Leeds United news with £6m reunion on the cards as…

Leeds United news with £6m reunion on the cards as Whites hit by Jean-Kevin Augustin blow

Here are the latest Leeds United evening headlines on Friday, 4 November 2022.

Cook on Elland Road return

Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook has revealed how excited he is at returning to Leeds United for the first time since his departure six years ago. Cook made the move away from Elland Road with the club still in the Championship, joining Bournemouth in a deal worth around £6 million.

The two clubs have been in different divisions in every season until now since Cook's exit, meaning it is the first time he is set to go up against his old side. Speaking to afcb.co.uk, Cook admitted he is unsure what type of reception he will get but is relishing the prospect of returning to where it all began.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Every game in the Premier League is an exciting occasion and this one for me will be especially exciting, going back to where it all started for me. I’m not sure what kind of reception I’ll get but you can guarantee the atmosphere will be electric.

“Leeds are in the Premier League for a reason and their fans have loved the past few years being back in there. Some of our lads won’t have experienced Elland Road before but it’s a great stadium and one we can all look forward to playing in.

“I have a lot of great memories of my time there and owe a lot to the club."

Augustin ruling

Leeds United have lost their Jean-Kevin Augustin case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and are expected to pay RB Leipzig an opening instalment of €6.7m for the striker. The Whites intend to further appeal how CAS came to its decision.

The Whites loaned the French striker from the Bundesliga outfit in January 2020 with an obligation to buy him permanently for €21m in the event of promotion. However, United felt that loan, and its conditions, expired on June 30 of that year, before the Covid-delayed promotion was finalised.

Leipzig disagreed and felt United’s promotion, even if it was achieved in mid-July 2020, triggered the purchase obligation. They then took the matter to FIFA when Leeds failed to honour the agreement and pay their first instalment.

Meslier

Illan Meslier’s World Cup chances may look slim, but Jesse Marsch believes the goalkeeper fits the bill for France. Meslier has started the Premier League in fine form for Leeds United, with his performance against Liverpool last weekend receiving plenty of plaudits as he pulled off nine saves during the Whites’ win at Anfield.

As such, that performance has led many to speculate that perhaps he could be in the running for a France call-up this month as Didier Deschamps’ side bid to retain their World Cup crown in Qatar. Meslier is an established Under-21 international for Les Bleus, but the 22-year-old has never received a call-up to the senior squad.

The likes of Hugo Lloris, Alphonse Areola and Nantes’ highly rated shot stopper Alban Lafont have been ahead of Meslier in Deschamps’ pecking order lately and leading into the World Cup, the French coach is expected to go with who he knows. However, Marsch believes Meslier would be the ideal man to play that third choice keeper role for France.

“I spoke to him [Meslier] about that about a month ago, and he seemed to think it was unrealistic,” Marsch said when asked about his chances. “So I would just go off that.

“But I think as a young goalkeeper he fits the criteria for that third goalkeeper position in a World Cup squad.”