The transfer deadline is on the horizon and Leeds United Think their core boxes are ticked. A left-back and a striker were their priorities for January and, after a fashion, both have arrived. All that remains as time runs out is the biennial question of whether the club has anything else up its sleeve.
Another way of saying that is any of the players signed by Leeds, Max Wobber and after the fashion Georginio Rutter, can be strictly pigeonholed. Wobber is a center back as well as a left back and Rutter has the ability to occupy wide attacking positions As well as the central lane but, by purchasing them, the club has covered the areas they planned. And having committed a combined £40 million ($49.4m) to those two signings, Leeds will expect the difference they make to be swift and tangible.
Throughout the month, though, there has been one more in the pipeline and a particularly long suggestion of a central midfielder. That talk was encouraged by Leeds releasing Mateusz Klich and allowing him to move to MLS’ DC United, but at least two options linked with Leeds, Angers’ Azzedine Ounahi and Juventus’ Weston McKenni, are players they are familiar with. Monitored in previous windows. Both are of interest and either would be welcome at Elland Road, if the price was right.
On the transfer deadline day athletic…
Onahi’s value has clearly changed over the past few months, which may explain why, as Leeds director of football Victor Orta said in an interview with Spanish media before Christmas, the 22-year-old’s outstanding performances for Morocco. world cup Many in recruiting circles were surprised, not least him. Aunahi was good but his suggestion was in the tournament in Qatar that good Whereas Angers was talking about a fee of around £10 million in the summer window, the price now would be closer to £20 million, if not slightly higher. In the face of that assessment, Leeds have not yet advanced talks with Angers or Onahi’s camp.
McKennie, 24, is someone Leeds have been keeping a speculative eye on for years. However, they tried to sign him when his star was on the rise at Schalke in Germany Juventus He was signed in 2020, initially on loan, then £15 million as a permanent package. McKenney made 70 Siri A Have more experience in presence and Champions League, this season features a side who are more possession-based and patient in their play, very different in style to Jesse Marsh’s Leeds side. He can play in a box-to-box or deep midfield role and, like Onahi, Leeds see ways to slot him into their line-up.
The signing of McKenney will be the third time in less than seven months that Leeds have spent heavily to recruit a regular member of the US men’s national team, after investing more than £20 million each. Brendan Aaronson and Tyler Adams. Although he is far from the picture at Juve, the Italian club is in a bad way, An investigation into alleged financial irregularities has emerged That resulted in a punitive match sanction in the form of a 15-point deduction from the club’s former executives and Serie A.
Juve will now look to regain their balance and the clamor around McKennie suggests that the Turin ownership would suit up by cutting him off the wage bill and pulling in a fee for him. Leeds, at this point, remain skeptical that Juve will agree to a price they can afford when they value him at more than £20 million. A loan with an obligation to make the move permanent after the season is over is one way to make the move more affordable.
Personal terms will not be a major obstacle, however, and with Leeds ruling neither Ounahy nor McKenney out, it is the final week of the transfer window when circumstances often change rapidly. But with less than a week to go before the deadline, they are some distance away from meeting Angers or Juve’s valuation and it is likely that interest in the pair will have to remain dormant until the next window. Leeds are more confident about another deal in the pipeline, a bid for Switzerland’s Servette for young Portuguese centre-back Diogo Monteiro, who is about to turn 18, but the new and proven midfielder is a moving feast.
Angers’ Azzedine Onahi has seen his price tag rise after his impressive turn for Morocco at the World Cup (Photo: Mike Hewitt – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Much depends on the source of money and transfer funds to Leeds. The club is in the middle of a process that must end Boardroom control at 49ers enterprises from current majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani, and before each signing at Elland Road there are discussions about who will pay the initial installment and what future structured payments will look like. At executive level there was a £10 million purchase of Wobber from Red Bull Salzburg and a deal for Rutter that broke the transfer record and could eventually earn Hoffenheim £35 million. To finance Ounahi or McKennie, another injection is needed — unless, like last summer when Kalvin Phillips and Rafinha Moved on, the cash had to be raised by selling existing team members.
Earlier this week, Leicester City was credited with interest on Jack Harrison, which is not the first time they have been linked with the winger. Leeds received contact about him in the summer but were so resistant to losing him that they valued him at more than £30 million.
Harrison, however, is 18 months away from the end of his contract and has yet to sign an extension. Leeds’ priority is to tie him down to a new deal and keep him long-term, with talks planned after the end of the window. As far as his admiration for Leicester goes, Elland Road is resistant to the idea of allowing him to join a club around them. Premier League. Newcastle United He was one of the parties looking at him in August and if in agreement for their current job Evertonwho Anthony Gordon If nothing comes of it, Eddie Howe has a chance to rekindle his interest in Harrison.
Overall, the squad at Elland Road has changed a lot since the end of last season, to an extent against almost half of Marsh’s lineup. Brentford New signings were made after its conclusion on Sunday.
A midfielder like Onahi or McKennie on top of Wobber and Rutter would make this window another moment of sweeping change, even if Leeds feel their most essential business is done.
It may have been at Elland Road in January. But never say never when the deadline is approaching.
(Top photo: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
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