Last week, Leeds United were struck a setback in their rumored pursuit of Lorient manager Regis Le Bris. After impressing with Les Merlus last season, the French coach was linked with a move to OGC Nice.
Both Nice and Lorient have not yet agreed on a compensation package for Le Bris, and Foot Mercato maintains no agreement was ever reached, contradicting prior rumors that stated a deal was almost finalized.According to Mohamed Toubache-Ter, Lorient have added a €5 million release provision into Le Bris’ existing contract, which could mean all is not lost for Leeds United.
Since Sam Allardyce’s departure, the Whites have been linked with Scott Parker, Daniel Farke, Brendan Rodgers, and Steven Gerrard.
Celtic have met with rumored Leeds United manager target Daniel Farke. The German head coach was fired by Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach earlier this month after only one season in charge, finishing 10th.
According to Sky Germany journalist Fliran Plettenberg, Celtic have held preliminary negotiations with the German, who is scheduled to visit Elland Road next. Farke has expertise in British football as the manager of Norwich City, where he led the Canaries to the Premier League title in 2018-19.
Farke is being considered to replace Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, who quit to take over as manager of Tottenham Hotspur last week. The 46-year-old learned his craft under Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund and established a reputation in East Anglia for playing offensive, high-energy football.
“Exclusive News #Farke: Talks with @CelticFC!” tweeted Plettenberg. Celtic are keen to sign him as a replacement for Postecoglou. The first discussions took place. #CelticFC @leeds has verified the next option. However, it is not yet progressed. It’s possible that things will alter next week. Farke, you’re ready to take over a new club right now!”
When 49ers Enterprises announced their initial acquisition ambitions, they surely didn’t expect to be handing over the keys to a Championship team this summer. The American investment firm is alleged to have agreed to buy Leeds United from Andrea Radrizzani as a Premier League team, only to have things quickly rearranged following the club’s relegation.
Nonetheless, word of a transaction was leaked on Friday evening, with an Athletic article stating the deal valued Leeds at roughly £170 million, which is around £300 million less than what it would have been in the top division. That means Leeds United can now concentrate their efforts this summer on putting in place the required procedures to prepare for the season.
The priority is a head coach, but recruitment isn’t far behind, and big changes in playing personnel are likely following sliding out of the top tier. Of course, promotion is the goal, but some crucial players will not be around for the voyage.
Illan Meslier, the Leeds United goalkeeper, has kept his options open about his future at Elland Road. Following the Whites’ relegation to the Championship, the 23-year-old is allegedly a target for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
The French youth international, who is presently on international duty with France’s U21s, says he would only seek to become number one if it meant playing more. Following his arrival at Elland Road, Sam Allardyce dropped Meslier in an attempt to pull the youthful shot stopper out of the firing line and shore up the Whites’ back line.
Joel Robles comes in to replace the Whites’ shot stopper, but he is unable to assist Leeds to safety. Meslier’s future at the club is uncertain, as it is for many of the current generation of Whites players.
He told RMC Sport: “It’s complicated. Really it’s complicated. When you get out of a situation that is ours – I don’t know if you’ve seen the coach – our club is in the process of being bought out by Saint Francisco 49ers so suddenly there are a lot of unknowns.”
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