Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix joins BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope to discuss a few players leaving while fans await new blood, the need for a midfielder to shoot on sight and whether Marcelo Bielsa gives better hugs than Gareth Southgate.
Listen to the full episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds have brought goalkeeper Alex Cairns back to the club in a permanent move from Salford City.
The 31-year-old, who began his career with the club has signed a two-year contract.
The club said he will offer "a wealth of experience" and "competition" in the goalkeeping department, boasting 300 career league games.
He played in every league game for Salford last season and becomes Leeds' second summer signing, following Joe Rodon's move from Tottenham.
Image source, Getty ImagesDefender Charlie Cresswell has completed his £3.8m move from Leeds United to Toulouse.
The 21-year-old academy graduate made his first-team debut in September 2020, and featured 14 times for the Whites.
He spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Championship side Millwall.
Cresswell's transfer to Toulouse initially broke down last week over personal terms, but agreement has now been reached for the centre-back to make the switch to the French top flight.
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United have accepted a revised bid overnight from Real Betis for defender Diego Llorente.
Spanish reports suggest the fee is 3m euros (£2.5m), though I understand it is more than that, which is what the Whites rejected earlier this month.
The 30-year-old centre-back has been on loan at Roma for the past 18 months and there was little prospect of him wanting to return to Elland Road, where his departure means a considerable wage off the books.
Salford goalkeeper Alex Cairns will rejoin Leeds United as cover for Illan Meslier following the departure of Kristoffer Klaesson to Rakow Czestochowa.
Cairns will be classed as a homegrown player. The 31-year-old made one appearance for United in his first spell at the club before signing for Chesterfield in 2015.
And defender Charlie Cresswell will complete his £3.8m move to Toulouse after the transfer was revived last week.
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Image source, Getty ImagesGoalkeeper Kris Klaesson has joined Rakow Czestochowa after three years at Leeds United.
Klaesson, who signed from Valerenga in 2021, leaves having made three first-team appearances for the Whites.
The club said: "Everyone at Leeds United would like to thank Kris for his efforts while at Elland Road and we wish him the best of luck for the rest of his career."
Real Betis have reached an agreement with Leeds United to sign defender Diego Llorente. (Marca - in Spanish), external
Lewis Deighton
Fan writer
Still in the Championship. Aaronson back. Gray gone. Fans barred for pre-season. Red on the shirt. 49ers out! Or maybe we should all just calm down?
On the one hand, to sell a home-grown generational talent is of course bitterly disappointing but on the other, to get £30m and Joe Rodon for an 18-year-old is undeniably good business.
The play-off final loss was always going to have financial consequences – and perhaps because we had resigned ourselves to losing Crysencio Summerville, selling Archie Gray has come as a bit of a shock. I will say though, that in a world where 17-year-old Jude Bellingham can go from Birmingham City to Real Madrid in three years, this is an essential move for him.
I really like the new home kit. It is a clean, simplistic design which is right up my street – particularly the collar with its blue and yellow trim. Yes, the bulls are red, but that is what happens when a multi–billion–pound company knocks on a Championship club's door. It is Red Bull's debut in English football, so it is understandable that they would opt for their own colours.
The more prominent concern surrounding Red Bull is their track record of rebranding. SV Austria Salzburg, founded in 1933, had their club name, stadium name, badge and colours changed when Red Bull bought the club in 2005. As it stands, it is only a minority stake in Leeds United, but their near-decade-long interest in the club prior would suggest that they are here long-term.
If at some point in the modern game we are faced with sacrificing identity for established top-flight and European football, what do you do? Where do you draw the line? Leeds have stated that the club's name and logo will remain unchanged, but you have to wonder how long for.
We asked for your views on Leeds United's home kit for the 2024-25 Championship season and we have been inundated with responses.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Mike: Grim. They clearly know the traditionalists' aversion to red, due to the Yorkshire/Lancashire thing, yet they ploughed ahead regardless. I think this is the first step in a full Red Bull rebrand.
Oli: The kit is stunning! I think people should stop crying about a bit of red - it is £60m!
Charlie: It was highly unlikely Red Bull were ever going to change their logo for the first kit. Ultimately, they want to see a return on their investment. Therefore, chucking a bit of controversy out there by having red on the famous white shirt will only increase fan engagement. It chucks more publicity out there for Red Bull, which is very much in their interest.
Becca: Absolutely no surprise. It's like a normal shirt with a sponsor on! I think the uproar is unnecessary! It is a great shirt, similar to our previous one, just with a new sponsor. It is great that they have kept their logo and the main colours. I like it!
Cam: I know some people say, "it's only a bit of red, why are you all kicking off for?" but it is these small changes that keep defacing our club little by little. I will not be getting the home shirt this season. I'm hoping that the second and third kits are a lot better.
Jim: Sorry, it's awful. You simply can't have the colour red anywhere in the kit. Even the McDonald's which is close to Elland Road doesn't have the colour red anywhere in the restaurant.
Caroline: The home shirts for the last two seasons were great, but this one is a big no! Red Bull are already stamping their authority and they are dismissing our history.
John: I'm not worried about how the kit looks - it is about who wears it and how they perform that matters. We need to focus on the squad and who is staying, leaving or arriving. We need to win our matches and we will all be happy to wear the shirt.
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United defender Charlie Cresswell's move to French top-flight side Toulouse is back on after it broke down over personal terms earlier this week.
The centre-back is due to fly back out to France this weekend and complete the already agreed deal for around £3.8m.
It is understood that the 21-year-old England youth international has been attracting interest from other Championship clubs.
Image source, Leeds United FCLeeds United have released their home kit for the upcoming season, the first to be sponsored by new principal partner Red Bull.
