Sky Sports share brand new Manuel Benson update as Leeds United and Southampton locked in battle for transfer
Leeds United face the threat of losing out in a bid to sign Burnley attacker Manuel Benson after a brand new update on Tuesday.
Sky Sports shared on their live transfer centre (23 January, 11:40 am) that the Saints are still desperate to sign a new winger this month and have identified the Burnley forward as two of their top targets ahead of the transfer deadline.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported on 18 January that Benson has been identified as a target for the Whites should Wilfried Gnonto quit Elland Road this month but with the Italian now looks set to remain for the long term (HITC, 23 January), it appears there isn’t a great need for Benson’s signature.
The race for the 26-year-old’s signature could have huge ramifications in both the play-off and automatic promotion race as the current battle is between Leeds United and Southampton to close the gap to Leicester City and Ipswich Town at the top of the table.
Benson proved every bit a success for the Clarets last season as he enjoyed a tremendous campaign for Vincent Kompany’s men in their title-winning campaign, scoring 11 goals and registering three assists from 33 games.
Such a decisive and potent edge in front of goal could well have done Farke’s men the world of good, even if Gnonto is set to remain at Elland Road.
Right now, Crycensio Summerville and Dan James remain the Whites only real established and crucial options in attack and an unexpected injury to any of those two could come as a real blow.
Gnonto is a viable alternative but hasn’t really established himself in the team or through any sort of form this season and Benson would have been a smart and sensible attacking addition with Leeds still requiring plenty of creativity.
Benson has barely featured for Burnley all season, only being involved in just one matchday squad and looks all set to quit the club in search of game-time but it seems as if Southampton are stealing a march on his signing with the Whites nowhere to be seen and looking all set to miss out to a rival.
Leeds cannot leave Farke short of attacking options for the second half of the campaign.
Those in charge at Elland Road have to get the wheels in motion to beat Southampton to Benson’s signature. If they miss out on the 26-year-old, particularly at the hands of the Saints, it could be a huge blow to their faint automatic promotion hopes.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared whether Farke is about to cancel another loan deal early.
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