Good Morning. It's Tuesday 31st December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Khusanov rumours stir up Struijk departure gossipTalk of a £16.5m bid for Uzbekistan International Abdukodir Khusanov are gaining traction, re-igniting speculation that Pascal Struijk's could be on his way out of Elland Road very soon. The Dutch defender, an academy signing in 2018, has been a rock as far as the Leeds Utd defence is concerned, helping his side achieve 14 clean sheets this season (joint top with the Blades). He has amassed 136 first team appearances and earned a reputation as being the best defender in the Championship.
Khusanov, currently showcasing his talents in Ligue 1 with Lens, is renowned for his blistering pace and astute reading of the game – impressive for his young age. Whilst linked with Premier League giants like Tottenham and Newcastle, the allure of consistent game time at Leeds could prove decisive.
Leeds reportedly value Struijk at £25 million, a sum likely needed to fund a move for the highly-rated Khusanov. This potential transfer saga suggests a bold strategy from the Whites, potentially sacrificing established Championship quality for a promising international with significant upside.
Whites could still face FA charge following anti Palestine chantLeeds United could still face an FA inquiry after 'tragedy chanting' was observed from Leeds fans at Stoke City on Boxing Day. As the away end erupted after going 2-0 up, a continent of Whites fans turned their attention to Israeli International Manor Solomon, playfully perhaps stirring up Middle Eastern tensions by singing: “Manor Solomon’s on my mind, and he hates Palestine.”
Given the volatile situation 2348 miles away in Gaza, authorities are taking a grim view of such behaviour. Although many consider the confines of a football ground a safe haven for laddish conduct, Leeds Utd have come out and said they "have a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination abuse of all kinds".
How they plan to deal with the situation will be challenging. You'll recall the hierarchy's outcry following the Wilfred Gnonto chant, which is still a favourite amongst some of the ER faithful on match days.
Odds tumble for Leeds PromotionLeeds outstanding form over the Christmas period has sent ripples through the Championship and, more importantly, convinced the bookmakers at Bet365 of their Premier League destiny. The betting giant has significantly shortened the odds on Farke's side achieving promotion this season, reflecting the growing confidence in his squad.
Sitting atop the league with an impressive 51 points from 24 matches, Leeds are currently projected to amass a staggering 98 points – a tally that historically guarantees a top-flight return. This dominant performance has seen their odds of promotion slashed to an incredibly short 1/25. For context, a bet of £125 would now only yield a £5 profit, highlighting the near certainty bookmakers are placing on their success.
Sheffield Utd and Burnley are joint second favourites at 4/6 with Boro 15/8, Sunderland 2/1 and West Brom 7/1 lagging behind. Leeds are two points ahead of Sheffield Utd, and three points in-front of Burnley; and are top of the form guide with 16 points from a possible 18 from their last six matches. The whispers of top-flight football returning to Elland Road are growing louder with each passing victory.
