In a summer transfer window that’s rapidly become a frustrating one for Leeds United, there’s now another player who Daniel Farke likes, who has agreed a move to another club.
Leeds United have seen a flurry of recent transfer targets join other clubs, with most of them heading to Premier League rivals Sunderland.
Sunderland have signed several Leeds United targets in the last week or so including Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki and Reinildo Mandava, and the north-east club don’t look set to stop there either.
Recent reports have revealed how Sunderland have joined Leeds in the race to sign Jeremie Boga from Nice, with Leeds having a £13million bid on the table to sign the former Chelsea man this summer.
So far, four new players have arrived at Elland Road. Leeds United completed the signing of Gabriel Gudmundsson this week to take the tally up to four, with more expected in the coming weeks as Daniel Farke readies his side for the start of pre-season.
Neil El Aynaoui scores for Lens last season.
Photo by FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP via Getty Images
Neil El Aynaoui has agreed move to Roma amid Leeds United transfer rumours
One name linked recently is Neil El Aynaoui. Leeds United are interested in signing El Aynaoui from RC Lens, but so too are Roma. Though a recent revelation from Fabrizio Romano revealed how Roma have seen a bid rejected for El Aynaoui this summer, with suggestions that Lens want £27million for El Aynaoui.
Now though, emerging reports in France have claimed that El Aynaoui has agreed a move to Roma. Foot Sur write that the 24-year-old Moroccan has agreed to join the Italian giants ‘after advanced talks in recent days’, but suggest that the price tag remains a sticking point between the two clubs. They say that Lens are ‘demanding more than €20million’, or £17.33million.
On top of that, El Aynaoui ‘is now the subject of internal discussions regarding a contract extension and a salary in’ per the same report, with Roma looking at other options whilst working on finalising a deal for the former Nancy man.
Sean Longstaff at St. James' Park before Newcastle United vs Brentford.
Photo by Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United via Getty Images
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What is the latest on Leeds United’s pursuit of Sean Longstaff?
El Aynaoui is a more holding central midfielder, or a box-to-box midfielder, which is a role that Farke really needs to sign someone for this summer. And El Aynaoui seems like one of a few candidates to fill that role, along with Sean Longstaff.
In recent days, Longstaff has been heavily linked with a move to Leeds United. But reports say that Newcastle United have rejected three bids for Longstaff, much to the anger of both Leeds and Newcastle fans: the latter want him to go play regularly somewhere.
So for Leeds, El Aynaoui seems like a definite backup option in case a deal for Longstaff doesn’t materialise, which right now is looking likely to be the case. But for El Aynaoui to have agreed a move to Roma is bad news for Leeds.
This seems to be happening quite a lot recently, though expect Farke and his recruitment team to have a long list of transfer targets for this summer’s window.