn in performances.

The former Barcelona man – who arrived in England on a £26m deal in the summer of 2021 – was notably “unbelievable” in the win over Manchester City last month, according to club insider John Wenham, having won eight duels in that 1-0 triumph after expertly containing Jack Grealish.

The previously maligned full-back has since followed that up with a goal in the win over West Ham United, before again impressing in the subsequent clash with rivals Chelsea, having this time won a mammoth 12 duels, while also completing 100% of his dribbles and laying one key pass.

Now clearly making an impact at both ends of the pitch, the one-time Real Betis ace – who missed the defeat to the Blades through injury – should well be restored to the starting lineup against Stefano Pioli’s side, with Conte needing to utilise his tried and trusted figures if Tottenham are to progress.

The £40k-per-week machine – who ‘battled well’ in the meeting in Milan, in the words of the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick – could ultimately prove vital if the Lilywhites are to enjoy a positive result tonight. That would be some turnaround for a man who has usually been such a calamity in north London.

Ben Jacobs has admitted that Newcastle United still hold a keen interest in Georgian superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Lowdown: Howe keen on more attacking signings

Despite spending big on Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon during the last two transfer windows, it seems as though Eddie Howe is still not satisfied with his attacking options at Newcastle.

Indeed, the Magpies have been linked with moves for top-name talents – including out in Serie A – such as Kvaratskhelia and Dusan Vlahovic, who have become established names in the Italian top flight.

And it is the former who is perhaps more likely to be the most coveted in the summer, as Kvaratskhelia currently has 28 goal involvements to his name this season having cost Napoli around £10m – while Newcastle have been long-time admirers of the Georgian.

The Latest: Kvaratskhelia still on Newcastle’s radar

Jacobs has revealed on the NUFC Matters YouTube channel that Kvaratskhelia is still on Newcastle’s radar after they were linked with a £50m move last January.

Discussing Vlahovic and Kvaratskhelia’s links to Tyneside moves, he said: “The other one that Newcastle are looking at who’s a very different kind of forward, and I’ve mentioned this many times is so-called ‘Kvaradona’, who is over at Napoli and is a Georgian forward or playmaker or winger; he’s versatile, he can play in a variety of different positions.

“Kvaratskhelia is his actual name, but he’s known as Kvaradona after Maradona, and there’s a sort of beautiful poetry there because the last time Napoli won Serie A, it was Maradona – and now Kvaradona, along with Victor Osimhen, is leading them to success. And he’s a goals and assists machine at the moment, and the partnership with Osimhen is incredible.

“Newcastle and Manchester City are very interested in him, but they have to understand what’s possible, because Napoli are flying, they’re on a procession to Serie A, and on top of that, they are Champions League contenders, so regardless of what happens this season, everything is going according to plan at Napoli, and they’re going to want to hang onto their best players.”

The Verdict: Newcastle will struggle to tempt Kvaratskhelia away

Given the form that Kvaratskhelia has been showing in the Champions League and Serie A this season – which has the Italian outfit as a serious contender in Europe’s elite competition – Newcastle will do very well to even tempt him to join.

After all, Napoli are on the up and ready to compete for the highest honours right now, whereas Newcastle are still improving and developing under Eddie Howe – with their limp display in the Carabao Cup final showing how big of a gap they must still close to be considered among the elite of European clubs.

With reports suggesting that Kvaratskhelia was of interest to Newcastle with a £50m fee being touted around, that price will surely have increased dramatically given the displays he’s continued to put in since the transfer window closed, and that money could be better spent improving the Magpies’ entire squad rather than in just one position.

Arsenal are reportedly one of three clubs in the Premier League ‘most active’ in the chase for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto this summer.

The Lowdown: Burst onto the scene

Gnonto has burst onto the scene in the Premier League, after he did not feature in each of Leeds’ first six games in the division.

He has played in every match since, scoring two goals and making a further three assists from out wide, while he has also bagged himself two goals in the FA Cup (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, the exciting teenager is sure to attract plenty of interest in the summer, especially if the Whites end up relegated.

The Latest: Arsenal ‘most active’

As per Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Gunners, along with fellow top-flight rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, are ‘most active’ in the race to sign Gnonto this summer, with other clubs also chasing his signature.

The Italy international does not seem to suit new manager Javi Gracia’s system, having only started in one of Leeds’ last three Premier League matches, and so there could be an opportunity at Elland Road to cash in.

The Verdict: Depth needed

If Mikel Arteta’s team are going to fight on four fronts next season, with them expected to qualify for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, then they will needed added squad depth, especially in the forward areas.

Both Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe have been ruled out for extended periods with injury already this season, while Eddie Nketiah is also currently sidelined.

Gnonto is a player with a lot of potential, and already knows the Premier League, so his signing would make sense for the Emirates Stadium outfit in that respect.

Hailed as a ‘top player’ with ‘scary pace’ by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, the winger ranks in the 90th percentile of all his positional peers for average progressive carries per game over the past year, and also ranks highly for a number of other key metrics (FBRef).

