Leeds United’s pursuit of Igor Paixao continues to dominate the transfer talk in West Yorkshire, with Marseille also interested in the Feyenoord winger.
He is a key target for Leeds United and Daniel Farke, amid talk that Paixao is happy to leave Feyenoord and that Leeds are also willing to pay more than Marseille.
Marseille’s last offer stalled Paixao’s move, as it was not enough for the Dutch outfit. That allowed Leeds to race ahead and reports over the weekend revealed Paixao is “really close” to joining Leeds.
Leeds offered £28 million plus add-ons for Paixao on Saturday, but then further claims over a “done deal” between Leeds and Feyenoord emerged as well.
The latest from Graham Smyth on Igor Paixao and Leeds
Marseille are making one last push for Paixao but Graham Smyth has claimed Leeds are in pole position now. He has been speaking via the Inside Elland Road podcast for further details since.
Smyth has explained the current situation, but also Adam Underwood’s role within the transfer of late. He said: “Who else might they have, then, by the time the season rolls around?
“Well, the name on everyone’s lips right now, probably being said in a million different ways, is Igor Paixao, the Brazilian winger of Feyenoord.
“Leeds United made a bid this weekend. Feyenoord wanted more. Leeds United have upped their offer and they remain in negotiations with the Dutch side for the left winger. He looks like a real game changer and a difference maker.
“One of these stretch targets that Leeds have been talking about. It seems to be pretty clear by now that Marseille have not been able to match Leeds. They couldn’t get a deal over the line last weekend when all were saying they were very close to one.
“It transpires that that wasn’t actually the case. They were definitely in talks with Feyenoord, but they didn’t get close to closing it out. Leeds United have come in towards the back end of the week.
“And there is a quiet confidence about Leeds, as there has been with other deals. At the same time, recognising the difficulties of the deal. So Feyenoord are not particularly pushed to sell. It’s not like they need to get this player off the books.
“He is the best player in their squad. They are going to want to see a very decent return. Where I think Leeds might have the advantage over Marseille is: firstly, the amount that they could pay up front; and secondly, the fee that they could go to with add-ons.
“Premier League football is going to be a big draw for Paixao. I would not expect that that on the personal side that that would be an issue or that Leeds would find an issue there.
“I think they’ve been given all the encouragement they need to try and close this one out. And we’ll see if they can.”
Paixao delays could be due to Adam Underwood and Robbie Evans’ trip
It’s not quite a done deal but Smyth explains that there is another wrinkle in terms of Underwood’s role at Leeds regarding this deal and why it wasn’t finalised over the weekend.
He added: “The logistics of it are a little bit awkward, given that the Leeds squad are still here in Germany with the medical team who would be required to do a medical. They’re still here in Germany till Monday afternoon or something like that.
“And, the Leeds key people, as Daniel Farke calls them, the heads of recruitment, Robbie, Adam — Robbie Evans, who’s the MD, and Adam Underwood, who’s the Sporting Director — they were present for the Paderborn game yesterday.
“But they were to return to England on Saturday night. So, you’ve kind of got the people who would sign off on the deal, and the people who could do the medical, in two different places at the minute.
“But, you know, it’s not going to be an issue, is it? If we’re talking about a deal that Leeds might look to try and hammer home in the next couple of days. But it is an important one to do.
“It is one that I think Leeds would would be in a bit of a rush to get done before anyone else comes in because he is a very highly-rated prospect, and I don’t think many teams would look at his current injury status and think that that was a real barrier to a deal.”
It appears the deal can now progress quicker now that the right people are back where they are required to be, with Underwood and Evans’ trip perhaps slowing down progress on Paixao momentarily over the weekend.
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