Leeds banter 7

24 Jul 2026 11:59:23
This but back clause has to be at least double what we are paying for Trafford.
We pay 35 million. The buy back has to be 70 minimum.
We can’t have a situation where we pay say 35 and the buy back is 50. If so we have to walk away from this one.

24 Jul 2026 12:47:01
100% agree Corkey. 👍 👏 💯

24 Jul 2026 13:00:50
Funny one this, this "clause" from what I can see isn't being reported by any of the big hitter journo's,

Just the clickbait internet aggregate sites ala newsnow, TEAMtalk etc that aren't exactly reputable.

I may be wrong on that.

Also, knowing how our lot work, who is leaking that kind of key contractual details out on the day the news breaks that talks are at an advanced stage.

I'm sure there may well be a release clause amd that's not exactly unusual, I'd hope it's at least £20m more than we are hoping to pay, and had strict parameters included that benefit both the player and the club.

Example, active only after 2 years, etc etc.

24 Jul 2026 13:56:24
I expect it's likely a first-refusal clause, so if we agree on a fee of any value with a club, Citeh are allowed the opportunity to match it.

24 Jul 2026 20:50:34
MC inserted a buyback clause when they sold him to Burnley, and subsequently activated it, so I guess people might assume that they'd try to do the same with us, so that they could easily grab him back if Donnarumma crocks himself. I hope we resist any such suggestion if one is made.

24 Jul 2026 22:25:36
The "interweb" reporting that it all hangs on Torino buying Perri; everything else agreed?

25 Jul 2026 06:58:32
I found that the Ceefax was more reliable, Ani!

25 Jul 2026 07:34:40
Agree. Buy back should be after a minimum of 2 seasons, and at double the price.

25 Jul 2026 11:52:05
We all say what the clauses should or should not be, and how much should be paid, and the terms and conditions of the sale, but not one of us knows exactly what is available, and what the possibilities are on the terms of negotiations.


It's literally a complete guess, we simply have no idea, and we probably will not know any of the terms that are met in buying a player like Trafford.

Nobody has mentioned yet whether a loan to buy is even possible for Trafford?

24 Jul 2026 08:17:16
Would anyone be able to give any info on the new younger squad players taken to the US.
Age, position and potential.

24 Jul 2026 08:49:59
The Three I believe could possibly bridge the gap to the senior side 70, just my opinion, you understand.

Lineou - LB: took him from Citeh, finished the season very strongly. If he maintained the same level of development, I could see him added to the squad, especially if they wished to direct funds elsewhere. He's an excellent and exciting prospect, though more a Jed Spence type of defender, quick and skilful.

Alfie Cresswell - CM/DM. I believe he is the best youth prospect currently, captain and plays like his elder brother (Baz's love child) .

Very strong in the tackle, good in the air and scores the odd goal. Not creativity though in the Amps, Gruev mould.

Rory Malhaddy - GK: pinched from Celtic, highly rated particularly in Scotland, but their bar for national keepers is lower than ours. He has developed well and, again, has the potential to be a squad keeper. Whether he's a first choice, it's too early to say at this stage.

Don't see any world beaters or that creative number 10 we crave, and you'll appreciate bridging the gap to an EPL team is a stratospheric leap from a Championship side.

24 Jul 2026 09:01:44
The game against Wrexham is live on Premier Sports.

24 Jul 2026 09:06:07
Thank you. If those 3 can make the jump, we probably only need to spend out on another 4/5 players.
G K Trafford ?
C Half
Brandt
Number 10 and
Striker.

24 Jul 2026 11:51:04
Watch out for Coban Bird, 19-year-old LB.
I saw him play a couple of years back, and he was unbelievable.

24 Jul 2026 12:18:39
Whilst other positions would be a bonus, I think we need to concentrate on 3 positions:
GK - Trafford?
AM/10 - Brandt?
Striker - ???

Add a backup GK and LWB, and we're nearly good to go.

24 Jul 2026 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United's Squad Balance and the Left-Side Dilemma

24 Jul 2026 03:59:07
All a bit weird.
We have spent 34 plus both new boys wages.
If we say spend 40 on Trafford. Our budget I thought was 90-100. That only leaves us 26 for the others. Mainly and importantly a good striker. Am lb minimum. Know we going to maybe sell one or two but we might not. Would rather the 40 go on striker. See what unfolds.

