Leeds United have made FC Krasnodar playmaker Eduard Spertsyan their top summer transfer target, according to TEAMtalk.
After a quiet January transfer window which saw the arrival of Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion and a failed move for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen - who joined Crystal Palace instead - attentions are turning to Leeds' summer business.
The Yorkshire outfit lie six points above the Premier League relegation zone ahead of Friday night's crucial clash against 17th-placed Nottingham Forest at Elland Road, hoping to become one of the first sides to maintain their top flight status following promotion since 2023.
The Whites will have two different recruitment strategies in mind depending on which division they find themselves in next season.
Spertsyan is a 'Genuine' Leeds Summer Target
Krasnodar star Eduard Spertsyan smiles
Leeds see Armenia's 'elite-level' captain as a primary summer transfer target, according to TEAMtalk.
The 25-year-old has been admired long-term by Leeds' recruitment team, having been linked with a move to Elland Road last summer and towards the end of the January transfer window that has just passed.
Should the Yorkshire club preserve their Premier League status in the coming months, they are ready to make a move for the Russia-based star, who is ready to leave the country this summer and is open to a move to the Premier League.
There is one significant issue with any potential deal, according to the report, with current UK sanctions actually meaning it is not possible to deal with Russian clubs in the transfer market.
While deals with English clubs are ruled out, Leeds are hoping to use their relationship with co-owners Red Bull to facilitate a move for the Armenian.
That would involve Spertsyan joining one of the Red Bull clubs first, before moving onto Elland Road at a later date when it was legal to do so.
Why do Leeds Want Spertsyan?
Spertsyan
Put simply, the Armenian attacking midfielder is a class act who provides goal contributions on a regular basis and is one of the most creative in his position in European football.
Leeds would be getting a player who you can build a team around, such is his quality and output.
Spertsyan has provided eight goals and 13 assists in just 18 Russian Premier League matches this season, with an overall record of 53 goals and 45 assists in 168 games for Krasnodar.
The 25-year-old also has 11 goals in 40 caps for his country, who are one of the weakest European nations competing in European and worldwide tournaments.
This is seen as a rare opportunity for Leeds to land a creator at the top of his game, who is slipping under the radar of bigger clubs in Europe.
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