If Leeds United are going to enter the January transfer window, the chances are they will be looking for a new attacking midfielder and Chelsea might have just handed them the perfect signing.
Leeds had tried to sign a no.10 in the summer. The likes of Gustavo Hamer, Roland Sallai and plenty of other attacking midfielders were considered by Daniel Farke’s side back in the summer transfer window.
Despite making eight signings, Leeds failed to bring in competition for Brenden Aaronson. It has seen Aaronson start week in, week out but only have a hand in six goals – far off Aaronson’s target of 30.
Leeds need to address that lack of competition and quality in the no.10 role and Chelsea have possibly made the perfect signing available, in the form of a £12m playmaker that Wilfried Gnonto knows well.
Chelsea make Cesare Casadei available for January loan exit
Bought for £12m from Inter Milan’s academy in the summer of 2022, Casadei has already been sent on loan twice by The Blues to both Reading and then Leicester. He has only played 16 times for Chelsea.
That is despite reuniting with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, who had him on loan at Leicester. ESPN say the Blues are ready to loan Casadei out in January, who has shared a pitch with Gnonto on 45 occasions.
Leeds have got to be on red alert as Casadei becomes available
Throughout Inter’s academy and Italy’s age groups, Gnonto and Casadei have constantly teamed up. Given he has Championship experience and knows Gnonto well, Leeds have got to consider a move.
Largely an attacking midfielder, Casadei can also play deeper in midfield and that would provide some competition with Ilia Gruev still injured. Leeds are unlikely to spend, so a loan for a midfielder is best.
Graham Smyth expects a loan move for a no.10 from a Premier League club and Casadei ticks all the boxes with Chelsea making him available. The only question mark being whether Farke rates him enough.
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