Good Morning. It's Wednesday 21st October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds linked with €50m striker Nicolò Tresoldi
The Whites have emerged among a host of Premier League clubs tracking Club Brugge’s 22-year-old centre-forward Nicolò Tresoldi, with the German Under-21 international continuing to attract widespread interest after another strong start to the season. The links have been highlighted by reliable Leeds United podcaster Joe Blackburn. Born in Cagliari, Tresoldi moved to Germany as a teenager and progressed through the Hannover 96 academy before joining Brugge in the summer of 2025.He finished as the Belgian Pro League’s top scorer in his debut campaign with 19 goals and has maintained that form this term, including a hat-trick in a Champions League victory over Inter at San Siro. He has scored 23 goals in 48 appearances for Brugge across all competitions and remains under contract until 2029. According to reports, Leeds scouts have watched him in recent midweek fixtures. The club views the 6ft 1in striker as a potential long-term option or complement to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
DCL has a history of injury problems earlier in his career; so far Leeds have been fortunate to keep him fit, but further attacking depth remains a logical priority. Tresoldi’s goal output at both club and Under-21 level, combined with his experience in the Champions League, aligns with the profile Leeds have targeted in recent windows. Competition is significant; Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa and several other Premier League sides have also been credited with interest, while bigger European clubs have monitored him.
Club Brugge have previously rejected approaches in the region of €35m and are understood to value him closer to €50m (just under £42m), particularly with three years remaining on his deal. Any bid would need to be substantial and competitive against clubs with greater financial resources. The 49ers have shown willingness to back their recruitment team on priority targets in the summer, whether they can match the financial demands of rivals for Tresoldi remains to be seen.
Whites need to end three game winless streak against Sunderland
Leeds United travel to the Stadium of Light on Sunday looking to end a three-game winless run, but the fixture carries greater urgency for hosts Sunderland. After a heavy defeat at Bournemouth last weekend, Régis Le Bris’s side sit bottom of the Premier League with only four points from their opening fixtures and have now lost four matches in succession. Sunderland’s preparations have been further complicated by a lengthy injury list. Romaine Mundle, Dan Ballard, Thomas Meunier, Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor are all expected to miss the Leeds game.Those absences will not be eased by Thursday’s Europa League trip to Lech Poznań, which leaves limited recovery time before the weekend. Assuming the squad returns from Poland without further issues, Le Bris must also plan without centre-back Kevin Danso. The defender was shown a straight red card against Bournemouth for pulling Evanilson to the ground as the striker advanced clear on goal, ruling him out of Sunday’s match.
That suspension opens the door for a rare start for 31-year-old utility player Luke O’Nien. The experienced defender has managed only one league start this season and has struggled for form, recording a WhoScored rating of 5.89 that ranks him 21st among Sunderland’s squad. His versatility may be useful, but his recent output offers little encouragement for a side already short of confidence. For Leeds, a return to winning ways would steady a side that has lost momentum after an encouraging start.
A result on Wearside would also underline the progress made under Daniel Farke, particularly against a Sunderland team that has looked increasingly fragile at both ends of the pitch this season. With the hosts missing key defensive and attacking options and facing the demands of a midweek European fixture, the visitors have a clear opportunity to exploit the hosts’ depleted resources. Sunday’s meeting therefore represents a timely chance for Leeds to rediscover their cutting edge, while Sunderland must find a way to arrest the slide.
Fan backlash after verbal assault on Fergie
A Leeds fan was filmed shouting abuse at 84yo Sir Alex Ferguson as the former Manchester United manager left the Elland Road stands following Sunday’s draw. Video circulating on social media shows Ferguson, who was using a walking stick, making his way down the stairs. A fan above repeatedly called out “Fergie” until he looked up, at which point the supporter shouted “you c***.” Ferguson did not respond and continued on his way. The clip was posted with laughing text overlaid. The club have so far declined to comment.Some users on social media have called for the individual to be identified and banned from Elland Road, arguing that targeting a retired figure of Ferguson’s age crosses a line even in a long-running rivalry. The fixture has historically been among the more hostile in English football. In his autobiography, Ferguson described the atmosphere at Elland Road as particularly intense, writing that the crowd often gave the impression “a lynching would be too good for us” and that the animosity exceeded that of Liverpool games.
Whether the individual faces any repercussions remains unclear. Rivalries can be fierce while both sides are still competing, but Ferguson has been retired since 2013. Directing personal abuse at an 84yo who is no longer involved in management crosses a line and reflects poorly on the club. Leeds supporters are widely regarded as among the best in the country, with their loyalty and presence well documented at home and away; incidents like this risk overshadowing that reputation.
