Sky Sports journalist: Leeds table loan bid for £45k/wk attacker amid key weekend development
Leeds United are trying to land Dan James again after being thwarted in their efforts back in January 2019.
James was left out of the Man United squad on Saturday amid strong Leeds interest.
Athletic journalist Phil Hay said that Leeds are keen and that they wouldn’t be pursuing him for so long if they felt there was no chance of a deal.
However, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett delivered some bad news on Sunday.
He said that while Leeds have tabled a bid to take James on loan, the winger – on a reported £45k-a-week at Old Trafford – has told Ole Gunnar Solksjaer that he wants to fight for his place at Old Trafford.
That could change if United sign another attacker or winger.
Last-minute James again?
Leeds want to bring in a midfielder and a winger/number 10 in the last week of the transfer window.
It sounds like they’re closing in on a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Cuisance which would make Dan James the last piece of the puzzle.
There’s one loan spot left at Leeds, with Jack Harrison already on a temporary deal from Man City. Getting James from the other Manchester side, ideally with an option to buy, would be great business.
However, Leeds fans aren’t going to be very happy to hear that James would prefer to stay and fight for his place at the club’s big rivals.
James had wanted to join Leeds back in January last year when he had completed a medical and filmed his welcome video.
He knows all about Leeds and Bielsa and if this is true from Dorsett it could well put a lot of fans off. Saying you’d prefer to sit on the United bench than play for Leeds is never going to sit well at Elland Road.
However, James is a serious talent and we think he could thrive under a manager who actually rates him, as Bielsa obviously does.
MOT Leeds News columnist Paul Robinson told us that if a talent like James wants to join, you don’t turn him down. Unfortunately, the jury is still out on whether he wants to come to Elland Road or not.
In other Leeds United news, Fabrizio Romano & Phil Hay post exciting Leeds transfer updates, major £18.2m 5-year deal close