Leeds United’s ins and outs on the first day of pre-season offer transfer hints

At least seven players are expected to miss the start of Leeds United’s pre-season program this week. Daniel Farke has not been heard from since May 26, so injuries and time off will not be publicly known as the team returns to Thorp Arch.

Based on who has had extended seasons with their countries and who may leave the club in the near future, we can get an idea of ​​who Farke will start working with first.

Who should return on day one?

Illan Meslier has been linked with Marseille in recent days, but none of that has looked substantial enough for Farke to drop him from the squad. The goalkeeper was withdrawn from the play-off final and should be alongside Ed Wootten and Karl Darlow from the start.

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Georginio Rutter is arguably the best Leeds striker yet to be linked with an exit this summer. The club’s record signing may be capable of playing higher than the Championship, but he carried the torch last season and should work with Farke on day one.

Like Meslier, Crysencio Summerville has been linked with a move this summer, but there has been nothing to suggest progress on an exit. Therefore, they should look to put their best foot forward and go on day one.

Joel Piroe, Pascal Struijk, Sam Byram, Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph, Joe Gelhardt, Kristoffer Klaesson and Sam Greenwood have not been linked with any sort of departure this summer. Assuming they are fit, they should be all-in from the start with the coaching staff at Thorp Arch.

There have been very faint links away from Elland Road for Glen Kamara, Ilia Gruev and Wilfried Gnonto, but nothing substantial enough to turn heads. Neither has played in the June internationals and should realistically report for duty from the start for Farke. If Gnonto chooses the nuclear option again, it won’t be pretty for him.

Who should be back on day one but might not be?

As painful as it is to admit, Archie Gray may be one of those players missing on day one. The 18-year-old sat out the play-off final and would normally have been from the start, but transfer developments at the weekend cast a shadow over his initial involvement.

Charlie Cresswell would have been from the start, but his move to Toulouse is understood to be imminent and he will not mind starting at Thorp Arch. Darko Gyabi is among the loanees returning this summer, but links with a return to Plymouth Argyle could mean he ditches West Yorkshire to return to Devon for pre-season.

Diego Llorente is the first of the biggest names currently scheduled to return for pre-season, but the buzz surrounding him from Roma and Real Betis should mean Farke is unlikely to force him back after so long time.

Who is likely to be missing?

Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James and Charlie Crew all played for Wales earlier last month. Farke would be wise to give them the extra time they missed out on non-internationals, especially when you consider how long next season will be for them.

However, their absence is not guaranteed. Junior Firpo is in the same boat. He played for the Dominican Republic last month and will be due an extra break before resuming.

There has been nothing official from the club regarding contract offers made to Jamie Shackleton or Cody Drameh. They are technically free agents this morning and under no obligation to report for pre-season, unless they have agreed new deals and the club is yet to notify them, but that seems unlikely.

Who will definitely be missing?

Denmark are out of Euro 2024, meaning Rasmus Kristensen has been released from his country. Although the defender hasn’t played a single minute for his nation at the tournament, has yet to have his post-season break and with an uncertain future anyway, it’s an easy excuse to keep him away from Thorp Arch until a resolution is found.

Brenden Aaronson and Max Wober are currently with the USA and Austria at the Copa America and Euro 2024 respectively. They will not report to Thorp Arch this week.

Like Drameh and Shackleton, unless they shook hands behind closed doors, Liam Cooper is a free agent this morning. Unlike them, however, even if he has agreed a new deal, his Scotland duty means he will get little time off before pre-season begins.