Good Morning. It's Friday 3rd April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Leeds targeting German International Centre Back
Leeds United are monitoring the situation of Freiburg's centre back Robin Koch. The 23 year old has been rewarded for his outstanding displays by forcing his way in to German Manager Joachim Low’s plans. Koch is valued at £18m, but as the former Kaiserslautern player reaches the final year of his contract, it is believed that Freiberg will listen for offers around £11m. Experienced German agent Jorg Neblung was quoted as saying...
The classic selling clubs will be affected. Clubs that buy and train players cheaply to generate sales with sales
- Freiburg for example. The transfer fees for Luka Waldschmidt, Robin Koch and co will no longer be as high as a few weeks ago.
Much will depend on whether the Whites are promoted to the Premier League. Spurs are also believed to be interested in the young centre back.
Could Social media backlash affect Ayala transfer
Leeds fans have taken to social media in their droves to express their anger at recent reports linking the Whites to a move for Boro central defender Daniel Ayala. The former Spanish U21 International has racked up 175 appearances over his seven year tenure and is considered one of the first names on the team sheet at the Riverside.
He has never endured himself to the Leeds fans. His insidious behaviour on the pitch always seemed to go unnoticed by the man in black. Not even his choir boy expression of innocence will save him however, once he dons the famous White shirt at LS11. Surely with his experience, signing the 6ft 3in towering centre back on a free transfer is a no brainer? Thoughts?
Are fitness levels dropping following Thorp Arch closure?
Ex Leeds midfielder Michael Brown believes that fitness levels of Leeds players are dropping. The former tough tackling hard man believes that due to the unusual circumstances of having to train at home, coupled with the the tiredness players feel at the back end of the season, the sports scientists have a difficult task in front of them.
I was speaking to someone in a fellow Championship club and the loading of the players and what they’re finding difficult is what programme to give them. Initially they’re sort of saying we’re coming to the back end of the season so they’re a little bit tired so initially we can rest that and give them a little bit of a top-up.
But when you go after two weeks you need to start saying it’s an off-season plan, we need to start building up the volume because if we’re pushed back quite quickly the volume’s got to be in there in the legs.
It’s a tricky one where you take the rest to actually getting the loading back up to starting again – that’s the key at what they’ve got to have to get right. The sports scientists are great but they’ve got to be careful for long. It’s such a very unusual situation.
