Leeds United lead race to sign Barcelona youngster Ilias Akhomach ahead of AC Milan after repeat Victor Orta talks
Leeds United are now leading the race to sign Barcelona teenager Ilias Akhomach after talks between Victor Orta and the player’s representatives, LUFCFANZONE reports.
The 18-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the season and the Whites are eyeing a free transfer despite the Catalan giants hoping to keep hold of him [ESPN, 20 February].
He is attracting interest from elsewhere, including reigning Italian champions AC Milan, but the Whites sporting director has apparently been in regular contact and got the club into a strong position to complete the deal.
Reporting on Twitter on Monday (18 February) LUFCFANZONE wrote: “EXCLUSIVE: Leeds United are leading AC Milan to sign Barcelona youngster Ilias Akhomach.
“A source close to the player has told us Victor Orta has met the player’s representatives on multiple occasions, however ‘the deal is looking good but not 100% complete yet’.”
The account has been proven to have sources at the club after an admission relating to Mateusz Klich by chairman Andrea Radrizzani [via Twitter, 18 January].
Box seat
Orta is far from the most popular man around West Yorkshire at the moment thanks to the board’s inept handling of the managerial situation.
But he may have been far more successful here on the player side of things, if the Whites are in pole position to sign a highly-rated youngster that is wanted by at least Milan and current side Barcelona.
The club have been pretty successful in the transfer market of late, with the January window proving fruitful, and the under-21s is already stocked with attacking talent.
But none of that is going to mean much if the lack of planning around Jesse Marsch’s sacking leaves the club in the Championship next season.
As long as somebody is put in place to keep United in the top flight over the final months of the season it would be an impressive signing to bring in the highly-rated Spanish winger.
But where he will fit into the side right now is harder to see with extensive options including Willy Gnonto, Luis Sinisterra, Jack Harrison and Crysencio Summerville, with Dan James still theoretically returning, so at least a couple of those might be slated to move on.
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