A few days remain until Leeds United and Southampton square off in the Championship play-off final on Sunday. At Thorp Arch, Daniel Farke’s team will be wrapping up their preparations before heading down to Wembley this weekend, where they will be accompanied by tens of thousands of fans.
While many people watching on TV and those traveling to Wembley are aware that 90 minutes of football will either result in euphoria or pain, Elland Road’s management will adopt a more practical stance and have preparations in place for a summer of investment. Additionally, the YEP has compiled a list of some of the most recent club-related headlines as the tension leading up to Sunday’s match grows.
Jordan Torunarigha, a center-back for Gent, has been linked to defensive additions Leeds, with Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany describing the Nigerian as “one to watch” ahead of the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old is being watched by the Whites, Stuttgart, and Hoffenheim, two Bundesliga teams.
Torunarigha has had another successful season with Gent, who are headed to the Europa Conference League after progressing to the competition’s final stages this year. The Nigerian, who will reach his final year of contract this summer, is well-liked by his current team but may try to move ahead.
Because of the contract situation, Torunarigha could be able to sign a deal at a reduced cost; the report suggests that a move could be “possible” for £2 million to £2.25 million. Leeds will probably be looking for a left-footed center defender, given club captain Liam Cooper is now nearing the end of his Elland Road contract.
Gray contract clause
Archie Gray could seemingly have signed his first professional contract with a top Premier League club last year but opted instead to continue with Leeds. The Athletic’s Phil Hay reports that Gray agreed to sign a contract at Elland Road, so long as the club matched ‘a certain percentage’ of the lowest offer that came from elsewhere.
Gray has rapidly emerged as one of the best academy talents to come through Leeds in decades, having only made his senior debut on the opening day of the season against Cardiff but already become a mainstay in Daniel Farke’s plans. Such is the growing stature of the versatile youngster that Leeds opted to tie him down to a long-term contract in January that will keep him on board until 2028.
There is plenty of interest in Gray ahead of the summer but it seems the eyes of top Premier League clubs had long been on the England under-21 international, with Manchester City and Liverpool among those named. But the report states that Gray was keen to keep developing with the club he loves and was more than happy to snub more lucrative offers in order to do so.
