Leeds United are in the market for at least three to four signings before the transfer window closes on September 1, and the club are working hard behind the scenes to set up deals.
Daniel Farke has recently indicated that the club will work until the final minutes of the transfer window to improve the team and fill gaps in his squad.
Leeds are still in the market for a striker, a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a winger. They are also exploring the possibility of signing one more centre-back if possible.
Farke is keen to add more attacking quality to his squad and is pushing the club to bring in an extra left-side forward before the end of the transfer window.
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Igor Paixao has been on Leeds United’s radar again this summer after they failed to sign him last year, when he chose to join French giants Marseille.
The French club have been trying to avoid selling the Brazilian this summer amid financial pressure, but the reality has hit them hard towards the end of the window.
Paixao is expected to move to the Premier League this summer, and Sunderland have reached a broad agreement over a deal to sign the winger this summer.
Leeds held talks with his representatives earlier in the window, but they never made a concrete offer for the Brazilian.
Marseille rejected a couple of bids from Sunderland, but according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, club owner Frank McCourt intervened and demanded the club accept an offer.
McCourt understood that they needed to cash in on Paixao amid increasing financial pressure, and Sunderland are now expected to profit from it.
The Brazilian has approved the terms on offer from Sunderland.
Should Leeds try to hijack the deal?
Leeds were wary of Marseille’s initial asking price, which was believed to be in excess of £42m, and they were not prepared to pay that figure.
However, Sunderland are nearing a deal with Marseille for somewhere around £25.7m and another £4.3m in add-ons, a significant drop from the French club’s initial asking price.
The Black Cats are making the most of Marseille’s desperation to sell players, and are close to finalising a deal for far less than his market value.
It is a fee Leeds can afford to pay this late in the transfer window, and crucially they know the terms needed to finalise an agreement to sign Paixao.
Leeds have been chasing Paixao since last summer, and if they really want him, there is no reason why they should not try to hijack his move to Sunderland this week.
If we Donovan quickly to get a patio after following closely for 2 years it’s bloody disgraceful. If the price was coming down as we all suspected it would we should have been the 1st in and done the deal quickly