WagwanvibesLeeds United are now expected to do some business in the January transfer window despite Robbie Evans’ post-summer comments, and an England international has emerged on the club’s radar.
Evans claimed Leeds had maxed out their PSR position, and any new signings would likely take Leeds into a place where they were under threat of a points deduction come the 2026 PSR deadline next summer.
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However, reports say Leeds are planning to make some additions in the winter window to bolster the club’s chances of avoiding relegation. Plenty have been linked, including PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari.
Now, it appears Leeds are one of 10 clubs to have shown interest in Manchester United and England star Kobbie Mainoo ahead of the January window. However, they face competition from Europe’s best clubs.
READ MORE: What Leeds sources are saying about Daniel Farke’s future after defeat to Brighton
Kobbie Mainoo on England duty in 2024.
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Leeds United’s chances of signing Kobbie Mainoo weighed up
According to a report from Caught Offside, Leeds are one of 10 clubs to have shown interest in Mainoo. The England star has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, since Ruben Amorim became boss.
Man City and Newcastle have cooled their interest but remain two of the 10 clubs mentioned. Antonio Conte’s Napoli are on pole, having signed Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay from Man United.
Chelsea are deemed ‘long-term admirers’ while Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also keeping tabs. Tottenham and Everton are also seen as interested parties in the Manchester United ace.
Caught Offside say that Leeds showed interest in taking Mainoo to Elland Road on loan in the summer, but things never got to an advanced stage. Leeds are said to still be interested in Mainoo.
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What Ruben Amorim has said about Kobbie Mainoo’s future…
Mainoo has been afforded just 138 minutes of Premier League action this season, spread across seven league outings. It comes after The Mail reported Mainoo had asked to leave on loan in the summer.
Man United boss Amorim has been repeatedly asked about Mainoo’s game time, with the Portuguese gaffer preferring the likes of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte. He said this in October:
“Like a lot of guys, he wants to play more. I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done (the finished article). I think he can do so much better, he can improve a lot.
“I think for some guys it is enough (their talent), but for him it is not enough. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie Mainoo, and that’s it. He will have opportunities like the other guys.”
Man United manager Ruben Amorim.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Of course, Leeds have no chance of landing Mainoo permanently and there might be some backlash from supporters if that was the case given his Man United roots. Especially, with the other clubs interested.
But, a loan would suit Leeds, Mainoo and Man United. It would aid his development, give him Premier League game time and the chance to win a place in Thomas Tuchel’s side ahead of the World Cup.
It would also prevent Leeds having to endanger their PSR position just to get a player in. Whether Leeds are interested in a central midfielder remains to be seen, with a new winger likely to be the priority.
Archie Gray shows he’s still Leeds United at heart when asked question by Tottenham’s media
Will Butcher
There is no doubt that Archie Gray remains a Leeds United fan even if he left the club in the summer of 2024 to join Tottenham. His response to a question by Tottenham’s media team proves it.
Gray left Leeds for a fee of £40m almost 18 months ago now, having played more than 50 games for Leeds in 2023-24. It saw him become the fourth member of the Gray family to play for the Yorkshire side.
But PSR meant Leeds had to make a sale before June 30 in 2024, and Gray was the one sacrificed. He has since become a Europa League winner with Spurs, clocking up 52 appearances for the London club since.
However, with Gray’s younger brother now a part of Leeds’ first team and his father working closely with the club, as is great uncle Eddie, Archie is Leeds at heart. He proved it on Tottenham’s socials this week.
Archie Gray names Leeds United goal as the best he’s seen live
The teenage ace only ever scored once for Leeds, and even then it was a deflection. But it did come in a massive 3-1 win over Leicester at Elland Road. However, Gray didn’t pick his own goal as the best.
Tottenham’s media asked the Spurs players what was the best goal they’ve seen live, after Micky van de Ven’s incredible solo effort in a 4-0 win over Copenhagen. But Gray picked Patrick Bamford’s stunner.
Patrick Bamford and the Leeds players celebrate his goal agaist Peterborough.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
In January 2024, Leeds beat Peterborough United 3-0 in The FA Cup. Ethan Ampadu had scored a brace, his only two goals for Leeds, before firing a long ball into Bamford who chested and volleyed into the net.
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Asked by Tottenham’s media for the best goal he’s seen live, Gray picked Bamford’s strike: “Patrick Bamford vs Peterborough, FA Cup, I think. Had the ball in our half, Ethan Ampadu played a long ball.
“Patrick Bamford took it down on his chest,” Gray continued, moving his body as if he was Bamford in that moment. “It went up, and he smashed it into the top corner. That was really good wasn’t it.”
It was a stunner but at the time, Gray felt it deserved more recognition than simply the praise Bamford had received from Leeds fans and even Gary Lineker, at the time. He felt it could win the Puskas award.
In reality, Bamford’s goal wasn’t even a Puskas contender. But Bamford said after the goal, on the My Mate’s A Footballer podcast, that Gray had said in the dressing room it could be a Puskas contender.
Archie Gray after his goal against Leicester.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
“He was like: ‘Oh my God, oh my God, you’re going to go to the Puskás Award. That’s going to get nominated I’m sure.’ I think he was more excited than me,” Bamford said, as per the Evening Post.
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