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Queens Park Rangers are undoubtedly an attractive proposition for a number of managers in the football league and it was perhaps no surprise to see Chris Wilder register his interest in the vacant position at Loftus Road.

According to The Sun, the former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss is keen on a swift return to management after being sacked by the North East outfit in October.

The 55-year-old would prove a far cheaper option than Coventry City boss Mark Robins, who has also been linked, as he wouldn’t cost the Hoops any money in terms of compensation.

While Wilder’s time with Middlesbrough did not go to plan, his average of 1.49 points per game with the Reds was still better than the 1.41 points per game averaged by Beale in his brief spell at QPR.

The experienced Englishman will also be judged on his incredibly successful spells with Northampton Town and Sheffield United, having won league titles with both.

After leading the Cobblers to a hugely impressive League Two title win in 2016, despite off-field issues, Wilder oversaw a revolution at a sleeping giant in Sheffield United.

The Blades had endured three tough seasons in League One without promotion before Wilder’s arrival in 2016 and he made it back-to-back league titles of his own, as the Bramall Lane outfit returned to the Championship.

Sheffield United would then finish 10th in their first season back in the second tier before earning a remarkable promotion to the Premier League the following campaign, with Wilder clearly instrumental to their turnaround.

The Blades even flirted with the possibility of European football in their first Premier League jaunt under Wilder, finishing in ninth position in their debut campaign back in the top flight, but after a poor run of form the following season he was sacked rather harshly, with Sheffield United then dropping back into the Championship following his departure.

The “phenomenal” work done by Wilder with Northampton Town and Sheffield United suggests that he knows how to get the best out of a squad, and there seems no reason why he couldn’t get QPR’s promotion push back on track should he arrive at Loftus Road as Beale’s replacement.

Leicester City are eyeing a move for in-form Rennes forward Martin Terrier, with journalist Graeme Bailey sharing news on the in-demand Ligue 1 star.

The Lowdown: Leicester flying again…

Despite the Foxes’ recent 1-0 defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City, it’s safe to say that an air of optimism has returned to the King Power Stadium in recent weeks.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have lost just two of their last six top-flight matches whilst picking up crucial victories against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Wolves. The Foxes have also kept four clean sheets in their last six whilst also conceding just three times in total, not to mention scoring an impressive 11 goals at the other end.

Their resolute display against Man City at the weekend was only undone by a superb free kick from Belgium superstar Kevin De Bruyne, and going by their latest showings, Leicester could fancy their chances of avoiding the drop.

The Latest: Leicester eye Terrier swoop…

As per 90min and reporter Graeme Bailey, who says there are ‘few better players in Europe’ than Terrier right now, Leicester are among a host of clubs to have scouted the forward recently.

Foxes officials have apparently ran the rule over Rennes’ star man, with the Midlands club taking an interest alongside many of their top-flight rivals.

The Verdict: One to watch…

The 25-year-old is in electric form right now and could certainly be one to watch heading into the winter, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that France head coach Didier Deschamps could consider the player for his 2022 World Cup squad.

As per WhoScored, Terrier stands out as Rennes’ top scorer and best player by average match rating, while he also tops their charts for most attempts at goal per 90 (three).

Dubbed ‘sublime’ by members of the press, the winger’s recent meteoric rise looks to have grabbed the attention of Leicester, and numerous others.

West Bromwich Albion might have found the man who can fill their current managerial vacancy…

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic, Ron Gourlay has compiled a lengthy list of potential candidates for the job.

Headlining it is Swansea City manager Russell Martin, who has impressed already in the Championship.

With the managerial search reaching a third day now since Steve Bruce was sacked, they will want to act quickly.

The report also detailed names such as Carlos Corberan, clearly outlining how the Baggies are looking for a more progressive coach than their last.

He can rebuild their mentality

With West Brom currently sitting in the relegation zone, they are hardly an attractive proposition for managers in a job.

Especially the likes of Martin, who has motivated his Swans side to four straight victories as they take up a playoff spot this season.

His sides play a very specific way, and he is clearly a manager who is determined to stick to his principles no matter what.

Perhaps if Gourlay can tempt the 36-year-old to join, he would be the perfect fit to take his possession-based style and apply it to a side that are averaging 57.5% possession a game.

