As the dust settles on spygate, one of the most captivating stories of the season so far, Leeds United have quickly put the drama behind them by completing a permanent deal for Kiko Casilla. 

It’s already been quite the rollercoaster journey for Leeds fans under El Loco, but even by his standards the past week has been tempestuous. The media frenzy has been verging on unprecedented and the hype has somewhat served as a distraction from the arrival of Kiko Casilla.

That Bielsa has managed to create a story so huge that it has detracted from the transfer of a player from Real Madrid, arguably the most prestigious club on the planet, serves as a telling indicator of the gargantuan size of the media storm the Argentine has created.

But it’s back to business now and Leeds have confirmed the signing of Casilla today, and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has sought to give the Whites faithful an idea of what to expect while speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

For the most part, Balague only had positive words to say about Casilla and the suggestion is that Leeds have completed a really smart piece of business, but he did utter a word of warning regarding the physicality of English football which may hint at a potential weakness in the 32-year-old’s game.

“He was strong enough on aerial balls but I feel that with every goalkeeper who comes to England, that’s the thing they’ve got to get used to.

“Where it’s a foul anywhere else in the world, referees don’t give a foul (in England) and goalkeepers are less protected, even in the six-yard box. “He’ll have to get used to that but like everybody who goes into a new job, he’ll need that time for adaptation and due to the circumstances at Leeds, I think you’ll see him in the line-up pretty soon.”

The suggestion does not argue Casilla is fundamentally flawed in regard to his ability to deal with aerial balls, but rather the absence of the protection he enjoyed in Spain may leave him exposed during the transition period.

David De Gea’s career has served as a prime example to illuminate how adapting to the physicality of English football is a process which even the very best goalkeepers have to complete, so Leeds fans may yet have their hearts in their mouths when Casilla is given the chance to cement his place in the starting XI ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Strong enough in Spain does not necessarily equate to strong enough in England, but Bielsa is wise enough to ensure Casilla will be acutely aware of the new challenges he is set to face at Elland Road.

Leeds fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was revealed that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot would prefer a move to Liverpool over their club, according to Paris United.

As mentioned in the article, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has allegedly spoken to the French international in a bid to convince him to swap Paris for north London.

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However it is understood that the 23-year-old would prefer to team up with Jurgen Klopp and league leaders Liverpool, if he were to move to England.

Tottenham have lost Mousa Dembele this month as he was sold to Guangzhou R&F (as per the BBC), so the north London-based side need a new face in midfield to replace the imposing Belgian international.

Let’s see how Spurs supporters reacted on Twitter amid claims the Frenchman is far more keen on a move to Anfield…

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Victor Wanyama is back in full training for Tottenham Hotspur and should be in line to start against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup this weekend.

The Kenya international has struggled for fitness this season and has played just four times in the Premier League; he was last seen in a Spurs shirt in November, playing 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

On the chalkboard

Wanyama has been something of a conundrum for Mauricio Pochettino, such has been his fitness issues.

Signed for a mere £11m, per BBC, Wanyama enjoyed a phenomenal debut season, playing 36 times in the Premier League and even scoring four goals, per Transfermarkt.

Spurs finally appeared to have a midfield destroyer they could rely on, after misfiring with the likes of Etienne Capoue, Benjamin Stambouli and Paulinho.

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However, Wanyama played exactly half of those games in the league the following season, struggling with cartilage damage and being restricted to 18 appearances in the top-flight.

His latest injury setback is over now, though, and Pochettino should unleash him against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Indeed, Wanyama has played well whenever relied upon by his manager this season; against Palace previously, according to WhoScored, Wanyama recorded two interceptions, made one tackle, had a pass success rate of 80 per cent and also won one aerial battle, while completing one cross in a complete midfield display. 

A league of his own

Spurs do not have another player with the skillset of Wanyama.

Eric Dier is perhaps the closest they come in their squad to a midfield destroyer, but he does not have the mobility nor the technical prowess of Wanyama.

The former Southampton man is equally adept at rampaging forward as he is at sitting in front of the defence, recycling possession, and he is a nightmare for opposition midfielders.

He continually tracks runs, makes interceptions, and starts counter-attacks, while he also scored a goal of the season contender last season, thundering home a 35-yard bullet against Liverpool.

If Spurs want to be sure of their progress against Palace in a tricky London derby, they should deploy Wanyama alongside Harry Winks in midfield.

That would allow Winks to roam slightly further forward and keep Spurs ticking in the final third, without having to continuously double back to cover for his team-mates.

Plus, against the likes of Cheikhou Kouyate and Luka Milivojevic, Spurs need someone with the presence to dominate the middle of the park; Wanyama offers those attributes in spades.