24 Jul 2026 06:19:49
I wonder if we may see Jayden Leinou as back up for Gudmonson at LB.
Farke doesn't have the best track record with young players, though, but it could save us some £££.

24 Jul 2026 07:06:53
Was thinking the same, Mighty. He's just signed a new 3 Yr contract, so is clearly rated.

24 Jul 2026 09:04:19
As I have said before, if we can get Trafford, hopefully sell Perri to offset the fee, and look to pick up a decent lower league keeper as a number two.

24 Jul 2026 09:09:58
It's amazing, some of you blokes have been banging on about getting a quality keeper for a number of seasons now, and heavily lambasting all the ones we've had.
Now that it looks like we are getting, perhaps, a future England number one, you'd rather be spending similar money on a striker, which, incidentally, we already have in DCL for the time being, not forgetting an injury free season in the last one.

With his new regime and training methods, there's no reason he can't complete another injury free season with 15+ goals.
Good number nines are rare, and they come at a premium for Premiership standards.
We can't afford that, and relying on goals by the rest of the team is what we have to do.

We are not an elite football club.

On the goalkeeping subject, maybe you'd prefer to keep Perri as our number one?

24 Jul 2026 09:26:09
Err, OP, peeps have already answered your
points in the thread immediately below and other threads. Have a gander. 😆

24 Jul 2026 10:27:22
Good post, Op. I get people saying it's crazy to be spending £40 million on just a Gk over a striker, personally I believe they are of equal importance.

Many posters highlighted (myself included) how Mezz errors cost us promotion, a £200 million bounty delayed for another season, but in reality, no striker can guarantee goals, however much you spend. Look at Dcl vs Isak and their respective seasons.

So what's wrong with spending the majority of your budget on a proven quality keeper, England international, if we can pull a few more Dcl type rabbits out of the hat.



Finally, I believe it's really exciting and shows tangible growth if we're breaking our transfer record every season, if it's for proven quality.

We have to trust the process, which, contrary to a lot of views last year (including my own) , were slating Underwood, but his signings kept us up last season, so why not believe we can do it again.

The alternative is just too depressing, unless "I told you so" is of greater importance of course.

24 Jul 2026 11:15:22
Meslier was an absolute calamity of a keeper, Class, and thankfully we had the very reliable Darlow instead

You mention Isak. Yes, he had an injury-plagued season for Pool, but he scored barrel loads for Newcastle

Personally, I would rather sign a reliable, good keeper for much, much less (they are definitely available for much less) than £40 million or more

And then still be able to spend on a striker, and still have money for other positions, rather than have to scour only for free transfers / free agents (which is a much, much smaller choice of players and talent)

P.S.

You also didn't mention the buy-back clause, OP and Class

What are your feelings, fellas, if Citeh insert a mandatory buy-back clause in the contract and the buy-back fee is only relatively marginally more than the transfer fee we were to pay Citeh? Hmm.

24 Jul 2026 11:29:47
Yes, we have spent £34M and added two big earning players, but we've also removed a few from the payroll - Struijk, Schmidt, Wober already, and maybe Harrison and others to follow, and will likely earn something in transfer fees when we make a few sales, all of which will offset our spend on new (hopefully better) players.

24 Jul 2026 11:33:20
That's my point, Baz, with regard to no guarantees with strikers; you cannot legislate for serious injuries, irrespective of how much you spend on a striker.

But absolutely Isak's goals record, as reflected in his transfer fee, is infinitely better than Dcl's and should remain so over time, but we don't shop at the Harrods store as yet; Sunderland and Bournemouth have proved you can find strikers within our budget like Brobbey and Kroupi.



Personally, I wouldn't accept a buy back clause, Baz. In fact, I would prefer to buy Steele from Brighton as he travelled with the England WC party and is so consistent.
But again, I have no problem with the premise of spending the majority of our budget on James Custard if that's what the club chooses to do.

24 Jul 2026 11:38:21
Fair enough on your follow up post, Class..
I like Jason Steele also.

24 Jul 2026 12:24:24
Not that simple anymore under SSR Aus. Clubs are not allowed to spend over 85% of their income/revenue, so this includes transfers, wages, merchandising, etc. So, I would guess we do not know how much we have to spend and how much room we have now, but the club does. 😁

24 Jul 2026 12:25:15
Where has this talk of a buy back clause come from in the first place?
I'm certain it's not from the Elland Rd or Etihad boardrooms.
If there is anything behind it, it will probably be Trafford's agent figuring more ways to make more money.


