Category: Leeds

After securing passage into the 2026/27 Premier League season for Leeds United, Daniel Farke said that he “was not the right choice” to continue at the helm if the Whites failed to match his ambition. It felt like a critical juncture for the Elland Road side, who did so well to avoid relegation back down to the Championship. Farke was the architect, shrugging off a reputation as a nearly man in the top flight like shackles enclosed round his wrists. The German is still gripping the reins, and he will be delighted to have seen the 49ers repay him, the team and the fans with ambition in the transfer market.

Harry Wilson has joined the club on a free transfer. What a signing that is. The £30m sale of Pascal Struijk to Brighton is less exciting, but it does keep Leeds in line with PSR. There is more to come.
Leeds submit new offer for top target

Leeds entered the summer transfer market knowing that they needed to add more creativity and sparkle to Farke’s outfit. Wilson will help in that regard, but more quality is needed. After all, Leeds are still in talks to pull off a statement move for Julian Brandt, who could be a “game-changer” for the Whites, according to German football journalist and editor of Ruhr Nachrichten.

But Farke is sharp of mind, and he recognises the need for deeper midfield signings too. Leeds continue to pursue a Championship superstar who could easily end up as the signing of the summer for the Yorkshire outfit.
As per the Dail Mail’s Simon Jones, Leeds have raised their bid for Southampton’s Shea Charles to £23m, having already seen an opening offer knocked back. Whether Saints accept that sum remains to be seen; there’s no question that they are going to continue to play hardball over the signature of one of a player who could take Leeds to the next level in the Premier League.

With Crystal Palace also entering the race for the former Manchester City youth prospect, it’s clear that Leeds need to get this over the line quickly to show Farke that they are indeed matching his ambition.
Why Shea Charles can be a superstar for Leeds

Farke has created a stable and progressive Leeds team. They have what it takes to defend their position in the Premier League next season, but supporters may actually be itching for a bigger piece of the pie. They need a couple of additions with superstar value. Easier said than done, but someone like Raphinha would go down a treat.

Wilson and Brandt could offer the kind of technical value that the Brazilian once produced at Elland Road, but it’s Charles who has the quality to develop into a world-class talent, having already been touted as a “future £50-60m player” by EFL expert Ali Maxwell. A physical and technical player, Charles has been hailed as “the complete midfielder” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, offering a robustness that could pay dividends for a United side looking for security to allow the more attack-minded players to thrive. It would be a real coup, with Charles showing enough promise to suggest that he could catch the eye of some pretty big fish down the line. In that, maybe, he could become the Whites’ new version of Raphinha, not packing the same stylistic punch, but growing into a big-money superstar attracting interest from the heaviest hitters about.

Shea Charles in the Championship

Stats (* per 90)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

43 (42)

33 (22)

Goals + assists

1 + 5

4 + 2

Touches*

61.1

52.5

Accurate passes*

34.5 (83%)

33.2 (85%)

Chances created*

1.3

0.8

Succ. dribbles*

0.7

0.6

Ball recoveries*

5.7

4.3

Def. contributions*

5.6

4.0

Duels won*

6.5 (59%)

4.7 (57%)

It’s interesting that he’s not even coming off the back of his strongest season in the Championship. After settling into his role on the major stage in 2023/24, Charles spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, playing an almighty part in the Owls’ 12th-place finish.

His campaign with Saints was somewhat more attritional, but there’s no question that he has demonstrated the talent needed to thrive in the Premier League, emulating Raphinha in becoming a superstar at Elland Road.

The 29-year-old Brazilian may have gone on to achieve Ballon d’Or contention for himself at Barcelona, picking up a couple of La Liga titles and posting 75 goals and 59 assists across 177 games, but he developed into that player at Leeds. Charles has the natural ability to do the same. Man City recognised it during the midfielder’s early years, and now, Farke’s Leeds could allow him to bloom. Let’s hope the 49ers get it done.

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Why £30m Leeds target is the perfect replacement for Pascal Struijk

Leeds United are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign a star who would be a better option than Pascal Struijk.

Leeds United face a mounting fight to re-sign Karl Darlow after the goalkeeper became a free agent on Tuesday, with competition emerging from the Premier League.Sky Sports reports that Everton are interested as they seek depth behind Jordan Pickford and Mark Travers, and that Leeds have offered fresh terms but Darlow is considering his options, with Manchester United also keen on a move.The 35-year-old would be a low-cost, low-risk addition, being homegrown, a Wales international and proven at the top level. He featured in 22 of Leeds’ 38 Premier League matches last season.Darlow covered for Illan Meslier during the 2024/25 promotion run, then slipped behind summer arrival Lucas Perri. He reclaimed the number one shirt earlier this year after two errors from his rival against Manchester United and Newcastle.Goalkeeper remains an uncertain position at Leeds, with Perri the only senior option under contract. A new deal is thought to have been verbally agreed with Alex Cairns, but nothing has been confirmed. Like Darlow, Illan Meslier is now a free agent and is attracting Premier League interest, namely from Arsenal, who might seek cover for first-choice David Raya.

Leeds United officially confirmed that central defender Pascal Struijk has been sold to Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday. The Dutchman had one year left on his contract at Elland Road and opted against putting pen to paper on an extension at Elland Road, which left the club with little choice but to cash in on him. Because the left-footed star joined on a free transfer from Ajax in January 2018, the £20m transfer fee for him represents pure profit for the club and will help them with their PSR situation.

