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Tim Sherwood tells Tottenham Hotspur which Leeds United player they could have done with having in their ranks

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Tim Sherwood has identified Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu as a player Tottenham Hotspur could have done with this season.

It has been a dreadful season for Spurs, who sit precariously in the Premier League relegation zone with five games to go.

They are one point adrift of 17th-placed West Ham United and a staggering eight points behind 15th-placed Leeds.

Tim Sherwood lauds Leeds United star

Sherwood, who has represented Spurs as a player, coach and manager, has lauded midfield anchor Ampadu as someone who would have benefited Leeds’ rivals.

He told Sky Sports News: “Looking through their (Leeds’) group of players, at the beginning of the season, would Tottenham have taken many of them? I would have said no.

“But in hindsight, now, when you look at it, you look at someone like Ethan Ampadu, who looks to me like not only a good player, he’s a very, very good player, but he’s also a leader.

“He’s someone who wants to stand up. He’s not old but he’s got a lot of experience, he drives his teammates forward and that is what you need in this situation, you need someone willing to stand up and pull others in the correct direction with you and that’s what Ethan Ampadu has done. He’s not alone but he is dragging them to safety in this league.”

Ethan Ampadu’s time at Leeds United

Ampadu joined Leeds from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 after the Whites suffered relegation from the Premier League. He had been regularly loaned out by the Blues, finding competition for minutes stiff within the Stamford Bridge ranks.

The 25-year-old has blossomed in West Yorkshire, endearing himself to the Elland Road faithful with his whole-hearted approach and technical quality. The Wales international has made a total of 120 appearances for the club, scoring on three occasions.

He is player who would most likely attract interest if Leeds tumbled out of the Premier League, but Farke will be hopeful of keeping his captain if survival is secured.

Sherwood believes a win over Burnley on May 1 will make sure of Leeds’ safety.

He said: “Daniel Farke has done an absolutely magnificent job. To win at Old Trafford, to go there with Manchester United doing so well, and to get that result, in the manner of how they played...

“I think that win against Burnley, which will come up, will be them over the line.”

Tense battles are playing out at both ends of the Premier League table, with clubs fighting for silverware and survival.

Leeds rounded off a hectic weekend in the top flight by visiting their bitter rivals Manchester United and emerging as 2-1 winners. A brace from Noah Okafor gave the Whites a half-time lead and a Casemiro header did not spark a comeback.

It was a win they needed considering West Ham United had thumped rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 under the Friday night lights. However, fears at Elland Road had been eased by Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.

Nottingham Forest also failed to win but they did manage to grab a point at the City Ground against Aston Villa. Burnley remain 19th in the table and saw their woes worsened by Brighton & Hove Albion, who put the Clarets to the sword with a Mats Wieffer double.

Further up the table, Arsenal’s title hopes were dented by a 2-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City claimed a 3-0 win away at Chelsea. Crystal Palace edged past Newcastle United, Brentford drew with Everton and Liverpool were 2-0 victors over Fulham.

Following the latest twists and turns in the Premier League, data experts Opta have deployed their supercomputer to generate a fresh prediction for how the final table will look.

Hull City have been linked with a shock move for outgoing Liverpool star Andy Robertson.

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After over 350 appearances and over a decade of service, Robertson is set to leave Liverpool upon the expiry of his contract this summer.

He was signed by the Reds from Hull for an £8m fee back in 2017 and is considered among the biggest bargains of the modern Premier League era.

However, 32-year-old is due to be available as a free agent when the curtain comes down on the 2025/26 campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have been strongly linked with Robertson and it has even been suggested an agreement has been reached between the parties.

Hull City credited with interest in ex-Tiger Andy Robertson

However, TEAMtalk have claimed Robertson’s former club Hull are monitoring the situation. The Tigers would reportedly like to table an offer if they manage to secure promotion from the Championship.

Scottish giants Celtic, meanwhile, are not thought to have abandoned hope of signing the man they released as a 15-year-old.

Robertson’s camp are said to have reiterated that an agreement with Spurs stands, although twists and turns in the transfer market are hardly uncommon.

Hull fans revered Robertson during his time at the MKM Stadium between 2014 and 2017. Rewowned for his technical proficiency and whole-hearted displays, he was a key figure over the course of his 115 outings.

