The transfer battle between Leeds United and Sunderland in the last transfer window was the theme of the summer. The Whites were left frustrated as their fellow newly promoted outfit beat them to the signings of at least two of their top targets.
Leeds have made a decent start to life back in the Premier League, and have done better than most promoted teams in recent years. However, Daniel Farke is aware that his side are still short of quality in the forward line.
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The Leeds manager wants to bring in attacking reinforcements, with an attacking midfielder and winger said to be the club’s priorities in the winter transfer window.
The Yorkshire giants are interested in signing Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley on loan. But the Whites are alive to the prospect of another long-term target in Fabio Carvalho becoming available when the window reopens in January.
However, Sunderland are lurking.
Sunderland to challenge Leeds United in another transfer battle
Leeds wanted to sign Carvalho in 2024, but the Portuguese attacking midfielder joined Brentford for a deal worth £27m from Liverpool.
He has been a bit-part player at Brentford this season, and is set to leave the London club on loan in the winter transfer window.
Carvalho is keen on a return to Germany, where he enjoyed success at RB Leipzig. However, he has suitors in the Premier League as well ahead of January.
Leeds are alive to the prospect of signing the attacking midfielder on loan, and according to Mackem News, Sunderland are also considering the Portuguese.
Regis Le Bris’ side have made a flying start to life in the Premier League, and have taken the top flight by storm. However, he is keen to add more quality to his squad.
The Sunderland boss wants more attacking flair in the team as he looks to build on this good start and ensure the club are not in trouble in the second half of the season.
Sunderland were Leeds’ biggest transfer bugbear in the summer
Leeds and Sunderland, along with Burnley, came up from the Championship to the Premier League this season, but their fight became fiercer in the summer.
Habib Diarra was Leeds’ top midfield target for the summer, and the club worked hard to convince him to move to Elland Road. However, Sunderland offered more money and got the deal over the line.
The Black Cats repeated the trick with Noah Sadiki, another player who rejected Leeds in favour of a move to the Stadium of Light.
Leeds are in urgent need of an attacking midfielder, and Carvalho is a player Farke has been keen to sign since last year. However, Sunderland could be their biggest challengers again.
It remains to be seen whether the Whites manage to turn the tables on Sunderland and get their hands on Carvalho on loan in the winter transfer window.
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