HUGE drawback to Leeds United interest to SIGN Premier League free agent as bitter rivals joins in to Hijack deal.
The long-standing rivalry between Leeds United and Galatasaray was intensified by a tragic incident before the 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final first leg in Turkey, where two Leeds fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were killed. Every year, Leeds pays tribute to honor their memory.
In the lead-up to that fateful first leg, Nigel Martyn, a former Leeds player, recounted the horrendous events to LeedsUnited.News, stating that Leeds was forced to play the game despite the circumstances, and Galatasaray showed little sympathy.
Leeds lost the first leg 2-0 and, although Eirik Bakke scored twice in the second leg resulting in a 2-2 draw, they were ultimately knocked out of the competition. The animosity between the two clubs has endured for 24 years.
The resentment among Leeds fans towards Harry Kewell, once a club icon, for joining Galatasaray after leaving Leeds, exemplifies the depth of this rivalry. Now, there is a possibility that Leeds could miss out on signing a target due to competition from Galatasaray.
West Ham defender Ben Johnson, whose contract expires in two weeks, is a free agent that Leeds is interested in acquiring. However, reports suggest that Galatasaray has offered Johnson a lucrative £32,500 per week contract, along with the opportunity to play in European competitions.
According to Tony Martin from Hammers News, Johnson’s potential has diminished, and he advised that if he were a Leeds fan, he would not want to sign Johnson. Johnson has been linked with other clubs as well, and it remains to be seen where he will end up in the coming weeks.