(Credit: Imago/Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
(Credit: Imago/Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Josuha Guilavogui responds with five-word message after confirmed Leeds news

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

Published on

Leeds United are well underway with their summer transfer business in preparation for their Premier League return.

Daniel Farke and 49ers Enterprises have a vital few months ahead as they aim to build a squad that is ready for the season ahead, with Leeds already against the odds in their efforts to avoid relegation.

The last six teams promoted from the Championship have all been sent straight back down at the first attempt over the past two seasons, with 2024–25's promoted trio winning just 59 points between them.

Leeds alone won 59 points after their last promotion to the top-flight in 2020–21, but with survival now tougher than ever based on the evidence of the last two campaigns, a squad rebuild is already underway.

Paraag Marathe
Paraag Marathe is under pressure to keep Leeds in the Premier League (Credit: Imago)

Leeds confirm Nmecha signing as Guilavogui reacts

Football Insider revealed in April that Leeds' decision-makers only see six members of Farke's squad as ready-made Premier League starters, and there is very little time to waste in the summer transfer market.

The Whites have already confimed the sale of Rasmus Kristensen to Eintracht Frankfurt in their first exit of the summer, while Guilavogui headlines the list of players who will leave when their contracts expire.

Leeds have now confirmed their first arrival of the window in the form of Lukas Nmecha though, whose move from Wolfsburg on a free transfer was announced on Sunday and will be confirmed on 1 July.

After the Peacocks posted on Instagram (15 June) with the message of "welcome Lukas" at Elland Road, the soon-to-depart Guilavogui commented below, saying: "Welcome to our MOT family".

Nmecha transfer the first of many expected at Elland Road

Although some Leeds fans have been markedly underwhelmed by Nmecha as the first arrival of a crucial transfer window, Guilavogui's former Wolfsburg team-mate isn't expected to be a guaranteed starter.

The versatile forward will instead provide healthy competition for Leeds' current options of Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph, the latter of whom has been linked with a transfer away from Leeds.

A Premier League-proven striker is still at the top of the to-do list this summer, and after Football Insider revealed that Leeds will have close to a £150million transfer budget, expect their number nine signing to make a splash.

www.footballinsider247.com