Bianchi and Doukara sign

Leeds United have confirmed they have completed the signing of Tommaso Bianchi from Serie A outfit Sassuolo on a three-year deal

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He is 25 years old, plays central midfield, and has represented Italy at u17, u19 and u21 level.

According to Hockaday, 'He can play on the left, right or in the number 10 position and he can score goals,' he said of Bianchi.



It has also been confirmed that 22 yo Souleymane Doukara has signed for Leeds on a season long loan.

He joins from Catania, spending last season on loan with Serie B side Juve Stabia. 'He is a big, powerful and fast player with a hunger to succeed. He is exactly what we need at the club.

He can play as either a striker or down the flanks.

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I wonder if that means his registration is through and he can play in the friendly tomorrow?

 

Would have thought so, as its only a friendly, I would doubt a player would need to be registered

 

We can play trialists can't we ? So shouldn't be a problem playing Bianchi.

 

This 1st div Romanian side lost to a 2nd div Swiss side Lugano 4.1......I know it was only a friendly, but still we should do ok...

 

Yes he can play it has been confirmed does this mean Austin maybe leaving

 

Helped get his team promoted to serie a but they obviously didn't think he had what it takes for serie a... And loaned him out to another serie b team last year. Still he's been playing regularly, Sounds like a solid squad addition. Fingers crossed.

 

He was at the camp on Thu I think, but didn't play. i assume the official announcement coincides with the registration, but you are right, Blackman played.

Adam Pope said he was a willing runner. A box to box midfielder would be a great addition.

i noticed in Cellino's interview that he said he thought there was one player out there who might be leaving.

 

Wouldn't see Austin as any more than a squad player.l

Maybe Millwall may be interested

 

Nah, perhaps in 15-20 years time.

 

looking good an italian midfield and defence if the english players cant do it and they have not done it for several seasons in the championship then im all for the italian set up . its looking good for leeds a italian steel defence and a hard man in midfield same as vinny jones used to be for us and smith up front with another italian striker and i thinik there is no reason why we should not be in the top 2 automatic places to go up at end of season.

 

I think your getting ahead of yourself

 

We still need wingers for service to Matt

 

Morning all. Think Austin will benefit from having a different coach. He's more than capable of doing a job for us and having a positive impact. Maybe Hockmadoodlegandi will teach him to shoot and keep the ball under the bar, rather than aim for some poor unsuspecting sod in row x

 

Doukara sounds like a handful.

I like the fact that we are signing the players we want to sign, not the ones we are left with at the bottom of the barrel.

 

Doukara will sign permanently if the loan goes well

 

"Sky Sports understands" that Leeds had tried to use some of their Ross McCormack cash with a bid for Scott Hogan.

Has been followed by

Hogan 'I am not interested in a move to Leeds'

Has been followed by

Leeds statement 'We have absolutely no interest in Hogan'

 

Tommaso Bianchi
Probably the best of your signings so far last 2 seasons played regularly, decent in Serie B couldnt make the step up to Serie A so doubt he will make the step up to the championship think he will be good for you next season in L1 Which is about his level,,

As for the striker youve just bought in at least yo can send him back after a year thats a good thing

 

This is a player im hoping Ollie is taking a look at will demand a fee and an increase in salary if he moves to the championship so thats Massimo Bates out of the running

 

... since we found out he has absolutely no interest in us!

Let's hope doukara's goal scoring record is down to him playing more as a winger.

Elland, i guess we'll only find out whether these signings are our first choices or bottom of the barrell when we see them... they're having to get names in quickly. When i saw the short list of names we were allegedly interested in, we've signed none of the ones i thought looked promising and all the ones that looked like a punt/fillers.

Ultimately we're an english championship team looking to control a wage bill, so we're unlikely to sign hot continental prospects... hopefully what we're getting are a mixture of youngster with something to prove/rough diamonds/solid pros who will do a job.

MC says he's signing italian because he knows italian players. That's fine, i'm sure he knows what it takes to play in italy, but other than watching us play hoofball a few times last season do he and salerno know what it takes to succeed in the championship. Hock has coached at this level at least before, but we don't know what influence he has or how good his judgement is.

It's great that people are optimisitic, but as it stands, personally i'm relying more on hope than expectation. With team spirit and organisation you can compete at this level without a lot of quality, but if we turn this lot (as currently stands) into a mid table team, then the coaching staff will have done a pretty good job in my view.