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Leeds United correspondent Graham Smyth has provided an update on winger Ian Poveda and a return to Blackburn Rovers.

The Lowdown: Poveda’s Leeds career

Poveda was brought to the club by Victor Orta back in 2020 and has gone on to make 20 appearances for the first-team at Elland Road, 14 of which came in the Premier League last season.

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The 22-year-old was sent on loan to Blackburn Rovers for the 2021/22 campaign, however, he has been out through injury since November.

The winger has been recovering at Thorp Arch in recent months, but now looks set to make a return to Ewood Park.

The Latest: Smyth’s post

Smyth took to Twitter on Monday to provide an update regarding Poveda and a return to Blackburn.

He confirmed that Poveda will ‘return’ to Blackburn ‘this week’, labelling it as a ‘trial of sorts’ with Tony Mowbray to decide if he wants the Leeds man around for the final three Championship games.

“Ian Poveda will return to Blackburn Rovers towards the end of this week for a trial of sorts, to see if his loan spell can resume.

“A chance to finish the season on a high, after a lot of potential and promise was dashed by injury.”

The Verdict: Caution needed

Poveda has returned to the grass in recent weeks but hasn’t played competitively in 2022, so there could be a risk of a new injury occurring if Rovers overload the winger in the coming weeks.

However, you can see why Blackburn want to see Poveda in action, especially as they have continued to pay a percentage of his salary while he has been sidelined.

Blackburn’s playoff hopes are also fading quickly as they are without a win in five, so they may see Poveda’s return as a welcome boost as they look to turn things around and finish in the top six.

In other news: Leeds and Orta want ‘extraordinary’ ace in Bosman move; same agent as Bamford. 

As per 90min, it appears that Tottenham Hotspur staff have big belief in youngster Troy Parrott despite last season’s disappointing loan spells.

The Lowdown: Pochettino impressed…

The Republic of Ireland youngster is one of many starlets coming through at Hotspur Way with former boss Jose Mourinho even handing him a Premier League debut at the end of 2019.

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Another ex-Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, was also said to be an admirer of the starlet.

Lilywhites fan favourite Robbie Keane told Independent.ie that the Argentine held Parrott in very high esteem – revealing that at the time that Pochettino ‘loves’ the N17 academy graduate.

The Latest: Staff wowed by Parrott…

As per 90min, Spurs coaches haven’t changed their view on Parrott since his breakthrough and believe he could even go on a similar trajectory to Harry Kane.

Indeed, believing they’ve unearthed a future superstar, Lilywhites staff have even pleaded with the board not to block his path into the first team.

While Spurs have no plans to recall the 19-year-old from his loan spell at MK Dons, club coaches watching his progress are adamant he still has the potential to be world class.

The Verdict: Chance for 2022?

The teenager has got off to an impressive start to life in League One, scoring three goals and assisting three others, and it’s clear that he could still break into the Spurs first team.

Lauded as an ‘exceptional’ talent by former Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson, Parrott’s stint at the Stadium MK is certainly one to keep tabs on amid all the noise surrounding Oliver Skipp and Dane Scarlett.

In other news: ‘Bargain’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Unreal’…Spurs pundit wowed as Paratici eyes ‘top signing’ for Nuno, find out more here.

Newcastle United are set to sign Santiago Munoz from Santos Laguna on Deadline Day, according to Mexican reporter Daniel Velasco. 

The lowdown

19-year-old centre-forward Munoz has scored three goals and provided three assists in 19 senior appearances for the Liga MX outfit.

Born in Texas, he’s been capped 16 times by Mexico at Under-17, averaging a goal every other appearance (via Transfermarkt).

Munoz may go straight into the first-team set-up at St James’ Park or begin life with the Under-23s. The youth side has already been bolstered by the arrivals of Remi Savage from Liverpool and Charlie Wiggett from Chelsea this summer.

The latest

Velasco tweeted on Tuesday morning that Munoz would be travelling to England ‘in the next few hours’.

Newcastle, then, are poised to seal the signing imminently, with the reporter claiming quite simply ‘there are hours until his signing with NUFC’.

The verdict

This may not be the headline signing Newcastle fans are perhaps craving before the window is out, but Munoz has the potential to be a star of the future given his goal ratio in international games so far.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the majority of his football came for the under-23 side at Premier League 2 Division Two level for now, though Steve Bruce could hand him opportunities to impress against lower-league opposition in cup competitions – it’s not as if the current depth behind Callum Wilson is really shining.

In other news, Newcastle are weighing up a move for this centre-back.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to France on Tuesday to take on Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG side in the Champions League.

