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Leeds United's free agent rumours rubbished with training ground revelation

-Credit: (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)


Space would have been an issue at Leeds United’s training ground had Daniel Farke welcomed in all of the free agents they have been linked with. The German poked fun at recent reports which had connected four prominent names with the Whites in their quest to find a midfield reinforcement.

While the 34-year-old pair of Cheikhou Kouyate and Joshua Guilavogui are of interest to United, LeedsLive understands, the noises on Christoph Kramer and Francis Coquelin have been far quieter. The latter pair have been linked in the national media, but the strength of those reports are thought to be wide of the mark.

The rumour mill went into overdrive after Farke publicly admitted he had hosted ‘special guests’ at Thorp Arch during the international break, having been asked about that free agent search. While he would not comment on names, the German did map out the boxes he would want to see ticked by any new arrival.

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Talk of those visits and a need for those unattached targets to work on their fitness gave the impression Farke had at least one of them working under his gaze. He declined to pull back the curtain any further on Monday.

“No, I don't speak too much about what happens behind closed doors,” he said. "A few guests’ also doesn't mean they are just trialists.

“I've also read some articles [about] who was in, or whatever. You wouldn't have that much space here at the training ground to have all the players who are linked with being on trial.

“Sometimes it's also funny. No, I don't lift the curtain anyhow. It's more like, yes, there were a few people around, but it doesn't mean it's just players who are here on trial, or competing against each other, or whatever.

“What we do is on a professional level and we do it also like sticking to the rules and having the right decisions. Let's see what the outcome is.”

Lucas Radebe was, technically, a free agent at Thorp Arch last week, but the 55-year-old has long since retired. Farke enjoyed the South African’s visit and joked he wanted to see him back on the pitch with his boots.

“Lucas Radebe was around,” he said. “I was surprised he didn't bring his boots because I wanted the Chief a bit on the training pitch, but he was a bit more in our canteen and had some proper food anyhow.

“Great chats and he's an unbelievable guy, great to have him around.”