Continuing their hunt for reinforcements, Leeds United reportedly submitted an offer to sign a midfield gem before he handed them a swift response in negotiations.
Leeds gearing up for Premier League return
It’s been two seasons in waiting, but Leeds’ Premier League return is almost underway at long last. Daniel Farke’s side will square off against Everton in the first Monday Night Football of the season, in which they’ll hope to make an instant statement.
None of the last six promoted sides have survived at the first time of asking in the Premier League, but Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley will be desperate to bring an end to what is a concerning trend.
The 49ers would have been well aware of that statistic this summer too, and have backed Farke with a number of arrivals as a result. Even after welcoming as many as seven fresh faces, however, the American owners could have more lined up for those at Elland Road.
Among those who could yet arrive is Liverpool’s Ben Doak. The speedy winger looks likely to be on the move this summer, either on loan or in a permanent deal, and Leeds could take full advantage.
Whilst the young Scotland international won’t come cheap, he is the type of player worth splashing out on. After impressing many around Middlesbrough during his loan spell, before injury cut things short, Doak is ready to leave his mark on the Premier League at just 19 years old.
Meanwhile, as recent reports revealed, in another reality the teenage star could have had the chance to join a former Liverpool teammate in Yorkshire this summer.
Leeds made Bobby Clark offer
As reported by The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, Leeds made an offer to sign Bobby Clark from Red Bull Salzburg, only for the former Liverpool man to favour a loan move to Championship side Derby County over a bit-part role with a Premier League side.
Clark is back in England to “prove people wrong” after a frustrating year at Salzburg. The 20-year-old midfielder initially joined the Austrian club and former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders for around £10m last summer, but soon saw Lijnders sacked and his own game time limited – making an exit inevitable just one year on.
Still a player full of potential, nonetheless, it wasn’t so long ago that Clark was earning impressive praise from ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who told reporters after a 6-1 win over Slavia Prague: “Controlling a football game, with all the excitement inside that he definitely still has, is fantastic. Bobby, it’s really nice to see the boys develop and flourish, to be honest.”
It’s a talent that Leeds have ultimately missed out on this time around and they must simply go again in the transfer market. With just under a month remaining until the window slams shut, the Whites still have work to do.
