Latest news with #LeedsUnited
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Leeds United have Bilal El Khannouss on their radar
Leeds United held a meeting with the representatives of Leicester City attacker Bilal El Khannouss yesterday, according to Sky Sports Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri. Leeds made it clear they are ready to pay his £24.5 million release clause to bring him to the Elland Road club this summer. The Whites have missed out on Feyenoord attacker Igor Paixao to Marseille, and they have now moved on to El Khannouss. The 21-year-old Belgian-Moroccan played in 32 Premier League games last term, weighing in with two goals and three assists, and Leeds could do with his quality and experience as they prepare for life back in the Premier League. He is expected to leave Leicester after they got relegated to the Championship, and he wants to remain in the English top-flight, with the Whites offering him an opportunity.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Premier League relegation odds 2025/26: Predictions and tips
TOP flight football is about far more than who wins the league, and there are plenty of differing narratives across a Premier League season. There is the race for a top four place and European qualification, who wins the domestic cups, and of course, the relegation dogfight. The fight for survival can be one of the most exciting battles over the league season. In recent seasons, it's been a bit of a foregone conclusion, but if we get a handful of teams in there, it's just as exciting as the race to win the title. The three promoted teams are often the ones to go down in their first campaign. And the latest Premier League relegation odds suggest Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are likely to do the same this season. However, with Leeds and Burnley both having recent Premier League experience, they will feel they have the tools to beat the drop. As for Sunderland, they are effectively starting from scratch after an eight-year hiatus from top flight football. 2025/26 Premier League relegation odds Burnley - 1/3 Sunderland - 2/6 Leeds - 10/11 Wolverhampton - 10/3 Brentford - 10/3 West Ham - 11/2 Fulham - 7/1 Crystal Palace - 7/1 Everton - 7/1 Bournemouth - 9/1 Nottm Forest - 9/1 Brighton - 16/1 Man City - 20/1 Man Utd - 25/1 Tottenham - 40/1 Chelsea - 100/1 Aston Villa - 150/1 Newcastle - 200/1 Arsenal - 1000/1 Liverpool - 1000/1 Odds provided by bet365 are subject to change. Quick Premier League relegation bets for 2025/26 The current standings The statistics are telling and play a part when bookies produce their latest Premier League relegation odds - they show that the three promoted clubs are more likely than ever to go back down. If any of Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland want to prove the bookies wrong, it is imperative they don't get cut adrift early in the campaign. Likewise, the same rules apply to teams like Wolves and Brentford, the two sides the bookies think are the most likely to get dragged into the relegation battle as the season evolves. The promoted trio The size of the task facing Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland won't be lost on them. Highlighting the ever increasing gulf in class between the bottom of the Premier League and the top of the Championship, the three promoted clubs have returned to the Championship at the first time of asking for the past two seasons. Bridging the gap is getting more and more difficult. As well as needing to perform well above their own level, any promoted team looking to survive is now also needing an established Premier League club to perform way below their usual standard. This is why the bookmakers have the promoted teams as their main favourites to be relegated this season. Below we assess their chances of survival in more detail: Sunderland Sunderland gained promotion via the playoffs. They finished 26 points behind Leeds and Burnley in the Championship last season. They also looked second best in both their playoff semi-final and final victories. However, they somehow found a way to get to Wembley and clinch the final place in this season's Premier League. Unfortunately, though, the Black Cats were dealt a huge blow before the season even got started with the departure of Jobe Bellingham for Borussia Dortmund. Sunderland would have known Bellingham was set to leave, and will no doubt have had plans in place for his departure. But replacing a player of that quality won't be easy. A like-for-like replacement will most probably be looking for a move to a club with better prospects of staying in the Premier League. However, Sunderland have been busy in the transfer market as they seek to fill the void left by Bellingham. The Black Cats have splashed out big fees for Simon Adingra (£20M), Habib Diarra (£30M), Enzo Le Fée (£20M), Nah Sadiki (£17.5M) and Chemsdine Talbi (£19M). Despite the significant investment in the playing squad, Régis Le Bris still faces one hell of a job keeping his team in the Premier League. Burnley Burnley's promotion campaign was built on the back of a solid defence. Scott Parker did an excellent job after taking over from Vincent Kompany, with his team only missing out on top spot to Leeds United on goal difference. The Clarets scored 69 goals on their way to claiming 100 points, they were the third highest scorers in the division. However, their most telling statistic was conceding just 16 goals in 46 matches. Replicating a record like that in the Premier