MOT View: Potential £55m deal & Sky Sports reveal could unlock major Leeds attacker move
Leeds United could finally land Dan James on loan as they look for a winger to complete a sensational summer of business.
The Man United winger was said to want to stay and fight for his place in the Man United side.
However, he was axed from the United squad to face Brighton last week and could be about to be shuffled even further back in the pecking order at Old Trafford.
Spanish outlet AS has now claimed that Man United are close to signing Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele for a fee between £45m and £55m.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports have just reported that the two clubs are now in talks over a deal. However, they claim it would be a for a loan.
That could still see James go out on loan in search of game time.
The Sun (live transfer blog, 28/09, 14.45) had reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would let James go out on loan if they signed another winger.
That was said to be Jadon Sancho, but Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele would have exactly the same effect on the status of James.
James is already behind Mason Greenwood and the former Swansea man was already struggling for game-time at United.
If Dembele arrives then James will be no more than a bit-part player, relying on injuries and suspensions for any meaningful game time.
Given that, a move to Leeds, where James knows how Marcelo Bielsa feels about him, would surely be a very attractive proposition.
For Leeds, a loan deal would work well after their summer spending is set to reach around £100m if a move for Michael Cuisance goes through as expected.
James’ wages of £45,000-a-week [Spotrac] would be within the limits of what Leeds could afford and we’d love to see the winger at Elland Road.
One thing we hope is that if Leeds do sign James, that they announce him with the welcome video he recorded back in January 2019 before that ill-fated transfer collapsed.
Leeds’ summer business to date
- Helder Costa Wolves (£16m)
- Illan Meslier Lorient (£5m)
- Jack Harrison Manchester City (Loan)
- Joe Gelhardt Wigan (£1m)
- Cody Drameh Fulham (£800,000)
- Charlie Allen Linfield (undisclosed)
- Sam Greenwood Arsenal (undisclosed)
- Rodrigo Valencia (£26m)
- Robin Koch Freiburg (£13m)
- Crysencio Summerville Feyenoord (£1.3m)
- Diego Llorente Real Sociedad (£18m)
- Michael Cuisance Bayern Munich (£20m) TBC
In other Leeds United news, Leeds in talks for winger involved in 23 goals in 19/20, £4.5m deal has knock-on effect – report