City have won six of their last seven matches and have not lost a game in all competitions since their opening day Premier League defeat to Tottenham.

They now come into the game against PSG after beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the top-flight on Saturday, looking to continue their positive momentum ahead of their next match against Liverpool.

In order to give his side the best chance of defeating PSG, Guardiola must unleash Spanish international Ferran Torres against the French outfit.

The Spaniard was on the bench against Chelsea and Phil Foden struggled in the false nine role, at times. He was too slow to react to passes into his feet with his back to the centre-backs and his end product left a lot to be desired, which is why Guardiola must either drop him back into midfield or completely out of the team to accommodate Torres.

Guardiola, who once hailed him as a ‘top player’, compared Torres to Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy in the way he moves off defenders. He said:

“In this position he makes a movement like the best strikers in behind, moving incredibly well.

“His movement is similar to Jamie Vardy.

“He is very young. Manchester City did a great job buying him for a great price.

“He is a good finisher and had a goal was disallowed last week, when the finish was perfect.

“I’m very pleased with his movements, work ethic, and he has learned many things as we saw today – we are pleased on many, many levels.”

This highlights what Torres offers off the ball with his work rate and movement at the top end of the pitch. However, he has also shown that he has the end product to be a match-winner, with two goals and one assist in four Premier League games this term.

Last season, he managed 13 goals and three assists in all competitions. This included four goals in six Champions League games, proving that the 21-year-old has what it takes to win matches for City at the very top level.

He has shown that he can score and create goals for City and his movement could cause issues for the PSG centre-backs and open up space for other players to thrive. For example, if his runs can stretch the back four then that could cause pockets for Kevin de Bruyne to pick up the ball and do damage in.

Therefore, Guardiola must unleash him against PSG to give his side the best chance of winning.

AND in other news, Forget Jesus: Man City beast with 71% duels won ran the show vs Chelsea…

Liverpool fans were livid with the performance of Jordan Henderson during their 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

The Reds were in action in Madrid in the Champions League, and they picked up an important three points away from home in a thrilling encounter.

Going 2-0 up early on thanks to goals from Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah, a brilliant brace from Antoine Griezmann levelled things up. The France international was then sent off, however, and Salah grabbed the winner to given Jurgen Klopp’s men the victory.

Captain Henderson started in the middle of the park, but he did not put in his best display. He won the ball back in just one duel in his entire 90 minutes on the pitch (SofaScore), and lacked the usual leadership and composure we have become used to seeing from him, surrendering possession ten times.

The fans were from happy with the performance of the England midfielder, and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Henderson below

“Henderson was horrible and was worse than Keita In fact.”

Credit: @ninawiththe9

“Henderson was atrocious. he should’ve been cutting off the line of pass to griezmann but was caught behind the ball. As a no.6 for the game he didn’t recognise his role and was all over the place and poor in possession.”

Credit: @i98NDK

“Both goals came from the right side, are you not gonna say anything about TAA? What can you say about Milner and Henderson who were equally shambolic. As for the defining game for his career at LFC, not your call, you are not Jurgen.”

Credit: @LNdzabe

“Henderson has been garbage and Milner is an old man. Both should be replaced down the line.”

Credit: @AlucardKing7

“Henderson should never have gotten a contract”

Credit: @LFCShafic

“He was overplayed. Guy played all of his international team games and the game at Watford. Henderson was also very poor.”

Credit: @TemnoLFC

In other news, these were Liverpool’s best three players against Atletico.

Wolves haven’t been too active in the transfer window but after failing to score in their first two league matches of the season, there is a sense that Bruno Lage needs to spend more money.

Fortunately, the Old Gold still have six days of the market in order to wrap up their business.

What’s the word?

After Lage admitted last week that the Wolves first-team squad consisted of just 15 senior players it came as a huge concern for supporters.

However, after smacking Nottingham Forest 4-0 on Tuesday evening, there is a sense of positivity starting to manoeuvre through Molineux.

If Wolves finish the transfer window well then it’ll lift spirits further ahead of an exciting season under their new manager.

One player they are considering before the deadline is Cardiff City’s Kieffer Moore.

Football Insider suggests they are weighing up a bid for the Welshman, news that was supplemented by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers.

He said on Twitter: “Busy week ahead for Wolves who are working on a number of deals. Am told Cardiff and Wales striker Kieffer Moore is on their radar but no bid made yet. CB, CM and another striker priority positions.”

Good signing

With Wolves in desperate need of adding more bodies to their squad, Wolves supporters should be excited by the idea of signing Moore.

His record over the last year has been phenomenal and if anyone can play second fiddle for Raul Jimenez, it’s the Wales international.

