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Good Morning. It's Friday 8th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Leeds United rubbish Morita rumours
Leeds United has moved swiftly to quash speculation linking the club with Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita, describing reports of an impending move to Elland Road as "Nonsense." The clarification came via Yorkshire Evening Post Chief Correspondent Graham Smyth, who received direct confirmation from the club regarding the rumours that had circulated throughout the week.
The versatile midfielder, who celebrates his 31st birthday this weekend, brings considerable pedigree to any prospective destination, having accumulated 13 appearances in the UEFA Champions League while helping Sporting CP secure domestic league honours over the past two seasons. He has 40 caps for his country, and can play anywhere in midfield. He becomes a free agent this summer!
Portuguese sports outlet A Bola ran the story earlier this week advising that Morita had been waiting for Leeds to guarantee their Premier League status for committing to a move to West Yorkshire, but that an agreement was already in place. However, it now seems the speculation originated from the player's camp; potentially in an attempt to generate renewed interest in their clients availability ahead of the summer transfer window.
What makes this particular story a little unusual is the channel through which the story broke. Typically these days, Leeds United utilise the Daily Mail as their preferred mouthpiece. Under 49ers Enterprises, journalists are kept at arms length. The days when Phil Hay would be camped outside ER gathering daily snippets are very much a distant memory, so why would a 'senior source at the club' be leaking information to Graham Smyth unless it suited the clubs agenda for the truth to be released.
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Perri cleared to leave Leeds
Leeds United appear poised to bid farewell to goalkeeper Lucas Perri after just one season at Elland Road, with manager Daniel Farke reportedly clearing the Brazilian to seek a new club during the upcoming transfer window. The 28yo arrived from Olympique Lyonnais last summer with considerable expectations, commanding a transfer fee of approximately £15.6 million. However, his maiden campaign in English football ultimately proved to be disappointing, as he struggled to establish the consistency required for the top flight.
The writing appeared on the wall for Perri when Karl Darlow assumed first-choice duties after the 4-3 loss at Newcastle (conceding twice in extra time when leading 3-2), relegating him to cup competitions only. Recruitment staff have identified several candidates to reinforce the goalkeeping department. Among the primary targets is Ukrainian international Dmytro Riznyk of Shakhtar Donetsk, for whom an initial bid of €10 million (£8.6 million) has reportedly been submitted. Newcastle United's Nick Pope is again in the mix, with the England international potentially available for around £5 million. Additionally, Brighton's Carl Rushworth continues to attract interest following an impressive loan spell at Coventry City that showcased his considerable talents.
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Breakout star could get his senior debut
Leeds United's academy continues to produce promising talent, and Rhys Chadwick has established himself as one of the most exciting prospects emerging from the club's youth system this season. The versatile central midfielder has been a standout performer for Jonny Howson's Under-21's this season, demonstrating the kind of consistent form that has caught the eye of the gaffer, recording five goals and four assists in eighteen Premier League 2 appearances during this campaign.
While platforms such as FotMob classify him as an attacking midfielder due to his productivity in the final third, his skill set extends far beyond that singular position. He has proven equally effective in defensive, box-to-box, and deeper-lying roles, giving him tactical flexibility. This versatility has been a defining characteristic of his development, and is precisely the kind of player Daniel Farke favours in his squad.
His twenty-nine created chances in Premier League 2 action place him among the most creative players in his position, a figure bettered by only 5.3 per cent of his peers across the division. Perhaps more remarkably for a player of his age and midfield background, Chadwick has demonstrated significant physical presence, with only 1.8 per cent of forwards in the competition winning more aerial and ground duels than the nineteen-year-old. This combination of technical quality and physical robustness suggests a player who is ready to step up!
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...imagine pep,klopp etc doing that now 
