Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds United close in on Premier League signing as loan move and medical planned after transfer rival rejected

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 23/08/2024 - 23:17

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Leeds United are closing in on the loan signing of Manor Solomon from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

The Israeli international is expected to undergo a medical at Leeds this weekend with a view to signing a season-long loan deal at Elland Road.

Solomon has been deemed surplus to requirements since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk but previously excelled during a loan spell with Fulham.

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The YEP understands Leeds will cover a significant portion of Solomon’s wages during his time at the club, provided all goes to plan with medical tests and health checks in the coming days.

As reported by transfers journalist Fabrizio Romano, Solomon’s preference had been to remain in England and is said to have rejected an approach made by LaLiga outfit Getafe.

It follows Largie Ramazani’s arrival from Spanish club Almeria for a fee worth up to £10 million.

Daniel Farke said following his side’s 2-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday evening that he had ‘made it clear’ Leeds needed additional, experienced players to come in before the transfer deadline if the club wants to be ambitious this season.

Solomon typically plays as a left-sided attacker and has managed four goals in 24 Premier League appearances, whilst averaging a goal every four-or-so games whilst in Ukraine with Shakhtar. The player has UEFA Champions League and Europa League experience, whilst also winning 37 caps for his country, in which he has scored seven times.

Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds United transfer state of play with Premier League attacker available

Submitted by daniel on Thu, 22/08/2024 - 14:00

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Tottenham Hotspur attacker Manor Solomon is on Leeds United's long list as they plot for further additions to Daniel Farke's squad.

The Whites are closing in on the £10m capture of winger Largie Ramazani from Almería following the Spanish side's relegation from La Liga last season. A medical was booked for this morning and a hastily-deleted social media image on the account of Ramazani's brother Diamant showed the Belgian attacker in club training gear at Thorp Arch. Ramazani is seen as a replacement for Crysencio Summerville, who was bought by West Ham United for a fee in excess of £25m.

But Farke has made it clear he needs more than one attacker to complete his squad, with the £40m sale of Georginio Rutter leaving the manager with a particularly difficult void to fill in the starting line-up. The YEP understands Israeli international forward Solomon is among those Leeds like. Most of his football has been played on the flanks in a career that has taken him from Maccabi Petah Tikva to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine and then to Spurs, after a loan spell with Fulham. But Solomon has also featured in a central attacking role on 20 occasions. The 25-year-old has 37 caps and seven goals for his country and after a knee-injury-hit 2023/24 campaign he has been made available by Spurs. Reports suggest the attacker's preference is to stay in England and with a contract at Tottenham that runs to 2028, a loan would feel most likely.

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Another of the players Leeds have been monitoring is Hungary's EURO 24 participant Roland Sallai. The Freiburg man's availability has changed in recent weeks, though he is expected to have offers that would at least rival any proposition Leeds could make.

At present Farke has some versatility to play with when it comes to his forward line and Ramazani's arrival might allow the German to move Willy Gnonto or Brenden Aaronson into a central role, but Rutter's emergence as the squad's most natural number 10 option last season showed how important the position is to Leeds' system. Rutter's problem solving, ability to find space and split defences and his exceptional ball-carrying skills often took the Whites into opposition territory from deep-lying positions and turned safe-looking possession into attacking threat.

Gnonto has shown a tendency to cause problems when he roams around the front line and pulls centrally, while Aaronson is more likely to be found inside than hugging the touchline. Farke has used Joel Piroe at 10 and preferred the Dutchman to Rutter in the role for the first part of last season until the latter's ability to look after the ball improved. But Piroe is yet to make the position his own and has not been able to look at home or excel in the same way that Rutter did before his £40m move to Brighton.

Leeds are also in the market for a full-back and central midfielder, with Austrian international Dejan Ljubicic still a possibility. The 26-year-old has just one year remaining on his contract with Bundesliga side FC Koln but the situation is made more complicated by a transfer embargo hindering their ability to replace Ljubicic should he be allowed to depart. Leeds' initial bid earlier this summer was knocked back but he is said to be pushing for an exit.

