The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 22nd July)

Good Morning. It's Tuesday 22nd July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Will anyone take a punt on Bamford

The world of football management is often brutal, but Daniel Farke's handling of the Patrick Bamford situation feels particularly cold. Despite his polite public statements, the decision to exile the striker to the Under-21s just 48 hours into pre-season training borders on callous.

This wasn't a player who returned overweight or disinterested. On the contrary, Bamford had spent the preceding fortnight in a specially designed program at Leeds Beckett, proactively working to improve his core performance and gain a competitive edge.

This makes the timing of the decision all the more baffling. Farke had ample opportunity at the end of last season to inform Bamford he was not part of his plans next term. Instead, he allowed the player to invest his time and energy into preparing for the new campaign, only to pull the rug from under him.

One has to wonder what could have happened in those initial 48 hours of pre-season to trigger such an abrupt and forthright approach. Was it a simple training ground assessment, or is there more to this saga than meets the eye?

Now, Leeds United and Bamford are locked in a difficult standoff. The primary obstacles to a move are glaringly obvious: his unfortunate injury record and his Premier League-level salary. At a reported £90,000 a week (£390,000 a month), Bamford is a colossal expense for a Premier league new boys. Surely nobody can justify taking on that financial burden for a player whose fitness has been a persistent concern.

This places the ball firmly in Bamford’s court. He knows his days at Elland Road are numbered, but with a lucrative contract securing his future, he won’t be in any particular hurry to accept a significant pay cut elsewhere. With just over a month left in the transfer window, the clock is ticking loudly for Leeds’ hierarchy, who are desperate to get his wages off the books.

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Debayo departs ER

The future of young defender James Debayo has been officially clarified, with Leeds United manager Daniel Farke confirming the player has left the club upon the expiry of his contract. The confirmation came in the manager’s post-match comments following the pre-season friendly against Manchester United, but flew under the radar.

Debayo was among a group of players whose contracts ended in June. While Leeds had formally offered him fresh terms, as noted in their official retained list, the youngster’s absence from pre-season training and fixtures strongly hinted that his future lay elsewhere.

Farke put an end to the speculation when discussing his new defensive recruits. When highlighting the new additions, he explicitly named Debayo as a departed player who had been replaced. “We have, for example, replaced two centre-backs – Max Wober and James Debayo – with Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw,” Farke stated, providing definitive confirmation of the exit.

While Leeds have lost a promising talent from their academy ranks, the club’s procedural diligence will ensure they are not left empty-handed. Because Debayo is under 21 and was formally offered a new contract, Leeds are entitled to training compensation from his next club, securing a fee for their role in his development.

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Two behind the doors friendies this week

Leeds are set to intensify their pre-season preparations today with a behind-closed-doors friendly against German opposition. The rumoured opponent is SC Paderborn 07, a club with a significant connection to Daniel Farke. The German boss not only played for Paderborn during his career but also maintained a strong relationship, frequently scheduling pre-season fixtures against them throughout his managerial career.

The match format will be unconventional, consisting of two 60-minute periods, allowing for extended game time. A second friendly will follow on Saturday, offering Farke a comprehensive opportunity to assess his squad. The manager’s stated intention is to give every player a chance to impress ahead of the new season.

This makes the reported absence of young striker Mateo Joseph particularly baffling, with his exclusion raising questions among the fanbase. Brenden Aaronson will arrive today and reintegrate with the team following his extended break after participating in the Gold Cup. Anton Stach could also link up with his new teammates today after (allegedly) flying to Leeds yesterday to undergo his medical.

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Leeds explore loan move for Guiu

Leeds have reportedly made contact with Chelsea to explore a potential loan deal for promising young striker Marc Guiu, as they seek to add firepower for life in the top flight

According to football journalist Graeme Bailey, the Whites have reignited their long-standing interest in the 19-year-old, whom they tracked before his move from Barcelona to Stamford Bridge last summer. Despite limited first-team opportunities in West London, Guiu impressed when called upon, showcasing his clinical finishing with six goals in the UEFA Conference League last season.

With Chelsea strengthening their attack with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, a temporary move for the teenager is being considered to secure him more regular playing time. However, any potential move to Elland Road is far from straightforward and appears to hinge on the future of Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal international has reportedly dropped down the pecking order and is attracting interest from other Premier League clubs.

Should Jackson depart, Chelsea would be highly unlikely to sanction Guiu’s exit, as he would be needed for squad depth. For Leeds, the pursuit signals a clear intent to provide stiff competition for last season's top scorer, Joel Piroe. The club remains patient, but their hopes of landing the talented Spanish striker may rest on transfer dominoes falling elsewhere.

