Leeds United hoping to finalise at least one more quick transfer in next week - YEP 2/6/22
Leeds United's summer recruitment is set to continue apace as Victor Orta works to finalise at least one more signing by the end of next week.
By Graham Smyth
Brenden Aaronson became the club's first addition a week
ago, moving from RB Salzburg in a £25m deal to reunite with head coach Jesse
Marsch. That deal will become official on July 1 and is pending the usual
international clearance and work permit but Aaronson has penned a five-year
contract at Elland Road.
Leeds are now intent on completing a second swoop on
Marsch's former club Salzburg, to pick up right-back Rasmus Kristensen for
around £10m.
The defender's involvement in Denmark's four internationals
over the next 11 days would not necessarily impede Orta from finalising a deal
for a player who looked set to sign for Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund
until Leeds made clear their interest. Stuart Dallas' lengthy time out and Luke
Ayling's uncertain timeline for a post-surgery comeback makes a right-back one
of the Whites' priorities and Kristensen is a player who knows Marsch's system.
Raphinha poses a huge challenge for Leeds United this summer.#Lufc https://t.co/y6I0mGctDh
— Leeds United News (@LeedsUnitedYEP) June 2, 2022
Although the full scale of Leeds' summer transfer business
will partly depend on the situation with Raphinha and whether or not a
Champions League side makes an offer that would significantly boost the Elland
Road coffers, Orta has been working on a number of potential deals since the
season ended, flying into several countries to speak to players.
The Whites want to strengthen Marsch's squad numerically as
well as with quality and one of the areas they hope to bolster is midfield.
Although reports have linked the Whites with a move for Wolves' Morgan
Gibbs-White, a player Orta has long admired, the club believes Aaronson, who
scored for the United States Men's National Team this week, ticks the attacking
box so they are now looking at additions who could add competition and back-up
for Kalvin Phillips in the defensive role.
Phillips has consistently maintained that he wants to stay
at Elland Road and the club are confident they can tie him down to an improved
deal this summer, although reports have suggested that Manchester City could
try to tempt the England star across the Pennines.
Leeds also want to add a striker having suffered with
Patrick Bamford out injured for the majority of last season and could seek to
bring in an experienced goalkeeper as back-up to first-choice number one Illan
Meslier.