League will be impossible. The gulf in class between goalscorers in the Premier League and Championship is huge, meaning the Clarets won't be able to defend their way to Premier League safety. In an effort to bridge the gap at both ends of the pitch, Burnley have signed Marcus Edwards from Sporting Lisbon and Kyle Walker from Manchester City. The signing of Walker is a massive coup, not only will his arrival provide Premier League experience to the Clarets' backline, but it will also tell other high profile players considering a move to England that Burnley is a club well worth considering. Leeds United Despite rumours about his job security, Daniel Farke has remained in charge at Elland Road. However, a poor start for Leeds will likely see Farke pay the price with his job. The club have been strengthening their squad with the big money arrivals of Anton Stach (£17.4M) from Hoffenheim and Sean Longstaff (£12M) from Newcastle. Leeds' striker Joël Piroe was the top scorer in the Championship last season with 19 goals in 46 matches. The Championship Golden Boot winner also contributed seven assists, highlighting his all round ability to lead the line. While Piroe has scored plenty in the Championship, he hasn't yet proved himself in the Premier League. We have to suspect that Leeds will need another striker who can contribute regular goals if they are to stay up. They do have Premier League experience in Daniel James, and out of the three promoted teams, the Elland Road outfit look the best equipped to prove the bookies wrong and survive. Last season's strugglers Two teams that found themselves flirting with the drop last season were Wolves and West Ham. Both comfortably survived in the end, but this was predominantly down to the shortcomings of the three promoted teams. Despite being established in the Premier League, Wolves and West Ham can't keep relying on the promoted clubs not being up to the required standard for their survival, and this season could be pivotal for both if significant improvements are not made. Wolves Wolves - and in particular their then boss Gary O'Neil - could consider themselves very unlucky with the cruel hand they received from the fixture computer at the beginning of last season. The men from Molineux had a brutal start, beginning with a 6-2 loss to Chelsea and a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. Wolves spent the first half of the season in the bottom three and a considerable amount of time sitting fourth from bottom in the second half of the campaign. A change in manager saw Vítor Pereira take over from Gary O'Neil, and the former Porto boss steadied the ship and eventually steered Wolves to 16th in the table, a comfortable 17 points clear of the drop zone. However, there have been further setbacks for the Midlanders this summer. Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri have both departed. The loss of Cunha's goals will leave a huge void to fill. The Brazilian contributed 15 goals and six assists from his 33 matches in the Old Gold. Without Cunha's goal involvements, Wolves would probably have gone down last season. If they can't find a way to replace him, they are likely to get dragged into the dogfight at the bottom again. West Ham United West Ham decided they were ready to move on from the second David Moyes era last summer. His successor was Julen Lopetegui, but the Spaniard only lasted until January, with the Hammers board finally having enough after reportedly coming close to firing the Spaniard twice earlier in the season. Graham Potter was Lotetegui's replacement. The former Brighton and Chelsea boss settled things down in his opening weeks in charge. However, a run that saw West Ham pick up just ten points from their final 11 matches of the season resulted in the natives becoming restless again. Potter and his West Ham team should be good enough to avoid the drop. The problem at the London Stadium is that the fans make their feelings known. If the season gets off to a poor start, there could be early pressure on Potter and the board. It shouldn't see West Ham dragged into the relegation battle, but it may result in another managerial change. Furthermore, both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur struggled at the bottom of the table last season. Their presence may have made the performances of the Hammers and others not look as poor as they were. The duo aren't likely to be as bad this time around. The Red Devils have strengthened with top quality signings like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and coach Ruben Amorim will have had a full preseason to prepare his team. Spurs have also made changes to ensure there is no repeat performance. Winning the Europa League wasn't enough to save Ange Postecoglou's job. The Lilywhites have replaced the popular Aussie with Thomas Frank, prising the experienced Premier League manager away from rivals Brentford. Who might get dragged in? Plenty of teams will be looking over their shoulders as the new season gets underway. Premier League survival is a luxury only a handful of clubs have, and teams that were challenging for minor European places last season, could be involved in the fight to avoid the drop this time around. Premier League football is competitive. The loss of a key player or even a manager can be the difference between survival and taking the plunge down to the Championship. Some of the teams that could get dragged into the relegation battle are: Brentford The Bees have lost Thomas Frank to Spurs. Frank