Leeds United: Blackman deal all set to be confirmed
Blackman is poised to formally join Leeds on a season-long loan from Stamford Bridge and train at Thorp Arch this morning after passing a medical over the weekend.
The terms of Blackman’s move to United were finalised on Thursday and the 24-year-old is preparing to play for 45 minutes in the club’s first pre-season friendly at Forest Green Rovers tomorrow night.
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Hide AdHis arrival follows another exit from Elland Road after Antonsson secured a return to Sweden by completing a permanent move to Uwe Rosler’s Malmo.
The striker turned down an offer from Italian club Brescia, owned by ex-Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino, to go back to his homeland two years after coming to United from Kalmar.
Malmo have paid an undisclosed fee for a player who had one year left on his contract and was surplus to requirements despite winning automatic promotion from League One during a loan at Blackburn Rovers last season.
He featured 21 times for Leeds but failed to make a lasting impression in England or the Championship.
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Hide AdBlackman, in contrast, impressed at Sheffield United last term, featuring in 31 Championship matches and helping the Blades to a top-half finish. He is the second Chelsea academy product to join Leeds in this window following midfielder Lewis Baker’s loan move last month.
He came onto the radar at Elland Road after top goalkeeping target Angus Gunn made a £10m switch from Manchester City to Southampton and a loan bid for Birmingham City’s David Stockdale was rejected.
Blackman will be installed as number one by Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa, ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell who finished last season in the club’s starting line-up. Both players are due to feature at Forest Green.