Leeds United are being linked with one of the Eredivisie's most productive full-backs this summer.
Leeds United are creeping toward Premier League safety, and fans are starting to dream about another season in the top flight.
The Whites have lost just two of their last 14 games following their 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at the weekend, which leaves them 15th in the table, six points clear of West Ham United in 18th.
And while the job isn’t finished yet, the Leeds recruitment team will most certainly be casting an eye toward the summer window with Premier League-level targets in mind, while trying to keep hold of their most important assets.
To that end, here are some of the latest rumours going around Elland Road.
Leeds to battle West Ham for 3g/16a Utrecht left-back
According to Africa Foot, Leeds and West Ham are heading up the race to sign left-back Souffian El Karouani from FC Utrecht.
El Karouani joined Utrecht from fellow Eredivisie side NEC on a free transfer in the summer of 2026, and has since made 107 appearances across all competitions, registering five goals and 28 assists. This season, he’s been particularly impressive, notching three goals and 16 assists in 36 combined Eredivisie and Europa League games, helping Utreg sit eighth domestically - though they crashed out of Europe without a win.
However, the Moroccan - who has five senior international caps to his name to date - is out of contract this summer, and it’s reported that Leeds and West Ham are among the frontrunners for his signature.
It’s understood that West Ham are the more serious party right now, having also shown an interest in January. However, that could change if the Hammers go down and Leeds stay up.
In addition, the likes of Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Wolfsburg and Porto have been credited with an interest in El Karouani, who turned 25 last October.
Lucas Perri backed to succeed at Elland Road
The goalkeeper position has been something of an issue this season. Summer signing Lucas Perri missed a handful of games with an arm injury earlier this season, while neither he nor Karl Darlow have been utterly convincing when called upon. What’s more, Illan Meslier is now utterly out of favour under Daniel Farke.
The Whites are already being linked with potential replacements in the summer. However, former Leeds defender Tony Dorigo believes Perri deserves another chance to impress at Elland Road - especially in light of his recent penalty shootout heroics in the FA Cup against Birmingham City.
“Every single position will be looking to be improved… so goalkeeping will be interesting and will be an issue because obviously we spent a lot on Lucas Perri,” said Dorigo of the Brazilian. “He hasn't had the easiest of starts but I think he's shown enough to be given another chance for sure, so I don't think it'll be high on the top of the list.”
Dorigo added: “If you've not reached the top of your game and you make one or two mistakes then you expect a change and unfortunately Perri has done that. But also once you've made a mistake and you're not at your best, it's how you then respond and for me that's the mark of a good player.
“Perri going to Birmingham, I thought that's the sort of response that the player needed to give and he was magnificent. That doesn't mean he walks straight back in the side, certainly because Karl Darlow has not made many mistakes either.
“He has played lots and lots of games and I can only think of one really where I think, 'OK, maybe that was a goalkeeper mistake'. He's done brilliantly. So I think it's a good position to be in.”
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