was more than just a manager; he was the heart and soul of Brentford's time in the Premier League. Brentford struggled on the road in the first half of the 2024/25 season. Had that poor form continued - and started to affect their usually strong home performances - they could've been dragged into a relegation battle. This was never likely to happen under the guidance of Frank, and Brentford found their rhythm in the second half of the season and comfortably stayed up. Brentford will now have to adapt to life without the Dane - his calming influence and guidance will be greatly missed. Stepping up to replace Frank is Keith Andrews. The Irishman has experience of being part of coaching set ups, but has never been the head coach. It looks like an inexperienced and risky appointment by the Bees. Andrews will also start life in charge of Brentford without Bryan Mbeumo, who contributed 20 goals and seven assists for the team last season. Fulham The Cottagers had an outstanding 2024/25 season under Marco Silva, finishing 11th on 54 points. It felt like a season of overachievement, but with little activity in the transfer market this summer, the Londoners now feel more like a club who are standing still - which is a dangerous game to play in the top flight. Silva is also a manager in demand. He has had interest from abroad in the past, but opted to stay in west London. If the former Everton boss doesn't feel he is getting backed by his club, he may not be so loyal should a similar offer come in for his services this time around. Everton We've heard for years how it would be a disaster for Everton to go down ahead of their move to Bramley-Moore Dock. This was true, but a series of great escapes - including a remarkable rescue job by David Moyes last season - means Everton will start life in their new stadium still in the Premier League. However, it will also be a disaster if Everton go down after their move to Bramley-Moore Dock. And despite last season's strong finish, this is still possible. We've seen it before, clubs can struggle to adapt to life in a new home. West Ham had problems adapting to their new London Stadium home, and if Everton are struggling, the 'new stadium jinx' narrative will start to develop, adding further pressure onto the manager and his team. The bookmakers see Everton as one of those teams who could get dragged into a dogfight, but they are far from one of the favourites to go down. Crystal Palace Crystal Palace ended the 2024/25 season in sensational fashion, capping off their strong run of form with a memorable victory in the FA Cup Final. As a result, the Eagles will be competing in Europe next season. Despite this success, bookmakers still view Palace as potential candidates for a relegation battle - and with good reason! The club endured a difficult first half of last season, managing just one win in their opening 13 matches. Although they mounted an impressive recovery, such turnarounds are far from guaranteed in a league as competitive as the top flight of English football. Another concern is Palace's reliance on Eberechi Eze. Should Eze suffer an injury or be sold to a bigger club, his absence would be extremely difficult for Oliver Glasner's side to compensate for. My Premier League relegation betting tips Preseason bets can be hard to pick ahead of the transfer window closing, but they can also offer some great value if you can get them right. Using the latest odds on Premier League relegation, I've listed my best relegation bets below: Relegation treble - Sunderland, Burnley, and Brentford A treble of Sunderland (2/5), Burnley (1/3) and Leeds (10/11) is the obvious call, but this wager only pays 13/5 with bet365. I feel that it will be Sunderland, Burnley and one other. It could well be Leeds, but those odds just aren't appealing. The two other teams I expect to struggle are Brentford (10/3) and Wolves (10/3). Brentford have been significantly weakened with the loss of Thomas Frank in the dugout and Bryan Mbeumo on the pitch. Wolves will miss the goal contributions of Matheus Cunha. I expect both teams to make managerial changes as they look to salvage their respective seasons. However, out of the two, it's Brentford that I expect to struggle the most. The impact of losing Thomas Frank is likely to be much bigger than many realise. Bottom at Christmas With newly promoted sides finding it tougher than ever to pick up points in the Premier League, it is also likely that one of them will prop up the table on Christmas Day - a position which very few, historically, survive from. Looking at the fixtures, Sunderland are in for a brutally tough December - visiting both Anfield and the Etihad Stadium before hosting Newcastle in the long-awaited return of the Tyne-Wear derby. They'll then face Man City a second time before the end of 2025, just after what may prove to be a crucial home game with Leeds. Speaking of the Yorkshire club, they too have a daunting stretch in late November and early December where they'll face Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool in the space of seven days. They have a realistic chance of recovering, however, with games against Brentford and Crystal Palace before that festive six-pointer. Burnley's December is fairly middle-of-the-road, with Newcastle away on the 6th looking like the toughest assignment. Sunderland to finish bottom The bookmakers feel it is a two-horse race between Sunderland and Burnley to finish bottom. I am in total agreement, however, I believe that Burnley's recent top