Greek media claim Atletico Madrid ready to pip Leeds United to £15m transfer move

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It remains unclear if Leeds United will keep Junior Firpo going into the 2025-26 campaign and the club are in the market to sign a replacement – but one option could be about to join Atletico Madrid.

Leeds confirmed in their retained list that the club remains in talks with Firpo. However, The Whites are now ‘widely anticipating’ Firpo will go – and more so, Firpo was spotted on Real Betis’ pitch on Friday.

Lazio, Barcelona and AC Milan are being linked with a move for The Dominican Republic international, too. An announcement should come soon, likely ahead of his involvement with his country this summer.

Leeds are likely to need a replacement then and have been linked with plenty of left-backs, just recently; West Ham’s departing veteran Aaron Cresswell. Liverpool left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas is an option.

• READ MORE: Why Leeds are confident of beating Everton in race to sign Callum Wilson

Greek media say Atletico Madrid and Juventus also want Tsimikas

Leeds are interested in Liverpool’s Tsimikas, who is expected to be on the move having spent the entirety of his Anfield spell as back-up to Andy Robertson. Leeds are also eyeing his teammate Caoimhin Kelleher.

A £40m double deal for £25m Kelleher and Tsimikas has been touted, even if Tsimikas would likely be Leeds’ highest earner on his current wages. However, Leeds are not alone in pursuit of the defender.

Greek outlet Sport24 now claims Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are pushing hard to sign Tsimikas, as are Italian giants Juventus. Two clubs that have qualified for next season’s Champions League.

What is Liverpool’s stance on Tsimikas amid £45m green light

Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for Tsimikas, with Arne Slot having made a decision on what he wants to do in the left-back department next season. The Reds are pushing to sign £45m Milos Kerkez.

A deal would obviously see The Reds boast three senior left-backs, with Andy Robertson remaining at the club. Reports state that Slot wants to keep Robertson and allow Kerkez to learn and then overtake him.

But there is no room for Tsimikas if The Reds do push ahead with a deal for Kerkez and it means an exit is inevitable. Whether Leeds think he is worth it this summer, given he would be expensive, remains unclear.