Leeds United and the 49ers Enterprises are preparing a surprise bid to sign a long-term target at a discount in the January transfer window.
Farke under pressure as Leeds prepare for Aston Villa
After back-to-back away defeats in the Premier League, Daniel Farke appears to be under pressure, with a number of managerial candidates linked to replace him at Elland Road in recent weeks.
Ex-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and former RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose have both been mooted as options. Rodgers was recent rivals with the 49ers in Glasgow and their ownership of Rangers, whereas Rose has ties with the Red Bull network in both Austria and Germany.
Leeds find themselves just a point clear of the relegation zone ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon in what is the beginning of a testing period between now and the New Year.
Leeds’ upcoming fixtures
Date
Aston Villa (h)
November 23rd
Manchester City (a)
November 29th
Chelsea (h)
December 3rd
Liverpool (h)
December 6th
Brentford (a)
December 14th
Crystal Palace (h)
December 21st
Sunderland (a)
December 28th
The January transfer window will give the 49ers the chance to bolster their options in the final third following a lack of goals in the top flight, but it is a creative midfielder who Leeds have their eyes on.
Leeds ready surprise Gabriel Sara bid
According to a report from Turkish outlet Takvim, there has been a surprising development involving Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara.
Formerly of Norwich, Leeds were heavily linked with the midfielder in the summer, where they were told it would cost at least £30m to seal a deal.
Now, the Whites and the 49ers are readying a move in January for Sara, with that price tag now dropping to £18m. Sara has fallen out of favour with Galatasaray following Ilkay Gundogan’s arrival and is ‘open to a move’ away, with Leeds the only club named in the report.
Sara’s last game in England for Norwich came at Elland Road in the 4-0 defeat to the Whites in the 2023/24 playoff semi-final second leg.
The 26-year-old starred during the regular 23/24 campaign with 25 goal involvements in 46 games, and by the looks of things, a return to England could be on the cards.
Leeds set to make imminent bid for Real Madrid ace after Farke convinces 49ers
The Whites are looking to bring in a new forward, having not scored enough goals so far this season.
ByDominic Lund
Should that be the case, Leeds will be getting a midfielder who Kenny McClean called the “full package”.
“Everyone can see his ability but he is now controlling games. He’s everywhere off the ball. That was a big thing when the new manager came in and he was really drumming that into him to be more aggressive, get against people and he is doing that. It was just consistency with him. For me, right now, he is the full package.”
Leeds open to selling £40k-p/w star who Firpo called "unbelievable" this January