flight experience will give them the edge over the Black Cats. Scott Parker also holds an advantage over Régis Le Bris in the top flight of English football. ➡️ Tip Sunderland to finish bottom at 8/5 with BetMGM Arsenal to win the title / Sunderland to finish bottom double (15/2) The landscape of the Premier League changed last season and this year it is not Manchester City who are favourites to win the title. Pep's team are third in the betting at 3/1, with Liverpool leading the way at 2/1 and Arsenal at 9/4. The Gunners have had plenty of trial runs in recent years. And while Liverpool were head and shoulders above everyone last season, Arne Slot has made a lot of changes to his squad this summer, which we feel could affect their early season form. With uncertainty over Liverpool and Manchester City going through a rebuilding phase, this should finally be Arsenal's year. Combining an Arsenal Premier League title with Sunderland finishing rock bottom pays roughly 15/2. What are the keys to beating the drop? This is the multi-million pound question, and one that many have seeked the answer to and failed to find. When Nottingham Forest were promoted in 2022, they stayed up the following season with 38 points, four more than Leicester, who finished third bottom and were relegated. Forest literally bought a new squad for their first season back in the Premier League. It was a risky strategy, but it paid off. However, if they had gone down, the club would have been in dire trouble. To avoid such risks while trying to survive, promoted clubs need to improvise. Shrewd signings are required, the sort that could not only do a job in the Premier League, but also in the Championship if the worst case scenario does occur. Promoted clubs also need to quickly learn how to navigate the Premier League and focus on the key fixtures. Sam Allardyce was an expert at this. He treated Premier League survival like a game of chess, knowing when to go on the front foot and target points, and when to take a damage-limiting defeat, as he realised goal difference could be a deciding factor at the end of the season. Those who can master that have the better chances of staying up. Although, even implementing the above doesn't guarantee anything these days. How to follow the latest Premier League news and results Staying informed about all things Premier League is vitally important from a betting perspective. As well as checking results, it's also important to keep an eye on websites that offer statistical advice. You may see that a team won 1-0 last weekend, but if you look at the statistics and see their opponents had 66% of the possession and 12 shots on goal, to the winning team's two, you can get a feel for making a better informed bet on that team's fixture the following weekend. Checking team news for injuries and suspensions is a no brainer. Here at The Sun, we bring you all the latest news and base our tips on all the advice we have covered here, and we look for the best odds among football betting sites. One final bonus tip is to check the following fixtures for the team you are betting on - this is especially important once the European competitions are up and running. There's nothing worse than backing a team to win on Saturday, only to discover their star striker is on the bench - rested for a Champions League clash you didn't even realise was coming up. Premier League 2025/26 FAQs 1. How often has a change of manager helped a team climb out and away from relegation trouble? Changing managers midseason can sometimes be a masterstroke and sometimes end in disaster. A managerial change can quite often spark an upturn in form, but it's not a guaranteed fix. It worked for Wolves last season, who sacked Gary O'Neil and replaced him with Vítor Pereira. While it didn't work for Leicester City, who sacked Steve Cooper and replaced him with Ruud van Nistelrooy. 2. Can progress in the cups hinder a team's chances of surviving? Good cup runs have mixed results. Extra games can increase the work toll on players and result in fatigue, this can be dangerous for teams with small squads. The upside is that it can boost confidence, potentially leading to stronger league performances. 3. How many points is usually enough to stay up? It has been tradition for many years that 40 points is enough to keep teams in the Premier League. However, this number has been decreasing in recent years, with 34-36 having been more than enough in recent times. 4. Is it still rare for teams to survive after being bottom at Christmas? Yes, it is still very rare for teams who are bottom of the table at Christmas to survive in the Premier League. The last team to achieve this was Wolverhampton Wanderers. They were bottom of the table at Christmas 2022, but produced a remarkable recovery to finish 13th. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I joined Arsenal over Chelsea and Spurs - it was the most terrible choice I ever made'
