Here are your Leeds United morning headlines on Saturday, March 26.
Bielsa linked with return to management
Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa could be set for an immediate return to management with Bolivia, according to the Mirror. The 66-year-old was sacked after a dismal run of results last month, losing five games on the bounce.
The decision by the Whites' hierarchy ended a near four-year spell with the Yorkshire club and led to an outpouring of emotion from fans, who had grown attached to the Argentine coach after he guided them back into the Premier League. Leeds have since rallied under his successor Jesse Marsch. Dramatic victories over Wolves and Norwich City, which were both sealed by injury-time strikes, has seen Leeds pull seven points clear of the drop zone.
With his former side moving on, it now appears that Bielsa could be set for a quick return to management. He is on the shortlist to become the new boss of the Bolivian national team.
READ MORE: The impact injuries could have on the relegation battle as Leeds United rivals' worries mount
"We are in contact," Fernando Costa, president of the Bolivian FA, said in a press conference on Friday. “I’m not going to deny that we are having some line of contact with the manager. We still haven’t talked to him, but we are close to doing so.
"We want to give him all the support. We know that Bolivia has a lot of talent and that going to a World Cup isn’t that far away."
James backs Phillips to join Villa or United
David James has backed Kalvin Phillips to join either Aston Villa or Manchester United in the summer. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from Leeds United.
Phillips hasn't featured since December after he suffered a hamstring injury in a 2-2 draw with Brentford. However, former Liverpool goalkeeper James believes Phillips should be making a move elsewhere.
"I do believe Aston Villa and Manchester United should compete for Kalvin Phillips’ signature if he becomes available this summer,” he said. He’s one of my favourite players and that’s not solely due to his footballing talent, but he’s a wonderful human being too.
"The lure would naturally be Manchester United because of the size of the club but this is Kalvin Phillips who plays for Leeds United. But I also think playing under Steven Gerrard in that Aston Villa squad, and adding to that where Stevie wants to take them, I believe would be the right stepping stone for Kalvin Phillips.
"I don’t want to insinuate that Aston Villa are a stepping stone, but Gerrard will realistically want to manage a team that’s eventually competing for major honours, whether that’s Liverpool or another club. Kalvin could become a member of Stevie’s group at Villa and then if he does well then he can go with Stevie to the next club he moves onto.
"Once Stevie likes a player then he sticks with them, which is something you can sense from his relationships. I can see Stevie bringing success to Villa and that would be one exciting bus for Kalvin Phillips to be on."
Looming Leeds United bans for run-in
Bans are looming for Premier League players who have trodden the wrong side of the laws of the game too often this season. If a Leeds United player or any other in the top flight picks up 10 yellows before their club’s 32nd match they will be banned for two games.
Junior Firpo fell foul of the first cumulative ban of the campaign. The left-back collected five cautions before the 19th match and was forced to sit out the loss to Arsenal at Elland Road.
Had Firpo not injured his medial cruciate ligament in the Aston Villa loss, his collection of nine yellows would put him at risk of yet another ban. As it is, he will be on the sidelines as the deadline passes at the conclusion of the Watford trip next month.
Rodrigo is onto eight yellow cards and if he picks up another one in each of the Southampton and Watford games then he would be forced to miss the Crystal Palace and Manchester City games. Leeds may have their Spanish playmaker working the tightrope, but they could yet benefit if one of their upcoming opponents slips up.
If Gallagher picks up two more yellows before full-time in the third, he will be suspended when Leeds arrive. Losing their England international can only be a good thing for Leeds.
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