Leeds United are prepared for what could be their biggest game of the season thus far. The Whites welcome Leicester City to Elland Road on Friday night, knowing that a ninth consecutive Championship victory would be a significant step toward promotion to the Premier League.
The Whites have not lost at Elland Road this season, and after beating Leicester once, they will be optimistic of closing the gap on the league leaders to six points. Ahead of the game, we look at some of the biggest headlines.
Leeds United may be expecting bids for Archie Gray this summer, but an approach from Liverpool appears ‘strange’. That’s according to Liverpool reporter Neil Jones, who told Caught Offside that his sources were dismissive of Gray as a target when news of the club’s alleged interest surfaced earlier this season.
Gray has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs in recent months, with Manchester United and Newcastle United both reportedly interested in the 17-year-old, who has been one of Leeds’ most significant players this season. He signed a new contract with the club last month, securing his future until the summer of 2028.
However, his new contract may not prevent clubs from making approaches for him in the summer transfer window, especially if he continues to impress in the next few months of the season. Liverpool, on the other hand, may not be among those interested, with Jones citing the amount of talent already at Anfield in midfield and right back.
Maresca’s selection headache
Enzo Maresca may struggle to give all four of his strikers the minutes they need during the rest of the season. The Leicester City manager will choose between Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Tom Cannon this week when the Foxes go to Elland Road for a match that promises to have a significant impact on the promotion battle, one way or another.
All four have found the back of the goal on a regular basis this season, and it appears Maresca will ponder long and hard before picking his starting XI against the Whites.
“It’s impossible now with only 14 games,” he told Leicestershire Live when asked about the potential of rotation. “It isn’t like it was at the beginning of the season, when you had 46 games to share. With only 14 games remaining, splitting minutes will be extremely difficult. “Day by day, we’ll make the right decision for the next game.”
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