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The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 19th May)

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by ellandback, May 19, 2025 at 8:15 AM.

  1. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    perfect1.jpg

    Good Morning. It's Monday 19th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

    Academy cull in Leeds end of season retained list

    Leeds are currently engaged in discussions with Junior Firpo and Sam Byram regarding potential contract extensions, as their current deals are set to expire on June 30th. However, Josuha Guilavogui will be released upon the expiration of his contract on the same date.

    The club has offered new terms to James Debayo, who made two substitute appearances for the first team last season. In addition, promising Academy players Rory Mahady, Coban Bird, and Harvey Vincent have also been offered fresh contracts, as their current deals are also expiring this summer.

    Unfortunately, eleven Academy players will be departing. Harry Christy, Cian Coleman, Connor Ferguson, Max McFadden, Amari Miller, Kris Moore, Joe Richards, Joe Snowdon, Luca Thomas, and Dan Toulson will not be offered new deals and will be leaving at the end of the month.

    Firpo and Byram are the most prominent names on the list, and Leeds United is still considering their futures with the club. Firpo made 35 appearances last season, contributing 14 goal involvements from his left-back position. Byram proved to be a reliable understudy, making 39 appearances, primarily in the same position.

    Guilavogui, a 34-year-old veteran, joined the club as a free agent in the fall following an injury crisis in Daniel Farke's midfield. While he was never a regular starter, the seven-time France international made 18 appearances, primarily as a late substitute to help secure leads.

    The decisions regarding the Academy players reflect the club's ongoing efforts to develop young talent and build a strong foundation for the future. While it is always difficult to see players leave, these decisions are necessary to ensure the club's continued growth and success.

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    Solomon's Marseille move scuppered due to political reasons leaves Whites with strong advantage

    Leeds United's pursuit of Manor Solomon has received a significant boost, with the player's agent suggesting a preference for staying in the Premier League (now that the Marseille deal has been scuppered). Shlomi Ben Ezra's recent statement has shifted the landscape of Solomon's future, signaling a strong advantage for the Whites.

    Previously, a move to Marseille seemed the likely option for Solomon, offering the allure of Champions League football. However, Ben Ezra has now ruled out the French club due to "political reasons". Solomon himself remained unusually tight-lipped about his future, even amidst celebrations for his team's promotion back to the Premier League. This silence has fueled speculation and intrigue surrounding his next move.

    While Leeds United will undoubtedly be encouraged by the latest developments, they remain cautious about overspending. Tottenham are reportedly seeking £20 million for the Israeli international, but Leeds are believed to have set their valuation closer to £15 million, reflecting their awareness of a limited transfer budget this summer.

    A potential compromise could involve a swap deal. Tottenham are known admirers of Pascal Struijk, valued at around £25 million by Leeds. If a deal could be structured that sees Solomon move to Elland Road, Struijk go the other way, and Leeds receive a cash adjustment of approximately £7.5 million, it could potentially satisfy all parties involved. This scenario would allow Spurs to acquire a long-term target in Struijk while Leeds secure Solomon and bolster their finances.

    Ultimately, Solomon's desire to remain in the Premier League puts Leeds in a strong position. Whether they can negotiate a suitable fee or engineer a creative swap deal remains to be seen, but the Whites are now firmly in the driver's seat for securing the talented winger's signature.

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  2. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Morning all

    I’d like to see Struijk as a squad player not starter next season, if we can swap him for Solomon and have cash towards someone better then that’s great business

    Academy players come and go, rarely does a top talent come through at Championship level.

    When you think of how Man City cast off the ones they don’t want and they still fail, Gyabi a prime example costing £5m.
     
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  3. Gessa

    Gessa Well-Known Member

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    Solomon £15m now extra £5m if we stay up. Has to be worth it.
     
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  4. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    If Tottenham want Struijk then a straight swap with Solomon would do. No need for extra money coming our way.

    They seem to like slow CB’s for some reason <confused> Eric Dier for example. We need to go out and get a pacey central defender from somewhere (don’t know where from - that’s their job)

    If Spurs want to sweeten the deal they can chuck in Reguilon.
     
