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Beren Cross & George Bennett

Leeds United's Charles De Ketelaere back-ups, coaching staff appointments, Charlie Cresswell recall

It’s now just a month until the new Premier League season gets underway and Leeds are continuing to add to their squad, with Tyler Adams' move confirmed on Wednesday evening.

Luis Sinisterra is a player Leeds are targeting, though the club face stern competition from Serie A champions AC Milan in their bid to sign Club Brugge attacker Charles de Ketelaere. Left-back Leif Davis is subject to interest from League One outfit Ipswich Town.

Transfers continue to dominate the agenda of the day. And LeedsLive's Beren Cross held a Q&A to answer all of your Leeds United questions – here’s the full transcript.

READ MORE: Imminent Leeds United signing backed to shine by Colombian teammate Davinson Sanchez

Rogmar82: [Luis] Sinisterra looks to be a good quality signing. If Raph doesn’t go to Barca, will he stay at ER? The two together could be great.

Beren Cross: That’s becoming one of the biggest questions of the summer. The longer it takes for Barcelona to agree terms with Leeds, the more possibility of him staying grows. Financially, his sale is going to help Leeds hugely with the business they are doing, but a business case could be made for keeping him around and then flogging him after an electric World Cup for even more money. There are too many moving parts and until we hear from Raphinha directly, we cannot know how opposed he is to the likes of Chelsea.

Yatish: Have Ipswich bid for Leif Davis?

BC: I’m not sure. I know they are interested, but whether a bid has formally gone in, I don’t know. However, the last we heard Davis was remaining a part of the squad and had a good chance of sticking around to back up Firpo down the left. Of course, so much changes in the market and Marsch’s thinking, but right now he will be in the group which goes to Australia.

MATT125612: Assuming [Tyler] Adams gets announced, will he features in tomorrow’s friendly against Blackpool? Also, I imagine Adams and Sinisterra will both be on the plane to Aus?

BC: I would assume he will focus on the pre-season testing first and then a few sessions before flying out to play in the Australia games. Yes, they are certainly hoping to have both of them with the team in Australia.

LUFC: Hi Beren, with us looking like signing Sinisterra do you see Jack starting? If so, where?

BC: If Raphinha leaves, you can see Sinisterra taking his role with the other ‘flank’ a toss-up between James and Harrison. James begins the season with a suspension, so smart money is on Harrison beginning the campaign in the XI.

JEFF3577: Charles de Ketelaere, how likely are we to sign him? Doesn’t sound like he wants to come here.

BC: De Ketelaere looks like the big one. He is a forward set for the top of the game and Leeds want to be one of his stop-offs on the way to the very best clubs in the continent. However, when the Serie A champions and Champions League-bound AC Milan are in the mix, you can see how hard it’s going to be for Leeds. The reports would suggest the Whites are offering a lot more money than the Italians, which almost makes Leeds the Chelsea to Club Brugge’s Raphinha while Milan play the Barca role. Player power normally wins out, doesn’t it? It’s a great show of ambition from Orta and Leeds, but it looks a very tall order while CL clubs are interested.

Liz10: Do Leeds have a backup striker if we don’t get Charles De Ketelaere?

BC: Yes, Orta will have three names for each position, but who his next favourite is behind CDK, I can't be certain. I know they like Kalimuendo, but whether he's who they would move on after CDK, I can't be sure.

MichalCZ: could Victor Orta bring forward Scamacca from Sassuolo?

BC: I've not followed his transfer story too closely, but I am sure I read PSG were lining him up for €50m-odd. That's not the waters Leeds are swimming in.

yeatesp7: Beren what do we know about the coaching staff? Surely the first team and the U23s should be sorted by now?

BC: I have seen Schiemer, Jackson and Toshack in the training pictures, but as you say, there has been nothing official from the club as yet. They will know it needs announcing sooner rather than later. Last I heard they were confident they had their man for the under-21 job.

kfsloan237: Beren, do you think the club will push on a another striker especially with Roberts going out on loan? Also has there been any improvements at Elland Road in regards to the dugouts etc?

BC: There will be one striker coming in, for example De Ketelaere is the one they want. Roberts's exit won't affect that. When I was last at Elland Road quite recently the dugouts looked unchanged, but I don't know if they have plans to alter them before the new season starts.

austinscottjohn: Let's say Adams and Sinisterra are our last bit of business for this window & Raphinha stays... Who would you project as our starting XI? Formation dependent on who stays in / who else goes out?

BC: Within those parameters: Meslier; Kristensen, Llorente, Cooper, Firpo; Roca, Adams; Raphinha, Aaronson, Sinisterra; Bamford. That's what I expect Marsch to do rather than what I would pick.

Douglas NZ: Hi Beren, £5m for an 18 year old, with a buy back clause and Kalvin going for under 50m. Can't help feeling like the city boys saw Victor coming. What are your thoughts?

BC: I don't believe there is a buy-back clause for Gyabi. At face value, my first impression was it seemed a low fee for Phillips. The club does seem happy with their own calculations on the various fees meaning it's worth between £50m and £55m to them. If they are happy with how the negotiations went then we have to believe them. It does seem low to me, but that's my own opinion.

scratchingshed: do we have a recall clause on Cresswell?

BC: Good question. I don't know, but generally season-long loan deals will have a break clause in January which enables either party to end the agreement if it isn't working out.

Craig92: Earlier in the year, there is lot of talk about Leeds signing a centre- forward from Premier league club. I know we will sign someone to replace Raph, are we still interested in striker to lead line. Given Orta track record of not giving up on targets could we move for Che Adams

BC: Nketiah was the man at the PL club Leeds were interested in. Yes, Sinisterra should be done this week and then they still want a forward on top of that. Che Adams has not been mentioned thus far.

Reiver: Do you think any of Orta's acquisitions will adapt to life in the Premier League. Without Phillips and Raphinha are we weaker than last season and will we have to rely on one-in-ten, injury-prone Bamford for goals.

BC: Only time will tell, but clearly I'm hopeful like everyone else. None of them may have played in the PL, but they have played at a very good level where they have been previously. As it stands, I don't think they will be in weaker shape than last season. Phillips wasn't at his best least year because of injury, while Sinisterra and a fit Bamford will hopefully more than make up for Raphinha's goals if he leaves. That's before we even get to the extra forward they would like to buy. I have faith in Bamford.

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