Leeds United players have ramped up their training after reporting to camp for pre-season checks. Some familiar faces have reported to training this week.
Jack Harrison, whose future is yet to be sorted, is one of the players available. Everton are reportedly keen on bringing him back on a permanent deal, but would like a cut-price deal to sign the 28-year old.
Other players are yet to report, like Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph. The duo were in the recent U21 Euros and will have another week of rest. Joseph is expected to discuss his future with the club when he arrives.
Four new players have been added to the first team squad, with a few more expected before the club kicks off their first pre-season friendly.
QUIZ: Can you name these 10 former Leeds United players?
Hoffenheim make demand clear to Leeds United
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Leeds have had interest in Anton Stach for the past week, the club are expected to make a move for him soon. The Whites made contact with Hoffenheim over a potential deal recently. Reports suggested that the Bundesliga club were keen on keeping their star midfielder beyond this summer, however a fee around £17million will reportedly seal the deal.
In a surprising turn of events, the German club could ask for a higher transfer fee. This is in a report from BILD, that claims that Hoffenheim have a clear message to Leeds United: ‘dig deep into your pockets’.
No official bid has been made as of this week.
Leeds have been recruiting on a budget
Leeds are not low on money this summer, the club just prefer to find value for money. So far they have brought in two starters from Ligue 1 and Serie A for just over £25million.
The Whites have also shown that they will walk away from deals if they feel the fee does not match the value of the player, like they did with Habib Diarra.
How much would it take to sign Anton Stach?
Well initial reports stated that around £17million would be enough to complete a deal. But now, looking at what Hoffenheim are saying, the fee will very much likely be in excess of that.
Credit: Transfermarkt
The highest transfer fee the Bundesliga club have received in the last two seasons has been £25million for Maximillian Beier. Basing an estimate on that, it could be that Leeds end up paying around £20million for Stach this summer.
To be frank our transfer dealings don’t fill me with confidence and the 49er’s are wanting to do things on the cheap or not at all.
We can’t even compete with Sunderland in the market and yet again we too slow to seal a deal.
Also we fail to clear out all the dead wood players, who are happy to keep collecting their large pay cheques.
At this rate we will endure a season of embarrassments and disappointments, which sad to see. These transfer windows are a complete joke.
I hope I’m wrong but it’s not looking good. #MOT