Leeds United are on the lookout for a new centre-back after reaching a verbal agreement to sell Pascal Struijk to Premier League rivals Brighton this summer.
Struijk’s decision not to extend his contract left Leeds with little option but to sanction his departure, with Brighton moving quickly to secure a deal.
The Whites are set to receive an initial £15 million for the Dutch defender, with a further £3 million in performance-related add-ons included in the agreement.
Leeds have stepped up their efforts to seek a replacement for the centre-back, and several defenders are being assessed ahead of a final decision this summer.
The Whites express interest in Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly
The former Bournemouth and Newcastle United centre-back joined Juventus on loan in January last year before he was signed on a permanent deal in the summer.
He featured 35 times in Serie A last season and was a regular in their Champions League games as well. However, his future at Juventus is under the scanner.
According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato, Leeds have shown concrete interest in signing the Juventus centre-back in the ongoing window.
His Premier League experience, coupled with his Champions League showings, have convinced Leeds to try to sign the centre-back this summer.
Juventus have not decided to sell him yet and are in no rush to make a decision soon as they assess the market for players in the ongoing window.
The Serie A giants are open to turning a big profit by selling players, and they could still consider selling Kelly this summer.
However, any club hoping to sign the Englishman this summer will need to submit a substantial offer, as Juventus are only prepared to sell if they can make a significant profit on the deal.
Leeds have decisions to make
Signing a replacement for Struijk is one of Leeds’ biggest priorities this summer, and they are trying to minimise the risks in their pursuit of a centre-back.
Wolves’ Ladislav Krejci is their top target, but they may have to fork out a club-record fee as the relegated club are standing firm on their valuation.
Leeds are also reportedly working on a bid to sign Real Betis’ Natan, but he lacks Premier League experience and will be costly as well.
Kelly has emerged as one option for Leeds, and his Premier League experience could be a big reason why the Whites have their eyes on him.
However, they may not want to break the bank for the 27-year-old defender and will only start negotiations if Juventus are ready to accept a reasonable offer.
