Leeds United are refusing to yield in the rapidly escalating transfer battle for Parma midfielder Mandela Keita, despite Premier League rivals Everton mounting a serious threat to get the deal done.
The Belgium international has become one of the most talked-about named in the Serie A in the opening weeks of the summer transfer window.
While Elland Road chiefs are deeply enamoured with the robust engine room operator, a fresh update from Italian outlet Parma Live reveals that a sudden shift in continental interest has turned this saga into a high-stakes, direct shootout between the two English clubs.
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Maurizio Sarri pulls out to clear path for Leeds United
Initially, it was Serie A heavyweights Atalanta who held the front-row seat to pry Keita away from the Stadio Ennio Tardini. Their manager, Maurizio Sarri, had explicitly identified the 24-year-old as a dream midfield reinforcement.
However, in a dramatic twist for the player’s future, Sarri and Co. have abruptly pivoted.
Atalanta have completely halted their pursuit of Keita to pool their financial resources into a move for Cagliari’s Gianluca Gaetano instead.
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This withdrawal completely changes the equation, effectively evaporating the threat of the Italian giants and leaving a wide-open runway for British suitors.
Leeds United stand firm against Everton pressure
With Atalanta down, Parma Live confirms the battleground has boiled down to a tense, direct “all-English challenge”.
Leeds United have firmly matched steps with top-flight opposition, but the primary roadblock to Daniel Farke‘s engine room layout remains Everton.
The Toffees have aggressively knocked on Parma’s door because they view Keita as the perfect successor to take over from Idrissa Gueye, whose contract at the Merseyside club has expired.
Parma are well aware they hold a premium asset on a long-term contract running until 2029.
Because of that security, the Italian club have slapped a strict, non-negotiable £25million price tag on his signature.
Meanwhile, it is not entirely out of the equation that another European club join the race to sign Keita imminently.
Therefore, Leeds United must act decisively if they want to snap the midfielder up.
It remains to be seen what the Whites’ interest in Keita means for their pursuit of Southampton ace Shea Charles.
Parma have emerged as a club of interest to the Elland Road outfit, with their goalkeeper Zion Suzuki also heavily linked with a move to West Yorkshire.
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