Here are the Leeds United morning headlines on Sunday December 27th.
Reading boss responds to Michael Olise reports
Reading boss Veljko Paunovic insists he is not aware of an £8million release clause in the contract of in-demand midfielder Michael Olise
Chelsea are one of the latest clubs to be linked with the in-form 19-year-old, who has also reportedly attracted admiring glances from Leeds United, Spurs and AC Milan in recent months.
A figure of £8million has been banded about, but Paunovic is in the dark about it.
"No, not at all [aware of it]," the Royals boss said, as reported by our sister site Berkshire Live.
"But the most important thing for Michael is that he's found a place where he is being protected, supported, is playing games more than ever and he is being given opportunities.
"In most of the games he has done very well and also, because of the approach we have towards him, one of the reasons why he didn't start against Luton or come on was because he complained after Brentford about his hamstring.
"So could he have played? Yes but it wasn't necessary to expose him. And I know very well about hamstring injuries because I suffered many.
"We will have a precautionary approach with him and there are some things that Michael has to learn in regard to his game day preparation and a more individual discussion we want to have with him."
Olise will soon be in the final 18 months of his deal at the Madejski Stadium, after he penned a three-year deal in the summer of 2019.
Merson hits out
Pail Merson is the latest pundit to deride Marcelo Bielsa's style of play, calling it 'madness'.
Writing in his Daily Star column, Merson think the Leeds United head coach must be more adaptable, in what has become a familiar criticism and one which Bielsa addressed at length earlier this week in his pre-Burnley press confernce.
"Playing the Marcelo Bielsa way is madness," he said.
"They play the same way whatever the score is. That can’t be right. I love watching them. But people are telling me their manager is the best in the world. Why?"
Read more from the former Arsenal and England man here.
Gerrard discusses future
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has been touted as a potential Marcelo Bielsa successor in certain quarters over the past 18 months, but the former Liverpool midfielder says he has no long-term managerial targets.
Gerrard is currently enjoying an excellent season in charge at Ibrox and his side sit 16 points of bitter rivals Celtic ahead of today's Old Firm clash.
The 40-year-old's contract in Glasgow runs until 2024 and, speaking to the Athletic, he says he is enjoying his time at Ibrox too much to look at future plans.
He said : "Who knows? I’ve got no targets, no plan in terms of how long I want to do it for. But this is no stepping stone for me.
"I’ve got no plan beyond this contract. I haven’t got my eyes on anywhere else."
