The search for a new winger continues at Leeds United after the club failed to strike a deal for Igor Paixao, and one player continues to be touted with a move to Elland Road by Italian media.
Paixao’s 37 goals and assists for Feyenoord last season got fans excited. Adam Underwood saw a bid accepted for the Brazilian ace, with Leeds receiving an email from Feyenoord during the Paderborn game.
But of course, Marseille got their man with the Ligue 1 side always preferred by Paixao having qualified for the Champions League last season. Paixao has explained his decision to join Marseille this week.
Where do Leeds go next? A meeting has been held for Bilal El Khannouss, with Leeds willing to pay his £24.5m Leicester release clause. But other wingers are being linked with a move to Leeds this month.
Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
One name that has been linked with Leeds since the club missed out on Paixao, is Fiorentina wide man Riccardo Sottil. The player fits the bill for Adam Underwood when comparing him to other signings.
Sottil is 26, and stands at over 6ft – like Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Anton Stach. He has a contract at La Viola until the summer of 2027, but has returned after going on loan at Milan.
Leeds are understood to have held talks with Sottil, who had joined Milan for an initial £1m with a £9m permanent clause. On Tuesday, Leeds were linked with Sottil by TMW, alongside Torino and Sassuolo.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty ImagesGraham Smyth’s verdict on Leeds links with Riccardo Sottil
The Italian’s future at Fiorentina is over. Not only do TMW state in their article this week, that he is one of seven members that are surplus to requirements at Fiorentina, but he has also been left out of their tour.
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Fiorentina are currently in England on tour, staying at St. George’s Park. Leicester secured a 2-0 win over Fiorentina on the weekend, before the Italians then face Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
Sottil has been left at home. Fiorentina chose to leave him at home after he ‘sparked a brawl’ in one of their opening friendlies and have decided that it would be best if both parties part ways this summer.
But the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth reports that links with Sottil – and Ajax’s Mika Godts – are wide of the mark. But Italian media continue to push Leeds towards Sottil, so perhaps it is one to watch.