They are lacking a ruthlessness that is holding them back and applying principles that would ensure a solidity that has clearly worked for his Welsh outfit might help propel the Baggies up the table.

If he were to join, he would have the tough task of turning around a side that are winless in their last eight league games.

However, he has a track record of building a mentality that could benefit the Midlands outfit.

As aforementioned, he is a staunch believer in his tactical ideas. This was showcased in a viral video that showed the manager telling his players: “If it doesn’t work and I get sacked, at least I get sacked doing something I believe in. I don’t get sacked regretting that I have bowed on my principles.”

Speaking about that video, he said something with regard to mentality that would please fans of the club he might join.

He claimed: “It wasn’t a big deal to me – it was just common sense. It helped us build a bit of siege mentality. It was like: ‘Look, no one believes we can do this and no one wants us to be successful doing this.’”

Martin might be the perfect young and progressive manager they need, to turn the Baggies into a side that teams will soon fear.

Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw will miss the Whites’ Premier League clash against Aston Villa this weekend, journalist Phil Hay has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Leeds host Aston Villa

Jesse Marsch’s side are back in league action after the international break, welcoming Steven Gerrard’s Villa to Elland Road for a Sunday afternoon showdown.

Leeds sit 11th in the table after six matches, winning, drawing and losing twice apiece so far, and this should be viewed as a very winnable fixture against a team who aren’t at their best, sitting four places behind the Yorkshire club.

Injuries continue to hamper the Whites, though, with Archie Gray and Stuart Dallas among those currently sidelined.

The Latest: Forshaw ruled out

Forshaw is another Leeds man who will miss Sunday’s clash, and taking to Twitter, Hay relayed an update from Marsch as to why the midfielder would be absent this weekend.

The reporter tweeted:

“Marsch starting on injuries: Forshaw has a twisted ankle and will miss the weekend. Archie Gray has a fractured toe, out for another couple of weeks. Dallas still working his way back. Everyone else is available.”

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The Verdict: Constant injury setbacks

Forshaw’s career has been hampered severely by injuries in recent times, with the 31-year-old missing almost two years of action with a serious hip problem between 2019 and 2021.

Other issues have also affected him badly, including a fractured kneecap towards the end of last season, and this current update is just the latest in a series of setbacks for the 30-year-old.

The hope is that Forshaw – who has been restricted to three substitute appearances in the current league campaign – will be back soon, considering that this particular injury doesn’t sound serious, but it is hard to rely on him staying fit for a prolonged period given his unfortunate history in that regard.

West Ham United recorded yet another victory in the Europa Conference League last night, continuing their 100% record with a fine 3-2 win in Denmark.

Although their opponent Silkeborg staged a late comeback after leading first, the Hammers held on well to ensure they were not embarrassed.

There were a number of standout performers for David Moyes, with summer signing Gianluca Scamacca netting alongside Craig Dawson who returned to the side following an injury.

However, the one man who went under the radar for his classy workmanlike performance beside Declan Rice was Manuel Lanzini, who boasted an impressive 7.0 SofaScore rating.

Not only was he a fantastic presence in the engine room, with 80 touches, but he also dispatched coolly from the spot to open the scoring.

He adapted well to his slightly deeper role and acted as the metronome from which the Irons built their entire game. He averaged a pass accuracy of 94% and was 100% successful with his dribbling too.

Not only was he consistent, but he also produced a high quality of creation as he also gave two key passes during the game.

It was an all-around perfect performance from the midfielder, who allowed Rice to uphold more of the defensive work whilst he controlled the game.

His ability to do that as well as score sees him further support the claim that he is one of West Ham’s “mercurial gems,” as described by journalist Daniel Storey.

On a day when it was expected for Lucas Paqueta to star, starting just his second game since signing in the summer, it was the tried and tested Argentine who stole the show and reminded fans just why he has been around for so long.

The Brazilian offered just a 6.6 rating by SofaScore and struggled at times to get into the match. The exact opposite of the time Lanzini had.

Having signed permanently in 2016 for just £9m, he has more than paid that off with his contribution to the club. However, with mature performances like this, he proves that age will not be the deciding factor in his inevitable decline.

Celtic have had another busy summer transfer window in terms of the number of players who have come to and left Parkhead.

The Premiership champions’ latest incoming transfer saw the Hoops bring in Sead Haksabanovic from Rubin Kazan on a five-year deal.

