Leeds target Gradel?
By Andy Baggott
January 24 2013
Leeds are rumoured to be targetting former player Max Gradel according to the Evening Post. The winger, currently playing for St Ettienne in France is a firm fans favourite, and would be a major signing for the club.
Gradel left for £2 million a couple of yeards ago, stating family reasons. However, over the last few years, Gradel has encouraged the Leeds fans with various tweets, hinting of his desire to come back.
The YEP claims Leeds made an enquiry last week, but have a tough job on trying to complete any deal. St Ettiene are not keen to sell, and Gradels wages are way higher than any other current player. However, this is a test for the new Leeds owners, GFHC. They are yet to flex their muscle in the transfer market, and yet to show they have any muscle to flex. A relatively big money signing like Gradel would be a massive boost for the fans, who are currently voting with their feet following several abject displays. Attendances are down, and under 20,000 for most home games now - despite 6 successive home wins!! Leeds boss Neil Warnock is under growing pressure from the Leeds faithful, and changes are most definitely needed. A return for Gradel - as well as another couple of much needed signings would be a massive boost for the whole club.
Will it happen, or is it a ploy? Hard to tell - but we'll find out over the next week if GFHC have got some serious money, or are we no further forward than we were under Bates?
Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Unofficial Leeds United (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 09:03
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Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: sheridans brandy (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 09:24
It will not happen by the time tacon is over the window will be shut.just a piece of journo to keep us happy.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: FLATTY (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 09:35
By Phil Hay
Published on Thursday 24 January 2013 06:00
Max Gradel is back on Leeds United’s radar after the Elland Road club made the first move towards recapturing their one-time player of the year.
The Yorkshire Evening Post understands that an enquiry about Gradel’s availability was made in the past week amid on-going attempts by manager Neil Warnock to strengthen his squad before the end of January.
A deal to sign the popular winger – voted Leeds’ best performer in 2011 – is likely to be complex with Gradel under contract at St Etienne until 2015 and the French club reluctant to sell him in this transfer window, but the 25-year-old has spoken previously of the attraction of returning to English football.
Gradel was a product of Leicester City’s academy and turned professional at the Walkers Stadium before moving to Leeds for a fee of around £200,000 in January 2010.
He featured prominently in the squad which won promotion from League One in 2011 but was sold to St Etienne for close to £2million later that year with United unable to agree an extension to his contract. He left Leeds with a record of 25 goals in 84 games.
Speaking last month after rumours of a move back to Elland Road first materialised, Gradel said: “I have a contract here (at St Etienne) until June 2015, I’ve settled well and I’m enjoying my football. But I’m a lover of English football and its atmosphere. I’m 25 years old and I know my love affair with English football is not finished yet so you never know.
“At the moment my French club is doing well so I am happy here but things happen quickly in football.”
Gradel is currently present at the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast’s national squad but his involvement in the tournament in South Africa has not stopped Leeds from exploring the possibility of signing him.
His salary in France could prove prohibitive, however, with the winger thought to be earning more than £20,000 a week – a wage above that of any player in the Elland Road squad.
United’s new owner, GFH Capital, is still to demonstrate the full extent of its financial clout following its buy-out of Leeds shortly before Christmas.
LEEDS UNITED INTERNATIONALLY
FAMOUS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Published on Thursday 24 January 2013 06:00
Max Gradel is back on Leeds United’s radar after the Elland Road club made the first move towards recapturing their one-time player of the year.
The Yorkshire Evening Post understands that an enquiry about Gradel’s availability was made in the past week amid on-going attempts by manager Neil Warnock to strengthen his squad before the end of January.
A deal to sign the popular winger – voted Leeds’ best performer in 2011 – is likely to be complex with Gradel under contract at St Etienne until 2015 and the French club reluctant to sell him in this transfer window, but the 25-year-old has spoken previously of the attraction of returning to English football.
Gradel was a product of Leicester City’s academy and turned professional at the Walkers Stadium before moving to Leeds for a fee of around £200,000 in January 2010.
