Leeds United are yet to really reap the benefits of their record breaking sponsorship deal with Red Bull but that could change in the coming months after changes to the recruitment team.
Red Bull purchased a minority stake of 10 per cent in Leeds back in June and their arrival was supposed to help the retention of some key players such as Georginio Rutter.
With Rutter going onto be sold to Brighton for £40 million, that didn’t really materialise, though Angus Kinnear did suggest it helped Leeds reject bids for some of their other big names.
However, it isn’t just financially where Red Bull could help, but also in terms of scouting. Gretar Steinsson and Jordan Miles have both left their roles at Elland Road recently, and Leeds have instead opted to replace them from within.
As such, Red Bull’s vast scouting network could prove useful, given some of the gems they have unearthed in recent years as majority owners of Leipzig and Salzburg.
Red Bull could help Leeds land Diego Luna
Daniel Farke has promised a quiet January at Leeds but that hasn’t stopped links from surfacing ahead of the window opening in just three weeks’ time.
Incidentally, Leeds have been in talks with Red Bull over a potential player swap deal involving Salzburg and Max Wober, though that now feels unlikely considering he is set for a more prominent role after Junior Firpo’s injury.
Number 10 is the real position of priority for Farke and one player who has been linked is Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, with Leeds reportedly having explored a potential deal.
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now spoken exclusively to LeedsUnited.News about reports linking Luna with a move to Leeds, something he is not surprised to hear.
Bailey also believes Leeds’ link to Red Bull and therefore New York RB could enable them to get a real idea on whether he is a player they should push the button on in January.
He said: “Not too dissimilar to Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough. Championship clubs are looking at the American market, Morris has done a fantastic job. A few clubs have been alerted to that, financially it’s an untapped resource. Boro got Morris in for less than £5m, now he could be a £20m player.
“Leeds can rest on the Red Bull organisation, they can pick up the phone to the Red Bulls in New York and ask what they think about that player. It opens up avenues. It can save you money. I expect Leeds to be in the American market, it doesn’t surprise me the links with Luna – I’ve heard he’s a good player.”
MLS expert shares lowdown on Leeds target Luna
LeedsUnited.News have also spoken exclusively to GRV Media’s MLS football expert Dylan Walsh about Luna following the Whites’ reported interest.
Walsh has backed Luna to be an instant success in the Championship if he was to make the move across the pond.
He said: “100%. Luna showed this year why he’s considered one of the most exciting talents not just in the United States, but all of North America, with Mauricio Pochettino’s Stars and Stripes and Mexico both currently in a bidding war to secure the youngster’s international services.
“MLS to the Championship has proven to be quite a good first step into European football for American-based talents, with Leeds having great success across the years with these sort of players from Jack Harrison to Tyler Adams to now Brenden Aaronson, and Luna could be a real threat in the Championship for Leeds if Daniel Farke is willing to work with the attacking midfielder and to get the best out of his qualities.”
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