All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet is reportedly being ‘advanced a lot’, with a €5m deal potentially being enough to secure a transfer instead of €12m.

Are Spurs signing Clement Lenglet?

Spurs and Ange Postecoglou are busy in the transfer market making preparations ahead of the new season, with a number of new faces already through the door.

Attacking midfielder James Maddison has signed from Leicester City, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has arrived from Empoli and left-winger Manor Solomon has put pen to paper on a Spurs deal on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski have made their loan moves permanent in deals worth €40m and €30m, taking the club's total current summer spend to €136m.

Another player who was on loan at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season was Lenglet, but the club previously decided against making a move permanent.

However, a full-time transfer to north London appears to be back on the cards for the player who was hailed as "outstanding" by members of the media during the early stages of the previous campaign.

Sport Witness have shared a number of updates regarding Spurs and Lenglet, two of which have come in the last 48 hours from Spanish outlet Sport.

The first claimed that the La Liga champions are working hard when it comes to player sales, and a transfer to Tottenham for Lenglet is now being ‘advanced a lot’, with some optimism that the move will happen.

The second suggested that a fee of €5m (£4.3m) from Spurs could be enough for Barcelona to accept, despite the fact they had originally wanted more than €12m. Those at the Nou Camp are looking to get the player’s £204,000-per-week salary off the books, with the report stating €5m could be a bargain for the north London side.

How good is Clement Lenglet?

Lenglet made 35 appearances in all competitions for Spurs last season, 26 of which came in the Premier League. He came in for praise from John Wenham during the campaign, with the pundit calling him reliable.

“I just wanted to give (Lenglet) credit because I think his performance went a little bit under the radar. I have been impressed with him so far.

“The fact he has instantly come in for Ben Davies and we don’t look any weaker, that is a huge credit to him really.

“He’s a new signing to the Premier League, I know he has a lot of experience from Barcelona and with France but he already seems very reliable, like we could drop him in for any fixture.”

The 28-year-old ranked highly for Spurs when it came to clearances, average passes and pass completion per 90, as per WhoScored. However, the Frenchman was the club’s 14th-best performer when it came to match rating.

As per FBRef, Lenglet has actually been compared to centre-backs Edmond Tapsoba, Micky van de Ven and Piero Hincapie, three players who have also been linked with a move to Spurs. Over the past 12 months, Lenglet ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs for pass completion, top 4% for through balls and top 4% for tackles in the final third, showing how he could be a shrewd addition for the right price.

Postecoglou may feel he can get the best out of Lenglet following his first year in England, and by the looks of things, a move could be one to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks.

West Ham United's deal to sign Portuguese international Joao Palhinha from Fulham has "every chance" to get done this summer, claims journalist Alex Crook.

Is Joao Palhinha joining West Ham United?

The Hammers are yet to sign a single player this summer but have already been one of the leading players in arguably the summer's biggest transfer saga, the deal to sell Declan Rice to Arsenal.

Whilst the club would likely have preferred not to lose their talismanic captain, the record £105m should help soften the blow somewhat.

With all that money burning a hole in their pockets, the Irons have turned their attention to signing players, with Fulham's one-man midfield, Palhinha, looking like their primary target.

The 28-year-old joined the Cottagers last summer and has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's best midfielders and, with that, one of the most sought-after.

According to football reporter Jack Rosser, the east Londoners made an opening bid for the Lisbon-born dynamo worth £40m on July 16, a bid that was swiftly rejected, with talks set to continue.

West Ham are also considering Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez and Southampton star James Ward Prowse, but the Fulham man remains their "top target", per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on air, which was posted to TalkSPORT's YouTube channel:

"This is a worry for Fulham if they do lose him. £40m would very much be the starting figure, and obviously, Fulham will work upwards, but I was told yesterday [Sunday] that there is every chance that this deal gets done.

"Edson Alvarez, another player at Ajax, he's also on their list, so to James Warde Prowse, but as you say, I think at the moment, Palhinha is very much a top target."

How good is Joao Palhinha?

There is no getting around the fact that Palhinha is an excellent player, and when it comes to his specific role in the centre of midfield, he was viewed as one of the more impressive in the Premier League.

The 6 foot 3 titan is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park, and there is not a single player in Europe's top five leagues that can compete with him when it comes to making tackles.

That's right, Palhinha was Europe's top tackler last season, and by quite some way, making 147 tackles across his 35 Premier League appearances, and it was this quality that led to teammate Harrison Reed describing him as a "tackling machine" earlier this year.

