Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Saturday, January 29.
Minamino latest
After it emerged that Leeds would have to wait until the summer to continue their negotiations for Brenden Aaronson, the Whites had an approach for Takumi Minamino rejected.
Liverpool opted against letting the attacking midfielder leave due to their lack of cover in the attacking areas.
However, it then became clear yesterday morning that Jurgen Klopp’s side will be strengthening their offensive ranks with the €60m signing of Luis Diaz.
This now means that they are now willing to let both Minamino and Divock Origi to leave before Monday evening’s deadline with £20m said to be enough to acquire the Japan international.
Read more here.
West Ham monitoring Raphinha contract updates
Talks with Raphinha over a new contract were said to be positive earlier this month as Leeds look to tie their star man down to a new longer term deal.
There are plenty of clubs that have been credited with an interest in the Brazilian winger as he has shown on numerous occasions that he is more than good enough to play in Europe’s elite competitions.
West Ham are, possibly surprisingly, the most recent team to be linked with a potential move, Sky Sports News are reporting that the Hammers are ‘keeping an eye on his situation’.
Meanwhile, the Mail Online say Hammers boss David Moyes has made Raphinha a 'top target' for this month's transfer window, with some suggestions an initial bid has already gone in and been rejected.
Liverpool are one of the other clubs to have been heavily linked with a potential move but their pursuit of the aforementioned Diaz would suggest that they won’t need Raphinha in the summer.
Leeds have ‘almost no chance’ of winning Augustin dispute
Leeds are preparing to stand their ground in their Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dispute with RB Leipzig over former loanee Jean-Kevin Augustin.
When he signed for the club temporarily in the 2019/20 Championship-winning campaign, there was a reported clause in the deal that stated the Whites would have to sign him permanently if they were promoted to the Premier League.
The season finished late due to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced delay and Leeds argued that the clause had lapsed.
However, according to Bild in Germany, Leeds now face ‘almost no chance’ of convincing the CAS of their argument and will likely be forced to stump up the €21m owed to Leipzig.
If they are to lose the case which is set to begin in March, then they must pay the Bundesliga side the first instalment within 45 days or they will face a FIFA transfer ban.
