Leeds United transfer news: Daniel Farke to get third swing at Luke Thomas as Sheffield United set to send him back to Leicester
Leeds United could finally secure their summer left-back target in Luke Thomas with the defender’s Sheffield United loan set to be cut short.
TEAMtalk reports that the Blades loanee is due to be sent back to Leicester City in order for the Premier League side to make space to sign Villarreal striker Ben Brereton Diaz.
The former Blackburn forward is also on the radar at Elland Road and a possible summer move has been tipped, but his arrival back in England during the winter window could lead to more immediate benefits for Daniel Farke.
The German was said to be “keen” on Thomas, 22, in the summer and Leeds United were backed to sign him in the final days of the window before Sheffield United came in and landed him.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported at the time that the Whites had approached Leicester twice over a deal for the Englishman but were knocked back by their rivals.
However, now that the Foxes have firmly established themselves as Championship title favourites having built a 10-point lead over Ipswich in second, and a 17-point advantage over fourth-placed Leeds, they might be willing to do business.
Sam Byram’s summer return on a free transfer looked to have provided an unexpected answer to the long-standing left-back issues, but the fitness concerns that he arrived with have now started to bite.
While Junior Firpo played well in the 3-0 win over Birmingham on New Year’s Day he has missed a huge chunk of the season himself and has often flattered to deceive, making the position a priority this month.
The developments with Brereton Diaz look like they are about to make Thomas available again, with TEAMtalk reporting that Leicester could be open to sending him back out on loan with little space in Enzo Maresca’s starting XI.
The Foxes are sitting pretty at the top of the table while Leeds United are currently in the scrap for the second automatic promotion place so the chances of a deal are likely to be greater than they were ahead of the season.
Thomas started 11 of his 12 Premier League appearances so far this season but missed five of the last six games in the top flight after losing his place.
So it could instead be third time lucky in the Whites’ pursuit, and a possible answer at long last for the problem position at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, a mega-rich club have more money to spend than expected are could be set to direct it at Elland Road for a Whites star this month.