Reliable journalist: Leeds locked in talks for striker after tabling £13.5m bid
Leeds United are locked in talks with Basel over a move for 22-year-old striker Arthur Cabral, according to Brazilian journalist Fernando Graziani.
Cabral spent the last season on loan at Basel before making his move permanent in a deal that was close to £4m.
Now it looks they could spin that into an immediate profit as they negotiate with Leeds over a price for Cabral.
In an update on his Twitter account, Graziani said, “Brief update on Arthur Cabral’s possible move to the Premier League. Basel want €20m but Leeds think it’s too much.”
He said that Leeds have tabled an upfront offer of £13.5m (€15m) but said that could go down if performance bonuses increase.
He ended by saying, “The clubs keep talking.”
https://twitter.com/fgraziani/status/1295476799200268288
Graziani added another update shortly after saying that offers from German and French clubs haven’t materialised for Cabral.
However, he did say another unnamed Premier League side was now interested.
https://twitter.com/fgraziani/status/1295482561062477827
Another Premier League side a worry
According to Globoesporte, Bielsa has asked Leeds to sign Cabral.
It seems that talks are ongoing but Graziani’s reveal that another Premier League side is interested means that Leeds could be hampered in their quest to get the price down.
Basel want £18m and that doesn’t seem too much to pay for a quality striker, even in this depressed market.
The player’s situation is complicated. Basel only own 70% of the striker, with former clubs Palmeiras and Ceara holding 15% of the player each. Leeds obviously want to own 100% of the player.
Even with 70%, Basel will be turning a big profit on a player who only signed for them on a permanent deal last month.
There’s a Bielsa-type striker there, though. Cabral is strong and was involved in 24 goals in 39 games for Basel last season, scoring 18. His xG of 0.58 per 90 was bettered by his actual 0.61 goals per 90, and he won twice as many aerial duels last season as Patrick Bamford. [WyScout]
We think the addition of the other Premier League side could force Leeds’ hands – and they will want to bring players in this week if possible, with Marcelo Bielsa already embarking on his infamous pre-season.
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