Leeds United have been doing some great business this summer. The club have now signed six players in this transfer window.
Many fans were a bit frustrated that more signings had not arrived, but the club has been very patient this summer. Almost every deal has been worked on quickly and resolved – Longstaff and Stach signed just days after the news hit the media. Daniel Farke now has some serious depth in the squad.
One thing the club has done well so far is with contracts. After they lost Junior Firpo, the club has now tied down Sam Byram and Dan James to new deals. The two experienced players will be relied upon for next season.
QUIZ: Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
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Junior Firpo explains his exit from Leeds United
Credit: Imago
Firpo’s move to Real Betis was made official after some paperwork delayed it. The left back signed a long-term deal to return to his former club.
The 28-year old refused to sign a new deal with Leeds before choosing to leave. He has now explained his decision.
“It’s not that I ever did this with the intention of wanting to create something to return to; I simply did it because I’m a Betis fan, because it comes from my heart, and because any fan would do it.” he said to Estadio Deportivo.
“If you add to that the fact that I can return and play here again, then I’m very happy. I’ve missed you all, and I can’t put into words how much I feel. The year I arrived at Leeds, I already said that for me the biggest thing would be to win a title with Betis.
“I came here recently, for the last La Liga home game, and the atmosphere, just before the Conference final, with the anthem already making my hair stand on end. That’s what brings me here. The feeling I have, the excitement and happiness of seeing the place these directors, these players, and this coach have put the club in.”
Daniel Farke makes some decisions in pre-season
After the game against Manchester United, Leeds boss Daniel Farke revealed a lot about the plans for the squad. Patrick Bamford is out of the plans, Jack Harrison will get a chance to prove he deserves to stay, and James Debayo has likely been let go this summer.
Expect some more major changes to be made before next month.
Gabriel Gudmundsson has one huge advantage over Firpo
In the friendly against Manchester United, many fans saw what Gabriel Gudmundsson could offer. He does not have the same dynamism and speed as Firpo, but he is a willing runner on the overlap.
He was also a danger from set pieces, even creating a dangerous chance. With Leeds having signed so many players good in the air, the left back could be a secret weapon next season.
Of course the fact that Firpo ran down his contract leaving him free to negotiate a new one with more lucrative terms is incidental. Farke should have demanded that he must extend his contract last year or languish in the reserves.