JESSE MARSCH INSISTS Leeds “are trying the best that they can” to bring in a new striker before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Leeds’ pressing need for added firepower was brought into sharp focus after Rodrigo was withdrawn from Tuesday night’s 1-1 home draw against Everton due to a dislocated shoulder.
The Spaniard was replaced by Joe Gelhardt following a first-half challenge with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Patrick Bamford later stepped off the bench after recovering from a groin injury, but Rodrigo could now be sidelined for several weeks.
When asked if Rodrigo’s setback would affect Leeds’ on-going search for the remaining 48 hours of the transfer window, Marsch said: “Not so much, but that’s obviously been a goal of ours since the start of the summer.
“We’ve been active and we’re trying everything we can and we’ll see how it plays out here over the next 24 hours or so.”
Leeds have been linked with Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, who played under Marsch during his spells in charge of both Leipzig and Salzburg.
“I know Hee-chan very well,” Marsch said. “I like Hee-chan, he knows our football. He’s on our list, I can tell you that.
“Everybody is trying the best that they can and I can only say thank you to (chairman) Andrea (Radrizzani), (director of football) Victor (Orta) and (chief executive) Angus (Kinnear), and everybody.
“We’re trying to find ways to continue to improve our squad, but we have also done a great job and you can see we have a good team.”
Luis Sinisterra fired a 55th-minute equaliser on his full Premier League debut after Anthony Gordon’s second goal in successive matches had given Everton a half-time lead.
Gordon has been the subject of intense speculation over his future after being linked with Chelsea.
But boss Frank Lampard said he expected the 21-year-old winger to remain an Everton player after the transfer window closes.
Lampard said: “I’m very confident. You’ve seen the reasons why in the last two games because he’s our player. He’s a very good player and he’s going to get better.”
The former Chelsea boss said the deadline he had set on whether to consider any further advances from the Londoners for Gordon had passed.
“Anthony’s too important a player,” Lampard added. “I think he’s shown his worth in the last two games.
“With two days (of the transfer window) to go, what good would it do us to do anything with Anthony?”
Lampard expressed his frustration after being unable to include new signing Neal Maupay in his squad.
Everton completed the deal on Friday but because Monday was a Bank Holiday it did not count as one of the four days required in order for a player to be eligible.
The point apiece for both sides at Elland Road kept Leeds in fifth place in the table, while Everton climbed out of the bottom three, but remain winless after five matches.
A McGregor article with the comments open is a rare sight these days
He’s never been a good role model for young athletes and he never will be
@David Lee: a waster he is
Geebag
Why are you still writing articles on this guy, how is he still relevant.
Did he not leave Crumlin at a young age and live in Lucan
@June Kennedy: I hope people didnt believe what he said about two those two places.
He’s no roll model for young kids , like all our other sports stars from Ireland
@De Butlier Seamus: thats a bit harsh no? Yes for all the mcgregors this wonderful little rocks produced, we’ve also got the Seamus Coleman’s, the Shane longs, the Niall Quinn’s, AP McCoys, the Shane lowrys and many more I’m sure, we’ve delivered more good than bad is all I’m sayin
@De Butlier Seamus: Please elaborate. To add to Sean’s list, was Sonia O’Sullivan not a roll model, more recently Ciara Mageean who all the kids I coach down the club buzzing recently.
What about all the kids out on their bikes because of Sam Bennett. O’Donavon brothers?
@De Butlier Seamus: excuse me? We’ve produced plenty of upstanding sports stars. Katie Taylor, Sonia O’Sullivan, Roy Keane (you can say what you want about his opinions or his temper but he never did anything close to what McGregor has done), AP McCoy, Brian O’Driscoll and a multitude of other rugby stars, Shane Lowery. I’m not sure what your smoking if you think Ireland hasn’t produced any sports stars worth looking up to because your quite wrong on that one
@The God Of All Nerds: Fair play. what I’d love to know who are the 28 likes Seamo has had (at time of writing). Come on speak up and comment as personally I’d love to know you’re input.
He needs to distance himself from parties, interacting with “fans” all the time etc.. Because there’ll always be someone looking for a paycheck from him and a headline story seeing as how stupid he’s been in the past
@Ross: he needs to distance himself from full stop. He’s a violent, sexual predator.
@Steph: if he’s guilty and charged well them yes.. Until then. NO
@Ross: Then who’d stroke his ego? Chap is the definition of a Narcissist who goes around playing choppers waving his willy around at people. :D
@Ross: so if he’s acquired who boxed the head of the poor girl?
@Canyon: more than one girl and more to come.
@Mary Nugent: Did your friend of a friend who is a reporter tell you that through WhatsApp?
He escaped crumlin because his parents bought a big ass gaff In Lucan when he was a teenager where he lived rent free collecting the dole while training full time before he made it. And fair play to him for making it but in reality he’s as middle class as they come. He escaped fookin nothin!
@Willie Ryan: escaped Crumlin??
@Stephen Cullen: In saying “escaped crumlin” I’m just critiquing his own narrative that he escaped a life on the wrong side of the tracks
No time for this guy whatsoever. Never a truer word spoken but that all the money in the world can’t buy you one touch of class.
That was the intention anyway