Leeds United are reportedly tracking Union Saint-Gilloise defender Ross Sykes - along with Everton, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Coventry City.
The 26-year-old has not played in English football since 2022, when his lengthy association with Accrington Stanley came to an end.
He made a left-field move to Belgium and his decision to seek pastures new overseas has certainly been vindicated.
In 2024, he helped the club lift the Belgian Pro League and Belgian Cup trophies, and Sykes has also experienced Champions League football.
Ross Sykes has thrived in Belgium with Union Saint-Gilloise.placeholder image
Ross Sykes has thrived in Belgium with Union Saint-Gilloise. | JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images
Leeds United linked with defender
His exploits appear to have caught the attention of clubs back in Sykes’ country of birth, with Leeds said to be among his admirers.
According to TEAMtalk, the Whites are among the clubs to have sent scouts to watch the centre-back in action.
Everton and Crystal Palace are also thought to be tracking his progress, while the report has also suggested there is interest from his hometown club Burnley.
Championship promotion hopefuls Coventry City complete the list of clubs named as admirers in the report, which has claimed Union SG are bracing themselves for approaches.
Sykes is under contract until next year and his current employers reportedly have an option to extend that deal by a further year. He is a commanding figure known for being dominant in duels, a trait that could make him well-suited to Leeds’ side.
However, a move to the Premier League would be a major step-up for the Accrington academy graduate and former Southport loanee.
Ross Sykes cut his teeth in English football with Accrington Stanley.placeholder image
Ross Sykes cut his teeth in English football with Accrington Stanley. | Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images
Leeds United’s centre-back department
The centre-back market was a focus last summer for Leeds, who added Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw to their pool of central defenders.
Whites boss Daniel Farke now plays a central back three following a mid-season formation change and there was talk of another centre-back being signed last month. However, the window ended with no new faces in Leeds’ defensive group.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have recently been deployed alongside James Justin, although Struik’s injury may now open up a path back into the team for Bijol following his rehabilitation from a hamstring problem.