The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 31st May)

Good Morning. It's Tuesday 31st May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Leeds chasing Danish International

Jesse Marsch could be set to raid former club RB Salzburg once again, in their pursuit of a right back. The position is currently occupied by fans favourite Luke Ayling, but the soon-to-be 31yo is will miss the start of next season, after undergoing the surgeon's knife for a knee injury sustained last September against Newcastle. Following the 1-1 draw, Ayling underwent minor surgery, allowing him to return to action in time to face Brentford at the beginning of December, knowing that further surgery would be required at the end of the 21/22 campaign.

Leeds have been linked with a host of right backs in recent times including USA International Sergiño Dest and Aberdeen starlet Calvin Ramsay. Barcelona seem intent on trying to palm Dest off to all and sundry, but Leeds will be more wary, having got their fingers burnt last Summer with Junior Firpo. Ramsay looks to be one of the outstanding defenders in his age group, but unfortunately it seems he is destined for Anfield.

According to Phil Hay, Leeds have now turned their attention to Danish International Rasmus Kristensen. The 24yo currently applies his trade with RB Saltzburg, and played under Marsch during his tenure with the Austrian Champions. He stands 6' 2, likes to get forward and is particularly good in the air, a discipline sadly lacking in the Leeds squad. He was called up for International duty last year, and has recently won his fourth cap. He is valued around the £10m mark.

"Ayling underwent knee surgery two weeks ago and could be absent for up to four months. Dallas is accustomed to filling in on the right side of defence when Ayling is missing but without him, Leeds are short of alternatives and The Athletic understands that the club have been following Rasmus Kristensen, another RB Salzburg asset."

"Kristensen, 24 and a Denmark international, has been at Salzburg since 2019, the same summer that Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch joined the Austrian side as head coach. The pair worked together for two years and Kristensen, like Aaronson, is widely expected to move on from Salzburg before the start of the 2022-23 term. Borussia Dortmund are keen on him and Brentford have been linked with him in the past fortnight. Kristensen, who would cost about £10m, is on international duty ahead of Denmark’s Nations League games."

"Leeds have spent time closely tracking a different right-back, Aberdeen’s 18-year-old prospect Calvin Ramsay, but he is wanted by Liverpool and Leeds know there is a high likelihood of Ramsay opting for Anfield over Elland Road."

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Bookies braced for Minamino to join Whites

Leading bookmakers are suggesting that Takumi Minamino could very well join Leeds this Summer. The versatile attacking midfielder / winger joined Liverpool from RB Salzburg during Jesse Marsch's tenure back in 2020 for £7.25m. Although the Japanese International has been an important part of Jürgen Klopp's squad, a lack of first team opportunities have led to the 27yo wanting to explore pastures new.

Up until recently, Eddie Nketiah was understood to be Leeds next top target, but with a new five-year contract awaiting him at the Emirates, his odds of joining the Whites have fallen sharply. The former England U21 marksman enjoyed a short spell on loan at Elland Road in 2019, but due to a lack of game time, returned to Arsenal after Christmas. These are the odds currently being offered on players which bookies believe may end up at Elland Road this Summer!

· Takumi Minamino – 2/1
· Ryan Kent – 8/1
· Divock Origi – 9/1
· Eddie Nketiah – 10/1
· Adama Traore – 12/1
· Conor Gallagher – 12/1
· Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 12/1
· Maxwel Cornet – 16/1
· Dwight McNeil – 16/1
· Alexandre Lacazette – 20/1
· Jesse Lingard – 25/1
· Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 25/1
· Danny Ings – 25/1
· Sam Johnstone – 25/1

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Premier League duo vying for Harrison

Newcastle and West Ham are understood to be vying for the signature of Leeds winger Jack Harrison. The 24yo netted 10 times last season (and two assists) and was Leeds second-highest goalscorer, behind Raphinha will 11 (4 of which were penalties). He spent three seasons on loan with the Whites before finally penning a three year contract last Summer. Although his fee was only 11m, Leeds had shelled out in the region of 9m on loan fee's. Harrison can frustrate at times, though it would be fair to say his performances last season were steady.

Does Harrison have it in him to climb to the next level in his career? If you had to get rid of either Harrison or James, who would it be?

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I'm disappointed the club are looking at RB's when the issue is clearly at LB.

Keep Harrison and get rid of James. Promote Summerville.

Buy another midfielder and a striker.

Done.

 

We should be looking at both RB and LB imo.

Ayling isn’t really good enough even when fully fit, and Firpo quite clearly isn’t even a footballer.

Kristensen sounds like he’d be a good signing for RB and would offer great aerial cover in defence.

Never seen him play though so he could be proper ****e

 

Morning all

If we are if in for this Kristenson guy then I reckon it's the end of Ayling at the club. I'll like Bill but he's 31 in the August and has been injured most of last season despite playing. I reckon Bill will be gone in January.

Minaimino I think is a dead cert in coming. We've been linked with him since January.

 

Good morning,

I don't know a great deal about all the RB's we've been linked with, but Kristensen would be my preferred choice. Maybe i've just been put off Barca full backs after our last signing. Talking of which I agree with Emu, going into next season with only Firpo at left back and Dallas in the middle of a serious injury leaves us looking particularly weak there.

I'd be quite happy with Minamino and the versatility he offers, but if we lose Rapinha and Harrison, we've still probably got a way to go to improve on last season.

 

I'm leaning to sorting RB out too.

However, Firpo is woeful. Dallas injured and its not his best position, needed elswhere. Lief Davies did OK at Bournemouth but he won't cut it at this level. We don't have a PL standard left back at the club. Just Dallas when fit.

At right back we have the options of Ayling, Dallas and young Dramah. Yes two are injured but if we buy another one we will have 3 decent RB's and Dallas and Koch to deputise.

