Strangely, Leeds United and Fenerbahce have both been linked with many players this summer. So far, both sides have signed one player that the other clubs wanted.
The links between Leeds and Fenerbahce this summer have been aplenty. Not least, beginning with the future of Jose Mourinho with Leeds supposedly eyeing Mourinho before choosing to keep Daniel Farke.
Richard Keys claims Leeds only kept Farke because Mourinho said no, when Paraag Marathe offered him the Elland Road gig. Since then, the two sides have been linked with the same players, and each other’s.
Fenerbahce wanted Gabriel Gudmundsson, Leeds wanted Archie Brown. Fenerbahce have been linked with Illan Meslier and Leeds have supposedly tabled a £6m bid for Fenerbahce stopper Dominik Livakovic.
Jose Mourinho ahead of a European clash between Fenerbahce and Lugano.
Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Now, Mourinho looks to beat Leeds again for Tottenham star
Mourinho’s side have even tabled a player-plus-cash offer for Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, offering Torino a £4.3m fee plus defender Rodrigo Becao. Now, Mourinho wants to sign a Spurs player on Leeds’ radar.
Earlier this window, Leeds were touted with a move for Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma. Leeds need players in that position having so far failed in a move for Sean Longstaff, and have been linked with Anton Stach.
But according to Turkish outlet Sozcu, Fenerbahce have now made an offer for Bissouma. The Turkish giants have offered Spurs an £8.5m fee. The report says a sizeable three-year contract is on the table.
Tottenham's Yves Bissouma with the Europa League trophy.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Why Bissouma fits the bill for Leeds and Adam Underwood
Leeds are struggling to do a deal for Sean Longstaff. The Newcastle star is over 6ft, in the final year of his contract and boasts huge Premier League experience. Bissouma is exactly the same, albeit 6ft exactly.
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This summer, Leeds have made four signings. Three were in the final year of their contracts while Lukas Nmecha was a free agent. All four are 26, and all four are tall for their position, even 5ft 11 Gudmundsson.
Bissouma ticks Adam Underwood’s midfield boxes. While he might be 28, he is in the final year of his contract and like Longstaff, has clocked up plenty of Premier League matches – a huge 191 to be exact.
Underwood wants Premier League experience in midfield given Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev have never played in England’s top tier, and captain Ethan Ampadu only has 26 Premier League games to his name.
The links with Bissouma are not recent in terms of the transfer market, but there is every chance the Mali skipper is on the list. However, a move to Fenerbahce is likely to prove tempting, to work with Mourinho.