Championship &#8211; CaughtOffside

Tottenham in talks to sign €30m defender for absolutely nothing

Director sets date to leave current club as Arsenal link intensifies

High profile exits help Aston Villa to bring extra £23m into club coffers

Palmer continued by saying: “He’s highly rated, but his game time has been affected, he hasn’t had enough game time. He has only played 393 minutes of action in all competitions so far this season, so the question remains, will they let him go out on loan?

“If they do let him go, Leeds may have just missed out on his return with Premier League clubs interested. It would be a great bit of business if they could pull it off, but there will be lots of competition for the midfielder.

“I don’t think he’d want to go to the likes of Southampton, who are struggling, maybe Leicester City, who are just outside the drop.

“I think it would be a great fit for him to return to Leeds. He’s only 18, very versatile, as Leeds fans know, and he could play a major part from Christmas till the end of the season, by helping them get promoted back to the Premier League.”

Palmer could be on to something here as Gray could benefit massively from a return to Elland Road, however, having made the step up to the Premier League, would the youngster and Spurs want him to return to the Championship?

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Key 4 G/A talent sounds like he is ready to leave Leeds United in 2025

Darren Looney — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:58:36 +0000

Junior Firpo has admitted that he has “options” as uncertainty surrounds the left-back’s future at Leeds United.

The defender is out of contract at Elland Road at the end of the season and so far, there has been no update on a new deal for the 28-year-old. The former Barcelona star arrived from the Catalan club in 2021 as part of a £13m deal and has had his ups and downs in Yorkshire.

Firpo struggled with Leeds in the Premier League but this season, the left-back has been a key player for Daniel Farke’s team.

The full-back has featured in 14 games for the Championship outfit in all competitions, producing one goal and three assists, while helping the Whites up to third in the standings after 15 matches.

It is uncertain whether Leeds will offer Firpo a new deal and despite admitting to being happy in the city, the defender has also stated that he does not know what the future holds for him as leaving Elland Road is an option.

Junior Firpo in action for Leeds United (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

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Junior Firpo admits he could leave Leeds United in 2025

Firpo recently confirmed the uncertainty around his future at Leeds in a recent interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post via Leeds All Over.

“Football is like that. One day you are here, another day you are there. But this is the topic that I’ve been discussing with myself since we got relegated,” the 28-year-old said. “Obviously, I could have done the same [as others who left], I could have gone away.

“I have my options, I think everyone knows, it’s not a thing that I can hide. I had my options and I could go away, but as you say, my family is settled here. We are doing really good at the moment, but we don’t know what the future will say for me.”

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‘From what i’m hearing…’: Journalist shares update on 25-year-old amid Leeds exit rumours

Saikat Chatterjee — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 12:11:49 +0000

Leeds United signed Manor Solomon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the season.

They expected the 25-year-old winger to make an instant impact at Elland Road, but he has struggled with injury problems since his arrival. He has not been able to make the desired impact and there have been rumours of a potential departure in January.

However, Graeme Bailey has now revealed to Leeds United News that the Whites are not unhappy with the Israeli international and they are not planning to send him back to his parent club in January.

Apparently, Leeds are impressed with his professionalism, and it will be interesting to see if he can convince the club to sign him permanently at the end of the season. He will need to get over his injury problems and perform at a high level regularly between now and the end of the season.

Bailey said: “I don’t think it gets to that extent. With Djed Spence, it was off-field issues as well, it was more his conduct than his performances. Solomon’s a good professional. He was brought in to compete. Leeds have a high-calibre squad, it was never going to be easy for anyone to walk in there.

“They’re relatively happy to have him around, a body. Did they bring Solomon in and think he’d be the best player in the Championship? Probably not, but from what I’m hearing, he’s a good professional and they’re pretty happy.

“Will it lead to a permanent deal? It’s hard to see at this point, but still a while to go. Unless it means them bringing themselves in, I don’t see them finishing it early. I’m not hearing they’re dissatisfied. Leeds have got such a good squad, it’s not an easy one to get into.”

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(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Solomon needs to sort out his long-term future

Solomon does not have a future at Tottenham and he will look to sort out a permanent move for himself in the summer. Joining Leeds permanently could be ideal for him. They are pushing for promotion to the Premier League, and they might be able to secure a return to the top flight in the summer.

It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

The post ‘From what i’m hearing…’: Journalist shares update on 25-year-old amid Leeds exit rumours appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Blow for Leeds as key behind-the-scenes figure set to leave the club

Mehdi Gokal — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 22:03:18 +0000

Leeds United are set for significant shifts within their recruitment and football operations as another major departure looms at Elland Road.

TEAMtalk reports that Jordan Miles, the club’s head of recruitment, is set to leave his role, just as the crucial January transfer window approaches.

