INCLUDES Jermaine Beckford's Karl Darlow belief, plus witnessing West Ham's relegation
Leeds United were lacklustre but West Ham were the ones licking their Premier League wounds / Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Edition #37
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Hello all - I’ve decided to split this newsletter up into three sections, as follows. Enjoy!
⚪️ Diary entry: Watching Leeds go down to West Ham and West Ham go down to the Championship
🟡 Unseen quotes from Jermaine Beckford on Karl Darlow, his contract and his future
🔵 Leeds United’s true stance on linked Czech goalkeeper
đź“” Diary: West Ham woes and Farke on future
Nuno had to face the music upon relegation
In the baking heat of Sunday’s sweltering polluted Stratford climate, the London Stadium felt more like a greenhouse than a 60,000-seat open-air stadium - which is saying something given the diameters of that now-Championship ground.
Ultimately, Leeds got hammered but The Hammers would be on the ones sinking to the floor at full time. The 3-0 win meant nothing thanks to Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory at Everton.
By all accounts, the Toffees melted as much as Leeds did in the second half, not putting up much of a fight at all. The Whites were themselves woeful.
There is one half of the fanbase that couldn’t care less with Leeds long safe. The other half that spat feathers having spent their time and money watching that performance.
There is a balance. Leeds had a number of senior stars out injured, West Ham needed to win, United’s players had nothing at stake aside from personal pride.
That said, a win would have banked an extra ÂŁ10m by virtue of finishing 12th ahead of a summer where new finance rules will see Leeds marginally worse off in the short-term (although the new Squad Cost Ratio framework will leave them better off in a few years, if they stay in the Premier League).
Anyway, in the bowels of the London Stadium, no-one was in a particularly joyous mood - including the journalists. Brenden Aaronson - the only World Cup bound Leeds player who was fit -admitted the team were well below par when he spoke to us.
Daniel Farke reflected a sombre mood, probably both in light of how Leeds poorly did and also with respect to West Ham’s fate - though he also emanated a sense of relief that the season was over.
He referenced this when I asked him about the need to keep hold of a high-performing squad core this summer amid potential transfer interest.
“It’s in general always important that you use a very successful first season back, to build on it to make sure that you keep your best players and also improve the squad.
“Because the second year is very often also difficult once the rhythm of promotion is a bit away. And for that it’s definitely something we have to speak about.
“But not right now, because this season has cost so much energy. I’m just happy that right now we can go home and can recharge a little bit, and everyone needs downtime to recharge. Then with fresh energy [we] build on this again.
“I think it’s fair to say that everyone who’s connected with Leeds tonight can look into a bright future, because the foundations are there.”
I also asked Farke about whether he has spoken about future plans with chairman Paraag Marathe - who a day laterreleased an end-of-season message detailing that it would take two more seasons for Leeds to establish themselves in the Premier League.
You can listen to his response by clicking the image below.
His press conference preceded that of West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who was peppered with questions about his future. He kept rebuffing any such approaches, stating it was not the time to speak about that.
As it happens, it looks as though he will stay. Right now, despite his open-ended comments the other week, it seems as though Farke will not be going anywhere either - and why should he?
Not only has he shown to be up to the task, he still has a year left on his contract anyway. But many feel - me included - that he should be handed a renewal (I haveexplained why here).
On the subject of contracts…
✍️ Beckford makes Darlow deal demand
I spoke to Jermaine Beckford this week and the former Leeds United striker is keen to see the club tie down Ethan Ampadu and Pascal Struijk to new deals with 12 months left on their contracts.You can read what he said on that here.
He also told me he believes Karl Darlow - whose own deal expires this summer - should have already been offered a renewal.
Beckford said:“I would love to see him sign on again. That’s something that I feel that should have been done maybe a couple of months ago, especially knowing that Illan Melsier (out of contract in July) is going to be leaving at the end of the season.
“So that’s already one goalkeeper less than we started the season with. Lucas Perri is signed on for another couple of years which is good - do I think he’s number one? I’m not entirely sure.
Darlow has usurped the No.1 pick in both of the last two seasons / Credit: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“I think Karl Darlow did really, really well when he had his opportunity. He took it, grabbed it - excuse the pun - with both hands and he hasn’t looked back and he’s been absolutely fantastic.
“I would like to see him sign on but I also do think that the hierarchy will be looking at another goalkeeper as well. Like I mentioned before, we are a goalkeeper down already without losing Darlow.
“He’s a fantastic guy, lovely guy, great around the place as well, so yeah I think he needs to stay*.”*
Darlow did not cut a figure saying goodbye in either of his final two games of the season, and contract renewal talks are expected to be held.
🧤 Transfer clarity over goalkeeper
As Beckford said, Leeds are anticipated to search for a new goalkeeper this summer. Where this leaves Darlow in his mind when it comes to contract talks is another question.
But over the last few days, rumours have linked Leeds with SC Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, a 22-year-old Czech who has been named in his country’s World Cup squad.
The youngster was Braga’s number one goalkeeper throughout this season, keeping 24 clean sheets in 54 matches across all competitions as the club made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Lukas Hornicek of SC Braga / Credit: Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images
As for Leeds’ interest, club sources have outlined to me that while he has come across on the radar, Hornicek is not of serious interest to United at this moment in time.
In my opinion, Leeds probably need someone with more experience and is primed for Premier League action. Hornicek seems like a good future project but perhaps United need more right now.
Don’t expect him to be the last goalkeeper linked with Leeds this summer, though, by any means.
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