Good Morning. It's Wednesday 21st January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Conflicting reports regarding Romano Schmid claims
Transfer season in English football is never short on drama, where Leeds Utd are concerned. Legendary transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is still insistant that Leeds are closing in on Austrian International midfielder Romano Schmid, setting social media alight with anticipation. But not everyone is convinced. Yorkshire Evening Post’s chief Leeds reporter Graham Smyth flatly denied the claim, insisting talks with Schmid earlier this month amounted to little more than preliminary interest.
Fueling the fire, Croatian outlet 24Sata are reporting that Werder Bremen have now lined up a replacement for Schmid, young Croatian midfielder Adriano Jagusic, who is reportedly on the brink of a £5.2 million move from Slaven Belupo. The story goes that Bremen are keen to wrap up Jagusic’s deal so they can complete Schmid's signing to LS11. To fans seeking clarity, this sounds like a classic domino effect: one deal hinges on another, and suddenly Schmid to Leeds looks inevitable.
Yet, Smyth remains unmoved. He points out that Leeds have already strengthened their midfield and wide options by securing Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton. With the 21yo Argentine arriving, Smyth believes the Whites’ recruitment team can tick off another box without the need to chase Schmid. He argues that any agreement with Bremen is dead in the water, leaving fans confused.
Days of the YEP getting the inside scoop (ala Phil Hay) have long since evaperated, with the club perferring to use the the Daily Mail as their voice piece these days. What Graham Smyth's is saying makes perfect sense, especially with Buonanotte recently joining, and Arronson in red hot form, but how many times is Fabrizio Romano wrong? We will have to wait and see on this one!
Can Darlow hang on to No 1 jersey
Lucas Perri could face an extended period of time on the bench after Karl Darlow restored a sense of calm to Elland Road at the weekend. The 35yo Welsh International looked composed from the first whistle, snuffing out crosses, organising his defenders, and confidently commanding his penalty area, in a way that his competition can't seem to do. His £400,000 move from St James Park two and a half years ago seems may be looked back upon as being a master stroke for the Leeds recruitment team.
For Perri, who’s shown moments of brilliance with his shot-stopping reflexes, displacing Darlow now suddenly feels like a tough ask. The Brazilian has all the attributes of a modern keeper, good with his feet, agile, quick off his line; but there’s something about Darlow’s presence that seems to put everyone at ease. Even Farke admitted after the Fulham win that he felt the backline looked reassured in front of Darlow’s voice. It’s a sign of a confident manager unafraid to make difficult decisions.
Was there more happening behind the scenes, training ground best ups, minor injuries, or simply a shift in confidence? We may never know. What is clear is that Darlow’s performances have given Farke something to think about every week. As Leeds plot their course through a gruelling Premier League schedule, the Perri-versus-Darlow debate looks set to run and run. Whether Perri can reclaim his spot is up for debate. Not only does Darlow command his area better, but his distribution is far superior too.
Leeds to use Piroe as bargaining chip
Leeds United might have found the perfect bargaining chip to seal a deal for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, in the form of Joel Piroe. Reports over the weekend insist that Leeds have officially approached Wolves about bringing the Norway international to Elland Road on a loan-to-buy basis, a structure that makes perfect sense as Leeds United hover perilously close to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) threshold.
While Leeds look safe from relegation this season, Wolverhampton Wanderers are all but condemned to the Championship next time out, and if they are serious about an immediate return to the top flight, they must act quickly to bolster their squad. It is clear he is not in Daniel Farke's plans, and after rejecting moves to Middlebrough and Leicester City this month, a move to Molineux makes good sense.
Wolves will need to hit the ground running next season or risk being left behind, so adding a proven Championship finisher like Piroe isn’t just compensation in negotiations; it could be the catalyst for an immediate promotion push. Meanwhile, Leeds would secure a promising young striker in Strand Larsen without overstretching their finances, keeping Elland Road buzzing for another season.