His underlying statistics just further hammer home how elite he is in his role, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 1% for tackles, the top 8% for aerial duals won, the top 12% for clearances, the top 28% for interceptions and the top 29% for blocks, all per 90.

However, he does lack any attacking threat whatsoever, sitting in the bottom 8% for assists, the bottom 7% for progressive passes, the bottom 2% for progressive carries, and the bottom 1% for shot-creating actions, all per 90.

That's not to say that he wouldn't improve the team's attacking output, though, as in March this year, Sky Sports revealed that without Palhinha in the team, Fulham scored one goal a game and took eight shots whilst facing 16. With him in the side, they scored an average of 1.5 goals a game, took 11.9 shots and faced only 13.1.

So, while he may not directly provide the goals, his presence would allow a team to venture further forward, safe in the knowledge that he was ready to snuff out any potential counterattacks.

If West Ham can get this deal done for anything close to £40m, it could be one of the very best deals of the summer and go a long way in easing the transition away from Rice.

Everton and Atalanta continue to battle it out over the signing of Almeria forward El Bilal Toure during the summer transfer window, according to a key update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Are Everton signing El Bilal Toure?

The Blues have been linked with various players since the end of last season, as they look to avoid yet another disappointing Premier League campaign in 2023/24, following back-to-back relegation battles.

In seems clear that Everton simply must bring in more quality in attack, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin hard to depend upon because of fitness issues these days, and the likes of Neal Maupay doing nowhere enough to justify being a regular starter moving forward.

Toure is the player who appears to have become the Blues' primary transfer target in the final third, with numerous recent reports claiming that a move to Goodison Park is on the cards this summer.

Now, another report has emerged that further suggests that Everton are pushing hard to sign the Almeria ace, but they are not alone in expressing an interest.

What has Fabrizio Romano said about Everton?

Writing on Twitter, Romano provided an update on the latest situation regarding Toure's future, saying that negotiations will continue with Everton this week:

"Understand Everton are still pushing to sign El Bilal Toure while Atalanta are on it too. Both clubs are in the race, fighting to sign Almeria striker. Negotiations will continue next week to get it done."

This is another positive update when it comes to Everton trying to acquire Toure's signature, and it ultimately looks like a straight choice between themselves and Atalanta, who have become a force in Serie A in recent years and will, therefore, provide stiff competition.

The lure of the Premier League is always great for any player, however, and if Sean Dyche can sell the Blues to Toure as a club, promising him a key role leading the line, it could sway his thinking.

While more than one attacking signing is probably needed at Goodison Park this summer, in terms of Dyche having enough squad depth at his disposal, the Almeria man could be a perfect place to start, coming in as a long-term signing who should only improve year upon year, considering he is still only 21 years of age.

A tally of seven goals in 22 appearances for his current club is a good start there, considering he is playing in one of Europe's top leagues, while five in 15 caps for Mali also shows that he is already making his mark on the international stage.

Toure has been compared to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, in terms of his extremely physical style up front, which should certainly excite Everton supporters and Dyche – if he has anywhere close to the impact the Ivorian did in England, then the Blues could have an absolute gem on their hands.

It looks almost nailed-on that the Malian with leave Almeria before the new season gets underway, and it looks all set to come down to either Everton or Atalanta, with the two clubs looking to outdo one another and show why Toure should choose them.

Crystal Palace's 2023/24 Premier League campaign kicks off away at Sheffield United on the opening day next weekend and speculation remains hanging over the head of one of the club's star players – Cheick Doucoure.

What's the latest Cheick Doucoure transfer news?

The Daily Mail reported last month that top-flight giants Liverpool are considering a swoop to sign the central midfielder before the end of the summer transfer window.

Jurgen Klopp is looking to bolster his midfield options and has identified the Mali international as a possible signing to replace the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who have moved to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

However, the report claims that the Eagles value their outstanding battler at around £70m, although it remains to be seen whether the Reds would be willing to pay that much for his services.

Journalist Dean Jones has backed the club's decision to value the 23-year-old talent at such a price. He told Football FanCast:

“Doucoure’s price tag is obviously eye-popping, especially when you consider how much Mac Allister was signed for, but I can totally understand why that value has been set and we always have to remember that the Mac Allister fee was a bit of a one-off.

"In different circumstances, he too could have been priced at £70m, there’s not really any doubt about that. Palace are in a moment when the vultures are circling for Guehi, Olise and Doucoure and they have to fight to survive.

