Player Leeds United tried to re-sign last year is now set to join Southampton on a two-year deal

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Leeds United’s hopes of re-signing one of their former 2023 summer targets has been ended by Southampton.

The Saints have actually been linked with a lot of the same players as Leeds since beating them in the Championship play-off final over a month ago.

With Leeds looking to put a squad together capable of another promotion push, unfortunately the reality is a lot of those players will also have Premier League interest.

Southampton are one of the sides who are reportedly keen to beat Leeds to the signing of Joe Rodon, which would really run salt in the play-off final wounds.

Other players to have been linked with both clubs include soon to be out of contract duo Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Callum O’Hare, though a decision has not been made by either on their futures yet.

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Southampton set to sign Charlie Taylor on a two-year-deal

As shown by interest in the aforementioned O’Hare and De Cordova-Reid, both sides are currently shopping in the free agent market this summer.

Given the right constraints of the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability rules, that is certainly a wise area to target from Leeds’ point of view, as they can’t just splash endless amounts of cash on new signings.

However, despite the riches that comes with Premier League promotion, Southampton are also seemingly taken a look and have already moved quickly to bring in Adam Lallana on a free.

Now, according to journalist David Anderson, they are set to complete another free agent capture in Charlie Taylor, who is reportedly set to join on a two-year-deal upon the expiration of his deal at Burnley.

Taylor is, of course, a product of Leeds’ academy and made over 100 appearances for the first team before joining Burnley seven years ago, also incidentally on a free.

Leeds actually tried to re-sign Taylor last summer but were told no by the Clarets and any chance of reigniting their interest this time around has just been ended by the Saints.

• READ MORE: Leeds United could look to sign ‘very good’ player who’s with Slovakia’s Euro 2024 squad this summer

Leeds need to make quick decision on Junior Firpo future

At the moment, it is on the other side of defence that Leeds need to strengthen this summer following Connor Roberts’ return to Burnley.

However, it is not out of the question that left-back becomes a priority at some stage, with Junior Firpo’s future still uncertain at this stage.

Firpo is out of contract at Elland Road next summer and so far, there has been no sign of him being handed a new deal. As such, this could be Leeds’ last chance to get a fee for him.

If the decision is for him to move on, it would be better for it to be done sooner rather than later so Leeds don’t miss out on too many players like Taylor.