Good Morning. It's Monday 31st August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Well earned point keeps Leeds unbeaten record intact
Leeds United came from behind to share the points with Brentford at Elland Road on Sunday, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late tap-in cancelled out Kevin Schade’s first-half strike. Keith Andrews’ side were the better team before the break, using pace and aggression to quieten the home crowd. New signing Mamadou Sangaré impressed in midfield as the visitors repeatedly threatened James Trafford’s goal. Four minutes before half-time Schade glanced home from a Keane Lewis-Potter cross to give Brentford a deserved lead. Daniel Farke would have been relieved to reach the interval only one goal down.Farke changed shape at the break, introducing Ao Tanaka for Jaka Bijol and Harry Wilson for Brenden Aaronson. Leeds were sharper from the restart. A back-post delivery found Noah Okafor, whose curling effort was cleared off the line by Kristoffer Ajer. Mikkel Damsgaard then went close for the visitors, firing over after latching onto a looping ball. As the second half wore on Leeds gained a foothold and Elland Road found its voice. Jayden Bogle’s raking cross-field pass released James Justin, whose fierce low drive was well saved by Caoimhín Kelleher.
Substitutes Lukas Nmecha and Daniel James added energy; James was crowded out on the edge of the box, then dragged a deft chip just wide after a clever Nmecha flick. The equaliser arrived with just over ten minutes remaining. Captain Ethan Ampadu whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Nmecha took a touch to evade his marker and squared for Calvert-Lewin, who bundled home from close range. Moments later Trafford produced a fine diving save to claw Igor Thiago’s close-range header off the line; the rebound was poked wide. The 1-1 draw leaves both sides unbeaten after two Premier League games, each with four points. Leeds sit seventh; Brentford are fourth on goal difference.
Four new signings is looking ambitious
Leeds United’s hopes of bringing in four new faces before Tuesday night’s 11pm deadline already looked ambitious and now look even more so. Michael Zetterer has signed on the dotted line from Eintracht Frankfurt and will take his place as James Trafford’s deputy, becoming the club’s fifth permanent arrival of the summer after Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemović, Trafford and Nico Elvedi. That piece of business solves the goalkeeping picture to Daniel Farke’s satisfaction, but it is not the kind of signature supporters have been waiting for.Sunday’s home game against Brentford underlined a lack of incision in the final third. The Whites have spent the summer chasing an inverted left-sided winger and extra centre-forward cover, yet time is no longer on their side. Marseille remain publicly determined to keep Igor Paixão, citing both his importance and the registration headaches that would follow a late sale. Conrad Harder’s loan from RB Leipzig to Strasbourg is all but done, almost certainly without a buy option, after Leipzig decided minutes elsewhere mattered more than keeping him on the bench.
Mykhailo Mudryk remains the most live attacking option: Leeds have pushed a straightforward loan without an obligation, the player would rather stay in the Premier League, but Chelsea’s preference has been their sister club Strasbourg and they have already knocked back at least one Elland Road proposal. Talks have flickered rather than died, yet the minutes guarantee Chelsea want makes a last-gasp compromise far from straightforward.
Joe Rodon’s hamstring against Brentford has suddenly made the defensive picture look thinner. Farke said afterwards that the outfield group is “not too big” and that the club will stay awake until Tuesday night, particularly at centre-back and wing-back. Diogo Leite, the free-agent Portuguese centre-back who left Union Berlin, was considered earlier in the summer as depth, especially now Rodon is sidelined, but there has been no recent indication a deal is close.
Elland Road has emerged as a potential destination for out-of-favour Barcelona defensive/central midfielder Marc Casadó. The 22yo would certainly be an upgrade on Tanaka, but at £35m, seems like a luxury they could do without at the moment. There are also a host of top european clubs Leeds would need to navigate their way past, if they were to capture the Spanish International.
Max Aarons, who almost joined in 2023 only to peel off to Bournemouth mid-medical, has been mentioned again as a versatile option, yet nothing concrete has emerged. Leeds already possess enough utility players to paper over short-term gaps, which is why any late defensive arrival would be cover rather than a statement. These are not the players fans want to see walk through the door; reinforcements in the final third must remain the priority. All the good work completed over the summer could be in vain if Leeds fail to bring in new faces to complete with Okafor and Calvert-Lewin
Gnonto off to Fiorentina?
Talks are underway with Fiorentina who have made a formal approach for Wilfried Gnonto. The 22-year-old Italy international has found starts hard to come by under Daniel Farke, and a return to Serie A would offer him regular football in his home country, yet Leeds will not sanction any exit unless they first bring in another attacker of their own.Gnonto remained benched during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, adding further speculation he could be heading back to Italy before Tuesday night’s deadline. A fresh start would do Gnonto the world of good. The odd 20 minutes of game time here or there will not help develop him - he needs regular minutes week in - week out.
