A priority for Leeds United and new sporting director Adam Underwood this summer will be the signing of a centre-back that knows what the Premier League is all about.
The 49ers have set Underwood, Robbie Evans and Daniel Farke a transfer budget of £150m and there is preference given to the signings of a new goalkeeper, centre-back, a midfielder and a proven striker.
Leeds will need more than that if they are to provide Farke with a squad capable of survival in the top flight of English football. But those positions are top of the agenda as Leeds remain patient this summer.
Underwood is yet to make his first move as the club’s new sporting director after The 49ers hired within, following the loss of Angus Kinnear and Nick Hammond. But that has not stopped players being linked.
The latest option is a player that would fill the gap at centre-back, and ticks the all-important box of Premier League experience – having played 35 times in England’s top tier during the 2024-25 season.
Leeds one of three Premier League clubs after Dara O’Shea
Just 12 months ago, Ipswich paid West Brom a fee of £12m to land Ireland international Dara O’Shea. A deal that could have reached £15m, but as per The Sun, those £3m in add-ons ended with relegation.
Now, The Sun’s report says Leeds are one of three Premier League clubs eyeing a move for the relegated Ipswich star. Burnley and Wolves are also said to be interested in O’Shea, who could now leave Ipswich.
While Ipswich endured a torrid season in their attempts to survive relegation, O’Shea was a rare shining light for The Tractor Boys alongside Kalvin Phillips, Leif Davis and Jack Clarke. Now, Leeds are keen.
What Carlos Corberan and Slaven Bilic think of Dara O’Shea
Having clocked up more than 100 appearances for West Brom prior to his move to Ipswich in 2024, O’Shea played under Marcelo Bielsa’s former Leeds assistant Carlos Corberan, while at The Hawthorns.
Now Valencia manager, Corberan raved about O’Shea’s mentality to the Express & Star back in 2023: “He is one player that is a green light – because when he goes on to the pitch he will give his best.”
Another of his old West Brom managers in Slaven Bilic is also a big fan, raving about O’Shea after his first Ireland call-up five years ago, in 2020. Former West Ham and Croatia manager Bilic told the Irish Times:
“He listens he thinks about his game. He is like a sponge. He listens to you and tries to improve his game, and that’s why his improvement has been really unbelievable,” Bilic said. Now, O’Shea could join Leeds.
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