Reliable journalist: Leeds in hunt for late £25m deal for unsettled ace as Friday deadline nears
Leeds United are still in the hunt for Todd Cantwell from Norwich, according to the Sun’s transfer expert Alan Nixon.
However, there’s one thing keeping them “at bay for now” and that’s the asking price from the Championship side.
According to Nixon, Norwich want £25m for Cantwell, and while that remains the case it’s unlikely a deal will be done in this window.
Nixon posted the update on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday night.
That came after Leeds director of football Victor Orta had confirmed the club’s interest in the midfielder.
Talking on talkSPORT on Tuesday (11.30am), Alex Crook had said of Leeds and Cantwell: “We know they’ve shown interest in Todd Cantwell. Victor Orta has come out and admitted he’s high on the shortlist, but now he’s said they won’t make their move until the winter transfer window.”
That fits in with the narrative of the price being too high and, at £25m, Norwich seem to be pricing Cantwell out of a move.
The player himself seems very unsettled. He’s been dropped from the last two Championship matchday squads, with manager Daniel Farke saying he’d “rather play the kitman” than a player who wasn’t focussed on the job at hand.
That job could remain getting Norwich out of the Championship again if the price doesn’t drop – and, to be honest, we don’t see the price dropping enough to get the deal done in this window.
What would tempt Leeds? We think around £15m.
With Cantwell out of contract in 2022, his price is likely to drop in each subsequent window now.
He’ll be entering his last year under his current deal in the summer and at that point we could see Norwich looking to do a deal for around the price Leeds might be willing to pay.
By January, they should have a clearer idea of whether they’ve got a realistic stab at promotion and that could determine their stance on Cantwell.
They’re currently struggling in 17th spot in the Championship.
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