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Leeds United forward Rodrigo may have suffered an ankle injury against Wolves and was ‘limping heavily’ late in the game on Saturday, Phil Hay reports.

The Lowdown: Big win

The Whites were once again involved in a thriller at Molineux exactly a year on from their dramatic 3-2 comeback win last season. Javi Gracia’s side came away with a much-needed 4-2 victory this time to take them from 19th to 14th in the Premier League table.

Goals from Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen gave the visitors a three-goal advantage before Jonny and Matheus Cunha pulled two goals back for the hosts to set up a nervy finish.

Jonny was then set off for a challenge on Ayling, with Leeds managing to hold on before Rodrigo secured the three points. However, it may not be all good news, with Hay sharing what he spotted in the closing stages at Molineux regarding the forward.

The Latest: Hay’s post

Hay, Leeds’ correspondent for The Athletic, was providing live updates on Twitter throughout the match and said that ‘Rodrigo looks like he’s done something to his left ankle’.

The reliable reporter added that the forward was ‘limping heavily’ and ‘seemed to go down as a high ball came to him’ shortly after the board went up for seven added minutes.

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Three minutes after Hay’s post, Rodrigo raced through to score Leeds’ fourth in injury time, so hopefully, the striker hasn’t done anything too serious. He has only recently returned after suffering bone and ligament damage in his ankle earlier in the year against Accrington Stanley. The 31-year-old underwent minor surgery on the issue, missing six Premier League fixtures.

He netted his 11th top-flight goal of the campaign on Saturday and was Leeds’ second-best performer of the afternoon, as per SofaScore. Rodrigo recorded a match rating of 7.3/10 after replacing Patrick Bamford on 67 minutes, with another substitute in Crysencio Summerville the only player to receive a higher score for his cameo display after providing the assist for Rodrigo’s effort.

The striker won three duels and made two tackles to go alongside his late strike, so Leeds will be hoping he hasn’t damaged his ankle once again. He’ll have some time to recover from a potential issue during the international break, though, and hopefully, the top scorer will be fully fit for some crucial home games in April against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace as the club look to retain their top-flight status.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will be spending much of the international break considering how to get the best out of his side in the hope that they can secure an unlikely top-four finish with a strong run of form at the end of the season.

If the English manager is serious about improving his squad, he should consider ditching Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, as he has been disappointing throughout the season so far.

Should Chelsea drop Kovacic?

Since signing from Real Madrid, initially on loan in 2018, the midfielder has gone on to make 211 appearances, in which he has contributed a disappointing six goals and 14 assists.

The 28-year-old has never been able to nail down a week-in, week-out starting role in Chelsea's side, with his 23 starts in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign the most of his career at Stamford Bridge.

A succession of minor injury problems have certainly played their part, as well as the multitude of midfield options available to the Blues, but there is an argument that the £100k-per-week earner simply hasn't lived up to his potential, and his disappointing form and age suggest that he could fall victim to Todd Boehly's youthful revolution at Chelsea.

This season has certainly been his worst at the west London side, as he has managed just one goal and one assist in 19 Premier League appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.49 average rating for his performances.

Kovacic is ranked as the 23rd-best performer in Potter's squad so far this campaign, which is nowhere near good enough for a player of his ability, as well as someone who has taken the captain's armband on more than one occasion in a Chelsea shirt.

Despite his role as an all-action midfielder, the Croatia international fails to rank in the top ten squad members at Chelsea for shots, key passes, dribbles and pass success rate so it is no surprise that he is rated so poorly by WhoScored.

The 28-year-old was once a valued member of Thomas Tuchel's squad and the German manager sang his praises back in 2022, saying:

"Even at Real Madrid, I was aware of his talent, and I felt there was a next step coming. I'm very happy that he's my player and plays a lot this season. He is crucial to us on the pitch and off the pitch in the way he behaves."

Unfortunately, that 'next step' hasn't materialised for Kovacic as his performances have clearly regressed this season and Potter must surely consider ditching the former Real Madrid man after the international break if he wants to push Chelsea to the next level.

Leeds United fans will have been disappointed to see key player Max Wober substituted due to an injury problem during the international break.

However, an update has now emerged on the Austrian defender, and it seems as if he should only be out of action for a short while and will be back to aid Javi Gracia's side in their fight against relegation.

What is the latest Leeds injury news?

