Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
Daniel James link dragged up again
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have a decision to make on whether to allow Daniel James to leave on loan from Manchester United should, as seems likely, the club obtain a work permit for new signing Amad Diallo.
United agreed a projected £37.2m deal with Atalanta for Diallo in October and hope the 18-year-old Ivory Coast winger will be able to join Solskjaer’s squad in the coming weeks, according to The Telegraph.
Leeds have been among the clubs interested in loaning James before and may test the Manchester club’s resolve over the Wales winger, who has been a largely peripheral figure this season, should Diallo’s work permit be successfully ratified.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Sam Greenwood verdict
Marcelo Bielsa highlighted Sam Greenwood's versatility following the young Leeds United striker's latest impressive showing for the under-23s.
The summer signing netted his sixth goal for Mark Jackson's side when he slotted away a penalty shortly before half-time to level against Aston Villa on Sunday, as the young Whites came from 2-0 down to record a 3-2 victory that saw them move to the top of the Premier League 2 table.
That came despite Greenwood playing in a deeper midfield role, where he put in an impressive performance which begged the question as to where his long-term future lies.
Bielsa was asked this very question during his pre-Newcastle press conference.
"His main position is as a centre forward. Normally he plays in conjunction with [Joe] Gelhardt in the team," said the Leeds head coach.
"Gelhardt is a player that when he is close to the box is very dangerous and Greenwood is a player who has a lot of capacity to arrive into the free spaces. They can play either with Gelhardt in front and Greenwood behind or the other way round."
Chelsea loan link
Leeds United are keeping tabs on Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori ahead of the January window, Football Insider reports.
Bielsa revealed at his media conference last Wednesday he has no plans to buy a defender in the transfer window next month.
A loan deal has not been ruled out behind the scenes at Leeds, the report says, as the club assess potential options to strengthen the team’s injury-ravaged backline.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider, they say, one player being considered is centre-back Tomori.
The 22-year-old’s game time at Chelsea has been limited this season and he has featured in only one of the club’s 18 Premier League and Champions League fixtures.
Frank Lampard may be willing to loan him out for the second half of the season after talks over a season-long loan to West Ham United floundered in early October.