The club describe it as an "iconic white jersey", featuring a Yorkshire Rose back of the neck crest that "pays homage to the club and city’s history."
But what do you reckon?
Are you happy with the kit?
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
At least Joe Rodon came back. At least Georginio Rutter remains. At least Leeds United are not worried about breaching profit and sustainability rules. At least Archie Gray was sold for lots of money.
But Gray has gone and the sadness at another shiny academy talent fulfilling his potential elsewhere has not.
Aaron Lennon, Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith, Jonny Howson, Fabian Delph, Lewis Cook, Kalvin Phillips - the list goes on.
Kids in Leeds want to be these players in Leeds shirts playing for Leeds forever, like Paul Madeley did.
At least he did. At least Eddie Gray did. It is different now but it still hurts.
Maybe Tottenham pulling the trigger on Gray's release clause meant United could keep their powder dry and not succumb to a further £30m in the coffers from Brighton for Rutter.
The languid trickery of the smiling Frenchman has made him a fans' favourite - not in an 'Archie, he's one of our own' vein, but in the captivating wizardry and charismatic style of play which make him something unique in the Championship.
Eight goals in 64 appearances tells you his shooting is wayward, but at least he loves horses.
Georgi was key to the almost-made-it-over-the-line effort of last season, having turned around a rough start at Elland Road.
Leeds could end up shelling out £35m on the 22-year-old after his mega move from Hoffenheim 18 months ago. There are those who would snap Brighton's hand off to recoup nearly all of it it in one fell Seagulls swoop, but many with Rutter on their replica shirts would not want to hear his infectious giggle on another club's latest new signing video.
United either dared not or did not want to... at least they did not have to.
Kit leaks with red bulls on, Gray to the big smoke and a block on supporters watching friendly matches in Germany made it a shocking weekend for Leeds fans.
Rodon back at the crease and Rutter not out has steadied the pre-season innings.
At least it is only six weeks until it all starts again.
Image source, Leeds UnitedAdam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United have rejected a bid from Real Betis for defender Diego Llorente.
The Spain international, 30, has spent the past season and a half on loan at Italian top-flight club Roma. His contract at Elland Road runs until 2026.
Meanwhile, there has also been initial interest from French side Stade Rennais for Glen Kamara, but Leeds are not looking to sell the midfielder.
Paris St-Germain have enquired about Leeds United's 22-year-old Dutch forward Crysencio Summerville. (De Telegraaf - in Dutch, external)
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United have rejected a £30m offer from Brighton for striker Georginio Rutter.
It is understood Albion made the bid for the 22-year-old Frenchman after signing winger Yankuba Minteh from fellow Premier League side Newcastle United for £30m on Monday.
They have also previously shown interest in Elland Road forward Crysencio Summerville.
Rutter has four years left on his contract with the Championship side after being signed from Hoffenheim in January 2023 in a club record deal which could rise to £35m.
He has scored eight goals in 64 appearances for Leeds.
Following the sale of Archie Gray to Tottenham and the signing of Joe Rodon, we asked you to have your say on the news.
Here are a selection of your comments:
Tom: This is a huge call from the board. Leeds could have offloaded Summerville and Gnonto for similar/more money and neither of them come close to the heartstrings of Leeds fans like Archie Gray does. If they don't romp home with automatic promotion immediately, they will need to prepare for a fans' revolt against the ownership.
Graham: The transfer of Gray is good business. Standing in the way of ambition creates resentment. For an unproven player, £30m-£40m is crazy money, and you have to take it. Even Manchester City did the same with Cole Palmer.
Dan: Not hard to feel gutted but once a release clause is in a contract it says so much about the ambition of the player and the club who knows he will attract attention. The deal isn't bad money and getting Rodon is positive for sure, we move on and ultimately need to support the team.
Richard: Gutted to lose one of our own but I wish the lad well. I hope Spurs nurture his talent and don't let it go to waste on the bench like they did with Jack Clarke a few years ago. Rodon coming in is a pragmatic move and should go some way towards offsetting supporters' disquiet at the move. Encouraging that Rodon is happy to return.
Malcolm: It's a total disgrace. Shame on Leeds United. Should have built the team around him.
Andy: It stinks when you have to sell your homegrown players just to meet some financial rules. Absolutely gutted. Glad Rodon signed but does not make Archie's departure feel any better.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United believe the sale of Archie Gray to Tottenham "improves" the club's chances of winning promotion this season.
Gray joined in a deal worth between £30m and £40m - with defender Joe Rodon moving the other way - after the north London side triggered a release clause in his contract following the club's failure to get promoted at the first attempt.
The Whites have signed Rodon from Spurs in a separate deal believed to be worth about £10m.
In a statement, Leeds said: "Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened the board's resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars.
"While we understand supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a homegrown talent, and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club's chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad within the league's financial control regulations."
Gray, 18, came through the academy ranks before being involved with the first team at the age of 15.
He went on to make his senior debut in last season's Championship opener against Cardiff City at Elland Road, aged 17, and leaves having made 52 appearances.
"Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism," the club added.
"He leaves with the very best wishes for his future career and in the knowledge that Leeds will always be his home."
How do you feel about the sale of Gray and the signing of Rodon, Leeds fans?
With Leeds United academy graduate Archie Gray set to be sold to a Premier League side, Don't Go To Bed Just Yet's Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix have been discussing the 18-year-old's imminent Elland Road exit.
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United defender Charlie Cresswell's proposed transfer to Toulouse is off.
The 21-year-old travelled to France for a medical on Sunday and was set to join the Ligue 1 side for £3.8m.
But the player was unable to agree personal terms.
Meanwhile, Leeds midfielder Darko Gyabi is set to join fellow Championship side Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan deal.