According to The Athletic, the centre-back is a doubt for this weekend's game against Arsenal but Leeds are confident that he will be fit for the Premier League run-in.

The Yorkshire outfit have completed an assessment on the former RB Salzburg man, who pulled up with an apparent hamstring problem in Austria's European qualifier against Azerbaijan and seem confident that the injury is a minor one.

Considering Leeds' struggles defensively so far this campaign, which have seen them ship the fifth-most goals in the division with 44, it can only be good news for Gracia that Wober is set to be out for just a short period.

Since joining from Salzburg in the January transfer window in a deal worth £11m, the 24-year-old has established himself as a regular in the Whites' defence.

The versatile defender has averaged an impressive 6.77 rating from WhoScored across his ten appearances in the top flight, which ranks him as the fourth-best performer at Elland Road so far this season, emphasising the impact he has had since his arrival in the winter transfer window.

The Austria international also ranks second for interceptions, second for clearances and first for blocks in Gracia's squad which again proves how quickly he has established himself as a key man at Elland Road.

His impressive form since Gracia's arrival has helped the Whites take seven points from a possible 12, lifting them to 14th in the Premier League table, which has given them a real chance of avoiding relegation when things looked desperate only a few weeks ago.

Wober, who is paid £35k per week at Leeds, earned a lot of praise from Leeds Live writer Beren Cross ahead of his arrival at Elland Road and he has certainly lived up to that praise thus far.

Cross said: "A leader, a beast one vs one, strong in the air, digs out lazy teammates, limited pace, but a national boss in Rangnick playing him at left-back too."

If his injury does prove to be a minor one, and he can continue his strong start to life at Leeds upon his return to action, then the Yorkshire outfit have a real chance of avoiding relegation this season.

Manchester United's top-four hopes were dealt a significant blow on Sunday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag's men slipping to a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle United to ensure that they are now just a point ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.

While the Red Devils currently have a game in hand on the north London outfit – who take on struggling Everton this evening – the concern for United will be their recent patchy run of form in the top flight, having now won just three of their last nine games in the competition.

For all the positivity that has surrounded Old Trafford due to the continued success in cup competitions, the club's league form has taken a turn for the worse of late, with Ten Hag's side having notably come undone on the road against elite opposition this season.

Although yesterday's display may not have been quite as grim as the 6-3 and 7-0 thrashings at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively, it was another truly "lifeless" performance from the visitors at St James' Park, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

In truth, the Carabao Cup winners were largely left to thank the heroics of David De Gea in the sticks for keeping the scoreline respectable, with the long-serving Spaniard making a stunning double save inside the first-half, before also tipping an effort onto the crossbar late on.

That being said, however, the 32-year-old was somewhat culpable for the Magpies' opener after nervously playing out from the back, with the away side having perhaps been unable to live with the pressure up against Eddie Howe's rampant outfit.

Aside from De Gea, the only player to truly come away from Tyneside with credit in the bank was defender Lisandro Martinez, with the tough tackling Argentine having produced yet another "top-class" performance at centre-back, as per Statman Dave.

How did Martinez perform against Newcastle?

The World Cup-winning "animal" – as hailed by compatriot Emi Martinez – was once again a typically tenacious and rock-solid presence at the heart of the backline despite the continued onslaught from the hosts, notably standing tall to make a fine block in the opening period to deny Alexander Isak.

On a day in which his teammates largely wilted in the cauldron of St James' Park, Martinez was 'one of the few who looked their usual selves', as per Luckhurst, with his 7.4 match rating, as per Sofascore, by far the highest of any of his starting colleagues.

The 25-year-old won six of his ten total duels as a marker of his desire to try and keep Newcastle at bay, having also been dribbled past on just one occasion and made four tackles to illustrate his unflappable defensive prowess.

While the former Ajax man did lose possession on nine occasions, he regularly looked to try and spark an attack for his side from deep, showcasing his innate composure on the ball by completing four of his six long balls and making four passes into the final third.

The £120k-per-week machine may be small in stature but he was once again head and shoulders above his teammates, with Ten Hag likely hoping that he had more players who possess the "personality" and "character" of Martinez, as the Dutchman himself previously lauded.

On a day in which it looked as if the home side simply "wanted it more" – according to Luke Shaw – the 5 foot 10 ace was one of few who no doubt appeared up for the fight, hence the bewilderment among both the player himself and supporters to see him withdrawn late on.

