Here are your Leeds United evening headlines for Tuesday, August 18.
Whelan tips move for Shane Duffy
The Scottish Mail report that Leeds United have joined Celtic in the race to sign Brighton defender Shane Duffy.
In need of a centre-back following Ben White’s return to Brighton at the end of his loan deal, Leeds could now seemingly turn to his teammate to solve their defensive problems. And former attacker Noel Whelan believes it would be an excellent signing.
“Gaetano Berardi is out for a long time so we don’t really have any recognised centre-halves bar the young lads coming through,” he told Football Insider . “With Premier League football and the players you’re coming up against you’re going to get found out pretty quickly.
“We need experience and Shane Duffy has played in the Premier League, he knows what it’s all about. He’s a competitor, a leader and I’m sure lots of clubs are looking at him.
“He’s one player I look at him and think ‘yeah, if we can add him to the squad along with another centre-half then we’re covering two positions’.
“We do need quality, we can’t get away with average in the Premier League, you’ll soon get found out.
“We don’t want to be a one season wonder, working so hard to get into the Premier League. We’ve got to make sure we buy the right players and don’t overextend ourselves with the money we’ve got.”
Kinnear discusses Elland Road evolution
Leeds are planning to demolish and rebuild the West Stand to both modernise Elland Rd and increase the stadium’s capacity to 50,000.
This week, chief executive Angus Kinnear discussed the plans in place, including how Leeds will conduct the work in a season in which capacity and attendance are limited.
“Redeveloping the West Stand can take the capacity up to 50,000 and that’s what I think is a very achievable level for Leeds United to ensure you’re always sold out,” he told the Square Ball Podcast . “That’s the key. You want to make sure, even for smaller games, you’re sold out.
“We’ve now started to formalise the plans for how do you redevelop that stand while you have to do it within a season, so how do you manage your capacity and keep your capacity high during that time. There are ways that can be achieved so you’re not losing too many seats.
“It would also be about professionalising the whole of that side of the ground. Ultimately, the changing rooms on that side haven’t changed, the referee’s facilities, the media facilities, they are all outdated.
“We’ve got seats in the upper tier of the West Stand which have restricted views because there’s pillars in the way. The press areas aren’t big enough for the Premier League, the floodlights aren’t bright enough for the Premier League.
“So, not only will we be able to get 15,000 more supporters in the stadium, but we’ll also be able to make it more professional and get that functional environment for the first team on a matchday as well.”
Leeds handed Benrahma boost
As Marcelo Bielsa looks to add quality to his squad ahead of their first campaign in the Premier League in 16 years, Brentford attacker Said Benrahma has consistently been linked with a summer move to Elland Road.
Benrahma has been one of the most heavily linked targets this summer, and now it seems as though Brentford are preparing for life without their creative star.
Swedish outlet Expressen report that talks between Brentford and Amiens are ongoing regarding a deal for Saman Ghoddos. The Algerian international could feasibly replace Benrahma as the central attacking midfielder in the Bees system.
Leeds want to add attacking talent, easing the burden on Patrick Bamford who played the lone striker role throughout their Championship campaign.
Benrahma, while not an out-and-out striker, who would provide another goalscoring and attacking threat for Bielsa to unleash.
