Monday Morning Hot Links
Leeds United
It’s June 30, which means that it’s Contract Expiration Day for left back Junior Firpo and defender Sam Byram.
A deal is reportedly close for Leeds United to sign 26-year old Belgian center back Sebastiaan Bornauw from Wolfsburg for around £6m. He’s 6’3”, so Leeds are clearly collecting tall defenders (Jaka Bijol is also 6’3”). Not a terrible strategy. That’s three confirmed signings: Bornauw and Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg, and Bijol from Udinese.
Leeds have reportedly made a 17 million bid for 21-year old Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia, whom you may have seen in the Club World Cup. Fichajes describes Leeds’ offer as “the most attractive” so far, with Sunderland, Real Oviedo, and Roma circling. That said, Real Madrid are looking for an offer closer to Garcia’s £26 million buyout clause. But apparently Fichajes is routinely full of crap, so who knows.
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Levin will leave Everton with his contract expiring today and links to Leeds United.
Sunderland are interested in Former Leeds United Great/Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell. If you’ve ever played Football Manager, you know that sometimes negotiations include a sell-on fee. It usually happens with younger players (like Cresswell, who is 22) that, should you sell Player A to Team B, and Team B sells Player A to Team C later, Team A gets a percentage of the sale. So if Sunderland does bring in Cresswell, Leeds stand to make over £1 million.
Elsewhere
51 Premier League players whose contracts expire today.
Matt Freese came up huge for the USMNT in the Gold Cup Quarterfinal against Costa Rica, as the USMNT won on penalties. The USMNT, without their Big Stars are…good?
Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all interested in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
No fewer than five Bundesliga clubs are in on Manchester City’s James McAtee.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the Club World Cup could ruin their Premier League season as Chelsea are furious about their two-hour thunderstorm delay.
Chelsea have agreed to a £60 million deal for Brighton striker Joao Pedro, and he could join Chelsea at the Club World Cup.
Part-owner of the recently-relegated Lyon, John Textor (who has been in The News lately for having to dump his shares in Crystal Palace in order for them to be eligible for European play this coming season) has resigned. Mans is watching his entire portfolio disappear, and I’m okay with that. Lyon, who is appealing their relegation ruling, could knock Crystal Palace down to the Europa Conference League if they’re successful.
What To Watch: Monday
8pm (Central): Club World Cup: Manchester City vs Al Hilal. TBS.