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Good Morning. It's Friday 19th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Okafor could play crucial role in Sevilla signing
Noah Okafor's usefulness to the Whites could extend beyond his impressive skillset. For weeks, Leeds have been eyeing Ruben Vargas, Okafor's Swiss International teammate and close friend. Vargas, a dynamic and pacey winger/attacking midfielder, has been impressing with his dribbling, creativity, and versatility on the front line. His ability to play across the attack, cutting inside to shoot or crossing with ease, has drawn comparisons to Xherdan Shaqiri.
With Okafor and Vargas being close friends off the pitch, the Whites may be hoping that their existing relationship could help sway Vargas to join the Whites. According to reports, Leeds are preparing an offer worth close to €20m (£17.6m) for the Sevilla winger, with a base price of €9m (£7.9m) and a range of performance-related bonuses. If successful, this deal could be a major coup for the Whites, bringing a hardworking and versatile attacker to their ranks.
Vargas's ability to contribute goals, assists, and defensive work would make him a valuable asset to any team, and his experience playing in fast-paced systems could be a perfect fit for Leeds' style. As the Whites look to bolster their squad in the coming weeks, Okafor's friendship with Vargas could prove to be a valuable asset in the transfer market. With a potential deal on the horizon, Leeds fans will be eagerly watching to see if their club can land one of Europe's most exciting young talents.
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The only thing I don't like is that Leeds now know our starting line-up
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was left with mixed emotions after his team's 2-2 draw with KuPS at Selhurst Park last night in the Europa Conference League. While the result was not what he had hoped for, Glasner was more concerned about the fact that their upcoming opponents, Leeds, now have an idea of Palace's starting line-up for their Premier League match this weekend. The FA Cup holders had fielded a much-changed XI, resting several key players, but in doing so, may have given Leeds an advantage. "The only thing I don't like is that Leeds now know our starting line-up," Glasner said, highlighting his main gripe with the game.
The match itself was a nail-biter, with Christantus Uche's opener being cancelled out by efforts from Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse. Palace were able to equalize through Justin Devenny in the 77th minute, but were unable to find a late winner. The draw meant that Palace finished 10th in the league phase, but Glasner's focus was already on the upcoming Premier League match against Leeds. "The result is not what we wanted. It's a game we could easily have won. We calculated the risk of getting a draw," he said.
Injuries are also a concern for Palace. Japanese playmaker Daichi Kamada will miss the game due to a hamstring injury, while full-back Daniel Muñoz is still sidelined after knee surgery. Winger Ismaïla Sarr has joined Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving another void in Glasner's attacking options. Additionally, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace's top scorer, is being carefully managed, which could limit his involvement in the match. With several key players missing, Glasner will have to rely on his squad's depth to get a result against Leeds.
The draw against KuPS may have been a setback for Palace, but Glasner is already looking ahead to the Premier League match. He will need to come up with a plan to counter Leeds' knowledge of his starting line-up, while also navigating the injury crisis that is affecting his team. With several key players missing, it will be a tough test for Palace, but Glasner will be confident. No team has won more away Premier League points in 2025 than Crystal Palace (34), while the Eagles have won the most away games (10). The last non ‘big six’ side to win more than 10 away games in a year was West Ham in 2021 (11), and before that was the Eagles themselves in 2015 (11).
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