Leeds United will be happy with their transfer window, especially now they are ninth in the Premier League table after six games played. However, it would now appear as if Victor Orta is already plotting to strengthen even further in January as a new update has emerged.
What’s the latest?
According to LUFCFANZONE on Twitter, Leeds are “still speaking” with MLS star Kai Wagner.
They tweeted: “Our source also told us that Kai Wagner rejected multiple clubs, including Dinamo Zagreb, Stade Reims and Olympiacos in an attempt to complete a transfer to Leeds in January. ‘Leeds really like the player and we are still speaking about a winter transfer’.”
Just what Marsch needs
There is no doubt that Leeds United needed a left-back over the summer, and failing to snap up a player to cover the position is clearly something Orta is working to address.
Centre-back Pascal Struijk has been occupying the role on the left side of the back-line for most of this season following the injuries sustained by both Junior Firpo and Stuart Dallas.
As a result, the signing of Wagner is exactly what Jesse Marsch needs to add depth to the position and would be a fantastic signing to give Firpo the competition needed over the season ahead.
Wagner has been a stand-out performer in the MLS, so it is no surprise that Leeds are keen on securing a deal for the 25-year-old in the winter transfer window.
Over his last 30 league appearances for Philadelphia Union, the German full-back has delivered six assists and created 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 2.6 key passes, 1.8 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 1.8 clearances per game – proving that he is an attacking-minded player with dominant defensive presence too.
The £2.5m Leeds target is also the highest-rated player in the Union squad with a rating of 7.47 according to SofaScore, so if the powers at Elland Road can strike up a deal it would very much look to be a great piece of business for such a minimal fee.
Wagner’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner hailing the left-back “special” in an interview with The Athletic:
“I’ve known Kai since he was a youth. I was checking so many left full-backs and it was always the question of what you could get and what you want to sign. It made him in a way so special, and I’m always looking out for players that can do that next stage in their development. And that’s the reason I went for Kai.”
Nevertheless, there is a silver lining for the Whites in the immediate instance as Firpo, who picked up an MCL injury, could be set to return to action sooner rather than later as he is now back in training, although he did not make the matchday squad against Brentford on Saturday.
The signing of Wagner in January will guarantee that Marsch has enough depth in his back-line to ensure that he can deploy a team of players that are all playing in their strongest positions over the second half of the Premier League season.
