'Not a friendly' - Leeds United set for spiky reunion as Man Utd confirm Dublin squad addition

Leeds United could reunite with a summer exit very quickly when they face Manchester United in a game Jayden Bogle expects to be anything but friendly.

The Whites are due in Dublin on Wednesday evening for a pre-season meeting with their old rivals from across the Pennines. Daniel Farke’s side head to the 82,000-capacity Croke Park in good early form, Saturday’s 2-0 win over RB Leipzig their third in a row against top-flight opposition.

While building fitness is the most important aspect of pre-season, a meeting with Manchester United always brings needle. Leeds will be full of confidence too, four months on from their historic 2-1 Premier League win at Old Trafford - a first in the league since 1981.

Asked by LUTV following Saturday’s win if a midweek meeting with Manchester United can be labelled a friendly, Bogle replied: “No, you can’t. Even though it is pre-season, it is not going to be a friendly. We will recover now and then prepare for that one next.”

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And then there is the added spice of a reunion with Karl Darlow, who turned down a new contract with Leeds and became the first player since Alan Smith in 2004 to swap Elland Road for Old Trafford. The Welshman is yet to feature at his new club due to injury but has joined up with Michael Carrick’s squad in County Kildare near Dublin.

The YEP understands Leeds offered Darlow a new deal but could not guarantee he’d remain first-choice, with plans to sign a new goalkeeper. They have since broken their transfer record on future England No.1 hopeful James Trafford, who signed a five-year deal last week.

The £40million summer arrival is expected to join up with his new teammates on Tuesday and could be in with a chance of making his debut at Croke Park, should Daniel Farke deem him ready to go. Wednesday is Leeds’ penultimate friendly and so there is little time to waste.

Croke Park will be at full capacity on Wednesday evening in what’s set to feel like much more than a pre-season friendly. And the presence of Darlow in the Manchester United squad will add an extra level to the rivalry between fans.

Other Manchester United squad introductions that could feature on Wednesday include Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo. Leeds will be without Gabriel Gudmundsson due to injury but could have Trafford in the squad, while Noah Okafor is being eased back into proceedings following an extended break.