[ad_pod ]Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to state their desire to see Selhurst Park favourite Scott Dann remain at the club, amid reported interest from 19th placed Fulham, according to Bleacher Report’s football insider Dean Jones on Twitter.The Eagles defender has only recently recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City at Selhurst Park last season, and has made just two starts in the current campaign in the FA Cup games against Grimsby and Tottenham – he performed excellently in both games, playing 90 minutes and keeping two clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt.However, given his undoubted quality, the 31-year-old perhaps deserves to be starting week in, week out, and he probably would be but for the formidable partnership of Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins.Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…As a result, relegation threatened Fulham are interested in bringing him to Craven Cottage to solve their defensive woes according to Dean Jones, although fans of the Eagles aren’t too up for the idea of seeing such a pivotal figure depart the club, if their reactions on Twitter are anything to go by…

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Newcastle United attempted to sign Marko Pjaca from Juventus in the January transfer window, as per Corriere Fiorentino, via Sport Witness.

What’s the word?

The Magpies signed Miguel Almiron in a club-record January move, paying £20million to secure the signature of the former Atlanta United playmaker.

The club also secured a loan move for AS Monaco’s Antonio Barreca.

But reports in Italy claim that the club were interested in bringing in Pjaca, who is currently on loan at Fiorentina.

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The 23-year-old has struggled for form at Fiorentina, scoring just once and providing one assist – in the same game, a 3-0 victory over SPAL – in a total of 707 minutes on the pitch.

He played just 30 minutes last time out, against Udinese, and was left on the bench against both Sampdoria and Chievo Verona.

The aforementioned report, via Sport Witness, claims that Juventus wanted to send him to a different club in a bid to help him rediscover his form, with Newcastle attempting to get a deal over the line prior to the transfer deadline.

Pjaca, though, chose instead to stay at Fiorentina and fight for his place – the club are currently ninth in Serie A.

Right recruitment steps

Newcastle are getting better in the transfer market.

Rafael Benitez clearly wanted to strengthen his side and the move for Pjaca suggests that there is now a framework in place for the Magpies’ recruitment strategy.

Along with Almiron and Barreca, he could have been improved by the Spaniard at St James’ Park, after a difficult few months in Italy.

It remains to be seen if he will ever make the grade at Juventus, but he may well have made the wrong decision to stay in Florence.

Fiorentina have done nothing for his career thus far this season but a move to England could have linked him up with Benitez, a manager who has a sterling track record of making players better.

Put this one down as a missed opportunity for both parties.

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Everton manager Marco Silva’s position at Goodison Park is under threat following his side’s dismal recent run of form. The Toffees have lost four of their last five Premier League games – including falling to defeat against Silva’s former club, Watford, last time out.

The Portuguese coach must identify the cause for his team’s woes and rectify it before it’s too late.

Identifying the problem

Everton have struggled so much in recent weeks as they’ve been far too easy for opponents to pressurise and bully. Everton undeniably possess considerable talent amongst their ranks, including the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes and Bernard.

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However, the aforementioned trio, amongst others in Silva’s squad, are all guilty of being careless in possession at times, and failing to adequately protect the ball when they have it.

According to WhoScored’s stats, Everton have averaged 18.4 unsuccessful touches per league match this season – more that any other team in the division. On top of that, their record of being dispossessed 12.7 times per game is only better than Crystal Palace’s average.

Finding the solution

Until Everton are able to better protect the ball they’ll continue to struggle to accrue positive results. Needlessly gifting possession to the opposition so regularly causes avoidable pressure to build on Everton’s defence.

In terms of technical quality, Silva’s squad have the ability to take greater care of the ball than this. However, it could be a mentality issue. The manager has to find a way to inspire greater levels of endeavour out of this group.

Additionally, the Toffees lack steel. Idrissa Gueye is the only regular starter on Merseyside capable of physically competing with anyone in the middle of park. If they want to stop being pushovers, Everton must rediscover their bite. 

Having been nominated for Premier League 2 Player of the Month for the second time in a row, Nathan Holland has won the accolade, as reported by West Ham United’s official channels.

In November, the winger produced four goals and two assists, helping the U23s to continue their undefeated league campaign.

This has seen him move to second in the league in the goalscorer rankings, with the award adding a bit more shine to what has already been a successful month.

Many fans have been congratulating him for winning the award, feeling that he deserves it, having been one of the academy’s standout players this campaign.

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This is indicated by the fact that he has got a very impressive nine goals and six assists from just 11 appearances.

The accolade, on top of last month’s nomination and the number of goal contributions made all indicate just how effective he has been for the U23s.

This has even seen him get into Manuel Pellegrini’s squad for the Premier League, making substitute appearances against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal.

It is a pretty encouraging sign for his confidence in the step-up that he has made a combined three dribbles from 31 minutes, completing all of them.

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This direct style of play has helped make him a popular choice to play for the team more regularly, with one fan demanding they “get him in now”.

In other news, FFC has identified a Hammer who could have a vital role to play against Southampton.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

It is fair to say that Phil Parkinson hasn’t made many friends in the north-east since his arrival a little more than a month ago.

Such a short time feels a lot longer due to the significant decline that has taken place since, with fan unrest, a director resigning, and the team ultimately faltering on the pitch.

The Black Cats are now in a dire situation, sitting in 11th, with fans running out of trust and patience with Stewart Donald, and in a bid to put the club on the right path Parkinson may have made a decision which ultimately results in him being sacked.