Arsenal enjoyed plenty of world-class talent under Arsene Wenger's legendary 22-year reign, with the Frenchman leading the Gunners to seven FA Cups and three Premier League titles amongst numerous other honours.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires all are regarded as some of the most gifted players to have ever played in England, yet this quality dwindled significantly in the latter years of the 73-year-old's tenure.

As such, the north London outfit were often forced to accept that challenging for the league had grown out of their reach.

Despite that, there were fleeting moments where once again some of the best in their position would seek a move to the Emirates. Given their lack of impetus to push for major honours at the time, it now seems a fever dream that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez starred on the same side for so many years.

The latter in particular often took the team on his back to drag them through games, becoming a cult hero with his unrelenting work rate and unparalleled ability.

However, as was often the case with these stars, he grew disillusioned. His exit mirrored that of Robin van Persie's, and in what was a truly awful deal for all involved, the Chilean moved to Manchester United.

Why did Alexis Sanchez leave Arsenal?

Having signed for the club in 2014, his £35m fee represented a large outlay but comparatively great value for a player of his quality.

At Barcelona he had enjoyed numerous cup successes, and there was hope the now 34-year-old would bring that mentality to north London. 16 league goals in his debut season suggested he could do just that, and the Chile international would hit double figures in three of his four years at the club before that fateful switch.

The apex of Sanchez's career under Wenger undoubtedly came during the 2016-17 campaign, as the trickster notched an astounding 24 league goals as well as six goal contributions in their run to FA Cup glory.

However, whether it be for ambition or pure greed, the Red Devils' interest would be reciprocated by the player. It only took a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to finalise terms.

Seeing the wages of the Marseille man immediately rise to £350k-per-week suggests the latter of those two aforementioned options to be true, and his performances at Old Trafford would subsequently fall off a cliff; much to the delight of Arsenal fans.

From being "the best player by far" under Wenger, in the eyes of Ander Herrera, to scoring just three league goals following his move, marked a significant downturn.

It was a saga that drew startling comparisons with Samir Nasri's deal to join Manchester City, who claimed he had wanted to make history by leaving whilst admitting that he had been offered three times his previous wage.

The Frenchman, who registered 27 goals at the Emirates in 125 outings, would also struggle to become a true star upon leaving, proving that the grass is not always greener.

Indeed, Nasri would score the same number of goals for City, but in 51 more matches as his consistency dwindled.

Had both of these tricksters sought to stay at the club that shaped them into the prominent figures they became, perhaps they could have earned the elite silverware they so richly desired over an elongated period.

However, given how important Sanchez was during his period at the club, his exit stung more than most from Wenger's tenure. The only saving grace was to see his career nosedive, but it then became a great 'what could have been' story had he just stayed put.

Tottenham Hotspur manager target Arne Slot would 'love to coach' Spurs, according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

What's the latest news on Slot to Spurs?

The 44-year-old has emerged as a real option for Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy recently as his name becomes more repeatedly mentioned by reliable sources. Indeed, The Times even weighed in on the links earlier this week, claiming Levy, West Ham and Crystal Palace are all keen on a move for Slot.

Feyenoord's boss, who is currently chasing the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands, apparently fits the mould of what Spurs are looking for in any prospective new manager.

It is believed that the north Londoners are chasing a young and progressive coach to take them forward, perhaps explaining why the likes of Vincent Kompany, former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann and Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim have been mentioned.

Slot, who interestingly shares the same agent as former Spurs boss Martin Jol, now stands among the most serious contenders to replace Antonio Conte after the Italian parted company last month.

Now, as per reporter Van der Kraan, it appears the Lilywhites may have been handed a real boost in their pursuit of Slot amid the competition across London.

The journalist, speaking to talkSPORT this week (Thursday, 11.10am, via Leeds United News), claimed the former AZ Alkmaar manager would 'love' to join Tottenham.

Van der Kraan does go on to say that Palace are also a 'serious' option for Slot, but it appears to be Spurs who are most enticing the manager.

He explained:

“Leeds offered £5m to attract Slot. He was very keen; Feyenoord said no. There’s a clause in his contract next year. Palace are a serious option, he’d love to coach Tottenham – but clubs will have to pay a massive fee to get him.”

What could Slot offer Tottenham?

There has been no shortage of praise for the coach with his Feyenoord side currently dominating the Dutch top flight – losing just once all season whilst winning a very impressive 20 of their last 28 league matches.

