Leeds United

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

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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

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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.

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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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.

On the latest episode of the My Mate's A Footballer podcast on BBC Sounds, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford spoke on the club's ambitions for the 2024-25 season.

"After last year, I think everyone knows that we have to do it [win promotion]," said Bamford. "We feel like there's more impetus for us to do it.

"Every time that I've been in a team when we haven't gone up, we've done it the next year. Hopefully that's a good omen!"

On player departures this summer, he added: "Especially with Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper, the older heads in the group, losing them was a big thing. Our group is a young group and you do need that experience.

"The players we've signed have to be a good fit. We've signed Joe Rothwell who is a really good guy who's fitted in well."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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Leeds United are closing in on a deal to sign Almeria's Largie Ramazani.

The 23-year-old winger is a Belgium Under-21 international, formerly of Manchester United.

BBC Sport understands Ramazani flew into Leeds from Seville on Wednesday for a medical.

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before his side's Championship match at Sheffield Wednesday on Friday (20:00 BST).

Here are the main headlines from his news conference:

• Defender Max Wober is a doubt for Friday's game with a calf problem but Farke reported no other injuries.

• As if he is surprised at the situation the club finds itself in at this stage of the window, Farke said: "If you'd asked me a year ago, yes in a good way. Because the value of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter has increased so much, or Glen Kamara who was out of favour at Rangers. We had to stick to the rules, we knew this after not being promoted. We needed some earnings. Our hands were tied with the exit clauses."

• He continued: "We're working now for a few weeks to find good and affordable solutions. It's on the table, what we want to do. As a manager you want to get things done sooner rather than later. We know what is necessary and I'm used to working with limited resources. I'm not crying here saying 'make my life easier'. I know we will need to play the next game without new signings. Right now, we have a maximum of one, perhaps two, games without the support of new signings."

• On captain Ethan Ampadu saying he hoped "big characters" were coming into the club: said: "We have a very young group and among the smallest numbers in the whole league. In these 19 first-team players we have a lot of guys who haven't played a lot of matches. Archie was a talent you have once every 30 years, so we can't expect the young players to do this regularly every season. We know we need some experience. Quality is the main topic, then the character of the player, then experienced lads around. I'm grateful we have a few experienced players by age, like Bamford, Byram and Rothwell. We need quality, personality and a bit of experience in a few positions."

• Asked if it would help if the club's owners said something about the transfer situation: "I'm the face of a club and I have to speak for the club. My topic is to defend the club, it's always the same. Everyone is blaming us and this moment you have to stick together as Leeds United - us against the world. I'm here to bring the stability and adapt to the reality. Everyone knows what we have to do to be competitive... I'm the first one who is demanding quality but in my role, to be there for the club like a shield."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

The list of players linked with a potential move to Leeds United continues to grow, as the sands of time disappear on the summer transfer window.

Leeds are looking at Burnley winger Manuel Benson along with FC Koln midfielder Dejan Ljubicic to name just two.

But the clock is ticking and so is the mind of a Leeds United captain who is being careful to not give too much away.

"Not enough to be telling you guys," joked Ethan Ampadu, when asked by BBC Radio Leeds about how much he is being kept in the loop regarding incoming transfers.

"Look, in any transfer window there are going to be incomings and outgoings and - whilst there is still time left - there is time for things to be done."

Ampadu has the responsibility of galvanising his team-mates who have seen last season's most creative talents sold to the Premier League in Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

He added: "They added a lot of goals and assists last year so, without beating about the bush, you are going to miss that. But, if you look at our team, it is still very capable of achieving good things.

"We have a lot of belief and there is also a lot of potential we haven't unlocked yet, which is quite exciting."

Ampadu believes their upcoming visit to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday should produce more fireworks compared to the drab goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion.

He said: "A feisty derby is a good atmosphere to play in. It could be a tough game but we are working hard to hopefully not have a repeat of last week."

Plus the need to come away with all three points is not lost on the Wales international: "It would be massive. That first win always helps to settle things."

