Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Wednesday, 11 May 2022.
Costa loan
Valencia have reportedly informed Leeds United that they have no intention of signing Helder Costa on a permanent deal in the summer. That is according to El Desmarque, who claim that the Spanish side now view the €20 million buy option as ‘inaccessible’.
Costa has struggled for form during his time at the Mestalla, scoring no goals and registering one assist in 22 appearances. Unless a considerably lower fee can be negotiated between the two clubs, it appears as though Costa will be heading back to Elland Road this summer.
Woodgate hope
Jonathan Woodgate believes it will boil down to Leeds United or Burnley in a two-team battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League. The former Elland Road favourite reckons that Everton might now be out of the equation, despite only being a point above Jesse Marsch's men and the Clarets.
READ MORE: Full Leeds United squad revealed for Chelsea as Liam Cooper eyes return amid right-back decision
But the Toffees have played one fixture fewer than both of their rivals and, while Leeds entertain third-placed Chelsea tomorrow night, Frank Lampard's team will travel to an already-relegated Watford outfit following impressive back-to-back triumphs over Chelsea and Leicester. When asked whether he felt the club he played for more than 100 times in the Premier League would beat the drop, Woodgate told BritishGambler.co.uk : "I hope they do!
"It’s hard to judge. Everton have been brilliant the last few games, beating Chelsea at home and beating Leicester away and the victory against Man United as well – I was looking at their away form and thinking they hadn’t won since Brighton on August 28 – six points away from home since before Leicester, and I think they’ll be OK now as they’ve got a couple of home games and I think they’ll pick up six points from their two home games.
"It’s gonna be down to Burnley and Leeds. I watched Jesse Marsch’s first game against Leicester, and I know they got beat in that game, but you could see what they were trying to do and they were very good.”
Read more here.
Tuchel on Leeds clash
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has labelled tomorrow’s night clash with Leeds United as ‘do or die’ for the Whites. Leeds currently sit in the bottom three for the first time since October heading into the meeting at Elland Road but can climb above Burnley if they avoid defeat.
If the Whites come away empty handed, however, their situation at the bottom of the table will begin to look very bleak, as Burnley would be ahead of them on goal difference, with a game in hand. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Tuchel understands how big Wednesday evening is for Leeds, but is looking forward to a cup-tie like atmosphere.
Via quotes from Football London, he said: “This is a match for them when it's like do or die. It's like a cup match and the atmosphere will be like this. I'm looking forward to it actually. I've played there once but it was without spectactors. We will feel it straight away so we will need to step up.”
Read more here.
