Leeds ready bid to sign Leonardo Balerdi, £20m mega deal to be accepted
Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi could be set to move to Leeds as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of their return to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke is planning to add top-quality players to his squad after securing promotion from the Championship.
The gap between the top-flight and the second tier seems to be an all-time high and the Whites’ business will be crucial to their survival chances.
They have to add experienced players to their squad, with Ethan Ampadu being considered one of the only few players ready for the elite level by the hierarchy.
Leeds send scouts to watch Balerdi ahead of £20m swoop
The Elland Road outfit are preparing for life back at the elite level for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.
A report from the Sun on Sunday’s print edition (4 May, page 55) claims that the Whites have sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old, who has been made one of their top targets.
It states that Marseille would want a fee of £20million and the Argentine would be keen on a move to England.
Balerdi can be a difference-maker for Leeds
The defender came through at Borussia Dortmund, where he made eight appearances before securing a move to the French outfit in 2020.
He has emerged as a key player for Les Phocéens, playing 161 times and earning the captaincy at the Stade Velodrome.
| Stats (Ligue 1) | Balerdi |
| Matches | 24 |
| Pass accuracy | 94.1% |
| Long pass accuracy | 58.6% |
| Ground duels won | 122 (61%) |
| Aerial duels won | 37 (64.9%) |
| Minutes played | 2,006 |
Farke’s side needs top-level experience and Balerdi would bring plenty, having made 11 appearances in the Champions League and over 100 in Ligue 1.
The Argentina international is solid at bringing the ball out from the back and is brilliant defensively, he would be a really great addition to the squad for the Peacocks.
Obviously, he does have experience in the English game and that may be a concern but he has already shown his adaptability with his move to the nine-time French champions.
The future of Farke is a major concern hanging over the club right now and the sooner that it is sorted, the better, because it could impact their dealings in the transfer market.
Uncertainty over the manager could put potential additions off a move to the Yorkshire outfit, the 49ers need to reassure Farke’s position publicly or let him go, but they need to do it quickly.