It is widely known now that Igor Paixao won’t become a Leeds United player and instead, the Brazilian ace will be heading to Marseille this summer after the French giants finally matched his asking price.
Over the weekend, the signs were good. Paixao may have preferred Marseille to Leeds due to Champions League qualification, but he was still open to a move to the Premier League with Daniel Farke’s side.
Leeds were confident. They didn’t think Marseille would be able to match their offer of €30m plus €5m in add-ons, a deal that equates to £25.9m up front and £4.3m in add-ons, taking Leeds’ bid to £30.2m total.
The confidence was high, even if Graham Smyth says Adam Underwood still only at 50-60% sure of a deal going through due to Paixao’s preference for Marseille. Then, Feyenoord replied to Leeds in an email.
What Feyenoord’s email said while Leeds faced Paderborn
Leeds were taking on Paderborn at the time and Smyth claims on the Evening Post’s website that Leeds actually received a response from Feyenoord just before half-time, during a game which would end 3-2.
Feyenoord accepted the bid. Marseille then, had to increase their offer of €23m (£19.8m) plus €7m (£6m) add-ons. It was not until Monday that Leeds believe Marseille actually did this, finally securing Paixao.
Leeds were confident of a deal being done, many thought it was as good as done with Marseille toiling. But Roberto De Zerbi’s side found the necessary cash right at the last minute to get Paixao over the line.
What next as Leeds enter the final three weeks before Everton
Leeds still have two priorities to sort, but many would argue that they are the two hardest. Certainly, the most expensive. A new winger, and a starting striker with Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz the one Leeds want.
Roma’s Artem Dovbyk has been linked this week, but Muniz remains the priority. With just three weeks before the start of the Premier League season against Everton on August 18, time is quickly running out.
Leeds need to get everything in order before the welcome of Angus Kinnear’s new side. A quartet of wingers that includes Jack Harrison is not something Leeds fans want, but it could well be a possibility.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