"That’s why they are hiking up prices and Liverpool have to expect and accept that.”

This shows that co-owner Steve Parish struck gold when he signed the ace for Patrick Vieira last summer in a £21m deal from Ligue 1 side RC Lens.

How good is Cheick Doucoure?

The terrific midfield warrior enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League and has proven himself to be one of the club's top-performing players.

Doucoure produced consistently impressive displays in the middle of the park as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across 34 appearances, which was the third-highest score of all outfielders on the team – only behind Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

The Palace star caught the eye with his outstanding defensive contributions in midfield. He led the club for both tackles (2.3) and interceptions (1.6) per game in the top-flight last season, which shows that the Mali international is able to constantly break up attacks from the opposition to regain possession for his side.

His form comes off the back of an equally impressive campaign with Lens in France. Doucoure averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07 and made 4.2 tackles and interceptions combined per match across 34 league games, which shows that his performances for the Eagles are not a flash in the pan.

At the age of 23, the talented machine, who was once lauded as "combative" and "consistent" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has plenty of time left to develop and improve.

This means that any buying club would be signing a player who can make an immediate impact on the pitch at the top level whilst also having room to get even better in the future with the right coaching.

Therefore, Palace are well within their right to demand such a huge fee for his services. Selling him for £70m would represent a profit of roughly 233% on the initial £21m they spent to bring him in from Lens, which would represent terrific business by Parish and Vieira.

The Eagles struck gold by signing the superb maestro as they have been able to bring in a player who has made himself one of the team's best performers whilst also now having an asset that could land the club a significant payday either this summer or in a future window.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba "appears to be heading for a move" to Tottenham Hotspur as manager Ange Postecoglou eyes two new centre-backs.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs are closing in on the signing of Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven after weeks of transfer talks, with renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano giving his famous "here we go" to the deal.

The Netherlands international will travel to London for his medical and take his place as Tottenham's fifth summer capture, coming after agreements were reached for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defender Ashley Phillips, midfielder James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon.

The north Londoners have also put pen to paper on a move for Rosario Central striker Alejo Veliz – who will travel to the club "immediately" and won't be loaned back out to his current side.

Despite their flurry of activity this week, reliable media sources have claimed that Tottenham could move for another senior centre-back after van de Ven – but that will depend on outgoings.

Tapsoba, who has been repeatedly linked with a move to N17 this window, could be that player as it is rumoured that chairman Daniel Levy is preparing to move for the Burkina Faso international.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

They're apparently ready to offer him a long-term contract, according to some reports, but journalist Steve Kay and Football Transfers say a move for the defender could be heading in the right direction.

Providing an update on Tapsoba's potential transfer to Spurs, the outlet and Kay believes that he "appears to be heading for a move to Tottenham".

There is nothing else said in the report, but Leverkusen could be facing a mass exodus before the window's closure, as the futures of both Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz are also uncertain.

Tapsoba, who was a mainstay under Xabi Alonso last season, could apparently cost around £50 million.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Only Tah, his central defensive teammate, averaged more clearances per 90 in the Bundesliga out of Leverkusen's squad than Tapsoba (WhoScored).

Meanwhile, no other Leverkusen outfielder played more league minutes last term, highlighting just how important of a player Tapsoba was to Alonso (WhoScored).

At international level, the 24-year-old is also a star for his country, with members of the media like Bruno Alemany calling him a "fundamental" Burkina Faso star.

"Edmond Tapsoba is the de facto organizer for Burkina Faso," wrote Alemany in 2022.

"He is the one who imposes the rhythm of his team and the one who puts it to play in the rival field. Personality and displacement top. Fundamental."

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga website has heaped praise on Tapsoba also, likening his playing style to that of former Bayern Munich star and legendary defender Jerome Boateng.

They wrote:

"The legendary Bayern Munich defender, who made 364 appearances across 11 seasons for the Bavarian giants, was as cool and calm as it gets both on the ball and in the tackle while he was also famed for his pinpoint long passing that set up many an attack for the record champions.

"Tapsoba has similar traits and such is his eagerness to start forward thrusts, he has often been referred to as a defensive playmaker."

Manchester United seem to be edging closer towards another big signing, which could actually have the biggest impact on getting the best out of Erik ten Hag's squad…

Who are Manchester United signing this summer?