Nonetheless, Gnonto just seems like another young talent that could thrive under Arteta’s wing.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ‘expecting’ to lose Adama Traore in the summer transfer window, despite Julen Lopetegui’s recent comments, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Traore’s future in doubt

Lopetegui has always spoken favourably about Traore in interviews, recently re-affirming his importance to the team by saying: “Adama is a very special player, a particular player, he is trying to improve in a lot of things. I have seen him with a big commitment. Players want to play more but he is an important player for us.”

Those comments would suggest that the boss is keen for the winger to extend his stay at Molineux, however, he is yet to commit to a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Recent reports have even claimed the player could be offered to Champions League quarter-finalists AC Milan, casting huge doubt on his Wolves future.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Jones suggested that the Wolves hierarchy are resigned to losing the Spaniard in the summer window, despite how highly he is rated by the manager. The transfer insider said:

“Lopetegui is saying all the right things and making positive noises.

“But anyone I speak to seems pretty adamant that they’re not expecting Adama Traore to stay at the club any longer. I think it’s probably still most likely that his future lies elsewhere.”

The Verdict: Right call?

There was a time when the 27-year-old was an absolutely vital player for the Old Gold, being described as ‘fantastic’ by members of the media during the 2019-20 season, which was by far and away his best campaign in a Wolves shirt.

The 5 foot 10 speedster weighed in with a very impressive four goals and nine assists in the Premier League, however, he has been unable to reach those heights since, both in England and during a loan spell with FC Barcelona.

While he has often only been utilised as an impact player, the eight-time Spain international has picked up just two goals and one assist in 24 top-flight appearances this season, playing far below the level he was at a few years back.

Traore seemingly has no desire to commit to a new contract at Molineux, but it would not be a huge loss if Lopetegui loses him for free at the end of the season, given the limited impact he has made.

Liverpool are well placed to bring RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

Who's going to sign Gvardiol?

The Croatian's contract at the Red Bull Arena isn't set to expire until 2027, but following his impressive performances for his nation at the World Cup last year, alongside his displays in the Bundesliga, he has caught the eyes of more than just Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds, Manchester City and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old, who has made it public knowledge to his admirers that it's his dream to one day complete a move to a club in the English top-flight. According to 90min, the Merseyside outfit have already sent scouts to watch the centre-back in action so that they can regularly monitor his situation ahead of the upcoming window.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg earlier this month claimed that despite there being a genuine admiration, the two clubs haven't yet held any kind of negotations regarding a potential deal, and whilst that may be the case, it sounds like they are confident that an agreement can be reached ahead of their fellow competitors.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are "well placed" and are "in the running" to sign Gvardiol this summer, who has become one of the most "sought-after" defenders on the market right now. The Anfield-based side hold a "concrete interest" in their target but are fully aware of the "strong competition" they face with Manchester United and Real Madrid also in the race for his signature, alongside the two other earlier named potential suitors.

Klopp is believed to view his target as an "ideal partner" for Virgil Van Dijk and is therfore "pushing" the hierarchy to heavily invest in the months ahead, with a £97m release clause set to become active in his contract from 2024.

Is Gvardiol a suitable fit for Liverpool?

Gvardiol has been dubbed "sublime" and a "gladiator" by journalist Ryan Taylor and he would most certainly be the perfect profile of centre-back to put pen to paper at Liverpool in the summer window later in the year.

The left-footed ace is currently averaging 2.4 clearances per league game, showing the rock he can be at the heart of the backline, but he also ranks in the 98th percentile for most successful take-ons, highlighting his desire to drive forward when playing out from the back to push his team as high up the pitch as possible – he also has eight goal contributions during his time at Leipzig.

The Zagreb native also has the versatility to operate at left-back alongside his natural centre-back position, which is a great quality for the boss to have at his disposal given the number of defensive injuries that have occured this season.

Newcastle United avenged their Carabao Cup final defeat by securing a deserved 2-0 win over Manchester United last time out, with the convincing victory having only strengthened the Magpies' bid for Champions League qualification.

That impressive triumph has ensured that Eddie Howe's men have now won three successive Premier League games heading into tonight's meeting with relegation strugglers, West Ham United, with the trip to east London offering the chance to maintain this fine, recent momentum.

A key figure in the northeast side's standout showings of late has been that of club-record signing, Alexander Isak, with the towering Swede having scored three goals in his last three league games, while also having been an 'almighty presence' when leading the line against the Red Devils, according to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder.

Hailed as a player who could become a "world star" by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, the 23-year-old is beginning to justify his £63m transfer fee following an injury-hit start to life at St James' Park, with it looking as if he can be the man to power the club to a top-four finish.

For all the praise falling the way of the former Real Sociedad man, however, Howe may be considering whether to leave the 6 foot 4 man out of his starting lineup for this evening's clash with the Hammers, as a result of Callum Wilson's immense record against today's opponents.

Will Wilson start against West Ham?

The Englishman looked to have 'run out of steam' following his return from World Cup duty, according to BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks, with the 31-year-old's only goal this year prior to Sunday's win having come, ironically, against David Moyes' side back in February.

The former Bournemouth man was able to end that long-running duck against the Red Devils, however, showcasing his poaching prowess to nod home late on to make sure of the points, ensuring he now has eight goals and three assists in just 20 league appearances this season.

