LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Declan Rice of West Ham United during the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final first leg match between West Ham United and AZ Alkmaar at London Stadium on May 11, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
The latest Leeds United transfer news after the Yorkshire club finally confirmed Daniel Farke as the new head coach at Elland Road last night.
After weeks of delays and having to watch their EFL Championship rivals get a head start on their summer transfer business it could finally be time for Leeds United to start making moves.
The Whites have now confirmed Daniel Farke as their new head coach and supporters will be hoping the former Norwich City boss can get straight to work recruiting new faces for their 2023/24 campaign. However, all the major transfer related headlines continue to be around current players who are likely leaving the club this summer and West Ham United are now said to be targeting Leeds midfielder as a potential replacement for Declan Rice who is expected to complete a £105 million move to Arsenal soon.
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Elsewhere, a former Leeds United player is said to be a transfer target for Borussia Dortmund who are ‘in talks’ with the players despite a disappointing spell at Elland Road last season. Here are the latest Leeds United transfer news stories on Wednesday, July 5:
Per a report from 90min, Tyler Adams is the subject of a transfer approach from West Ham, with the Hammers in the market for a Declan Rice replacement. The England international is expected to complete a bumper £105 million move to Arsenal very soon.
Previous reports had linked USMNT international Adams with other top flight clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle United. The 24-year old only signed for the Whites from RB Leipzig last summer for a reported fee of £20 million and still has four years remaining on his contract.
According to the Daily Mail, via ESPN, former Leeds United loanee Weston McKennie is in talks to sign with Bundesliga giant Borussia Dortmund. The USMNT international returned to Juventus this summer following a disappointing six month loan spell at Elland Road
Leeds were understood to have the option to buy the 24-year old but are believed to have turned it down mainly due to their relegation from the Premier League but also due to the midfielder’s lackluster performances in the Premier League. McKennie started his senior career with Dortmund’s fierce rivals Schalke 04.
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Declan Rice Friday plan emerges amid official statement update on West Ham United to Arsenal transfer – Fabrizio Romano
The plan between West Ham and Arsenal is for Declan Rice to undergo his medical on Friday (7 July) ahead of an official statement on his move to the Emirates, Fabrizio Romano reports.
After nearly a week of negotiations on the payment terms for the 24-year-old’s £105million sale a “very important” moment was reached on Tuesday night (3 July) as “complete” agreement was reached between the two sides.
Rice is set to become the most expensive British player in history in what Romano calls “an historic day in English football”.
The Irons star has now been granted permission to do his medical and finalise the move, after David Ornstein broke the update late Tuesday, with the £100m in guaranteed money expected to all be paid by summer 2025 according to Jacob Steinberg in The Guardian.
Romano wrote in his Caught Offside Substack column on Wednesday morning: “It’s an historic day in English football because Arsenal have finally got their man – Declan Rice to Arsenal, here we go!
“The agreement is done between Arsenal and West Ham, things were finalised late last night and now it’s complete – the fee, the payment terms, everything.
“Rice will now undergo medical tests with Arsenal this week, probably on Friday, that’s the plan for all parties right now, and then an official statement.
“Rice will be an Arsenal player, the most expensive English player in the history of the game, and the most expensive signing in the Gunners’ history – £105m. This is a very important moment”
Finish line
Barring any unexpected complications in the medical this huge deal is finally sorted and after months and months of speculation all sides can look ahead.
Mikel Arteta will be building around his new record buy while David Moyes will be looking to fill the gap left behind by his record sale.
With the money arriving in a fairly short timeframe the Irons look to have largely got what they were looking for out of this deal and will now focus on the replacements.
The Europa Conference League win saw the season end on a major high but this is still a squad that struggled badly through the Premier League campaign and is now about to lose its best player.
West Ham spent heavily last summer and saw scant return on investment, particularly in attack when there are questions over the futures of Gianluca Scamacca, Lucas Paqueta and Maxwel Cornet already.
Clearly midfield has to be the number one priority but the forward positions must be addressed as well if Moyes is going to get back to the stability that characterised his return to East London prior to last season.
