Leeds United's Red Bull transfer sway, Greenwood's future and Norwich City targets — Leeds Live 22/6/24

A full transcript of the Q&A our Leeds United club writer Beren Cross held yesterday on topics like Leeds United's transfer strategy for the coming summer, Red Bull's influence and the new kit design

Millie19: “Hello, Beren. Do you have any idea what the new football top is going to look like? Also, transfers: are we getting any players in to fight for promotion? Thanks.”

BC: “Hello, Millie. No, there's been no leaks of the new kit yet. The anticipation for what they do with the Red Bull sponsorship is building, though.

“There will, I am sure, be several players arriving to fight for promotion with Leeds. A lot will depend on who moves on between now and August 10 because the vast majority of last season's squad remains in place.

“Marathe spoke to us and the other local media after the play-off final and made it clear they would do everything they could to make the team as competitive as possible while remaining on the edge of the financial rules.”

F_Wilson6: “Afternoon, Beren, any info on timescales? Surely Farke wants the team sorted before the season starts. With pre-season quickly approaching, surely transfers get moving both incoming and outgoing?”

BC: “Hello! We know the majority of the players are expected back to start pre-season on July 1 and 2. So that's the first marker for your calendar.

“The manager will certainly want as much business done as possible before the big kick-off on August 10. He knows, and we saw last season, how disruptive it can be when players are coming and going after the campaign has begun.

“After the Wembley loss, Farke said he was hopeful everything would be done before the season starts. We will wait and see. There are so many variables involved in every transfer they oversee, Farke cannot control everything.”

Craig92: “On transfers, this summer do we expect Leeds to make use of Red Bull? I have read bits about using their scouting knowledge, but any chance we take players on loan?

“With Harrison moving out on loan again, do we expect his time at Leeds to be over? Will there be an option to buy in there? Would he play for Leeds again if we go up or would Farke want to sell?”

BC: “Hello, Craig. Thanks for reaching out as you normally do. Front-of-shirt sponsors are highly unlikely to get involved with a club beyond the financial transaction that gets them on the shirt in the first place, save for publicity and functions over the course of a season. In the Red Bull case, we know it has a minority shareholding. It has invested in the future success of the club and will surely use its expertise to help in the best way possible.

“It would be hard to understand why Red Bull would not want to use its vast resources to better the Leeds cause. Evidently, there are levels to this. Red Bull does not have as much control at Elland Road as it does in Salzburg and Leipzig, but if the likes of Gretar Steinsson or Jordan Miles want some help with recruitment or scouting, they should ask Red Bull.

“In terms of taking in current Red Bull players, there have been no substantial links as yet, but Leeds are not going to take in those players simply because they play for a minority shareholder. If Steinsson, Farke and Miles like a player and they happen to be with a Red Bull club, that's only going to help the process, but they would be identified as a target independent of their Red Bull links.

“Leeds will revisit the Harrison situation next summer when this loan deal ends. There would be another three years to run on his Leeds contract. If United are promoted, I suspect there will be a conversation to be had, but the longer Harrison spends away, the harder it feels for him to simply return when the sun is shining. Everton and Harrison may be pleased to take up his loan option this month, but the downside for them is, if he has a brilliant season, Leeds can then benefit from any potential sale next summer, rather than the Toffees.”

PGTips66: “Good afternoon, Beren. Just wondering, are the club willing to let Harrison go out on loan again? Surely they’d be better off using him to get us back into the Premier League?”

BC: “Harrison has an active loan clause, taking the matter out of United's hands. Provided a club (Everton) is willing to pay Harrison's wages in full, Leeds cannot stand in his way. Remaining in the Championship kept the clause active coming into this summer window.

Taffyeee: “Afternoon, Beren. Do you think Aaronson is the only one that will play for us again out all the ones who wanted to leave? Harrison (one good game out of three), Llorente and Kristensen are just not good enough. I would give Greenwood more game time.”

BC: “That's the big question at this early point in the summer. Harrison's situation will be interesting next summer. After another year away, that connection with Leeds is only going to fade. He will have another three years on his contract remaining. If United win promotion, will he be welcomed back after dipping out on two years in the Championship?

“Of the loanees returning, Greenwood probably has the best chance of featuring again, or Gyabi. They are unlikely to rock the boat with Farke and could get some minutes if their futures are undecided going into August.

“I didn't expect Aaronson to get another go, so writing off any of the others seems foolhardy. On performances for Leeds alone, Wober is the best of the rest, but the manner of his exit last summer left a sour taste in the mouth.”

Kel1: “The rumours of loan players coming back to the club: Beren, how much truth is in this? Does Farke really think there will be no dressing room response? Or has he taken that into account? This is a dangerous game. I for one would not be happy with anyone jumping ship coming back here.”

BC: “The news around Aaronson surprised me, but evidently Farke has his reasons. He does not suffer fools and would not be taking any player into his dressing room unless he was sure they had a part to play.

“It will be approached on a case-by-case basis, but the outcome with the American shows being away on loan last season is not an automatic bar to being reintegrated. Farke has previously described returning players as reheated food and unsatisfying.

“I sometimes wonder if players are as bothered by players returning from loans as those of us on the outside looking in. I think players understand the decisions their team-mates make, whether it be for money or competition level, and wouldn't necessarily hold any grudges against them if they return.”

Herberus: “Having suffered the misery of the Marsch era, is there any indication Farke is willing to look at any players beyond the few named of late, with whom he’s worked at Norwich?”

BC: “Leeds have kept a lid on any meaningful links with incoming targets up to now, but, yes, Farke will certainly be keeping an eye on his former players at Norwich if they fit the bill. Aarons and McLean were, for example, top targets for Farke last summer.”

Herberus: “But is he willing to look beyond those ex-Norwich players, Beren? We all know how (un)successful the Red Bull players Marsch introduced were and how uninterested they were in staying with Leeds once relegated. Last summer was an appalling display of what happens when a recruitment process goes wrong and the wrong character is introduced to the team.”

BC: “Ah, sorry. I see your point now. Yes, absolutely, Farke won't purely go after his former Norwich men. Just look at the players recruited last summer. For me, that was a good window on the whole, given the chaos engulfing the club.”

Malchynd: “Hi, how does the Red Bull deal, in terms of additional income, affect our PSR position? Will it change the maths for this summer?”

BC: “Hello, Malchynd. Red Bull and Leeds are not making public the numbers behind their deal, but club sources have suggested the initial boost has helped with removing that June 30 rush many clubs will have over the next week.

“A lot of clubs need to sell before the end of this month to register those fees on their balance sheets for next year. Leeds, we understand, are under no such pressure thanks to the Red Bull investment.

“Sales will still be needed before the end of the window, but the Red Bull money could mean one less key name goes.”

Taffyeee: “When is the new kit out?”

BC: “The club haven't said. Last year's was released on July 11, 2022's was July 13 and 2021's was July 22. That should give you an idea when Adidas may be in a position to release.”