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Leeds in hunt for £1.5m-rated defender as some EFL clubs want transfer window open ASAP - report
Leeds United have been boosted in their hunt to sign Gillingham centre-back Jack Tucker with the League One club struggling financially, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claims that while Gillingham will be able to pay their staff and players this month, they may have to sell one of their most valuable assets – 20-year-old Tucker – in a bid to allay their financial worries.
It is understood that the Kent club is in talks with the PFA over deferring the wages of their players, much like Leeds and Birmingham City have done in the last week.
However Tucker’s exit remains on the cards as some EFL clubs press to allow the transfer window to open as soon as possible in a bid to ease their financial burdens.
Leeds are not the only club keen on Tucker.
The Mail claims that West Ham, Southampton, Norwich, Celtic and Rangers are also keen on the defender, who has played at right-back and centre-back in his 33 total appearances for Gillingham this season.
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The Scottish Sun first reported the Old Firm’s interest in Tucker last month, adding that the 20-year-old is valued at £1.5million.
Leeds could do with strengthening their centre-back options and for £1.5million, they could bag themselves a highly-rated young defender who is versatile, has a good amount of first-team experience and may fill the void left by Ben White and Gaetano Berardi if they move on in the summer.
In other Leeds United news, two players have been at Thorp Arch since the training ground was shut down.