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Leeds United are continuing to perform in the Premier League, despite some obstacles being in their way.

Even with first-team stalwart Joe Rodon being on the sidelines through injury, Daniel Farke’s men have managed to battle well to two draws on the spin versus Liverpool and Manchester United, the second of which saw Ruben Amorim lose his job at the Red Devils.

Farke’s men are now eight points clear of the Premier League drop zone, but the German won’t be counting his chickens just yet when it comes to survival, with the ex-Norwich City manager surely keen for some January additions at Elland Road to boost his valiant team even more.

Leeds well placed to secure Premier League defender's signature

The likes of Sebastiaan Bornauw have bravely stepped up into the first team ranks, with Rodon out with an ankle problem, winning three duels when facing off against the visitors from Manchester.

Still, Farke won’t be completely content with the depth at his disposal in the centre-back positions, even as the Welshman edges closer to being fully fit, as a move for Union Berlin battler Danilho Doekhi continues to be talked up in West Yorkshire.

However, instead of shopping in Germany, Leeds could win themselves a Premier League-recognised defender with Football Insider revealing that the Whites are still well-placed to welcome Axel Disasi to Elland Road before the window is up despite the arrival of Liam Rosenior at Chelsea.

The report states that the top-flight newcomers have identified the ex-AS Monaco man as an ideal centre-back target, with a loan deal until the end of the season the expected move, to ensure Leeds are well-stocked at the back in the short-term. It’s said that a deal is already in the ‘advanced stages’.

Despite his complete lack of action this season at Stamford Bridge, this could go down as a shrewd bit of business, with Disasi impressing in flashes at Aston Villa on loan last campaign.

How Disasi can be Leeds' next Ampadu

Farke has been here before in shopping for Chelsea outcasts, with Ethan Ampadu once stuck on the fringes of the West London giants, before becoming a key first-team presence under the German’s wing.

It must feel like a lifetime ago for Ampadu that he was scrambling for any senior minutes he could get his hands on at Chelsea, with the 25-year-old now a crucial cog in Farke’s Premier League machine, as Leeds’ never-say-die captain.

Indeed, the £7m forked out on Ampadu’s services to free him of his Chelsea nightmare has gone down as money very well spent, with the 59-time Wales international turning into a resilient Championship title-winner at Elland Road, alongside now becoming a Premier League regular in West Yorkshire.

With an 86% pass accuracy average this season in league action, alongside winning a gutsy 4.9 duels per game, Ampadu has only improved up a division as a warrior for his side, with the number four very much living up to his “indispensable” tag once handed to him by scout Jacek Kulig.

Disasi will be aiming to have a similar redemption arc at Elland Road, if a move can be sealed before February’s deadline, having actually excelled at Chelsea in the past to prove he’s a Premier League-ready performer, before his minutes horribly dried up.

Disasi’s PL numbers

Stat (* = per 90 mins)

23/24

24/25

Games played

31

13

Games started

29

9

Goals scored

2

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

82.1

52.2

Accurate passes*

64.3 (91%)

37.7 (90%)

Ball recoveries*

4.8

2.3

Clearances*

3.1

2.2

Total duels won*

4.3

3.1

Clean sheets

5

2

Stats by Sofascore

In the heart of Chelsea’s defence during his debut season on English shores, the Frenchman would be noted as a “dominant” presence in the air by the aforementioned Kulig, winning 4.3 duels a game, not too far off Ampadu at his Leeds peak.

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Additionally, with two clean sheets collected on loan at Villa from just nine starts, Disasi would be hopeful that he could be seen as a dependable figure Farke can rely on, much like Ampadu has grown into after deserting West London.

Disasi is clearly a talent that could explode back into life under the right management, having once been branded as Chelsea’s “best player” on a stern away trip to Manchester City by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, with Farke perhaps the motivating force he needs when considering Ampadu’s unbelievable turnaround.

He could soon work that same magic on the forgotten 27-year-old, as Farke continues to utilise his full squad between now and May, so Leeds don’t run out of steam in their efforts to remain in the Premier League.

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Posts ByDan Emery

There’s been no such thing as home comforts for Manchester United of late, with Tuesday’s dour draw with bottom-side Wolverhampton Wanderers having been the fourth time in their last five Old Trafford outings that the Red Devils have failed to win on home soil.

In the absence of Bruno Fernandes and co, Ruben Amorim’s men were simply devoid of creativity and spark, with it taking a fortunate deflection for Joshua Zirkzee to eventually nudge the hosts ahead.

