Good evening, Leeds fans. Here are your evening headlines for Saturday, October 24.
Leeds planning Alioski contract talks
Leeds United are planning to initiate contract talks with Ezgjan Alioski.
Football Insider claims the Whites are eager to sign the Macedonian to an extension given his current deal expires at the end of the season.
Marcelo Bielsa is a big fan of the versatile 28-year-old, who can fill in at full-back or on the wing. Alioski made his second start of the season in Friday night’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, slotting in at left-back as Bielsa shuffled through his defensive options.
Alioski has made 138 appearances for Leeds and is viewed as an important part of the squad thanks to his positional flexibility.
Leeds squad pledges Marcus Rashford donation
Amid a controversial debate with Tory MPs regarding free school meals for children during the school holidays, Leeds United players have clubbed together and made a donation to Leeds City Council to aid Marcus Rashford’s bid to end child poverty in the UK.
On social media, club captain Liam Cooper wrote: “Let’s do this Leeds! No children should ever go hungry. £25k guaranteed from the @lufc squad. We stand with you @MarcusRashford.”
Leeds City Council has been raising awareness for its Healthy Holidays programme throughout the local area. Now, the Leeds players have provided a major financial boost for the scheme.
Cooper has since released a further statement, saying: “Me and the players are really fortunate and we are in a position to help.
“Therefore we are delighted to support the campaign from Leeds City Council inspired by Marcus. No kids should go to bed hungry.”
Bamford explains ‘Z’ celebration
After scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa on Friday night, Patrick Bamford held up a ‘Z’ sign with his hands when celebrating his second goal, a brilliant long-range strike from outside the penalty area.
Bamford has since revealed he put up the symbol in support of Hylo Athletics, which use sport in a positive way to challenge climate change.
On Instagram, he explained: “This is the bolt. It's a symbol for planet, a force of nature and the centre of Hylo Athletics' mission using sport to inspire positive change for our earth.
“Sport, and particularly football in this country, has enormous power for good. Celebrating with the bolt is my way of standing up for our earth.
“Climate change is a threat to sport and if we don't act, it's going to get worse. I'm passionate about leaving our planet in a better place than we found it.”