His style of play could also be a real attraction for supporters who wish to see the return of open, expansive football at N17.

Van der Kraan, recently commenting on Slot's credentials, says that he is a 'manic' and 'ultra-attacking' – not to mention the most forward-thinking coach he's seen at Feyenoord in the last '35-40' years (via talkSPORT).

The pull of Premier League football could theoretically be tempting enough for Slot and Spurs must surely consider his appointment

Manchester United will meet with the representatives of Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch over a potential summer transfer.

What’s the latest transfer news on Man United and Gravenberch?

The Red Devils are looking to add to their midfield ranks this summer ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge.

There has been speculation over a move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo, whereas a permanent move for loanee Marcel Sabitzer has also been mooted.

Gravenberch is another who appears to be an option for Old Trafford officials, although reports elsewhere have suggested that the Netherlands international is open to joining Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Journalist Santi Aouna shared an update regarding Gravenberch in the last 48 hours. He said on Twitter that the midfielder is looking for more game time and his representatives will meet with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

“Ryan Gravenberch and his entourage will be making a decision on their future soon. The midfielder wants to play more, whether at Bayern or elsewhere.

“Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U will meet the player's entourage. Erik ten Hag is a fan of Gravenberch.”

Who is Gravenberch?

Gravenberch, on £152,000-a-week, is 20 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also turn out in a holding midfield role if required.

The Adidas-sponsored midfielder is valued at €30m by Transfermarkt and only made the move to Bayern Munich last summer from Ajax. Gravenberch has struggled to break into Munich’s first-choice XI, though, starting just one Bundesliga game this season.

He has played just 711 minutes in a total of 27 appearances in all competitions this season, so it is no surprise that he is on the search for more game time, something he could receive at Old Trafford.

One of Ten Hag’s transfer priorities this summer is in midfield, and with Scott McTominay wanting out over the coming months, there could be room for someone like Gravenberch to come in and feature heavily alongside the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

Former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann had suggested that Gravenberch was "better than most other footballers" his age, so he could be a shrewd long-term signing in midfield, with both Casemiro and Eriksen over the age of 30.

United are also on course to be playing in four competitions once again next season, which could help Gravenberch's chances of receiving more game time, however, the Red Devils may need to pip two of their biggest rivals to his services.

Manchester City have joined the race for Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae, according to a recent report from The Sun.

Which defenders could Man City sign this summer

Man City are known to be looking at a number of defenders ahead of the summer transfer window, with it recently emerging they are plotting a surprise move for Brentford left-back Aaron Hickey, who could cost around £30m.

Pep Guardiola is also keen on a new centre-back, and the Citizens are said to have intensified their contacts to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol in recent times, as the manager is a big fan of the Croatia international.

The entire defence could have a makeover this summer, as City are interested in signing Bayern Munich right-back Benjamin Pavard, who could perhaps come in as a replacement for Kyle Walker, as the Englishman is now in his thirties.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all known to be interested in Kim, and now Man City have entered the race for the Napoli defender, so a Premier League transfer battle is very much on the cards this summer.

Guardiola is a big fan of the South Korean, and he is believed to be interested in a move to England, despite the Serie A club being keen to offer him a new deal in the summer.

The 26-year-old has a release clause of just £40m in his contract, meaning the Citizens may be able to secure his signature for a bargain fee this summer, and he could replace Aymeric Laporte, who will be allowed to leave.

Should Man City sign Kim Min-Jae?

Even though Man City are well-stocked at centre-back, with the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akani and Nathan Ake already at the club, they should undoubtedly make a move for the Napoli star.

£40m is an absolute bargain for a player who has been lauded "the best centre-back in the world" by Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, and he has been vital in the Serie A side's push for the league title.

With an average Sofascore match rating of 7.26, the South Korea international is the third-best performing player in the squad, and there are also indications he would work well in a Guardiola system.

In the past year, Kim ranks in the 97th percentile for passes attempted, and in the 88th for his pass-completion rate per 90, making him the perfect defender for Man City.

TalkSport pundit Carlton Palmer has claimed that transfer target Declan Rice may join Manchester United if the Red Devils sign Harry Kane.

What's the latest Manchester United transfer news?

The Red Devils have been heavily linked with a move for the Tottenham Hotspur and England striker in recent times.

After all, when Man Utd played Spurs in the week, their travelling United supporters were even heard singing: “Harry Kane, we’ll see you in June.”

