Here are your Leeds United morning headlines on Sunday, December 11.
Agbonlahor on why Newcastle United should not sell Leeds United-linked Chris Wood
Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Newcastle United not to cash in on Chris Wood. Reports in recent weeks have linked the 31-year-old with a return to Leeds United.
Wood enjoyed one of the finest goalscoring spells at Elland Road before earning a Premier League move to Burnley in 2017. An impressive 44 strikes in 88 games inspired Sean Dyche to stump up around £15million.
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The New Zealand international would soon become an established top-flight striker and, after five years at Turf Moor, Newcastle turned to him in their time of desperate need. Plunged in a relegation fight, the Magpies triggered his £25million release clause in January.
Just four goals in 33 games has hardly set Tyneside alight and there is already talk of another exit next month. Speaking to Football Insider, ex-England international Agbonlahor has dispelled those claims, insisting Newcastle should stick by their man.
“Newcastle are at the stage where they will want to keep a big squad of players,” he said. “Chris Wood came on and scored in their game against Southampton before the break.
“Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson have injury problems. I don’t think there’s any need to sell him. For what you are going to get for him, why would you not just keep him? I don’t think selling him will be an option.”
Louis van Gaal named as reason Cody Gakpo snubbed Leeds United
Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed Louis van Gaal told Cody Gakpo to snub Leeds United. The Netherlands boss helped the 23-year-old rise to stardom at the World Cup, with three goals in Qatar inflating his price tag further.
A long-winded transfer saga over the summer saw Leeds chiefs try to snare Gakpo - who has 13 goals and 17 assists this season - away from the Eredivisie. The prospect of signing one of Europe's top talents had excited United supporters, who were coming to terms with losing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
While the forward remained at PSV, Jesse Marsch revealed how close the Whites were to getting their man earlier this month. He told the Men In Blazers podcast: "It’s difficult for us at Leeds because I think Gakpo’s gotten out of our price range.
“I mean, we were so close to securing a transfer for him in the summer, it was so close, and now obviously it’s disappointing. Our sporting director was in Holland meeting with the family, they had agreed on terms, on everything, and were talking with PSV. I mean, we were 99.9%.”
Mateusz Klich exit would set wrong precedent at Leeds United amid DC United links
Leeds United, to put it bluntly, are down to the bare bones. Instead of solving their injury woes, the month-long hiatus from football has only exasperated their problems.
Crysencio Summerville’s injury in the seventh minute against Elche on Thursday night means there are 10 wounded soldiers on the first-team treatment table. Just one fit winger and out-and-out striker - a mere youngster - leaves Leeds short in attack… so why would United chiefs weaken the midfield?
Reports have emerged that Mateusz Klich is on the cusp of joining MLS outfit DC United. Wayne Rooney took charge of the club midway through the campaign but could not propel them from the bottom of the table.
Now, Polish international Klich may be entering the twilight of his career at 32 but he still has a short-term part to play at Elland Road. A veteran of the successful Championship-winning campaign in 2019-20, all 11 of his appearances this season have come from the bench.
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