Premier League transfer rumours: The latest from Leeds United rivals

Leeds United edged a little closer to Premier League safety with their 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Whites are now six points clear of the relegation zone, thanks to a run of only two defeats in their last 14 league outings, taking 20 points during that time compared to just 11 points in their first 13 games.

Most supporters - and perhaps even Daniel Farke himself - will be dreaming of another season in the top flight, and with that will come serious planning in the transfer window. But what about Leeds’ rivals? Here are some of the rumours concerning sides closest to Leeds in the table.

Harry Redknapp makes Tottenham return admission

Sitting two points and one place below Leeds are Tottenham Hotspur. The Europa League holders and Champions League knockout qualifiers are enduring a truly dreadful season, and it only got worse after they were thrashed 4-1 at home against North London rivals Arsenal on Sunday. The Lilywhites are now only four points clear of the relegation zone, and have won just two of their last 19 Premier League matches, losing 10 times during that run.

Igor Tudor must be wondering what he’s let himself in for after his first game in charge, having replaced Thomas Frank in the dugout. But could things have been very different?

It appears so according to Harry Redknapp, who admitted in the wake of the loss to Arsenal that he’d have ‘loved’ to return to the Spurs job in an attempt to help the club to safety.

"For sure I would have done [taken the Spurs job]. I would definitely have had a go. I would have loved it, yeah. But listen, a lot of the ex-players are coming out saying they should have got me back in,” said Redknapp, who coached Spurs from 2008-12, helping them reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

"I would have loved it. I would have loved to have gone in there and given it a go."

Redknapp also believes the appointment of Tudor - who has previously coached the likes of Juventus, Lazio, Marseille and Galatasaray with very mixed results - is a ‘risk’.

"They brought somebody in, haven't they? But nobody knew him," he added. "He's had lots of jobs and sort of been around the block a bit, but never managed in England.

"So, it's a big gamble. But listen, you can't blame him for yesterday [the 4-1 home loss to Arsenal]. That's how the results have been for months, haven't they? Shocking, really.

"Arsenal were just different - different league, different level, different class. I think Arsenal win the title this year, I really do. I think Man City will chase them all the way, for sure. But Arsenal have got such a great squad."

Zan Vipotnik on West Ham, Sunderland radars

If you’re going to survive in the Premier League, you need someone to score the goals. Thankfully for Leeds, they have two players filling that role in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, who have netted 16 top-flight goals combined this season despite costing absolutely nothing.

Now, it appears West Ham United and Sunderland are looking to bolster their striker options with the signing of Zan Vipotnik.

The Slovenia international cost Swansea City £2million from Bordeaux in the summer of 2024, and after an unremarkable first campaign in South Wales, he’s exploded into life this season. Vipotnik is topping the Championship goalscoring charts with 16 goals in 31 appearances, adding another two strikes in four EFL Cup outings.

According to SportsBoom, that has attracted the attention of West Ham and Sunderland, who are eyeing up a summer move. The former signed Valentin Castellanos and Pablo in January but have scored just one goal in their last two Premier League matches. The latter, meanwhile, are among the lowest scorers in the top-flight, with Brian Brobbey their only player to hit the five-goal mark so far.

SportsBoom claim that Vipotnik is now valued at £15m, with the 23-year-old’s form all the more impressive given Swansea are 15th and among the Championship’s least productive attacking outfits.

Ben White to be forced out of Arsenal

Touching base with a former Leeds United player, TEAMtalk report that Ben White could be forced out of Arsenal this summer due to the potential arrival of Ivan Fresneda.

White enjoyed a productive spell on loan at Elland Road in 2019/20, making 46 Championship appearances and registering a goal and two assists to help Leeds win the title and return to the Premier League. Since then, he’s become a mainstay in the Premier League, first with Brighton, then with Arsenal.

However, injuries have hindered the right-back in recent years, limiting White to just 24 Premier League appearances since the start of last season.

Now TEAMtalk claim that Arsenal are eyeing up a move for Sporting CP’s Fresneda, who would provide serious competition for the impressive Jurrien Timber. Should that happen, it’s understood it would spell the end of White’s time at the Emirates.

Whether or not Daniel Farke targets a right-back this summer remains to be seen, but White would surely be a popular returnee to Elland Road if Leeds could make it happen.

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