Here are your Leeds United morning headlines on Tuesday, 27 December.
Former Leeds United target Cody Gakpo set to join Liverpool in transfer twist
Netherlands star Cody Gakpo looks set to join Liverpool after it emerged the Reds and PSV Eindhoven had come to an agreement over the Dutch forward on Monday night.
The 23-year-old had long been a target for Leeds United, who pushed hard to land Gakpo last summer. However, no move emerged.
While Manchester United wanted to recruit Gakpo, their signing of Antony ended their summer pursuit of the winger.
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Leeds and Southampton were the other two options for Gakpo to choose between if he did want a move to the Premier League in the last transfer window, but he eventually opted to stay with PSV.
Plenty of rumours have swirled in the months after August, with Manchester United thought to have been the front runners for Gakpo's signature. However, it was recently revealed Liverpool have jumped the Erik ten Haag to land the Dutchman.
PSV and @LFC have reached an agreement on the proposed transfer of Cody Gakpo.
The 23-year-old attacker will leave for England imminently where he will be subjected to the necessary formalities ahead of the completion of the transfer.— PSV (@PSV)
On Monday evening, PSV tweeted: "PSV and @LFC have reached an agreement on the proposed transfer of Cody Gakpo.
"The 23-year-old attacker will leave for England imminently where he will be subjected to the necessary formalities ahead of the completion of the transfer."
The fee for Gakpo is reportedly around the £37m mark.
Leeds United's formation switch explained as Jesse Marsch outlines strategy
Those who watched any of Leeds United’s mid-season friendly outings at Elland Road this month will have spotted a subtle difference in Jesse Marsch’s tactics.
The American head coach has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation all season long with an attack-minded trio playing behind a lone striker. It’s a formation Marsch used regularly before he arrived in West Yorkshire and it was how the Whites initially lined up against both Real Sociedad and AS Monaco, only with a twist.
As Leeds prepared for kick-off, it seemed as though there was little different but as soon as they were out of possession they switched to what was clearly a 4-3-3.
"Against the ball I think it gives us a little bit more flexibility to play, we can play a little bit more tilted or we call it asymmetrically at one side or the other," Marsch explained.
Patrick Bamford needs January relief as striker faces biggest Leeds United challenge
Patrick Bamford isn’t likely to look back on 2022 with any kind of fondness from a career perspective.
The striker has been dogged by various injuries and his form, game time and standing at Elland Road has suffered as a result.
Over the last 12 months, Bamford has made just 13 Premier League appearances and the amount of time he has spent on the sidelines means it has been over a year since he last felt the rush of finding the back of the net. That stoppage time goal against Brentford was scored on December 5 2021, but after months of fitness struggles and frustration, it feels like more than just a year ago.
As such, Bamford will welcome January in with open arms as he bids to turn over a new leaf, leave his woes behind him and get his career firmly back on track.
Returning to top form won’t be straightforward, but, that will be the England international’s target and he has every right to look forward to the next 12 months with optimism.
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