Leeds United may have to bring in a new first-choice option at left-back with Junior Firpo set to leave the club on a free transfer – and Liverpool defender Konstantinos Tsimikas is a target.
Junior Firpo is out of contract at the end of the season, and the Dominican Republic international is ‘close’ to leaving for his old club Betis. It is now ‘widely anticipated’ that Firpo will leave Leeds in the summer.
Leeds therefore need a left-back and The 49ers have been linked with plenty. Tottenham’s Ben Davies is a long-term target given the Welsh connection and his Spurs deal ending, but a Liverpool man is an option.
Indeed, this week has seen Liverpool defender Konstantinos Tsimikas linked with a move to Leeds. The 40-time Greece international has spent his entire Anfield spell as second-choice to Andy Robertson.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Graeme Bailey in Konstantinos Tsimikas claim amid Leeds move
Tsimikas is a player that has played right at the top of football, clocking up 65 Premier League outings and 27 in the Champions League. The Greek ace though, could be fed up with being second choice.
A set-piece specialist, Tsimikas would be a real coup. But Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that if Tsimikas were to join, based on his current wages, it is likely he would be Leeds’ highest-paid player.
“He’s an option, on the list. He’s not cheap. He is on good Premier League wages. I think he’d probably be Leeds’ highest-paid player if he came in right now. Leeds are getting offered an awful lot of players.
“Left back is an issue that they’re looking at. Liverpool is a club Leeds are in touch with, they are doing the homework and Tsimikas is an option. We know he’s available,” Bailey continued, speaking to this website.
Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images
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How much Liverpool have told Leeds to pay for Tsimikas
Leeds have a big transfer kitty in front of them, but are targeting Premier League players and are a bit in limbo. The Premier League still has two matchdays left and until then, won’t be able to make any moves.
But, reports have indicated that Liverpool have set an asking price for Tsimikas. Indeed, Arne Slot’s team have set a price tag of £15m for Tsimikas, a hefty fee and a big chunk of Leeds’ transfer kitty this summer.
It seems a bit frustrating that Leeds could just tie Firpo down to a new deal rather than having to go out and replace a player that probably wouldn’t be replaced, if he was contracted until 2027 and not June.
But that’s the position Leeds are in. Leeds have other areas that they need to spend money on and yet, they are having to replace a player they don’t want to lose – but if they do, Tsimikas is a top replacement.