The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 1st September) - Versatile wing-back set for Leeds medical

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Transfer Deadline Day. Here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...

Versatile wing-back set for medical

Nice and Leeds United have agreed a late-window deal for French left-back Melvin Bard, according to L’Équipe. The 25-year-old will join the Whites on a paid loan with a €1m fee and a €5m option to buy. Bard is under contract at Nice until June 2028. West Ham and Coventry City also submitted offers, but Nice accepted Leeds’ proposal. The move is closely tied to Nice’s pursuit of Niels Nkounkou, whose arrival was reportedly conditional on Bard departing in the final hours of the window.

Bard came through Lyon’s academy and made his senior debut for the club in 2019. Nice signed him from Lyon in July 2021 for around €3m plus add-ons. He quickly became a regular at the Allianz Riviera. Over five seasons he has made nearly 200 appearances across all competitions for Nice, scoring seven goals. He has featured as a conventional left-back, a more attacking wing-back, and even as a left-sided centre-back depending on the system.

Coaches have valued his consistency, defensive reliability, and ability to play out from the back. He is 1.73 m, left-footed, and has youth international experience with France up to Olympic level. His market value has been listed around €10–11m in recent valuations, though Nice had previously been quoted as wanting a higher fee for a permanent sale. The loan-plus-option structure gives both clubs a lower-risk way to complete the deal on deadline day.

A seasoned Ligue 1 full-back who can play multiple roles on the left side offers Daniel Farke’s side depth and a different profile. The modest loan fee plus a relatively accessible buy option (€5m) is financially cautious compared with a full transfer, while still giving Leeds the chance to make the move permanent if he settles. For Bard, it is his first move abroad after five years as a mainstay at Nice. A Premier League loan at this stage of his career is a logical next step.

Deadline Day Special

Deadline day at Elland Road: history says something usually happens, this year it may be Bard (€1m fee, €5m option to buy) and not much else. Leeds United have a deadline-day habit. Over the last five summer windows it has produced Dan James (2021), Wilfried Gnonto (2022), Jaidon Anthony on loan (2023) and Ao Tanaka plus Isaac Schmidt (2024). In 2025 they signed nobody on the day itself, with Harry Wilson left waiting on the tarmac. Tonight the window shuts at 11pm BST. The pattern suggests a late name. The squad gaps suggest they need more than one.

Leeds have spent several weeks tracking Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk. An early loan bid was rejected; talks continued; Farke wanted him. Tottenham have now came in late, and according to BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella have hijacked the deal. De Zerbi coached him at Shakhtar. After a resolved doping case, Mudryk wants Premier League minutes. North London now looks the destination. That is the winger Leeds thought they would get. They almost certainly will not now.

Wilfried Gnonto (himself a 2022 deadline-day arrival) is in Italy for a Fiorentina loan with an option to buy. Leeds allowed the trip so the paperwork can be finished fast. The condition has not changed: he only leaves if a replacement winger arrives. Mudryk was that replacement. Without him, Gnonto will stay at Elland Road by default. What kind of reaction could we expect from him if he is made to stay at Elland Road? A player signed on deadline day four years ago is now stuck on deadline day waiting for someone else.

Beyond Dominic Calvert-Lewin, cover is thin in the goal scoring department. Whilst Lucas Nmecha knows where the back of the net is, his overall game is lacking, in particular his inability to hold up the ball. A long term injury to DCL would hurt Leeds; they are in urgent need of a centre-forward. Swansea City hitman Zan Vipotnik could be the answers to Daniel Farke's prayers. Last season’s Championship top scorer with 23 league goals looks more than capable of playing at a higher level, but would require a bid in or around the £17m mark. Both Leeds and Hull City have been monitoring his progress for a while, with the Tigers recently having a £10m bid turned down.




Melvin Bard, OGC Nice, Deadline Day, Wilfried Gnonto

[YorkshireSquare]

Well, it's an area we need cover but I'd stil like more attacking options, especially if Willy is out the door.

[Prisoner37]

We are off Interrailing on Friday and spending 5 nights in Nice, so will be interesting to find what the locals think of our Melvin?

Will have to be careful asking about football though. A couple of years ago we were in a restaurant in Cagliari. On the menu was a fish dish served with the famous Cellino Brothers fish sauce. So I ask the waiter if any relation to Massimo? The waiter menacingly pulled his finger across his throat and said "If he comes here we kill him". I ordered the lasagne!

