Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Friday, February 3.
Feyenoord chief on Premier League 'madness' after Luis Sinisterra deal
Luis Sinisterra joined Leeds from Feyenoord last year and has shown glimpses of quality in what has been a season hampered with fitness struggles. Jesse Marsch will now be hoping that the Colombian can stay fit and help Leeds' front-line in the wake of Rodrigo's devastating injury.
Premier League clubs like Leeds know how important squad depth is when moments like these arise. Sinisterra's arrival last summer could now make a vital difference for the remainder of the season, yet Feyenoord's technical director Dennis te Kloese has claimed that the wages clubs like Leeds can offer his former player make it hard for European teams to compete with English sides in the transfer market.
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“We sold five players last summer,” De Kloese told The Athletic. “The Premier League is seen as a big step forward from any league in Europe. The main goal for many players is to get to the Premier League.
“At a big traditional club like Feyenoord, with a large fanbase and a lot of emotion, we have the obligation to achieve things. But it’s so hard to compete when an English club comes in and makes a big offer to the club, and a big salary offer to the player.
“It’s amazing what happens in England. A lot of it is madness. There is no guarantee when you spend money. You always need to retain a good perspective on how to develop the players once you sign them. The scouting has to be top-notch, but so does everything around the team.”
Steve Cooper's Forest admission hands Leeds advantage in Premier League clash
Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has admitted that he did not consider rotating his side for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final vs Manchester United - despite being 3-0 down from the first leg - with a crunch Premier League clash vs Leeds United on the weekend.
Jesse Marsch's side will be looking for their first win in the English top-flight since November when they take on Forest this Sunday. The Whites travel to the City Ground buoyed from their FA Cup win vs Accrington Stanley hoping to gain some momentum following a bumper January transfer window.
Cooper's squad conversely come into the game having lost 5-0 on aggregate to Manchester United in their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final. Forest faced an uphill battle having lost the first tie 3-0 and many thought - even though a cup final was on the line - the Forest boss would consider naming a weakened side in their second leg on Wednesday night with one eye on their match against Leeds.
Leeds United injury blow as Rodrigo ruled out after undergoing surgery
Leeds United have revealed top scorer Rodrigo will spent the next two months on the sidelines through injury. The forward sustained the ankle injury in the 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley on Saturday afternoon.
With scans showing bone and ligament damage at the joint, Rodrigo has undergone minor surgery this week to rectify the issue. As such, he will spend the next few weeks in the treatment room, watching on as Leeds enter what looks to be a critical point in the Premier League season.
It is hoped he will be fit to make a return by the end of March, but the news is clearly a huge blow for Jesse Marsch, who spoke last weekend of injuries clearing up at Thorp Arch. Rodrigo has scored 12 goals in all competitions for the Whites and although the head coach does have numbers in attacking areas, the Spaniard's presence in the side will be sorely missed.
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