Andrea Radrizzani in talks for Leeds United to sign Ismaila Sarr and Joao Pedro, one agreement close
Andrea Radrizzani is holding negotiations with Watford chief Gino Pozzo as he looks for Leeds United to sign Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr, according to Santi Aouna.
Writing via his personal Twitter account on Thursday (11 August), the Foot Mercato journalist reported that Leeds want to sign Brazilian striker Pedro, 20, on loan but Watford would rather agree a permanent deal.
It is understood that with 24-year-old Sarr, a “verbal agreement” is close but the Senegal international’s proposed move to Elland Road depends on a Leeds sale.
Don’t get your hopes up
The Athletic’s Phil Hay has already ruled out moves for Sarr and Pedro, as well as former Manchester United attacker Juan Mata.
He tweeted on 11 August that reports linking the three players with moves to Elland Road are “wide of the mark” so we’re not that excited about Aouna’s latest tweet.
Radrizzani doesn’t really hold transfer negotiations, everything comes through Victor Orta while Jesse Marsch is bound to have some kind of say on incomings.
All Radrizzani is likely to do is tell Orta what he can and cannot spend.
It seems as though two and two have been put together simply because Leeds and Watford are Italian-owned clubs and that the Whites are keen to add to their attack ahead of the transfer window closing.
Sarr would be an incredibly good signing but we really don’t need another wide player – we need a proper centre-forward.
And while Pedro is exactly that and wouldn’t be a bad addition, we fail to see why Watford would loan out the young Brazilian to a club in the Premier League who’d use him as a back-up.
Leeds have less than three weeks to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes.
Pedro might not be the one who comes in but someone better had because we cannot rely solely on Patrick Bamford again.
In other Leeds United news, a French scout is blown away by a Leeds-linked left-back who’s edging closer to a move to Europe.