Matt

LUFC & McLaren Supporter (Views are my own)

[Sky Sports Premier League @SkySportsPL]

BREAKING: Leeds United have signed centre-back Tarik Muharemović from Sassuolo. The transfer for the 23-year-old is worth up to £34m (€40m), which makes it the second biggest in Leeds' history ✍️💰

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🛬 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗞 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗!
We are delighted to announce the signing of defender Tarik Muharemović on a 5 year deal from Serie A side Sassuolo

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🇧🇦 Dobro došao u Leeds, Tarik!

[Matt @Matt_LUFC]

@England Your deluded. Tuchel should be sacked, players not reached their ability the whole tournament. Simply not acceptable

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🟡🔵 Exclusive story from Saturday, now confirmed: Leeds United agree deal to sign Tarik Muharemović, here we go!

€40m package fee to Sassuolo, Juventus get €20m as sell-on clause. 💸

Muharemović will travel for medical and contract signing at #LUFC.

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆!
Leeds United is delighted to announce the signing of exciting forward Harry Wilson, who arrives at Elland Road on a four-year-deal

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🎙️ "𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯"
After eight-and-a-half years, Pascal Struijk delivers an emotional message for Leeds United fans

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🟡🔵 Leeds United have completed all formalities for Harry Wilson to become their first signing of the summer.

Wilson signs a four year deal until June 2030 at #LUFC, priority target for weeks.

[BBC Sport West Yorkshire @BBCWYS]

✍️ 4 more years!

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe says club captain Ethan Ampadu has signed a new deal until summer 2030.

#LUFC | #BBCFootball

[Leeds United @LUFC]

💪 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗬!
🆚 West Ham
🏟️ London Stadium
🕓 4:00pm
📱 #WHULEE

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🫡 Our captain!

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🎁 "Presented with an absolute gift!"

[Adonis Storr @theadelites]

5 years ago #LUFC had just finished 9th in the Premier League and the following summer they failed to back Marcelo Bielsa in the transfer market - it is the pivotal point in Leeds' recent history that Daniel Farke mentioned in today's press conference.

Leeds had not signed a central midfielder for 4.5 years; and when a fan asked then-owner Andrea Radrizzani who the new midfielder would be he replied 'Adam Forshaw' - a player plagued by injury problems.

This is the mistake Farke doesn't want repeating - the failure to back Marcelo Bielsa - who had just returned Leeds' highest finish in the Premier League for 20 years.

That summer window was one of the worst in Leeds' recent history and sowed the seeds of the club's relegation the following season.

In the summer of 2021, Leeds only made 3 significant purchases for the first team: Dan James (23), Junior Firpo (24) and Jack Harrison (24) (who had been on loan the previous seasons).

They were rolling the dice on these prospects, plus six other under 21 players - all good acquisitions - but nowhere near ready for the first team.

185 days after the Radrizzani 'Forshaw' tweet - Marcelo Bielsa was sacked.

The failure to not push on and back Bielsa after he took Leeds to the top half of England's top tier is a decision that still haunts the club when the Argentinian's name is mentioned.

Daniel Farke wants to ensure that the club are aligned in not wanting to repeat the errors of the past.

Farke said in the press conference today: "We, as a club, had one good season in the Premier League in the last 25 years and that was under Marcelo. And we didn't capitalise on it. And now we have had this good season. But if you think as a club you want to just 'maintain the status quo' - then it won't be good enough."

#LUFC are at a crossroads. A similar pivotal fork in the road as 5 years ago. One path is built on a professional ambitious plan that is heavily backed in the transfer market. The other undoes everything the staff and players have worked to achieve the past 3 seasons.

This is the summer transfer window that will define the next 5-10 years of Leeds United's future - the club has to get it right: Daniel Farke knows it, the fans know it, and it is now up to the owner's to put in place the plan and investment that will take Leeds to the next level.

