Leeds United know they need to ramp preparations for the 2023/24 Championship campaign as they await the green light from the EFL for 49ers Enterprises to take control of the club. The American investment arm has agreed a deal with current Whites' owner Andrea Radrizzani.
However, the wait for the takeover to be approved has delayed any transfer business and pre-season is fast approaching. There's been plenty of speculation regarding outgoings at Elland Road but things have been much quieter in terms of incomings.
One player who could speculatively fill a void in Leeds' midfield void is soon-to-be free agent Tom Davies. The Toffees academy graduate burst onto the scene at Goodison Park but has turned down fresh turns from the club.
Scottish Premiership side Rangers are among the reported interested parties with Davies set to leave when his contract expires. Everton's director of football, Kevin Thelwell said: “We offered Tom a new contract, but he feels he has reached the stage in his career where he needs regular first-team football. As a result, he wants to look at alternative options away from Everton.”
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Rangers boss Michael Beale told the Liverpool Echo : "Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool Under 23s team all around the place. There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him."
Davies has confirmed his departure from Everton on social media. Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "Evertonians — the time has come for me to move on to a new chapter in my career.
"It is one I have thought long and hard about and it feels like now is the right moment for me as a player. I always had belief that I would play for our club but I had no idea how beautiful and fulfilling it would be! I would like to thank the club, the city and the fans for making my dreams become such a beautiful reality for me!
"Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey, especially the coaches, staff and players in the academy who helped me, challenged me, and developed me into the player and human I am today — for this I can’t thank you all enough. I have had some great highs as a player and as a part of this club; scoring my first goal, becoming our youngest captain and playing in European competition.
"I am extremely proud of these accomplishments and with these experiences I am ready and determined to go on to achieve even more. I’d also like to thank Everton in the Community. It has been an honour to have been so involved with the work that you do. EitC has given me some amazing and humbling experiences during my years which I’ll take with me. I plan to continue my work with you.
"Finally, I’d like to share that the recent times with the club have been difficult for me. I know they have been difficult for you too. I hope that they can be sorted out as soon as possible so that we can get back to the stability we deserve.
"I loved being apart of everything this club stands for. I am proud to have given all I had in every moment I could. Thank you all again…for everything. You have made a young lads dream come true! I’ll see you again at Goodison because I’ll always be an Evertonian!"
Davies has played 179 times for his boyhood club, but found game time hard to come by last season. The midfielder made just 20 appearances for the Toffees last season, starting just four of his 19 games in the Premier League.
Weston McKennie has returned to Juventus following his loan spell, while Marc Roca is set to join Real Betis and there's been plenty of interest in Tyler Adams this summer. Adam Forshaw has been invited back for pre-season but that leaves just Darko Gyabi and Archie Gray as the remaining two midfield options.
