Good Morning. It's Tuesday 9th July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Would £20m offer tempt Leeds to part with CaptainSerie A outfit Torino are preparing to test Leeds resolve with a £15m - £20m offer for Captain Pascal Struijk, according to respected Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio. The 24 year old has recently returned to training following a troublesome groin injury, picked up in the 2-1 defeat at Preston on Boxing Day. After not responding to treatment, he underwent surgery to correct the problem, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.
Up until that point, the former Ajax apprentice had enjoyed an exceptional start to last season, forming a formidable back line with Joe Rodon. He made 23 starts, netting five times, and a respectable 6.92 'Whoscored' rating. Some may argue that £15m - £20m is cheap, considering Torino are in the throws of wrapping up the sale of fellow centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno to Napoli for £34m, but that's the cost after coming back after six months on the sidelines.
Leeds complete Cairns dealSalford City shot-stopper Alex Cairns has rejoined Leeds in a six figure transfer deal, penning a two year contract at the club. The deal comes after seeing promising keeper Kristoffer Klaesson depart for Polish outfit Rakow Czestochow on a free transfer (according to his Wikipedia page), three years after his £1.6m move from Vålerenga. Cairns, who had one year left on his contract returns to his boyhood club nine years after leaving to provide competition for Karl Darlow, as to who gets to sit on the bench on match days.
Firpo Olympic inclusion will upset FarkeJunior Firpo has been named in Ibai Gomez's Dominican Republic Football Squad in the Olympics later this Summer, despite Leeds opposition to the idea! The 27 year old is one of only two players (Byram being the other) recognised to play left wing back for the Whites. If he were to join up with the Quisqueyanos, he is likely to miss most of the pre-season, which could have a detrimental effect on Daniel Farke's preparations for the new season. The Olympics is not part of the official FIFA calendar, and Leeds are under no obligation to release players for the competition.
