Leeds United reportedly want to sign a player dubbed the ‘next Lionel Messi’ this summer.
With the window officially set to open in seven days’ time, those in Leeds‘ recruitment team will be putting the final plans in place on their list of targets.
Leeds are set to be in for a busy summer over the coming months with the failure to win promotion expected to lead to plenty of incomings and outgoings.
Paraag Marathe has confirmed money will be available for Daniel Farke to spend, but at the same time, some key players will have to leave to ensure they are on the right side of PSR.
However, Leeds clearly know the importance of getting promoted next season and so Marathe has been quite bullish in his insistence they will have a strong squad come August.
- READ MORE: Leeds United could now look to sell £7m player this summer after missing out on promotion
Leeds among host of clubs keen on Karamoko Dembele
Of those likely to leave this summer, it is certainly the attacking players who could bring in the most money.
Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto and Georginio Rutter have all been touted as possible exits, and some real high quality would be needed to replace their outputs.
Leeds have been linked with soon-to-be free agent Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and while he would be a great addition, he wouldn’t necessarily replace the flair of that aforementioned trio.
But one player who certainly could is someone who was once likened to Lionel Messi as a teenager, Karamoko Dembele.
According to the Blackpool Gazette, Leeds are one of several clubs interested in Dembele this summer, with his future at Brest still to be decided.
Dembele spent last season on loan at Blackpool in League One, where he scored eight goals and provided 13 assists. Clearly given the links to Messi, his dribbling is also one of his strengths.
However, Leeds are most certainly not the only side interested, with Everton, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, West Ham, Brentford, Leicester City, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough also keen.
Who is reported Leeds target Karamoko Dembele?
Dembele is someone who was touted for greatness from a very young age, before losing his way a bit somewhat.
During his time as a youth prospect at Celtic, Dembele was actually playing seven age groups above him as a 13-year-old in the U20s.
He was handed his first team debut for the club at just 16, but a string of injury issues saw him leave Celtic on a free transfer to Brest back in 2022.
Dembele has not played much for the Ligue 1 side but finally showed signs of fulfilling his potential at Bloomfield Road last season with plenty of goals and assists.
He will now be hoping he can replicate that form at either Brest or somewhere else, as he continues his development as a young player.
Despite his inexperience, he would be a great signing for Leeds, with a left-footed right-winger the type of profile they are missing from the squad.
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