Leeds United

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Leeds United have confirmed that 10 academy players have agreed scholarships with the club.

The young footballers have penned two-year deals at Elland Road with the club's academy.

The new scholars, while working on their football development, have the opportunity to undertake a variety of educational programmes.

They will also be studying for a BTec Diploma to help grow their skills away from the pitch.

On the announcement, the club said: "Everyone at Leeds United would like to congratulate the players on signing scholarships with the academy, and look forward to seeing their continued development at Thorp Arch."

With Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson looking set to stay with the club after returning from his mixed loan spell at Union Berlin, the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast discusses the midfielder's Elland Road future.

Listen to the full BBC Radio Leeds podcast on BBC Sounds

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Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix has been discussing Leeds United's recruitment and what the club do about returning loan players: "I think I'm being overly positive because I would prefer none of them to stay, but I understand there is a financial implication.

"I would like to have some money to buy other people we need - a striker, a number 10, a central defender, maybe a left-back but I don't think that will happen.

"I do also think it is a bit harsh on the previous regime even with Laurens De Bock. Because I think there is always a thing where, if I make you my director of football for my football team, I'm only telling you I have got £500,000 to spend on a left back, find me one in January. You go 'there is this guy Laurens De Bock, he's OK'. But he isn't good is he? Because otherwise he would be £5m.

"The disappointing thing about the previous regime was when we were trying to buy cheap and make a profit like on Raphinha, that is when it worked, but it also didn't work on some other players. The thing that was most disappointing was when we went 'OK, we are actually going to spend some proper money now, we're going to get Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Weston McKennie' and they were all terrible. That was the problem.

"Even with Georgino Rutter, there is a time to go for your record signing. When you need a certain something to get you out of relegation, we have seen amazing things out of him this last season and I love the fact he is at Leeds, but having now seen what he offers we couldn't have picked a more wrong player for what we needed at that time."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast has landed on BBC Sounds.

This week, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix discuss what has already turned into a busy summer at Elland Road, with players leaving and others being offered new contracts.

They also chat about the new company formed by Leeds owners the 49ers.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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Leeds United defender Sam Byram will stay at the Championship club for the 2024-25 season after triggering a one-year extension to his deal at Elland Road.

Byram, 30, made 37 appearances and scored two goals despite struggling with injury last season after returning to the club for a second spell.

Out-of-contract right-back Cody Drameh has been offered a new deal despite United manager Daniel Farke sending him on loan to Birmingham City at the end of last summer's transfer window.

The 22-year-old appeared 30 times in all competitions for Blues, who were relegated to League One.

Leeds remain in talks with captain Liam Cooper, 32, and versatile Jamie Shackleton, 24, about extending their contracts after their existing deals have expired.

Cooper, who has made nearly 300 appearances during a decade with the Whites, is currently with the Scotland squad preparing for Euro 2024 in Germany.

As expected, the recently-retired Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling, who has signed a two-year deal with Championship rivals Middlesbrough after a successful loan spell at Riverside Stadium, were released.

They have been joined by winger Ian Poveda and midfielder Lewis Bate, who have struggled to make an impact on the first-team squad and have both had multiple spells out on loan.

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Leeds United will face Harrogate Town in a pre-season friendly at Exercise Stadium on Friday, 19 July.

Their match against the League Two side will begin at 19:30 BST.

Their most recent contest was also in a pre-season match, when Leeds beat Harrogate 4-2 in 2017.

Patrick Bamford says it was "horrible" to be ruled out of Leeds' Championship play-off final defeat by Southampton at Wembley with a knee injury.

He said on the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer on BBC Sounds: "It was horrible. You are sat there like a fan. You are nervous. You are hoping and jumping up at every chance thinking something is going to happen.

"I still felt, especially going into the game, that we were going to win. It just wasn't our turn.

"Afterwards, I think a lot of the boys just wanted to get off the pitch as soon as possible, after we had clapped the fans. I spoke to Coops [Liam Cooper] and the manager to say that we had to stay and congratulate Southampton.

"They had won and it was the right thing to do, so they were in agreement. You can lose a game, but it is worse if you lose and you are a bad sport. It was hard but I think the lads went about it the right way.

"The changing room, when we went in, was silent. The manager spoke a little bit - he is an experienced guy so he knew that it didn't matter what he said then, because no one wanted to hear anything.

"The one thing we did do - which was quite nice - was we all went back to Leeds and went up to the rooftop bar in the hotel with our families. It wasn't a celebration, obviously, it was just to see off the season together.

"It showed that we were together as a group. It was nice, but it was a strange atmosphere for the first couple of hours."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast has been discussing what is next for 18-year-old Archie Gray and whether he will be happy to remain with Leeds in the Championship next season.

Presenter Jonny Buchan said: "I think he's going to be a world-class player. Jude Bellingham just won the Champions League at 20. Archie, if he stays with us another year, will be 19 and still be in the Championship.

"If we all think Archie is going to be the player he's going to be, then the opportunity to move to a club like Dortmund that might play him at that age - surely it's one that everyone around him will say 'you have to go and take that opportunity'. If it arrives."

Leeds commentator Adam Pope added: "He is so good, so why wouldn't he want to play at the highest level? Leeds aren't going to provide that for you in the short term.

"What you ask then is what is an acceptable price? What is Archie Gray worth?"

Listen to the full episode here

Leeds United are now sponsored by the energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, who also own a stake in the club.

