Leeds United want to sign winger for less than £2m, Southampton once paid £15m for him

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Leeds United continue to be linked with new players since promotion back to the Premier League was confirmed, and now a Mali international has been added to the summer list.

Even on Sunday, there has been a new name thrown into the mix. Marseille captain and Argentina star Leonardo Balerdi is a £20m target for The 49ers. Leeds are said to have sent scouts to watch Balerdi.

But he is not the only new player to be linked with Leeds in recent days. Paraag Marathe has assured fans in an interview this weekend that every penny Leeds can spend, will be spent – in according with PSR.

A goalkeeper, a centre-back, a replacement for Junior Firpo, a midfielder, a no.10, Manor Solomon and a striker are likely to be priorities for Daniel Farke and Leeds. But another winger has now been linked.

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Leeds eye £1.7m bargain for star Southampton paid £15m to sign

Back in the summer of 2019, Southampton splashed a hefty £15m fee to sign youngster Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege in Belgium. But four years at the Saints saw Djenepo play just 91 times, five goals.

A woeful record with his stint on the south coast marred by injury. Despite that, Africa Foot say Leeds are among the clubs considering Djenepo – who returned to Liege in 2023 and has been on loan in Turkey.

The 33-time Mali star has a release clause in his contract with the Belgian side worth a bargain £1.7m ahead of the summer window. Leeds want to activate it according to the report, in a very cut-price deal.

Moussa Djenepo once said he could overtake Sadio Mane

A year after his move to Southampton from Liege, Djenepo – who was still only 20 – was enjoying life in the Premier League. Glimpses of quality emerged in a Southampton shirt after his big £15 transfer.

Djenepo told TalkSPORT he could become the next Sadio Mane: “Sadio is a big inspiration for me. I like him, a very big player. I can be better if I work hard. I will do my best to become the next Sadio Mane.”

Clearly, that has not gone to plan. There is a player in Djenepo and he is certainly worth more than his release clause, but Leeds do not need wingers and certainly will require better in the Premier League.