Leeds United have made an approach for a Netherlands international as a replacement for Georginio Rutter and have already been given a response by the player’s club.
Rutter, 22, completed a move to Brighton as the Frenchman became the Seagulls’ club-record signing at £40m. He leaves as Leeds‘ club-record signing after having a hand in 24 goals in 51 games last season.
His exit leaves a massive gap in the no.10 role. Daniel Farke has already made it clear he would like Leeds to make four signings between now and the end of the summer window, with the deadline on August 10.
Jack Clarke is being eyed as a replacement for Summerville on the left flank. Free agent Michael Lang is a target to provide cover at full-back and Leeds could return with a second bid to sign Dejan Ljubicic.
Leeds make play for Feyenoord no.10, but told he’s unavailable
Described as “elite”, the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Joe Donnohue reports that Leeds made an approach to discuss the availability of Feyenoord’s no.10 and Netherlands star Calvin Stengs after a stellar 2023-24.
Like Rutter, Stengs amassed more assists than goals last season. Like Rutter, he scored eight goals but Stengs managed two more assists with 18 for Feyenoord in just 43 games, eight less than Rutter.
A player with eight Netherlands caps and three goals, all three of which came in the form of a hat-trick against Gibraltar. Leeds though, have been told by Feyenoord that the 25-year-old is unavailable.
MLS club Charlotte also vying to sign new Leeds target Stengs
GOAL claimed last week that Dean Smith’s Charlotte had agreed a £6.7m deal to sign Stengs, but then a move fell through. It is unclear why a move for Stengs to the MLS side got as far as it did before failing.
Charlotte are also looking at deals for Miguel Almiron and Giovani Lo Celso, leaving a move for Stengs unguarded. But it appears that Feyenoord are now unwilling to let he Netherlands star leave this month.
Whether Leeds do make a bid for Stengs despite being told he is unavailable remains to be seen. But it is a signal of intent from Leeds, something which has been sorely missing during the summer window.
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