Leeds plot swoop to sign full-back from debt-ridden club, £15m deal on cards – reliable journo
Leeds United are considering a summer swoop to sign River Plate right-back Gonzalo Montiel, according to Bleacher Report journalist Dean Jones.
The reporter wrote on his personal Twitter account on Friday that Leeds are “looking into a deal” for the 23-year-old defender.
It is understood that any deal would cost roughly £15million.
Argentinean news outlet El Intransigente have recently reported that West Ham are also interested in Montiel, who has been capped four times by Argentina.
It was also claimed that River Plate are in financial trouble and would welcome the sale of the right-back for “the payment of various debts”.
Leeds have been linked with a lot of Argentinean players since winning promotion to the Premier League with the South American press seemingly excited by the prospect of Marcelo Bielsa managing in the Premier League next season.
It is natural to expect a lot of speculation but in this case, it is a British reporter who is claiming that Leeds are eyeing up Montiel, rather than the Argentinean media.
That could be something for people to take note of as we are yet to see many Argentinean names crop up in the English media as Leeds pursue new signings ahead of life back in the Premier League.
However, do Leeds really need a new right-back?
We fully expect Luke Ayling to be starting for the Whites next season in the Premier League and at £15million, Montiel would be one very expensive back-up player when Stuart Dallas and Jamie Shackleton can also play in that right-sided full-back role.
We’d be surprised if this Bielsa greenlights a summer swoop for a new right-back unless it s someone who is young and cheap who won’t mind playing second fiddle to Ayling.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites will be blocked from signing this Premier League defender on loan.