Leeds United - BBC Sport (2023)

For this weekend's FA Cup predictions, Chris Sutton is up against Krept, from rap duo Krept & Konan.

Sutton's prediction:0-2

Leeds needed a replay to see off Cardiff in round three, with their manager Jesse Marsch criticising his players after they had drawn the first game in Wales.

They will have to be up for it from the start here, because Accrington boss John Coleman will make his side are right in Leeds' faces.

If Leeds turn up, their quality will tell, but I can see Accrington making things awkward for them.

Krept's prediction: 1-2

Both teams are struggling a bit but I am going with Leeds.

Find out how Sutton and Krept think the rest of the games will go and cast your vote here

Leeds’ club record signing Georginio Rutter is expected to make his full debut in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round match against Accrington Stanley.

Their £36m forward did not come off the substitutes’ bench for Sunday’s draw with Brentford.

Boss Jesse Marsch will also give late fitness tests to Tyler Adams and Liam Cooper before the lunchtime kick-off.

Predict the Leeds starting XI

Jesse Marsch says he wants "to be a winner" but that it is "too early" to talk about his Leeds team winning a trophy this season.

After needing a replay to get through the previous round against Cardiff, the American's side head to League One Accrington Stanley on Saturday hoping to avoid an upset.

Having won silverware as a player in the MLS and manager in Austria, Marsch said: "You do this job to win trophies and I've been lucky enough to be part of teams that have done that.

"It's because I've always taken it very seriously. I've always known it's an opportunity for glory."

Leeds' only FA Cup final triumph came in in 1972 and Marsch feels there is still a long way to go before they can talk about repeating that success.

"Talking to me now, it's way too early for us in this process and in the tournament to start talking about that," he added.

"But obviously, everything we do here, every morning I get up at the crack of dawn, I do it with the idea of getting our club closer to the possibility of even having that discussion internally and then, ultimately, winning.

"I want to be a winner. Period. That's why I do this. We want to give ourselves a chance and our fans a chance to have a cup run. So everybody on the inside for sure is clear on that."

Leeds' forward Joe Gelhardt's mooted loan move to promotion-chasing Sunderland "makes sense for both parties", says Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards.

The 20-year-old has long been touted for a key role in the Leeds first team but has been reduced to cameo roles this season.

Edwards told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast a few months at Sunderland would be a great move.

"Gelhardt will probably have half of the Championship wanting to sign him," said Edwards. "He's a really exciting young player but he's just not getting enough game time.

"Sunderland are a really big club and their manager Tony Mowbray has a track record of developing young players.

"It will also be an intense environment that replicates what he gets with Leeds. It will help them find out what sort of player he is and he will come back more prepared for the first team."

Listen to the rest of today's transfer gossip exclusively on BBC Sounds

Leeds Unitedare ready to pay £25m forJuventusand USA midfielder Weston McKennie, 24. (Sky Sports Italy, external)

The club are set to allow their English forward Joe Gelhardt, 20, to join promotion-chasing Championship sideSunderlandon loan until the end of the season.(Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's Gossip column

• This will be the first competitive meeting between Accrington Stanley and Leeds United since August 2014, when the sides met in a first round League Cup clash at Elland Road, with the Whites winning 2-1.

• Leeds United eliminated Championship side Cardiff in the FA Cup third round after a replay, having lost their previous three ties against sides from a lower division. The Whites haven’t knocked out two sides from a lower division in an FA Cup campaign since 2002-03 (three teams).

• Leeds have had three different players (Willy Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo) score twice in the FA Cup this season, the first time three players have scored 2+ goals for the Whites in an FA Cup campaign since 2009-10 (Jermaine Beckford, Luciano Becchio and Mike Grella) and first time as a top-flight side since 1978-79 (four players: Carl Harris, Frank Gray, Eddie Gray and Arthur Graham).

Jesse Marsch hopes bringing in Chris Armas as his assistant can help Leeds replicate the success they had together in MLS.

