Leeds United

Image source, Getty Images

The Don't Go to Bed Just Yet panel were full of praise for Manor Solomon who marked his Leeds debut with the assist for the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Hull.

Solomon, 25, joined Leeds on a season-long loan from Tottenham last week but had not played competitively since September 2023 because of a knee injury.

"The second half they really got things under control and the second goal killed things off," Said BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope.

"It became the ideal scenario to display a few new signings and the perfect performance and result to just calm everybody down.

"But, I still stand by that the window was a little bit underwhelming because we just don't know the quality of the players and what they are going to do.

"However, on first sight, hopefully the recruitment team have gone out and got players who adapt very quickly to this level.

"To get that synergy so quickly with Solomon is brilliant. He was the standout for me. Neal Redfearn gave him man of the match, he was so good. He felt like exactly the player we saw help Fulham take Leeds apart. From minute one he was superb.

"I thought he was going to burn out after an hour but he dropped the shoulder twice and got the perfect cross in and I thought 'this is a guy who is different level'. I thought he was brilliant on the day, fantastic."

"I felt like Solomon was interesting," Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix added.

"[Daniel] Farke must have had so much confidence in him to stick him in from the start just like that. He's not played any football recently and before that was injured for a long time.

"He's skilful and quick and made a great assist. With the assist as well, it came just when you thought he was drifting out of things and you're thinking 'maybe his fitness is not quite there and he needs to come off'.

"It was one of those times where Solomon just decided 'I'm bored of messing about with this guy, I'm just going to do an excellent cross and we can score'. It felt like he could just do that at anytime and he'd just been messing about up until then."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

A positive result and performance in the 2-0 win over Hull City closed out a divisive transfer window for Leeds United supporters.

New boy Manor Solomon impressed, as did Ao Tanaka and Largie Ramazani in their cameo roles, but do Leeds still need a number 10?

Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix tackle all this and more in the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Leeds United have completed the signing of Isaac Schmidt from Swiss Super League side St. Gallen.

The 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract and, while signed as a full-back, can also operate in other positions.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United are the verge of signing Swiss full-back Isaac Schmidt, 24, from St Gallen. (Sky Sport Germany), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says the summer transfer window wasn't as difficult as his first at the club in 2023.

Farke lost key men including Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter to Premier League clubs this summer.

"I would say it's not been as difficult as last season, but a bit more difficult than expected," Farke said in a news conference.

"It was perhaps easier because we didn't have that many loan and exit clauses like last season, but if you lose key players it is still a process of rebuilding.

"We need the next 48 hours to strengthen the squad a bit."

When asked about any more possible incomings before the window closes on Friday, Farke said: "I only speak about players who are under contract [at Leeds], but we've made clear on what positions we need to strengthen. There's not much time left but I hope and expect that there will be some business in the next couple of days. I spoke extensively that we need a midfielder and a full-back addition."

And on potential departures he added: "In this business you never know, but I made the point clear that we are not tempted to give any of our quality players away. We are a small group and we are looking forward to strengthening the squad than weakening it. As it stands, I don't expect somone else to go."

On the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer, Joe wants to discuss all the equipment that footballers use in their job and develops an obsession with boots to find out what a ‘boot deal’ actually means.

There’s a surprising fact about footballs and Patrick Bamford explains what it’s like at a club when a new kit is launched. He also reveals who has the best pitch in England.

"The best pitch is Arsenal's. It doesn't matter what time of year, it's always pristine," says Bamford.

"Nowadays pitches are getting a lot harder and firmer. The underneath of it is getting a lot firmer. It can be hard underfoot in the summer months and pre-season."

Listen now on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan has been discussing Whites' goalkeeper Illan Meslier on Don't Go To Bed Just Yet: "Leeds have kept more clean sheets in 2024 than any other side in the top four tiers of English football, that is 16.

"Illan Meslier has the best clean sheet percentage of any goalkeeper in Championship history at 48%.

"You can put that down to the team in front of him as well, but whatever way you look at it, that is still a great stat around Meslier."

