By Nick Ware

17th Apr, 2021 | 1:20pm

Report: Leeds want to sign Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico

Leeds United have a concrete interest in Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico according to Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen.

As reported via online outlet Veronica Inside Driessen, chief football reporter for De Telegraaf, told a broadcast that “Leeds United would like to have him.”

Tagliafico, 28, joined Ajax from his native Argentina in 2018, and he has 28 caps for the international side.

He has played with a number of top talents for Argentina but none better than Lionel Messi who, according to Everything Barcelona, rates him ‘very highly’.

Tagliafico signed extended terms with Ajax in November to tie him to the Amsterdam club until 2023 but there is an informal agreement that he can depart at the end of the season, and the Eredivisie side were prepared to let him go for £18million last summer. [Daily Mail]

Comes with high pedigree

Leeds need to sign a left-back before the start of next season, that much is obvious.

It’s been a case of square pegs in round holes in recent years with Ezgjan Alioski and Stuart Dallas pushed back from midfield roles to fill in.

They’ve both done admirable jobs but the former is expected to leave the club this summer while Dallas has done such a sterling job in the middle of midfield that he surely cannot be moved for the time being.

Therefore one, and probably two, left-backs need to be bought.

Tagliafico would represent a pretty ambitious option and he would come with a wealth of experience having reached a Champions League semi-final with Ajax and appeared at a World Cup with Argentina. He’s played in the Champions League for the past three years.

The Daily Mail article had him linked with Manchester City so maybe he has his sights set a bit higher but he would represent a solid option if Marcelo Bielsa can persuade his compatriot to move to West Yorkshire.

In other Leeds United news, Whites ace reacts to mural made of his memorable moment last season.