Leeds United Are Keeping A Keen Eye On This Ligue 1 Talent: What Will… — and more

In a recent report, journalist Graeme Bailey stated that Leeds United are keeping a keen eye on Olympique Lyonnais talent Pavel Sulc. It has been mentioned that the Whites would have to compete with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in the race to land the Czech playmaker next summer.

Sulc is having an impressive campaign at the French club and deserves credit for putting in a string of productive displays for them in the final third. The 25-year-old has scored 14 times and earned ten assists in 34 matches for Lyon this season across various competitions.

The Czech sensation is currently among the best playmakers in Ligue 1. Therefore, Leeds would do well to bring Sulc to Elland Road this summer.

His current contract at the West Yorkshire club will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it difficult for the Whites to sign him on the cheap later this year.

HAMBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 28: Pavel Sulc of FC Viktoria Plzen in action during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Viktoria Plzen at Volksparkstadion on November 28, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

What Will Sulc Bring To Leeds United?

Sulc is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet and has got the eye to play some killer passes on the offensive end of the field. He can strike the ball with venom from long range and has added a lot of goals and assists to his game this season.

Sulc is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also serve as a box-to-box midfielder or as a striker if needed. However, there are some concerns over whether the Czech sensation can cope with the physical side and high intensity of the Premier League if the Whites manage to snap him up next year.

We can expect Sulc to bring more quality and depth to Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke’s attacking department. He has what it takes to nail down a regular starting spot at Elland Road in the coming years.

At 25, Sulc has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a decent choice for the Whites to pursue at the end of this campaign. However, Farke has to give him some time to adjust to life in England before he can get the best out of the player at the Yorkshire club.

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Premier League: Build-up to Man City v Newcastle after West Ham and Bournemouth draw

Cristian Chivu backs Alessandro Bastoni against Lecce boo boys, reveals when Denzel Dumfries returns for Inter, and insists the Bodo/Glimt Champions League play-off is ‘wide open.’

The Nerazzurri remain unstoppable in Serie A, as this was their ninth consecutive away victory, and their 14^th win in the last 15 rounds.

They needed until the 75^th minute to break Lecce down at the Stadio Via del Mare, as the earlier Federico Dimarco goal was disallowed for Marcus Thuram’s tight offside position.

However, Dimarco’s corner was flicked on for a Henrikh Mkhitaryan goal, then another set play was nodded in by Manuel Akanji.

Chivu saw positive Inter and has European hope

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Head coach of Inter Cristian Chivu celebrates after the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

“We wanted to make the most of the set plays, as we took a lot of them today and it’s a pity we didn’t do them better in the first half,” Chivu told DAZN Italia.

“We’ve got players who know how to attack the space, but above all an extraordinary left foot from Fede, who knows how to put the ball in.”

Who had the better crossing foot, Chivu, Dimarco or Inter assistant Aleksandar Kolarov?

“His foot is much better than mine ever was. I can’t talk for Kolarov, he might be offended…”

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Lassana Coulibaly of US Lecce competes for the ball with Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Inter needed a response today, as it was their first match since the midweek Champions League play-off defeat to Bodo/Glimt.

The second leg is coming up on Tuesday, but they will be without top scorer and captain Lautaro Martinez, who is out for circa a month with a soleus strain suffered on the synthetic pitch in Norway.

“We are aware of the difficulties, that we have to earn everything on the pitch and can take nothing for granted,” added Chivu.

“Now we have the second leg at home on Tuesday, we must be the best version of ourselves, because the qualification is still wide open. Nothing is decided yet.”

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Bastoni was jeered loudly at every touch by the crowd in Lecce this evening, as the blowback continues from the incident where he got Pierre Kalulu of Juventus sent off.

“It’s over as far as I am concerned. I appreciate the professionalism of this defender and man, who understood his error, apologised for what happened, and is well aware that the team comes first. It’s done and dusted for me,” assured Chivu.

It was put to the coach that Marcus Thuram was struggling a little to be impactful today, in the absence of injured Lautaro Martinez.

“I have 24 marvellous players who all try to give their contribution. I liked Marcus today, he ran a lot, played with his back to goal, holding up the ball well. Davide Frattesi also had a great game, they are all involved, focused, keeping our feet on the ground and giving our contribution to the team.”

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Manuel Akanji of Inter celebrates his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella were suspended today, but the good news from the treatment table is for Denzel Dumfries, who had ankle surgery in November.

“Denzel has done some things with us in recent weeks for training, not this week because we were travelling for most of it. Denzel will officially be with the rest of the team from Monday, and I think Hakan Calhanoglu will be too.”

Real Madrid experienced the VAR making decisions against them for the first time this season during their match against Osasuna. Unlike previous instances where they benefited from VAR calls, the decisions in this game went against them but were all considered correct by officials.