By George Overhill

24th Jul, 2022 | 4:40pm

Leeds United target Arnaud Kalimuendo priority emerges with deal ready for Elland Road move

Leeds United target Arnaud Kalimuendo’s priority this summer is to remain with Paris Saint-Germain, according to Canal Supporters.

The Whites already have a deal agreed in principle with the French champions, as confirmed by 90min journalist Graeme Bailey when speaking to the One Leeds Fan YouTube channel, and according to the Independent’s Miguel Delaney those close to the deal believe it is still “likely” to happen.

But the French youngster has come back from a year and a half on loan at Lens and shone during the preseason, scoring again in the 3-0 win over Urawa Reds on Saturday (23 July).

It has led to a difference of opinion between the new coach Christophe Galtier, who unsurprisingly likes the idea of keeping the 20-year-old, and new advisor/director Luis Campos who is ready to sell him to United.

Amid the power struggle above him it has now emerged that the player’s own view is that he would like to remain at the Parc des Princes.

According to Canal Supporters’ information, that is his priority as he believes he can still gain significant game time despite the presence of superstar trio Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar ahead of him, and he is prepared to not start as a result.

Kick in the teeth

This is obviously not what Leeds want to hear but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a deal for the in-form goalscorer is off.

It is hard to imagine that many young French players would necessarily want to leave the dominant club in the country when they can play with the three aforementioned stars.

But if the decision is ultimately made at the end of the preseason in Paris that they need to move him on he could still agree to a Premier League move.

Securing help in the forward department is proving decidedly more difficult for the Whites than it was to bring in players at other positions across the summer.

Primary target Charles De Ketelaere has remained an option for weeks, out of hope as much as anything, but AC Milan now look like they are going to struggle to get a deal done.

That leaves the door open for United, but again the player’s priority was the Serie A move so it is unclear whether he would settle for Elland Road.

Kalimuendo has largely seemed like the more affordable and the more reachable option, so it would be a blow of sorts to find out that his first choice is to remain.

But his reported perspective could be an ideal world scenario depending on the outcome of the disagreement between Campos and Galtier.

Once the winner of that dispute is clear, and seniority suggests Campos, the player may well reassess and be ready to move on.

In other Leeds United news, another highly-rated target at the position has broken his silence over a transfer to the Premier League.