Leeds United looking to land two signings before weekend

LEEDS UNITED are hopeful that two bids for players will see them bring in new faces to Elland Road ahead of this weekend's clash at home to Bristol City.
Leeds United assistant Paul Raynor.Leeds United assistant Paul Raynor.
Leeds United assistant Paul Raynor.

With head coach Steve Evans called to a meeting with chairman Massimo Cellino at Elland Road to discuss transfers, assistant Paul Raynor found himself holding the reins at Thursday afternoon’s Thorp Arch press conference.

And while Raynor could not name which individuals or positions United were looking at, the 49-year-old revealed Leeds had submitted two bids for players who he hoped the club could land before the weekend.

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The Whites have been in talks with Norwich City about striker Kyle Lafferty, while Evans is known to be a fan of Celtic attacking midfielder Tom Rogic.

A move for Bournemouth striker Lee Tomlin has also been mooted with the Cherries known to be keen on taking youngster Lewis Cook to the south coast.

Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony has also admitted on social media that United have enquired about 22-year-old forward Marcus Maddison.

Head coach Evans, meanwhile, revealed earlier on Thursday that the full £3.7m from the sale of Sam Byram to West Ham United was available to use, plus more.

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Raynor said: “The gaffer has been called away for a meeting with the president so obviously that means that hopefully one or two things are ongoing.

“We’ll wait and see, fingers crossed.

“He doesn’t normally allow me to do this which is fine.

“I’m much more comfortable out there on a training field but it is important to keep you guys abreast of what’s happening and try and obviously keep ticking over but obviously it’s important that we try and conclude one or two things as well, hopefully today.

“I have seen links with players that we don’t even know of, we get that every day and there is going to be speculation with a club this size.

“There’s links and speculation and links all of the time.

“A lot of them are an absolute load of rubbish but one or two are right and one or two are players that we have enquired about but we can’t really announce everything until everything is over the line.

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“We have got a couple of bids out there, I know that for a fact, and I know the manager works very closely with the president.

“Things are bubbling and fingers crossed we might have something to announce maybe later today or tomorrow.”

Asked if the signings would be loan deals or permanent, Raynor said: “There are two written bids out there.

“I know the manager was in contact with a club last night and also made a verbal bid for a club so things are happening.

“We are trying to do things, we want to improve and the president has been very receptive to our ideas and what we want to do.

“That’s very positive for us and there’s money available.”