This move follows the recent exit of technical director Gretar Steinsson, indicating significant restructuring within the club’s recruitment and technical staff.

The consecutive departures of Steinsson and now Miles signal a period of transition for Leeds’ management team. Steinsson has already moved on to a new position within the 49ers Enterprises’ global operations.

In the wake of these changes, football advisor and consultant Nick Hammond, alongside head of football operations Adam Underwood, is expected to take on additional responsibilities.

Whether Leeds opts to appoint a direct successor for Miles remains unclear. The club faces the crucial decision of determining if bringing in new expertise is necessary, or if existing personnel can handle the added duties as the January window nears.

Miles brought considerable experience to Leeds, previously serving as a video analyst for David Moyes at West Ham and holding roles at Aberdeen FC and Ipswich. His knowledge and network played a key role in shaping Leeds’ recruitment approach, making it important for the club to consider how best to fill this void.

Similarly, Steinsson’s background includes time as a performance manager at Tottenham and three years as a scout at Everton. Their combined expertise will be missed, emphasising the importance of thoughtful planning as Leeds moves forward.

Daniel Farke’s Leeds United currently sit 2nd in the league. (Photo by Gary Oakley/Getty Images)

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Promotion push: Reinforcements needed for Daniel Farke’s Leeds

Currently positioned 2nd in the Championship with 29 points, Leeds United have been tipped to secure promotion back to the Premier League, especially after last season’s heartbreak in the playoff final against Southampton.

Strong recruitment leadership will be essential for manager Daniel Farke as he looks to reinforce the squad to achieve promotion.

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Leicester might need to break transfer record for 19-year-old attacker

Saikat Chatterjee — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 12:14:00 +0000

Leicester City might have to smash their transfer record to sign Facundo Buonanotte permanently.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the 19-year-old is valued at around £48.4 million, and it will be interesting to see if Leicester City decide to make a move for him at the end of the season. The player has been linked with Liverpool as well.

The 19-year-old is currently on loan at the King Power Stadium from Brighton. He has been exceptional with his performances for the Foxes, and it would not be a surprise if Leicester tried to sign him permanently.

Buonanotte is a prodigious young talent with a bright future. He has added pace, flair and unpredictability to the Foxes’ attack. The attacker has been one of the best players for Leicester this season and he has scored three goals and picked up two assists for them.

The fans will certainly hope for the club to sign the player permanently, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops.

The South American has all the qualities to develop into a star for Leicester City in the future, and it will be interesting to see if they are prepared to break the bank for him. They spent around £40 million on Youri Tielemans and the Belgian midfielder remains the club-record signing for now.

It remains to be seen whether Leicester are ready to go the extra mile for Buonanotte.

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The player has been linked with Manchester United as well.

(Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

The 19-year-old is a prodigious talent with a bright future ahead of him and regular football in the Premier League could help him fulfil his tremendous potential. He needs to play regularly at this stage of his career and if the Foxes can guarantee him first-team action, he could be tempted to make the move permanent.

He has the ability to justify the investment in the long term as well.

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Crystal Palace plot £20 million move for Championship prodigy

Saikat Chatterjee — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:38:08 +0000

Crystal Palace are keen on signing the Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg.

According to a report from the Sun, they are plotting a £20 million plus move for the 17-year-old midfielder who has impressed in the Championship with the Black Cats. Rigg is regarded as one of the finest young talents in English football right now, and he could develop into a future star for Crystal Palace.

It will be interesting to see if Sunderland are willing to sanction his departure in the coming months. They will feel that the midfielder is likely to improve further, and he could command a bigger transfer fee in the near future. They might hold onto him for the foreseeable future.

The opportunity to play in the Premier League can be quite attractive for the young midfielder. He could be tempted to join a big club like Crystal Palace, and they could provide him with the platform to showcase his abilities in the English top flight. Ample exposure to Premier League football could accelerate his development and help the 17-year-old improve further.

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High profile exits help Aston Villa to bring extra £23m into club coffers

Tottenham in talks to sign €30m defender for absolutely nothing

Director sets date to leave current club as Arsenal link intensifies

High profile exits help Aston Villa to bring extra £23m into club coffers

(Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

It will be interesting to see if Crystal Palace step up their efforts to get the deal done. They are looking to make a move in January, having watched the midfielder several times this season.

Rigg has picked up three goals for his club this season and his numbers are likely to improve when he is playing in a better team alongside better players.

Meanwhile, the Black Cats offered the player a three-year contract last summer and they are under no pressure to sanction his departure in January. It is fair to assume that the Championship outfit will make it difficult for Crystal Palace to lure the England under-18 international away from the Stadium of Light this season.

