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On the incoming front, Hockaday, who included young Academy centre-back Jake Skelton in his travelling party who left for Italy this morning, says he is confident Leeds will be able to bring in ‘two or three’ players shortly, with the club working on getting their transfer embargo lifted with their bank account no longer frozen.
The summer transfer window formally opens tomorrow, with the club continuing to be linked with several players in the Italian media, including goalkeeper Marco Silvestri.
The 23-year-old former Italy U-20 custodian made his Serie A debut in April while on loan at Cellino’s former club Cagliari, with his playing rights owned by Chievo and he is believed to be close to sealing a move to Leeds.
Hockaday said: “What I do know in football is that until pen is put to paper officially and things are recognised and registered, it would be unprofessional of me to comment on anything.
“As and when I have a player and I can announce it, then I’ll put my arm around him and do it properly. (But) I am hopeful we will have two or three signings next week.â€
Meanwhile, United are still believed to be working towards attempting to cancel Cameron Stewart’s three-year deal, which he is due to sign tomorrow.
The winger was absent from pre-season training at Thorp Arch at the end of last week.
United will head straight into training this evening at Santi Cristini and over the next fortnight will be faced with three sessions a day. During their time in northern Italy, United will play two games against local sides, fielding a totally different starting XI in the first half and second half of each game – with every player getting 90 minutes under their belts.
Pleased with the response of players to him in training so far, Hockaday added: “We have cranked it up. Their attitude on the first day (Thursday) was a little bit of uncertainty, as it would be on the first day with a new head coach. But the first day was super. And on the second day, there was a big lift for me; we’ve made massive strides in the two days, but we’ve a long, long way to go.â€