Good Morning. It's Friday 9th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Could Sergio Aguero be on his way to Elland Road?
Silly season has started early this year with various media outlets are claiming Leeds want to bring Sergio Aguero across the Pennines to Elland Road. The Argentine International striker has spent the last 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, netting 181 times in only 272 appearances over the last decade. Not only is he City's all time record goal scorer but has ten major trophies to his name. He is three caps shy off 100 International appearances - scoring 41 times.
Aguero recently confirmed he would not be extending his stay with the Premier League champions elect, bringing an end to an illustrious ten-year spell with the club. Bielsa is a known fan of his compatriot and it's hoped that, despite Leeds being unable to offer Champions League football, the prospect of moving to a club where he wouldn't be required to relocate from his current home in the north west could prove an attractive option.
Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham are also tracking the Argentina international, who turns 33 this summer. Despite recent injury issues surely he has another couple of top flight seasons in him? With Aguero a free agent, transfer fee is not an issue, but the £240,000 a week wages would be a real issue for most clubs. Are the rumours realistic? If we did sign him, could he even displace Patrick Bamford from the side?
Cooper sings Struijk's praise
In a BBC Radio Leeds interview, Leeds Captain Liam Cooper has labelled Pascal Struijk as 'different class'. The emerging talent broke through, to become a first team regular after impressing Bielsa with his defensive displays this season. Leeds have had a torrid time with injuries, especially in defence. Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente and Robin Koch have all been sidelined for considerably periods; leaving the Leeds gaffer with no alternative but to throw young Struijk in at the deep end!
I trained hard all week and I was available for selection, but with the team doing so well I’d never expect to walk straight back in the team. Pascal and Diego have been different class and all I could do was try and push them and work hard all week.
He’s played with Pascal as well. Pascal’s been unbelievable this season and now we’ve got four players going for the two positions. You know if you have a couple of bad games you’re out of the team and the next man’s waiting to take your spot. It’s only healthy and that’s the level we’ve got to get to.
Bielsa labels Forshaw a 'very important player'
During Marcelo Bielsa's press conference yesterday, the 65yo spared some encouraging words for forgotten man Adam Forshaw. He has been dogged by a recurring hip injury since September 2019 before eventually going under the surgeons knife just over a year ago. Bielsa maintains that the 29 year old is a “very important” player for the Whites and hope's he will return to action before the season ends.
The timings for Forshaw, even if he has been in a positive moment for 10 days, we have to measure it in months. He basically hasn’t played for two seasons. To be able to play 90 minutes at a high level of competition after being healthy, there’s still a while to go before you’re ready for that.
He’s healthy, and there’s two months left of the season so he can prove he’s finally over his issues. We all hope it will be like that. He’s a very important player and he has made a massive effort to overcome the situation he’s going through.