Yorkshire Evening Post

Massive Burnley exit confirmed as £30m Tottenham Hotspur deal could affect Leeds United transfer pursuit

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 16/08/2024 - 12:00

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Leeds United need to get reinforcements through the door quickly.

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Burnley’s Wilson Odobert in a move that could have knock-down effects on reported Leeds United interest in Manuel Benson.

Benson emerged as a potential target for Leeds earlier this week, with the pursuit of wide reinforcements intensifying after Crysencio Summerville’s £25million-plus move to West Ham. The Whites are one of three Championship teams to have been linked with the 27-year-old alongside Norwich City and Sunderland, with first-team football at Turf Moor limited over the past 12 months.

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Burnley are well-stocked in attacking areas and started the trio of Luca Koleosho, Vitinha and Odobert during Monday’s 4-1 win at Luton Town. The latter scored his side’s second goal at Kenilworth Road but has now put pen to paper on a five-year deal, following the agreement of an undisclosed fee with Premier League outfit Tottenham.

"Burnley Football Club can confirm that forward Wilson Odobert has joined Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee,” the Clarets said in a statement. “The France Under-21 international signed for the Clarets last summer and scored four goals in 33 appearances across the 2023/24 campaign and became Burnley's youngest ever Premier League goalscorer with his goal against Chelsea. The club would like to wish Wilson all the best and thank him for his efforts during his time at Turf Moor.”

Football.London reports that Burnley could receive up to £30m for Odobert but the loss is a major blow to their summer window, with the 19-year-old set for a starring role in Scott Parker’s promotion-chasing side. The Clarets still have plenty of options to replace him, with Benson, Scott Twine and Anass Zaroury all able to slot into a fluid trio of players that sit behind the striker.

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Should Parker opt to promote Benson, then any hope of Leeds signing the Belgian will likely end, with questions already raised as to whether Burnley would be open to doing business with a direct promotion rival. But the Clarets can still boast one of the biggest squads, one that could easily be seen as bloated, and there could be more arrivals to come.

“I think there is a possibility that incomings do come in,” Parker admitted earlier this week. “Again, we’d probably have to see how the next couple of weeks pan out and make decisions where we need to make them. At the moment though there’s nothing imminent in terms of bringing any players in, but as always we will react and see where we go from there.”

Leeds are expected to step up their pursuit of attacking targets in the next fortnight, with Georginio Rutter looking set to join Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Glen Kamara in moving on. Brighton activated the 22-year-old’s £40m release clause late on Wednesday evening, leaving Daniel Farke with another major gap to fill.

Interest in Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe remains, despite talk going quiet recently amid two offers from Olympique de Marseille. Rabbi Matondo has been linked in recent days but the YEP understands he is not someone being looked at currently.

Yorkshire Evening Post

What Joe Rodon told Tottenham captain Heung-min Son after Archie Gray's £40m Leeds United exit was confirmed

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 31/07/2024 - 06:00

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The 18-year-old is being looked after by one of his former Leeds United teammates.

Archie Gray is settling into life at Tottenham Hotspur with ease and the teenager has had one of his former Leeds United teammates looking out for him.

Gray hasn’t yet celebrated the one-year anniversary of his senior debut but is already being touted as one of England’s most promising stars, having secured a £40million move to Tottenham earlier this summer. The 18-year-old first appeared on a Leeds teamsheet for last season’s opening-weekend clash against Cardiff City and quickly became ever-present, going on to make the right-back spot his own under Daniel Farke on his way to being crowned the Championship’s Young Player of the Season.

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The versatile teenager has wasted no time settling into his new team, both on and off the pitch, with videos posted via Tottenham’s social media accounts showing the Leeds academy graduate mixing it with some football’s biggest names. And it is the Premier League club’s leading man that has been easing him in, with captain Heung-min Son under strict instruction from former Spurs defender Joe Rodon.

"I’m really enjoying it and everyone’s been brilliant with me so far,” Gray told Football.London. “I wouldn’t say I’m the hardest guy to get along with, I’m pretty laid back and pretty easy to speak to, but everyone’s been amazing with me and I’m enjoying the first few weeks.

