Tuesday Morning Hot Links
It’s July 1 aka Free Agent Day, as contracts expired last night at midnight. And July also means pre-season friendlies (exhibitions) and the start of the Tour de France!
Leeds United
Left Back Junior Firpo was offered a new contract but rejected it, and is expected to rejoin Real Betis. Firpo played 2,616 minutes for Leeds last season, which was 8th-highest on the team, and provided one of the highlights of the season at The Bastards of Sheffield United in a 3-1 win on February 24. Leeds United officially said goodbye to both Firpo and midfielder Manor Solomon yesterday. Firpo sent an emotional message to Leeds fans upon the expiry of his contract.
Manor Solomon will be given a chance to fight for a spot with Tottenham, and the farewell message is an indication that Leeds are moving on.
Sam Byram and Joshua Guilavogui are officially free agents, and neither are a surprise.
Wolfsburg center back Sebastiaan Bornauw completed his medical yesterday and will join Leeds imminently.
There is still “strong interest” in bringing in Lille left back Gabriel Gudmundsson but nothing has progressed terribly far.
Leeds’ chances at bringing in Newcastle GK Nick Pope have “taken a nosedive.”
Leeds United have 6’4” Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach on their shortlist, but so do a lot of other clubs.
Hero Joe Rothwell is closing in on a move to Leeds United 2 aka Rangers.
Leeds United are currently at 14/1 to bring in former Everton man Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Elsewhere
Get ready for awkwardness as Marcus Rashford heads back to Manchester United after Aston Villa declined their option to permanently sign him for £40 million. Will Bayern Munich swoop in and relieve United of their Rashford troubles?
Bayern Munich want Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.
Crystal Palace’s Eberichi Eze could solve a lot of problems for Arsenal.
Tottenham want to sign West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus, who has an £85 million release clause but whom West Ham may release for around £60 million. Also at Tottenham, forward Richarlison will be allowed to join Turkish club Galatasaray.
Over in the Club World Cup, Al Hilal beat Manchester City 4-3. Here are the highlights. It’s the first time that an Asian club have beaten a European club in a FIFA tournament, with Europe going 18-0-2 in the previous 20 matches. The Daily Mail ripped Manchester City a new one.
Fluminese also knocked out Inter Milan.
If this Messi fella from Inter Miami really does fancy a loan move to the Premier League to prepare for Argentina’s World Cup defense, I’d let Leeds sign him for a bit. Absolute Legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic says that Messi “plays with statues” at Inter Miami, and it wasn’t a compliment.
Sheffield United are a shambles and I, for one [smirks], Hate [guffaws] To See It [Tears of Joy]. Somehow, Sheffield Wednesday may be in worse shape.
ESPN: Would moving to bigger clubs help the USMNT?
What To Watch: Tuesday
2pm (Central): Club World Cup: Juventus vs Real Madrid. DAZN.
8pm: Club World Cup: Monterrey vs Borussia Dortmund. TNT.