We bring you the latest news from Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.
1) Simone Pepe linked with Leeds
Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Juventus’s Simone Pepe.
The 30-year-old defender has been made available by the Italian champions this summer, after finding first team appearances hard to come by in recent times, and Massimo Cellino has put him on his list of targets.
If the Championship side were able to pull off the deal it would surely be one of the coups of the summer, although they face competition from a host of Serie A clubs for his signature.
The full-back has 23 caps for his country and would be one of the highest profile foreign imports ever brought to England’s second tier if he was to make the switch.
2) Cellino wants at least two more
Leeds United owner, Massimo Cellino, says that he wants at least two more additions this summer, despite a busy summer so far.
Leeds have been particularly active in the transfer window to date, completing deals mainly with players from Italy, but Cellino has hinted that the spending will not slow down for the rest of the summer.
The outspoken Italian has revealed that he still wants to bring in a striker and a centre-back before he will feel totally happy with his squad.
“I still think we need more. Another central defender maybe and a forward, a goalscorer,” he said.
“We need to be sure that we have enough goals in the team. We can’t be without them.
3) Jacob Butterfield set for Huddersfield
With Adam Clayton’s move to Middlesbrough set to be completed today, it seems as if Jacob Butterfield could be lined up as his replacement.
Clayton is off to the Riverside to finalise a £2 million deal at the Riverside, but will be passed on his way by Butterfield who is heading to the John Smith’s Stadium for talks.
Butterfield was once considered one of the brightest prospects in the Football League, but his career has rather stagnated in recent times.
Huddersfield want to offer him a repreive, though, and with Clayton’s arrival making his first-team chances limited at ‘Boro the switch could be completed in the near future.
The 24-year-old is thought to be available for around £1 million.
4) Mandaric defends Antonio sale
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric has moved to defend the club’s sale of key man Michail Antonio to Nottingham Forest.
Antonio left Hillsborough yesterday to sign for their Championship rivals in a £1.5 million deal, angering most of the fan-base, but Mandaric says that he had to sell the powerful winger as he wanted to move on.
“I don’t like to lose good players but if the player expresses an interest to go then that changes my feelings,” he said. “He [Antonio] wanted to go. I feel we have got value for money.”
5) Nigel Clough hunting a centre-back
Sheffield United boss, Nigel Clough, says that he is still hoping to sign a replacement for the departed Harry Maguire.
The talented youngster left the club to join Hull City and Clough is still looking to void that his transfer away from Bramall Lane leaves.
“Our priority is to replace Harry Maguire,” Clough explained.
“Ideally that would have been with John Brayford but he’s staying at Cardiff for now. We made a bid and Cardiff didn’t say it wasn’t enough. They said he’s not for sale so we move on. If the situation changes then we’ll be in there again and John knows that as well.
“We don’t mind what level. But we want that experience Harry had. You don’t have to be 32 or 33 to get it. If we get a centre-half in and some full-back cover then we might look at a forward. But let’s see how the lads we’ve already got here will do.”
Blades have already added nine players to their squad this summer, meaning any player brought in would take their total additions this summer into double figures.
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