After beating Leeds United to promotion, Leicester City are set to inflict another blow on Daniel Farke’s side , but this time in the transfer market.
The Foxes may have some issues with PSR but the lure of playing Premier League football is always going to sway potential targets towards them over Elland Road.
Having said that, it has been a tough start to the summer for Leicester since promotion having lost manager Enzo Maresca to Chelsea a number of weeks ago.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has been named as his replacement but in similar fashion to Leeds having to sell academy graduate Archie Gray, Leicester also lost one of their own in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, again to Chelsea.
Leicester are now in the market for players who can replace the level of output he produced last season, and appear to have beaten Leeds in the race for signing number one.
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Bobby De Cordova-Reid makes decision on next club
The free agent market is as strong as it has been in several years this summer, but unfortunately with that, brings extra competition.
Leeds have already seen how difficult it is in looking to prise those out of contract into the Championship, having lost out to Ipswich Town in the race for long time target Ben Johnson.
Charlie Taylor – who Leeds wanted last summer – has also opted for a move to Southampton after leaving Burnley on a free transfer last month.
And now according to the Daily Telegraph, it is the other newly promoted club Leicester who are set to win the race for another of Leeds’ reported free agent targets – Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
De Cordova-Reid turned down the offer of an extension at Fulham and Leeds were one of the sides said to be keen on winning the race for his signature.
However, he has instead opted for a move to the East Midlands and is set to become one of Cooper’s first two signings of his reign at Leicester, alongside Chelsea youngster Michael Golding.
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Which other free agents could Leeds target?
There still remains several players across the top two divisions of English football whose futures are yet to be decided this summer.
Perhaps the most eye catching name on the list is attacking midfielder Callum O’Hare, with Coventry City having confirmed his exit on a free earlier this week.
Leeds are one of the sides reportedly keen, though at this stage a deal appears unlikely due to the return of Brenden Aaronson last month.
Goalkeeper Marek Rodak is another who has been linked and could be moved for if Illan Meslier departs, amid interest from Marseille.
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