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  5. Marcos Barber

    Marcos Barber Well-Known Member

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    Morning all :emoticon-0148-yes: Does Struijk count as an academy player? If so, any “swap” will be 2 separate deals and gold for us in PSR terms.
     
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  6. Eireleeds1

    Eireleeds1 Well-Known Member

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    If spuds lose the European final, Ange will be given the boot. No guarantee a new coach will want to offload Soloman or sign Stryuk. Soloman mightn't even want to leave even. For that reason we need to get this deal done quickly for a change
     
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  7. Aski

    Aski Well-Known Member

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    It's close season in the football, so I'm looking for any little chance to play with numbers, so thanks Ristac :emoticon-0148-yes:

    Just decided to have a look at players that signed professional terms , prior to turning 19, with Manchester City (so academy rejects not counted), that have subsequently left and how well they did. Now if I looked at them all over the past 10/15 seasons there would be way too many even for me to collect data on, so just had a look at a snapshot of both 2010 and 2020, to see how many of their youth signings that they had subsequently let go would be classed as a success.

    There was a total of 22 players over both those years, of which 5 I remembered without having to look up to see who they were, and only two of those players managed to play more than one league game for City.

    Obviously success is relative. Trippier is probably the one that most would class as being successful after leaving City, whilst Onouha is probably the most successful that actually played for City. Luka Ilic is probably the most disappointing as he was highly rated when City signed him
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  8. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    Yes, he spent 3 seasons with us in the jnr ranks (up to 21yo) BUT I'm being told that Leeds have promised him a move.
     
    #8
  9. Aski

    Aski Well-Known Member

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    I know Ell has answered yes to this, but it depends upon what you mean as an academy player.

    Its not as simple as saying that an u21 player is part of the academy. They have to receive specific professional development training to maintain that status. This tends to fall to the wayside if an u21 player becomes a regular feature of the first team squad, as their training/coaching is more geared towards group/tactics training as opposed to individual. It's possible that Pascal received sufficient individual training whilst in the first team squad under Bielsa for the club to maintain his academy status

    However I still don't see the relevance to your second statement Marcos. Since PSR was introduced by UEFA, all "swaps" have been classed as 2 separate transfers, no matter how long or at what age a player joined a club. Whatever valuation is classed on any swap transfer for Struijk, would make no difference, if he had been an academy player or not, it would still be 100% profit for PSR purposes, given the length of time he has been at the club.

    It would be exactly the same if we managed to sell or swap Bamford, whatever valuation was placed on him would be classed as 100% profit, given that the transfer fee we paid for him back when would have been ammortised to zero by now.

    Given that last season clubs were over valuing players and doing swap deals, especially for those who had come through the academy, is the only line I can think of that would fit your premise, but I'm unsure if that has been clamped down on.

    Obviously of course you may be looking at it differently, or else I just have the wrong end of the stick, but I can't see it mattering much whether Struijk was an academy player (which he may not be) or not
     
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    Last edited: May 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
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  10. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    Now that Liverpool have signed Kerkez from Bournemouth, Kostas Tsimikas is on his way to ER
     
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  11. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    Be a cracking signing. Reckon it could happen?
     
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  12. Eireleeds1

    Eireleeds1 Well-Known Member

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    As I hate Liverpool and don't watch them I haven't a clue about that lad
     
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  13. Aski

    Aski Well-Known Member

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    29 year old Greek left back, infrequent starter for Liverpool. Played 65 times for Liverpool over last 5 seasons, with 30+ starts.

    Never seen him play though, so no idea what he's like
     
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  14. oldschool

    oldschool Well-Known Member

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    Rumour has it he's agreed personal terms....<doh>
     
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  15. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    Been told it is happening.

    Elsewhere, we have pre-signed Leonard Ngenge, though paperwork won't go through until he is 18.
     
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  16. Mr Wolves-White

    Mr Wolves-White Well-Known Member

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    Mate of mine is a Liverpool fan and is gob smacked that Liverpool are getting rid of him.
     
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  17. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    Thats gotta be good news
     
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  18. Wakey

    Wakey Well-Known Member

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    Tell him to calm down :afro:
     
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  19. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    An excellent signing if it happens.
     
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  20. Aski

    Aski Well-Known Member

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    I'll take your word for it Essex :emoticon-0148-yes:
     
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