Priority for me is on the left.

Then a striker. Bamford hasn't played for a season. Rodrigo, Roberts and Greenwood look lost up top. Gelhardt is great but has more than his own fair share of niggles. We can't have another season without strikers.

I'm all in for a punt on Jon Russell from Huddersfield for our next midfielder too. Only seen half an hour of him but **** it. 5 million should do it.

 

It would be handy keeping Bill as a stand in RB and CB for a season while we send young Hjelde and Cresswell out on loan. He'd bridge that time gap perfectly for a season.

 

Remember, Hjelde and Struijk can both play left back.

 

We need 2 full backs and if Drameh isnt going to be the starter or back-up then Ayling to be back-up to Kristenson or whoever. Cant see Davies making it, but could Drameh play LB as back-up to Firpo if we are keeping him? I also believe Hjelde can do a job on the left?

if Phillips is going we need 2 top DMs if hes staying we need one very good DM and keep Forshaw as cover, we need another AM and I would prefer to see what Dann James can do down the left and sell Harrison as not sure he fits Marschball. A new striker a No1 or back-up to Paddy and have Joffy as No3

 

And neither can get the nod in front of Firpo.

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Think we needed 2 quality additions to the squad, last season. Obviously it gets extremely difficult to plan, without knowing where KP and Raphina end up. Hopefully they’ll both stay, at least until after the World Cup. I think Aaronson’s a good start.
I’m hoping Drameh, can push Bill to sort the right side of defence out, hope Firpo can prove all on here (including me) wrong, and show he can defend and cover way beyond what we’ve seen so far. The reason I suggest we try to sort the defensive issues from within is that most on the forum seem to forget FFP and the limitations that creates for us (obviously Everton/Man City seem to carry on regardless).
Due to FFP I’d be surprised if we have the option for more than 1 major signing (even if we offload a number of players who have failed to impress). With next years 5 subs rule, we are likely going to be still heavily reliant on the 23’s every match day. My preference would be a quality signing to bolster the front 5, assuming Kalvin’s occupying the DM role.

 

Morning all and hope everyone's well.

Nothing much will happen now until after the international fixtures which is another 15 days or so. Then the players will have 3/4 weeks off so I'm not really expecting any transfer business from anyone until 1st July at the earliest.

So now we've had a little time for the dust to settle I've been thinking about our performance at Brentford and how it was both heroic and at times shocking in nature.

When you look at it in detail we conceded against 10 men in quite abysmal fashion. This I might add was just after Jesse had brought Struijk on and gone to three at the back which in hindsight didn't do us any favours. Following the Canos sending off we had 10 mins plus stoppage time to go and win the game, however we looked terrible in possession, devoid of ideas and Brentford still looked dangerous on the break with only 9 players for fooks sake.

Watching those last few minutes with us on the precipice of relegation we looked like rabbits caught in the headlights. Totally clueless and lacking clarity plus any direction about how to approach those vital final minutes should Burney force an equaliser (which they very nearly did).

Ok it all turned out great in the end so maybe it's best to just focus on that and forget the rest. Maybe it was just exceptional circumstances but I'd like to think the players and coaches could learn so much from what happened and be better for it.

 

Good Morning to Matt WJ Ristac Dosetc from a verywetBardsey Iwill be pleased to get Minamino from Liverpool and talk is they want 12m.I dont want Adams who is not a natural goal scorerMarsh should know all about the Danish full back

 

The reason Bielsa liked Minamino and obviously why Marsch wants him is because he can play up top, caan play wing as JM calls it or play just off the striker:

“Playing closest to the goal is my favourite position, I believe it is one of my roles to score goals. “But the manager decides where I play, and it is good that he says that I can play in many positions because it is one of my advantages.

 

Afternoon all,


Minamino would be an excellent signing and I'm very excited by the idea.

O Brien would slot in nicely alongside KP with Forshaw as cover.

I'm gonna put this out there and you can all bookmark but I think Firpo will be better next season and nail down the lb position. Davies, Struijk & Dallas as cover.

If we get the new rb in then Drameh needs to go on loan and Ayling can be cover for one last season.

 

Davis won't be with us.

 

Why the almost universal approval for Minamino ?

10 substitute appearances totalling 88mins + one start in the 2nd to last game = 178mins of PL football in 2021/22.

Plus in 7 of Liverpool's last 9 league games he didn't even make the squad (no injury) and he had zero CL minutes after the group stages.

Personally I'd be very reluctant to pay a significant transfer fee for this guy especially as he only featured once in the PL since 19th Feb. Also remember that Liverpool had an unbelievable schedule this season but yet Klopp still didn't use him.

 

I'd keep Harrison over James. Kristensen will probably go to Brentford, plenty of Danish connections there. I'd take a punt on Drameh, if it doesn't work then Koch can cover until Ayling returns and we can always get a replacement in January. I don't know enough about the Jap to make a comment. We will have 2 forwards next season, Bamford and Joffy. 100% we need a third.

 

Hey just had a thought...

If Jesse turns out to be the new Peter Reid then Minamino could be the next Nick Barmby.

Don't say I didn't warn you all

 

Seems to me that most people are expecting a standard transfer window. I'm not so sure, & the significant factor for me is the upcoming WC. For instance, I think that our 2 most saleable assets might be tempted to wait until the WC before moving, for a successful campaign will mean more money & a wider portfolio of clubs eager to sign them. It would be in the club's interest for this to happen too, as it should hike up their transfer fees. Can't see either leaving in the summer for this reason alone.

As for signing players, there should be loads of players that are not getting the game time or exposure they require to get into their international teams. There could be some rich pickings in this group, but I'm not so sure Minamino is the pick of the crop, freebie or otherwise.