Good Morning. It's Friday 21st January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Leeds set to table new £20m bid for USA ace
Leeds are preparing an improved 20m bit to land Red Bull Salzburg's attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson. Having had a 15m offer rejected earlier in the week, representatives led by Victor Orta flew to Wals-Siezenheim to hold talks with their Austrian counterparts, to try and reach an agreement.
Salzburg have a fourteen point lead in the Austrian Bundesliga, but, they are more concerned about their upcoming fixtures in the Champions League. The Austrians are set to lock horns against German giants Bayern Munich over two legs, and want their strongest possible side. The winner will progress to the last eight of the competition. An unnamed source close to Aaronson reported that he didn't want to leave Salzburg in the lurch, but also feels that a move to Elland Road to play under Marcelo Bielsa would be a significant step-up for his career.
Fans despair after latest Bamford injury
Angry Leeds fans took to social media to vent their frustrations after hearing that Patrick Bamford has picked up a fresh foot injury in training, and will miss tomorrow's crunch game against Newcastle at Elland Road. The 28yo has been missing in action since their trip to St James Park back in September. He returned briefly to play a cameo role against Brentford last month, but returned to the treatment room following his goal celebration. You can't help but think, what position Leeds would be in now if he hadn't picked up that self- inflicted ailment. Bamford, who turned down the chance to go to Harvard University, to pursue a career in football is renowned as being one of the most intelligent players in the Football League.
Orta gets Bielsa's backing
Marcelo Bielsa was quick to compliment Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta during yesterday's pre match press conference. The Argentine was asked about the relationship the duo shared, to which he replied...
Moreover than my opinion, there's evidence of the growth of Leeds United since Victor Orta's been here. The teams are produced through their individualities and in that sense, he's picked well. He's found the adequate players that adapt to the way of playing of Leeds.
The majority of them are young and the players that have arrived here, they are usually worth more after they have been here. That means he picked players with margin of growth for the potential to be better. He's a person who knows the market very well with regards to young players in different countries. He's picked young players who are very good, just to name a few: Pascal, Gelhardt, Hjelde. All of these things, we don't need me to describe them because I'm describing things you can see in reality.