[Sean_Nile]

Swansea mans career.
International career‡
2017
Slovenia U15
4
(2)
2017–2018
Slovenia U16
7
(1)
2018–2019
Slovenia U17
10
(1)
2019
Slovenia U18
2
(0)
2020
Slovenia U19
1
(0)
2022
Slovenia U21
3
(0)
2023–
Slovenia
26
(5)

[Chilli D]

Surely the club are actively seeking another forward?
If not, we are walking a very dangerous tightrope. An injury to DCL, Nmecha or both and we are in serious trouble without another option.
I understand the LB situation but it's not a priority in my opinion. Justin is adequate cover until GG returns.

[YorkshireSquare]

Surely the club are actively seeking another forward?

They have to be?

Two strikers on the books, Okafor and James our only 'cover'.

[ruttermania]

As this one went completely under the radar it would indicate that there is ongoing work on what are perceived to be the targets. To my mind that would indicate that the club continue to work on possibilities and if they are able to do so it won't be public knowledge . If so there is a reasonable possibility that there are still potential deals which might come to fruition if deals can be worked out . I know nothing about Bard but the information available indicates that at a low cost he offers significant flexibility which will help if we are looking to have options to change formations between and during matches. With the Rodon injury there is a real risk that Justin may be needed as cover for central defence as right back so it probably changed the calculation on order of priority .

[Victor_OTT_17]

Said we will concentrate on attacking options: buy 3 or 4 defenders, 2 goalkeepers and bring in one winger/playmaker plus a youth player! Summat ain't right. I'm hoping I am going to be flabbergasted by midnight (in a good way), Let's hope something fab is lined-up that we have not heard about...

[The Subhuman]

Surely the club are actively seeking another forward?
If not, we are walking a very dangerous tightrope. An injury to DCL, Nmecha or both and we are in serious trouble without another option.
I understand the LB situation but it's not a priority in my opinion. Justin is adequate cover until GG returns.

I'd imagine Okafor would be option 3 and tbh he does his best work in the box. I might even start Okafor as the 9 if DCL went down

[The Subhuman]

As this one went completely under the radar it would indicate that there is ongoing work on what are perceived to be the targets. To my mind that would indicate that the club continue to work on possibilities and if they are able to do so it won't be public knowledge . If so there is a reasonable possibility that there are still potential deals which might come to fruition if deals can be worked out . I know nothing about Bard but the information available indicates that at a low cost he offers significant flexibility which will help if we are looking to have options to change formations between and during matches. With the Rodon injury there is a real risk that Justin may be needed as cover for central defence as right back so it probably changed the calculation on order of priority .

It's the only one that has and as it's undewhelming and probably a long way down our list there's no surprise we didn't know about him earlier, I doubt our transfer team had much more notice...

Similar to Isaac Schmidt who came out of nowhere and for good reason. He wasn't very good for us. At least it's only a loan this time, not even sure he gets into the matchday 20

[Ellandback1]

[Johnthewhite]

It's the only one that has and as it's undewhelming and probably a long way down our list there's no surprise we didn't know about him earlier, I doubt our transfer team had much more notice...

Similar to Isaac Schmidt who came out of nowhere and for good reason. He wasn't very good for us. At least it's only a loan this time, not even sure he gets into the matchday 20

You could say the same about the James Justin purchase, but that has turned out quite well.
I will stick with positivity thanks

[Clitheroe White]

You could say the same about the James Justin purchase, but that has turned out quite well.
I will stick with positivity thanks

Me too (positivity)...our squad will never be perfect, ever! But it is in a place to fight like hell and survive in this league, plus building the foundations from which we can build.

Squad development is an iterative process that takes 3 years...this is the start of year 2...a little more patience required from some supporters.

[The Subhuman]

You could say the same about the James Justin purchase, but that has turned out quite well.
I will stick with positivity thanks

Blind faith, I get it. I'm analytical by nature

[Jammy 07]

With the extended international break coming up Rodon might only miss 3 PL matches.

If that’s the case then we have plenty of defensive cover to cope.

[Carrick Dave]

Blind faith, I get it. I'm analytical by nature

Not when it comes to Willy you’re not.

[The Subhuman]

Not when it comes to Willy you’re not.

Oh I am, 100%.

[1964white]

Me too (positivity)...our squad will never be perfect, ever! But it is in a place to fight like hell and survive in this league, plus building the foundations from which we can build.

Squad development is an iterative process that takes 3 years...this is the start of year 2...a little more patience required from some supporters.

Won't ever be perfect on here, some want us to run before we can walk.

We are nowhere near a top six club yet.

[Ellandback1]

[Ellandback1]

Good luck to Ramazani.