Leeds United missed out on Habib Diarra to Sunderland and they must now turn to alternative midfield targets.
The reality is that they need signings in numerous positions but Leeds United are now motoring in the transfer market with three signings more or less secured.
Sean Longstaff and Noah Sadiki are targets for Leeds, with the latter one of six targets Leeds will now press on with after Sebastiaan Bornauw is wrapped up.
The Union Saint-Gilloise midfielder is a player with plenty of potential and development to come and Leeds reportedly made an £8.5 million bid for Sadiki a couple of weeks ago.
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Leeds target Noah Sadiki emerges as an option for Eintracht Frankfurt
Leeds fans are excited by the Sadiki rumours, although talk of the bid has since been played down but Sadiki could be a coup for Leeds if they win the race.
It’s expected that Sadiki leaves Belgium amid interest from Leeds this summer. He is someone the club are seriously interested in and that they could make a move for in the coming weeks instead of Diarra.
The Whites are not the only team in the mix, however, with other teams now stepping up interest in the 20-year-old.
The Whites are competing with the side Rasmus Kristensen and Robin Koch now play for, with Eintracht Frankfurt now registering interest.
That comes via David Ornstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor of The Athletic. With the latter also a Bundesliga football expert. He wrote: “Leeds United target Noah Sadiki is also being pursued by Eintracht Frankfurt.
“While the German club have no agreement with Sadiki’s club, Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise, they have already held discussions with the midfielder.”
Frankfurt finished third in the Bundesliga last season, which means they have qualified for next year’s UEFA Champions League.
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Anton Stach would be a better option than Noah Sadiki for Leeds
Like Diarra, Sadiki is under 5’11” and is also under the age of 22. Both are very different from Leeds’ first three signings of the summer, with Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Bornauw all 26 and over 6’0″.
Alternatively, Anton Stach is the right profile for Leeds. His height, presence, and power would add plenty to their midfield, but something different to what Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka offer.
The Hoffenheim central midfielder is in the final two years of his deal with the club and stands at 6’4″ as well; making him another idealistic pick for the current strategy.
Leeds need to be able to compete physically if they are unable to technically, and having a team of giants with monstrous physical traits is one way to do that.
Sadiki goes against that idea somewhat, even if he is impressive in terms of his strength and athleticism for his age and size. But Stach is another level of combative.
Graham Smyth has since confirmed Leeds’ interest in Stach as well, meaning the pair could be the two Leeds are now eyeing most seriously.
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