Leeds United are yet to approach Valencia’s young left-back Jesus Vazquez, leaving it more likely that their direct competitors in the transfer, Inter Milan, will acquire his signature.
Spanish media outlet Plaza Deportiva announced the Whites’ interest in the nineteen-year-old earlier this month, suggesting that a failure to receive the amount of match minutes stipulated in his contract left Vazquez free to leave the La Liga outfit.
Leeds were not alone in their pursuit of the young Spaniard however, as the same article reported that Serie A side Inter Milan were in the process of preparing a loan deal for Vazquez with a £6m option to buy him next summer written into the contract.
With only one senior left-back currently existing at the Yorkshire club in the form of Junior Firpo, a player who has hardly convinced the Elland Road faithful of his quality with his performances since signing during the summer of 2021, the full-back position is a crucial one for Jesse Marsch to fill in what could be a key window for securing the Whites’ Premier League status. It comes as no surprise, then, that someone such as Vazquez has been so heavily linked.
As per Italian media source Calciomercato, it now looks increasingly likely that out of the two clubs currently interested in Vazquez, it is Inter who are pursuing his signing more vigorously.
Leeds are yet to enter any form of discussion with Valencia regarding Vazquez’s transfer situation, whereas the Italian giants have reportedly approached the Spanish side expressing their interest.
Calciomercato also cite the imminent departure of Inter’s German left-back Robin Gosens, who is unhappy at the club after being relegated to the bench recently, as further evidence of why Vazquez’s signing would make more sense for the Italians than the Yorkshiremen.
Disappointing yet not damning
Out of the two clubs currently pursuing him, it would be difficult to blame the young Vazquez for choosing to sign for Inter Milan over Leeds. Not only do the Serie A side boast greater current prestige as shown through their regular Champions League participation, but they also express the greater desire to actually bring him to their club.
The rumoured departure of Gosens will also influence Vazquez’s decision as it provides him with an effective guarantee that Inter boss Simone Inzaghi will provide him with the regular first-team football which he is lacking at Valencia. Considering Jesse Marsch’s positive comments surrounding Firpo, it is possible that if he were to sign for the Whites, Vazquez would find himself second or – potentially – even third choice behind Firpo and Pascal Struijk.
As for Leeds, they should consider Vazquez lost and move on to another target, ideally one with significantly more experience who could easily slot in at left-back and bolster an unstable defensive line.
