Wednesday Evening Hot Links
I’ve been at a seminar for the last three days. I thought I could figure out my morning schedule to where I could still do these for the 4-6 of you who read it, but I could not. Anyway, seminar is over. Let’s get it on:
Leeds United
The main news of the day is that the Fixture List (schedule) came out! And Leeds’ very first game back in the Premier League is not terribly convenient for me, as it will be Monday, 18 August at home versus Everton!
Leeds’ Dark Days will be 29 November-6 December as they go to Manchester City, home versus Chelsea, and home versus Liverpool in eight days (and get Liverpool at Anfield on 30 December!)
Leeds’ first five Premier League games of 2025-26: vs Everton (18 Aug), at Arsenal (23 Aug), vs Newcastle (30 Aug), at Fulham (13 Sept), at Wolves (20 Sept). So that’s [squints] two Champions League teams in the first three matches. Opta ran the numbers on who has the toughest leadout to the season, ranking the difficulty of each Premier League team’s opening five games, and Leeds sit with the 8th toughest opening salvo of the League. Scroll down in that Opta link and they expand it to the League’s first ten games, which is considerably easier for Leeds United, where they have the 4th-easiest schedule (as things stand now).
Udinese center defender Jaka Bijol is in Leeds for a medical as they prepare to wrap up the £19-ish million signing.
Fulham have rejected a £32 million bid from Leeds for striker Rodrigo Muniz.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Leeds are “considering” 19-year old Slovenian center defender Lovro Golic as he is a free agent after leaving Roma. Leeds also “have an interest” in Union Saint-Gilloise midfielder Noah Sadiki.
Yeah…it doesn’t sound like Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas is interested in leaving for Leeds. And a deal for Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra looks unlikely, as well.
This supercomputer predicts that…Leeds will get relegated next spring, and that all three newly-promoted sides will find themselves back in the Championship next year.
Tottenham Hotspur/Former Leeds United Great Manor Solomon is stranded in Israel.
Elsewhere
Chelsea’s big January 2023 signing Mykhailo Mudryk could be facing up to a four-year ban for doping.
Manchester City: New Year, New Phil Foden!
Any time you can have your worst season in 50 years and still raise ticket prices…you gotta take that chance (and Manchester United fans are pissed).
The entirety of the Turkish Football Federation’s board have resigned after texts were leaked implicating revenge against Absolute Legend Jose Mourinho. Speaking of Mourinho, could Son Heung-min join him at Fenerbahce?
CBS Sports: What to know about USMNT vs Saudi Arabia.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has left the club, crying, probably, and Sheffield has appointed former Hull City manager Ruben Selles as their new manager for this EFL Championship season lol.
Off The Pitch
Wired: The Definitive, Insane, Swimsuit-Bursting Story of the Steroid Olympics.
SFGate: Meet the daredevils who take on the Grand Canyon’s most terrifying job.
If you’re like me (middle-aged white guy) and are looking to escape for a few days next January, check out who’s playing at Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky” Festival in Mexico.