Of all the clubs Leeds might have expected a helping hand from in the final few days of the window, Manchester United would hardly have been the first to spring to mind.
Yet, Leeds United may have just been handed a timely boost by their bitter rivals from across the Pennines. Or, at least, that was the thought. Borussia Dortmund suddenly appeared to have wrecked that idea.
Because as the Championship leaders struggle to make progress on their late-window targets – Leeds saw a bid for Southampton’s Cameron Archer rejected days after Emi Buendia secured a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen – the pathway to one player reportedly with admirers at Elland Road was supposed to have become that little bit clearer.
Nordsjaelland’s Daniel Svensson is certainly not short of options. In addition to Leeds, the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, RB Leipzig and even Manchester United themselves have been credited with an interest in the seven-time Sweden international.
The club who made the most progress regarding a potential January deal until the beginning of the weekend, however, was Benfica.
The Portuguese giants opened talks with Nordsjaelland over Daniel Svensson this week, the talented left-back understood to be available for around £7.5 million.
After Leeds’ chances of signing Newcastle’s Matt Targett were played down on Friday by St James’ boss Eddie Howe, it appeared that Farke and co had been catapulted all the way back to square one in their pursuit of a left-back.
Thanks to German giants Dortmund, any lingering hopes appear to have bene extinguished for good now.
Borussia Dortmund set to beat Benfica and Leeds United to Daniel Svensson
As Fabrizio Romano explained, when Leeds still appeared to have a shot, Benfica shifted their focus away from Daniel Svensson and towards Tyrell Malacia. Man United’s £13 million Dutchman has agreed to move to Lisbon on loan.
The Red Devils will not stand in Malacia’s way either. Interestingly, they too appear out of the race for Svensson securing the services of Lecce flyer Patrick Dorgu instead.
Did this open the door for Leeds to go all in on Svensson? Well, if it did with both Benfica and Man United out of the contention, the door wasn’t ajar for long.
Borussia Dortmund have now slammed it shut on Daniel Farke’s fingers with German reporter Patrick Berger claiming that the 2024 Champions League runners up have suddenly reached an agreement on personal terms.
The chances are that Leeds will have postponed any decision on a left-back until the summer anyway. Cameron Archer, a reliable goalscorer with Middlesbrough at Championship level in the past, appears to be the priority at the moment.
And while Junior Firpo is out of contract in the summer, Farke does still have a few months left alongside the former Barcelona defender. Farke was glowing in his praise for Junior Firpo too after he capped his return after six weeks out with an impressive showing off the bench in the 2-0 victory over Norwich City.
Daniel Farke hails Junior Firpo as Matt Targett deal ruled out
“Now, he’s coming off an injury where he was away for six weeks and he desperately needs minutes, competitive minutes,” the German said.
“I think he was good going forward [against Norwich]. He was involved in several good things. Transition moments, he could have reacted a bit quicker but overall an important 40 minutes for him to return to his best.
“The minutes will definitely help him. If Junior is back to his fitness level, he is a really, really good option.”
As for Targett, while Leeds are long-time admirers of the former Southampton, Aston Villa and Fulham man, Newcastle are under no immediate pressure to cash in now after their PSR concerns were eased by Miguel Almiron’s return to Atlanta United.
“As we stand, currently, I don’t [expect anyone else to go],” Howe said ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Fulham.
“Things can change [but], as we stand at the moment, I expect the squad to remain the same.”
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