The Scotland international was part of the Tigers side relegated from the top flight in 2015 but helped the club bounce straight back up a year later.

Andy Robertson’s Liverpool farewell

In a statement confirming his forthcoming departure earlier this month, a Liverpool spokesperson said: “After nine hugely successful campaigns at Anfield, the Scotland captain will leave the club upon the expiry of his contract this summer.

“He will do so as a genuine Liverpool legend, having played a fundamental role in the successes of recent years over the course of his 373 appearances to date.

“Signed from Hull City in 2017, Robertson has won two Premier League titles, a Champions League, the FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.

“However, celebration of Robertson’s Liverpool legacy is firmly on hold until the conclusion of the campaign, with the No.26 fully focused on helping the Reds end 2025/26 as successfully as possible.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly pushing to sign Leeds United-linked goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City.

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Trafford was sold by Manchester City to Burnley in 2023, but a buy-back clause was activated two years into his Turf Moor stay.

The 23-year-old had seemingly been recruited to be the main man between the sticks at the Etihad Stadium, replacing Ederson, but it did not pan out that way.

He has instead been playing second-fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was signed from Paris Saint-Germain shortly after Trafford’s return.

Trafford has therefore been linked with a move away from Manchester City and Leeds are among those to have been credited with interest.

James Trafford latest

TEAMtalk, however, have suggested Leeds’ Premier League relegation battle rivals Tottenham are pushing to land the England international.

Manchester City are said to be open to selling and Trafford is thought to be keen on securing a summer exit.

It has even been suggested Trafford would be open to making the move to North London if Spurs lost their Premier League status.

Leeds United’s goalkeeping department

Leeds have some big decisions to make regarding their goalkeeping department when the curtain comes down on the current campaign.

The man signed to be their number one in the last summer window, Lucas Perri, has not made a Premier League appearance since January.

He was signed from Lyon for a reported £15.6m but a series of blunders cost him his spot as Daniel Farke’s goalkeeper of choice.

Leeds’ current number one Karl Darlow, meanwhile, is out of contract at the end of the season along with third and fourth-choice options Illan Meslier and Alex Cairns.

Darlow is enjoying an Indian summer at 35 having initially stuggled for minutes at Elland Road after joining from Newcastle United in 2023.

He has also impressed on the international stage with Wales, although his solid displays were not enough to book the Dragons a place at this summer’s World Cup.

In a recent appearance on The Official Leeds United Podcast, Darlow lifted the lid on his time in West Yorkshire.

He said: “It’s been incredible, hasn’t it really? From when I came in, the club had just been relegated, and then we get into the play-off final, the rollercoaster.

“We felt the lowest of lows losing at Wembley in the play-off final, to then bounce back by winning the league, and then coming into a Premier League season where no team survived who’s come up for the last however many years, and looking like we’ve got a very good chance of doing that.

“It’s been an incredible experience so far and I’m just hoping we can finish this season off the way we want to.”

Aston Villa have been named as strong admirers of Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk.

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The cultured centre-back has been on the books at Elland Road since 2018, when he arrived from Ajax’s youth system.

He has blossomed into an established senior figure and one of Daniel Farke’s most trusted lieutenants.

However, he has recently been the subject of transfer speculation. Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all been linked with the 26-year-old, who is closing in on the 200-appearance mark in West Yorkshire.

Pascal Struijk latest

According to TEAMtalk, Villa are strong admirers of the former Netherlands youth international.

The Midlands club are said to be showing the most serious interest with the summer transfer window approaching.

Spurs are described as having a long-standing interest in Struijk while Newcastle are believed to have Struijk in their contingency plans.

Leeds are reportedly keen on retaining Struijk and it remains to be seen whether their resolve will indeed be tested. The report has claimed Villa could look to do with a bid in the region of £25m.

Pascal Struijk’s Leeds United journey

It has been quite the journey in England for Struijk, who has grown from an inexperienced teenager into a reliable Premier League operator.

He joined a club languishing in mid-table in the Championship and has seen the club reach the top flight, suffer relegation and then bounce back.

In a recent appearance on The Official Leeds United Podcast, Struijk spoke candidly about his early days at Elland Road.

