The January transfer window is now less than 24 hours away and Leeds United are being linked with new players regularly. A centre-back and a striker are likely to be high on the agenda.
Leeds have made an excellent start to the season, but injuries are beginning to ramp up. Joining Sean Longstaff and Dan James on the sidelines now is key defender Joe Rodon, who is out for three weeks.
With Leeds moving to a back three and Rodon now injured, it has highlighted the club’s lack of options at centre-back. Sebastiaan Bornauw is the only first-team cover, but even he might not be trusted to start.
Leeds are interested in Union Berlin defender Danilho Doekhi, and the Dutchman is said to have already decided to leave the Bundesliga side with his contract expiring. He’s not the only player linked with Leeds.
Which striker would you like at Leeds the most? 🤑
Leeds want the best player Barry Douglas has ever played with
Leeds are supposedly eyeing an ambitious move to sign Portugal star Ruben Neves from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal. Neves finds himself out of contract at Al Hilal next summer, and has been offered new deals.
So far, Neves has rejected two deals from Al Hilal with a third on the table. But if he doesn’t sign on, then Al Hilal plan to offload the Portugal midfielder in January and are ready to accept offers of around £15m.
Newcastle and Man United are also keen on Neves and while he might not be a centre-back or a striker, he would be a stunning signing. Barry Douglas once said that Neves is the best player he’s played with.
Quoted by the Evening Post, Douglas was asked by LUTV for his best teammate in 2020: “There’s been so many players, so different attributes but I think Ruben Neves has got to be up there as one of them.
“He just sees the game differently and makes it look so easy and effortless, and it will be no surprise if we see him at one of the top, top teams,” Douglas said about his old Wolves pal, more than five years ago.
Who would you SELL in order for Leeds to sign Ruben Neves? 🤔
Farke already has Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson, Tanaka, Longstaff and Gruev in his midfield department… 😬
Ruben Neves would be a top signing, if he fits the wage structure
Joining Al Hilal for £47m from Wolves, The Sun claim Neves is earning a whopping £300,000 a week. An enormous amount that obviously, Leeds will not pay. Indeed, Neves would have to take a huge pay cut.
The Portugal midfielder is probably aware of that if he is to return to European football ahead of the World Cup. Leeds’ highest-paid player, according to Capology, is in-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
With Calvert-Lewin said to be earning £100,000 a week, Leeds would have to convince Neves to earn just a third of what he currently takes home. If Neves agrees to do that, then he is a signing Leeds must make.
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