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix said: "We always criticise goalkeepers. We've never had a goalkeeper we have been happy with for years and years and years because they always let goals in at some point and you can be critical of them for the ones they let in, but I am very happy with him.

"As a Championship goalkeeper I think he is more than adequate. We tried to buy a replacement in [Karl] Darlow and from what we have seen of him he is much, much worse than Meslier in my opinion.

"If Meslier moved to another club we would be looking at him and thinking we should have kept him."

Leeds reporter Adam Pope added: "Meslier does a few things where you think, 'why have you done that, that is a bit weird?'

"He doesn't always command his area but he makes some unbelievable saves. So I always feel it isn't in spite of him that Leeds are doing really well at the back in general.

"For me, it is very much a combination of the five and he has in fact been the one consistent when others have changed. So you have to give him credit, even if you don't particularly like him or you wanted him to go, you have to give him credit for growing into that role."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope has been discussing whether Wilfried Gnonto will still be at Elland Road after transfer deadline day: "I'm always concerned because things can change rapidly.

"Because of Manor Solomon [signing] - he is a winger, [Largie] Ramazani is a winger, Dan James is a winger and Willy Gnonto is a winger. Is the manager wanting four wingers?

"Is he wanting a new role for Gnonto like we saw a little bit against Sheffield Wednesday? Are they confident they are going to keep him? Of course they want to keep him, but I'm keeping an open mind at this stage.

"You can't give any guarantees there so that is a worry. We would be foolish to not factor that in now with a few days to go."

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix added: "We seem to have a lot of rumours for a lot of different positions at the minute.

"There is still plenty of wingers being linked, even with the fact that we have four. It makes you think they have contingency in case there is a last-minute bid for Gnonto on Friday.

"We have criticised them for not being prepared for Georginio Rutter's exit, so being prepared on deadline day for something they may have to do quickly is good."

Listen to the full episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

Leeds United have opened talks with Fortuna Dusseldorf over their 25-year-old Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

The latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet is here and in this week's episode BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope, Jonny Buchan and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix discuss all the latest comings and goings at Elland Road as transfer deadline day quickly approaches.

After securing their fist win of the new Championship season at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, the team also discuss who impressed them at Hillsborough.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

A little over a year ago, as a relegated Leeds United team sat dejected in the Elland Road dressing room, Liam Cooper told the group - in more colourful language - to leave if they would rather not be there.

Later that summer, Cooper would reject a big money move to Saudi Arabia. He, for one, clearly still wanted to be at Leeds.

One summer later and Cooper still wanted to be at the club but talks of a contract extension never went further than an informal verbal offer. Leeds' club captain for almost a decade had to look elsewhere.

The days of regular testimonials are gone. In the modern era, footballers seem to be treated as commodities to be traded rather than humans. Leeds' last testimonial was for Lucas Radebe in 2005 - a player whose name is still occasionally sung at Elland Road.

United's only acknowledgment of Cooper’s service to the club came in the form of a recognition at the end of season awards ceremony. He was honoured alongside Luke Ayling - now at Middlesbrough - and Stuart Dallas - now retired.

The trio joined in consecutive seasons and all made more appearances than Radebe, together amassing over 800 games in that famous white shirt.

Yet during a summer when the three left, only a sentence on the 'not retained list' was issued: "We would like to express our thanks to those players who will leave the club in the coming weeks and wish them well for the future."

Whether at charity events bringing the club closer to the community or lifting the Championship trophy and captaining the the Whites to ninth in the Premier League, few have defined the past decade at Leeds more than their former captain.

If anyone deserves a testimonial it is Liam Cooper.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham are ready to sell or loan winger Manor Solomon before the transfer window closes next Friday.

The Israel international, 25, has seen his progress at Spurs hampered by a meniscus injury and he has not played for Ange Postecoglou's side since September 2023.

Getafe have made an approach to sign Solomon while Leeds are known to be among the clubs interested in taking him on loan.

Postecoglou has strengthened his attack this summer by signing Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth and Wilson Odobert from Burnley.

Youngsters Will Lankshear and Mikey Moore have also been promoted to the first team, leaving little room for Solomon to play.