Leeds United's Championship rivals 'agree £4m deal' as ex-Sheffield United man on way to Sunderland

Leeds United will be fighting for Championship promotion once again next season after last month’s play-off final defeat against Southampton at Wembley. Daniel Farke’s side enjoyed an excellent campaign for large parts but fell at the final hurdle and will now plan for another year of second-tier football.

Work is already underway at Elland Road as Leeds prepare for a busy summer, following the opening of the transfer window on Friday. One or two key sales are expected but Farke will also be keen to strengthen ahead of another long season. There is plenty going on across the Championship as well, with 23 other teams hoping to challenge Farke’s men for a place in the Premier League and the YEP has rounded up some of the latest stories from across the division.

Coventry signing

Coventry City have reportedly agreed a deal to sign holding midfielder Marko Stamenic from Red Star Belgrade. Football Insider reports that the 22-year-old, who has 14 caps for New Zealand, looks set to join up with Mark Robins’ side early on as they bid for another Championship play-off push, having missed out by nine points last season.

Coventry have made midfield reinforcements a top priority for the summer and look to have acted quickly to secure signing number one, with the report claiming a fee in the region of £4million has been agreed with Red Star. Stamenic made 35 appearances last season, helping his side to the Serbian title and playing a role in their Champions League group stage exit, starting against Premier League champions Manchester City.

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Sunderland arrival

Sunderland are reportedly on the verge of signing former Sheffield United and Coventry City goalkeeper Simon Moore as a free agent. Journalist Alan Nixon reports that Moore will become the first arrival of the summer at the Stadium of Light, having been released by Coventry upon the expiration of his contract.

Moore has racked up more than 280 appearances across a number of clubs including Sheffield United, Coventry, and Cardiff City. The 34-year-old is hoped to add experience to an otherwise young Black Cats squad as they aim to improve on last season’s disappointing 16th-place finish. Sunderland are still without a permanent head coach, having sacked Michael Beale in February and appointed Mike Dodds as interim boss.

Szmodics latest

Blackburn Rovers are yet to receive any formal offers for Sammie Szmodics, although interest in the forward is intensifying. The Lancashire Telegraph reports that suggestions of a price-tag being slapped on the club’s talisman are wide of the mark in what is expected to be a slow star to the summer transfer window.

Szmodics has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs following an outstanding season in which he scored 27 goals in 44 league appearances, enough to place him in the Championship’s Team of the Season. But while a number of clubs are keeping tabs on the 28-year-old, no one has yet pushed forward with an approach of any kind.