Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Thursday, August 4.
Forest eye Adams
Nottingham Forest are set to rival Leeds United in the race to sign Southampton forward Che Adams, according to Football Insider. Forest have followed up their approach for the striker by starting negotiations over a potential deal.
The Sun claimed on Monday that Leeds are lining up a move for the Scotland international with United looking to do business at around £10m. Southampton are ‘willing to listen’ to offers and it seems that Leeds aren’t the only club interested in Adams.
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Forest have already invested heavily in their squad with the additions of 12 new arrivals in total. Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi has joined from Union Berlin, but with Keinan Davis unlikely to return to the City Ground, Steve Cooper may want to add further firepower to his attack.
Adams has scored 20 times in 96 appearances across his three seasons with Southampton in the Premier League. The 26-year-old has also netted five times in 19 caps for Scotland and featured at the 2020 European Championships last summer.
Leeds dressing room wake-up call
Six goals in their final pre-season friendly ahead of their Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers has turned up the heat, but a dressing-room warning was still needed from Jesse Marsch. The Whites had five minutes of madness during which Cagliari scored twice with all too familiar goals on the break and the head coach had words post-match.
Marsch is aware opposition counter-attacks are a problem that have needed remedying this summer, but on Sunday his attention during those concessions was with Robin Koch. The Germany international had needed treatment and was limping, which left the team a little exposed for the goals.
“It was a good performance,” said Marsch. “In the first half, we were creating a lot and not really capitalising on some situations and in the second half, it was good to add up some goals and give our team confidence.”
Whites committed to long-term plan
Leeds sent out a clear statement of intent as they dropped the news supporters had been waiting for on Tuesday morning. Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville are three of the brightest young talents at Elland Road and by tying them down to long-term deals, Leeds have ensured they have the platform to realise their potential in a white shirt.
It was a move that showcased Leeds’ ambition and in the years to come, United could well build a team around the trio as they continue their progression from youngsters on the fringes of the squad to first team stars. Jesse Marsch has already shown his willingness to hand out chances to those who are deserving and since his arrival Gelhardt, Greenwood and Summerville have more than caught the head coach’s eye.
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