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Exclusive: Championship club set €30m price tag for top Man United target as Real Madrid enter race

Darren Looney — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 08:41:29 +0000

Sunderland’s 17-year-old talent Chris Rigg is a name that is starting to become well-known amongst the big clubs in Europe as several continue to monitor the youngster’s progress in the Championship.

The midfielder has established himself as a key player in Regis Le Bris’ side and has played a big role in Sunderland’s impressive start to the season as the Black Cats currently sit top of the Championship after 14 games.

Rigg has featured in 13 of those matches, producing three goals from midfield, which follows his breakthrough season last time around, in which he netted his first two Championship goals.

Rigg has a contract at the Stadium of Light until 2027 and heading into the 2025 transfer windows, sources have told CaughtOffside that Sunderland are keen to keep their 17-year-old talent as they push for promotion to the Premier League.

However, the interest of several of Europe’s biggest clubs put the Black Cats in a difficult position to keep the midfielder as his departure could significantly impact Sunderland, both on and off the pitch.

The Championship club will seek at least €30m for Rigg in 2025 and there are several clubs who might be willing to match their asking price.

Sunderland’s Chris Rigg is attracting a lot of attention. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Man United and Real Madrid set sights on Sunderland’s Chris Rigg

Man United have been the club that has been linked to Rigg the most in recent weeks with reports stating that the Premier League giants’ scouts have watched the 17-year-old nearly “every week this season”.

The Manchester club will face major competition in their pursuit of the midfield talent as sources have stated that several Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress, which include: Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Brighton, Man City, Newcastle, Liverpool and Wolves.

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There is also interest in the Englishman from abroad, which is the route Jude Bellingham took on his path to superstardom.

Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are all believed to have an interest in Rigg and a move to Germany could be exactly what the youngster needs in order to develop his game at the highest level.

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Leeds United attacker with 20 goals wants to leave the club in January

Mehdi Gokal — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:39:07 +0000

According to MOT Leeds News, Joe Gelhardt wants to seal a loan move away from Leeds United in January.

Gelhardt joined Leeds in 2020 from Wigan with high expectations, but the move has not worked out for him as well as he may have thought as yet.

Joe Gelhardt’s move to Leeds United has not worked out

Gelhardt quickly gained attention for his fearless approach, and his exciting performances for the Leeds U21s, where he scored 20 goals and assisted another 6 in 31 games.

His impressive performances led to chances in the first team, however, consistent playing time proved elusive due to competition for spots and managerial changes, limiting his opportunity to fully establish himself as a first-team regular. He only made 57 appearances for the first team, scoring 3 and assisting 5.

He only started 2 games in the league all season last year and this season, the situation has not changed, with him yet to start a single league game.

Joe Gelhardt has struggled for game time under Daniel Farke. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

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Gelhardt wants to leave in Leeds in January

The report states that the player is growing frustrated with his current situation at the club and wants a move away in January.

Former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer also tipped him to leave in the January transfer window, expressing his surprise that Gelhardt and his advisors did not secure a move during the summer, especially given the striker’s limited involvement at the club.

But as per Graeme Bailey, he would have moved but the player’s wages stopped him from leaving Elland Road this summer.

Gelhardt’s struggles for game time at Leeds have not gone unnoticed by other clubs. Last season, Ipswich Town expressed interest in the striker, and during the 2022-23 campaign, Gelhardt had a loan spell at Sunderland, where he made 18 appearances but only managed to score three goals.

With the transfer window set to open in January, clubs in need of attacking reinforcements could see Gelhardt as a valuable option.

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Pundit names the Leeds United player who is not suited to play for Daniel Farke

Mehdi Gokal — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 22:39:16 +0000

Jermaine Beckford believes Leeds United ace Sam Greenwood is not suited to play for Daniel Farke.

Greenwood was sent on loan to Preston after failing to impress Ange Postecoglou in the pre-season.

He spent the last season on loan at Middlesborough, where he scored 5 and assisting three in 38 games across all competitions. The club even considered triggering the option to sign him on a permanent deal, but eventually decided against.

However, he has made a decent start to his loan spell at Preston this season. He has already matched his goal tally from last season, scoring 5 and assisting 1 in 15 games so far.

Beckford says Sam Greenwood does not suit Daniel Farke’s Leeds United

Speaking on Sky Sports, Beckford explained why Greenwood does not suit Leeds – despite his impressive numbers for the U21s.

He said:

“He’s a very creative player and his set pieces are fantastic. His distribution is really clever. While he was at Leeds, in PL2, goals and assists, every single game, they were coming thick and fast, on a regular basis.

“He didn’t get the same opportunities at Leeds, he just wasn’t quite suited. The pressure at Preston is not going to be as much as it is at Leeds, the expectation is not going to be as much as it is at Leeds United.”

Sam Greenwood in action for Preston against Arsenal. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

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