Leeds United bids hit by new threat from wealthy and ambitious club for Jonathan Rowe transfer
Leeds United have been frustrated in their attempts to sign Jonathan Rowe and now face a new threat from Rennes, according to Alan Nixon.
The Sun journalist reported via his Patreon on 20 August that the “wealthy and ambitious” Ligue 1 side are “keen” to land the Norwich City attacker and could now outbid the Whites and Marseille.
Rowe himself could be convinced by the French side’s reputation for identifying and developing “rising talent”.
Rennes bought Glen Kamara from Leeds earlier in the transfer window in a deal worth under £8.4million [BBC Sport, 16 July].
Daniel Farke could miss out on Norwich star at Leeds United
The Whites were said to be in the clear to move forward on a deal for Rowe, 21, when Marseille and fellow Ligue 1 side Monaco had other financial complications to deal with first [Santi Aouna, 13 August].
Since they have failed to do so over the ensuing week it looks like the young Englishman won’t be the man to replace Crysencio Summerville at Elland Road.
The 49ers better move on fast if they aren’t going to push the boat out for Rowe and land their reported back-up target in Million Manhoef from Stoke City [TEAMtalk, 14 August].
Kamara, Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter have all now left for a combined fee reported to be over £100m, and while it might be unrealistic to expect that all to be plowed back into the squad the lack of urgency as the deadline nears is a concern.
The signings of Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle and Joe Rothwell are solid but will mean little if they aren’t backed up by quality in attack.
Daniel Farke rightfully has his critics but his bosses surely can’t expect him to take this side up if arguably his top three stars from last term have gone in Gray, Summerville and now Rutter and not adequately been replaced.
In other Leeds United news, Richard Keys has issued a “worrying” Whites transfer and financial verdict after recent developments.
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