Good Morning. It's Monday 5th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Summerville finer details leaked
It has come to light that the Elland Road hierarchy insisted on a non disclosure agreement with West Ham to hide the details of the Crysencio Summerville deal from their fans. Unfortunately for them, these things have a habit of being leaked - this is what we know so far! Leeds only had to tell Cree about offers from clubs who had progressed past the first round of UEFA club competitions. This obviously dwindles down the competitions, meaning the ER could choose to just ignore more of the offers that came in!
Contrary to public belief, he did not have a release clause in his terms, and could have left last Summer with rest of the deserters, but opted to stay, and fight for promotion. Leeds were prepared to accept £25m plus add-ons, as long as the (initial) full amount got paid in one go, but the Hammers wanted to split it over four installments. An agreement was reached at £26m (plus clauses and expenses), with half being paid now, and the other half on 1st July next year. The clauses are extensive. If Cree achieves what we think he can, the final sales figure could reach £35m.
Farke cautiously optimistic Bogle will return for season opener
Daniel Farke is cautiously optimistic that Jayden Bogle will be fit to start Leeds Utd's season opener against Portsmouth on Saturday after his sides bruising encounter against Valencia at Elland Road over the weekend. The 24yo hobbled off on the hour mark after being clattered by Rafa Mir, who later got sent off for giving Junior Firpo flying lessons. It was a common reoccurrence of the second half as the Spanish side let frustrations get the best of them.
Leeds are incredibly light of full-backs, a position that is so crucial to Farke's set-up, so the last thing they need just before the season opener is an injury to one of their key players. Fortunately, after initial concern, the injury turned out to be a dead leg, and should return to training Monday or Tuesday! According to Farke...
I was [initially] really concerned about Jayden, we are still a bit thin at full-back. It was a dead leg, not capable to stay on but it's normal after a few days it's gone. I'm not too concerned that he'll be not available for next week, I'm cautiously optimistic.
Has Joseph leapfrogged Bamford in Pecking order
Mateo Joseph was on target again for the Whites at the weekend as Leeds capped off their pre-season campaign with their fourth win in as may games against La Liga giants Valencia CF. He took his pre-season total to four goals, with Piroe and Rutter sharing two each, and Gruev, Firpo and Chambers all on one. His speed, energy and deadly precision in-front of goal has not gone unnoticed on social media, with many demanding that the 20yo hitman starts the season leading the line.
Possibly standing in his way this season is Patrick Bamford, an undoubtedly much more experienced marksman, but an injury record to match. Over the past three seasons, the soon to be 31yo has netted just 14 league goals, spending the majority of the time in the physio suite at Thorp Arch. Even when fit, it's fair to say that his all round recent contributions are limited, and touches of the ball few and far between, compared to his team-mates, but just like recent Managers, Farke (up until now) see's Bamford as an automatic starter, when fit!
It's not as if Joseph has suddenly become a World-beater over the past two and a bit months; he's always been a handful, yet was only handed 219 minutes of league football last season to make an impact, making him nothing more than an after thought. Perhaps, if he had been given a decent run out, we would have gone up last season?
