MOT View: Leeds reported £11m loan-to-buy deal would make sense as player could push for exit
Leeds United appear to be moving forward in their push to sign Che Adams from Southampton this month.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has been very vocal about his desire to keep hold of the 23-year-old forward for the rest of the season but Leeds’ willingness appears to be chipping away at the Premier League club’s steadfast approach.
Adams cost Southampton £15million in the summer when they signed him from Birmingham City after a successful season in the Championship.
The striker’s 22-goal haul in the 2018/19 campaign is bound to be what has led to Leeds showing such strong interest in him and finally there appears to be an agreement that could be on the cards – if Hasenhuttl is happy to go along with it.
According to The Athletic, Southampton’s hierarchy are open to letting Adams leave St Mary’s for Elland Road this month.
It is understood that they want an initial £1million loan fee for the striker, followed by a £10million obligation to buy him at the end of the season.
Phil Hay has reported that Leeds are happy to meet those demands and that Adams would start to push for a move to West Yorkshire if his manager refuses to entertain the Championship club’s advances.
Leeds need to wrap up a deal for a new striker as soon as possible with Patrick Bamford currently the only out-and-out centre-forward in Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team squad.
Eddie Nketiah’s return to Arsenal has left the Whites with a problem that needs solving before the transfer window shuts otherwise the lack of firepower up front could have an impact on the side’s promotion bid.
Adams, though, is someone who could come in and provide serious competition to Bamford’s spot in the starting line-up.
The ex-Sheffield United striker should expect to get more than the paltry two starts that Nketiah had in the Championship for Leeds and his arrival is only going to be a positive thing for the club.
In other Leeds United news, this player has passed a medical with the Whites and should sign permanently on Monday.