Leeds are already working hard on the recruitment front ahead of the transfer window opening on New Year’s Day.
A shortlist of targets is already emerging at Elland Road, as Leeds ask about Ruben Neves and also express interest in Taty Castellanos – a player Marcelo Bielsa was keen on signing during his time in Yorkshire.
Sky Sports also claim that Leeds are monitoring Danilho Doekhi after Joe Rodon suffered ankle ligament damage, and if a deal for the Dutchman materialises, he should have no problems settling in.
Danilho Doekhi has played with both Brenden Aaronson and Pascal Struijk as Leeds United lurk
The man from Rotterdam has never played his football in England before, but he should have no qualms about settling in given the fact two familiar faces are already at Leeds in Pascal Struijk and Brenden Aaronson.
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Doekhi played alongside Struijk at Jong Ajax – also known as the Ajax reserve team – from 2016 to 2018, making nine appearances alongside the Leeds No.5 and shining.
Jong Ajax won all nine of these games, as the duo managed to concede only two goals.
Much more recently, Doekhi also came across Aaronson after Leeds loaned the American to Union Berlin in the 2023/24 campaign.
The United States international and the Union Berlin No.5 made a total of 25 appearances together, helping the German side average one point per game as they narrowly avoided relegation that season.
It can be tough for some to settle in Yorkshire – Weston McKennie even claimed the weather played a part in his struggles at Leeds.
However, having one familiar face – let alone two – would be a huge boost for Doekhi should a move to Leeds materialise, and it could be a key factor when discussing personal terms with the central defender.
The 49ers might have found a bargain for Leeds United
Typically, both the club and the player need to be convinced to part ways, but this is a unique situation in the fact Union Berlin and Doekhi have already decided to split up.
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The 27-year-old only has six months left on his contract, and Florian Plettenburg of Sky Germany claimed in November that the defender has already chosen to leave, whether it be in January or simply when his deal expires in July.
Union Berlin would – presumably – prefer to make a bit of cash this winter with a sale rather than allow Doekhi to leave for nothing in July, so the 49ers may well have stumbled across a bargain for Leeds.
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