Former USA international Armas was Marsch's assistant from 2015-2018 at New York Red Bulls, before becoming head coach after Marsch departed for RB Leipzig.

After spending last season alongside Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United, Armas arrives at Elland Road as assistant head coach - to the delight of Marsch.

He said: "Maybe it'll take the Ted Lasso moniker away from me.

"We know each other. He was my captain at Chicago Fire and my partner in midfield. We helped that club be successful. What we built in New York was also special. I was excited for him to get the experience at Manchester United.

"Once everything came about in the summer I thought it would have been the perfect fit but now is the right time.

"He knows the tactics, he is very good in relationships too and understanding people and being a good listener.

"We tried to bring him here in the summer but he had personal reasons. I know him very well, we played together for eight years, the respect I have for him is high and as a human being he's one of the best I have met.

"He understands the league, the football we're trying to play. It's a good fit."

Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Accrington Stanley.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There will be late calls on the fitness of Liam Cooper and Tyler Adams. Archie Gray is back in training, as is Crysencio Summerville, who should be ready for the trip to Nottingham Forest next week.

• Record signing Georginio Rutter is set to start, while Luis Sinisterra will also be involved. However, Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas are still out.

• Right-back Cody Drameh will be joining Luton Town on loan, although Marsch expects him to come back in the summer. He feels this is the best challenge for Drameh, who had a lot of interest from other clubs.

• Marsch is sticking to his mantra of not discussing transfers, despite Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie being linked with a move to Elland Road.

• The Leeds boss is clearly keen on going deep in the FA Cup: "We want to go to Accrington and make sure we go for the victory. We've got the chance to push in this tournament and we want to take it totally seriously."

• On the appointment of new assistant head coach Chris Armas, Marsch said: "We tried to bring him in the summer and he had some personal issues which made it difficult. Once (Mark Jackson) was going to leave, he was the first target I had in mind. The respect I have for him is at a very high level."

• Marsch added: "He's already having an impact. He understands the league by being at Manchester United and the football we're trying to play. For me it's a good fit." He also joked that the Ted Lasso moniker might now pass from him to new assistant Armas.

Leeds Unitedhave made an opening bid of 28m euros (£24.6m) plus add-ons for United States midfielder Weston McKennie butJuventuswant 35m euros (£30.8m) for the 24-year-old.(Sky Sports Italia), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

So it’s a first visit for a senior Leeds United side to the Wham Stadium now we know that Accrington Stanley are Saturday’s FA Cup 4th Round opponents.

Wham! Or other Marvel comic onomatopoeias expressing the sound of a forcible impact, are an apt reminder of the last time the two sides met. It was Elland Road in the League Cup in August 2014 when the Whites gave new boss Dave Hockaday his first win with a 2-1 victory.

If the appointment of 'The Hock' by then owner Massimo Cellino summed up his off-the-cuff decision making and crazy reign, then it was mirrored by the antics of debutant defender Gaetano Berardi, whose Kung Fu kick a few minutes from time after the visitors had pulled a goal back saw him receive the first of seven red cards for the club and made for a nervy close to a tie that United had been cruising.

It was also the Switzerland international’s beginnings as a cult hero. “I have a little fire inside me” he once told me of his on-pitch antics in his polite, calm yet menacing demeanour off it!

Berra, described as “a little soldier” by former sporting director Nicola Salerno, was the loyal and dependent recruit who stayed while a raft of others left or simply failed. He is another who will be remembered for his role in helping the Whites to promotion despite injury spoiling the back end of his stay at the club where he did at least manage make two Premier League appearances before moving on.

The old Crown Ground in Lancashire could witness another United debutant with supporters hoping to have a first sight of record signing Georginio Rutter. I'm not expecting any martial arts from the France Under-21 international but there is every chance he will find out that this FA Cup tie could be more of a combat sport than he was anticipating.

Leeds United have named Chris Armas as their new assistant head coach.

Subject to obtaining a work permit, the former USA international will join the backroom staff under head coach Jesse Marsch.