I'm not sure there would be many clubs who would pay that high transfer fee with a buy out clause attached to it, and I don't think Parag would go for it either, especially for a goalie that hasn't hit the top level yet.

24 Jul 2026 13:08:19
You're right, Vid, about the 85% squad spending ratio, but you only get a points deduction if you exceed 115% - automatic 6 points.
A club can spend up to 115%, but there is a rolling period, and any underspend in following seasons is used to offset the excess this year.


The gamble might be to spend up to 115%, improve the squad enough to ensure safety, so that over the next couple of seasons the spending could be below the 85% level and incur no financial penalty.
We're also pursuing Leicester for £35m, so there might be some cash from that as well.

24 Jul 2026 13:54:32
I thought that too, actually, Dunelm. In theory, we can overspend this window, but make sure we unload a few before it's too late. A gamble, but doable.

23 Jul 2026 21:55:10
Lots of chatter tonight regarding Demirovic and Paixao, is there a world were we signed?

Wilson
Muharemovic
Brandt
Trafford
Demirovic
Paixao
Left back cover
Back up keeper.

If Carlesberg did transfer windows.

23 Jul 2026 22:38:16
That would, without doubt, be seriously impressive.

Particularly like the goal stats of Demirovic. Good target man, quick on the turn, clinical finisher.

2 down, 6 to go. Fingers crossed. 🤞

23 Jul 2026 21:59:30
David Ornstein Bomba!

Trafford in talks with Leeds!

23 Jul 2026 21:00:44
Looks like Baz will be eating his words 😉.

23 Jul 2026 21:57:59
Hehe, steady, hold dem horses. 🐎 Corkey.

..No, here we go cigar yet!

And as I said earlier, if Trafford were to eventually sign for LUFC, I do wonder how much dosh there's left in transfer kitty 😺 thus window for other much needed reinforcements such as a quality striker? 🤔

An intriguing news day.

23 Jul 2026 22:39:11
That's why one or two players like Piroe will be sold.
But not a striker, not this season.

23 Jul 2026 23:16:28
A striker is coming, I have no doubt.

23 Jul 2026 23:30:59
Hope so, Corkey.

And, to be frank, I would much, much rather Leeds sign a £50 million striker than a £50 million goalkeeper.

Longing for a striker of the skill and talent of the likes of Viduka, Charles, Clarke, Jones, Yeboah, Hasselbaink, etc etc.

A top striker wins more matches than a top keeper imo.

24 Jul 2026 07:11:51
And yet, you've spent so much time berating all things goalkeeping, from the players themselves, to the manager, their coaches, the scouts, the recruitment team - the whole shabang? Makes sense.

24 Jul 2026 08:01:20
Make your mind up, Baz, do we need a quality gk or don't we?
If a good striker can score a lot of goals, can not a goalkeeper prevent a lot of opposition goals.
I sense an excuse incoming for your prediction of no new number one being brought in this summer, literally two days ago.

24 Jul 2026 09:15:13
Erroneous points, Bright and OP.

I clearly stated in 2 posts on here yesterday that:

1) As well as it being regrettable that Darlow had left LUFC.

2) That there were plenty of quality, reliable goalkeepers that can be secured for far, far less than the £40 plus million whopping outlay on Trafford.



3) How much of our reported moderate transfer kitty would be left to sign other players in vital positions.

And,

4) I stated immediately yesterday my very considerable concern indeed at the reported buy back clause of Citehs.

24 Jul 2026 09:21:38
.And so yes OP, we do indeed need a quality gk, but not a £40 to 50 million one decimating our transfer kitty, and with a blooming buyback clause!

And yes, much rather a £50 million striker. Viduka won Leeds United way more games than Martyn or Robbo.



Trafford conceded a barrel load of goals for Burnley in 23/24 EPL seez, and couldn't prevent them at all from being relegated.

If Burnley had had a top striker, they may well have stayed up that seez!

24 Jul 2026 09:31:11
So perhaps you would prefer to keep Perri, as clearly goal-leaking Trafford is no better than him?

When will you ever be satisfied with this eternal merry-go-round of never being satisfied with any goalkeeper?

Or is it, as per usual, just to satisfy your unrealistic agendas?

24 Jul 2026 09:41:31
No, of course definitely not Perri.
A very reliable, dependable gk can be recruited for far, far, far less.

Look at Roefs at Sunderland for starters.

The Croatia national keeper is available, many others.

