Leeds United

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Leeds United have made just two summer signings, bringing in goalkeeper Karl Darlow and defender Ethan Ampadu, but boss Daniel Farke is hoping there are more players on the way.

At Friday's news conference before the Championship begins, Farke said: "We're working hard. We're realistic and we all know we need to strengthen the squad, more or less, in all areas.

"We need to strengthen the centre-half position, full-back, physicality in midfield, creativity in midfield, and firepower up front. So there are many wishes, but we also have to stay financially disciplined after relegation."

The Whites will begin their fight for promotion back to the top flight against Cardiff City on Sunday, 6 August (14:30 BST) but Farke could be without up to nine injured players for his first game in charge.

The German manager will be missing several key players, including Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter, Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison.

Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Leeds' opening Championship game of the season against Cardiff on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Leeds will be missing their two main strikers: "Patrick Bamford has a hamstring problem and will not return before the international break. Georginio Rutter has a core injury and will definitely miss Sunday and the cup game."

• He is however confident Rutter will make a speedy recovery: "I hope he will be able to play a few games before the international break and think that will work out."

• Farke also updated on the injury status of some of his other players: "Mateo [Joseph] rolled his ankle and will miss three to four weeks. Tyler [Adams] is not too far away from training while Jack {Harrison] is a bit further away."

• He is excited about taking charge of Leeds for the first time in a competitive game: "I knew what a massive club this was and the expectations that come with it. In a positive way, I've been surprised by the reaction of my lads. They've stuck together and worked hard."

• On the start of a new season: "The first game is always exciting and at Elland Road, it will be even more special. Now the real stuff begins and we are all looking forward to it."

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Aston Villa have been linked with a £25m move for Leeds' Tyler Adams - and Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast that would be "really good value".

He said: "Leeds are in an unfortunate position with the relegation release clause for Adams. He equipped himself really well last season in a poor team.

"You can understand why he would want to go. He is a US international and does not want to be playing in the Championship.

"This would be a really smart bit of business for Villa, who are my dark horses next season."

Listen to more of today's gossip on BBC Sounds

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With just two days to go till the Championship season kicks off, Leeds United have released their 2023-24 away shirt.

The Whites describe it as "bold and fearless" with a "peacock-inspired print" down the front.

Its colour scheme contains blue, navy and mint and "proudly celebrates the club's storied past".

Looking at the fixtures, it may be a while before Leeds model the new strip on the field - their first two away games are at blue-shirted Birmingham City and Ipswich Town.

Image source, Leeds United

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Should Charlie Cresswell be given the opportunity to step up for Leeds United this season? The BBC Radio Leeds team have had their say on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Jonny Buchan: "I want to see him playing as I really like him. I spoke to him last week and he was saying how he learned a lot at Millwall last season. However, he didn't learn what he expected - not all the nudges and tricks - but instead to calm down and relax when playing.

"He said he was quite erratic when he started, but has now learned just to play his own game at the best level possible. He has matured a lot. I think he has got leadership material eventually and could be really good.

"Whether he starts is another matter."

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix: "Wouldn't it be ace if it was [Sam] Byram or Charlie Taylor, [Liam] Cooper, Cresswell and [Cody] Drameh. That would be all Leeds fans - and apart from Cooper, all academy graduates. With Archie Gray in the middle of the park."

Buchan: "The basis of a promotion-winning team."

Rix: "That'd be something to get behind."

Full episode available now on BBC Sounds

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Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell has signed a new four-year contract at Elland Road.

The 20-year-old came through the Whites' academy before making his senior debut in the Carabao Cup in September 2020.

Cresswell, who was part of the England Under 21s squad to win this summer's European Championship, made six more first-team appearances in 2021-22, before spending last season on loan at Millwall.

He featured 28 times, helping the Lions to keep 13 clean sheets as they narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs.

Leeds have confirmed Cresswell will wear the number five shirt.

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix has told BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast he is hoping Leeds' army of on-loan players will make a successful return to Elland Road this season: "I like the story arcs of people who go away and come back. We have had all these promising players go out and it's not like they come back and do things for us but it's then they disappear.

"To have someone like [Ian] Poveda, [Charlie] Cresswell or [Cody] Drameh to do it properly by going out to get experience and then coming back as valuable assets for us. It would be great, wouldn't it?"

Sports editor Jonny Buchan: "They have been the victim of the club's success. Now Leeds are back in the Championship, Poveda could come back and settle in well - but has he done enough to warrant a starting shirt?"

Listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds

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Leeds United supporter Gareth Senior has campaigned for tougher punishments to be handed out for offences such as tragedy chanting - like the ones announced in a new charter on Monday.

Senior was friends with Leeds fans Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were killed in Istanbul on the eve of the club's Uefa Cup semi-final against Galatasaray in 2000 - and told BBC Radio Leeds why tragedy chanting needs to stop at football matches.

He said: "I'd urge people just not to do it, just to reflect on what's happened to us as a club and also realise the human impact of tragedy chanting. These people wouldn't do it in their nine-to-five lives in the week, or in the pub, so why is football any different?

"As a club we've suffered with the loss of two of our fans who were murdered 23 years ago. That pain will never go away from many people, from their families and the club will always remember them and will always respect them.

"That's what us, as a group of fans, need to do. We need to respect Christopher and Kevin, respect their memories, respect their families and respect all of the people who carry the scars from that night as well.

"That, in itself, should be enough to ensure that people never get involved in tragedy chanting again, at Elland Road or away games."

Watch Gareth Senior speaking to BBC Radio Leeds here, external

The latest injury to Leeds number nine Patrick Bamford has got the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast panel pondering just who will lead the line when the Whites' Championship season kicks off on Sunday.

Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix: "Georginio Rutter is probably the player who has faced the most criticism but that's because of the price tag and we are not quite sure what he does. I don't think he is a number nine from what we have seen in pre-season but he is obviously a good footballer and has definitely got something."

Jonny Buchan: "It's not that fair to criticise him because we have not seen him in his best role and are still trying to work out where he fits in. He has to somewhere! He's a very talented footballer and I like to think in the Championship he can have an impact."

Listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds

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Leeds United defender Max Wober has completed a season-long loan move to Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Wober joined the Whites in the January transfer window, signing from Red Bull Salzburg for a reported £10m fee. He went on to make 19 appearances.

Wober will now join the German top-flight side, who finished 10th last season.

The 25-year-old is the third Leeds player to join a Bundesliga side on loan following the club's relegation from the Premier League. Brendan Aaronson has already made a temporary move to Union Berlin and Robin Koch to Eintracht Frankfurt.