Pegged back before the break, there was to be no second-half surge akin to the win at Molineux not too long ago, with United’s desperate night epitomised late on, as the ageing Casemiro was caught out after labouring on the ball inside the Wolves half.

A collective groan went round the Theatre of Dreams as the 33-year-old had his pocket picked, with the midfielder failing to slide in Brazil teammate Matheus Cunha ahead of him.

In truth, the pairing of the £70m man and Manuel Ugarte simply didn’t work against Rob Edwards’ plucky outfit, with a new midfielder a necessity when the window opens next month.

Man Utd already making calls over midfield signing

After a summer that saw United sound out a possible deal for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, rumours are also rife that INEOS could look to Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in 2026, following a breakthrough few months for the England international.

The problem? Neither of those two Premier League rivals is set to sell on the cheap, amid reported £100m plus price tags, with it far more likely that any deal would have to take place over the summer instead.

Indeed, there needs to be a sense of realism over what United can and can’t do in the market next month, after an over £200m outlay last time out, with more affordable, short-term deals needed in January.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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It would appear that the club themselves are aware of that, with journalist Ben Jacobs revealing that INEOS have already been making calls over a possible move for Al Hilal star Ruben Neves.

That interest isn’t believed to have progressed to anything more, although that contact comes amid the Portuguese’s expiring contract, ensuring he could be available for a knock-down price in the winter window.

Prior reports have indicated that the ex-Wolves man could be available for as little as £20m.

Why Neves signing could spell the end for Casemiro

Ignoring his significant fee and £350k-per-week salary, Casemiro has been a solid servant for United in recent years, scoring 21 times in all since his arrival in 2022, four of which have come this season.

That said, with his own deal running out in January, the Brazil skipper is coming to the climax of his Old Trafford journey, with Tuesday’s display again highlighting his physical shortcomings.

In all, the experienced warrior has now been dribbled past 1.1 times per game in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore.

For context, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo have been dribbled past just 0.5 and 0.7 times per game, respectively, in 2025/26.

Perhaps Casemiro is merely being exposed by Amorim’s tactical set-up, but either way, a suitable replacement needs to be found. Neves might just be that.

Lauded as arguably the “most underrated player in world football” in recent years by analyst Raj Chohan, the 28-year-old is a man of proven Premier League experience, having made 177 appearances in the competition during his stint at Molineux, chalking up 30 goal involvements in that time.

While not prolific, the one-time Porto captain does have that knack for the spectacular, regularly seen rifling home from range during his days with the Old Gold.

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Of course, there might be concerns that he has been plying his trade out in Saudi Arabia for the last two years or so, although he has registered 39 goals and assists in 108 games in that time, while remaining part of the national team set-up.

Neves vs Casemiro – 25/26 League Stats

Stat (*per game)

Neves

Casemiro

Games

10

17

Goals

4

4

Assists

0

1

Big chances created

3

1

Key passes

1.5

0.6

Pass accuracy

91%

82%

Total duels won

58%

52%

Dribbled past

0.9

1.1

Stats via Sofascore

The 63-cap Portugal star was also mixing it with the Premier League’s best during his final season in the Midlands, with FBref noting that two of the most statistically similar midfielders to him in the division at the time were the aforementioned Rice and Caicedo.

He was in good company then, and a move back to England could well see him emerge as a vital, if not underrated, figure in Amorim’s midfield unit, with such a deal potentially set to prove the final nail in the coffin for Casemiro’s Old Trafford stay.

Experienced, but still in his peak years, Neves is the ready-made successor to the South American that United are in desperate need of.

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Steve Waugh: “There’s a real danger of Test cricket not having many spectators watching it” © Getty Images