He said: “One thing I do have to say, which helped me a lot, when I first came here, I was young. But the week after I came here, it was my wife who came with me. She said ‘I want to stay with you’. Her parents at the time were not okay with this. But she said ‘I’m going to stop school and come with you’.

“There was two Dutch guys - Vurnon [Anita] was still here and Ouasim Bouy. I spoke with them.

“Also we had Klichy (Mateusz Klich), he’s not Dutch but he used to be in the Netherlands. It was nice I was able to speak with them when I was progressing to the first team.”

Leeds United’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur has been moved to accomodate the Sky Sports cameras.

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The fixture could be a significant one in the battle for Premier League survival, which Spurs have unexpectedly been dragged into.

Leeds sit 15th in the table as it stands, three points above 17th-placed Tottenham and four points above 18th-placed West Ham.

The relegation-threatened clubs will meet on Monday, May 11, rather than on Saturday, May 9. Action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will get underway at 8pm.

The two clubs last met on October 4, when a Spurs side led by Thomas Frank emerged as 2-1 victors in West Yorkshire. Noah Okafor cancelled out a Mathys Tel opener but Mohammed Kudus hit back to clinch three points for the visitors.

Here is the updated Premier League schedule for matchweek 36.

Premier League schedule

Saturday, May 9

Liverpool v Chelsea (TNT Sports, moves to 8pm on May 9 if Liverpool reach Champions League semi-finals)

Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Burnley v Aston Villa

Crystal Palace v Everton

Fulham v Bournemouth

Sunderland v Manchester United

Manchester City v Brentford (Sky Sports)

Sunday, May 10

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United (Sky Sports)

West Ham United v Arsenal (Sky Sports)

Monday, May 11

Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United (Sky Sports)

Whites boss Daniel Farke is among those who has been critical of English football’s scheduling in the past.

In December, he said: “Sometimes it's a bit over the line, also at the moment I would say but I have always struggled to complain too much about it because we are all part of this process as a manager or as a player.

"The players earn way more than 10, 20 years ago and the money comes from more fixtures for broadcasters. Otherwise we would have to say we want less games but you also have to accept probably you earn a bit less.

"It's important we are not overdoing this and do it in a smart way. [We have to be careful] not everyone is fed up with football. It should still be that supporters are excited for a game and players."

Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk has reportedly cropped up on the radars of Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

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The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of his senior career on the books at Elland Road having joined from Ajax’s academy back in 2018.

He has developed into an established first-team figure, amassing 188 appearances and winning the Championship title twice.

A former Netherlands youth international, Struijk is among Daniel Farke’s most trusted lieutenants and has made made 27 league starts this term.

Pascal Struijk linked with Premier League rivals

According to SportsBoom, Struijk’s development into a reliable Premier League operator has put him in the sights of rivals.

He is said to have emerged as a serious transfer option for Tottenham, who like Leeds are battling to retain their Premier League status.

Villa are thought to have Struijk on their radar and it has been claimed his name is penned on Newcastle’s ‘plan B’ list of targets.

Luring Struijk from West Yorkshire, however, could prove tough. The report has claimed the Whites would be resolute sellers and seek to start negotiations around the £30m mark.

Leeds’ hierarchy are reportedly keen to retain the defender, with the club supposedly viewing him as a vital component of both their tactical set-up and club culture.

Farke’s use of a flexible 3-5-2 formation, meanwhile, has made the Whites particularly reliant on central defenders.

Pascal Struijk’s Leeds United move

Struijk recently opened up on his move to Elland Road, which was completed when he was a teenager with no experience of senior football.

He initially linked up with the club’s under-23s, impressing enough to eventually make the leap into Marcelo Bielsa’s senior squad.

The defender said: “There was two places I could have gone to. One was a team in Holland, called Groningen, which more towards the north, and play in the second team.

“Or, I could go for a trial here at Leeds and see how this is feeling, take a big step into a new country and moving. I decided it was better for me to take a big step and see how I develop as a person.

“It was such a big step away from home. It’s not like I’m still in the same country, I can rely on my parents or I can rely on coming back and forth.

