Here are the latest Leeds United evening headlines for Friday, August 5.
Wolves duo ruled out of Whites clash
Wolves boss Bruno Lage has confirmed that Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore will not be available for Wanderers' trip to Elland Road.
Star striker Jimenez - who was sent off when Wolves faced Leeds at Molineux in March - sustained an injury in a pre-season fixture against Besiktas. Jimenez suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee and a minor strain of his adductor and while Wolves regard neither issue as serious, the striker will miss the game against Leeds.
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Winger Traore is suffering from a hamstring injury, and Lage confirmed that he won't be available for the season opener.
Radrizzani issues transfer update
Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani insists that the Whites ‘don’t have to do a deal at any cost’ as they ponder further additions to the squad this summer.
The Whites have added six new signings to their squad so far this window. Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson arrived from Red Bull Salzburg, Marc Roca and Tyler Adams joined from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig respectively and Luis Sinisterra signed from Feyenoord.
Radrizzani insists that he is happy with the squad but admits that the club are actively monitoring and discussing potential new signings with Marsch and sporting director Victor Orta.
“We’re happy at this moment with how the squad is,” Radrizzani told The Athletic. “I have a lot of confidence with Joe Gelhardt together with Patrick Bamford coming back this season."
Cooper opens up on Raphinha and Phillips departures
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper believes it’s been difficult to lose arguably their ‘two best players’, but wishes both Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips ‘nothing but success’.
Cooper was a few months into his maiden season at Elland Road when Phillips was promoted from the academy and presented with his first team debut in 2015.
The pair won promotion together via the Championship title in 2020 and have been major pillars of the side's success over the last several years. Raphinha, albeit during a shorter spell, also left an indelible mark at Leeds.
“It’s difficult for any club to lose, you could say, the two best players,” Cooper told Sky Sports. “Rapha came in from day one and I think he lit up the Premier League. He definitely lit up the training ground and the facility here as well."
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