Wednesday Morning Hot Links
I’ve had a thing this week that, in addition to being sick, has really gotten in the way of me following everything that’s happening in the transfer market and pre-season and whatnot. Hopefully that’s fixed, but it does remind me that I need to figure something out here in about two weeks when I go Back to Work. No matter, for now:
Leeds United
So there has been some movement on a couple of key players coming to Elland Road! Leeds have an agreement with Newcastle United for midfielder Sean Longstaff for £12 million plus £3 million if Leeds United don’t get relegated this season.
Leeds have also agreed on personal terms with 6’4” Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach (pronounced “Stack,” unfortunately, not “Stache” like I thought), and negotiations are ongoing with Hoffenheim. This is one of those Cart As Well As The Horse situations because with soccer transfers, you need to negotiate both personal terms (salary, incentives, whatnot) as well as the fee paid to the other club. You can spend all summer working on a deal with a player’s team and then find that the player’s personal demands are not what you had in mind, and it all falls apart. Hoffenheim reportedly want around £17 million plus add-ons for Stach.
Leeds have joined West Ham and Brentford in registering interest in Real Madrid’s Club World Cup breakout star forward Gonzalo Garcia on a season-long loan.
Leeds have some work to do to address their Goalkeeper Situation, with a friendly against Manchester United on Saturday, and no clear GK1.
It bears repeating: Judge a transfer window once it has closed, not on a day-to-day basis.
Elsewhere
Newcastle isn’t selling forward Alexander Isak, so Liverpool have joined the race for Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike. Newcastle is claiming Shenanigans over leaked details of a bid for Isak.
Chelsea are getting ready to sell the requisite players in order to be able to play with their new toys in the Champions League this season. Can Chelsea compete for the Premier League title?
La Liga’s best one-on-one defender is joining Arsenal.
Anybody who wants Liverpool center defender Ibrahima Konate will have to pay about £43 million. Also Liverpool rejected a £58.5 million bid from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz, who now wants to leave Anfield.
Huge money is being thrown at Manchester City GK1 Ederson.
Crystal Palace fans are protesting - rightfully - over their demotion to the Europa Conference League, and are ready to get the government involved.
Inside the luxury hotel helping England’s WNT relax at the Euros.
American owners have taken over half of the Scottish Premier League. What’s in it for them?
What To Watch: Wednesday
12pm (Central): Pre-Season Exhibition: Brighton v Stoke. ESPN+.
2pm: Women’s European Championships - Quarterfinals: Norway v Italy. Fox.
9pm: MLS: Seattle Sounders v Colorado Rapids. FS1.