Steve Waugh has rejected the call from Geoff Boycott to cut Tests to four days and says the format should not be tinkered with. Boycott suggested the alterations because “the pace of life has changed”, but Waugh said people enjoyed watching a contest evolve over five days.”It’s like a game of chess, it’s a great game of tactics, it’s a battle mentally as well, so to cut it short would be to change the game of Test cricket,” he said in the Australian. “And that’s the essence of cricket: Test cricket.”Waugh said players were judged on how they performed in the longer form. “So let’s not tinker with that, you can tinker with the other forms of the game, but Test cricket should stay the way it is,” he said. “If someone can win a Test match in three days then that provides entertainment, but some of the best games I played went right down to the wire in five days and there wasn’t a result.”Richie Benaud, who was with Waugh at the SCG to unveil a painting of the best New South Wales team, said there was no reason to change. “As soon as you push Test cricket to one side and concentrate only on limited-overs cricket, then people will get jack of it very quickly,” he said.Waugh said it was important in the current climate to encourage the “culture of Test cricket”. “There’s a real danger of Test cricket not having many spectators watching it,” he said. “Australians are lucky, they’ve got a very successful side and I think success brings in the spectators.”In some of the subcontinent countries they’re really focused on one-day cricket. Let’s get back to focusing on Test cricket, to tell people great stories about Test cricket, to get families to go and watch the game again because it has such a great history and tradition.”Waugh expected there would be large crowds during India’s four-Test series, which begins in Melbourne on Boxing Day. “It will be a good contest, they’ve got a very experienced side and they’ll take it to Australia a bit,” he said. “As Sreesanth has shown, they’re not going to back down, so they’re going to be aggressive, which is good. Australia responds to that type of cricket and plays really well. Australia want sides to challenge and India have the capability of doing that.”

Russel Arnold last played an ODI in July 2006 © AFP

Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana have been included in a 20-man pool for four ODIs against India in February. Also included are Sri Lanka A players Malinda Warnapura, Gayan Wijekoon and Avishka Gunawardene, who will join the other 15 currently in New Zealand for a five-ODI series.Sri Lanka are expected to leave for India on February 3 and return on February 18. The tour itinerary also comprises a warm-up match against the Indian Board President’s XI.This series will be Sri Lanka’s final international engagement before they embark to the Caribbean for the 2007 World Cup. Sri Lanka and India are grouped together in Group ‘B’ of the 2007 World Cup along with Bangladesh and Bermuda.Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-capt, wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Ruchira Perera, Malinga Bandara, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof, Gayan Wijekoon, Russell Arnold, Malinda Warnapura, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardene.

Roddy Estwick, the West Indies Under-19 coach, has said his team are looking forward to their short tour of Pakistan, which starts tomorrow with a one-day match at Karachi. The trip acts as preparation for the squad ahead of the World Cup, in Sri Lanka next month.”We have got good team spirit and good ethics and five one-dayers against the Pakistan Under-19 side would provide us with good preparations for the World Cup,” he told Pakistan newspaper the .Estwick said his team was picked on the basis of the player’s performances in the inter-island U-19 competition, adding that they had some talented players in their line-up. Commenting on the decline of the West Indies senior team, he maintained that “all the teams of the world go through this kind of periods.”West Indies squad Leon Johnson (capt), Jason Mohammed, Richard Ramdeen, Gajanand Singh, Andre Fletcher, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Javon Searles, Sharmarh Brooks, Andre McCarthy, William Perkins, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Richie Bachan.

Ian Harvey has been named in Victoria’s 13-man squad for the Pura Cup match against Western Australia at the Junction Oval from December 1. Harvey, who has recovered from his groin strain, is one of four inclusions to the side which thrashed New South Wales last week – Jason Arnberger, Bryce McGain and Shane Harwood are the other three. Andrew McDonald, who will undergo a surgery for a finger injury, Brendan Joseland and Brad Knowles have been omitted.Squad Cameron White (capt), Jason Arnberger, Matthew Elliott, Shane Harwood, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Mathew Inness, Bryce Mcgain, Jonathan Moss, Peter Roach, Graeme Rummans, Allan Wise.

Sanwar Hossain was cleared to play for Bangladesh against Australia in the three-match ODI series despite being reported to the International Cricket Council for having a suspect bowling action. However, he runs the risk of being no-balled if the umpires feel that he is throwing the ball.Hossain was reported by David Shepherd, Rudi Koertzen and SteveDavis, the three umpires at the second Test at Cairns, after they reviewed tape of his bowling action. The issue is now under the ICC’s jurisdiction and over the next six weeks Hossain and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern.”Hossain will be able to continue to play during this time,” the ICC said yesterday. “But the bowler remains subject to being called on the field by an umpire in accordance with the laws of the game”. With Shepherd to officiate in all three one-dayers, and Davies to stand in the second match, Hossain will be under scrutiny. The on-field umpires can no-ball him for chucking and repeated offences could see him taken out of the attack.Hossain’s questionable delivery is a back-hander similar to one used by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Muralitharan, whose action has repeatedly been questioned, has been cleared on a number of occasionsbecause of his flexible elbow. But Hossain’s copycat delivery looks as if it involves a straightening of the arm as he flicks the ball out of his hand.Hossain is at stage one of the ICC’s process for dealing with suspect actions, which allows him to continue to play while working withadvisers to be appointed by his home board and a human movement specialist from an ICC panel. This stage will last up to six weeks.At that point a detailed report will be submitted to the ICC.If Hossain’s action is not remedied in the next six weeks and he isreported again, he could risk a formal hearing and could be banned for 12 months under the ICC guidelines.

