Here are your Leeds United evening headlines for Thursday, December 10.
Pablo Hernandez should make the bench
If he is fit and available, Pablo Hernandez should make the bench against West Ham United, according to former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Hernandez, who was ever-present in Leeds’ Championship success under Marcelo Bielsa but missed last weekend’s Chelsea match through injury, has hardly featured this season. But Robinson believes there is still a place for him in the Leeds squad when he is available.
“I don’t know about Pablo,” he told MOT Leeds News . “We all know about what happened when he got taken off against Leicester, but I just don’t know if there’s anything underlying or if he’s injured.
“The line from the club is that he was injured. A fit Pablo Hernandez can still make an impact at Leeds. We have to trust the line that he was injured but a fit Pablo Hernandez will at least make the bench for Leeds.
“I don’t think he’s being left out on talent. He’s still key to the squad and he can still have an impact in this Leeds side whether it’s from the start or from the bench.”
Jean-Kevin Augustin saga ramps up
FIFA has confirmed that it is now involved in the dispute between RB Leipzig and Leeds regarding the transfer of Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Leeds signed Augustin on loan last January. Included in the deal was a clause that said the transfer would be made permanent if the Whites secured promotion by June. Due to the coronavirus-enforced delay of the season, Leeds did secure promotion, but not until after June.
Leeds therefore refused to pay the reported £18million clause, while Leipzig refused to accept his return. Augustin subsequently signed for Nantes on a free transfer, but the German side has now requested that FIFA investigate the issue as they demand payment from Leeds.
A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic : “FIFA can confirm that it has received a claim from RB Leipzig against Leeds United. The matter is currently still being investigated and consequently we cannot provide any further comments.”
Andrea Radrizzani named in Top 100 richest sports club owners
Leeds majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani was named in the Top 100 Richest Sports Club Owners by OLBG.com this week.
The Italian, who earned his fortune through sports broadcasting and is the founder of ASER Ventures, is deemed to be worth £344.5m, which places him 100th on the list, scraping into the top 100.
Under Radrizzani, Leeds have been exceptionally successful, earning promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in almost two decades.
He has invested heavily in the facilities of and management and playing staff at the club, welcoming the help and financial support of Paraag Marathe of the San Francisco 49ers’ investment arm.
Radrizzani sneaking into the top 100 shows the financial potential of the club, though Leeds fans will know more than most how detrimental mismanagement of even vast finances can be.
