The Championship was in full swing on Friday, with Leeds United in action the latest, away at Oxford United.
The top of the Championship table remains unchanged after all the top three picked up vital wins, with Leeds United beating Oxford United 1-0 away from home to remain in the top spot.
Sheffield United beat Cardiff City whilst Burnley won away at Watford to extend their unbeaten run to an incredible 30 games under Scott Parker, who was linked with the Leeds United manager’s job before the club eventually hired Daniel Farke.
On Monday, Leeds United can earn promotion if they beat Stoke City and the Blades lose away at Burnley, in what’s become a huge game at the top of the table.
And with promotion the Whites would be able to start pressing on with their plans for the summer transfer window, which could yet prove sweeping with this Leeds United squad arguably nowhere near Premier League standard as it currently is.
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Scott Parker hails Leeds United transfer target James Trafford as ‘world class’
One player who could make the summer move to Elland Road, largely providing how this promotion race pans out, is Burnley no.1 James Trafford. Leeds United are interested in Trafford who leads the Championship for clean sheets this season with an incredible 28 to his name.
Valued at £30million by Burnley, and linked with the likes of Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window opening in June, Trafford was the star performer in Burnley’s 2-1 win at Watford on Friday making four saves in the game, with some really high calibre saves among them.
Speaking after the game, Parker hailed Trafford’s performance, labelling him as ‘world class’ even: “There’s no denying that he’s a world class keeper,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire. “How you judge keepers is in big moments. Even at the back end of the game. They’re down to nine men, he’s barely had anything to do. Fella hits one from 30 yards and he has to pull off a save. Not sleeping, diligent. He’s just a top, top keeper.”
Illan Meslier is bound to leave Leeds United this summer
Behind Trafford in the clean sheets table this season is Illan Meslier with 21. But Farke has finally axed Meslier at Leeds United and replaced him with Karl Darlow who looks incredibly more assured at the back.
Ahead of a likely promotion and with Leeds being linked with more and more goalkeepers, including Trafford, it suggests that Meslier has now completely fallen out of favour, and we could likely see him and Leeds United finally part ways in the summer.
Meslier has had links to Man United this season which shows he’s still fairly highly-regarded in England. But a return to France maybe could be more up Meslier’s street, after several tough years in the Premier League and in the Championship.
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