He is not wrong. The clamour for a new face or two from the supporters may not be satiated by then, but a convincing performance going into the final week of the transfer window would help to calm the unrest - well, maybe for a day or so.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on Leeds' summer transfer business, after Georginio Rutter became the latest big-name exit from Elland Road.

Here are some of your comments:

Graham: The need for four or five quality new players in the squad is obvious. Without that has proven with the results so far we will be a mid-table team this season. You can't lose your best players from last season and still expect to be able to challenge for promotion. If we don't get it right now then there'll be repercussions for years.

Trevor: We have lost more than several top players, watching the West Brom game, we have lost unity, cohesion and impetus. We played like a League Two team trying to gain a goalless draw in an away cup match against better opposition. Without immediate first-team signings soon we cannot expect to compete for promotion this season and more players will leave us.

Ed: At the next home game all the fans should avoid attendance. This would show the club how fed up we all are regarding the poor performance the club are pursuing in the transfer market.

James: I thought it would be a stable transfer window, but the last two weeks with Summerville and Rutter going has been devastating. Hope we sign at least four players before window shuts.

Neil: Leeds spent the best part of a decade as an average Championship team. Too good to be relegated, never threatening promotion. There are tell-tale signs of this repeating itself. Sell assets, blame the finances, previous owners and then make do with either last-minute purchases at a premium or rejects from more stable clubs. Minimal strategy.

Michael: After losing the play-off final I think we all knew players would leave. It's the perceived lack of forward planning that is frustrating. It's like plan A was promotion, but when that didn't happen there was no plan B. Replacements should have been identified before any were sold.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

"To our supporters at Leeds - just know - this is my lifeblood, this is my wheelhouse, I've negotiated contracts in my sleep," Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe said in his official club interview a little over a year ago.

Since then, Leeds fans have endured two summers of contract clauses that have seen the squad decimated. A loan exodus last year saw players refuse to play and left manager Daniel Farke not knowing who was staying or going. This summer has been no less chaotic.

Experienced players Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Glen Kamara have been sold or let go. Young players Charlie Cresswell, Cody Drameh, and Sam Greenwood - gone. Squad players Jamie Shackleton and Ian Poveda left. Loanees Jaidon Anthony and Connor Roberts have not returned.

When Archie Gray - a last name synonymous with Leeds – was sold, United said in a statement on their website: "The move improves the club’s chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad."

It has been a month since the last incoming transfer and rather than building a "competitive squad" Leeds have instead lost players - Crysencio Summerville to West Ham and Georginio Rutter to Brighton.

Two players sold after contract clauses were triggered. Two players who totalled over 50 goal involvements for Leeds last season. After Rutter's sale, the Whites will have recouped about £8m more in sales than the rest of the Championship combined.

"We would need cover in the full-back position, we definitely need a midfield player, we would definitely need two offensive players," Farke admitted in his post-West Brom news conference on Saturday.

No incoming transfers, no statement from the chairman. Along with fans' patience, time is running out for Leeds to build a competitive squad.

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Leeds fans, how are you feeling about this summer's business? What would you like to see happen before the end of the window?

Let us know here, external

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Simon Rix discussed Saturday's draw with West Bromwich Albion and the impact that departures of key players this summer from the club will have.

Buchan said: "I think Archie [Gray] was always going to go this summer - we could read into that with his body language in that final home game of the season and his reaction at Wembley.

"[Crysencio] Summerville was always going to go, Georgi [Rutter] is rubbing some salt in the wounds with him going, but of all the players that Leeds can sell and get the maximum amount of money, he is one of those.

"My thoughts now over these next days is how that impacts the rest of the squad - what is Wilfried Gnonto thinking now? What is Illan Meslier thinking now?

"I feel for Jayden Bogle, I feel for Joe Rodon, who came to the club thinking 'top-two push' and it could still well be a top-two push, but they're now seeing star players leaving the club.

"When you boil it down - Leeds have lost one of the best generational talents they've ever had, they've lost the best player in the league last season and now the player everyone loves to watch the most.

"That is a pretty dire situation for fans to have to get their heads around."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds