Leeds United: Cellino faced with massive ‘to-do’ list on return
Yorkshire Evening Post 5/5/15
Phil Hay
AMONG the many items in Massimo Cellino’s inbox at Leeds United is an empty retained list.
The Italian is back in charge at the club after the conclusion of his Football League disqualification and numerous players are waiting for decisions on their futures ahead of the start of the summer transfer window.
The current squad at Leeds includes seven loanees and eight players whose permanent contracts expire this summer.
Here, the YEP looks at their prospects of remaining at the club:
On loan:
Adryan (Flamengo) - a marquee signing in Cellino’s eyes last summer but his debut was slow in coming and he barely played in the second half of the season. It’s highly unlikely that Leeds will take up a £3m option to sign him permanently.
Sol Bamba (Palermo) - one of United’s most influential arrivals and a fixture in their defence since January. Bamba wants to stay but his comments criticising the club’s hierarchy might weaken his chances.
Zan Benedicic (AC Milan) - injured for much of the season and is still recovering from knee surgery. Won’t be returning.
Dario Del Fabro (Cagliari) - Cellino thinks highly of him but he played only once in an FA Cup defeat at Sunderland.
Brian Montenegro (Nacional) - Made the odd appearance as a substitute but never got a serious run in the team. Scored goals for the Under-21s, though.
Granddi Ngoyi (Palermo) - Joined Leeds in January with an underlying thigh problem and never reached full match fitness. Redfearn, nonetheless, liked what he saw in training.
Edgar Cani (Catania) - Four appearances as a substitute, none of them memorable. Won’t be seen in a Leeds shirt again, you’d think.
Out of contract this summer:
Stuart Taylor - started the final three games of this season after Marco Silvestri dropped out of the side. Turns 35 in September.
Alex Cairns - been on the fringes at Leeds for a long time and his outing on the night when Paul Rachubka blew up against Blackpool is still his only first-team appearance.
Aidan White - almost left in 2012 and might well move on this summer. His season was ruined by a broken foot bone.
Rodolph Austin - regularly involved throughout the campaign and a midfielder who other Championship clubs seem to rate. Redfearn rates him too.
Michael Tonge - sent on loan to Millwall in January and, as a relatively high earner, the 32-year-old seems to have no future here.
Kalvin Phillips - made his senior debut last month and can surely expect to be offered an extension.
Lewis Walters - as with Phillips, a youngster who has shown potential and who the club will probably keep.
Zac Thompson - Leeds allowed him to play in a trial match for Scunthorpe recently, with a view to a summer move. Set to be released.
2016 - Lewis Cook, Sam Byram, Steve Morison, Mirco Antenucci, Billy Sharp, Luke Murphy, Gaetano Berardi, Chris Dawson, Ross Killock.
2017 - Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor, Liam Cooper, Scott Wootton, Casper Sloth, Souleymane Doukara, Nicky Ajose.
2018 - Marco Silvestri, Giuseppe Bellusci, Tommaso Bianchi.
Phil Hay
AMONG the many items in Massimo Cellino’s inbox at Leeds United is an empty retained list.
The Italian is back in charge at the club after the conclusion of his Football League disqualification and numerous players are waiting for decisions on their futures ahead of the start of the summer transfer window.
The current squad at Leeds includes seven loanees and eight players whose permanent contracts expire this summer.
Here, the YEP looks at their prospects of remaining at the club:
On loan:
Adryan (Flamengo) - a marquee signing in Cellino’s eyes last summer but his debut was slow in coming and he barely played in the second half of the season. It’s highly unlikely that Leeds will take up a £3m option to sign him permanently.
Sol Bamba (Palermo) - one of United’s most influential arrivals and a fixture in their defence since January. Bamba wants to stay but his comments criticising the club’s hierarchy might weaken his chances.
Zan Benedicic (AC Milan) - injured for much of the season and is still recovering from knee surgery. Won’t be returning.
Dario Del Fabro (Cagliari) - Cellino thinks highly of him but he played only once in an FA Cup defeat at Sunderland.
Brian Montenegro (Nacional) - Made the odd appearance as a substitute but never got a serious run in the team. Scored goals for the Under-21s, though.
Granddi Ngoyi (Palermo) - Joined Leeds in January with an underlying thigh problem and never reached full match fitness. Redfearn, nonetheless, liked what he saw in training.
Edgar Cani (Catania) - Four appearances as a substitute, none of them memorable. Won’t be seen in a Leeds shirt again, you’d think.
Out of contract this summer:
Stuart Taylor - started the final three games of this season after Marco Silvestri dropped out of the side. Turns 35 in September.
Alex Cairns - been on the fringes at Leeds for a long time and his outing on the night when Paul Rachubka blew up against Blackpool is still his only first-team appearance.
Aidan White - almost left in 2012 and might well move on this summer. His season was ruined by a broken foot bone.
Rodolph Austin - regularly involved throughout the campaign and a midfielder who other Championship clubs seem to rate. Redfearn rates him too.
Michael Tonge - sent on loan to Millwall in January and, as a relatively high earner, the 32-year-old seems to have no future here.
Kalvin Phillips - made his senior debut last month and can surely expect to be offered an extension.
Lewis Walters - as with Phillips, a youngster who has shown potential and who the club will probably keep.
Zac Thompson - Leeds allowed him to play in a trial match for Scunthorpe recently, with a view to a summer move. Set to be released.
2016 - Lewis Cook, Sam Byram, Steve Morison, Mirco Antenucci, Billy Sharp, Luke Murphy, Gaetano Berardi, Chris Dawson, Ross Killock.
2017 - Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor, Liam Cooper, Scott Wootton, Casper Sloth, Souleymane Doukara, Nicky Ajose.
2018 - Marco Silvestri, Giuseppe Bellusci, Tommaso Bianchi.