Report names one midfielder Leeds are expected to sign before 5pm on Friday
Leeds United are expected to secure the signing of Todd Cantwell from Norwich City before the transfer window closes at 5pm on Friday, according to the Daily Star.
Cantwell, 22, has been linked with a move away from Carrow Road since the Canaries were relegated last season and Leeds are a team that have cropped up every now and then what the young attacker’s name has been mentioned.
The PA news agency, via Yahoo Sports, reported last month that Leeds launched a move to sign the England Under-21 international but nothing came of that while the international transfer window was still open.
The Daily Star now reports that Cantwell’s move to Leeds is one that is expected to happen before the end of play on Friday but the attacking midfielder is reportedly valued at £20million.
Leeds spent around £100million on new players in the transfer window, adding to their attack with the additions of striker Rodrigo and right-winger Raphinha.
Cantwell impressed last season in the Premier League for Norwich despite their relegation and according to his heatmap on WyScout, the 22-year-old played mainly on the left-wing.
Cantwell, as you can see, can also play as a central attacking midfielder or on the right-wing but unless he’s an out and out central midfielder, do Leeds really need him?
Marcelo Bielsa has loads of strength in depth in the wide areas. Raphinha, Helder Costa and Ian Poveda are right-sided wingers while Jack Harrison and Ezgjan Alioski are Bielsa’s left-sided options. Leeds then have Stuart Dallas, Pablo Hernandez, Rodrigo and Tyler Roberts who can play on the wings if needed.
And that’s before any of the Under-23s players are considered.
Cantwell is a good young player. Chris Sutton said on Match of the Day in February that the attacker is “a terrific talent”.
Sutton added that Cantwell has “wonderful awareness and we will be seeing him play for a top-six club in the near future”.
Leeds would be buying Cantwell for the sake of buying a promising young player if they do sign him before 5pm on Friday.
They don’t need him but Cantwell could present an opportunity for a big profit in the future if, as Sutton said, a top-six club does come in for him.
In other Leeds United news, there could be a battle to sign this Leeds target in the January transfer window.