Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch admitted during the team’s tour of Australia that they were in the market for a left-back By Joe Donnohue Marsch stated during the final leg of the squad’s pre-season tour that Leeds were ‘actively pursuing’ a new left-back. The head coach then selected Jack Harrison in that position for the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in Perth, sparing 22-year-old Leif Davis who had all but agreed a permanent transfer to Ipswich Town. It is likely Marsch omitted Davis so not to jeopardise the youngster’s transfer which was confirmed on Monday evening for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £1 million. Leeds’ only recognised, senior left-back at the club is Junior Firpo who is expected to miss the opening weeks of the season through injury. Marsch left the Spaniard at home ahead of the team’s Australia tour after Firpo picked up a knock which the American said would keep him sidelined for ‘eight weeks’. Consequently, the remaining optio...

Left-back Leif Davis has left Leeds United to join Ipswich Town on a permanent deal. By Lee Sobot Davis joined the Whites in 2018 from Morecambe and initially went into the Under-23s side before impressing and working his way into the first team set-up. The defender was given his Championship debut for the club in a memorable 3-2 victory away at Aston Villa. Davis made 14 appearances for the club, two of which were in the Premier League during the 2020-21 campaign. The 22-year-old has now left the Whites to join League One side Ipswich for an undisclosed fee in the region of £1m. Leeds United paid tribute to the outgoing defender, saying: “Everyone at Leeds United would like to wish Leif the best of luck with the remainder of his career and thank him for his efforts whilst at Elland Road, most notably for being part of the 2019/20 promotion winning side.”

Leeds United will be back training on English soil this week as the build-up continues to the club's third season back in the Premier League. By Lee Sobot Whites boss Jesse Marsch now has just 12 more days until the season opener at home to Wolves and there will be plenty on the American's agenda over the next week and a half. Here, following the conclusion of the club's tour of Australia, we run through some of the main Whites talking points and issues to be addressed in the run up to the new campaign. Who will play at left back and what next in summer recruitment? The fact that Leeds are looking to sign another striker as competition and cover to Whites no 9 Patrick Bamford is well documented and United might end up landing another left back option too. Marsch and Leeds were assessing their options in that particular position even as it was, let alone before losing first choice Junior Firpo to injury at a time when Stuart Dallas is facing such a long time out....

Jesse Marsch has addressed Leeds United's thinking about their left back options in the absence of Junior Firpo - and admits that Leif Davis is effectively on trial. By Lee Sobot Firpo joined Leeds from Barcelona for 15m euros last summer to become the club's new first choice left back but the defender's first season at Elland Road was continually disrupted by injuries and three cases of Covid-19. The 25-year-old impressed in United's pre-season friendly against Blackpool earlier this month but then suffered a fresh injury setback that is set to keep him out for around eight weeks. Marsch, though, has made a prediction about the importance that Firpo will hold upon his return and in the meantime has laid down the challenge to Davis surrounding what happens next. Davis, 22, spent last season on loan at Championship side Bournemouth but has returned to Leeds and started Sunday's pre-season friendly against Aston Villa in the left back role. The former Cher...

Leeds United welcomed back the bulk of their squad ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign this week By Joe Donnohue The day upon which players return to the training ground following their summer breaks is always a milestone in any football season’s calendar. Some return sun-kissed, others sporting new hairstyles, but on the whole the mood tends to be a jovial one, focused on a fresh start. This year’s pre-season calendar already looks very different; it will be the first time in four years that Marcelo Bielsa and his crew of coaches have not welcomed the players back to Thorp Arch. Head coach Jesse Marsch greeted his squad at Leeds Beckett University before they underwent a variety of fitness tests on Monday morning. New addition Marc Roca was present, even if Leeds’ two other summer signings Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen were absent, given an additional week’s rest due to their involvement on international duty throughout June. Leeds released a gallery of...