Leeds revive ‘Lionel Messi clone’ pursuit as agent reveals contact
Leeds could return to a former transfer target for their first January signing.
Daniel Farke is keen to reinforce his side at Elland Road, as they look to retain their Premier League status.
The 49ers Enterprises group backed their manager in the summer, but they are yet to bring in any new faces in this window.
The latest link may be a very exciting one for supporters, and it is one that they will have seen before.
Leeds contact made over Giannis Konstantelias transfer
Leeds were linked with PAOK star Giannis Konstantelias in 2023, and it seems as though they are set to revive a potential deal.
A report from Sportsboom on 14 January claims that the Whites have made contact over the 22-year-old midfielder.
It features quotes from his intermediary, Lee Marsh, who said: “I had been on the phone with Leeds this morning. Sporting [Lisbon] wanted him for £25million last year, seems they went ahead to get someone else.”
It states that he has attracted interest from the likes of Stuttgart and Sporting last summer, so the Peacocks may face a battle for his signature.
Konstantelias was once compared to Lionel Messi and Neymar
The Greek club wanted £17.5million for the midfielder back then, who was also attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and AC Milan.
A move never materialised, and he stayed in Greece, where he has continued to impress, with 22 goals and seven assists in the last three league seasons.
Speaking after PAOK’s Under-19’s clash with Larissa in September 2021, Greek journalist Stavros Kolkas compared him to Lionel Messi on Alpha 98.9, a local radio station, saying: “PAOK has a Messi clone in its academy, the other day against Larissa, he came on at half-time while it was 0-0. He scored two goals, gave two assists and PAOK won 5-0.”
He has a resemblance to Neymar, according to Alexandros Malakasiotis, the head of his first club Agia Pareskevi’s academy [Goal], who said: “For me, he is a phenomenon. If you see how he passes and moves into space, you will understand what he is about.
“When he goes one-on-on, it is like watching Neymar.”
He has gone on to make four appearances for Greece, with four goals for his country on the international stage, which suggests that he could adapt to the English league.
Whether the LS11 outfit actually makes a move for Konstantelias remains to be seen, but it would be a quality signing if they could reach a deal.
The comparisons to Messi and Neymar are likely exaggerated, but he is a top talent and could definitely make an impact for Farke’s side if he comes through the doors at Thorp Arch.