Here are your morning Leeds United headlines on Tuesday, June 27.
Leeds close to agreeing future exit fee with Roma for Rasmus Kristensen
Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen is closing in on a loan move to AS Roma. That is according to Italian outlet Roma Giallorossa (via Sport Witness) who say the two clubs are close to agreeing a future transfer fee at the end of the loan deal.
The report claims the two clubs are currently negotiating for a price worth between €7m and €8m which would automatically be triggered as long as certain conditions are met.
Kristensen only joined Leeds last summer but the Denmark international suffered from an indifferent first season at Elland Road.
READ MORE: Leeds United transfer rumours as AS Roma 'plot Weston McKennie swoop'
Four issues Leeds United's new head coach must handle on day one of pre-season
Leeds United are due to return to pre-season training on July 2, just five weeks before their Championship season opener against Cardiff City. It’s a shorter pre-season campaign than usual and the new manager will have plenty to cram in to make sure his side is ready for the road ahead.
The squad are expected to undergo a series of tests on the first day of training, as has happened in years gone by, before eventually heading out onto the field for their first sessions of pre-season. Presuming he’s appointed in time, it will be the new head coach’s first chance to see his squad on the Thorp Arch grass and he’ll no doubt be keen to make his mark quickly.
He has a handful of tasks to handle immediately after his appointment, but there are a few issues to contend with, too. Here’s a look at the problems facing him on day one of pre-season.
Leeds United fear factor clear as rival boss namechecks Whites ahead of 'testing month'
Stoke City boss Alex Neil has urged his side to make a fast start to the Championship campaign ahead of a 'testing' schedule in October. The Potters will face relegated trio Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton along with Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the space of 26 days.
Neil told our sister site Stoke Live: “It looks like a start where hopefully we can get our teeth into it. It only comes good if you pick up points and get them on the board. I think we’ve got a really sort of testing month of October.
"We play the three newly-relegated teams (Leeds, Leicester and Southampton) plus Sunderland and Middlesbrough, who were in the play-offs last year, so that’s all in one month. We start with a home game which is good and we end with home game, which is good. So all in all, I’m quite content.”
Read the full story, here.