After all, like the Mexican, he can score goals and also hold the ball up. In fact, Moore is arguably better in that second facet.

Last season, the 29-year-old won an incredible 10.5 aerial duels per game. That is absolutely streets ahead of anyone in the Wolves squad with Willy Boly topping the charts at 2.7 battles per match.

On top of that, Moore has goals in his armoury. He scored 20 of them for Cardiff last term as he dominated Championship defences.

Wolves will know all too well how a player can compete at that level and then drop off at Premier League level, though. The likes of Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro caught the eye in the second tier but then dropped off once they were promoted with the Old Gold.

Moore, however, would arrive as a squad option. There would be little pressure on his shoulders and vitally, he knows English football well.

The same cannot be said for Fabio Silva and Willian Jose last season. That’s why signing a player like the Cardiff star is key.

AND in other news, Wolves eye move for £9.9m-rated gem with “unbelievable quality”, he may replace Traore…

Everton’s season hit a new low this afternoon as they lost 2-1 to Norwich City, who came into the match with just two wins and eight goals from their 20 Premier League games this season.

Frankly, it was an embarrassing performance from the visitors at Carrow Road – experienced players like Andre Gomes, Seamus Coleman and Jordan Pickford all ranked lowly according to Sofascore – and it was one which could get Rafael Benitez the sack.

Everton put the ball in the net to break the deadlock, but it was at the wrong end of the pitch, with Michael Keane scoring an own goal in the 16th minute. Adam Idah quickly doubled the lead to put the home team comfortably in front in Norfolk.

Richarlison returned to action for the Toffees in the second half, giving the visiting fans some hope with an impressive overhead kick in the 60th minute, but it wasn’t enough for the Toffees to push on and take a point, with the game ending 2-1 to Dean Smith’s side.

Keane disasterclass

Keane had an absolute nightmare performance in particular, scoring an own goal and failing to redeem himself over the rest of the game, lacking in defensive impact and quality throughout his performance.

According to SofaScore, the £69k-p/w flop lost 66% of his duels, gave away four fouls and picked up a yellow card as a souvenir for his awful efforts, along with losing the ball 11 times. This horrific display from the Everton defender could have just cost Benitez his job at Goodison Park.

Rafa out?

Benitez has been treading a tightrope ever since he took the job at Everton due to his previous success at Liverpool, and after losing their 10th game out of 19 in the Premier League this season against a team who were bottom of the table, it is hard to see how the Spaniard can recover from this result.

Many of the away fans at Carrow Road today made clear their dissatisfaction with the 61-year-old, with the fume also evident on social media as some called for Benitez to be sacked. Inside the ground, one Everton fan invaded the pitch in an attempt to confront the Toffees manager.

Indeed, talkSPORT have reported that Benitez could be sacked as early as tonight, so it will be interesting to see what steps will be taken in the coming days, or whether Moshiri will stick by the Spaniard due to the ongoing transfer window.

If this is to be the 61-year-old’s last match in charge of Everton, Keane’s dismal performance will have been a significant contributing factor to the downfall of his boss.

In other news: Benitez could form a deadly duo at Goodison by making a fourth signing this month

Jesse Marsch should attempt to lure Sergino Dest from Barcelona to Leeds United, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown

In the words of ESPN senior writer Tom Hamilton, the 48-year-old has become ‘the most successful American coach in Europe’ and a ‘pioneer’ for his country.

He led Red Bull Salzburg to two league titles and two Austrian cups before earning a move to RB Leipzig, who were Champions League semi-finalists in 2020. The former New York Red Bulls coach is now taking on the Premier League with Leeds, having succeeded Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February.

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Leeds are reportedly looking at 21-year-old Dest, with 17 caps for the United States, in addition to compatriot Brenden Aaronson, and the Whites believe that the former would be an ‘excellent addition’.

He is represented by ICM Stellar Sports, whose clients also include Elland Road duo Patrick Bamford and Dan James.

The latest

Jones told GiveMeSport that Leeds face some pretty daunting competition for Dest, who made a ‘dream’ move to Barcelona in 2020, but he thinks that Marsch may be able to exert some pulling power.

The journalist claimed: “Sergino Dest has much bigger clubs interested in him right now. He’s got huge ambition and doesn’t even want to leave Barcelona because it was his dream move.

“But if Jesse Marsch has got any pull over him, then he should give it a go.”

The verdict

Dest started 10 of Barcelona’s first 11 La Liga matches this season, but since Xavi took over in November, the American has only been named in five starting line-ups. Injury problems have played a part, but his place looks considerably less secure than it did under Ronald Koeman.

