Leeds United

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix and Adam Pope tackle the Whites' midfield situation.

Rix: "The arrival of Joe Rothwell may lead to Glen Kamara finalising his move to Rennes for €10m [£8.4m], which would free up money to be spent in other areas.

"There are still question marks over Brendan Aaronsen staying at Leeds. If he does, where does he fit within the system if Rothwell is playing deeper and if one or both of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto leave?"

Pope: "To lose both Gnonto and Summerville in one transfer window would be a lot of Leeds to cope with."

On the uncertain futures of Liam Cooper and Cody Drameh, Pope added: "With Cooper what sort of deal has he been offered? And no one at the club believes Drameh will sign a new deal."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix discuss new Leeds United signing Joe Rothwell - and whether his arrival means fellow midfielder Glen Kamara is likely to leave Elland Road - on BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

Listen to the latest episode in full on BBC Sounds

Newcastle United are set to rival Everton in trying to sign 20-year-old Italy winger Wilfried Gnonto from Leeds United. (Teamtalk), external

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

A new episode of "Don't Go To Bed Just Yet" from BBC Radio Leeds is now available on BBC Sounds.

Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix discuss the arrival of Joe Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth and how Leeds' midfield may shape up next season.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Leeds United midfielder Glen Kamara is closing in on a move to French side Rennes in a deal understood to be worth less than 10 million euros (£8.4m).

The Whites meanwhile are interested in signing Sheffield United right-back Jayden Bogle.

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Image source, Leeds United

Midfielder Rhys Chadwick has signed his first professional contract with Leeds United, which will see him continue his development at Thorp Arch.

The 17-year-old has been given a two-year deal after becoming an integral player in Rob Etherington's Under-18s side which reached the FA Youth Cup final last season.

Chadwick also started a number of matches in the Under-21s' Premier League 2 campaign, after impressing boss Scott Gardner.

Image source, Leeds United

Luca Thomas has also agreed on a one-year contract extension at Elland Road.

The versatile forward - who can play as a striker or a winger - has worked his way through the club's youth ranks, representing Leeds United in the U18 Premier League, Premier League 2 and FA Youth Cup so far.

Thomas made 18 appearances in the Premier League 2 last season, scoring six goals and registering four assists along the way.

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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Ken Bates outlined his intention for purchasing Elland Road once he became chairman of the club in January 2005: "Our first task will be to put short, medium and long term plans in place to secure the financial future of the club and these will include buying back, in due course, Elland Road and Thorp Arch."

Two months earlier, the club's ancestral home since 1919 had been sold for £8m to Manchester property developer Jacob Adler by the Gerald Krasner-led board. By the time Bates left in 2013, he had failed to buy it back.

A decade ago, another chairman, Massimo Cellino, wanted rid of the onerous lease agreement on a place where he bemoaned not even owning the chairs.

"We want to buy Elland Road by December, as it’s madness to pay £1.5m per year to rent out the stadium," he said. "We want to own our home."

However, Cellino's tumultuous three-year reign ended with the club still forking out to a landlord, with history repeating itself in what he had referred to as people "throwing money out of the window."

Next up was Andrea Radrizzani. After assuming full control from Cellino, a fanfare was made about the club finally purchasing the ground in 2017. True, it was bought back for around £20m, but it was in private hands again, namely Radrizzani's company Greenfield Investment Pte Ltd. The terms were far more benign but by the time Radrizzani was almost gone, he was prepared to offer Elland Road as security in a deal to buy Sampdoria.

Cue much ire from supporters.

In stepped the 49ers Enterprises, who early last season bought club and ground off the Italian as they upped their ownership in a complete lock, stock and barrel purchase.

A statement on Wednesday confirmed that the original company they used to buy Elland Road had last March transferred all of its share capital to Leeds United Football Club where it is classed as a fixed asset worth £26.2m according to Companies House filings.

The incumbent chairman Paraag Marathe said recently that despite missing out on promotion the development of the ground is on the agenda.

"Money is earmarked, committed, and we are continuing down that path," he said. "If you are asking me this question a year from now, it might be a little bit more complicated because at that point, I'd be ready with a shovel. But everything right now is greenlit as it would have been in either case.”

It seems if the club does throw any money out of its windows, at least it now owns the frames!

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

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Forward Marley Wilson has signed his first professional contract with Leeds United as the Whites prepare for their 2024-25 Championship campaign.

The 18-year-old has been given a one-year deal after impressing in the Under-18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2.

Wilson is able to play anywhere across the frontline and scored 18 goals in 42 appearances last season.

Image source, Leeds United

Dan Toulson has also put pen to paper on his first pro deal - a one-year contract.

The versatile defender - who played as a holding midfielder, centre-half and left-back last season - is already a key player in the Whites' under-18 and under-21 teams.

Toulson also played every minute in Leeds United's journey to the FA Youth Cup final last season.

Image source, Leeds United

Meanwhile, midfielder Joe Snowdon has signed a one-year contract extension to summer 2025.

The 20-year-old impressed in the Premier League 2 last season, making 12 appearances and scoring four times.

He also featured in a number of cup competitions for the youth team.

Leeds have confirmed Diego Llorente has joined Real Betis on a permanent deal for a fee in excess of 3m Euros (£2.5m).

Llorente made 59 appearances in all competitions for the Whites.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United have announced Reuben Lopata-White has signed his first professional contract at the club.

The 18-year-old has penned a three-year deal, until the summer of 2027, after having played for both Leeds' under-18 and under-21 sides last season.

The defender made four starts for the under-21 side and scored one goal.

Versatile defender Joe Richards, 18, has also signed a deal until the summer of 2025.

The club have also confirmed that Harry Christy has signed a new contract.

The 20-year-old goalkeeper has agreed a new one-year deal at Elland Road, which will see him remain with the club until the summer of 2025.

Christy has been a regular for the under-18 and under-21 sides and featured on the bench for the first team in an FA Cup match last season.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope has said Joe Rodon "is a Premier League player" after the Whites announced the signing of the Wales defender following a successful loan spell.

Speaking on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Pope said there was "nothing not to love about the deal" and asked whether it "quelled the fury" around the club potentially selling more of their stars, after Archie Gray's move to Tottenham.

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rex replied: "It helped. If it had initially been announced as £30m plus Rodon for Archie people would have seen why that was a good idea.

"Everyone would love to see Archie and Charlie Cresswell [who left to join Toulouse] skippering Leeds to glory, but in terms of level-headedness it makes a lot of sense to get Rodon back. We saw he was really great last year.

"It's good to see a player - I'm sure he's getting paid well at Leeds - not go to the Premier League when you can. It's really rare these days. He obviously sees value in finishing what they started last season.

"He sees the future of Leeds being in the Premier League. He's willing to risk having a year in the Championship again, getting better and going up with Leeds."

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

Leeds United are still expected to sell winger Crysencio Summerville, forward Georginio Rutter and Italy striker Wilfried Gnonto this summer. (Football Insider), external

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

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

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Leeds 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.

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Defender 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

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Leeds 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.

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

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Goalkeeper 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

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