The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 4th May) 49ers played major part in sacking Gracia
Good Morning. It's Thursday 4th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
49ers played major part in sacking Gracia
49ers Enterprises played a major part in the decision to sack Interim head coach Javi Gracia and replace him with Sam Allardyce according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs. The decisions, which cost them their Director of Football, is seen as a ditch attempt to avoid the drop. The 49ers are showing no signs of taking a back seat, but with the clubs valuation dropping from £420m to £150m should relegation become a formality, can Radrizzani afford to sell?
They are heavily invested in the club. There's no suggestion that if Leeds go down, they'll try and somehow take a step back. It's always been a full-steam-ahead approach. It's just a case of exactly when they come in. Therefore, any decision around Gracia, Allardyce and Orta will all have had, as I understand it, major input from 49ers Enterprises.
Gnonto will stay at Leeds next season
Wilfried Gnonto's agent has given Leeds fans something to celebrate, during a time when doom and gloom dominates the back pages for the Whites!
Speaking to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Claudio Vigorelli (Gnonto's agent) expressed his delight at how his client was progressing at Leeds, and even spoke of a contract extension. Currently, Gnonto is contracted until the Summer of 2027, on a five year contract worth £20,000 a week (£1,040,000 per annum).
Should the worse happen, and Leeds find themselves back in the Championship next season, keeping hold of their best players is imperative, if they are to bounce back up at the first time of asking. It's well known to be the most difficult league in the World to escape from (even though Huddersfield Town are making it look easy this season); as we know, all too well.
We have all always believed in Gnonto’s qualities. He’s doing very well at Leeds and I think he’ll stay there, his path is there. The club is enthusiastic about his performances, after the season we will probably meet to discuss a possible contract extension, but there will be no problems.
Sombre atmosphere at ER following Orta's departure
Former player, now LUFC presenter Ben Parker reported a sombre atmosphere at Elland Road yesterday following Victor Orta's departure. Although his relationship with many of the fans had reached boiling point, there is clearly still a lot of love for the 44yo with the staff. He wore his heart on his sleeve, never pretending to be something he wasn't. His outbursts were legendary, yet, in football circles, the love and respect for the Spaniard spread far and wide.
I was down at Elland Road yesterday, I had a couple of meetings down there. It was such a strange, strange place, atmosphere-wise. With Victor what people see on touchline, in the stands, the way he acts, he’s so passionate, that comes across. It’s had a massive impact on the staff at Elland Road.
Seeing a lot of the staff in tears a lot of yesterday really hit home what he brought off the field. And he was a bubbly, lively character in the offices, kept the morale high at times when it was down. It was a really sombre atmosphere. Something had to change.
Club's line-up for Adams signature
A host of top European clubs including Arsenal, Newcastle Utd, Sevilla and Hoffenheim are jockeying for position, preparing to swoop for USA Captain Tyler Adams. The 24 year old joined Leeds last Summer from RB Leipzig, for a fee of £20m; and has been one of only a few to not just live up to his price tag, but far exceed it. Media outlet Football London are suggesting that Adams has a £17m relegation clause in his contract, an absolute snip compared to other midfielders of his ilk, and as such, we could expect half of the Premier League to follow suit, and throw their hat into the ring.