Leeds United to move for Manuel Benson from Burnley if Roland Sallai deal collapses
Leeds United have back-up plans available if they fail to strike a deal with Freiberg for Roland Sallai, according to HITC.
The outlet reported on their website (29 August) that the Burnley attacker Manuel Benson is still a target and will be allowed to leave Turf Moor before the deadline for the right price.
The Whites have already signed a pair of wide attackers in Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon but are working on a deal for £10million-rated Sallai, who wants to join, with the belief they can land a discount due to his contract expiring next summer.
Sallai would follow Ao Tanaka in at Elland Road from Germany after Leeds moved to bring in the Japanese midfielder for a medical [Sacha Tavolieri, 29 August].
Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon already in at Leeds United
The attacking unit was starting to look sparse after star duo Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were taken up to the Premier League by West Ham and Brighton respectively.
With Willy Gnonto’s agent said to still be hoping to get the Italian international out of the club before the deadline [TEAMtalk, 20 August], and reported plans to sell one of Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford [Daily Mail, 1 July] it looked like it might get weaker still.
But, while the club can certainly be criticised for leaving it so late and waiting to react to stars leaving, they will deserve credit if they can get in a strong group of reinforcements.
Ramazani and Solomon are a strong start, and with Tanaka and full-back Isaac Schmidt seemingly on the way as well that would be Daniel Farke’s four requirements filled.
That would leave any additional signings as something of a bonus, and in Sallai a senior international winger who appears to be sold on the idea of moving to Elland Road would boost the club after an indifferent start to the campaign.
However, it looks like the Whites are ready to move for alternatives if the Hungarian proves out of reach in what looks set to be a busy deadline day.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are also looking to sign a possible replacement for Bamford before the window shuts.
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