Leeds United news as January transfer target…

Leeds United news as January transfer target reportedly undergoes medical

Here are the latest Leeds United evening headlines on Friday, 30 December 2022.

Wuber 'undergoes medical'

Red Bull Salzburg defender Maximilian Wober has already reportedly undergone a medical at Leeds United. That is according to Salzburger Nachrichten, who claim that Wober was in England on Thursday to complete the tests ahead of an early January move to Elland Road.

Wober was first reported to be a target by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday earlier this week, as he claimed discussions were set to begin over a potential €14 million move. An early deal would be a real statement of intent for Leeds, who have been slack in January windows gone by.

Triple fitness boost

Three players are at the centre of Jesse Marsch’s thoughts as Leeds United contend with 53 fewer hours to prepare than Newcastle United for their New Year’s Eve clash. While the form table-toppers began recovering for Saturday at 5pm on Monday, the Whites could not begin their build-up until 10pm on Wednesday.

With that handicap in mind, Marsch raised the point Saturday’s match will bring together the two most intense teams in the Premier League. Tyler Adams is one change Marsch certainly makes after the American’s suspension, though there are two others he mentioned twice after the Manchester City loss.

“That (facing a team as intense as Newcastle) will be a big demand, physically for us,” he said. “Now we get Tyler Adams back, which will be a major boost for us. Hopefully, [Crysencio] Summerville and [Jack] Harrison as well and then we can look to push that game still, physically, the way we want.”

Unwanted 38-year record

Leeds United are set to break a 38-year long top-flight record by becoming the first team to play a full year in the top-flight and concede at least two goals per game on average. The Whites have conceded 72 goals from their 35 matches in 2022 and not a clean sheet in their final game of the year at Newcastle United will prevent it.

Coventry City in 1984 were the most recent team to set this record, shipping 95 in 43 games. This is another alarming defensive statistic from a Leeds point of view, with last night also setting an unwanted club record in the Premier League.

Their aforementioned total of 72 against during this calendar year eclipsed the 70 they shipped back in 2003, which is a damning indictment of the fact a managerial change has still not been able to alter their defensive woes. Marcelo Bielsa was sacked on the back of a run of four defeats in five matches - a period in which they conceded 20 goals.