By Joe Ellis

7th Nov, 2022 | 1:10pm

Leeds United get green light to complete Kai Wagner transfer

Reinforcements at left-back have long been required at Leeds United ever since Leif Davis was deemed not good enough for the first team.

He was sold in the summer to Ipswich Town in League One and now Jesse Marsch needs to find a new player to provide cover and competition for Junior Firpo in the long run.

One player they were considering in the summer was Kai Wagner, as reported by Forbes journalist Manuel Veth, but the thought was always that a winter transfer seemed more likely.

That could now be on the horizon, though, as the 25-year-old has finished the MLS season by losing a wild MLS Cup final to Los Angeles FC on penalties with Philadelphia Union.

After the game, Wagner commented on his future and didn’t confirm that he would remain in the United States although he remained coy when asked about it.

“Now it’s just to recharge, take time off with the family, and then keep going again,” Wagner said, as quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’m not looking in the future now, what’s happening next year. It’s just about a moment now when I’m frustrated. And what happens next year, we’ll see.”

The German full-back was also named in the MLS team of the year for 2022 having helped Union to the final but with Leeds seemingly waiting in the wings, he could have played his final game on American soil.

Marsch knows the lay of the land in the MLS having previously managed New York Red Bulls to success so he will have plenty of his own contacts on the other side of the pond ready to help make the deal happen.

These comments, though, could be the green light from the player himself that the Whites have been waiting for.

In other Leeds United news, Victor Orta has called out abuse he has received from Whites supporters after footage emerged from Elland Road.