DANIEL FARKE FIGHTS: CAN LEEDS COACH SURVIVE BRUTAL CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL TESTS?
Daniel Farke's job is on the line after complaining about Man City's 'unsportsmanlike' tactics. The 49ers reportedly seek a new coach (Gary O'Neil is favoured) if Leeds lose to Chelsea and Liverpool.
Daniel Farke's job as Leeds coach might be in trouble. Word is that 49ers Enterprises will sack him if Leeds loses their next two games against Chelsea and Liverpool.
The team was disappointed after Manchester City's Phil Foden scored a late goal last Saturday. A tie seemed likely until that point.
After the game, Farke complained about Man City's tactics. He thought that City's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, pretended to be injured so that Pep Guardiola could give his team a pep talk.
Farke said, "It's allowed and smart." But he also said that he doesn't think it's very sportsmanlike and that it's up to the people in charge to fix the issue.
He added that when he asked the fourth official to do something, the official said that there was nothing he could do.
Farke is concerned that if players aren't taught about fair play and sportsmanship, they'll try to bend the rules. He doesn't like the idea of faking an injury for a team talk, but he said he can't complain if it's within the rules.
With Leeds in the bottom three, Farke is feeling the heat as they prepare for two big games: Chelsea at Elland Road on Wednesday and Liverpool in Yorkshire on Saturday.
According to The Guardian, sources at Leeds have said privately that Farke's job is at risk.
The report also mentions that the 49ers want a new coach in place before the January transfer window so they can bring in players that fit the new coach's plans.
It's not clear who that might be, but Give Me Sport reports that Gary O'Neil is the favourite for the job.
O'Neil, who used to coach Wolves, has been out of work since being fired in December 2024. He was well-regarded during his time there.
Shay Given said on BBC Match of the Day last year that O'Neill did a great job despite having to sell key players to balance the books.
£35M LOSS: ANALYZING THE COLLAPSE OF HARVEY ELLIOTT'S MANDATORY VILLA TRANSFER
Harvey Elliott's loan to Aston Villa is ending early after just six months. The mandatory £35M purchase clause is now unlikely to be activated.
Harvey Elliott's time at Aston Villa might be cut short. Just six months after joining the club, he might be leaving in January.
The attacking midfielder came from Liverpool on a season-long loan on deadline day in September.
The deal with Villa included a requirement to buy him, plus clauses about selling him later or buying him back.
But, Elliott hasn't played much since joining Villa, even though they won against other teams in the Premier League and Europe to get him.
Unai Emery said that the club is looking at what to do with the 22-year-old before the next transfer window opens next month.
This comes after Elliott didn't travel with the team for their Europa League game against Basel on Thursday.
Emery talked about Elliott's future at Villa in a press conference before a game.
He said, We're talking with him about his situation.
He's not with us. We hope we can find the best solution for him and for us.
I respect him as a player and as a person. He's training well, but there's a situation with him.
Hopefully, we can find a solution for him to play often and continue his career, either with us or somewhere else.
Elliott has played in only five games for Villa since joining, scoring once.
His last game was a short four-minute appearance against Feyenoord in the Europa League in October.
He hasn't been in the squad for any of Villa's last seven Premier League games.
Emery added, I've spoken with him two or three times about the situation.
First, my decision and also the situation. He's on loan with us, but he's not really contributing to us with a permanent contract.
This is a setback for Liverpool.
Liverpool was supposed to get £35 million when Elliott's loan to Villa became a permanent deal.
But the requirement to buy him kicks in only if he plays in 10 games for the club.
So, the Reds will likely miss out on that money this summer since he's only played about half that many games.
If Elliott leaves Villa, he'll likely have to return to Anfield in January.
The former England under-21 player played twice for Liverpool this season before being loaned out.
FIFA rules say players can only play for two clubs in one season.
Elliott could get around this rule by joining a club in a league that runs from summer to winter, like those in the MLS.
BUNDESLIGA STAR: ANALYZING NATHANIEL BROWN'S FIT FOR TOTTENHAM'S DEFENSE
An analytical look at Nathaniel Brown's Bundesliga performance shows why he is a top target for Spurs. Can they beat out three major rivals for the defender?
According to a recent report from journalist Dean Jones, Tottenham Hotspur will have a tough time signing Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown. Spurs will have to compete with Manchester City, West Ham United, Manchester United, and Arsenal to get the German defender next year.
Brown has played well on Frankfurt’s left side this season. The 22-year-old has one goal and four assists in 20 games for the German club in all competitions.
The German player has shown he can defend well, with 30 tackles, 15 blocks, ten interceptions, and 16 clearances in the Bundesliga. He also passes the ball well from the left, with an 81.3% pass success rate in the German top league (stats via fbref.com).
His contract with the German club ends in the summer of 2030, so it won’t be easy for Tottenham to sign him next year.
Should Tottenham Hotspur Manager Thomas Frank Sign Brown?
Brown is a good tackler and times his challenges well to win the ball back. He clears the ball when the other team is attacking and is also a good passer.
The German player can score and assist goals from the left. Brown is mainly a left-back but can also play as a left-sided midfielder if needed. We’ll see if he can handle the Premier League’s physicality and intensity if Spurs sign him next year.
Brown would make Tottenham manager Thomas Frank’s defence better and deeper. He could earn a regular spot in the first team at the North London club in the years ahead.
At 22, Brown could become a star in English soccer if he keeps improving each season. Overall, Frank should sign him in 2026.