Leeds United have been handed a worrying update amid their reported pursuit of Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra. Fellow newly promoted side, AFC Sunderland, are allegedly preparing a bumper £35million move for the midfielder.
The Whites were linked with a swoop for the Senegal international earlier this month but, now, Alan Nixon – via Patreon – claims the Black Cats are looking to pull of a major transfer coup.
Leeds reportedly submitted an offer for the 21-year-old in the region of £22million, which was said to have been rejected by the Ligue 1 side. Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Brighton have all been linked with a move for the playmaker this summer.
The Whites are understood to be in the market for an attacking midfielder and Diarra would fit into that mould. Nixon claims that Daniel Farke’s side have been trying to sign the Strasbourg man for a number of weeks, having impressed for Liam Rosenior’s side last season.
The report claims that Sunderland view the midfielder as an ideal replacement for Jobe Bellingham – following his own big-money move to Borussia Dortmund, which saw him follow in the footsteps of older brother Jude.
Nixon indicates that the Whites have been offering less that the proposed package being prepared by Sunderland, with the Black Cats confident a deal can be agreed and a medical being lined up.
Leeds have been pretty active so far in the summer transfer market, bringing in Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, while Jaka Bijol’s transfer from Udinese was also signed off earlier this month.
The Whites continue to be linked with a whole host of potential transfer targets with 49ers Enterprises, reportedly, giving Farke a budget in excess of £100million in an attempt to stave off relegation this season.
No newly promoted side has been able to avoid the drop in the last two campaigns, with Leeds hopeful of bucking that trend – when they return to the big time.
