Leeds United have enjoyed a productive start to the summer transfer window, but Daniel Farke and the club’s recruitment team know there is still plenty of work to do before the new Premier League season begins.
The Whites got their business underway by signing Harry Wilson on a free transfer before making a significant investment to bring Tarik Muharemovic to Elland Road from Sassuolo in a ÂŁ34 million deal.
They have since completed the biggest signing of the summer, with James Trafford joining from Manchester City in a club-record ÂŁ45 million move to become Leeds’ new first-choice goalkeeper.
Not every transfer pursuit has ended successfully, however. Leeds missed out on Julian Brandt after the Germany international chose Ajax over a switch to West Yorkshire.
The Whites also look set to abandon their pursuit of Shea Charles after deciding not to meet Southampton’s valuation, forcing the club to turn its attention to alternative midfield targets.
Fulham are now closing in on a deal to sign the Saints midfielder this summer.
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Leeds suffer another major transfer blow
Leeds scouts watched Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa in action against Arsenal this week. He scored a stunning left-footed goal to steal the thunder in a 3-1 win for Real Betis.
Deossa rejected a move to Vasco Da Gama this summer and is now attracting interest from clubs such as Leeds, who have been keeping tabs on him.
However, any deal looks dead in the water at the moment, as according to ABC Seville, the midfielder does not want to leave Real Betis this summer.
The Spanish club have been planning to sell him, but he decided to ignore the offer from Vasco Da Gama and interest from Leeds and other clubs has not changed his mind.
Deossa is keen to stay at Real Betis after impressing during pre-season and wants to repay the faith Manuel Pellegrini has shown in him.
Betis want to sell him, but now face convincing a reluctant player to accept an offer before the end of the transfer window.
🤯💥 QUE PANCADA DO NELSON DEOSSA!
O colombiano soltou uma bomba, sem chances para o goleiro, e abriu 2 a 0 para o Real Betis! 🚀⚽
E aĂ… cadĂŞ os vascaĂnos que queriam a contratação dele quando o nome foi especulado? đź‘€
Depois de um golaço desses, será que ele cairia bem no… pic.twitter.com/oCfTkJs3yK
— SportyNet (@SportyNetBrasil) August 5, 2026
Do Leeds need Nelson Deossa or another midfielder?
Leeds United ended last season with plenty of options in midfield, so strengthening that area of the squad did not initially appear to be a major priority this summer.
However, their pursuit of Shea Charles suggested Daniel Farke believes there is still room to improve his midfield ahead of the new campaign.
A deal for the Southampton midfielder now looks unlikely, but Leeds could turn their attention to Nelson Deossa instead. If they decide to make a serious move for him, though, someone may have to leave to create space in the squad.
Ilia Gruev is currently recovering from a knee injury, making a move away before the deadline difficult. That could leave questions over the futures of Sean Longstaff and Ao Tanaka if Leeds sign another midfielder.
For now, however, the more sensible option may be for Farke to stick with his existing midfield choices for another season and use the club’s resources to strengthen areas where reinforcements are more urgently needed.
