Good Morning. It's Monday 31st January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Time against Leeds in their pursuit of Minamino Express Journalist Ryan Taylor has told Whites fans that Leeds face an uphill battle to sign Japanese ace Takumi Minamino before the 11pm deadlock this evening. Minamino has suddenly become surplus to requirements at Anfield following the 37m capture of Luis Diaz, but is away on International duty. Strict Covid laws deny any non-Japanese citizens from entering the Country. Minamino, 27, can play either as an attacking Midfielder or winger. He has made 27 appearances for the Reds since signing for them from RB Saltsburg for 7.25m two years ago. With Aaronson unavailable until the Summer, Leeds quickly turned their attention to their second choice, but it looks like time is against them. According to Taylor:- “Takumi Minamino is obviously a player they are looking at,” “Minamino is currently away with Japan. “The issue any club looking to do business with Liverpool for Minamino have is that, because of COVID, foreign nationals cannot enter Japan, at the moment to undergo a medical. “Given the time at the moment, to get a delegate out to Japan to conduct a medical would be a problem, anyway. But, since the signing of Luis Diaz, Liverpool have altered their stance on Divock Origi and Minamino. please log in to view this image YEP reveal no formal offers for Leeds stars Leeds fans were momentarily stricken with panic after reading that West Ham had made an audacious 100m bid for Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, but it seems the story holds little weight, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post. Whilst the Hammers have indeed expressed an interest in the duo, this is common place in football, but stories of an official bid for either player has been vehemently denied by Yorkshire Evening Post Journalist Lee Sobot. please log in to view this image Summerville to stay put unless replacement can be found Crysencio Summerville will not be leaving Elland Road unless a suitable replacement can be found. These are the words of Leeds Utd journalist Lee Sobot. The 21yo Dutchman is unhappy at his limited opportunities at Elland Road, and is keen to move to Hamburg where the lure of first team football has turned his head. Media reports suggest that several other German and Dutch clubs have also enquired over the former fFeyenoord youngster. please log in to view this image Leeds turn their attention back to O'Brien The Sun are reporting that Leeds have turned their attention back to Huddersfield Town's midfielder Lewis O’Brien, stating the Whites are prepared to meet O’Brien’s £10 million buyout clause. Having failed in their bid to capture O'Brien in the Summer, Terriers Chairman Phil Hodgkinson arragantly told journalists that Leeds had submitted four separate bids for O’Brien, with the final one totalling a fee of around £13m, which were all rejected. One of them is lying, I wonder which one? please log in to view this image Dates moved for clashes against Leicester and Wolves The Premier League clashes against Leicester City and Wolves have been moved to allow for both games to be televised. The Whites will still travel to the King Power Stadium on the 5th March, but instead of a traditional 3pm kick-off, the game will now go ahead at 12.30pm. The Wolves clash will no longer be played on Saturday March 19. Sky Sports have requested their attendance on Friday 18th, 8pm start. please log in to view this image
Morning all What a day not to get excited. I know we've got linked with a host of players last night but how many will actually come? If we don't sign anybody today it will be curtains for us with everybody around us signing players and Newcastle playing football manager
Morning all… In regards to O’Brien, if we do trigger the release clause then I assume he was far from first choice? I mean we could have triggered the clause on the 1st January, he could have been a Leeds player for a month now, he could have used this two week break we’re coming out of to get really Bielsa prepared. I can’t see it happening myself simply because we could have done this a month ago if we wanted him. Minamino without a proper medical could only be a loan, would we insert an option to buy clause? I still think this and the RB from Aberdeen are the only two options on the table. Any news on Forshaw and Bamford?
Good morning so if we go down will it be a bad thing?. Players would of course be sold kalvin and raph first two gone. Then maybe koch or Llorente as we have cover in those positions. Leeds could also sell Drameh and klich and roberts. This would leave a surplus even allowing for at least five new players. Parachute money would flow in too and a top three Leeds would sell out every week in the championship. Merchandising would still bring in a huge amount. So what is best a rebuild in a lower league or sell our best players and a few also rans in the summer and stay up.
I would rather start a rebuild project in the Premier League. the problem with the team is that we've got a few players that are on the wrong side of 30 and I'd rather have Premier League standard players to replace them not players we can find for a Champs team
The problem would be release clauses that some might have and the cut price fees we would receive for the top guys. Then we’d have to hope for an immediate return, then June 2023 how old would the likes of Dallas, Cooper, Ayling and a few others be. We need to survive this season but I’m not filled with optimism about next season either way
I thought Phil Hodgkinson's business went tits up late last year - might not have such a swagger to him if we really do put a sensible bid for O'Brien in?
I can't see us making a signing. O'Brien the likeliest one if any, as we were chasing him previously, like my cat Casper we always return to the same territory. Looking at the photo of O'Brien, there doesn't seem to be much between those ears please log in to view this image
I won't be wasting sleep watching SSN getting in a lather about their favourite clubs making last minutes deals Like the Leeds board of directors, I shall be in bed by 10pm in readiness for a 5.45 am start to my day tomorrow.
Medicals can all be done remotely/online. An agent could make this happen surely ? Just more 'oh well we tried' I think
Nothing new at Leeds, Emu LUFC will be too busy sending out season-ticket renewal forms out, looking for payment by the end of March. A major reason why they wouldn't dare sell one of our quality stars
Can’t see anything happening today unless it’s a youth signing. Possibly that RB but it looks like Summerville is staying so we aren’t going in for Minimino. Surely it’s more sensible to loan out Summerville so he gets game time and then loan Minimino with a possible option to buy? Keeps the kid happy and sees if we can make a profit or he can come back into the team while we strengthen the squad with Minimino and then Aaronson in the summer. I can see Rodrigo going in the summer so why not get Minimino up to speed now as he can play as an attacking midfielder or a winger so then we have options.
Good morning all I don’t know about curtains, but it would certainly make things more difficult for us. Could Newcastle have now turned a corner? & even Norwich now starting to show a bit of fight/form under smith, I wouldn’t be surprised if both these teams managed to avoid the drop, so that for me leaves Burnley, Watford and one other to go down, I just hope & pray that we are going to be ok, once Bamford/Phillips are back, after all a lot now appears to ride purely on their shoulders after this, and let’s face it, a very poor transfer window.
O’Brian was an asking price of £13m in the Summer which included add-ons so dont believe a £10m release clause and anyway he wouldn't be a starter
it does sounds tempting doesn't it, except parachute money doesn't equal prem money... and it requires an immediate bounce back - which as many have found out isn't a guarantee for a side with a losing habit. Payments reduce over the three year span (talk also of it being replaced with another less financially favourable scheme). Meanwhile you're not so interesting for investors etc. Before you know it you're in league 1 with sunderland wondering how the fck it happened to us again It took us a damn long time to get back to the prem, I for one don't want to see the champonship again. Better to rebuild in the prem and refresh and try to improve year on year.
It’s no surprise we won’t sign anyone in this window. Not when we have a coach who throughout his career waits until the summer to commit to staying for another year. The pull of ‘wanting to play for Bielsa’ is negated by the uncertainty of whether he’ll still be in charge for next season.