It is a controversial move by the current owners, so BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan and Adam Pope have discussed it with Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

Get the full show here

Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville has emerged as a £30m transfer target for Liverpool. (Mirror), external

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

Leeds United announced a new multi-year agreement with Red Bull last week, in a sponsorship deal that will also see the energy drink manufacturer take a minority stake in the club.

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope has been discussing the move on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast: "You have this huge soft drinks company, which has got a history in sport, now buying their first slice of English football and they have gone for Leeds United.

"What we know about Red Bull is that they are brilliant at branding themselves - that is when the alarm bells started ringing and questions started to be asked.

"It isn't going to be 'Red Bull Leeds United'? As far as we know, the legacy logo isn't going to be touched at this stage."

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix added: "The shirt sponsor helps with Financial Fair Play because that is proper money, whereas buying shares doesn't help. I don't know if the club are trying to be clever and maybe Red Bull are getting more shares than we think.

"Are the club trying to tread the line, or get as close to the line as possible, with how much money they can get in and spend on players?

"It has been a weird time. I think all football fans react badly to everything, such as badges or team names getting changed. I think people can react badly instantly to things that are OK.

"I don't think anyone can say this Red Bull deal is a brilliant thing, because you look at all of the history and all of the clubs they have taken over or started. It is definitely 'business' and they are definitely trying to make Red Bull look as good as humanly possible.

"But I don't think you can say that it is 100% bad at this stage - especially if it gives us money and gets us into the Premier League or something.

"We haven't done well out of their scouting system, but it is well regarded. Jurgen Klopp was only saying the other day that he found the Red Bull model interesting, so I don't think you can say it is 100% bad."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Crystal Palace will move for 22-year-old Leeds United and Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, if they have to sell Michael Olise or Eberechi Eze this summer. (Mirror), external

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

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Leeds have announced they will face La Liga side Valencia in a pre-season friendly at Elland Road.

The six-time Spanish champions will travel to West Yorkshire on Saturday 3 August, with kick-off at 15:00 GMT.

Ruben Baraja’s side finished ninth in La Liga last season, just missing out on European qualification.

The teams have previously met in the 2000-01 Champions League semi-finals, as well as in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in both 1966 and 1967.

We asked for your thoughts after Leeds announced Red Bull as their new front of shirt partner in a deal which will also see the company take a minority stake in the club.

Here are some of your responses:

Trader88: Without knowing too many details, it appears a positive move for the club. RB are a global name and have an interest in developing their sporting connections. Hopefully this will give us the much needed capital to invest in the squad and facilities for many seasons ahead.

Peter: Caught between the SF49ers and Red Bull? The joy of modern football.

Adam: Honestly, I think this is a concerning development. I want nothing to do with Red Bull. I hate multi-club models and franchising football can get straight in the bin. If you think this is just a minority investment and won't become something bigger, I have a bridge to sell.

Isaac: Honestly don’t see how this could be a bad thing. They’ve confirmed no name or branding changes so at that point all we’ve done is acquired an improved sponsorship deal and owners with a track record of success within football.

Ed: Pleased with the financial benefits, though a certain amount of trepidation regarding the future and a potential slow takeover eventually rebranding the club.

Chags: I have been a Leeds fan for over 25 years and the fact that Red Bull are going to invest in my club I think is excellent! They are one of the world's leading brands in sport and the fact they have chosen to invest in us makes me very proud. They will only have the top level of football in mind!

Jake: Biggest sponsorship deal in EFL history. No problem with cash flow anymore. Can let go of key players but can also recruit heavily in summer and smash the Championship.

Joseph: The new deal is an exciting investment that will hopefully be used wisely for us to plan for next season’s promotion push given the success they have had with Leipzig and Salzburg. I’m more interested to see what the kits are going to look like with that sponsor - and please don’t change the name of our stadium. It should always be Elland Road.

Earlier on Thursday, Red Bull announced they had acquired a minority stake in Leeds United.

As part of the deal, they said the Whites' name and logo will remain unchanged, unlike other clubs in their portfolio such as RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.

But how are you feeling about the move, Whites fans?

Is it an exciting development or do you have concerns?

Let us know, external

On the latest episode of the My Mate's A Footballer podcast, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford discusses former team-mate Stuart Dallas' battle with injury, which forced him to retire from the game last month:

"It's really sad that he had to retire because of it. Throughout this season, there was multiples times where I saw him running on the grass, and he'd be struggling and have to come back in.

"He had to have multiple operations and procedures. It wasn't a normal run - it was a struggle. It was a limp. You weren't just thinking about his football - you were thinking about stuff after football as well.

"That he's got back to doing things normally now was still nice to see. You don't want anyone to have to retire through injury but you definitely don't want them to miss out on things later in life because of [the injuries].

"You try everything you can to get back and I've seen how he works really hard. I know that everyone in the physio department did everything they could to get him back. There gets to a point where it takes a toll on you mentally and you have to look at it sensibly and come to terms with it."

Listen to the full episode here

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Leeds United have announced Red Bull as their new front of shirt partner in a deal which will also see the company take a minority stake in the club.

The club said the new multi-year agreement will "bring in new commercial revenues as well as additional capital investment".

The partnership will come into affect at the start of the 2024-25 season, with the club stating that the minority stake will "further enable the club to compete on and off the pitch" as they seek promotion from the Championship.

Leeds Chairman Paraag Marathe said: “As Chairman, our consortium of investment partners will be invaluable to me as we approach this important moment for the club, now and into the future. Red Bull’s addition is a historic milestone that will further empower the club to reach its full competitive potential.”

Leeds missed out on promotion back up to the Premier League after Sunday's 1-0 play-off final defeat to Southampton.