Leeds United are interested in raiding Newcastle for pocket-sized attacker Ryan Fraser this summer, and Gordon Strachan is a big fan of the Scotland star – raving about the Toon ace back in 2017, after starring for Bournemouth.
Fraser, 29, managed eight Premier League outings for Newcastle last season. While he has a contract with The Toon until the summer of 2025, he is expected to leave Eddie Howe’s side. The Mail claim he is training with the U21’s.
The Sunday Mirror (9/7; page 74) say Leeds and Southampton are doing battle for Fraser, with less than a month remaining until the start of the Championship season – when Leeds host Cardiff City. Fraser could be brought in.
Back in 2017, after a season in which Fraser had had a hand in 11 goals in 29 Premier League games, Strachan was full of praise for Fraser. He described the wide man as a “modern” footballer, and is not scared of facing anyone.
“Ryan is feeling good about himself,” Strachan told the Herald, six years ago. “You think, ‘wow, he’s not scared of anybody’. He’s a modern-day footballer, like the Dortmund and Tottenham guys, who close down, pressure people.”
Leeds interested in Fraser, Strachan a big fan of the Scotland star
Leeds will need additions out wide. Jack Harrison, Willy Gnonto, Luis Sinisterra and Cree Summerville all have plenty of interest in their services. That would leave Leeds with just Dan James and Georginio Rutter, on the flanks.
So, another body or two in that area would bode well. Bringing in Fraser certainly aids that. But, is he good enough to start? He is on big wages at Newcastle, worth a huge £63,000 a week. Maybe a loan would suit Leeds, more so.
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