Leeds United are now racing to sign a sought after midfielder who is “definitely” world-class, and his club have made him available, according to a report.
Leeds looking to improve midfield options
Leeds are still in the market for an attacking midfielder, having mainly bolstered their options in more defensive areas up to this point, and Leicester City’s Bilal El-Khannouss has now emerged as a target, with talks set to take place soon.
Having already brought in Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach this summer, strengthening in deeper midfield areas may no longer be a priority for Daniel Farke, but there may still be room for one more addition in that area of the pitch.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which reveals Leeds are one of a number of Premier League clubs racing to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has now been made available for a transfer this summer.
A deal could be expensive, however, with the Italian club looking to receive €40m (£35m), amid widespread interest in Luiz’s signature, with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and West Ham United also named as potential suitors.
Nottingham Forest are thought to be leading the race for the former Aston Villa man, and there are indications that he could be keen on a return to England, with his representatives turning down an approach from Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Luiz would be statement signing for Leeds
Upon the Brazilian’s arrival at Juventus, he received high praise from ESPN’s Leonardo Bertozzi, who said: “Douglas Luiz world class? Definitely yes, Douglas Luiz has been coveted by the big Premier League clubs and would have played at City with Guardiola if he had received his work permit earlier.
“On the national team level, he will be one of the leading names for the 2026 World Cup.”
The 27-year-old also has a proven track record of success in the Premier League, indicating he could be a real difference-maker in Leeds’ battle to avoid relegation, performing remarkably well across the 2023-24 campaign.
That said, it could be very difficult to win the race for Luiz’s signature, given the interest from some top clubs, and it is more important for Leeds to strengthen in more attacking areas, having already signed Stach and Longstaff.
