Real Betis are making progress over a permanent deal for Leeds United's Spain midfielder Marc Roca, 27, who is on loan at the La Liga club. (Football Insider, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Boxing Day's full gossip column
The Christmas spirit and the deluge of games that come with it is upon us.
For a player, it’s a crazy time. What’s mad is everything is happening festive wise and you want to enjoy it in some way – like a party for the lads if you can fit it in. It means you feel you have some kind of Christmas.
But the games keep coming, especially at the top end if you’re in several competitions. Then you have the training load and training on Christmas Day. I won’t lie, that is psychologically a challenge not to feel a bit sorry for yourself. Sometimes you think everyone is having a good time, but you have to think how many people would swap with your position. You have to realise and think about what you are doing.
But when you have your kids there playing with their new toys and you have to go training, that is a big sacrifice It’s not about money, it’s just human nature.
What I think they should do is make it compulsory that you cannot train as a club on Christmas Day. That way, no one gets an advantage. What happens is you see is the owners will question why you didn’t train if you lose on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day is brilliant to play on. You can see the bigger crowds and feel the festive spirit. I used to love having Christmas Day off and playing on Boxing Day. But only a few managers will trust you to have that day off, Neil Warnock was one of them.
It’s a tiring spell and I will admit, I have been set to play on Boxing Day and wondered if I’ll get through the game as I’d had too much Christmas dinner.
Playing in this spell, you have to take it as a privilege. You are playing so everyone else is able to watch football at that great time of year.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Don't Go To Bed Just Yet panel were full of praise for Leeds midfielder Ethan Ampadu after another excellent display in Saturday's 4-0 win over fellow Championship high-fliers Ipswich Town.
The Wales international has started all of Leeds' league matches this season becoming an integral part of Daniel Farke's side.
Adam Pope said: "I thought Ethan Ampadu was really really impressive. I think that is as good as we've seen him. I haven't seen a better defensive midfield display in the Championship this season.
"He picked up every lose ball, he cut out every pass from the midfielders to the strikers. I thought he was incredible. For someone who is supposed to be tired as well."
Simon Rix added: "I noticed a few times he was doing captain things. There was a tackle over on the far side from me and he was applauding, encouraging.
"He was really bringing it with his game but also pushing everybody else to be good with him."
What sort of behaviour may get a Leeds United player fined? And how much does Patrick Bamford owe?
On the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer, Patrick Bamford explains what the Leeds players will be up to at their Christmas party.
Image source, BBC SportIn the Christmas episode of My Mate’s a Footballer, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford tells Joe Wilkinson about all the shenanigans around football Christmas parties and the fine systems in place to pay for them.
Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds
Ray Fell was a gentleman. A genuinely lovely man who was devoted to his family and football club.
As chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Club for more than 30 years until 2016 - after serving the organisation prior to that time in various roles - he was an excellent leader and organiser who worked on behalf of the supporters to help them follow the Whites.
His recent passing is a sad moment in the history of Leeds United.
When he delivered a speech at supporters club events, he addressed those present with eloquence and passion. He had a grace and a dignity as well as a forthrightness which endeared him to those who ran the club through the decades.
All that poise and decorum was particularly required when the organisation came under pressure from former chairman Ken Bates. Ray stayed resolute and so the supporters club continues the symbiotic link it has had with the club since 1919.
My memory of Ray will be his and the supporters club's kindness in allowing BBC Radio Leeds to broadcast from The Peacock pub when we were unable to commentate on matches inside Elland Road during part of the Bates era.
My abiding image of Ray is being stood with fellow stalwarts Phil Beeton, Julie Trimble and Chris Hall outside Salem Chapel on Hunslet Lane celebrating the centenary in 2019. As the motto goes: Always Leeds - Always Loyal.
Ray and his wife Joan, who passed a few years ago before him, were a pleasure to know. To Howard their son and the family, we send our deepest condolences.
Rest in peace, old friend.
Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds
Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Leeds' top-of-the-table game against Ipswich at Elland Road on Saturday (12:30 GMT)
The Whites boss will be hoping to close the 10-point gap on the second-placed Tractor Boys.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Sam Byram, Stuart Dallas and Jamie Shackleton remain sidelined but left-back Junior Firpo and winger Ian Poveda are available after injury and international duty respectively.
Ethan Ampadu says he is still fit and raring to go despite playing every game and Farke assessed his squad's current capacity: "Everyone available is fine to face Ipswich. The schedule of four games in 10 days means mixing it up will be important."
He dismissed talk of automatic promotion being over should United not beat Ipswich: "It is big for confidence. You want to be in spotlight games. We don’t crack under pressure. We can ask the EFL if we can have nine points but it is just three. [The game is] important but not decisive.”