If Marsch could tempt the £16.2m-rated wide man and Leeds could make an offer to Barcelona’s satisfaction, then there would be cause for celebration at Elland Road.

Dest, who can operate in both full-back positions and as a winger, was Ajax’s Talent of the Year in 2020 and also featured in the IFFHS Under-20 Team of the Year alongside the likes of Alphonso Davies, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Ansu Fati, so his potential is huge.

Indeed, Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves declared that ‘he has everything to be one of football’s greats’, so if Marsch does have any sway over possibly enticing the 21-year-old to Leeds, he absolutely must utilise it.

In other news, this Leeds man could leave the club after Marsch spoke to him about his behaviour. 

Crystal Palace have been linked with a transfer move for West Bromwich Albion striker Reyes Cleary as the January transfer window fast approaches.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, the Eagles are one of a number of sides interested in securing the highly-rated 17-year-old’s services, with several Premier League and Bundesliga clubs listed amongst his potential suitors.

The report states that: “Cleary has been compared in style to a young Romelu Lukaku. He is quick, strong and has a goalscorer’s instinct and, as Sportsmail reported, has already been drawing interest from Crystal Palace, Schalke, Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim.”

German giants Bayern Munich and the newest members of football’s financial elite Newcastle United are also believed to be tracking Cleary ahead of a potential offer, meaning Palace chairman Steve Parish may have to move quickly in order to secure his target.

He’s just what Patrick Vieira needs

Cleary has been in sensational form in the opening weeks of the current campaign, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions in just 12 appearances after bagging another brace against Leicester City last weekend.

It’s believed that Munich sent a contingency to watch the stocky striker in action against Stoke City Under-23s last month and are planning on further scouting missions as interest in him continues to grow.

But with Cleary yet to sign a professional contract, an imminent Hawthorns exit could be on the cards, and the youngster may be just what Patrick Vieira needs at Palace.

The French tactician has made a successful start to his squad rebuild in south London, bringing in Odsonne Edouard from Celtic in order to bolster his forward line.

However, with both Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew approaching the twilight years of their careers and Jean-Philippe Mateta failing to impress, Vieira is expected to delve back into the transfer market for further attacking reinforcements.

As a result, Cleary could be the ideal addition for the capital club. The teenage prodigy has been compared to Lukaku, would arrive for a relatively small fee, and has plenty of room to grow while Edouard continues to lead the line.

It remains to be seen whether Parish can convince the Englishman to join Vieira’s revolution at Palace, but it’s a deal that would signal the Eagles’ intentions in the years ahead.

And, in other news…61 duels won, 25 tackles: Palace “warrior” has been Vieira’s unsung hero this season

Wolves’ transfer business over the last two seasons has been astute, to say the least.

The club are setting themselves up to challenge for European football season on season and their strategy in the transfer market is a big factor in the stability of their squad.

The Old Gold currently sit in eighth place in the Premier League standings, as well as boasting the fourth-best defence in the league with just 28 goals conceded.

A large part of this defensive discipline shown by Bruno Lage’s side is through their stability in midfield, with Ruben Neves one of the main components for Wolves when out of possession.

However, with the Portugal international looking as if he could be moving on to pastures new this summer, Wolves may well need a viable replacement for the 25-year-old.

What’s the word?

With Neves’ future at Wolves uncertain, the Old Gold need to find a well-rounded replacement who is as defensively capable as the aforementioned Portuguese maestro.

And, according to a recent report by Brazilian media outlet Globo Esporte, Wolves believe they could have found their answer in the form of the 17-year-old midfielder, Andrey Santos.

Santos has caught the eye of several big clubs across Europe, with the likes of Barcelona having already made a proposal.

There is a small caveat though. The young Brazilian has only made four appearances this season for Vasco, with all of his minutes coming as a substitute.

This has not put off the likes of AC Milan, Monaco, Benfica and Wolves, however, who are all reportedly keeping tabs on the €30m (£25m) talent ahead of a potential summer swoop.

Repeating Success

If reports are to be believed, it looks as though Wolves will continue down the same path that they trod when signing a young, relatively unknown defensive midfielder by the name of Ruben Neves.

It was an approach that paid dividends for the Old Gold last time, so do not be surprised if they use the same strategy again.

Especially due to the fact that there could be an option of a cut-price deal for Santos, with reports suggesting that Vasco Da Gama would be willing to sell their starlet for between €6m-€7m (£5m-£6m), despite his £25m buyout clause.

For a fee as low as £5-£6m, Wolves would be wise to take a risk on a youngster who could turn out to be Ruben Neves 2.0.

In other news: Fosun must finally sanction Wolves move for “quality” 179 G/A gem who “has everything”