It could be a new-look Leeds United side that takes on Manchester United this Saturday after the signing of Sean Longstaff.
Last week ended on a downer for Leeds United after it transpired their £12m bid for Sean Longstaff had actually been rejected by Newcastle United.
However, after coming back with a stronger package of £15m, Leeds have now signed Longstaff on a four-year deal until 2029, ending the week on a high.
Longstaff becomes Leeds’ fifth signing of the summer transfer window late on Friday night, following Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Gabriel Gudmundsson to the club.
There’s still plenty of work to do yet, with Leeds aiming to sign Anton Stach after agreeing personal terms, and also wanting a goalkeeper, striker, playmaker and winger, like Igor Paixao.
But five new additions before pre-season begins is a healthy start and Daniel Farke could pick an exciting, fresh starting XI for the opening friendly against Manchester United on Saturday.
- Who is Sean Longstaff? Get to know the Newcastle United hero who has joined Leeds United in the transfer window
Could Sean Longstaff make his Leeds United debut against Manchester United?
Longstaff was announced as a new Leeds player on Friday night, just 17 hours ahead of their first friendly of the summer against Man Utd in the Strawberry Arena, Stockholm, Sweden.
The club gave no indication either way as to whether Longstaff will be involved in the match so soon after signing.
Whether Farke throws him in after no time on the training field with him remains to be seen, but Longstaff is fit and has been training with Newcastle, so could theoretically start the game alongside Leeds’ other four summer signings.
How Leeds United could line up against Manchester United in friendly
Leeds are expected to be without three players for the game, as internationals Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Mateo Joseph have been granted extra recovery time following their exploits in the summer.
Otherwise, Leeds should have a full complement of players available for the not-so-friendly match against their fierce rivals.
Karl Darlow remains first-choice goalkeeper as a new one has not yet been signed, despite Leeds being linked with several options. He may start to avoid Illan Meslier risking an injury ahead of his likely exit.
Ahead of them in defence, Gudmundsson is sure to come in for his debut at left-back after replacing the departed Junior Firpo.
Farke could also hand first appearances to two new centre-backs in Bijol and Bornauw, but he may choose to start the former so he can look at a potential new first-choice pairing with Joe Rodon.
Jayden Bogle is sure to start at right-back, while Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu may start in midfield. With Aaronson unavailable, Longstaff could come in alongside them to form a more industrious 4-3-3 rather than the typical 4-2-3-1.
Dan James, fresh off signing a new contract with the club, and Largie Ramazani are the only senior options available on the flanks and Joel Piroe may get the nod to start ahead of Nmecha.
But, given it’s the first friendly of pre-season, sweeping changes can be expected at half-time and those who don’t start should expect to get plenty of minutes regardless. So Leeds fans will likely get their first look at all five new signings.
Predicted Leeds starting XI vs Man Utd: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Tanaka, Ampadu, Longstaff; James, Piroe, Ramazani.
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