Craig Scott

Tue 31 May 2022 20:15, UK

Leeds United have thrown a spanner in the works for Borussia Dortmund in their bid to sign Red Bull Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper reports that Dortmund were expected to sign the 24-year-old Denmark international for £10million. However, Leeds’ and Brentford’s pursuits of the ex-Ajax ace have halted a move to the Bundesliga.

It is understood that Kristensen is well-known by Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, who’s already raided former club Salzburg since the end of the season by signing USA midfielder Brenden Aaronson.

Leeds are massive

Dortmund are the second-best and second-biggest team in the whole of Germany.

But they find their £10million efforts to sign Kristensen being hampered by the Whites, who are set for a third season in the Premier League.

There’s a good reason why a move to Elland Road would suit Kristensen.

We imagine that he’d become our new first-choice right-back due to Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas being set to miss the start of next season and the fact that Cody Drameh might not yet be trusted to take on a senior role.

Marsch has previously managed Kristensen too and Leeds clearly have a relationship going on with Red Bull Salzburg due to the recent deal for Aaronson.

Dortmund might not be able to offer the first-team opportunities that Leeds can – and that looks to be what’s holding up the deal for them.

Kristensen is a marauding right-back who can score goals and supply assists.

The Mail report him to be a “strong, marauding, high energy full back who can also play in midfield”.

Lee Wingate of The Other Bundesliga podcast has told BBC Sport that Kristensen is “the best defender in the league” in Austria who “has a lot of good years ahead of him and is extremely talented”.

We haven’t seen much of Kristensen but we do like what we’re hearing about the former Midtjylland ace.

In other Leeds United news, this player is considering his options at Elland Road despite only signing last year.