Friday Morning Hot Links
Leeds United
Leeds United are heading to Germany for an eight-day training camp, and German authorities have forced Leeds to do…whatever it is they’re going to do without any fans present, without saying who they are scrimmaging, when they are scrimmaging, and where they are scrimmaging until the game is over. You can read the official statement from Leeds United here - just understand that this is The Most Exasperated But Still British Press Release Ever.
Leeds are showing more urgency to this Transfer Window than they did last summer because, well, a bad Premier League start is harder to overcome.
Leeds have allegedly “opened talks” with Juventus for midfielder Douglas Luiz, though Manchester United, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest are all apparently in on Luiz, as well. And his weekly salary is likely higher than Leeds would like to take on.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds are still “trying” to sign Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra.
Here’s one of the more bizarre stories you’ll see: Leeds and Lecce are “closer than ever” to an agreement for striker Nikola Krstovic. ONE PARAGRAPH LATER it’s said that Leeds aren’t interested in Krstovic, and Krstovic isn’t particularly thrilled with Leeds, either.
Fulham are officially not interested in selling Rodrigo Muniz to Leeds or anyone else.
Elsewhere
The USWNT beat the dog piss out of Ireland last night.
It only took Leicester almost ten weeks after their relegation was confirmed, and five weeks after the official end of their season, to fire manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Crystal Palace won’t find out if they’re allowed to play in Europe next season until Monday.
Jarred Branthwaite - coveted by pretty much every single team in Europe - has signed a contract extension with a significant pay raise to stay at Everton.
Why Brentford, one of England’s Weirdest Teams, promoted Keith Andrews to manager, and why it’s not really surprising.
Thierry Henry is set to join Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff at Arsenal.
The Guardian: Four things we learned from the USMNT’s group stage matches.
USMNT’s Tim Weah has apparently rejected Nottingham Forest’s bid.
West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, facing a lifetime ban amid an investigation into intentionally getting himself booked for betting purposes, wants to go back to Brazil.
Ruthlessly-fired former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been linked to the head spot at Los Angeles FC.