By George Overhill

9th Nov, 2022 | 12:48pm

Leeds United hot on the trail of Club Brugge's Noa Lang with agent now in talks over exit

Noa Lang is very much still on the Leeds United wish list with the Dutch international likely to move after falling out of favour at Club Brugge, Voetbal Belgie reports.

The winger, 23, has long been of interest at Elland Road but has proven to be unobtainable previously as a key player in the Jupiler Pro League, racking up 26 goals and 26 more assists in all competitions in the two previous seasons.

But having apparently turned down a move to West Yorkshire in the summer when he thought he was going to AC Milan, he then saw former teammate and fellow Whites target Charles De Ketelaere make the move instead, and has since fallen out of favour.

After making just 11 league appearances so far this season, largely off the bench, and contributing just a single goal and pair of assists, he now looks to be belatedly be on his way out of Belgium, with his agent now in talks with Italian clubs, according to Voetbal Belgie.

The same report claims that Leeds United have “already indicated that they are still interested” in making a move for the player, who Fabrizio Romano called a “missed opportunity” in the summer transfer market [YouTube, 17 September].

Milan and Atalanta appear to have a head start however, with the wide man reportedly preferring a move to Italy.

Persistent

Lang is young, has good quality, and is clearly now available, so it would seem a no-brainer that Leeds United would be interested in him.

But banging on the door for a young European star at Club Brugge who actually wants to go to AC Milan has not proven to be a fruitful endeavour at Elland Road.

The De Ketelaere pursuit was frustrating, and with the Rossoneri reportedly one of the clubs who are now in contact with Lang’s agent it could be that the same is all Leeds will get here.

Victor Orta needs to be very sure that there is actually mileage in getting involved in this race, because if the player doesn’t want to come to United then one of the other linked clubs, and there are plenty, are sure to win.

In terms of wide attackers it looks like Crysencio Summerville is making that role his own at Elland Road currently, while the versatility of Wilfried Gnonto is also helping a lot.

What the squad needs more is a central striker to back up or replace Patrick Bamford, although with Jack Harrison suddenly a shadow of early-season self there could be long-term implications for his future at the club, and if he were gone a replacement would be needed.

In other Leeds United, clubs are sniffing about an in-form Whites youngster whose contract is set to expire with new deal talks are planned to prevent losing him.