Phil Hay says Daniel Farke really wanted to bring £4m player to Leeds in the summer, but club said no

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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was determined to reunite with Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean in the summer.

That is according to Phil Hay of the Athletic, who reports Farke would’ve signed the Scotland international but his former club Norwich knocked back any approaches for a permanent sale.

Farke was the man who brought McLean to Norwich from Aberdeen back in 2018, where he has remained ever since, making just shy of 200 appearances for the club.

McLean has since signed a new deal at Carrow Road since the speculation linking him with a move to Leeds, captaining them in every minute of every league game this season.

As per Sky Sports, Leeds’ made a bid of around the £4 million mark for McLean, before they eventually moved onto alternatives in the final week of the window.

Farke was desperate to bring McLean to Leeds

It was also reported by local Norwich outlet Pink Un that Leeds saw three separate enquiries turned down by Norwich for McLean, showing just how keen Farke was to reunite with the 31-year-old.

Leeds were desperate to add to their midfield options during the summer and McLean was one of several they made offers for in the final two weeks of the window.

In the end, Leeds ended up splashing the best part of £11 million to sign Glen Kamara from Rangers, and Ilia Gruev from Werder Bremen.

Kamara is already beginning to look like another shrewd piece of business by Leeds, while Gruev is still waiting for his opportunity to shine.

Farke will go up against his former Norwich side and McLean in the first game after the international break, as Leeds make the trip to Norfolk.