Leeds United need ‘huge sum’ to land transfer and club moves into ‘pole position’

Leeds United are back in action on Thursday evening, as they take on Leicester City in the Premier League. The Foxes currently prop up the top flight table, but could move to within a point of Jesse Marsch’s side if the Whites slip up at the King Power Stadium.

Marsch will head into the clash without defender Pascal Struijk, who is expected to miss out with a knock. Junior Firpo is set to return to the starting XI at left-back. Other than that, Leeds have a fairly clear bill of health, with Adam Forshaw, Archie Gray, and Stuart Dallas the only other players sidelined at the present moment.

Before kick-off, however, there is plenty of transfer speculation to cast your eye over. Check out Thursday’s United-related roundup below...

Leeds face Brereton Diaz battle

La Liga outfit Sevilla are in “pole position” to land reported Leeds United, Everton, and Fulham target Ben Brereton Diaz, according to Football Insider. The Blackburn Rovers striker has emerged as a potential target for a number of Premier League clubs after impressive consistently for the Championship promotion contenders.

The Chilean international has already hit eight goals in 16 league outings this term, and was on the scoresheet in midweek as Rovers beat Sunderland at Ewood Park. But Leeds look to have fallen behind in the race to snap him up in January.

It is claimed that Leeds, Everton, and Fulham are all weighing up bids for Brereton Diaz, and that Blackburn would now be willing to offload their star man in the coming months, rather than potentially losing him for free at the end of the season. But Sevilla look to have stolen a march on the Premier League trio, with the player “open to the possibility of moving abroad and playing in Spain”.

Watkins deal would require “huge sum”

Leeds United would have to cough up a “huge sum” to sign Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, according to the Daily Express. The Whites have been linked with a potential interest in the England international in the recent past, with the 26-year-old currently struggling to find his best form under Steven Gerrard.

As such, it is claimed that Watkins might consider a transfer to one of Villa’s Premier League rivals in the near future. But any deal for the player would likely require Elland Road chiefs to find a considerable transfer fee, with his current employers having only bought him £28 million in 2020.