Leeds United’s summer transfer window is already moving fast, and it’s not even July yet. The club has some real decisions to make, with free agent Julian Brandt emerging as a potential target and Illan Meslier officially out the door.
Meslier’s departure was confirmed earlier this month after his contract expired. The French goalkeeper spent seven years in West Yorkshire, but that run is over now. Without a new deal, he’s free to sign elsewhere, and the club will need to figure out who takes over in net.
That leads to Karl Darlow. The veteran keeper is currently set to walk away as a free agent too, but talks are still happening over a new deal. Nothing’s final yet. Manchester United has been mentioned as one of the clubs with interest, according to reports. So Leeds might lose two keepers this summer if they don’t lock Darlow down soon.
Brandt on the Radar
Julian Brandt’s name has popped up as a free agent option. The German attacker is available without a transfer fee, which obviously fits Leeds’ budget situation. Chairman Paraag Marathe has already said there will be sales this summer, so grabbing a player on a free could help balance things out. Nothing concrete yet, but it’s worth watching.
Gnonto Getting Attention
Willy Gnonto has drawn a transfer inquiry from Freiburg, per The Athletic from back in May. The winger hasn’t played as much as he’d like, and that’s not a great sign for a guy with his talent. A decision on his future is reportedly pending. If Freiburg comes with a real offer, Leeds might have to decide whether they want to keep him or cash in.
Sebastiaan Bornauw is another name in the mix. FC Koln wants defensive experience and has been linked with a summer move for the Belgian. It’s not clear if Bornauw even wants to leave, or if Leeds would okay it. But Koln’s interest seems real.
Struijk’s Clock Is Ticking
Pascal Struijk is entering the final year of his contract. Daniel Farke would prefer to keep the Dutch defender, but if they can’t agree on an extension, selling him this summer makes more sense than losing him for nothing next year. Expect interest to pick up as the window goes on.
Largie Ramazani had some decent moments on loan at Valencia, but his next step is a mystery right now. Nothing solid has emerged about his future. Could go a lot of different ways.
Bottom line: Leeds has a lot of irons in the fire, and the next few weeks should tell us a lot about what this squad will look like when the season starts.
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