The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 28th July)

Good Morning. It's Monday 28th July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Rangers could hold key to Leeds Paixao pursuit

The transfer saga surrounding star winger Igor Paixao is intensifying, with Leeds now emerging as strong favourites in a three-way battle involving Marseille and Roma according to multiple sources in the media.

Leeds have reportedly upped their bid to £30.5m for the young Brazilian, a figure that would make him one of the most significant investments in the club's history. The winger's impressive track record speaks volumes, having netted 18 goals and delivered 14 assists last season.

His consistency is remarkable, only failing to hit double figures once in his last five professional seasons. While Leeds' offer falls short of Feyenoord's €35m to €40m valuation, it's heavily incentivised with bonuses and, critically, surpasses what both Marseille and Roma can afford to pay.

An intriguing development sees Glasgow Rangers potentially holding the key to unlocking this complex deal. Paixao's parent club, Feyenoord, has identified Rangers winger Hamza Igamane as a prime replacement. With various European clubs eyeing the Moroccan international, the involvement of the 49ers, who own both Leeds and Rangers, could be pivotal.

Their shared ownership might allow Igamane to be strategically presented as an attractive option, effectively "greasing the wheels" to ensure Leeds secure their top target, and bring Paixao to Elland Road.

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Strong links to Kessie suggest star midfielder set to leave

Leeds United are reportedly making an ambitious move for former Barcelona and AC Milan star Franck Kessie, despite recently bolstering their midfield with Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff.

The 28-year-old Ivorian, currently captains Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, is said to be the subject of an opening offer from Elland Road. Kessie's potential arrival would undoubtedly be a significant coup, given his stellar career, which saw AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli label him a "complete player" capable of operating as both a box-to-box and defensive midfielder.

However, the major sticking point remains his colossal salary. Kessie commands a staggering £12 million per year (£250,000 a week) in Saudi Arabia. This figure dwarfs Leeds' current wage structure, where Patrick Bamford is reportedly the highest earner at around £4 million annually. For a deal to materialize, Kessie would need to accept a substantial pay-cut, bringing him closer to Leeds' financial capabilities.

Should the midfielder be willing to lower his salary expectations, securing Kessie's signature would be an invaluable acquisition. However, Leeds already have more than enough cover in midfield, prompting speculation that either Ethan Ampadu or AO Tanaka may be leaving Elland Road if Kessie is bought in!

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Leeds squad flying home

Leeds United are set to conclude their successful pre-season tour of Germany, with the squad packing up and preparing to depart their star accommodation at the Hotel-Residence Klosterpforte in Harsewinkel within the next 24 hours. Their German base has served them well, but it's now time for the Whites to return to West Yorkshire.

The tour saw Leeds participate in two crucial behind-closed-doors matches, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming season. Last Tuesday, they secured a convincing 4-1 victory over FC Verl, demonstrating their attacking prowess. This was followed by another impressive performance over the weekend, where they clinched a 3-2 win against Paderborn.

These results mean the Whites have maintained an undefeated record throughout their pre-season campaign. Their strong showing in Germany follows an earlier 0-0 draw against Manchester United in Stockholm, ensuring they've remained unbeaten across all pre-season fixtures so far. With a perfect record of two wins and a draw, Leeds United will be returning home with confidence high, poised to continue their preparations ahead of their new campaign.

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I think the excessive wages and the abundance of midfielders in the Leeds squad pretty much 100% rules out any truth to the Kessie rumours.

The Paixão thing looks set to rumble on if rumours are true that he's not even in Europe at the moment. There's too much noise around this at the moment from 'he prefers the Marseille move' to 'Raphinha has convinced him to go to Leeds'. Dunno when he is due back in Europe but he is currently injured so he's in no rush to get this done. Im not concerned about it, if Paixão doesn't come in then Solomon will become available late in the window and has proven Premier League experience and knows us, Farke and the system.

Was talking to 3 Fulham fans yesterday (yes, i found all 3) and they say that they are after a striker because they will sell Muniz to Leeds. They can't believe they could get £40 million for him.

 

Morning all

Last week Stach and Perri were both confirmed, both good signings and one crucial GK position filled, if we get Paixao that would be another level. It really is starting to take shape, I feel Kessie is a non starter due to his wages. I'd settle for Paixao over the line this week, you feel the striker is the Fulham guy and we are waiting for the first domino to topple

 

Kessie has a greedy agent and if you remember Kessie was one of the first freebies Barcelona attracted but he couldn’t be registered for ages due to Barcelona being skint and selling parts of the club, getting rid of some players….. Barcelona helped offload Kessie to Saudi so can’t see this being a story and if it was we deserve to be laughed at

On the Piaxoa front encouraging thing for me was said over a week ago: “if it looks unlikely to happen then there’s no panic as Leeds have other wingers on their list of the same quality as Piaxoa.”

 

As I thought

https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/1949762466147111259

 

Good. Don’t want any players who will piss of to AFCON mid-way through are important season.

 

Don't agree with the he is injured we will have the time thing. If we want him get him ASAP. Only takes a minute for someone to drum up interest and if a winger in the prem gets injured pre-season start of a season he will be straight on the radar.
I'm quietly confident even though its common knowledge he wants the French side we must of done enough in talks for us to keep pursuing him.

 

As on kessie you seen his wages even if we were interested not a hope in we could of matched or got close to it.

 

Think this might have been aimed at my earlier post.

I wasn't saying that we have time to **** about. Paixão is currently in Brazil getting his injury sorted out so I was saying that he isnt in a rush to finalise things. We might have to wait for him to finish his physio and return to Europe for his decision.

Im not personally concerned about not getting him. He looks good but so did Sinisterra. We do have the time to wait because if Paixão says no to us, Solomon will be available by then.

The Paixão deal wont be sorted quickly.

 

Sinisterra was/is class but is too disinterested and injury prone. Paixao could flop but he gives me good signs that he could do well and influential in our team.

 

Afternoon all. If Paixao joins okay but I can’t say I’m going to fret about signing or not signing a player I’d never heard of until the recent speculation started.

 

On the Joseph front it seems as Este says that Spanish clubs are fkd off with Betis and it also seems there are prem clubs also peed off with them. Girona have put in a bid for Joseph and may find a better ear because Betis have really peed Leeds off. Here is the opening couple of sentences published today in a Spanish outlet. It all revolves around the way Betis string out negotiations and try and force selling clubs into doing something late. Man Utd are fuming because Bets have kept Antony dangling when he could have been looking for another club, and they are doing the same with Joseph

“Real Betis appear to be on a mission to frustrate multiple clubs this summer, by trying to drag out negotiations and pressure selling sides into agreeing to unreasonable term”

 

Plenty more I want gone but looks like Schmidt wants to play so needs to go

https://x.com/Plettigoal/status/1949846935960997969

 

Paixao is off to Merseille after all

 

Wasn't a dig at you mate just how I personally feel the longer it goes on the less chance he will come. Think we all missing the real point here though Feyenoord still haven't received what they want for him so he aint going anywhere at present Leeds, Marseille, Roma They don't need to sell and have a bargaining chip and like any club are probably gonna hang on till they get the last penny out of their asset unless someone comes in and blows them out the water.

 

well thats that then move on lol;.

 

Now let’s see the other wingers on our list which are supposed to be the same quality. Always going to be a hard signing as hes a champions league player and wants a CL club without a gamble on a newly promoted prem club which will be favourites for relegation

 

He's shyte anyway and he's injured

 

love to see him fail his medical lol

 

Hopefully we can go and get Solomon.