In a manner that’s become all too familiar this summer, Leeds United could now see one of their rumoured transfer targets join a Premier League rival.
Leeds United have made a steady start to the summer transfer window. Having signed Gabriel Gudmundsson in a £10million deal from Lille, Daniel Farke now has four new faces through the Elland Road doors.
But many more are needed to give Leeds a fighting chance in the Premier League next season, especially with their fellow promoted teams Burnley and Sunderland making strong moves in the transfer market.
The Black Cats in particular are shaping up nicely, albeit at the expense of Leeds. Already this summer, three Leeds United targets have joined Sunderland in Reinildo Mandava, Noah Sadiki, and the £30million Habib Diarra.
But it’s not only Sunderland who are getting in on Leeds’ summer transfer wishlist, with West Ham now looking to capitalise.
Douglas Luiz playing for Juventus in the Champions League against Club Brugge.
Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Douglas Luiz transfer update following Leeds United snub
Douglas Luiz emerged as an unlikely transfer target for the Whites earlier this summer. It was reported that Leeds United were offered the chance to sign Luiz following his failed move from Aston Villa to Juventus last summer, with the Italian giants rumoured to be willing to take a financial hit on the £42million signing.
But subsequent reports revealed how Luiz wasn’t interested in joining Leeds United. Instead, Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport now report that Luiz is now ‘tempted’ by West Ham, who are the latest team making a move to sign the 27-year-old Brazilian international, as the Hammers make their move.
Gazzetta dello Sport add that talks are underway and that all parties are keen to see the deal go through. West Ham though will have to pay a pricey loan fee of €10million (£8.64million), with an obligation to buy that could cost Graham Potter’s side up to €30million (£25.92million).
Leeds United manaer Daniel Farke looks down during a Championship game against Hull City.
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Leeds United are rapidly running out of midfield transfer targets
Sadiki and Diarra were both midfield targets for Farke: specifically they’re more holding midfielders, with the no.10 positions being an entirely different issue for Farke to sort out this summer.
Sunderland outbid Leeds United in the race for Diarra and with Luiz, the Whites simply weren’t of interest, with Luiz no doubt wanting West Ham as they’re a more established Premier League side than Leeds are right now.
But he joins an alarmingly growing list of midfield targets who Leeds have missed out on this summer.
The most talked about one of late is Sean Longstaff. Leeds have had multiple bids rejected for Longstaff as Newcastle United appear to be pricing the Whites out of a move for the midfielder.
Elsewhere, RC Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui has agreed a move to Roma.
Farke could yet be left to sign a midfielder who isn’t exactly near the top of his wanted list this summer, or forced to go out and find another one who fits the bill.