Good Morning. It's Wednesday 13th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Struijk set for surgery in Lithuania
Leeds United will be without several key players for their upcoming Premier League clash against Brighton on Sunday, with defender Pascal Struijk joining Jaydan Bogle, Noah Okafor, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Ilea Gruev on the sidelines. Struijk, 26, had already been a major doubt heading into Monday's match at Spurs, where he was clearly struggling with a hip injury before, eventually being substituted just 10 minutes into the second half in visible discomfort.
Reports now suggest his season may be over entirely, with Struijk reportedly returning to Belgium yesterday ahead of a planned trip to Lithuania where he is expected to undergo surgery to address a persistent hip issue. The timing could not be worse for Leeds, who entertain a Brighton side who they haven't beat since 2017, when a Chris Wood brace secured a 2-0 triumph. Daniel Farke's side will therefore need to overcome both their longstanding hoodoo against the Seagulls and a depleted defensive department as they chase for 13th place.
Leeds will do very well to keep hold of Ampadu this summer
Leeds United will face a significant challenge this summer in their efforts to retain captain Ethan Ampadu, according to New York Times journalist Adam Crafton. The 25-year-old Welsh international has emerged as an indispensable figure at Elland Road, demonstrating the consistency that makes him a target for potential suitors. Crafton expressed his assessment plainly on social media, writing “At the risk of upsetting some Leeds fans, I think they’ll do very well to keep Ampadu this summer. So consistent,”
With Ampadu's current contract reaching its final 12 months, the urgency for 49ers enterprises to secure his long term services cannot be overstated. The club do have an option to extend his terms for a further twelve months, but fans will be desperate to see him put pen to paper for at-least another two years. He joined the Whites in the summer of 2023 for just £7m, and has gone on to make over a hundred appearances, but money talks. If an offer in the region of £50m were to be put forward, it may be too good to turn down.
Nmecha 'got a bit lucky'
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has stated that Lukas Nmecha 'got a bit lucky' by not conceding a penalty in the dying seconds of the Spurs match on Monday night. As the match entered its 14th minute of added time, Nmecha stretched to make a tackle on Maddison and appeared to bring the Spurs playmaker down amid passionate protests from the home side, leading to uproar from the majority of fans, desperately hoping the ref would point to the point.
However, Jarred Gillett awarded a corner instead, and after VAR intervention, the decision stood. Replays revealed that Nmecha had managed to make the faintest contact with the ball before his challenge on Maddison, a detail that proved crucial in determining the outcome. "My first thought when I saw it was 'blimey, they've got a penalty," Gallagher confessed to talkSPORT. "When you see the replay, he does just catch the ball, there's no doubt about that. But it's one of them, he gets a bit lucky, because if he doesn't get the ball it's clearly a penalty."
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