After a quiet start to the window, things seem to have hotted up for Leeds United over the past 24 hours!
It was only on Sunday that The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth confirmed that Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo was on Victor Orta's summer shopping list but was perhaps in the ‘difficult to do pile’ with competition from Napoli and AC Milan amongst others. But things have moved on in the last 24 hours and with Milan closing in on a deal it seems Leeds have come in and impressed the 24 year old with their project with several Spanish news outlets reporting Firpo is set to sign for a fee in the region of €15 million. It would seem Victor Orta has kept his cards close to chis chest and with fans worried we’d missed out on other potential targets such as Romain Perraud, Victor had bigger and better deals within his sights.
Barcelona are looking to balance the books somewhat following the failure of their Super League dreams and with Firpo behind Jordi Alba in the pecking order it seems like a good way to cash in. That said, at €15 million this feels like it could be another Raphinha level bargain! Firpo is an attacking full-back, almost wing-back who likes to carry the ball and drill it in low and fast to the opposition penalty area. In 62 La Liga appearances at Real Betis and Barcelona, Firpo has scored 7 goals and made 9 assists. The deal is expected to be completed within the next 48 hours and would be a real coup for Leeds United and as sign of their intent going to their second season back in the top-flight.
Nahitan Nandez is another player who has been connected with Leeds a lot this summer but was understood not to have been on Victor Orta’s list of potential targets. Despite strong denials from the club, Sardinian paper La Nouva Sardegna are adamant Leeds have made an approach for the midfielder. They claim Leeds have offered €15m for a one-year loan with an obligation to buy for a further €15m next summer. The Cagliari central midfielder played 32 games in Serie A last season, scoring twice and making three assists. It is definitely an area of the pitch Leeds need to strengthen in ahead of next season. Nandez can also play in the holding role or on the right-hand side of midfield.
One of the first deals expected to cross the line this summer was for Birmingham City starlet Amari Miller. The 18-year-old has attracted a great deal of attention from several Premier League clubs including Everton, but talks with Leeds are understood to be at an advanced stage. The right sided midfielder broke through the senior ranks at St Andrews, notching up five cameo appearances for Lee Bowyers side. The youngster announced his departure to Birmingham fans on social media on Monday, will his next destination be Elland Road? His signing would certainly follow Leeds United’s recent pattern of brining in as many promising young players for the U23 side as for the first team each summer.
If Leeds brought in those three players would it be a good summer for you?