Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Tuesday, 29 September.
Leeds to miss out on Ross Barkley
Leeds United target Ross Barkley has opted to remain at Chelsea, according to Football Insider.
Marcelo Bielsa was rumoured to be interested in bringing Barkley to Elland Road, but the player believes he can still hold down a place in the Blues’ congested midfield.
Barkley has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2023 but had been linked with moves to Leeds and Aston Villa..
The 26-year-old scored in Chelsea’s 6-0 demolition of Barnsley in the EFL Cup, but is yet to start a Premier League game this season, featuring as a late substitute against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
Chelsea had made it known they were looking to offload a handful of first-team players, but it appears Barkley will not be one of those jettisoned.
The news comes as Leeds move closer to signing Michael Cuisance from Bayern Munich.
Could Kante move pave way for James signing?
Daniel James' links to Leeds refuse to go away and any move from the Whites for the Welshman in the last week of the transfer window could help Manchester United fund their own transfer activity.
The Manchester United winger was set to join the Whites in January 2019, but a move from Swansea City collapsed late on.
Now it appears that with a potentially expensive switch for N’Golo Kante in the offing at Old Trafford, James could be sold in order to make room – and raise funds – for the Frenchman.
Leeds have held a sustained interest in the Welsh winger, ever since being denied the opportunity to sign him almost two years ago, and Bielsa is said to be a keen admirer.
The club are still on the lookout for additional wide players and James’ prior willingness to join up with the squad at Elland Road could be a deciding factor if he is told he is surplus to requirements by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Praise from Germany ahead of Cuisance Leeds move
Leeds are working hard on a deal to sign 21-year-old midfielder Michael Cuisance from Bayern Munich.
As a teenager, Cuisance enjoyed an impressive debut campaign with Borussia Mönchengladbach, in which he featured alongside World Cup-winner Christoph Kramer.
He’s also played alongside Robert Lewandowski, who rates the midfielder highly.
“He’s a young player with huge potential,” said the Poland international, having first seen Cuisance impress at a pre-season tournament.
“I didn’t know him at the time but I thought ‘this kid has a good future in front of him’.”
