Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Thursday, May 25, 2023
Gelhardt sends Sunderland message
Joe Gelhardt has sent a farewell message to Sunderland fans following his four-month loan stay on Wearside. The former Wigan Athletic striker joined the Black Cats from Leeds United on loan in the January transfer window.
He made 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing assists for three more. With Sunderland's campaign ending with a Championship play-off semi-final defeat against Luton a week ago, the 21-year-old has now returned to Elland Road.
Gelhardt's 18 starts for Sunderland is more than he has made for Wigan and Leeds put together, making his time with the Black Cats a valuable move for him. And he has taken to social media to issue a short thank you to Sunderland supporters, saying he 'enjoyed every minute' of his stay. He wrote on social media: "Thank you every one. I enjoyed every minute".
READ MORE: Leeds United given 52-day cut-off for root-and-branch squad rebuild in worst-case scenario
Leeds' Premier League season is still ongoing, with their relegation fate set to be determined on the final day of the campaign this weekend as Sam Allardyce tries to steer them clear of the drop, however Gelhardt is not eligible to play in Sunday's finale at home against Spurs.
Leeds are expected to make a decision over the summer whether to loan Gelhardt out again, or use him in their own team - and much will depend on whether they are playing top flight football again next season or find themselves back in the Championship.
Weber quizzed
Replacing Victor Orta remains a key mission for Leeds United once the wreckage of this campaign is bulldozed out of the way. Right behind the need to establish who United’s long-term owner will be is filling the corner office at Elland Road with a hole in its wall.
Orta had launched his phone into the plasterboard of his inner sanctum during the summer of 2018 when Harvey Barnes memorably jilted him at the altar. After agreeing on terms with Leeds, the winger would turn his back and head for West Bromwich Albion at the 11th hour.
If Leeds do wish to fill Orta’s office with a direct replacement or in a role at least vaguely similar, they will find Stuart Webber on the shortlists prepared for them. Norwich City’s sporting director has overseen two Championship titles and two Premier League bottom-place relegations.
Last season, the Canaries, hoping to return to the top flight for the third time in five years, languished in 13th under David Wagner. Webber has a strong reputation in the game after his part in Norwich’s second-tier titles and, as a Leeds fan, will always be linked with the vacancy.
Last week, The Athletic asked Webber directly what he thought of the vacancy and whether Leeds had reached out to him with an offer. “I don’t know,” he said. “It’s hypothetical. They haven’t rung, so let’s see if they ring.”
With United’s own league status in the air, along with their long-term ownership situation, there are a lot of matters to be resolved before someone can replace Orta with a clear vision.
Cresswell's chance
Charlie Cresswell's hopes of being involved in this summer's U21 European Championship have been given a major boost after the Leeds United man was called up for England's pre-tournament training camp.
The 20-year-old defender will link up with the Young Lions provisional squad for the camp which takes place from June 7-10, and is one of four centre-halves invited to train with the others being Manchester City's Taylor Harwood-Bellis (on loan at Burnley), Chelsea's Levi Colwill (on loan at Brighton) and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite (on loan at PSV).
U21 coach Lee Carsley will name his final squad on June 14 for the tournament which is being staged in Romania and Georgia and which gets under way on June 21. England have been drawn in Group C for the initial stage of the tournament along with Germany, Israel, and the Czech Republic.
Cresswell will hope to be involved after an impressive season on loan at Millwall, which just saw the Lions miss out on a Championship play-off place on the final match of the season.
Summer transfer window dates
Leeds United will be looking to overhaul their squad this summer - and the opening and closing dates for the transfer window have now been confirmed. The Whites are battling relegation meaning their transfer plans are currently on hold until they know in which division they will be competing next season.
But, regardless of whether they find themselves gearing up for a third season in the top flight or a first Championship campaign since 2019-20, the dates of the summer transfer window will stay the same. Both the Premier League and the EFL have confirmed that the summer window will open on Wednesday, June 14, and deadline day will fall on Friday, September 1, with an 11pm cut-off.
The winter transfer window will open on Monday, January 1, and will close on Thursday, February 1, again with an 11pm cut-off. Traditionally, the summer window has closed at the end of August and the winter window at the end of January, but next season's deadlines have been set after consultation with other major leagues around Europe to ensure harmonisation.
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