Leeds United 'to launch fresh bid' for Oliver Skipp as Cesc Fabregas 'keen' on signing £25m Whites star

Leeds United will finally return to action this week as preparations kick up a notch ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 season. Daniel Farke’s side have less than four weeks until they welcome newly-promoted Portsmouth to Elland Road on the Championship’s opening weekend, although there is plenty to look forward to between now and then. A youthful side beat a Rangers-XI 1-0 on Tuesday but more familiar, and senior, faces are expected to feature against League Two Harrogate Town on Friday.

Farke and his players have plenty of work to get through before Portsmouth’s arrival but those behind the scenes are working equally hard as recruitment plans are put into action. Leeds have already welcomed Joe Rodon, Alex Cairns and Joe Rothwell through the door with others expected to follow, while there may also be a few more exits. With all that in mind, the YEP has rounded up some of the latest headlines surrounding the club.

Skipp latest

Leeds are thought to be interested in Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Oliver Skipp and recent reports claim a fresh approach is on the cards. Planet Sport reports that a ‘fresh bid’ is being lined up as Farke looks to replace the outgoing Glen Kamara. Stade Rennais look set to sign Kamara for a fee in the region of £8million, almost doubling the money Leeds spent to sign him from Rangers less than 12 months ago.

Skipp emerged as a person of interest at Leeds earlier this summer, having enjoyed an excellent loan spell under Farke at Norwich City during the 2020/21 campaign, and the £40m purchase of Archie Gray from Elland Road looks to have pushed the 23-year-old down the pecking order. He made 24 appearances under Ange Postecoglou last season but most came from the bench, with starts hard to come by.

The report adds that Skipp was mentioned during negotiations for Gray, which eventually saw Rodon come the other way in a separate deal, but Tottenham were not willing to lose the midfielder at that time. However, they are keen to secure a replacement for the England under-21 international and could allow him to leave further into the summer.

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Italian Gnonto interest

Speculation over the future of Wilfried Gnonto has intensified in recent days and reports now suggest Cesc Fabregas is keen on having him at Como. TBR Football reports that having helped lead Como back to Serie A as assistant manager last season, Fabregas has identified Gnonto as an option to strengthen for top-flight football and the newly-promoted side are now the richest in Italy.

Gnonto remains on Everton’s radar and reports over the past week have linked Leeds’ Italian winger with a move to Goodison Park, but Newcastle United are also thought to be keen on the 20-year-old as competition heats up. There have been consistent links with a return home as well, and this report also names Roma as a potential destination.

Leeds are no longer actively looking to sell anyone this summer, having brought in a much-needed cash injection via the sale of Gray, but appropriate offers will be considered. Bids from Everton for Gnonto worth around £25m were thought to have been rejected last summer and the former FC Zurich youngster still has three years remaining on his contract.