That decision, of course, is the removal of Aiden McGeady from the first-team squad, and the development to make him available for transfer with a view to moving him on in January.

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Whilst the former Celtic player hasn’t lived up to his usual level of play under the new boss, he remains one of the best players in the squad, and without him, Sunderland lack a maverick, a player to produce a moment of magic capable of winning a game.

When on form McGeady is a great influence on the team, often picking up the ball to run at defenders before unleashing a strike, as his goals show.

He may have shown that too infrequently with 1.7 successful dribbles per game this term, but his six goals can’t be matched by a teammate and perhaps under a more understanding and accommodating manager he would have been able to realise his potential.

As a result, like Stephen Elliott alludes to, Parkinson shouldn’t have taken such a decisive step so soon and nipped in the bud any issue the player may have had before it became so serious.

After all, players with experience of playing in the Champions League and on the international stage are rare in League One, and the guidance he may have provided for his teammates, and young players, could have proved beneficial in both the short and long-term.

Results may be on a slippery slope, but there is every chance they could get even worse with McGeady’s departure. If Parkinson fails to address the slump then the mounting pressure could finally see him lose his job.

In other, more positive Sunderland news, Jack Bainbridge has made a good impression behind the scenes and could soon find his way into the first-team set-up.

Newcastle returned to winning ways and showed exactly why they have been so effective this season in overcoming Crystal Palace.

Steve Bruce’s side was made to work hard for their victory, as they have so often this season in terms of not having much of the ball – with 43% possession on this occasion – but their organisation ultimately shone through.

The return of Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron made all the difference, too, as the Magpies shaded the first half and had a lot more efforts on goal than in the previous match, with three shots on target compared to zero.

Almiron in particular impressed. Not only did he finally break his goal duck for Newcastle but he was a handful for Patrick van Aanholt throughout, with 94% pass accuracy and two successful dribbles completed.

After Saturday’s success, and with some notable players still absent, such as Allan Saint-Maximin, Bruce has a pretty straight-forward decision to make when it comes to his line-up, at least in attack.

Christian Atsu missed out as Andy Carroll partnered Joelinton up-front as Newcastle varied their formation against the Eagles, and though those two should feature again, for the latter it may be in a different role.

Considering that, here is how Bruce should decide to line-up on Boxing Day.

Joelinton has looked poor on occasion this season, with a lacklustre performance against Southampton particularly worth noting, but on the wing against Burnley he looked rejuvenated.

As well as using his power to great advantage to provide Dwight Gayle with a brilliant opportunity to score, he also used the ball with better efficiency, achieving 90% pass accuracy and two key passes.

The Brazilian’s average of 5.1 aerial duels won per game also suggest he will be able to use his physicality to great effect, particularly in coming up against Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is better suited to defending on the floor and winning tackles. He’s won 4.4 per game in the Premier League this term.

Joelinton and Almiron offer alternative threats and such variety should be effective against Manchester United, especially as the latter should benefit from newly-found confidence as a result of his goal.

Bruce’s only difficult decision may be whether Dummett deserves to retain his place in the side.

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Jetro Willems is likely to return to the team after missing out through injury against Palace, and with Florian Lejeune making a successful comeback from his own injury in that match, and keeping a clean sheet, it would be a little harsh to leave him out.

His fitness may be a factor in Bruce’s decision-making as there are several games coming up against soon, but to keep out the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial Newcastle will need to call upon their best defenders.

As a result, Willems should be drafted straight back in for Newcastle’s only change with Lejeune operating next to him. That is likely the Magpies’ best chance of keeping a clean sheet.

Newcastle fans were delighted to see Florian Lejeune return to action last weekend, and they will no doubt be hoping he keeps his place in the side after helping to keep a clean sheet.

According to French media outlet Foot Mercato, Everton have contacted the agent of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot over a potential move during the January transfer window.

The report says that while the Toffees are prioritising bringing in a new central defender during the next month, they have also been in contact with Rabiot’s mum and agent, Veronique.

While Foot Mercato report that the 24-year-old would like some reassurances over his future having found playing time hard to come by under Maurizio Sarri this season – he has only featured for 711 minutes in all competitions – Juve would reportedly prefer to sacrifice Emre Can before the former Paris Saint-Germain man.

Therefore it seems the Merseyside outfit may have their work cut out trying to bring the France international to Goodison Park, but that hasn’t stopped many supporters getting excited at the prospect of him linking up with Carlo Ancelotti in a blue shirt.

One suggested that he “would make a huge difference to our midfield”, while another simply said “get him” about the player who scored 24 times and set up 14 others in 227 outings for PSG.

While plenty of Everton supporters were keen on a move for Rabiot, there was also a couple of individuals who had their doubts over any potential deal.

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One questioned the player’s attitude – something that has been widely highlighted before – while another simply said they “don’t want him”.

In other Everton news, Toffees fans have been reacting to a report suggesting they are scouting a Ligue 1 striker ahead of the January window…