Good Morning. It's Friday 24th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Southampton strike duo mystery after missing training
Southampton striking duo Che Adams and Ross Stewart were absent from the club's in-house training video ahead of Sunday's trip to Wembley, as speculation grows regarding their fitness levels. Stewart, an £8m signing from Sunderland last Summer (having failed in their bid to sign Joel Piroe) has been hampered by a hamstring injury which has kept the Scottish International sidelined since November.
Strike partner Che Adams picked up a knock at Elland Road on the last game of the season, which kept him out of both legs of the play off semi-final. Saints are desperate to see him return. With 16 goals, and four assists from just 2301 minutes of league game time this season, the 27yo posses the biggest goal threat heading into Sundays showdown, ahead of Adam Armstrong (a goal every 170 mins), Summerville (184 mins), Bamford (185 mins), Piroe (187 mins) and Dan James (193 mins).
Gray spurned top Premier League outfit last Summer
Archie Gray spurned the opportunity to join an unnamed top Premier League outfit last Summer, opting instead to pledge his future to the club he knows and loves. Nobody was more keen than Leeds for Archie to finally turn 17, so they could tie him down to his first professional deal - but it came with a caveat! Gray insisted (through his agent) that the Whites match ‘a certain percentage’ of the lowest offer that came from elsewhere - and the club were more than happy to oblige!
Due to his age, he was only permitted to sign a two year deal, which was extended to run until 2028 in January of this year, two months before he turned 18. Breaking into the first team so young, even had safeguarding issues, the club had to adhere by. He was not allowed to change in the same dressing room as the other first-team players, and even had to get ready in Burton Albion's laundry room last Summer during a pre-season friendly!
Leeds set sights on Gent centre-back
Leeds are being strongly linked with Gent centre-back Jordan Torunarigha, as a replacement for Liam Cooper is is set to leave Elland Road after ten years with the club. Torunarigha, 26, came through the junior ranks of Hertha Berlin, before joining Belgium outfit Gent (initially on loan) in 2022. He has only managed 360 minutes of game time all season.
A mixture of injuries and poor form has seem him slip down the pecking order, and down to 17th in Hein Vanhaezebrouck's 'Whoscored' ratings. He has just one year left on his three year contract, and is likely to only set them back £2.5m, but face competition from Stuttgart and Hoffenheim. The Whites are looking to boost their defensive numbers, and see the 6ft 3' left sided centre back as a solid replacement for Liam Cooper.