That's according to a report by Italian outlet La Repubblica, relayed by Fiorentina.it, who suggest that Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat already has an agreement in place with the Red Devils and is awaiting their official bid.

Due to such an advancement in personal terms, it is suggested that the Viola will accept a bid of around €25m (£22m), yet they are yet to receive one.

The Moroccan midfielder is holding out for the historic English outfit, and seemingly only has eyes for them following their progressing pursuit. An 'acceleration' is expected soon, given that they have now tied up a deal for Rasmus Hojlund and can focus all their efforts on a new target.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Such a deal would add to their earlier signings of Mason Mount and Andre Onana, on top of their new Danish frontman.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

To bring in such a controlling presence to marshall their engine room could have a revolutionary effect on the rest of the squad, as they would be able to exert their control over far more matches due to his qualities.

After all, the 26-year-old has starred for both club and country across the last 12 months, gaining far more fame with the latter.

Especially given he was a key figure in Morocco's historic run to the World Cup semi-finals, as the first African team to reach such a stage. Journalist Carlo Garganese would even suggest:

"Amrabat the best centre midfielder in the tournament. MONSTER".

Such a notion was bolstered by his 85% pass accuracy, 2.3 tackles and 1.4 clearances per game maintained throughout the competition, with his tough-tackling and relentless nature lauded, via Sofascore.

Of all the stars set to enjoy such an acquisition, Bruno Fernandes would arguably thank his manager more than most, seeing another steely midfielder welcomed to supplement his creativity.

Last season saw him excel with Casemiro just behind him, so to have both the legendary Brazilian and Amrabat would give him complete freedom to do as he pleases.

The Portugal international is famed for his desperation to create, seldom looking backwards if an opportunity to forge a chance is there. As such, he posted 3.3 key passes per game last year in the Premier League, creating 32 big chances; the most of anyone in the division. This was on top of his 14-goal haul across all competitions.

Even Kevin De Bruyne could not match him creatively, forging just 31 big chances, and yet he finished the season with double (16) the assists of United's 28-year-old maestro (eight).

For some time a debate raged on regarding who was the better player of these two attacking midfielders, and yet the respective quality of their sides has seen the 32-year-old pull out in front after his recent treble success.

Should Fernandes be afforded even more license to roam and create, his outstanding figures are set to soar even higher, with a team having only been improved throughout this summer window.

Amrabat would be the hardworking foil to the former Sporting CP star's electric desperation to score, and his signing could add that extra layer of solidity and reliability behind him to truly make help him surpass City's legendary Belgian.

Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy has released a statement explaining why the club finally, and “reluctantly” allowed Harry Kane to leave.

Is Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich?

The England captain has, at last, completed a move away from Spurs and the Premier League, having agreed to join German giants Bayern Munich.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Kane will sign a four-year deal and will cost an initial €100m (£86.5m) with add-ons of up to €20m (£17.2m).

It’s certainly not a bad price for Spurs to get for their man, especially considering he is 30 years old and had just one year left on his contract. However, it appears that Levy was still very reluctant to let him go and would have preferred the striker to have signed a new deal.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

In an official club statement, the club chairman appeared to be somewhat salty about the whole situation, noting how he tried to work with Kane to convince him to stay, but the Englishman didn’t want to remain in North London any longer.

He said: “We sought over a long period of time to engage Harry and his representatives in several forms of contract extension, both short and long term. Harry was clear, however, that he wanted a fresh challenge and would not be signing a new contract this summer. We have reluctantly, therefore, agreed to his transfer.”

Fans on Twitter saw the comments and were not particularly happy about them – as you can see by some of the reactions below…

What did Daniel Levy say about Harry Kane?

However, Levy did take time to praise and thank Kane, while also noting that he will always be welcome back at Tottenham.

“We have seen a product of our Academy system become one of the best players to ever pull on a Spurs shirt and become one of world football’s elite strikers. It has been a truly remarkable journey,” he said.

“Harry’s achievements and records say everything about the player, and throughout his 19 years at the Club, Harry has been a model professional, on and off the pitch and an inspiration for young players who dream of following in his footsteps.

“I should like to thank Harry for everything he’s done for us, all the memories, all the records – we wish him and his family all the best for the future. It goes without saying, he’s always welcome back. He’s a much loved and valued member of the Spurs family, forever in our history.”

Kane himself has already sent an emotional video on social media to his fans in North London, saying it is: “hard to put into words how to say goodbye to a club and fans who have done so much for me in my career.”

