Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Wednesday, 23 September.
Leeds planning late bid for £20m striker
Leeds are plotting a move for Rangers striker Ryan Kent before the end of the transfer window, according to Football Insider.
The 23-year-old, who has scored four goals in eight Scottish Premiership games so far this season, has a release clause in his contract of £20million.
Leeds reportedly had a bid of £10m rejected earlier in the summer.
But they are set to go back in for the former Liverpool forward with just a couple of weeks of the transfer window remaining.
The Whites are not expected to meet Kent’s release clause, but will make an improved offer.
Real Sociedad expert claims Llorente won’t ‘take it well’ if benched at Leeds
Real Sociedad expert and journalist Mikel Recalde has suggested Diego Llorente might struggle if used as a backup option at Leeds.
The centre back is expected to be the next new signing for the Whites with a reported fee of between £18m and £19m agreed.
Llorente will add to Marcelo Bielsa’s options in defence following the arrival of Robin Koch earlier this summer. But Recalde has provided a mixed review on the 27-year-old.
“Diego Llorente has wanted to go every summer since his arrival at La Real,” he told Leeds Live.
He has always considered this club a bridge to a bigger one. It is not [an idea] understood very well and he even surprised his own team-mates because very few places will be so good [or] as comfortable and as protected as in La Real.
“Llorente is a good centre-back, quite complete, tall with a great command of the aerial game and with a good output of the ball. He is even capable of scoring goals when he joins the attack.
“With regard to his weak points, he is a centre-back who believes he is many times better than he really is, which leads him to make important mistakes that usually end in a goal that reduces his reliability.
“Llorente has not known what it is like to be a substitute since his last months at Real Madrid. From then on he has always played.
“I do not think it is good to be a substitute and I think if he goes to a club it is because he considers he will play safe. He is not used to the bench and I don't think he will take it too well."
Llorente arrival could signal transfer policy change
The signing of Diego Llorente could be further evidence of a change in transfer policy at Leeds.
Marcelo Bielsa has, in recent seasons, looked towards youth, bringing in the likes of Ian Poveda, Illan Meslier and Ben White.
The arrival of Robin Koch earlier this summer suggested things might continue in that fashion.
But Leeds appear to be turning towards more proven top-flight experience for their first season back in the Premier League.
The record signing of Rodrigo, 29, and now the proposed deal for Llorente, 27, suggest the club are more focused on the here and now than planning for the next few years.
