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Daniel Farke will be keen to welcome lots of new faces to Leeds United this summer. The Whites face the difficult challenge of staying in the Premier League next season, so they must significantly strengthen their squad.
Each of the three promoted clubs dropped back down the to Championship this term, despite having recruited well. Southampton and Ipswich Town both forked out in excess of €100m (£85m), with the former signing Aaron Ramsdale and the latter getting their hands on Liam Delap.
Even Leicester City, who only made a few notable improvements, coughed up €90m. So, with that being said, Leeds Live has rounded up the latest news and transfer gossip as the White’s gear up for a rough campaign.
Brentford hijack Leeds deal
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Brentford have joined Leeds in the race to sign Noah Sadiki. The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer following his impressive performances for Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.
The report claims that the Bees are also in the market for a new defensive midfielder this summer. It’s said that the English clubs face tough competition for Sadiki from Eintracht Frankfurt, who are still negotiating personal terms.
Leeds Live says: “Leeds need to be careful. As much as they need to bring in some fresh legs, they can’t afford to get carried away in a bidding war. Eintracht Frankfurt have European football on the table, so any deal will be difficult to complete.”
Real Betis provide Leeds transfer update
The Real Betis sporting director, Manu Fajardo, has revealed there are ‘still some details to be worked out’ as the Spanish outfit look to re-sign Junior Firpo. He reckons that the 28-year-old full-back, who cost Leeds £12.8m back in the summer of 2021, is ‘extremely eager’ to return to his boyhood club.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Fajardo said: “It’s true that there are talks with Junior Firpo. He’s a free agent. His signing hasn’t materialised, there are still some details to be worked out.
“Let him serve as an example that he’s a player who left in his day and is now extremely eager to return,” added the Real Betis chief. “Does the salary have to be lowered?
“We’re proud that players who left are willing to come back, putting other things before financial matters. If Real Betis, for example, has a chance of bringing Junior Firpo back, it’s because the player is more than willing to put these kinds of issues behind him.
“The sustainability of the club must come first, obviously without giving up on big signings. The players who are willing to come here do so because they’ve previously decided to give up other aspects, such as financial matters.”
Leeds Live says: “Leeds need to go out and sign a new first-choice left-back as soon as possible. Of course, it would’ve been nice to keep Junior Firpo, but the Whites need to move on.”
Sunderland snap up Leeds target
According to Sky Sports, Sunderland have agreed a club-record transfer to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg. The 21-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Leeds before the Blacks Cats hijacked a deal.
The report claims Diarra is now set to undergo a medical before signing his contract. Sunderland have forked out £30m to sign the Senegal international, who scored against England in a friendly earlier this month.
Leeds Live says: “Leeds will be gutted to have missed out on Habib Diarra, but they must quickly pivot and turn their attention to another midfielder. Daniel Farke could always go and get Lesley Ugochukwu on loan if all else fails – Chelsea will want to find the young midfielder another Premier League loan.”
