Leeds United move for Kai Wagner the subject of talks between Jesse Marsch and Jim Curtin
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has spoken to Philadelphia Union manager Jim Curtin about the availability of Kai Wagner, the MLS coach has said.
With Junior Firpo still a month or so away from full fitness and centre-back Pascal Struijk pressed into reserve action in the opening game against Wolves, United are belatedly making a move for help at the position.
They are yet to make an official offer for the 25-year-old German, but by the sounds of things it could a deal that has legs, based on the words of his manager in the US.
The Union boss spoke to Brotherly Game, part of SB Nation, in a Zoom interview, and they relayed on their Twitter account on Thursday evening (11 August): “Curtin says he’s talked with Jesse Marsch about Kai Wagner’s status.
“Says that the team would like Wagner to stay, but that Kai would also like to play at the highest level.
“The club is still waiting for official offers to come in.
“Still to be determined kind of situation.”
Right move?
Although some fans would take anybody over Firpo, and Struijk was largely at fault for Wolves’ opening goal at the weekend, the Whites do need to make sure they are looking at someone who is actually an upgrade.
Wagner has been praised as “the best left back in MLS” by scout Kevin Neito, and does apparently have sides such as Benfica after him including Benfica.
But at 25 he has yet to play top flight football in Europe so they need to be sure that he can adapt to the Premier League if they are going to make him the man to help in a problem position at Elland Road.
He may be a late bloomer, in which case it could end up as a real steal if they are able to land him since it is estimated to be a deal that costs just $5million [Manuel Veth].
It is at least something that the Whites are finally addressing what looks like one of the few weaknesses in the squad on paper, but it is still odd that they have left it as late as they have.
It doesn’t have to be a bad thing that they are in for a relatively unknown target on this side of the Atlantic, since the strong American connection with United now should give them as good of an insight into the American game as anyone.
Surely if this one is going to get done Marsch will be key, so if he is sold on the German defender he should pull the strings necessary in his home country to help get it moving.
In other Leeds United news, the club have their eye on a £30million striker sensation from Europe who could make a late move to the Premier League.