[Leeds United @LUFC]

🔥 @premierleague Player of the Match!

[Nigel Farage @Nigel_Farage]

It’s time to Get Starmer Out.

[Jeremy Clarkson @JeremyClarkson]

@Keir_Starmer I don’t think you’re on my side

[Adonis Storr @theadelites]

When an #LUFC employee was found on a public footpath outside Derby’s training ground, the ‘spygate’ scandal was the main football story for weeks.

Leeds’ manager at the time - Marcelo Bielsa - was accused of not respecting English customs and culture.

One after another, pundits came out against Marcelo, from TalkSport to Sky to the papers.

Aware of the enormous backlash, Bielsa called an impromptu press conference.

Some people thought he might be resigning, or that he was sacked - such was the furore in the media that had been whipped up against him.

Instead, he admitted that Leeds had spied on every opponent that season; and then went on to give a PowerPoint presentation on all the information he had gathered on Frank Lampard’s Derby County.

There was no specific rule Leeds broke so the EFL fined Leeds £200,000 for a crime against the spirit of the game.

The spirit of football can be found - in case you’re wondering - tucked neatly under the layers of agents, betting sponsorships, state-funded sports-washing and dynamic priced tourist tickets.

Bielsa payed the fine himself.

The EFL subsequently brought in an ‘anti-espionage’ rule to stop clubs watching opponents train 72 hours before games.

Now that Middlesbrough have reportedly contacted the EFL after finding a Southampton spy watching them train ahead of the playoff semi-final, I look forward to the backlash.

I wonder if Southampton will face the same scrutiny and criticism that #LUFC and Bielsa did?

I wonder if Southampton will be fined, and if they are fined, I wonder if their manager Tonda Eckert would pay it himself?

The spygate scandal is unique no longer, but I doubt it will be the same.

[Adonis Storr @theadelites]

West Ham's defeat at Brentford means a loss to Arsenal next weekend would confirm #LUFC's place in the Premier League next season.

Defeat against the Gunners would leave West Ham 7 points adrift of Leeds, with only 2 games to play.

Leeds could be safe before the Spurs game.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Leeds United closer to European places than relegation. Things looking up rather than down for Leeds. What a job Daniel Farke has done since half-time at the Etihad. #LUFC

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Leeds United can take pride in their season. Leaving Wembley disappointed and frustrated actually shows what they have achieved this season. They under-performed compared to some of their more vibrant, assertive form on that seven-game unbeaten run. Leeds lost (deservedly) to a newly-motivated Chelsea side whose starting XI cost £551m. Leeds’ starting XI cost £103m. It's not a level playing field for starters.

Leeds went out with a whimper, too meek in the first half, but have over-achieved this season. Plenty of reasons for positivity. Close to confirming they’re staying up, against gloomy pre-season predictions of many rivals. Six points clear of the drop zone with four games remaining and Burnley at home on Friday. Showing a togetherness in the team and between players and supporters that others covet. Generating atmospheres in stadia that few can match.

Guided by a likeable head coach in Daniel Farke who made the right decision when the pressure was on most, changing the tactics and mood (Etihad, Nov 29). Good players like Gudmundsson and Ampadu stepping up, Calvert-Lewin getting back in England contention, Stach class.

A fully fit Stach would have helped against Wembley (arrived at the break). An earlier tweak to 3-4-2-1 to combat Chelsea’s control and give DCL some support might have helped (Farke did go to a back-four at half-time but Chelsea closed down the game, including time-wasting and tactical time-outs).

Leeds can still take pride in reaching the semi-final of the Cup, taking 34,000 to Wembley, and could easily have sold out the stadium on their own. That river of white and yellow flowing from all parts towards football's HQ confirmed the size of the club and the passion it stirs. Need to strengthen further in the summer, keep key players, and continue building. A bad day at Wembley, a missed opportunity, a sense of dismay, cannot slow Leeds United's revival. #LUFC