“It’s more like, I want to put myself in this position, throw myself in the deep end, see how I grow or develop from this situation, because I feel there is no right or wrong. I can only see if I put myself up to that challenge, to see how I develop from there. That is something that has worked out really well for me.”

The chances of Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie Gray making an emotional return to Leeds United have been downplayed.

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The 20-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough 2023/24 campaign at Elland Road following years of hype surrounding his potential.

A member of the famous Gray family, the versatile midfielder was part of the Whites side that reached the Championship play-off final in 2024.

Leeds’ loss to Southampton at Wembley was a painful one and the subsequent departure of Gray rubbed salt in the wounds.

He completed a £40m switch to Tottenham and although he is now a key figure for the North London club, Gray has been unable to prevent them slipping into a relegation battle.

Archie Gray latest

Amid relegation fears down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, speculation regarding Gray’s future has surfaced.

However, according to TEAMtalk, there was no buy-back clause inserted in the deal that took Gray from Leeds to Tottenham.

BBC Radio Leeds’ Adam Pope, meanwhile, does not believe a homecoming is on the cards.

He told BBC Sport: “Never say never, but I do not see Archie returning to the club any time soon, and I am not aware of any buy-back clause.”

Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund have both been linked with Gray, who would be taking a significant step backwards if he dropped into the Championship.

A move to Old Trafford, however, would sour his relationship with Leeds fans.

Archie Gray’s Leeds United ‘home’

Speaking about his return to Elland Road a Spurs player back in October, Gray said: “That’s my home, that’s where I’ve been raised and I’ve got so much love for Leeds but I’m playing for Tottenham now, we’ve obviously got a job to do at the weekend and we’re looking forward to that.

“Already it feels a little bit weird that we’re going to be playing against a team where I’ve spent virtually my whole life.

“I’m so grateful for everything that they’ve done for me and I’m so proud to be from Leeds and be one of their own. Of course, it’s going to be unusual going back there this weekend, but we’ve got a job to do.”

Leeds United are better-prepared for relegation from the Premier League than West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, according to ex-Manchester City adviser Stefan Borson.

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With seven games left to play for each of the clubs in England’s top flight, the battle near the bottom of the table is intensifying.

Safety could be beyond Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley but there is just a handful of points separating 18th-placed West Ham and those hovering just above the drop zone.

Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham are the clubs dangling precariously over the edge.

Borson, who advised Manchester City on financial matters, believes Leeds are more adequately braced for life back in the second tier than some of their rivals.

Leeds United advantage

He told Football Insider: “The benefit that Leeds have got is, as a club that goes up and down over the last few years, they’re set up for relegation in a way.

“They understand that dynamic much better than say West Ham, who have had a long period of no relegation. Leeds’ contracts across the organisation will all envisage a scenario where either they’re in the Premier League or they’re in the Championship.

“Now, that won’t always be the case with every team that gets relegated. It won’t be the case with every contract in the Tottenham portfolio. A lot of those contracts will be designed for Premier League, for always being in the Premier League.”

Leeds United’s last relegation

Leeds were last relegated from the top flight in the summer of 2023 and had to endure a summer of drama.

The likes of Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon were shrewdly recruited, but the Whites lost a raft of players due to contract clauses enabling loan exits.

Leeds required two seasons to clinch promotion back to the promised land, eventually clinching the Championship title in May 2025.

It is a brutal reality that Leeds will need to plan for the possibility of relegation. However, with ambitious plans involving stadium redevelopment in the pipeline, the Whites will be desperate to avoid the drop.

Leeds hosted Brentford under the Saturday night lights at Elland Road, blanking for a fourth consecutive league game as they played out a goalless draw.

It made Super Sunday viewing quite nervy for Leeds fans, who were relieved to see West Ham United lose to Aston Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered yet another blow, losing 3-0 to relegation battle rivals Nottingham Forest, while strugglers Burnley were brushed aside by Fulham.

Sunderland came out on top in their derby battle with Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw and Brighton & Hove Albion defeated Liverpool.

Everton, meanwhile, were 3-0 victors over a lacklustre Chelsea. The division’s top two sides, Arsenal and Manchester City, had a break from league action as they battled it out in the Carabao Cup final.

Following the latest results, here is how the Opta supercomputer expects the final Premier League table to look.