24 Jul 2026 09:44:24
..And re being satisfied with keepers, OP..

I was very satisfied with the very reliable Karl Darlow. It was very bad news for LUFC that he left.

24 Jul 2026 11:03:38
Having a half decent last season isn't enough for Leeds and Darlow knew it. Sadly for him the writing was already on the wall and he knew it.
That's why he's gone to the team where he'll hardly play but pick up a decent wage packet for him and his family.



Christ Baz, everything is either black or white to you. Do you ever look in between?

24 Jul 2026 11:25:23
Darlow was more than 'half decent' last seez. He was very good for more than half a seez, and you know it, OP.

Leeds preferring to look for another number 1. Ok.. but they don't need to spend £40 million plus doing so.

24 Jul 2026 12:44:18
Baz, believe me. Darlow only had a half-decent season. To us, yes, he looked good, but he was nowhere near the top-ranked keepers in the Premiership.
He only kept five clean sheets last season, with a 70% save rate, which is nothing remarkable.


Darlow is 35 yrs old, and looking for some security for the next three or four seasons, warming the bench.

This is not the 1970s anymore, Baz. Good players cost a lot of money, tens of millions.
Get up to date. My advice.

24 Jul 2026 12:57:23
5 clean sheets in 23 games is good, OP. Especially in a side battling relegation all seez.

As for value.

Roefs had an excellent seez for Sunderland. Cost £9 million.

Raphinha, an absolute worldie of a winger, cost us just £17 million.

There's great value out there, fella.

Anyways.. Good debate, cheers.

24 Jul 2026 13:18:28
A top striker may win more matches than a top keeper, Baz, but a top GK loses less. If it's 1:1 and the striker makes a cock up, it's still 1:1, but if it's 1:1 and the GK makes a cock up, it's 2:1 down.

24 Jul 2026 21:15:41
After not saving any penalties, I seem to recall you describing Darlow as a "huge disappointment", Baz. You also described Perri as a "true No 1 at last".

Captain Flip-flop comes to mind!

24 Jul 2026 21:32:04
How is my point at all erroneous?

24 Jul 2026 23:46:01
Ani, Darlow didn't save any pens in his first Leeds Utd appearance in League Cup back in Aug 2024. Since then he has been excellent, and I have championed him.

Re Perri, that's pure fiction on your part.

So no, Ani.

23 Jul 2026 17:04:54
James Trafford to #LUFC latest:

• The goalkeeper wants to join Leeds United. Talks are extremely advanced – first-option/ buyback clause and club performance clauses being negotiated within Trafford's Leeds contract. [Ben Jacobs/ Alex Crook]

• Newcastle were offered the player in June while discussing Sandro Tonali but no interest. Leeds are leading the race. [David Ornstein]

• Aston Villa and Spurs were also keen, but Trafford wants to play at Leeds – he sees a chance to build his future at the club. [Daily Mail]

• Villa dropped out of the race after deciding to retain Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Newcastle baulked at City's £40m valuation. Leeds have been working on the deal since February. [James Marshment]

James Trafford would be an enormous statement and a transformational signing for Leeds.

When Lucas Perri was dropped last season, he had the worst save percentage in the Premier League. Trafford had the 2nd best in all competitions (75.5%) with 5.8 prevented goals per xGoT. [Jonny Cooper – Opta]

The 6'5" 23-year-old was between the sticks for Burnley in their race to 100 points during the 2024-25 season, when Leeds also reached that tally.

But where Leeds won the Championship with attacking power and possession, Burnley came 2nd through defensive solidity and Trafford was a big part of that - conceding just 16 goals in 45 games.

That season at Burnley, Trafford had an 84.6% save percentage, prevented 12.58 goals, saved the 2 penalties he faced, made 88 saves and kept 29 clean sheets. [fotMOB]

Trafford's time at Burnley was so impressive it made Manchester City trigger their buy-back clause (first option/ price match) and pay a record fee for a British goalkeeper to take him back to the Etihad when they paid £27m (rising to £31m) .

That clause was triggered when Newcastle bid £31m for the player.

Manchester City are negotiating a similar buyback clause with Leeds.

Last year, Trafford signed a five-year deal with the club he spent his youth at.

But the goalkeeper was gazumped when the Citizens brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day and Trafford was demoted to the bench.

City value the player at £40m – meaning that should that valuation be met, he would break his own British record fee for a goalkeeper again within a year.

This would be a monumental statement of a signing from Leeds United.