Victoria faces a big test of character if it is to save its Pura Cup cricket match after Tasmania batted itself into an almost impregnable position in Hobart today.At stumps on day two, Tasmania was 6-435 with a first innings lead of 296.Its overwhelming position was built on a Michael Dighton century and big half centuries by Daniel Marsh, Shaun Young and wicketkeeper Sean Clingeleffer.The Victorian attack, minus the injured Damien Fleming, laboured long and hard to keep the Tasmanian scoring rate under control on a sullen first day of summerwhen a cold and swirling wind dislodged bails and sent rubbish skidding across the ground.Dighton and Marsh laid the foundation, batting through the rain-shortened morning session and well into the afternoon.Dighton, who had scored only 23 runs in four previous innings after being recruited from Western Australia, hit 126 in 319 minutes with 18 fours and a six.He was marooned on 90 for 37 minutes in an innings punctuated by elegant drives and sweetly timed flicks off his pads.With regular No.3 Michael Di Venuto due to return from injury, Dighton’s form gives Tasmania some needed competition in the top order.Marsh, who was once regarded as a spinner who could bat but now holds his position almost entirely through his batting, deserved his century.But he fell, from his first seriously false stroke, for 97 – an innings built largely on his powerful cutting.After Marsh and Dighton, having put on 184 runs, went in successive overs to the second new ball, Young and Clingeleffer continued the Victorian torture.They batted until deep into the evening, adding a further 119 runs before Young lofted a drive off part-time spinner Brad Hodge and went for 70.Clingeleffer batted on, steadily blossoming after a scratchy start, to finish on 73.In his last three first class innings he’s amassed 242 runs without being dismissed and has given Tasmania a batsman of quality at No.7.He’ll resume in the morning with Damien Wright on 16.

Match facts

November 14-18, 2015
Start time 0930 local (0400GMT)4:01

Manjrekar: India may leave out a seamer to pick Rohit Sharma

Big Picture

While Bangalore is set to break a 100-year-old rain record for the month of November, South Africa are facing their worst drought in more than two decades. What an apt metaphor that is for the status of the ongoing series. The hosts are swimming through calm waters, after their success in the first Test while the visitors are negotiating choppy seas of spin even as they are parched for players.This is only the second Test but already South Africa have a fourth injury on their books. After JP Duminy and Morne Morkel had to sit out in Mohali with a hand and quad problem respectively, and Dale Steyn suffered a groin injury mid-Test, now Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the series with torn ankle ligaments. That the majority of the wounded are South Africa’s premier pacemen tells you the seriousness of the predicament they find themselves in. Their team balance has been thrown as they grapple with how to accommodate enough batsmen and enough spinners while still maintaining their firepower.India do not have the same concerns. Although their batting underwhelmed in Mohali, it came good when it needed to and their bowlers drowned out any concerns by overpowering the opposition. They made full use of the home advantage India are using as their 12th man, which allows them more flexibility in team composition terms. They may still relook at the length of their batting line-up, especially as the remaining matches may not all be as low-scoring as the first one was, but will still feel they have the upper hand in the series. All South Africa are hoping is that it will rain sometime soon.

Form guide

(last five completed games, most recent first)
India WWWLD
South Africa LDDWD

In the spotlight

It can be lonely being a seamer in a spinner’s game but Ishant Sharma has found a way. He plucked 13 wickets at 23.23 in Sri Lanka in August – which included his 200th Test wicket – to usher India to a series win and he will be back to lead the attack at home. Ishant was suspended for one match after having too much too say too often to the Sri Lankan batsmen which will only add to the spice of the contest against South Africa, a team he would want to improve his record against. Ishant has 20 South African wickets from eight previous Tests against them at an average of 47.95 – his worst against any opposition.On the occasion of his 100th Test, all eyes would be trained on AB de Villiers who is also South Africa’s most in-form batsman. De Villiers was their only player who had some measure of the slow Mohali surface, where he showed composure and class even as the spinners ran riot. He has already scored more than 1000 runs in ODIs this year and is in fine form across formats. Coupled with his intention to do “whatever it takes” to get South Africa back into the game, all indications are that we can expect something big from de Villiers at his adopted home ground.

