Leeds United handed 'asking price blow' as Watford set to strike '£21m deal'

The new Championship season is just weeks away, and clubs will now be getting towards the business end of their pre-seasons. Early fitness work now needs to be polished off with pre-season fixtures and regular game time, and teams typically pack in a few games in close succession towards the back-end of their summer schedules to achieve that.

Summer transfers will also be a big part of preparations for the new season, and both Millwall and QPR have made strong starts on that front. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding the Championship.

Hume price tag

Leeds United have learned how much they will have to pay if they want to sign Sunderland full-back Trai Hume this summer. Hume has impressed for the Black Cats and is attracting plenty of transfer attention this summer.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, Sunderland have now placed a price tag on Hume amid reported interest from Leeds, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Leicester City. It’s claimed the Black Cats want as much as £10million, and they are no doubt hoping that asking price will scare away many suitors.

Asprilla move

Watford are reportedly set to cash in on Yaser Asprilla this summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia. According to AreaNapoli, Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad are willing to pay £21million for Aprilla this summer.

Roma, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with the 20-year-old this summer, but it looks as though Al-Ittihad are willing to pay the most, and £21million is likely money Watford cannot turn down. The player is said to be on board with the move having been offered impressive terms, as is often the case with moves to the Gulf.

Harris on friendlies

Millwall boss Neil Harris has been speaking about why the Lions have played so many behind closed doors friendlies this summer. He told Southwark News: “The last few years it’s become the norm in football, almost. Unfortunately, it costs a lot of money to put games on nowadays with risk assessments, health and safety, stewards and policing.

“So you end up charging quite a lot of money for people to come. Some people want to come but the majority don’t. So it’s almost like a lot of teams have just said ‘look, let’s just do behind closed doors games. It suits trialists etc… For me, I’m still a bit old-fashioned and would like to have a few more games in front of fans. But I totally understand the thought-process of pretty much every football club in the country that does it.

“What I will say is the club have done really well to open up the trip to Spain so supporters can go. I know it’s a long way but the Gillingham one is a local game but when we go to Spain for two games, mums and dads can bring kids if possible and have a little break. We feel like we’ve opened it up but I do sometimes miss the trips to Bromley, Dartford and Welling.”