Leeds and West Ham have identified a rising star as a key target this summer, with his club ready to sell at a highly discounted rate.
Leeds await vital last eight Premier League games of the season
Eight games left. Three points between safety and the drop. Leeds are right in the thick of one of the most compressed and nerve-shredding relegation battles the Premier League has seen in years.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
Daniel Farke's side are just above the bottom three going into the international break, with West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham all breathing down their necks.
Every fixture between now and May carries the weight of an entire season.
Leeds have done enough to give themselves a fighting chance. The FA Cup run — a quarter-final against West Ham still to come — has provided moments of genuine quality and team spirit, but it is the league that matters most right now.
The 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend ground out a point but also highlighted the central problem that has plagued Farke all season: a lack of reliable firepower and, increasingly, questions about the defensive depth available to him.
Leeds United players during a minutes silence in tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before the match Related
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He's been in solid form.
Centre-back has been a particular concern. Joe Rodon has been outstanding — Stuart Dallas described him this week as the perfect professional and leader — but the surrounding squad lacks depth.
With the summer rebuild already being plotted behind the scenes, the 49ers ownership group are mapping out exactly what this team needs to potentially stay in the top flight for years to come.
Leeds and West Ham identify Lautaro Rivero as a priority target
Sports Boom claim that Leeds and relegation rivals West Ham have placed Lautaro Rivero of River Plate on the "strategic priority" list ahead of the summer window.
lautaro-rivero-river-plate-argentina
The Argentine centre-back is one of the most sought-after young defenders in South American football right now, and it is not difficult to see why.
Rivero brings a commanding aerial presence that would suit the physical demands of the Premier League immediately.
His left foot — a rarity among elite defenders and one of the most valued traits in modern football — makes him a genuine ball-playing option from the back, capable of switching play and threading passes through defensive lines with composure under pressure.
Sport Boom describes Rivero as one of the "hottest" emerging talents. Leeds and West Ham aren't the only teams pursuing him, either.
Brighton are also closely monitoring Rivero and have elevated their tracking to what sources describe as "intensified observation" status.
River Plate Fans Relegation
Leeds are specifically identified as a club in immediate need of the profile Rivero offers — a left-footed centre-back who can contribute to a build-up system while commanding his area.
River do hold significant leverage. Rivero is contracted at the Monumental Stadium until December 2028, giving them no urgency to sell.
The 22-year-old also has an £86 million release clause, but River could actually sell him closer to the £17 million mark — coming as a seismic £69m discount.
For Leeds, getting the deal done early — and staying in the Premier League to offer it — could give Farke a big boost ahead of next term.
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He's now the frontrunner.