Team news

Ishant has served his suspension and should slot straight back into the XI, probably at Varun Aaron’s expense. India’s insistence on five bowlers will mean Umesh Yadav operates as the other seamer alongside three specialist spinners, and the net sessions also suggested so. Captain Virat Kohli said on Friday “don’t be surprised if Gurkeerat plays very soon.”India: (probable) 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 M Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Wriddihiman Saha (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Ishant SharmaWith Vernon Philander ruled out of the series and Dale Steyn out of the match, South Africa will be down to just one of their premier pacers in the fit again Morne Morkel, who will lead the attack. Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott, who flew in as Philander’s replacement on Thursday “will be ready” according to Hashim Amla, are the only other two seam-bowling options. That will leave them with space for only one specialist spinner because JP Duminy is certain to be back after recovering from a cut on his hand. Duminy will ensure the batting line-up is lengthened with seven specialist batsmen in the team and will have to bowl offspin to provide South Africa with another slower-bowling option.South Africa: (probable) 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Stiaan van Zyl, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Hashim Amla (capt), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Dane Vilas (wk), 8 Simon Harmer/Kyle Abbott, 9 Kagiso Rabada 10 Morne Morkel,11 Imran Tahir

Pitch and conditions

Rain over the last week has meant the pitch has not had an opportunity to bake but K Sriram, the curator, has calmed concerns of an undercooked surface. He began preparation on November 1 from under a tent. The grass covering is set to disappear before the match starts but it could be the overhead conditions which may have more of an impact. Dense cloud cover and high humidity could mean swing through the air. Wet weather is predicted for the middle three days of the match with the first and last day forecast as dry.

Stats and Trivia

• India have won their last seven home Tests, three behind their longest winning streak of 10 triumphs on the trot at home between December 1988 and November 1994.
• South Africa have never won an away series after being 1-0 down, but they have managed three series victories after falling behind at home: against West Indies in 2007-08; against India in 2006-07 and against NZ in 1994-95.

Quotes

“As a team, we’ve all enjoyed the fact that AB is playing his 100th game. We’ve celebrated that and hopefully AB gets onto the park tomorrow and has a wonderful game for us and we win the Test match. That would be an ideal game for him and for us. It’s great to have him playing his 100th game and for us to have something to celebrate but in terms of it taking our focus off the game, I dont think it has.

West Indian fans may not see or hear a ball on the tour of Zimbabwe. Two days before the start of the five-match one-day series, uncertainty surrounds live television coverage and no radio commentary appears to be available.SportsMax, the Jamaica cable company that holds television rights for West Indies overseas tours, is trying to finalise last-minute arrangements to facilitate the broadcast, and managing director Oliver McIntosh said yesterday a decision would be made today. In his estimation, it stood at a “50-50″ chance that the matches would be shown on their channel which is beamed to 18 islands across the Caribbean.”The issue that we faced is extremely short notice. If we carry it, it will be more for content and less for commercial purposes. It is essentially a cost to carry it,” McIntosh told the Nation from his office in Kingston. “There are also issues picking up signals from Zimbabwe that we’ve experienced in the past and we’re trying to make sure that if we do carry it, there are no issues. The video satellite and link-up is not as easy from Zimbabwe as it is from say Australia or South Africa.”While the tour of Zimbabwe was always part of the ICC’s calendar, there were doubts over whether it would have proceeded on the grounds of safety, security and food integrity in the African nation. The West Indies Cricket Board finally provided confirmation of the tour on November 6 when it also said it would continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe.”It’s about 50-50. The problem is the lateness of the tour,” McIntosh said. “The announcement of it was very late. It is tough. We already have our content and spending set for the year. This is a cost venture.”Radio coverage also seems a no-no for the tour in which the other matches against Zimbabwe are on December 2, 5, 7 and 9.Caribbean Media Corporation CricketPlus producer Adriel Richard said itwas not in a position to provide coverage because it does not hold rights for either radio or television.While uncertainty hinges on the Zimbabwe tour, SportsMax will carry live television coverage of the West Indies’ tour of South Africa that includes three Tests and five ODIs from December 26 to February 3, while CMC will also have live ball-by-ball radio coverage from the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.