Reliable journalist shares Leeds chances of signing Luiz Felipe to follow Robin Koch

Assistant Editor AUTHORITY Senior editor responsible for daily news flow, sub-hub management, and maintaining editorial standards across the site network. FOCUS Editorial oversight, newsroom workflow, and verified reporting. THE BRIEF Former Leeds United correspondent Mark has risen through the ranks at Breaking Media Limited to manage the network’s daily output. He works between the reporters and the experts to ensure the data and the news are applied correctly to every story.

Published on:

02 Sep 2020, 1:30 pm

Leeds United are looking to sign another defender after confirming the arrival of Robin Koch over the weekend.

A number of names have been thrown into the hat recently, including Dinamo Zagreb's Josko Gvardiol and Lazio enforcer Luiz Felipe.

Leeds have already seen a £26.8million bid rejected for Felipe, with La Lazio Siamo Noi claiming the Brazilian is rated closer to £34million.

Could Leeds revisit that bid? Beren Cross believes that with Koch arriving, it is highly unlikely that Felipe will be in West Yorkshire next season.

"I don't believe so," he said in a Leeds Live Q&A.

"With Koch through the door, that's the other starting spot next to Cooper. The talk of Gvardiol surprised me, but if Bielsa wants cover for Cooper, then Felipe would be too rich and too big an ego for that sort of role."

For that sort of money, we can't say that this update surprises us with Leeds likely to spend less on that area after Koch's arrival.

Koch is now away with the German national side but is all-but-guaranteed to start against Liverpool in less than a fortnight.

Phil Hay has reported that Marcelo Bielsa wants another centre-back in his side this season to offer some competition to Koch and Liam Cooper.

Axel Tuanzebe of Manchester United has been mentioned, but it looks likely that Gvardiol will be the player to fill that gap.

Croatian journalist Ivan Žeželj has already reported that a deal for the 18-year-old to join the Whites for around £17.8million is all but done.

The chances of Felipe were always very slim given Lazio's ability to offer European football, and as Cross mentions - he wouldn't accept a rotation role.

In other Leeds United news, Rodrigo makes Whites request while away on international duty

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