Search for new blood continues for Leeds’s Grayson

The trio all featured in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at League One Rochdale as the United manager continues to try and strengthen his squad ahead of the Championship season getting under way on August 6.

Mendy, a 27-year-old French winger who won the Czech Republic Football Cup with FK Mladá Boleslav last season, played the first 45 minutes at Spotland after first linking up with Leeds on Monday, while Grayson’s other two trialists played in the second half.

Samuel, 30, is available on a free transfer after being released by Bolton Wanderers, while 23-year-old Osbourne left Aston Villa earlier this summer after spending three months on loan at Hillsborough last term.

Grayson said: “We brought Jlloyd and Isaiah on in the second half, and they both have Premier League experience and are keen to get contracts.

“It is not a question of ability with those two. Jlloyd showed he is capable of handling the ball and Isaiah did well. They will only get better as they go on.”

Mendy was the most impressive of the three trialists at Rochdale, his play on the wing prompting chants of ‘sign him up’ from the United fans in a crowd of 3,935.

Grayson declined to name the 27-year-old for fear of alerting other clubs, instead listing him on the team-sheet as ‘A Trialist’.

But it was Paris-born Mendy, who started his career with FC Versailles before moving to the Czech Republic in 2003. Last season, he played all 30 league games for Boleslav and netted six goals to help the club finish fifth.

FK Mlada are, courtesy of beating SK Sigma Olumouc on penalties, set to compete in this season’s Europa League but Mendy exercised his right to leave as a free agent and is hoping to earn a contract at Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds are set to start the season without both Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma after last season’s top scorer suffered an injury setback that is likely to require surgery.

The Argentinian has not featured in pre-season due to a ruptured tendon in his leg and is almost certainly out for the opening weeks of the season.

Somma is also out long-term but Grayson added: “A striker is not a priority.”

Meanwhile, Hull City manager Nigel Pearson is hoping to add trialist Adriano Basso to his squad.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper is a free agent after being released by Wolverhampton Wanderers and played the full 90 minutes of Tuesday night’s 4-1 friendly win at North Ferriby United.

Pearson said: “Hopefully, we will get something sorted. We have been very impressed with him and what he brings to the group. He has trained exceptionally well.”

Former City player George Boateng is back in English football after signing a one-year deal with Nottingham Forest.

The 35-year-old midfielder spent two years at the KC Stadium after being signed by former manager Phil Brown ahead of the Tigers’ debut campaign in the Premier League.

Boateng, who played under Forest manager Steve McClaren at Middlesbrough before heading to East Yorkshire in a £1m switch, left Hull to join Greek side Skoda Xanthi.

In League Two, Bradford City manager Peter Jackson admits bringing in any fresh faces is likely to be dependent on existing squad members leaving.

The Bantams have made eight new signings as Jackson looks to build a squad capable of improving on last season’s woeful 18th place finish.

He said: “My budget is nearly gone and, hopefully, we can get someone out the door to free up some money.

“A proven goalscorer wouldn’t go amiss and we have had uncertainty over the goalkeeper but I am happy with the shape of things. If I had to start the season with this squad, I would still be confident.”