"On the pitch and off the pitch, [Son] has been helping me, it’s just little things. He is really good friends with Joe Rodon and last year when Joe was at Leeds I was probably the closest with Joe when he joined and I think when I came here Joe told Sonny to look after me a little bit. He’s making me feel really welcome and just with little things like helping me speak to everyone and helping me into the group.

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“Every day he sets the standard in training and I look up to him and I feel like I’m lucky to have a player like that in the team and for him to be captain is just incredible. I can’t speak highly enough of him. You know his quality in games, he’s been showing it for ten years now and internationally he’s been amazing. I don’t usually like speaking that highly of people in the same team as me, because it feels weird, but he's incredible."

Videos of Gray impressing during pre-season at Tottenham have proved bittersweet for Leeds supporters, who are happy to see an academy graduate continue to develop but disappointed it can not be at Elland Road. The teenager’s exit left a rather large hole in the first-team squad as well, with two replacements needed to cover right-back and central midfield.

Leeds have been able to source those replacements, however, with both Joe Rothwell and Jayden Bogle looking sharp already. Bogle in particular has enjoyed an excellent start to life with his new club, twice setting up Mateo Joseph while away in Germany and showing plenty of attacking impetus.

Rothwell has also impressed in central midfield and, as with Bogle, will hope to add threat going forward as Farke looks to ease the burden on Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and others. It was his raking pass to Bogle that set the wheels in motion for Joseph’s goal against Schalke on Saturday, something Leeds fans will hope to see plenty more of.

Yorkshire Evening Post

Former Leeds United coach's glowing Archie Gray verdict as Tottenham Hotspur 'fit' detailed after £40m move

Submitted by daniel on Tue, 30/07/2024 - 17:00

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Leeds United’s academy sensation has wasted no time making an impact at his new club.

Robbie Keane believes Archie Gray can go ‘all the way’ after leaving Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer.

Gray joined Tottenham in a deal worth £40million at the start of July, making the step up to a Champions League-challenging club less than 12 months after making his senior debut. The 18-year-old started last season’s opening-weekend clash against Cardiff City and did not look back, going from strength to strength under Daniel Farke before earning his move to Spurs.

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And Gray has wasted no time imposing himself on his new club, with supporters and manager Ange Postecoglou waxing lyrical about the versatile teenager, who has even played centre-back during pre-season and already established himself among the first-team picture. Keane got a first-hand glimpse of Gray during his short spell as Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Leeds in 2023 and the former striker can see why Tottenham were so keen to snap him up.

“I’d like to see Tottenham up there with the leaders but they certainly need a few more players,” Keane told The Boy Hotspur Substack. “I know Archie Gray very well, having coached him at Leeds, and I think he’s a great signing for Spurs. His potential is very, very high and he’s a lovely lad.

“Tottenham is a really good fit for him, and I think he’s got a great chance to go all the way. He played a lot at right-back for Leeds last season, but he is definitely a midfield player so I’m interested to see where Ange Postecoglou plays him.”

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Gray’s versatility will have been a driving force behind Tottenham’s interest, with the 18-year-old expected to fit perfectly in Postecoglou’s system. The Australian demanded his right-back move into central midfield when in possession last season and it is seemingly a role perfect for the Leeds academy graduate.

And Postecoglou tested that versatility by dropping Gray into central defence during a pre-season meeting with Scottish side Heart of Midlothian. But the teenager looked as comfortable there as he does anywhere else on the pitch and his new head coach was quick to give praise.

“Archie did well,” Postecoglou told Tottenham’s website after the win. “He, Skippy [Oliver Skipp] and Jamie [Donley] probably weren’t expected to be starting in our back four, but that’s okay. It’s for guys like Archie to get accustomed to how we play, how we train and he’s an intelligent kid and coped with that okay today.

“But I thought Archie was really good today. He did the things we know he can do well, and he’s adapting to the intensity and tempo of what we do. Lucas [Bergvall] the same. They’re both really good kids. They’ve come here with the right attitude, both humble but really ambitious and want to make an impact. They are not here to just ease their way in, they want to play, and that’s what you want from young guys coming through. They bring a good energy to the group.”