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Morning all. Looking forward to this promotion push Matt speaks of

 

Stach was announced this morning. Trained with the squad yesterday

 

Morning all

Stach said when he found out Leeds were interested, the first thing he wanted to do before making a decision was to speak with the coach. After speaking with Farke he decided it was worth exploring further, he liked it that Farke also pointed out there were areas on Stach that they would work on and we didn't go to him telling him of just the good points he possesses.

I think Stach and Longstaff will be the combination signing of the summer when you add up total cost, ability and how they will compliment the team

 

That’s next season 26/27

 

Looking forward to the new season, although goals and a keeper are the main gaps we still need to fill. We don’t seem to hit the spot with strikers over the years. With Paddy and Joseph looking unlikely parts of the squad now, there is an urgency to find someone who can hit the net. Perhaps the cost is absorbed by the sale of two players in this position, hence what is going on?

I was also looking at fixtures for Eastbourne Borough in the National League South, as I go to a fair few of these games now. I see Andy Caroll will be visiting as he plays now for Dagenham & Redbridge and one of our old strikers who didn’t quite make it, Dominic Poleon, is at the level now, playing for Farnborough!

 

Hopefully this puts the Phillips returning rumours to bed.

 

Geeeeet up Sausage so happy with got Stach.

 

Morning all,

If the club can get a striker and keeper done this should go down as a very good window. As long as the players in work out.


It's nice to see that the club had a strategy for what they want to do and have stuck to it hopefully working out.

A well run club with little to no drama- this isn't the leeds united i fell in love with.

 

you never know if he’s one year behind or one year ahead

 

A keeper in place of Meslier is a must, we also need more cover at full back for Bogle and Gudmundson as the old lad who started at LB Saturday reverted to rugby tackling Amad. Yes he is able to help out but you don’t want him starting in the prem. hoping FARKE keeps Schmidt and lets him show what he can do at LB, isn’t that why we bought him? Striker needed and must be a very productive striker so buy or loan I’m not fussed. A ten would be nice but are we happy that we haven’t replaced Solomon? Are we happy with Ramazani, Gnonto and James covering both wings this season? Without using the loan market we are going to run out of cash as £60m spent so far and a striker could be £50m, a Piaxoa type winger another £40m a ten £25m, a keeper £18m then a couple of full backs another £20m and I dont think we have £160m to spend somehow

 

Welcome back Doc, good to see you posting.

My gut is budget says, winger 25-30, striker 30-35, 10/AM 15-20, keeper 10-20... c £80-100m. That's your c£150m if we believe that figure.

Dotted in loans, out of contracts for the rest of the back up positions.

Of course if you take a 'first choice' on loan or out of contract it changes the dynamic for all the others.

 

rumours of Jonny Howson coming back to coach the U21s. Be good to see that if true, great professional.

 

Weird that Milky I saw the article on him leaving and at 37yo I thought he should head back to TA and get involved again. I also wondered about him and Woodgate getting together as manager and assistant?

 

That’s a great pity.

the end of the rumours, I mean

 

Unless of course Kelvin announces that he now identifies as a goal keeper

 

Paixao - Marseille pulled out of trying to sign him - It is felt he will remain at Feyenord and see what Marseille do next window

Touching on what Doc and Milky feel for transfer kitty:
For a back-up fullback, it is a real shame we could not have got Kyle Walker-Peters. With the new LB we have signed, the form Bogle showed against Man U and Byram as 'cover' I don't see us signing two fullbacks, more someone who can cover either side a bit like Byram, I could also see us looking at someone nearing the end of their contract, definitely under the £8m mark - To be honest, we might as well keep Schmidt

I think the Fulham striker will join us for around £40m, a loan for Buendia with an option to buy, Solomon at £15m if we don't get Paxaio and a Keeper for around £20m - The sensible thing would be to leave just a little left over for January in case we need it, we have spent very wisely so far, a lot will depend on who we loan, if we loan the Chelsea striker instead of splashing out on the Fulham striker that is a huge saving.

I wouldn't mind us taking a couple of Championship players once our main dealings are done, we are not going to have £150m every season so if we survive, we will have to look at some sales and a couple of Championship players who'd increase in value could be the answer

 

Yer cheeky git!!!

 

Leeds are currently playing their 2nd pre season friendly in Germany.

Its weird how there are no streams or even updates on the games.

 

Secretive bastards these 49rs.