With only a few days left before the transfer window closes, this could give the Bhoys the opportunity to not only bring in another player who would strengthen their squad even further, but also act as new version of an important figure who left the club in 2021.

The player in question is Hajduk Split midfielder and reported transfer target Jani Atanasov, who could be seen as Celtic’s next version of Scott Brown after the veteran brought an end to his 14 years at Parkhead at the end of the 2020/21 season.

At the age of 22, the North Macedonian has made 60 appearances for his current club, scoring five goals and providing two assists in the process.

Last season saw the midfielder end his domestic campaign with an average of 1.6 tackles per game, which isn’t too far away from the 1.3 per match that Brown managed to end his final Premiership campaign at Parkhead.

This shows just how industrious the young midfielder is and why he’d be a valuable asset for Ange Postecoglou’s side, not just because of his tackles in midfield but also because of his occasional usefulness in front of goal. That also mirrors Brown, who scored 46 goals and supplied 63 assists in his 611 appearances for the Glasgow club.

Bearing in mind how the Hoops have seen the likes of Nir Bitton, Tom Rogic and Ismaila Soro exit the club since the end of last season, in addition to missing out on signing reported targets such as Fausto Vera and Vinicius Souza, securing a new defensive midfielder before the transfer window closes should be the top priority for the Scottish champions.

Furthermore, with the Premiership title to retain and other domestic trophies to contest, Celtic also have a Champions League campaign with Real Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg and Shakhtar Donetsk waiting for them in the group stage, so having optimum strength and depth in their squad will be crucial for the Bhoys.

With that in mind, securing a late swoop for Atanasov should definitely be something that Celtic look to complete before the transfer window closes.

Leeds United have rejected Newcastle United’s €40m (£33.5m) offer for Jack Harrison, according to French journalist Santi Aouna.

The Lowdown: Harrison transfer rumours

The Whites have already cashed in on two star players this summer in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, pocketing just over £96m following their respective moves to Manchester City and Barcelona.

Harrison has been linked with becoming the next high-profile player to leave Elland Road, with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe an admirer.

The 25-year-old was coy when quizzed on his future following a pre-season friendly against Aston Villa last month, and it looks as if the Tyneside club have submitted a big-money bid.

The Latest: Bid turned down

Aouna took to Twitter on Monday morning to provide an update on Newcastle’s interest in Harrison.

He revealed that Leeds have turned down a €40m (£33.5m) bid from the Magpies and are holding out for €47m (£39.4m).

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The Verdict: Wow

Harrison, who was labelled a ‘cracking player’ by pundit Kevin Campbell, is valued at a career-high £16.2m by Transfermarkt.

Leeds previously placed a £35m price tag on the winger, but it looks as if that has increased slightly, should Aouna’s claim be accurate.

Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises paid £11m for Harrison last year, so they could have made an eye-catching profit if they were to cash in on him.

It’ll be interesting to see if Newcastle return with an improved offer, especially with Harrison seemingly taking the number 11 shirt at Elland Road for the new season.

Aston Villa will be set to begin their first full season with Steven Gerrard at the helm in the next few weeks following his appointment at the Midlands club last November.

One player in Villa’s ranks who the 42-year-old will undoubtedly be hoping will be an important figure for the team going forward, just as he was last season, is John McGinn.

With 35 league appearances to his name last term, the Scotsman ended the campaign with more successful tackles (61) and more shot-creating actions (96) than any other Villa player.

This highlights just how crucial the 27-year-old is for the Villans in terms of both his defensive talent and attacking output.

While the Premier League club have already brought in a new midfielder in the shape of Boubacar Kamara, there is still time left before the summer transfer window closes for Gerrard to add some more strength and depth to that position.

One midfielder with whom the Villans have been linked and who would give the 42-year-old the opportunity to form a potentially frightening duo alongside McGinn is Ibrahim Sangare.

In 87 appearances for his current club PSV Eindhoven, the Ivorian has found the net five times and delivered six assists.

In his 29 league games for the Eredivisie club last season, the 24-year-old ended the campaign with more interceptions (72) and more successful tackles (64) than any other player at PSV.

From an attacking point of view, only three other PSV players took more shots at goal than Sangare (42), which backs up why he was described as a “dangerous” player in front of goal by analyst Aad de Mos.