Mel Charles' transfer to Arsenal set a record for the biggest transfer between British clubs in 1959, but the Welshman described the move to north London as the worst decision he ever made Mel Charles once admitted that his record-breaking transfer to Arsenal ranked as the "most terrible choice I ever made". The former footballer - who passed away aged 81 in 2016 - enjoyed a 20-year career that included captaining Wales and representing his nation at the 1958 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Brazil, with Pelé scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 win. It was only a year after the competition in Sweden that Charles, who had spent seven years in the Second Division, secured a £42,750 move from boyhood club Swansea City to the north London side, who were in the First Division, amid reported interest from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The transfer set a record as the biggest deal brokered between two British clubs and happened just two years after Juventus had paid Leeds United £65,000 for his older brother, John Charles. However, the big-money move for the younger Charles didn't work out. Due to constant ligament injuries, he played just 64 games for the Gunners in three years while scoring 28 goals. In his ghosted autobiography, Charles was particularly scathing of his own decision to join the club, claiming "signing for Arsenal was the most terrible choice I ever made." He cut ties with the club in 1962 and returned to Wales, signing for Cardiff City for £28,500. It was in the Welsh capital that Charles captured the only domestic honour of his career, when he won the Welsh Cup in 1964. After three years with Cardiff, he spent the last few years of his career in the lower divisions of football, enjoying stints with the likes of Porthmadog, Port Vale, Oswestry Town and Haverfordwest. He ended up retiring at the Welsh club in 1972 after a five-year stint. Charles ended up with a record of 122 goals in 401 league and cup games in the Football League. John followed in the footsteps of his sibling by also returning home to Wales to retire in 1974 after spending two years playing for Merthyr Tydfil. However, he only did so after a legendary career where he became an iconic figure for both Leeds United and Juventus. The centre-forward scored 154 goals in 317 games for Leeds before venturing into Italian football where he was a massive success. In the five years he spent in Turin, Charles netted 105 goals in 179 games and won three Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias. Charles passed away at the age of 71 in 2004 but remains a celebrated figure in Welsh football and was named by Stan Collymore among the greatest players in British history when rubbishing claims that Gareth Bale is the greatest player to ever emerge from these shores. The former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest star said in 2023: "It's quite bizarre because of how many Champions Leagues he has won and the run he went on at Spurs that turned him from someone who couldn't win a Premier League game to a tour de force. "And because of the trophies you have to put him in amongst the greatest ever. But I look at Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, John Charles — which would obviously mean a lot to Bale — Ian Rush, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and, I don't know what it is, whether it's this perceived laissez faire attitude of 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order', but I can't put him in with some of those." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
New York Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Inside Leeds United's Igor Paixao pain and where they go next
The sting in the tail of Leeds United's Igor Paixao pursuit left the club's hierarchy smarting. They were always dealing in hope rather than expectation with the Brazilian and the hammer blow eventually came on Monday afternoon. With 32 days of the transfer window remaining, the club have secured seven new faces and hope to add up to four more. The final quantity of incomings will be dictated by who leaves between now and September 1. Advertisement A full-back remains a possibility, especially if Swiss defender Isaac Schmidt is keen to leave for minutes before next summer's World Cup. A striker is a priority, while wingers and attacking midfielders are also on the agenda if the club's preferred options become available. The natural assumption, no doubt being made by much of the football world, is Leeds will now look to offer another €30million-plus for an alternative target out wide. Sources at Elland Road, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, have indicated it may not be as straightforward as that. The Athletic has been briefed on what went on with Paixao this week, what's next in the transfer window for the club, and what this knockback means for Leeds. The issue Leeds, and most clubs, face is finding players who will improve their squad, be willing to join and be available at the right price. The club's hierarchy knows this is not what supporters will want to read, but this is the state of play. Of the wingers who are better than Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto, Jack Harrison and Largie Ramazani, United's key decision-makers do not think there are many available to them. There are some, like Paixao, and irons remain in the fire with them, but Leeds do not expect it will be easy to find as perfect a target as the Feyenoord 25-year-old. They liked his ability to create his own chances, his age, his experience, his resale potential, his finishing and his set-piece deliveries. They also had to wait months for his wage demands to fall into their range because he was someone United considered beyond them as the close season approached. Manager Daniel Farke will certainly not say no to differential players, as United's hierarchy call Paixao and others. They could be the difference between staying up and going down. Striker Rodrigo Muniz could be one such player. It has been known for a long time he is the club's