He added: “You will always be in my heart. Thank you Tottenham, thank you Tottenham fans.”

It will certainly be interesting to see how Kane gets on in the Bundesliga after tearing it up in the Premier League for so long.

One man who will be delighted to see the back of the England international is Alan Shearer, who can now breathe a sigh of relief with Kane leaving the country still 47 goals behind the former Newcastle United man’s PL goal record of 260.

Although, the 30-year-old likely won’t mind either as he now has a real chance at lifting major silverware for the first time in his career.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag is close to making another signing and the player in question is set to travel to England to finalise his move to Old Trafford, according to reports.

Who are Man United linked with?

In truth, the Red Devils have endured a little bit of a strange window as they aim to bring additional depth into the building at Old Trafford to supplement the squad.

As per Transfermarkt, Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund have all joined the club and look likely to be key players over the coming seasons for Manchester United; however, there is a growing sense of frustration that they may need more depth to compete on both domestic and European fronts properly.

Nevertheless, problems with being able to shift players off the books has harmed their ability to solicit further arrivals. Football Insider report that Ten Hag is keen to strengthen both his defensive line and midfield options before the close of play in the market, though player sales will need to occur to make this a reality.

It had previously been hoped that selling Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay to West Ham United could provide the 'requisite' financial gain needed to put the finishing touches to their business; nevertheless, both deals have since collapsed and complicated matters for Ten Hag.

ESPN claim that Manchester United are also eyeing a goalkeeper to help bolster depth in the last line of defence, but similarly, the outlet indicate that player sales will be necessary to initiate market activity.

Matej Kovar and Nathan Bishop have been sold to Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland, respectively. Red Devils number two Dean Henderson could depart to either Crystal Palace or Nottingham Forest before the end of the window, while veteran stopper Tom Heaton is carrying an injury, signifying that Manchester United need to bring in another goalkeeper imminently.

Which goalkeeper are Man United signing?

According to Haber Turk via Sport Witness, Manchester United and Fenerbache have reached an agreement with goalkeeper Altay Bayindir for a fee in the region of €7 million (£5.9 million).

The report states that Bayindir travelled to Greece to complete a medical examination ahead of his move to Old Trafford and he will very soon land in England to officially join Manchester United.

Previously, The Athletic journalist David Ornstein reported that Bayindir had undergone a pre-medical due to an injury issue as Manchester United continued to mull over the 25-year-old, but it looks as if things have gone smoothly on that front and the deal will now go through.

Spending most of his career at Turkish giants Fenerbache, Bayindir has managed to rack up 145 appearances in all competitions, keeping 44 clean sheets in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Bayindir made 57 saves in total over the duration of last campaign in the Super Lig and maintained a save percentage of 66.7% in the Turkish top flight, as shown on FBRef. Football Scout Jacek Kulig labelled Bayindir as "one of the most interesting U-23 goalkeepers in Europe" back in 2021 and it is easy to see why Manchester United are keen to bring him to the North West.

In light of their dearth of options in the goalkeeper position, Bayindir could be a good fit for Ten Hag and would be able to deputise for Onana.

Tottenham Hotspur have continued their fine start to the new Premier League campaign, and could be set to add to the feelgood factor that the Ange Postecoglou era has already brought with a new face…

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?

Already the summer signings have taken to life in north London with ease, as James Maddison has immediately become a key cog in attack, with Micky Van de Ven instantly shoring up the defence.

However, despite those huge strides having already endeared the new boss to the Lilywhites fans, there is still a long way to go before they reach the level they will feel they belong.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Perhaps in an effort to emulate the success earned with one English maestro, they could sign another by reigniting their interest in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.

However, the £70m price tag is certain to prove a stumbling block, with Daniel Levy sure to try and push the fee closer to the figure paid for the former Leicester City star.

How good is Eberechi Eze?

Unloading £40m on the relegated magician, many likely wondered how the signing of Maddison would turn out, especially with Harry Kane leaving for pastures new.

Many knew he was too good to stay in the Championship with the Foxes but could he step up for a European place-chasing side?

Already it seems that those fears have been assuaged, with the 26-year-old instantly assuming the role of Spurs' new star man.

This was especially crucial given the crushing departure of the England captain to Bayer Munich earlier in the window.

With one goal and two assists in their opening three games, it is no surprise that he boasts his club’s highest rating for the current campaign.

This 8.03 average rating is buoyed by a further 87% pass accuracy, three key passes and one tackle per game, via Sofascore.

TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole even noted:

“The more I think about it he could be the best signing of the summer. I am so excited for him, especially the way Ange plays.”

Should Eze join, seeking to emulate this kind of form, it could prove to be double trouble for the rest of the division.

Especially given the 25-year-old is a similar creative livewire to Maddison, having scored ten and assisted four last season in the league whilst also boasting 1.1 tackles and 1.5 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

His creativity is largely unrivalled, and his dynamic ability on the ball would prove imperative in offering a counter-balance to the technical prowess of the £170k-per-week Spurs maestro.

After all, when compared to other midfielders across Europe, he sits in the top 1% for non-penalty goals and total shots per 90, the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90 and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

This form even led analyst Statman Dave to laud his “dancing shoes” and his dribbling proficiency, which would more than align with the beautiful, high-octane football fans in north London are once again becoming accustomed to.

To snag another English star from a team lower down the table could prove to be repeating a masterclass from earlier in the window, which has already proven to be more than profitable despite the initially questionable fee.

Leeds United is a football club supported globally. The Whites have had eras of great success, most notably under the stewardship of Don Revie, who guided the club to two top-flight titles.

As a result of its rich history paired with it being a one-club city, there are many high-profile supporters.

Football FanCast takes a look at some of the most famous Leeds United fans.

1

Nasser Hussain

Perhaps not the most loyal fan, but by his own admission, Nasser Hussain was a Leeds United fan for the first 30 years of his life. The former England cricket captain turned Sky Sports pundit spoke of his connection to the Whites back in 2014.

"For the first 30 years of my life I was a Leeds fan but I switched to Arsenal because I couldn’t bear the thought of taking my kids to lower-division games.

"The Western Terrace at Headingley still think I’m a Leeds fan and give me a cheer and I’m not going to tell them otherwise," Hussain told MailOnline.

That decision won't be too popular amongst Leeds supporters…

2

David Seaman

75-cap England international and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman is a big fan of Leeds and regularly discusses The Whites during his media work. Seaman was on the books of Leeds as a youngster before moving to Peterborough United for just £6,000!

In 1997, the legendary shot-stopper was awarded an MBE for Services to Sport.

3

Josh Warrington

Two-time world featherweight boxer Josh Warrington is a loud and proud Leeds fan. He walks out to the club's Marching On Together anthem and dons the white, blue and yellow colours on his fight attire. Warrington won his first world title at Elland Road in 2018 after defeating Lee Selby via a split decision to mark a memorable night for the city's native.

4

Ricky Wilson

Keighley-born Ricky Wilson, who is the frontman of rock band Kaiser Chiefs, is known to be a Leeds fan. Wilson became a coach of The Voice UK in 2013 and featured on the Masked Singer earlier this year.

His ties with Leeds are clearly locality-based, like many on this list, as his birthplace lies just 21.9 miles away from Elland Road.

5

Mel B

Mel B, who was born in Leeds, is believed to support her local football team. The Singer rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the Spice Girls. She was nicknamed Scary Spice.

6

Ed Miliband

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband is fan of the West Yorkshire club. His 'About Me' section on Labour's website reads: "In my spare time, I enjoy watching baseball and football, and I am a big fan of both the Boston Red Sox and Leeds United."

Miliband was a pupil at Featherbank Primary in Horsforth, West Yorkshire and His father Ralph was a professor of politics at Leeds University, which might explain the tie.

7

Miniminter

Probably one of the most famous names on this list, 'Miniminter', is a supporter of Leeds United. The hugely successful and popular YouTuber is a member of the Sidemen, of which musician and boxer KSI is apart of.

Simon Minter boasts a following of nearly 20m and is often talking about The Peacocks on social media.

8

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee are Triathlon Olympic gold medalists and are Yorkshire exports. The former was born in Dewsbury whilst the latter in Bramhope, so naturally they are drawn to their birthplace's neighbouring football club.

And more…

9

Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis, who starred in the world-famous Harry Potter movies, is a passionate Leeds United and Rhinos fan. The actor played Neville Longbottom and was a Gryffindor student in the film.

He is also a host of the official Leeds United Podcast, which he proudly notes to his 2.5m followers on Instagram.

10

Ralph Ineson

Ralph Ineson, who played Finchy in The Office, is vocal about his love for the West Yorkshire club. His bio on Instagram simply reads: "Acting, dogs, Leeds United."

Ineson is also the voice of the Dacia car adverts.