This highlights the sattributes that the Ivory Coast international has in common with McGinn and why having the pair together in the same team could be a huge asset for Gerrard and his side in terms of having two midfielders who can be tough opponents without the ball, as well as offering a reliable attacking threat.

Despite having a rather hefty reported price tag of €40m (£34m), this would certainly be an investment worth making for NSWE this summer, as the Ivorian midfield machine definitely has the talent to be as important to Villa as McGinn has been.

AND in other news: Gerrard can unearth his own Marcelo if Villa sign 37 G/A gem who’s “one of the best”

Manchester City waved goodbye to a club legend last summer as Sergio Aguero brought an end to his 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.

Arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2011 after signing a deal worth £38m, the striker went on to score 259 goals in 388 appearances across all competitions for the reigning Premier League champions.

Having left the Manchester club with an astonishing goal record and a significant legacy, it would be hard for anyone to try and replicate the sort of impact that Aguero had at City and in English football in general.

Despite having already brought in Erling Haaland, the summer transfer window could see Pep Guardiola’s side swoop for someone who could be their next version of Aguero.

Last month, it was claimed by journalist Bruno Andrade on Twitter that the City manager wants to bring Joao Felix to the Etihad this summer.

Having started his career in his native Portugal, the attacker joined Atletico from Benfica three years ago this week for a fee of £113m.

This is a similar career path to that of Aguero, who joined the Spanish club from his boyhood side Independiente back in 2006.

In 109 appearances for Diego Simeone’s team, Felix has found the net 28 times and provided 15 assists along the way. In his 82 La Liga appearances, the 22-year-old – who is currently picking up a wage of £154k-per-week – has racked up 139 shots at goal, 140 shot-creating actions and 80 successful dribbles.

This highlights the clear attacking talent that he has and shows why he would be a useful asset for City should they end up securing his signature this summer.

Labelled as being “at the point where he can be one of the best players in the Atletico squad”, according to Felix’s youth coach Joao Tralhao, the Portugal international could go on to become an ideal next version of Aguero at the Etihad if he can find himself playing regularly and delivering goals and assists for the team.

If City see an opportunity to sign the attacker from Atletico this summer, then they should definitely do all they can to bring him to Manchester.

Then, if he can have even half the success that the Argentine enjoyed during his time in England, it would be a very lucrative swoop for Guardiola’s side.

AND in other news: Pep can land dream Sterling heir as City eye move for “phenomenal” £58.5m-rated wizard

TalkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has backed Liverpool to sell Roberto Firmino this summer after the new arrival of Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Nunez signs

It was confirmed earlier this week that the Benfica striker has made the move to the Premier League after putting pen to paper on a six-year deal at Anfield, for what could rise to a club-record fee of £85m.

Firmino has been one of the Reds’ longest-serving players, having joined the Merseyside outfit in 2015, but he, alongside his strike partners Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, are all set to be out of contract with the top-flight giants next year, creating plenty of speculation surrounding their individual futures.

The Latest: Agbonlahor makes Firmino claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor insisted that Liverpool had to sign a new forward as a result of Manchester City securing Erling Haaland, but it leaves Firmino out in the cold:

“They needed to do it. Regardless of whether Mane stays or goes, they needed another attacker.

“Firmino is not good enough. He’s done well for Liverpool over the years but it’s time for him to go.

“You’ve got to keep up with other teams, you can’t stay still. It’s a big statement signing.

“I’m sure Man City were buzzing when they signed Haaland and now they’ve seen Liverpool get Nunez they will think it’s going to be a hard season and it’s hard to call.”

The Verdict: Ideal backup option

Firmino was definitely unlucky when it came injuries last season, having missed a total of 25 matches as a result of sustaining four separate problems, something which contributed to him slightly falling down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp.

However, the Brazilian still managed to make 20 top-flight appearances and recorded nine goal contributions during that time, as per Transfermarkt, showing that he is still very much capable of producing the goods when given the chance.

There’s no way that the 30-year-old will consistently be chosen to be in the Liverpool starting XI ahead of Nunez or Diogo Jota for that matter, but he’s still a player who is good to have around the building and can make a hugely positive impact from the bench, so there would be no harm in keeping him around for a little bit longer.

In other news… a reliable journalist has dropped a Sadio Mane transfer twist.