MAGIC OF THE KOP
First Prem date has Leeds skipper Liam licking lips
AFTER six years of trying, Liam Cooper has joined an elite group as one of 20 people who can call themselves a Premier League captain this season.
And as he prepares to face champions Liverpool on the opening weekend, Leeds’ 29-year-old leader can’t wait to play in the top flight.
He is relishing running out at Anfield, where he made his Premier League debut for Hull in a 6-1 drubbing in September 2009.
The 29-year-old has waited a long time to return to the top flight and intends to savour it, especially in front of the Kop.
Cooper said: “I said to the lads when the fixtures came out that it doesn’t get any better.
“We will be prepared like we always are, nothing will come as a shock to us.
“Obviously they have worldclass players and there’s no better feeling than going out there and testing yourselves against the best.”
Cooper claims after 16 years outside the Premier League, Leeds fans will settle for survival this season. “I think every fan being honest would take 17th place, we want to stay in this league,” said the centre-half, who is part of Scotland’s squad for their Nations League games against the Czech Republic and Israel.
“Obviously we want to go and finish higher and push maybe for the top 10, but in all honesty we would all take staying in the league.”
Marcelo Bielsa’s side will listen to offers for their former Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla (inset) as they continue to build their squad. Casilla lost his place as Leeds’ No.1 to Illan Meslier when he was banned for eight games last season for racially abusing Charlton’s Jonathan Leko.
The Spaniard failed to dislodge Meslier when he completed his suspension and only returned for the final game of the campaign. Leeds have signed Meslier permanently for £5.8m from Lorient and the French Under-21 international is expected to start the campaign as Bielsa’s No.1.
Casilla’s place had been under threat before his ban after a series of high-profile blunders.
Leeds understand Casilla may not want to stay and fight for his place at 33 and will let him leave if he finds another club in Spain.
However the player’s wages could be a stumbling block to any move and his £35,000-a-week contract runs until June 2023.
The Yorkshire club took over Casilla’s Real contract when he joined in January 2019 – in return for not paying a transfer fee – and he is unlikely to accept a wage cut.
Leeds are also in talks with Dinamo Zagreb over their £18million-rated defender Josko Gvardiol.
Gvardiol, 18, is highly rated in Europe and Bayern Munich made an inquiry about the Croatia Under-21 international in May.