On the prospect of repeating the seven-goal thriller that Leeds won 4-3 at Portman Road in August: "In my experience, if it’s talked about like that, it’ll end up a boring 0-0."
Farke gave a great eulogy about his growing love for the club and its fans: "I’ve never felt more in love with my players. We’re not perfect but we are united and we play with heart. Not one point we have won this season has been lucky.”
On the transfer window: "I expect a pretty quiet January from us."
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just yet dissects the post-match scenes after the Whites' 1-1 draw against Coventry City, with Adam Pope saying it could have been avoided if the referee didn't let so many fouls go unpunished.
Adonis Storr, The Roaring Peacock, external
Leeds United's promotion bid has faltered and the Peacocks are in peril of play-off purgatory. Not consistent enough to catch the irrepressible Leicester City and Ipswich Town, and far too good to drop to seventh.
No-one can blame Daniel Farke. In the grand scheme of things, Leeds are running white-hot at two points per game heading into the new year. And after such a tumultuous summer, his project is ahead of schedule.
But the little cracks in the cobbled-together side are big enough to deny the perfection Leicester and Ipswich are demanding.
Left-back is Leeds' bogey position. When Sam Byram began training with the club, few would have imagined him making that role his own. But Leeds' reliance on Byram is astonishing – in the six games without him starting, they have not won once.
Quality chance creation against sides who defend deep is also an issue. The current strategy in these situations seems to be: throw every attacker on for the last 20 minutes and hope for the best. A creative midfielder would give Farke another option.
It's becoming clear that to chase this perfect top two, Leeds will have to invest in January - or face the roulette of the play-offs.
Image source, Getty ImagesKaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix has been discussing Leeds' chance of automatic promotion on BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast: "Daniel Farke has come in and it's still talked about in press conferences - he's done it before and the way he did it before he got something like 92 points and then 96 points or high in the 90's points. I think he will get that with Leeds but I'm not sure if it is going to be enough, that's the problem.
"In general I think he is doing a good job, but I do think there is a problem and I'm not sure if it is him or the players or that he doesn't trust people.
"Wilfried Gnonto came on against Coventry and played well, he cut inside too often but in general he was good, so maybe it's a bit more than that. When it's 1-1 and they've just scored he makes the substitutions, but my reaction when they scored was 'that's a shame because we only really win or do well with these first 11 and they're all tired now'.
"If people are going to come to Elland Road, or like Sunderland away, and park the bus to some extent then we're going to need a plan B because you can't rely on just trying to thread the needle through and a good pass, you've got to have another plan.
"We're a good team and I don't have a criticism of anyone in the structure, especially not Farke, but it just looks like we probably will end the season on two points a game and I’m just not sure it's going to be enough to get us one of those automatic promotion slots."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Leeds United could sell 20-year-old Italy forward Wilfried Gnonto, who was a target for Everton this summer, in January. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has to respond to a Championship defeat for only the fourth time time this season with the visit of Coventry City.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
There will be no return for any of his injured players, with Sam Byram, Jamie Shackleton, Junior Firpo and Stuart Dallas among those still out. However, Firpo is back in training after his hamstring issues.
On the need to freshen his team selection: "Not because of the load. This turnaround of four days is not a problem for my players. My general thoughts is that you use the whole squad. But I'm not a big believer of 'in-out-in-out' - I like to use the squad over the season. If you perform you keep your position, but you cannot afford to have two or three bad games in a row. It's a question of momentum."
Training intensity is critical for keeping attacking players in their rhythm even if not starting games: "You have to make sure you train on a good level, like it's a Champions League final. It's a tough business and there's a lot of competition. I'm not here to win the Nobel Peace Prize - I'm here to win football games."
On whether counterpart Mark Robins, the longest-serving manager in the Championship, is one of the most underrated: "I'm not sure but I rate him really highly. He's doing a wonderful job with limited resources. They are on a good run and are a pretty dangerous opponent. I have a lot of respect for Mark's work."
Does Farke see himself emulating Robins' tenure and still being at Leeds United in six years' time? "This job comes with lots of of pressures. I've been here six months and it feels like six years! I love it. If I'm allowed to be here in six years, it would mean we have achieved our targets."
Patrick Bamford and Joe Wilkinson discuss Kalvin Phillips, breaking through at Chelsea, and scoring against your former club in the latest episode of the My Mate's A Footballer podcast.
Everton, Burnley and Leeds United are among the clubs monitoring 21-year-old English defender Archie Brown, who plays for Gent. (Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
