Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Wednesday, 5 January 2022.
Court date set
Leeds United will go up against Red Bull Leipzig in the Court of Arbitration for Sport on March 15 over the controversy surrounding the Jean-Kevin Augustin deal after CAS set a date in the next stage of the dispute between the two sides.
Augustin signed for the Whites in January 2020 on a loan until the end of the season that included a €21 million obligation to buy upon promotion.
The dispute lies in the dates on the paperwork. Leipzig argue the promotion, whenever it was clinched, means Leeds should pay for the striker.
United argue the deal ended, along with any obligation to buy, on June 30, three weeks before promotion was confirmed to the top-flight.
First signing confirmed
Leeds United completed the signing of Espanyol striker Mateo Joseph Fernandez last night to mark their first foray into the January transfer window.
Joseph has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Whites and is expected to link up with the club’s under-23s side initially.
The 18-year-old could be seen as a replacement in Mark Jackson’s side for Joe Gelhardt, whose first team involvement is becoming more regular by the week.
Joseph’s deal at Espanyol was set to expire this summer and he had no intention of signing new terms with the La Liga side, which allowed Leeds to swoop in and secure his signature.
Where will Leeds strengthen?
Leeds United have already admitted that the January transfer window will prove to be a tough time to conduct business.
However, while it is a notoriously more difficult window than the summer, Leeds will know that they must strengthen accordingly.
As injuries continue to hit the squad hard, the lack of depth on Marcelo Bielsa’s bench becomes more and more apparent by the week.
Central midfield will undoubtedly be top of Victor Orta’s list of priorities, but where else could they look to strengthen?
Read here.
