Leeds United might well count themselves out of a move for one of their rumoured transfer targets after another club saw a £25m transfer bid rejected.
Leeds United aren’t shy of spending money this summer. Already, Daniel Farke has spent £74million on new signings, with seven having arrived at Thorp Arch so far this summer.
The most recent is Lucas Perri. Leeds United have signed Perri from Lyon in a £14million deal and he will replace Illan Meslier in goal ahead of next season.
But he’s not the most expensive signing for the 49ers this summer. Anton Stach has joined Leeds United in an initial £17m move which could quickly rise up to £20m with add-ons.
After reports earlier in the summer stated that Leeds have a £150m transfer budget for this window, it leaves Farke with £76million and for a while it looked as though £30m would be spent on Igor Paixao.
However, that move has fallen through. Instead, a similar amount could be spent on Manchester City’s James McAtee.
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesNottingham Forest have bid rejected for Leeds United transfer target James McAtee
Leeds United have held an interest in McAtee since the start of the year, and now following promotion to the Premier League, it looks as though Leeds could make their move. However, Farke’s side are not alone in their pursuit of the 22-year-old Manchester City man.
It is understood that McAtee has strong interest from the Bundesliga as well as from the Premier League with Nottingham Forest. Reports earlier in the month revealed how Nottingham Forest were plotting a £25m bid for McAtee, and now journalist for Fabrizio Romano has revealed on X that Man City have in fact rejected an official bid worth around £25m from Nottingham Forest for McAtee.
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Recent reports revealed how Man City could command closer to £40m for McAtee this summer: the same fee that they previously sold Cole Palmer for in 2023.
The latest on Leeds United’s search for a new number 10
It’s been reported that Leeds will focus on attacking signings, having now signed a new goalkeeper, several defenders, and two central midfielders in Sean Longstaff and Stach. Specifically, Leeds want a new number 10, a new winger, and a new striker, and there are several candidates to arrive in the new number 10 position, one being McAtee.
But with Forest having seen a £25m bid rejected for McAtee, it suggests that Man City are wanting more, and Leeds United may be wary of going over that amount for McAtee, or for any player for that matter, as we’ve seen with the Paixao saga.
Elsewhere, Leeds United are linked with both Emi Buendia and Gustavo Hamer, but a move for the latter may now be in doubt after it was revealed that Leeds United are in negotiations with Hamer, but that talks aren’t going all that well, with Hamer not particularly sold on a move to Elland Road this summer.
Meanwhile, Leeds are yet to make a formal approach for Buendia at Aston Villa, though the Argentine is free to leave Villa Park this summer and Leeds hold a definite interest in the former Norwich City man.
Right now then, it doesn’t seem as though a move for a new number 10 is very advanced, but there are names on the radar, and things can quickly change, as we’ve already seen this summer.