A look at the latest Leeds United headlines this morning on Friday, July 7.
Real Betis still working behind the scenes on Marc Roca deal
ABC Sevilla claims La Liga side Real Betis are still trying to offload players in order to free up space for Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca. The Whites midfielder is said to have agreed terms for a move to Manuel Pellegrini's side following on from Leeds' disappointing relegation.
The Spaniard is said to be waiting for a call from Betis, while other reports claim everything has been agreed between the two parties. Betis have signed Hector Bellerin and Ayoze Perez in recent weeks, but they need to free up finances to pay Roca's wages.
READ MORE: Forgotten Leeds United names are not being frozen out by Daniel Farke as he sets clean slate
The midfielder is said to have a clause in his contract that allows him to leave on loan this summer, so long as the purchasing side pays his wages in full. Betis are also said to have negotiated a buy clause into that loan.
Roca has returned to Leeds for pre-season training and has been pictured alongside his Whites teammates.
Daniel Farke's Leeds United move creates wave of promotion optimism
The appointment of Daniel Farke has led to a wave of optimism from Leeds United fans, who have been rushing to back their side for promotion. The German's appointment was confirmed this week and confidence is high that he can bring the success he had at Norwich to Elland Road.
The 46-year-old twice led the Canaries to promotion to the Premier League and it's that Championship pedigree that has inspired new owners 49ers Enterprises to install him as the man to lead them following last season's relegation.
He has immediately got to work with his new squad and will be keen to assess the players at his disposal before new signings arrive to help bolster the push for promotion. The season gets under way in a month's time and with plenty of transfer speculation already about the team's star names, it's set to be a busy few weeks ahead for the new boss.
Daniel Farke already has tonic to Leeds midfield headache
Leeds United certainly knew what they were doing when they sealed the signing of Darko Gyabi from Manchester City 12 months ago. The midfielder’s £5m price tag did not go unnoticed, but he was soon able to make it clear why the club had spent so much money to bring the then 18-year-old to Elland Road.
With his towering frame and silky first touch, Gyabi caught the eye in training and his brief time on the field in Australia after being whisked away on the Whites’ tour Down Under. Then came his first outing on home soil with the club’s U21s as Gyabi was thrown straight into the Whites’ line-up to face Derby County at Pride Park and the gulf in class was immediately apparent.
The Rams couldn’t lay a glove on the midfielder who oozed quality as he ran rings around the home side, helping Leeds to a 5-2 win on the opening day. That outing in Derbyshire was enough to get those in attendance incredibly excited about his potential and it set the tone for what was to come.
Daniel Farke can't help addressing Bielsa and Marsch lessons
Elland Road’s home dugout, Thorp Arch, the city of Leeds and its surroundings are all new to Daniel Farke, but he’s been here before and that’s the key. Leeds United haven’t felt the painful stabs of a relegation summer since 2007 and the malaise which has hung over the club in recent months can be hard to lift.
Thankfully, their new German manager knows exactly what is required in these circumstances. Farke knows what Premier League relegation does to clubs, the pain it causes, the stalling of the engine, but also what it takes to not only reignite the fire, but fuel it to a Championship title.
Farke’s first crown with Norwich City may not have come directly after a relegation, but the second did. After tasting the top-flight drop in 2020, the then Carrow Road chief oversaw an immediate slingshot back into the big time 12 months later.
“Well in general, each and every season, each and every game helps you in order to be prepared for a huge task,” he said. “I know the Championship inside out."