A top goalkeeper was one of the biggest missing pieces from the starting eleven and cost the Yorkshire club significantly at the start of last season.

In fact, goalkeepers have been a problem position for the Whites for years.

Illan Meslier, Kiko Casilla, Bailey Peacock-Farrell all came, were relatively poor and left. Karl Darlow was Leeds' best option since Rob Green.

But James Trafford might be the best goalkeeper to pull on a Leeds shirt since. Paul Robinson? Nigel Martyn?

Trafford is England's number one-in-waiting. He was at the World Cup this summer which is why a deal has taken this long to materialise.

The transfer is very advanced, but it is still not done. But if Leeds land Trafford, and he stays fit and performs anywhere near the levels he is capable – it would open up many possibilities for Leeds including reverting to Farke's favoured 4-2-3-1.

With a top stopper between the sticks, Leeds' attack could be unlocked, knowing that they can take a few more risks.

This is a very, very, exciting potential transfer.

And this window is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory for Leeds United.

Adonis Storr on X.

23 Jul 2026 17:55:05
Brilliant post, absolutely spot on. What a statement signing, indeed. He could be our keeper for ten years!
Please let this happen.

23 Jul 2026 17:55:07
Get it done, whatever the cost, he's young & only going to improve!. 💙💛🤍

23 Jul 2026 17:56:34
Hmm.
So, if Leeds were to splash £40 million plus of their moderate transfer kitty on Trafford..

Citeh could buy him back with their own negotiated first option buy-back clause next summer?

Better be a considerably higher buy-back clause for a good profit, at least.

23 Jul 2026 18:05:41
Agree, Alf, with most of what you've said. It will be a big statement if we get him, and hopefully stop the procession of not necessarily poor but definitely inconsistent keepers we've had for some time.
Those we've bought so far have been upgrades, and we've not lost anyone apart from Pascal, although I think there might be an odd one or two from last year's squad who do move on.
We've also managed to shift some wages with Wober, and hopefully JH.


We still need an additional striker, an am, and a bit more cover at fb, so I hope there will be more incomings.
Just back to Trafford. You mentioned his shot-stopping ability. My Burnley mate, who's a season-ticket holder, has seen a lot of him, and his comments were that he is a great shot-stopper, but if he has a weakness it's with crosses. I'm sorry to see KD go, but hopefully we'll get someone who can be a step up.

23 Jul 2026 18:15:29
Potential deal breaker for me, he must agree upon signing that he will only ever have his first name "James" on his shirt, no agreement, no deal.

James, less letters, cheaper to print, win win!

23 Jul 2026 18:22:30
Weakness for 40 million. 🤦‍♂️

23 Jul 2026 18:29:43
Indeed, Dune. Definitely sorry to see Darlow go, and yes, Trafford isn't great at commanding his area and coming for crosses.

Although Trafford had a good season for Burnley in Champo.

Trafford did concede a whopping 62 goals in 28 games for Burnley in EPL seez 23/24.

Not sure of his save % in 23/24.

But yes, he is a good shot stopper imo.

No surprise at all on Perri having the worst gk save percentage stats in EPL last seez. Woeful signing by Leeds.

23 Jul 2026 18:17:19
Harrison deal my be on the cards I do hope we can offload this man at ant cost get him gone with the worst luck in your playing career possible as he stuck two fingers up to us, no great loss anyway.

23 Jul 2026 22:55:03
The only words in Alf's post I don't like are "buyback clause". We mustn't accept a deal like the one Burnley had where MC were able to demand he be sold back to them. First refusal is fine, mandatory sale is not. It will certainly be a statement deal if it comes off.

23 Jul 2026 23:07:14
Don't worry about the name Trafford on his shirt, Class, when Old Trashyard is demolished, Devon's new home will be the Snapdragon Stadium or something similar.

24 Jul 2026 07:16:44
I hope it earns the name "Theatre of Memes", when they get relegated to the champo in their first season playing there!

24 Jul 2026 08:02:00
Just to clarify, I don't write that it's a copy and paste from a post on X, but I thought it was so good I couldn't really rewrite it and keep it as informative and concise.

I'm also uneasy about the buyback clause, but as long as it would give us a profit, I guess we may have to dance with the devil.

I did see rumours that the buyback would be for a loss, but for me that wouldn't make any sense at all.

23 Jul 2026 16:31:49
Looking like Trafford is close peeps, that would be a real statement!