Yorkshire Evening Post

Archie Gray reveals what changed his mind on Leeds United future and advice on Tottenham switch

Submitted by daniel on Sat, 27/07/2024 - 15:23

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Archie Gray has opened up on his thought process and key advice in leaving Leeds for Tottenham.

Archie Gray has explained the huge change that ultimately led to his Leeds United departure and key advice on joining Tottenham Hotspur.

Gray enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season during the 2023-24 Championship campaign for Leeds whose bid for promotion ended in tears via defeat in the play-off final to Southampton.

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Speaking in an interview with Football London, Gray revealed that he was “content” to remain at Elland Road but that news of Tottenham’s interest prompted a change whereby he knew he had to sign for them.

In the need for Leeds to comply with profit and sustainability rules, Gray was sold to Spurs for £40m and the 18-year-old says he now has no regrets on making the move.

Speaking to Football London, Gray said: “At the start of the window I didn’t really know anything about [a potential transfer anywhere] and I was content to stay at Leeds, but as soon as I heard Tottenham were coming in I was like ‘I need to go there'.

“It’s a huge club and my dad said that too. He came to my room one morning and said 'look, you’ve got to go to Spurs. It’s a massive club'.

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"My grandad was saying it as well, he’s obviously done pretty well in his career, and he said at some point you've got to go to one of the biggest clubs in England and he thinks now is the right time and he thinks Spurs is a massive club as well.

“So, with people who have been advising me my whole life, I have to listen to them and I also wanted to do it too, so that was definitely a massive thing and since then I’ve enjoyed every second of it. So, definitely happy that I made that decision.”

Yorkshire Evening Post

'I've worked hard' - Tottenham Hotspur new boy Archie Gray recalls Leeds United moment after Spurs first

Submitted by daniel on Fri, 19/07/2024 - 07:00

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Former Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray says he is 'happy to play wherever' Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou sees fit for him after making his maiden friendly outing at centre-back.

The 18-year-old was interviewed by Spurs' in-house TV channel after the team's 5-1 friendly win over Scottish side Heart of Midlothian earlier this week, where he deputised in central defence.

During the post-match briefing, Gray spoke maturely and recalled last summer's pre-season friendly at Tynecastle with Leeds, at which point he was yet to make his professional debut.

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He would go on to appear more than 50 times for United as the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League and subsequently moved to North London in a £40 million transfer earlier this month.

"Another good feel of playing the football and ultimately getting the minutes in the legs," Gray said. "They're a good team, we came up [with Leeds] last year and it's a really good stadium and it's an enjoyable game - but mostly really important to just, like I said, get the minutes in the legs.

"Obviously I wasn't expecting to play centre-back but honestly I'm just really grateful for the opportunity to play and learn different positions," the teenager added, reflecting on the new role he was asked to carry out by Australian boss Postecoglou.

"I said this last year in an interview - I don't really care where I play, I'm 18 years-old and I need to learn the game."

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Gray has joined a stacked Spurs squad brimming with talent, especially at the top of the pitch, and will face a battle to play regular minutes throughout 2024/25, even if frequent appearances in European competition is likely due to the need to juggle Europa League football and Premier League engagements.

"I feel a little bit lucky to be watching the front players that we've got. The attack [has] so many good players," Gray added, before correcting himself. "I wouldn't say lucky, I've worked hard and but I'm just grateful for the opportunity to play in this team and I'm excited for the next few games."

Yorkshire Evening Post

Tottenham 'open' to Oliver Skipp exit as Leicester City 'plot move' amid Leeds United links

Submitted by daniel on Wed, 17/07/2024 - 12:18

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Leeds United are thought to be interested in the midfielder who has played under Daniel Farke previously.

Leeds United-linked midfielder Oliver Skipp has emerged as a potential target for Leicester City, with reports suggesting Tottenham Hotspur would be receptive to interest in their academy graduate.

Skipp has been linked with a move to Elland Road this summer, with the Athletic labelling him a ‘player of interest’ as Daniel Farke looks to bolster his midfield options. The 23-year-old played under Farke during his sole loan spell away from Tottenham, helping Norwich City to the 2020/21 Championship title.

