The Leeds United Preseason Diary

The month's between May and July usually are never quiet at Leeds and this year followed a regular routine.

An old Head Coach dispatched after a season, new one brought in after a multitude of names had been thrown 'into the hat'.

It was arrivderci Massimo Cellino and ciao Andrea Radrizzani as the two Italians agreed the sale of Leeds United FC, no figure given but rumoured to be quite a few quid!

The ground bought back for a considerable amount of money, just short of 20 million pounds if we are to believe the rumours. Finally an owner (Radrizzani) who did what others had promised but failed to do, he put his money where his mouth was!

The new owner then brought in trusted allies to help him run the club, Angus Kinnear as Chief Executive, Ivan Bravo as Director of Strategy, Andre Tegner a Director and Victor Orta the new Director of Football. Ben Mansford left the club as part of the restructure.

Thomas Christiansen is now in the Head Coach's chair, the latest in a long line of people given the opportunity to take Leeds United to the next level. He is joined by Julio Banuelos and Paul Butler as his assistant's and Marcos Abad as goalkeeping coach.

Will TC have the magic touch at Leeds United?

Garry Monk and his entire backroom staff has departed, Beattie and Flahaven have joined him at Middlesborough, Pep Clotet is now manager at Oxford United FC, who Leeds United will play in their final preseason fixture at Elland Road this Saturday. We wish Pep every success in his new appointment.

New Players In

Felix Wienwald: Goalkeeper - Previously at Werder Bremen
Pontus Jansson: Defender - Torino (previously on loan)
Hadi Sacko: Midfielder - Sporting B (Previously on loan)
Mateusz Klich: Midfielder - FC Twente
Samu Siaz: Midfield / Striker - SD Huesca
Caleb Ekuban: Striker - Chievo Verona
Ezjian Alioski: Midfielder / Striker - FC Lugano
Vernon Anita: Defender / Midfielder- Newcastle United
Mathew Pennington: Defender - Everton (season long loan)

Players Out

Luke Murphy: Season loan to Burton Albion
Lewie Coyle: Season loan to Fleetwood Town
Charlie Taylor: Tribunal fee to be decided, to Burnley
Giuseppe Bellusci: Contract cancelled.
Marco Silvestri: undisclosed fee to Hellas Verona
Jordan Boraka and Ross Turnbull both were given free transfers

Alioski, Pennington and Samu Saiz could be instant first team stars at Leeds United

Quite a turnaround in the playing staff, especially players coming in.

In a nutshell there you have it, a total restructure from the top to the pitch. I'm not a fan of changing personnel every summer but from what I've seen the squad is better than last season but still misses one vital ingredient - Kyle Bartley!

I would have moved 'heaven and earth' to get his signature on a three or four year contract. Another couple of defenders are definitely needed for the soon-to-be-on-us 2017/18 season.

My first team line up would be:

Green, Ayling, Pennington, Jansson, Berardi, Vieira, O'Kane, Roofe, Hernandez, Alioski, Wood

With Siaz, Anita, Sacko, Ekuban and Wiedwald, Bridcutt and Klitch all pushing for places in the first team. The biggest problem last season was the lack of alternatives from the bench, this we now have.

I'm always hopeful at this time of year, but this time I'm pretty sure that at least last season's seventh place could be achieved and maybe, if the newcomers hit the ground running it could be even higher.

Football soon will be back and I for one can't wait!

MOT

By Keith Ingham