The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th August) - Could mega bucks deal tempt Cooper away from Elland Road?
Good Morning. It's Friday 4th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Could mega bucks deal tempt Cooper away from Elland Road?
Leeds Utd Captain Liam Cooper could sensationally quit Elland Road, and join Joel Robles at Al Qadsiah, if reports in the press are to be believed. The Saudi outfit are managed by former Leeds and England striker Robbie Fowler. They play their football in Al-Khobar, a Saudi Arabian City on the Arabian Gulf, and have a large and luxurious waterfront area.
Coops, 32 this month, has just twelve months left on his Elland Road contract, and is unlikely to be renewed. At the stage of his career, opportunities for a big pay day are going to be few and far between, yet the love he has for the club he has spent almost a decade with, will surely come into play.
Leeds still have the third highest wage bill in the Championship
Leeds still have the third highest wage bill in the Championship, even after the departure of ten players, with more reported to be heading for the exit door before the end of the transfer window, four weeks today. Leicester City are the highest wage earners at £62.6m, whilst Plymouth Argyle are the lowest at just £2.2m.
Southampton's wage bill is just over £10m shy of the Foxes at £52.1m, with Leeds not far behind at £44.6m. Following relegation, all Leeds players will have their salaries slashed by between 50% - 60%, which is believed to coincide with the start of the Championship campaign this weekend.
Match officials announced
The match officials for Sunday's season opener against Cardiff City have been announced, with Josh Smith named as the referee. Smith is one of the youngest adjudicators in the professional game, having started refereeing in 2006, at the age of just 14. This will only be the second time he takes charge of a Leeds game. He officiated the 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup Fourth Round in January. Matthew Jones & Sam Lewis will be the assistant referee's with Jeremy Simpson acting as fourth official.