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Despite spending much of last season on the substitutes bench, Skipp did feature 24 times across all competitions and was an important squad player under Ange Postecoglou. But Football Insider reports that the midfielder could be allowed to leave this summer, although there is Premier League interest.

Leicester are in the market for midfield reinforcements, having sold talisman Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea for £30million, with new manager Steve Cooper keen on signing proven Premier League talent that can bed into the squad instantly. The Foxes are said to be ‘plotting a move’ for Skipp, who fits the bill with 77 top-flight appearances to his name.

It remains to be seen whether Leeds will actually make a move for Skipp, with little in the way of progress since his name was first mentioned earlier this summer. The club have held extensive talks with Tottenham over the past month which centred around the £40m move of Archie Gray to North London, with Joe Rodon coming the other way in a separate deal worth £10m, following a successful loan spell.

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Leeds are expected to enter the market for midfield reinforcements again, having confirmed on Tuesday evening that Glen Kamara would join Stade Rennais. The Finland international was in plans for the upcoming season and despite welcoming Joe Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth last week, Farke remains a little light in the middle of the park.

The German has made no secret of his admiration for Skipp in the past, having used him regularly in the heart of his title-winning Norwich squad. Only Max Aarons played more league minutes than the midfielder during that campaign and Farke waxed lyrical about his on-loan star at the time.

“He was one of my biggest wishes to bring in last summer, so compliments to [sporting director] Stuart Webber for making it happen,” Farke said of Skipp mid-way through Norwich’s title-winning campaign . “I can only praise Olly and Tottenham. This was perfect business. The best piece of business is always a permanent move, when you are fully convinced and you commit the club’s future to a player, and they do likewise.

“When you bring young players from the best clubs in the world there is always a risk. We saw the potential, we looked into his character a lot and we knew he would be fully convinced to give everything, not thinking I don’t need to work to prove I am the best in my position. Oliver is a perfect lad. So humble. He is a brilliant loan signing."

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Focus at the moment looks to be more on the defensive side of things, with Sheffield United rejecting two bids - both in the region of £4m - for right-bak Jayden Bogle. The Blades are thought to want closer to £7m for the 23-year-old.

Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds United man with £25m price tag reveals regret over big

Submitted by daniel on Mon, 15/07/2024 - 14:00

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Leeds United winger Dan James says losing teenage midfielder Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur this summer was 'gutting' but retaining the services of fellow Welsh international Joe Rodon helped to soften the blow.

The 26-year-old spoke to Leeds' in-house channel LUTV following the commencement of this summer's pre-season schedule at Thorp Arch reflecting on the £40 million transfer which saw Gray join Spurs earlier this month.

In a separate move which was concluded at the same time, Rodon returned to Elland Road for £10 million and has signed a long-term contract which runs until the summer of 2028.

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James' own deal has two years left to run but could be in line for an extension if Leeds are promoted back to the Premier League at the end of this season. He scored 13 times for the Whites last term and is expected to play a prominent role in the team's 2024/25 campaign having initially joined the club in the summer of 2021 for a reported £25 million from Manchester United.

Speaking to LUTV, James said: "I think it's great we've signed Joe very, very early in the window.

"I think a lot of people, fans especially, would have been gutted if we didn't keep Joe. Obviously it's gutting to see Archie go but we wish him all the best.

"He [Rodon] was a massive part of our team last year, we had a great defensive record and he was a massive part to do with that. So to get him in, it's such a positive signing for us."

Yorkshire Evening Post

15 Premier League players Leeds United could sign on loan including Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City starlets

Submitted by daniel on Mon, 15/07/2024 - 07:00

Leeds United completed their first loan signing of the summer last week as they secured the addition of Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth. The midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton and the hope is that he will be able to help the Whites over the line at the second time of asking this time around.

Rothwell isn’t expected to be the last loan signing Leeds make this summer, though, with the club looking to add a number of fresh faces to Daniel Farke’s squad. The Whites might not be able to spend the money they would like this summer and loan signings offer a cost-effective way of adding quality to the squad.

With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at 15 Premier League players who Leeds could feasibly sign on loan this summer.

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