As it so often is for newly-promoted Premier League sides, the Championship becomes a scouting pool for new signings and that is no different in Leeds United’s case.
This week, Southampton’s Shea Charles has been linked after being nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Season award last season after a brilliant 44-game season with Sheffield Wednesday.
Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga is a bargain option for Leeds, while Coventry City’s Jack Rudoni and Boro ace Finn Azaz are potential targets to improve Daniel Farke’s options in attacking midfield, behind the striker.
Leeds will need a central defender this summer after Max Wober publicly announced Leeds had told him he will be sold. Another option being linked with a move to Elland Road is Ipswich star Dara O’Shea.
Dara O’Shea rubbishes Leeds United hopes of summer transfer
O’Shea joined Ipswich from West Brom in the summer of 2024 in a £12m deal. He played 35 of Ipswich’s 38 Premier League games and was one of their better signings, even if he couldn’t keep Ipswich up.
Kieran McKenna’s side are likely to be favourites for the Championship title next season given the quality of their side, as well as its Championship experience. Alex Palmer, Jack Clarke, Sam Szmodics all joined.
Clearly, McKenna opted to sign players of this ilk in case Ipswich went down, they could bounce straight back up. However, they will have been worried that O’Shea could have been a summer departure.
That is after reports said Leeds, Burnley and Wolves all wanted Ireland star O’Shea. However, as per The Mirror, O’Shea said he is “fully committed” to Ipswich and is prepared to fight for promotion next term.
“I’m fully committed to Ipswich at the moment. I’ve got another four years there and I want to get the club back into the Premier League. I’m ambitious as a player,” O’Shea told reporters while on Ireland duty.
“Obviously I want to be playing in the Premier League but I know it’s not that easy. Whatever happens in football it happens for a reason. You have a journey and you’ve got to stick to that sometimes,” he said.
Which other centre-backs are being linked with Leeds?
The main one at the moment seems to be Udinese’s Slovenian centre-back Jaka Bijol. Reports of a move for the commanding Udinese skipper emerged over the weekend, and Bijol said he is ready to move on.
The only stumbling block for Leeds seems to be the size of the other clubs interested in his signature, the likes of Inter, Milan and Juventus. As mentioned above, Tanganga is a low-cost option due to his clause.
Another is Tottenham and Wales ace Ben Davies. But Spurs have just triggered a 12-month extension clause in Davies’ contract – whether that prevents Leeds from buying him remains to be seen at this stage.
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