Armas has worked with the Leeds boss previously when he was his assistant at New York Red Bulls between 2015 and 2018 - taking over as head coach when Marsch left for RB Leipzig.

Last season, the former LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire player spent time working as an assistant at Manchester United under their then manager Ralf Rangnick.

Marsch said he is "delighted" to have Armas join his backroom team.

“He will be a fantastic addition to the staff, he brings a wealth of experience from across the world and having worked closely with him previously, I am sure he will help us to improve every day,” said Marsch.

The Don't Go To Bed Just Yet team have had a chat about Jesse Marsch this week.

You can get the full episode here

With less than a week to go till the transfer window closes, a number of Leeds players are being linked with Elland Road exits.

On BBC Radio Leeds' latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, the panel cast their eye over who could be on their way out.

"There is definitely interest from the Championship in taking Charlie Cresswell," says BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope. "He's not coming back to Leeds, that's for sure, but there could be a future here for him after the summer.

"If he stays at Millwall till the end of the season that would be a real positive for him."

Kaiser Chiefs bassist and United fan Simon Rix added: "Selling Cresswell seems like it would be a stupid idea. Getting £4m for him would not really be anything money-wise.

"Even if he goes out on loan again next year they may as well gamble on keeping hold of him and hoping he's worth £10m or more one day."

Another player linked with a loan move away is Joe Gelhardt, with managing director Angus Kinnear relating his career progression to that of England captain Harry Kane, who had four loans before breaking through at Tottenham.

"He's on a long deal, so I would expect him to come back, wherever he goes," said Pope.

BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Jonny Buchan agreed, laughing that Gelhardt has already been likened to both Wayne Rooney and Kane in his short career.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Leeds United's Connor Ferguson has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The 18-year-old left-back has penned a two-and-a-half year deal at Elland Road, running until the summer of 2025.

Leeds winger Jack Harrison, 26, is a target for Leicester. (Telegraph), external

Talks are ongoing between Leeds and Juventus over the Italian side's 24-year-old USA midfielder Weston McKennie. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday’s full gossip column

Brenden Aaronson did put in a better performance for Leeds United against Brentford on Sunday, according to Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast hosts Adam Pope and Simon Rix.

However, they admit their verdict is damning with faint praise.

Aaronson has been under pressure after a series of below-par displays and boss Jesse Marsch's comments that it was "one of his best games for Leeds" were not overly well received by supporters.

Rix and Pope defended the USA midfielder while accepting there is plenty of room for improvement.

"I thought he was trying too hard in the first half," argued Kaiser Chiefs bassist Rix. "By the end of that, though - and in the second - he had pulled it back a bit.

"He had a couple of shots on target. When he went off, it wasn't because everyone felt it was time for him to be substituted.

"Marsch can't win at the minute. Is he protecting Aaronson and taking the heat because he [Marsch] knows he will get it anyway? It's hard to pitch."

Pope agreed with Rix but was not willing to accept Marsch's assessment.

"I do think he had a better game but it's a low bar and certainly not one of his best performances," he said. "He was much better at the start of the season."

Aaronson has one goal and two assists in 21 Premier League appearances since signing from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer.

Listen to the full BBC Radio Leeds podcast here

Adonis Storr,The Roaring Peacock, external

The Leeds United fans' song for Wilfried Gnonto – which makes a reference to the player's penis size – has been criticised by anti-discrimination group Kick it Out and the Football Association.

Kick it Out stated: "Racial stereotypes are harmful and offensive, irrespective of the intention to show support for a player."

While the chant may be meant to be good natured, Leeds supporters should do better than perpetuate a racial stereotype.

The Elland Road club has a history of anti-racism.

When South African winger Albert Johanneson - who was the first black player to feature in an FA Cup final - was racially abused playing for the Leeds team of the 1960s, Billy Bremner's seemingly unprovoked fouls on opposition players were actually retribution.

And in the 1980s, fans kicked out the far-right National Front from leafleting outside the ground.

No formal statement has been made by the club condemning the Gnonto chant - but it's time for one.