{"id":320988,"date":"2025-08-05T23:02:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T23:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/320988\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T23:02:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T23:02:14","slug":"fabrizio-romano-reveals-premier-league-rival-closing-in-on-leeds-united-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/320988\/","title":{"rendered":"Fabrizio Romano reveals Premier League rival \u2018closing in\u2019\u00a0on Leeds United target"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leeds United have shifted their focus towards attacking additions ahead of the 2025\/26 Premier League season.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Leeds United<\/a> have brought in seven players, but only one is a forward player. Daniel Farke has since reiterated the need for attackers<\/a> to join his ranks by the time they face Everton in a little under two weeks.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, it was reported that\u00a0Leeds will now target forwards in the transfer window<\/a>. Beren Cross has since named\u00a0the four areas he believes Leeds will sign players<\/a>\u00a0before the deadline.<\/p>\n

The club will not stop looking at the ambitious\u00a0\u2018reach\u2019 signings Graham Smyth has previously explained<\/a>. One of those, for much of the summer so far, has been Evann Guessand<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"ACFPhoto by Stu Forster\/Getty ImagesLeeds target Evann Guessand set for Aston Villa move<\/p>\n

Leeds want to make Premier League football stick. The 49ers<\/a>\u00a0have the resources and infrastructure to ensure that is the reality, having seen previous regimes fail to maintain it at Elland Road before. However, strength in both boxes is paramount.<\/p>\n

A winger with serious height and physicality could offer an alternative solution. A player who can also be versatile to operate in a number of forward roles is absolutely essential this summer. One such option is OGC Nice\u2019s versatile attacker.<\/p>\n

It was claimed many months ago that Tottenham and Leeds both tracked Guessand<\/a> last season, following an incredible campaign with OGC Nice. The forward can play as a wide player or striker and\u00a0he scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists last season.<\/p>\n

The problem has always been the sheer volume of competition, though. Wolverhampton Wanderers also liked Guessand<\/a>. It even looked as though Wolves would win the Guessand race at one stage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES<\/p>\n

Then, Jose Mourinho\u2019s Fenerbahce entered the frame for Guessand<\/a>. However, the 24-year-old has ended up elsewhere in the Premier League. That\u2019s because Aston Villa appear to have won the race.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udfe3\ud83d\udd35 Aston Villa are closing in on Evann Guessand deal with OGC Nice and player\u2019s camp.<\/p>\n

Negotiations for \u20ac35m fee at final stages with details being sorted between clubs.<\/p>\n

Player said yes to #AVFC<\/a> with details of his contract also being finalised. Follows @Santi_J_FM<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/ChgDCVZd8J<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Fabrizio Romano has since published a pair of updates on Guessand, with a \u20ac35 million (\u00a330.4 million) deal agreed for the forward to bolster Villa\u2019s forward ranks.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udfe3\ud83d\udd35 Evann Guessand to Aston Villa, here we go! Verbal agreement in place after \u20ac30m plus \u20ac5m add-ons bid accepted.<\/p>\n

OGC Nice authorized Guessand to travel for medical and contract signing as next steps. New striker for Unai Emery. pic.twitter.com\/hYPZxPdKCB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Romano then stated a verbal agreement is in place between Guessand and Villa and a medical is the next steps to take place before a deal is fully sealed.<\/p>\n

\"SevillaPhoto by DAX Images\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesDodi Lukebakio would be ideal for Leeds\u2019 winger problem<\/p>\n

Leeds fans want Dodi Lukebakio<\/a> as an alternative to Igor Paixao or even Guessand following the latest reveal regarding Villa.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old Sevilla forward was signed to the club in Victor Orta\u2019s first summer and \u00a0Leeds should be looking at Lukebakio<\/a>\u00a0as a replacement for the output Manor Solomon put out last season.<\/p>\n\nTeam\/Season<\/td>\nAppearances<\/td>\nGoals<\/td>\nAssists<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSevilla \u2013 2024\/25<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSevilla \u2013 2023\/24<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nHertha Berlin \u2013 2022\/23<\/td>\n33<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Dodi Lukebakio\u2019s recent career form<\/p>\n

His ability to cut inside from out to in on the left is missed when he operates from the right-hand side. Willy Gnonto would benefit from a signing like Lukebakio, too.<\/p>\n

Lukebakio would be a bigger signing than Jaka Bijol<\/a>\u00a0or Anton Stach. Not only does he have reliable output, but Lukebakio has the height, size, and athleticism as well.<\/p>\n