The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 20th August) Okafor expected to undergo medical
Okafor expected to undergo medical
Noah Okafor is expected to arrive at Thorp Arch later today to undergo a medical and complete his £18m (€20.8m) move from European giants AC Milan.
Okafor, a 24-cap Swiss international, brings a varied recent history to West Yorkshire's finest. He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Napoli, making just four appearances as Antonio Conte’s side clinched the Serie A title, though a previously mooted January loan switch to RB Leipzig ultimately fell through.
Milan acquired Okafor in 2023 from Red Bull Salzburg, where he enjoyed a prolific spell, netting 34 goals and providing 23 assists. His time in Italy has been less impactful, with seven goals from 53 appearances for the Serie A giants.
Having started his career at Basel, Okafor’s formative years saw him dominate the Austrian Bundesliga, winning the title in each of his four seasons with Salzburg. Leeds United will be keenly hoping that Okafor can regain his impressive form he showcased during his time.
The Whites could have chosen Manor Solomon, who has failed to impress Spurs Manager Thomas Frank during pre-season, but having already rejected Leeds advances this summer on at least one occasion, may be forced to go out on loan again.
Could Matthis Abline be the missing piece of the jigsaw
Leeds United appear to be making a significant move in the transfer market, with various reports indicating Matthis Abline has emerged as a primary target. The Whites are reportedly leading the race to secure the services of the highly-rated 22-year-old Frenchman, who enjoyed a productive season in Ligue 1, netting nine goals last season. Critical negotiations between Leeds and his current club, Nantes, are said to have commenced, with sources close to the player confirming his openness to a potential switch to Elland Road.
However, Leeds face competition for Abline’s signature. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland are also keenly monitoring the situation, highlighting the forward's appeal to play in the Premier League. The potential fee could exceed €25m (£21.6m), underscoring the investment Leeds are prepared to make should they clinch the deal.
His versatility makes him a particularly attractive prospect for Daniel Farke's system. Capable of operating across the entire front line, he can play effectively on both flanks or serve as the focal point of the attack. His experience at Nantes, where he often thrived in a team that generated chances through rapid transitions, suggests he would be a natural fit for Leeds' often direct and high-tempo style of play.
Pundit blasts Pickford over water bottle notes
TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara has ignited a debate over tactical preparation in football, advocating for Premier League bosses to ban goalkeepers from using water bottles with written notes. His strong stance comes in the wake of footage showing Everton's Jordan Pickford consulting specific penalty notes on his bottle during a prolonged VAR review before Lukas Nmecha's spot-kick on Monday night.
The incident unfolded as VAR meticulously checked for a penalty, providing Pickford several minutes behind his goal. He was observed picking up his water bottle, clearly marked with information, a tactic serving both as a strategic aid and a deliberate delay to unnerve the penalty taker. While Nmecha ultimately converted the penalty, Pickford impressively guessed the correct direction and came close to making the save, suggesting the notes may have provided valuable insight.
However, this meticulous preparation did not sit well with Jamie O'Hara. Speaking passionately on talkSPORT, he expressed his fury and called for immediate action from the league:
“Jordan Pickford, the water bottle situation right, he goes to his water bottle, it’s obviously got a lot of information written on it, I’m not having that. “I think that needs to be knocked on the head, I think it has got to be banned. “I think you’ve got to ban anything being written on the water bottles.”