Morning Leeds-in for 23 May: Carpi can take their Mbakogu deadline & shove it

A deadline?

Carpi has put Leeds United on a “deadline” to sign their dodgy striker?

The boss of Carpi, Stefano Bonacini, as indicated that he has put a “deadline” in place for Leeds to go through with the deal for Jerry Mbakogu, with the deal supposedly already in place and ready to go. Leeds have been stalling while they try and work out a deal for former Hull City striker Abel Hernandez, and quite frankly, Mbakogu and Carpi can sit and wait.

Leeds got in this position because the club looked for “value” in their striker signings. While English and England-based talent transfer fees are a complete shambles because of the massive amounts of money flooding into the market from the Premier League clubs, parachute payment clubs, and clubs with owners who spend foolishly, grabbing someone like Abel Hernandez, who has a proven track record in the Championship, on a free is a much better way to compete than to buy up “promising” players that don’t pan out. Leeds didn’t replace Chris Wood last year and failed to live up the preseason hype.

If Leeds are to finally escape the Championship, they’ll need to go for a top two finish, and to get there, they need proven, quality players. Not necessarily expensive players, but ones that can get the job done, and strikers who have flamed out in Serie A, on loan in Russia, and in Serie B aren’t gonna be the ones to get the job done.

So quite frankly, Bonacini can take his deadline and shove it. Leeds don’t need Mbakogu, but it sure seems like Carpi needs the money.

On to the links.

Leeds United Links

Season Grade for Pawel Cibicki. [Through It All Together]

Season Grade for Ronaldo Vieira. [Through It All Together]

We spoke to Norwich City blog My Football Writer about Leeds target Angus Gunn. [Through It All Together]

England and English Football Links

England and Lyon defender Lucy Bronze won BBC woman’s footballer of the year. [The Guardian]

Gary Rowett has left Derby County to take the manager’s job at Stoke City. [The Guardian]

World Football Links

The Philadelphia Union are on a little run, having won two games in a row, but now the schedule gets harder, with New York Red Bulls up next. [Brotherly Game]

AC Milan CEO Marco Fassone was “surprised” by the rejection of Milan’s settlement with UEFA over FFP violations. [AC Milan Offsides]

Lucien Favre was named the new manager of Borussia Dortmund. [Fear The Wall]

Captains of Peru’s World Cup group opponents have written a letter asking FIFA to allow Peru’s captain Paolo Guerrero to play in the World Cup. [BBC.com]