Latest transfer news and rumours: Bayer Leverkusen boss Erik ten Hag speaks out on Granit Xhaka, Leeds United reveal striker exit plans

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag has dismissed suggestions that Granit Xhaka could be joining Sunderland.

Over the past week, speculation has persisted that the Switzerland international may be returning to the Premier League to sign for the newly-promoted Black Cats.

Xhaka's agent has even gone as far as confirming the transfer talk, but Ten Hag has insisted that no more of his experienced players will be leaving the BayArena.

Speaking to RP, the Dutchman said: "His agent can say whatever he wants, but this club has already let three important players go, and we won't let any more go.

"Granit is a leader, he still has three years left on his contract."

Although Leverkusen have invested in a wide array of new additions, the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz are three key players that have moved elsewhere.

Leeds comment on Joseph future

Meanwhile head coach Daniel Farke has confirmed that Mateo Joseph has expressed a desire to leave Leeds United.

The 21-year-old contributed three goals and three assists from his 1,271 minutes of Championship football in 2024-25 as Leeds won the title.

However, with the Spain Under-21 international likely to struggle for starts in the Premier League, there has been much speculation regarding a switch to La Liga.

Commenting on the situation on the club's pre-season tour of Germany, Farke has admitted that the striker wants a "new challenge".

As quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Farke said: "First of all, we really value and rate him. Otherwise, we wouldn't have played him, especially in the beginning of the last successful campaign, ahead of Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe and ahead of an experienced striker like Patrick Bamford.

"If I'm not completely wrong, he had 39 appearances for us in the Championship, I think, double figures of appearances in the starting lineup.

"You just don't do this with a 20-year-old guy, or 21-year-old guy, when you believe in him and trust him. So it's a sign of how much we value him. Nevertheless, he came to me and to us and said that he wants a new challenge and would like to have a move.

"He has also hinted that he prefers a move to Spain due to his Spanish roots. And yes, obviously that was more or less his call.

"And therefore, okay, we just want players who are excited about the project to play with Leeds United in the best league in the world, here in the Premier League, who want to be here with us and want to be successful with us."

Farke also recently acknowledged that he had told Patrick Bamford that he was not part of his plans for the new campaign.

Middlesbrough targeting non-league starlet

Middlesbrough are allegedly in line to finalise the signing of a non-league forward on Wednesday.

Oxford City's Jayden Carbon will seemingly be making the switch to the Riverside Stadium having made an impact in the National League North.

Last season, the 19-year-old scored five times in 39 games in the sixth tier of English football, enough to attract many admirers.

Nevertheless, as per Football Insider, Rob Edwards has convinced the prospect to uproot to the North-East.

While Carbon may feature during the remaining of pre-season, the suggestion is that he will continue life at Middlesbrough in the Under-21s in the short term.

Written by
Darren Plant