Anthony Onifade

Mon 3 July 2023 12:40, UK

49ers Enterprises’ full takeover at Leeds United is now expected to be formally announced this week and they can now begin crucial plans ahead of the new campaign, especially on the transfer front.

The American consortium have been desperately waiting for English Football League approval which has slowed down their summer progress in not only announcing their position as full owners at Elland Road but also the announcement of their new manager, with Daniel Farke set to be the preferred candidate.

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth told the Leeds United News podcast [29 June], 49ers desperately want to make their announcement over their managerial appointment but are waiting for the EFL yet to approve their official full takeover.

And in a promising new development for Leeds fans, that frustrating snag now looks to be over.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post reporting on 3 July an end to the takeover saga at Elland Road is now close to being completed this week.

The Whites can finally move on with their preparations for the new season as they face an almighty job on their hands ensuring their new manager is well-positioned to make a swift impact when the new campaign kicks off.

For that to happen, things need to drastically change at Elland Road, and rather quickly with the club set to lose several of their key stars this summer. Replacing those players will be incredibly crucial and there may be no better opportunity for the 49ers to kickstart that revival by addressing a position that has proven a problem for so long – at left-back.

Leeds United are interested in signing Swansea City defender Ryan Manning this summer giving the 49ers the perfect opportunity to swiftly wow the Elland Road faithful ahead of the new season, and signify their ambitions for the club.

Football League World reported on May 22 that Leeds were considering a move for the Irishman this summer regardless of the division they found themselves in, and given their long-running issues at left-back, it is a move which desperately must be explored.

The 27-year-old is a free agent after leaving South Wales and is wanted by a number of Premier League and Championship clubs including Leeds (The Sun, 29 June), however, it’s been reported by Swansea Independent [31 May] that the defender has his heart set on a move to Elland Road, despite their fall to the Championship.

The left-back position has become a long-running conundrum for Leeds United ever since the Marcelo Bielsa era and it’s a problem which reared its ugly head on a number of occasions this season, with Junior Firpo and Pascal Struijk both struggling to nail down the position in a defence that shipped 78 goals.

With Firpo now set to depart Elland Road, the need to strengthen at left-back is a desperate one and in Manning, the Whites could potentially kill two birds with one stone, not only providing the quality that Firpo and Struijk have lacked but also providing Leeds United with the capabilities to be tactically flexible under their new manager.

Former Norwich City manager Farke has been known to play such an expansive and attractive brand of football, with his full-backs pushing high-and-wide to create real width in his attacking play, and Manning’s qualities will be incredibly suited to it.

In 43 appearances in the Championship, the 26-year-old registered an impressive five goals and ten assists from left-back, earning a superb 7.26 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Dubbed “outstanding” by his club manager Russell Martin, the Irish international registered a whopping 14 big chances created, 2.5 key passes per game to go along with his ten assists. He’s also incredibly capable towards his own goal – something Struijk and Firpo struggled at considerably last season – averaging 1.3 interceptions and 2.0 tackles per game whilst winning an impressive 65% ground duels and 58% of his aerial duels [SofaScore].

His marauding runs from left-back coupled with his final third imagination and creativity could prove an invaluable weapon for Leeds United, something they’ve missed for too long.

Manning is available on a free transfer and has his heart set on a move to Elland Road. Leeds United can only work on the things they can control right now, and adding the 26-year-old to the Thorp Arch roster is an absolute no-brainer opportunity for the 49ers to make a swift impression at Elland Road.

In other Leeds United news, club advance to sign 16-year-old Scottish wonderkid.