While Kane refused to be drawn on making any major comments when quizzed about the rumours after the game – saying "I heard what they were saying but I'm just focused on this team and trying to finish strongly" – there appears to be the feeling that he may well be on his way to Old Trafford in the summer.

At the same time, West Ham United captain Rice may also be on the move at the end of the campaign – as he holds the ambition of playing in the Champions League.

United may well be able to offer the £60k-per-week England international that level of European football and so could be an enticing prospect to consider.

What's more, Palmer seems to think Rice could follow Kane through the door this summer.

Indeed, while discussing transfers on TalkSport, the pundit said: “If Harry Kane does end up at Manchester United, I think there's a chance that Declan [Rice] might go to Manchester United, and that would be fantastic.”

Would Declan Rice and Harry Kane join Man Utd?

Although the Red Devils do already have Casemiro in the middle of the park, there's potentially plenty of room for Rice too.

After all, Scott McTominay has been heavily linked with an exit; Marcel Sabitzer is only on loan; and 31-year-old Christian Eriksen may not be viewed as a long-term option due to his age.

With that being the case, United may be keen on landing Rice but it remains to be seen if he would opt to join Erik ten Hag and co.

No doubt, what could help persuade him to be more on board with the project would be a move for Kane. After all, Rice is a key member of the England set-up – having starred regularly at the last two major tournaments – and will no doubt appreciate the quality of the Three Lions' all-time record goalscorer.

There's a long way to go before either of these deals are sorted, but it could be an exciting summer for United if the duo are indeed wanted in the upcoming transfer window.

There was no long apprenticeship at the fringes of the Test side for Kusal Mendis. There were no tours with the A team, or leadership positions in his club side

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-May-2016There was no long apprenticeship at the fringes of the Test side for Kusal Mendis. There were no tours with the A team, or leadership positions in his club side. But such opportunities as have been thrown his way have been seized, and now, he has his first Test fifty. In five innings in England so far – including in the two warm-up matches – Mendis has hit three half-centuries. None of his team-mates have managed more than one.It is his first trip to England with a Sri Lanka outfit, but not his first experience of cricket in the country. In 2014, when he was fresh out of school, he played for Southgate in the Middlesex leagues. That experience has done him good, Mendis said.”I got a lot of good experience from coming here for four months, partly because I was on my own,” he said. “I learned a lot about how to adjust to conditions and how to deal with that initial disappointment of not knowing them very well. And also about how to play when it’s cold. I got to do that alone, and got a lot of useful experience from that.”Having returned from his English stint, Mendis had his first taste of first-class cricket in 2015. But it was while leading a Sri Lanka Development XI in the Moin-ud-Dowlah three-day tournament in Hyderabad that he threw himself into Test contention with scores of 156, 52 and 47 there, and though he hasn’t yet cemented his place in the top side, has three scores of more than 40 in his last five Test innings, all of which have been played outside Asia.He has experienced an “immense” leap in the quality of opponents since coming to the top side, he said. But there has been helpful advice in withstanding good bowling, and good sledging, along the way. At Headingley, James Anderson tested him with both.”No one tried to change my technique much,” Mendis said. “They just asked me to play as I was. Mentally there were a few changes. The advice was mainly about mentally adjusting. They told me about being patient at this level, because it’s five-day cricket. That was something they stressed. You get far fewer loose balls at this level. If there are four men in the attack, all of them are very good, and it’s a challenge to score runs.”They also told me about how to respond when bowlers talked to me. If we go to argue with them, we lose our concentration. It’s important to focus on the game.”He is attempting to fill large shoes at present, taking up the No. 3 spot that Kumar Sangakkara had held for the decade. Mendis is not under pressure to emulate Sangakkara’s runs just yet, but he does feel the position is a good fit for his game.”It’s a big responsibility. I’ve played there before for my club, and I’ve been thinking about what is possible for me and what needs to be done there. I have to contribute runs to stay in that position and the team. I try to bat the same way every day, with allowances for the pitch. Some wickets you can score quickly and others you can’t.”The 53 at Headingley had boosted his confidence, but like his team-mates, he must learn quickly from his flaws as well.  “Everyone said it was a good innings. They also gave me some advice on the weaknesses – especially about foot movement. We’re very disappointed as a side at how the match turned out, but we’re hopeful the next game will be much better.”