Daniel Farke got the chance to speak about Leeds United’s transfer window for the first time on Friday night.
Leeds played their first pre-season friendly of the summer away at League Two side Harrogate Town, a game in which they ran out 3-0 winners.
Junior Firpo, Georginio Rutter and Sam Chambers were all on the scoresheet for Leeds on a good night’s work, though it did certainly highlight the lack of first team depth at Farke’s disposal.
Leeds had a number of youngsters on the bench including 15-year-old Harry Gray, and the lack of incomings after so many departures has caused some panic in the fanbase.
Joe Rodon, Alex Cairns and Joe Rothwell are Leeds’ only three additions so far, the latter of which looked busy on his first outing in a white shirt.
Farke gives update on Liam Cooper’s Leeds future
With three weeks to go until the new season, it would appear things are starting to pick up somewhat.
Jayden Bogle is reportedly closing in on a move to Elland Road, while Farke has all but confirmed Max Wober will be back at Leeds next season.
There still remains some uncertainty on the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Junior Firpo, and Bogle does need to be the start of a major recruitment drive in the coming weeks.
However, speaking in a post-match interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Farke had more clarity to bring when it comes to the future of Liam Cooper.
Cooper had been offered fresh terms by Leeds upon the end of his contract, but has still not agreed to either stay at the Whites, or join a new club. Farke, though, says he won’t be here next season.
He said: “No. It’s more or less the players that are here are the players that we work with. I’ve said so much about Liam and praised him so much, so I think no words are needed, but right now we concentrate on the players around us.”
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One ‘hurdle’ to overcome in Cooper’s Blackburn talks
Cooper has been the subject of interest from three Championship sides this summer, the most concrete of which has come from Blackburn Rovers.
The 32-year-old has been in talks with Rovers for a number of weeks now, but is still yet to come to an agreement over a move.
Blackburn are keen to offer a one-year-deal with the option to earn another depending on appearances, while the ‘magnificent‘ Cooper wants a guaranteed two.
This is the final hurdle for the two parties to overcome and if a compromise can be reached, it won’t be long until a move is finalised.
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