Leeds United are ready to splash out £20m on a £15,000-a-week playmaker who has been compared to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, according to a new update.
Daniel Farke has had the Whites had a great season, but this weekend’s outcome in the Championship playoff final will determine whether the season is a success or not. With a return to the Premier League just a stone’s throw away, Leeds takes on Southampton at Wembley in what is still one of the greatest games in global football.
The impact that Leeds can have from being in the top tier cannot be understated, particularly in terms of the quality of players they can bring to Elland Road and the financial resources Farke will have this summer.
The Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove, who made 30 appearances in Serie A this season, is one of many players who have been linked to the Whites during the summer transfer window. Although Ryan Sessegnon’s career at Tottenham appears to have plateaued, the Englishman still has a lot of long-term promise at the age of 24. Sessegnon has emerged as another fascinating alternative.
Leeds is believed to have also inquired about the availability of Marius Wolf, a wing-back for Borussia Dortmund, believing that he might be a productive player when paired with Wilfried Gnonto on the right flank.
Leeds is eager to buy Manchester City rookie James McAtee for £20 million this summer, according to a recent report from Give Me Sport. Southampton, their opponents this weekend, is also reportedly interested in acquiring McAtee. That both teams might only look to sign a contract “if they succeed in coming out on top in the Championship playoff final at Wembley this weekend” emphasizes how crucial a win is on Sunday.
The Whites have reportedly “put plans in place to offer a permanent route out of parent club Manchester City” and are “huge admirers” of the 21-year-old.
Despite McAtee’s exceptional potential, it is difficult to see how he could ever succeed at the Etihad Stadium given the caliber of attacking midfield players City has in their lineup, like Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. The star player who earns £15,000 a week has excelled while on loan at Sheffield United, tallying 14 goals in 75 games; but, he may decide that it’s time to commit to a permanent move to another team.
With regular playing time and the potential to be a fantastic asset who adds quality and depth to the attacking third, Leeds may be the ideal fit for him in that regard. Former striker Carl Asaba has even likened the young player to Arsenal legend Odegaard because of his ability to play both centrally and on the right flank.
He is similar to Odegaard. When you play him in midfield, he defends you and provides another body for them to try to avoid, but he prefers to play with the ball thirty yards out because he can move by you as if you’re not there.”
That is strong praise given that Odegaard is now among the greatest players in the Premier League, and Leeds ought to make every effort to get McAtee on a permanent basis. The first significant obstacle to overcome is this weekend’s victory over the Saints.
