Here are your Leeds evening headlines for Thursday July 30.
Brighton move raises Ben White questions
On Wednesday, Brighton completed a move for Dutch central defender Joel Veltman as they look to bolster their defensive options ahead of the new season.
Of course, for Leeds United, this could open up the potential for Ben White to seek a move away in the summer. White spent last season on loan from Brighton and excelled at the heart of the Leeds defence. He has since returned to the south coast and faces a critical summer in which his future will be decided.
This move had raised hopes that Brighton might be open to selling White, with Leeds undoubtedly interested. However, Graham Potter has said that he is looking forward to working with the defender next season.
“I have known Ben for a while, I have been aware of him, wanted to try and sign him when we were at Swansea,” he said . “I know about his qualities. He's a fantastic player. He's done brilliantly at Leeds and helped them get promotion - that's fantastic for them, fantastic for him - but he's our player and we're looking forward to working with him.
“He complements us really well. He's got attributes that are really, really useful and he's going to be a top player.”
Leeds scout provides transfer update
With Leeds preparing for their first season in the Premier League in over a decade, scout Gaby Ruiz confirmed that Marcelo Bielsa will remain with the club for another season, though also tempered expectations regarding wild spending in the summer.
“We are very optimistic that Marcelo Bielsa will stay next season, we are working on it,” Ruiz told TyC Sports . “It will be an exciting year in the Premier League.”
While Ruiz confirmed Bielsa is set to stay, he also poured cold water on the idea that Leeds will entirely overhaul their squad in the transfer market.
“Our idea is not to make a revolution, far from it,” he said. “We have enormous confidence in the players that are there right now.
“In England, they call it: ‘enjoy the moment’ and we know we have an amazing group and dressing room, with a union and profiles of top-level hard-working footballers.
“We will maintain that backbone and the number of signings will not be very high.”
Thiago Almada hopes fade
After consistent reports claimed that Leeds could make a move for young Argentinian attacking midfielder Thiago Almada this week, his Velez Sarsfield teammate Fernando Gago confirmed that the 19-year-old said he would stay for another season.
“Everyone knows when it is time to go,” Gago told Ole via Sport Witness . “But hey, he’s going to have to stay another year because he already gave me his word. If he doesn’t comply, I won’t let him leave the house.”
Almada, meanwhile, has spoken glowingly about Marcelo Bielsa in the past, stating that he would love to work with the Argentinian coach.
“I would like Bielsa to coach me,” Almada told TyC Sports via HITC . “My friends sent me something about Bielsa, but I am calm. Whether it happens or not, we have to see.
“I don’t watch much soccer, but I saw some Leeds highlights and I saw something similar to what we did in Velez with [Gabriel] Heinze.”