key target at the tip of the attack, but as August arrives, urgency is increasing. Leeds know they can only be so patient, with a strong start to the league campaign a necessity to retain last season's momentum. There will be alternatives to Muniz on United's radar, but the decision they make on how long to wait for Fulham's forward before chasing someone else may be one of the biggest they make in August. Advertisement Senior Leeds sources know that window is shrinking and, with the Paixao deal dead in the water, there is a sense the striker chase is where energy will now focus. Schmidt's loan exit, as he himself knows from last August, is a deal Leeds know they can do late in the window if necessary. Another full-back has to be added before the Swiss is allowed to go. As for further attacking reinforcements, there are bound to be Premier League loan options that could appeal as August rolls on, among more expensive permanent targets. Paixao proved to be the first, at least public, blow of the summer. Anyone who watched highlight reels of the 25-year-old would have been unable to fight the Raphinha comparisons. Excitement was inevitable as Leeds made progress with the deal. Chairman Paraag Marathe, managing director Robbie Evans, sporting director Adam Underwood and head of recruitment Alex Davies had assumed he would be beyond Leeds in the early stages of the window. However, in the past fortnight, they found his wage demands began to drop and Marseille were, evidently, failing to get their deal done quickly. Leeds sources say the club had received emails from Feyenoord and Paixao's representatives suggesting respective terms had been agreed. The former landed with United shortly before half-time in Saturday's friendly win over Paderborn. Even at that stage, with all three parties seemingly in agreement, Underwood was understood to never feel comfortable about it being a done deal. There was a niggling feeling Marseille's European offering was always what Paixao and his family wanted. On Sunday, Marathe, Evans and Underwood all held long calls with the player and his representatives. Farke spoke to Paixao too. Those calls from the manager are normally a sign of how advanced negotiations have become. Even Lucas Perri, United's newest Brazilian of barely 48 hours standing, was on the phone to his compatriot in the dead of the German night on Sunday to convince him of the switch. Advertisement By Monday, things had gone quiet at the player's end and Leeds began to read the writing on the wall. Their €32million offer, with €3million in add-ons, was good enough, but it seems Marseille eventually got close enough to that for Feyenoord to give them the green light too. Leeds cannot afford for next May's reflections to be focused on the star player they needed but didn't get this summer. There's one month to go, but only 18 days until three points are on the line against Everton. (Top photos: Getty Images)
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Scotland star left unemployed at 33 as he leaves club just two games into next season
SCOTLAND centre-back Liam Cooper is leaving Bulgarian First League side CSKA Sofia after less than a year at the club. Cooper featured 25 times for CSKA last season after making the move to Bulgaria as a free agent in September, following a decade long spell at Leeds United. 1 Liam Cooper in training for Scotland at the Euros in 2024 Credit: Kenny Ramsay The defender was keen to get involved at the Bulgarian club, speaking to the CSKA Sofia website he said: 'I spent an amazing 10 years at Leeds, the club that will always be my home and close to my heart. But it was an opportunity I couldn't refuse. 'European football for a huge club in Bulgaria is all I wanted, to challenge myself in a new culture and a new environment. 'I've never had an opportunity like this. This one seems good for me and my family.' He spoke about Scottish Premiership legend Stiliyan Petrov's involvement in the transfer: "When I first heard about the interest in me, I was very enthusiastic - to come to a European capital, a big city and a club with such a history. 'I spoke to Stiliyan Petrov and Iliya Gruev, who is at Leeds. They told me great things, which made the decision easier." Championship clubs will be on high alert with the former Leeds captain likely favouring a move back to England. The 33-year-old would add a welcomed surge of experience to any club in the league with over 200 appearances in the English Championship for Leeds United. Cooper joined Leeds from Chesterfield in 2014/15 and started his 10-year long journey at the club, becoming a hugely influential figure both on and off the pitch. He captained the club to Championship glory in 2020 under Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa. Earning them their awaited return to the Premier League after a decade long stint in the Championship. Major Mikey Moore Rangers loan doubts & 'strange situation' at Celtic + transfer news Go Ballistic Cooper's impressive form for Leeds United earned him 19 caps for Scotland, making his debut for his country in a 2-1 loss to Russia in 2019. He has since became a Scotland regular and was selected for Steve Clarke's Euro 2024 squad. Championship club Hull City could be a potential destination for the Scottish centre-back. Cooper came through the youth ranks at the club, and with the Tigers currently subject to a transfer embargo, it is likely that they will be monitoring the free agent market. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
