Leeds United: Player-plus-cash bid submitted for Elland Road-linked full-back Josh Doig
Leeds United target Josh Doig has been targeted by Serie A outfit Torino in a player-plus-cash bid this January transfer window, according to The Sun.
The newspaper reported via its website [7 January] that, despite interest from Leeds, Torino are closing in on a transfer for the Scotland full-back with a player-plus-cash deal of £3.5million plus add-ons, a 10 per cent sell-on clause and highly-rated Lithuanian teenage midfielder Gvidas Gineitis going to Verona on loan.
It is understood that Rangers and Monza are also keeping tabs on the former Hibernian defender, who previously won Scotland’s Young Player of the Year award in 2021 before a move to Hellas Verona in the summer of 2022.
There is still hope
Contracted at his current club until 2026, it could take a hefty fee to tear Doig away from Verona. The 21-year-old has made 35 appearances since moving to the Serie A, scoring twice.
However, the youngster has only completed 90 minutes once this season, despite starting 10 of their 19 matches so far. Injury has hindered his current campaign, missing for a month through an ankle injury in September.
Once recovered, he earned his first call-up to the Scotland senior squad since September 2022, though, with Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Aaron Hickey all missing from the team.
Doig is a clear talent, drawing eyes to the Scotland Premiership during his several years at Hibernian, making 79 appearances for Hibs and setting the league alight.
While Verona’s bid is a huge blow for the Whites and Daniel Farke, it is believed that the Serie A outlet will go no higher than their current bid if it is not accepted. This means that there is still hope for Leeds to claim Doig’s signature as they continue the search for a new full-back.
Allowing Djed Spence to return to Tottenham Hotspur from his loan deal six months early has opened up a loan space in the squad, which could be filled by the Scot.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites could be set to call up a player’s agent to complete their first January transfer.