Here are your morning Leeds United headlines on Sunday, June 25.
Leeds United target loan deal for Manchester United star
Leeds United are keen on signing Manchester United winger Amad Diallo on a season-long loan deal. That is according to The Mirror, who say the Whites are eyeing the Ivory Coast international as a potential replacement for Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison, who continue to be linked with a move away from Elland Road.
The 20-year-old is set to join Erik ten Hag's side on Manchester United's pre-season tour of the USA where they will take a further look at him, but it is believed a loan move away from Old Trafford will be sanctioned.
The report claims Ten Hag would prefer a loan move to a Premier League side or abroad but Leeds are hopeful of convincing the Red Devils that he will benefit from another Championship promotion challenge.
Amad enjoyed a successful loan spell at Sunderland last season where his return of 14 goals and four assists not only helped the Black Cats reach the play-offs, but also saw him nominated for the Championship's Player of the Season award.
READ MORE: Leeds United's new head coach has three players he needs to see protected through transfer window
Leeds United's new head coach already has £25m reclamation project on his hands
Absence is said to make the heart grow fonder. Old acquaintances left out of sight tend to remain out of mind. Being 170 miles away from the flying shrapnel of Leeds United’s relegation blast cannot be too bad for a reputation either.
Daniel James was hardly someone supporters were calling for in their hours of desperate need down the home stretch of last season, but in the Championship, he may just get a fresh start. A goal for Wales earlier this month, before the darkness of a dire evening closed in, was a sharp reminder for Leeds fans of an attacker many would have forgotten about in 2023.
Across 40 appearances since his £25m arrival, James had not done enough to provoke any great uproar when news of his Fulham loan emerged. At the time, there were concerns when it transpired Leeds had effectively pushed out their 24-year-old full international to make room for an 18-year-old from the Swiss Super League.
Wilfried Gnonto would go on to prove any doubters wrong, while James failed to make any meaningful impression at Fulham, one of the top flight’s surprise packages. A season in the second tier might be just what James needs.
Read the full story, here.
49ers Enterprises have open goal to scratch Leeds United's 6-year itch with first transfer message
The longer the transfer window goes on, the more likely it appears that Junior Firpo will be leaving Leeds United this summer. Reports emerged earlier this month, just a few days after Leeds’ Premier League relegation was confirmed, of Firpo’s desire to sample a new experience in football and the talk has continued throughout the month.
Real Betis have been linked before but Marseille are the latest to be credited with an interest in the Dominican-born full-back. The French side haven’t made their move yet, but they are said to be keeping tabs on Firpo’s situation at Elland Road, where he has spent the last couple of years.
The left-back arrived with a healthy reputation, having spent two seasons deputising for Jordi Alba at Barcelona and it was hoped that he would be able to solve what was threatening to become a problem position for the Whites at the time. It’ fair to say, though, that Firpo can be considered a flop after failing to find form and make a home for himself in West Yorkshire.
In truth, it’s been a position Leeds have failed to get right since the departure of Charlie Taylor in July 2017. Plenty have come and gone in recent years, Barry Douglas, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Laurens De Bock to name but a few, but none have managed to find consistent success over an extended period in the role.
As such, it seems there’s a chance to be seized by 49ers Enterprises in the transfer market as they look to draw a line under what has gone before and start afresh. The left-back position has been a perennial weakness that simply has not been effectively addressed in recent years, plugging it with an established and talented option looks a no-brainer.
Read the full story, here.