He featured prominently in the squad which won promotion from League One in 2011 but was sold to St Etienne for close to £2million later that year with United unable to agree an extension to his contract. He left Leeds with a record of 25 goals in 84 games.
Speaking last month after rumours of a move back to Elland Road first materialised, Gradel said: “I have a contract here (at St Etienne) until June 2015, I’ve settled well and I’m enjoying my football. But I’m a lover of English football and its atmosphere. I’m 25 years old and I know my love affair with English football is not finished yet so you never know.
“At the moment my French club is doing well so I am happy here but things happen quickly in football.”
Gradel is currently present at the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast’s national squad but his involvement in the tournament in South Africa has not stopped Leeds from exploring the possibility of signing him.
His salary in France could prove prohibitive, however, with the winger thought to be earning more than £20,000 a week – a wage above that of any player in the Elland Road squad.
United’s new owner, GFH Capital, is still to demonstrate the full extent of its financial clout following its buy-out of Leeds shortly before Christmas.
LEEDS UNITED INTERNATIONALLY
FAMOUS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Wildwood (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 09:36
also think it's a bullsh-it story aimed at keeping the natives happy...give it a day or two; we'll get another story about how we did everything to get players in, but failed for one reason or the other.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: HackneyWhite (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 10:53
A refreshing change to be linked with someone we know to be quality, before them inevitibly not signing.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Streaky (AKA Daffs) (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 12:25
God right fckin happy bunch you lot.....fcckin defeated before anything is done.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Unofficial Vic (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 13:18
GFH are no different to Bates IMO. Hell, Bates could still be pulling the strings for all we know...
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Frank $trandli (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 15:17
The story was clearly engineered to get fans spirits up before the Becchio story was made public.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: adsal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 22:23
There is no chance in hell that we will be re-signing Gradle. He is too expensive for our new owners who appear to be unwilling to fork out much money at this time. Why should they when there is very little chance that we can make the playoffs? Better let the re-building start in the summer after NW has served his contract and a new manager is appointed.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Austin power (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 22:30
The sale of Bechio would pave the way for this signing to become a reality imo....And it wouldn't surprise me if it came out that the owners wanted to sell Bechio all along....not only to make a bit of cash,but to trim the wage bill aswell...And what better way to appease the fans than to bring Gradel back...
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Tony Currie 10 (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 23:12
We are all being sucked in aren't we? 
When was the last time we sold a big name but were delighted because it meant somebody as big/bigger came in?
We go through this every transfer window and never learn....
I have fallen off the safety of my fence and come crashing down on the side of pessimism and negativity.
You have a week left GFH to save yourselves from being treated the same way as KB or at least let us know why....
When was the last time we sold a big name but were delighted because it meant somebody as big/bigger came in?
We go through this every transfer window and never learn....
I have fallen off the safety of my fence and come crashing down on the side of pessimism and negativity.
You have a week left GFH to save yourselves from being treated the same way as KB or at least let us know why....
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Thackley white (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 23:16
Nobody is on leeds utd's radar! I can't believe how gullible fans are. Bates treats the fans with the contempt they deserve.....nice one ken
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Royes59 (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 23:46
Moaners! Becchio isnt sold yet and we have said we dont want to sell if we dont get our asking price. Of course we have targets, but its not easy to buy quality now.
Still a week of transfer window and as always everything happens last day and hours. Most clubs havent done any transfer business yet.
We will have to wait and see.
Still a week of transfer window and as always everything happens last day and hours. Most clubs havent done any transfer business yet.
We will have to wait and see.
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Tony Currie 10 (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2013 23:49
It's not easy to get quality in this transfer window?
Somebody will be because they will get Becchio....it just never seems to be us
Somebody will be because they will get Becchio....it just never seems to be us
Re: Leeds target Gradel?
Posted by: Unofficial Vic (IP Logged)
Date: 25/01/2013 11:03
Can't believe people are so blind! There is no way Gradel is coming back to this joke of a club...
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