Southampton bid for Mandela Keita as Leeds United eye Glen Kamara replacement in serious update
Southampton have made an offer for Mandela Keita amid interest from Leeds United in signing him, according to Gazet van Antwerpen.
The Belgian paper reported on their website on 13 August that the offer has been turned down but Royal Antwerp are prepared to let the midfielder leave before the transfer deadline and the Saints are “serious” about signing him.
The Whites are one of a number of clubs following the 22-year-old, with Blackburn, Norwich and Nottingham Forest all credited with interest, as well as Manchester United for a time.
Daniel Farke is expected to sign a replacement for Glen Kamara after the Finn’s exit to Rennes [Leeds Live, 13 July].
Daniel Farke needs three Leeds United signings before deadline
After losing Kamara and Crysencio Summerville the Whites boss is thought to want three new arrivals before the window shuts in order to compete for promotion again [The Athletic, August].
Replacements for the two first-team aces in central midfield and on the wing, as well as another full-back to follow Jayden Bogle in at Elland Road, are what the German believes he needs.
Keita appears to be available to fill the first of those vacancies but if the Saints are pushing to land him Leeds will have to react in similar fashion or face missing out.
Joe Rothwell has been brought in on loan already but the options in the middle have also been reduced by Archie Gray’s big-money exit to Tottenham.
The dramatic 3-3 draw with Portsmouth in the opener, which would have been a home defeat were it not for Brenden Aaronson’s late equaliser, emphasised how the Whites can’t expect to waltz through the Championship this term.
But with little more than a fortnight to strengthen time is running out, and it appears the main focus right now is securing a new winger as Jonathan Rowe is lined up from Norwich.
A new bid is set to be made for the youngster [TEAMtalk, 12 August], while Ligue 1 rivals Marseille and Monaco are both currently unable to advance on their own attempts at a deal [Santi Aouna, 13 August], but less action has emerged on the midfield requirement.
Keita made 38 Antwerp appearances last term after making a permanent switch from Oud-Heverlee Leuven, including five across the Champions League qualifiers and group stage, but it looks like he could be out of reach soon if Farke doesn’t respond to the Southampton advance.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have been off the threat of another high-profile exit after rejecting a sizeable bid.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.