Whites target European football by 2025

18 Mar 2021 08:59 am, by Ellandback1


Good Morning. It's Thursday 18th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Whites target European football by 2025

The Times Sports journalist Duncan Castles believes that Leeds will again to looking for stability this Summer, as the Whites continue to strengthen and build a squad that will be capable of avoiding a relegation fight next term. He also believes that the following Summer (2022) Messrs Radrizzani and Orta will release the shackles as they look for European success! Castles told the Transfer Window Podcast ...

“Radrizzani has talked about how he wants to establish Leeds as the Premier League’s seventh force by 2025. So basically having them on the tail of the traditional big six, to the extent that they are still the big six given this season’s results.

By doing so, massively increasing the valuation of the club, to what he says he hopes to get it to in the region of £600m to £1bn, which is way way above where they were when he bought the club and far above where they’d be if he decided to sell the club in its entirety at present.

Part of that strategy has been to keep Leeds in the division, they see this season as one of consolidation, and also next season as one of consolidation, so insure that they are competitive in the Premier League, and then in the third season, go aggressively into the market and build a squad that can be competitive towards the top end and compete for European football.




Leeds did approach Allegri about the ER hot seat

It has been confirmed that Leeds did make an approach for the services of former Juventus Manager Max Allegri, but the offer 'didn't particularly excite' him. Instead, the 53yo is eyeing up the hot seat at the Bernabeu (Real Madrid). Duncan Castles told the Transfer Window podcast...

Leeds want to go to the top of the market and try and get someone who you probably wouldn't associate with a club who are currently mid-table in the Premier League as being a candidate. The information that I have is that they have made an approach to Max Allegri. It doesn't look like Allegri will be convinced in this case. The information that I have from people close to him is that the approach was made but it didn't particularly excite him.

He has an offer from AS Roma at present from their new owners to come back to Italian football and coach there, one that they wanted him to take on during this season, which he said 'no thank you'. He's waiting for one of the biggest jobs in world football, he wants a club at the very top level which he can have the opportunity to win the Champions League with.

Real Madrid, with whose owner Florentino Perez he has a very good relationship, with whom he had an invite to coach there before which he turned down because the timing wasn't right, is one that he has earmarked.

If you were Bielsa, how would you feel, that Leeds were lining up possible successors in case he leaves?





Bamford to return at Craven Cottage

Marcelo Bielsa gave the news that all Leeds fans wanted to hear during his pre match presser from Elland Road. Leading scorer, and England hopeful Patrick Bamford will lead the line against Fulham tomorrow evening. The 27 year old sustained a dead leg during the Chelsea game, and had to be substituted with 15 minutes of the first half remaining. Speaking ahead of tomorrow nights game, the gaffer game the following statement regarding the injury situation at Elland Road...

We think that yes, he will play on Friday. He has a knock on his hip that is painful, but we don't think it's going to make him miss the game. Cooper is sick, Davis has a small articulation problem which is nothing serious. Rodrigo had a contracture yesterday (a muscle injury) in training which I don't know if he's going to be available for the game on Friday. Either way it's not an important injury.

Yesterday Leeds journalist Phil Hay confirmed that Leeds skipper Liam Cooper does indeed have Covid 19.





Ayling for England

England Manager Gareth Southgate will reveal his 30 man squad for the latest round of the World Cup qualifiers. Few will disagree that Leeds leading scorer Patrick Bamford doesn't deserve an England call up, but another Leeds name rumoured to be considered has shocked Leeds fans.

Luke Ayling has enjoyed considerable success since his transfer from Bristol City, and his attacking play down the right wing has caused many Premier league defenders sleepless nights. His tracking back can be problematic on the break, but if the rumours are right, the 29 year old will appear in the 30 man England squad later today.




View all Showing latest three comments of three...

Lumiukko wrote on 18 Mar 2021 04:58 pm

There's no indication that the approach for Allegri was for next season. Maybe they're making inquiries that he's the man they want when Bielsa calls it a day, and start that negotiation/relationship now. Either way, I do no think the club would do anything behind Bielsa's back and I am sure the discussion had his blessing. However, it does set the alarm bells that there is a small chance Bielsa calls it a day at the end of the season. I know it's not in his nature to do anything but concentrate on the football, but it would be good for all concerned to know he was with us next season and then player recruitment can begin. Maybe he's just waiting for 4-6 more points and guaranteed safety before he puts pen to paper.

Byebyegeegee wrote on 18 Mar 2021 09:39 am

I think it’s clear that Radrizzani has ambitions to get Leeds United back to the top of the English game and back into European competition (where we belong) so I don’t think Duncan Castles is telling us anything we don’t know already other than that an arbitrary timescale has been set, which I don’t necessarily believe anyway.

I’m sure Bielsa is aware and has no problem with Leeds looking at potential successors to take over when he decides to leave and it will be his decision, as things stand there is no way he will ever be sacked or forced out. Makes perfect sense to me.

The Subhuman wrote on 18 Mar 2021 09:34 am

My guess is we had MB's permission to ask, it might even be he's said something along the lines of maybe we should start looking. The writing feels like it's on the wall....