The Marching On Newsletter 🟡 Inside Noah Okafor's transfer to Leeds United
PLUS exclusive chats with club heroes Daniel James and Nigel Martyn.
Edition #1
Welcome to The Marching On Newsletter, a free weekly Substack from Isaac Johnson which unpacks all things Leeds United. If you enjoy this edition but have not yet signed up, consider subscribing to get each newsletter sent directly to your inbox each Friday morning! 🗞
IN THIS EDITION:
⚪️ Transfer round-up and club news
🟡 Inside Noah Okafor transfer move
🔵 Exclusive snippet from Nigel Martyn
🟡 Watch: Isaac Schmidt analysis amid likely exit
⚪️ Answering your questions
♻️ Transfer round-up
Noah Okafor joins Leeds United from AC Milan and signs four-year deal
Daniel Farke hopes for two more attacking signings before deadline day
Leeds have turned away transfer interest for Joel Piroe this summer
Werder Bremen chief: Isaac Schmidt has shown interest in joining
Talks with James Justin still alive but injury casts uncertainty over progress
⚽ Other club news
Exclusive Daniel James chat: New chant, the Premier League and dealing with pressure
Ethan Ampadu out for the next three games with knee injury
Two Leeds games moved for TV in October
Leeds stars named in PFA Championship team of the year
Reason behind Daniel Farke’s full-time gesture to Ao Tanaka vs Everton
💬 Inside Noah Okafor’s transfer to Leeds
Those present at the Aviva Stadium earlier this month noticed a lively number 17 playing for AC Milan. Whether to do with Isaac Schmidt’s waning display or not, Noah Okafor’s exciting outing seemingly lit the imagination of the Leeds United hierarchy.
The truth is that he had been on United’s radar for some time and Daniel Farke had tracked him since his days at RB Salzburg. As revealed by Dan James on BBC Radio, after the friendly in Dublin, Leeds players discussed Okafor’s talents between them - not knowing he would become their teammate a few weeks later.
The 25-year-old, the club’s youngest and most-expensive signing this window, impressed those in Milan over the summer with four goals scored, including against Liverpool. Encouragingly for Leeds, Milan were open to offers for Okafor.
Sources in Italy say there was slightly more hesitancy over a sale than first envisaged given his pre-season form - but in the end, the Serie A giants decided they were ready to sell and would look for buyers.
Besides age, the result of his summer performances kept his valuation high. This is a player who suffered five different setbacks last season and registered just one goal and two assists in 21 games. During his loan spell at Napoli during the second half of last season, he played just 36 minutes across four outings.
He had originally been destined for RB Leipzig in January before a hiccup in the medical scuppered the move. Paperwork was ready to be signed and the presentation media was scheduled to be published before it was called off late. The German club thought the six-week lay-off was not worth the loan.
Napoli took the risk and accepted Milan’s desire to have a £21.5 million optional buy-out clause inserted in their deal - something they never looked likely to trigger. But Okafor’s pre-season form has meant, despite recent struggles, Leeds have agreed a package of around £18m.
Milan had initially accepted the offer in principle and it was then down to the player. The soundings from Italy were always positive in that regard. Photos shared on social media on Wednesday more or less tracked his progress through the day, plane to medical.
This is Leeds’ response to the failed Igor Paixao chase. It’s now up to Okafor to show he is an ample alternative and can produce the final-third cutting edge that the team so desperately needs.
🗣️ Quote of the week
I recently spoke to iconic Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn about the club’s transfer dealings this summer. At the time we spoke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had not been signed - but the quote below nevertheless still underlined his thoughts on the striker chase:
"You'd like [a striker] to be working with the first team [in pre-season], making partnerships with the wingers, the midfielders, whoever just sits in behind the striker.
“Ideally, I think that bit of business would have been better done earlier.”
To read Martyn’s extensive thoughts about the Illan Meslier situation, click here.
📹 Watch: Why Isaac Schmidt is out of favour
Schmidt left supporters feeling underwhelmed with his performances in pre-season. He seems to be on his way out of the club having played just 71 minutes of league football last season.
In this video from my new TikTok channel (subscribe if you like!), I break down why Daniel Farke might be hesitant to use him in matches.
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✍️ Isaac’s diary
Walking into Elland Road on Monday, many fans will have felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Leeds had sustained a good record when it comes to opening fixtures at home - but past numbers mean nothing for the present.
That said, the win over Everton means the club are undefeated in opening-day fixtures across the Premier League era when the game has been played at Elland Road. Out of the nine occasions, they have won six.
The Premier League ‘razzamatazz’ was in full swing over the course of the evening. This included the dreaded return of VAR, the real pantomime villain. On this occasion, it played to the gallery’s favour amid the penalty decision.
Many famous faces past and present were in the stands and the press box, with Aaron Lennon, Michael Bridges, Tony Dorigo and Simon Grayson on media duty while the suspended Jaka Bijol watched behind the dugout. The atmosphere was electric and I came away with the strong feeling that it is crucial that the design of the new expansions must not hamper this cacophony of noise, the club’s most-powerful weapon.
❓ Answering your Leeds Utd questions
Veeosee: Which positions do you think Leeds are looking for after Okafor?
Isaac: A full-back is probably the next port of call but Farke says two more attacking signings would be nice too. The boss hinted at a number 10 who can play on the wing. The problem is convincing such a player to move to a club whose 4-3-3 formation does not cater for a number 10.
With Schmidt looking to be on his way out - in order to secure game time and his place in Switzerland’s World Cup squad - an upgraded replacement has to be brought in. In fact, Leeds don’t really want to let Schmidt go until that happens.
Talks have been held with James Justin, but United do have other shortlisted options on their radar if things fall through.
Anonymous: Who could leave LUFC before deadline day?
The obvious one is Illan Meslier. He simply cannot afford not to move. He’s now third choice goalkeeper and has been left out of the last two matchday squads - a trend that will only elongate.
Werder Bremen want Schmidt, and sooner rather than later by the sound of things. He’ll likely go out on loan, perhaps with some sort of purchase option attached.
Sam Greenwood will leave permanently with one year left on his deal. Meanwhile, let’s see what happens with Largie Ramazani - his chances of game time have further slimmed following the arrival of Okafor.
As for Patrick Bamford, I’ve not heard anything on that front just yet, but he’s bound to have had interest. He’s on a big wage, though, and is in the final year of his contract. Might he simply be waiting to outlast the manager?
TMON: Who would you start at CB next to Rodon vs Arsenal?
I think it’s got to be Pascal Struijk. Not only did he play well vs Everton, he’s match-warm and is a proven aerial presence when thinking about set-pieces and fending off Victor Gyokeres.
Jaka Bijol showed his heading ability too in pre-season, but having been suspended for Monday and having only played 15 minutes against AC Milan, he’s lacking in-game fitness. It’s best to bed him in again against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup and get him ready for Newcastle United the following weekend.
Also, Joe Rodon could probably do with a bit of familiarity in the first away game of the season, and particularly so against a title-challenger. So Struijk, for me.
📩 Send in your own question by filling in this simple contact form.
🗳 Poll - cast your vote
📰 My most read stories of the week
1) Leeds United’s next transfer move after Okafor is clear
2) Leeds player ratings as Stach and Ampadu impress vs Everton
3) I know Leeds rejected transfer approaches for me this summer - I don't want to leave
4) Daniel Farke’s chat with Tanaka and Harrison reaction in moments missed vs Everton
5) Daniel Farke drops transfer hint after Calvert-Lewin deal and details Harry Gray plan
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Great stuff, thanks Isaac.
This is so much better than laggy, advert rife Leeds Live. Thank you so much!