While not prolific, Wilson has been a reliable goalscoring presence in recent years for Newcastle, having now bagged a respectable tally of 28 top-flight goals since joining the club on a £20m deal back in the summer of 2020.

As such, Howe should have no concerns with regard to handing Isak a well-earned rest this evening, particularly with his fellow forward having been a constant thorn in the side of the Irons during his top-flight career.

The Coventry-born menace currently boasts a standout tally of ten goals in just 12 appearances against West Ham to date, with that by far his best record against any club throughout his playing career.

For whatever reason, the £46k-per-week man seemingly relishes the prospect of coming up against the Hammers, notably scoring a hat-trick for the Cherries in a 4-3 win back in 2015, earning the south coast side their first Premier League points in the process.

A long-running nemesis for those at the London Stadium, the "incredible" ace – as hailed by Howe – could prove to be the difference-maker yet again this time around.

Arsenal starlet Folarin Balogun will be "keen to leave" this summer if the club don't guarantee him first team opportunities, according to reports.

What's the latest news on Balogun?

The 21-year-old is currently attracting a lot of serious interest from clubs abroad as reliable journalist David Ornstein shared recently. Indeed, the player's future could be a big topic for Arsenal this summer and Ornstein has reported that they face a big decision.

Balogun's contract expires in just over two years, giving Mikel Arteta's side a dilemma over whether to sell this year or implement him into the first team – as it is currently very unlikely he will extend his contract with the club.

Currently on loan at Reims in Ligue 1, the forward has absolutely dazzled under Will Still, prompting some of the continent's best sides to take note of his exploits.

It has been reported that AC Milan, Inter, Marseille, Monaco and RB Leipzig are just some of the elite sides eyeing a move for Balogun.

Now, 90min has weighed in with their own update, as it appears the England Under-21 international is set to give Arsenal an ultimatum upon his return to north London.

Indeed, it is now believed that he will be 'keen to leave' the club permanently if Arsenal don't guarantee him first-team minutes. Balogun is apparently due to hold 'crunch talks' with the club over his future, Another loan move has been ruled out by the striker's entourage, meaning his potential exit will be a permanent one.

90min adds that RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin, Nice, Lyon, Villarreal and Sevilla are all taking an interest in Balogun – and he is just as popular in the Premier League.

Brentford, Leicester City, Wolves, Everton and Crystal Palace are all keeping tabs on the exciting youngster, with the Bees particularly seeing him as an alternative to Ivan Toney – who faces a lengthy ban due to the betting charges against him.

What should Arsenal do with Balogun?

We believe the solution is obvious – the Gunners should guarantee Balogun first-team minutes next season.

As we've already seen with defender William Saliba, it is entirely possible for returning loanees from France to make an immediate impact in Arteta's first team.

Called 'incredible' for his form by Arteta, Balogun has been quite simply scintillating in front of goal – scoring 18 in 26 top-flight starts.

He's also attempted an impressive 3.3 shots at goal per 90, more than any Gunners forward in England – making you wonder what exactly is stopping him from breaking through.

Losing such a highly talented player would be a real shame and we believe his best place next season is at The Emirates.

TalkSport pundit Darren Bent has questioned whether Vincent Kompany would be a good fit at Chelsea due to his relative inexperience.

What's the latest on the Chelsea manager search?

It seems as though there are still a few twists and turns to happen yet as the Blues look to appoint someone to take over from Graham Potter on a permanent basis.

Frank Lampard's struggles as interim have shown it won't be an easy job for whoever comes in and "top candidate" Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly now pulled out of the race.

Still, Burnley boss Kompany has been linked with the job since but it doesn't sound as though all are convinced that the 37-year-old would be the right man to come in.

Indeed, while talking on TalkSport, former player Bent outlined his thoughts on the rumours, highlighting some potential problems with the possible future Chelsea boss.

He said: "If they were to be in the hunt for Vincent Kompany, is that not Potter all over again?

"Because [he is] someone who's inexperienced at that level. I know he played for Manchester City, he's a fantastic captain, but managing players of that level – that might be an issue."

Would Vincent Kompany be a good fit for Chelsea?

Potter is only 47 and Nagelsmann is just 35. With Kompany also being relatively young by managerial standards, it seems as though Todd Boehly maybe after a more youthful head coach.

However, Potter's failure may have been due to his inexperience at the top which left players struggling to respect him – as shown by his supposed “Hogwarts” nickname.

Well, Kompany has even less experience at the top as he has yet to take charge of a Premier League game. However, he has proven he's too good for the Championship, having already led Burnley to promotion during his first season as a head coach in England.

What's more, the Chelsea players would likely have more respect for the 37-year-old as he achieved some much as a player, winning the Premier League four times with Manchester City.

Even so, Bent has a point. After Potter failed to build any great momentum with the Blues, the players began to feel he was "out of his depth".

Seeing as Kompany doesn't have a vast wealth of managerial experience to call upon if he did arrive in west London and get off to a shaky start, he too could soon lose the faith of his players.

It will certainly be interesting to see if actually offered the job by Boelhy and co.