Without boring anyone with the intricate details of how it works, the Whites can bank the transfer as pure profit because they did not sign him for a transfer fee, which would not be the case if they sold a player who had been bought for £5m or £15m. Now, though, the West Yorkshire outfit must use that money wisely to replace the former Ajax ace, as they are now down a left-footed centre-back option.
Leeds are in talks to sign LaLiga star

Struijk, who made 196 appearances for the first-team in all competitions during his time at Elland Road, was the only naturally left-footed centre-back in Daniel Farke’s squad.

Now, the club are reportedly looking at a player who could arrive in West Yorkshire this summer as the perfect replacement for the £20m-rated star.
According to journalist Fran Campos Vazquez, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Real Betis centre-back Natan in the summer transfer window. The reporter claims that the Whites have already made contact with the LaLiga side to enquire and open talks about what a deal for the Brazilian star could look like this off-season.

He adds, though, that fellow Premier League side Brentford and Italian giants Roma are also eyeing up the 25-year-old, which means that it will not be an easy deal to get over the line. Earlier this summer, Mundo Deportivo reported that Real Betis are looking for a fee of up to €35m (£30m) for the central defender, who has also been looked at by Barcelona.
How Natan can be an upgrade on Pascal Struijk for Leeds United

One factor to consider when replacing Struijk is that he offered a natural left-footed balance when playing out from the back in the left-sided centre-back role.

Natan is a left-footed central defender and would perfectly replace the Dutchman to offer balance when playing out on that side, having completed 88% of his attempted passes in LaLiga in the 2025/26 campaign. The £30m-rated star was described as an “elegant left-footed CB” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, which is backed up by his 88% pass accuracy and 95% pass accuracy inside his own half.

25/26 season

Natan (LaLiga)

Struijk (Premier League)

Appearances

33

34

Tackles + interceptions

2.1

2.0

Clearances per game

6.6

6.1

Dribbled past per game

0.3x

0.5x

Blocks made per game

0.7

0.6

Fouls committed per game

0.8

0.8

Natan is not only a ball-playing centre-back, though, as he also posted more impressive defensive numbers in LaLiga than Struijk did in the Premier League for Leeds, outperforming him in a host of metrics. Only three players made more clearances in the Spanish top-flight than the Real Betis star, who made 217 clearances in 33 matches, which speaks to both his positioning and his reading of the game.

He could arrive at Elland Road to be an upgrade on the Dutchman, who only left this week, by being more consistent defensively, whilst being as impressive as a ball-playing left-footed centre-back.
At the age of 25, he would also join as an experienced player who has proven himself over several seasons, including in the 2024/25 Conference League campaign.

Natan played 15 matches in the Conference League in the season before last and won 68% of his ground duels and 57% of his aerial duels, which shows that he can be a dominant presence on the European stage, if Leeds get there in the future.

He also won 65% of his physical battles across 31 appearances in LaLiga that season, dominating attackers on a regular basis, which shows that he has two impressive seasons of LaLiga football under his belt. That is why the Whites should now push to beat Brentford and Roma to his signature in the coming days, because he would arrive as the perfect replacement for Struijk, potentially even being an upgrade.

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£40m striker wanted: How Leeds are planning to replace Calvert-Lewin

Leeds United are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign a new centre-forward who could rival Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Leeds United have confirmed the exit of Pascal Struijk to Brighton this week, as it’s confirmed the Whites had to fast-track a sale to comply with PSR.

United’s summer transfer window is all about strengthening further to consolidate in the Premier League under Daniel Farke.

However, there’s an added priority on the agenda now. The club are forced to replace Pascal Struijk with another left-sided centre-back.

Leeds United confirm Pascal Struijk exit to Brighton – Contrasting fee reports emerge

Ever since the season’s end, there’s been consistent reports suggesting that Struijk leaving wouldn’t be that much of a shock.

Heading into the final 12 months of his contract, United were at a crossroads. Either convince him to extend his contract, or we’d be forced to sell him in order to avoid a free transfer exit next summer.

Brighton are the club that have pushed through a sale at the end of June. Contrasting reports from each side of the deal mean there’s a slight difference in what the actual fee is.

Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell cites both Leeds and Brighton sources, with the former claiming it’s £18million plus £2million in add-ons, while Seagulls sources claim it’s £15million up front with £3million in add-ons.

Leeds United forced into PSR sale on Pascal Struijk – But included important sell-on clause

Such a fee for someone who has been as consistent as Struijk is a hard pill to swallow. When you see the absurd fees being spent on players elsewhere, Struijk should be going for so much more.

But, it’s clear that Leeds were in a tight PSR situation that forced our hand into selling. That’s outlined by the club’s statement on Struijk’s exit.

“Last summer, the decision was taken to keep all key players at Elland Road, to give the club the best possible chance of Premier League survival, with the expectation that player sales would be needed to remain PSR (Profit & Sustainability Rules) compliant over a three-year accounting window ending 30th June 2026.

“The club’s higher than expected 14th place finish and run to the Emirates FA Cup semi-final vindicated this decision, with the increased income and single sale of Struijk ensuring the club remains within PSR limits.”

Importantly, Leeds’ fairly underwhelming fee for Struijk is softened by the inclusion of a sell-on clause. United didn’t confirm the percentage we’re entitled to from any future sale, though.

As is typical of these clause, Leeds will earn a percentage of any profit made on Brighton’s £18million signing of Struijk. Given their track record of selling players for inflated sums, it’s a potentially smart clause to include.

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For all of Leeds United’s success last season, it looks like they have not done enough to keep hold of Pascal Struijk. The central defender is heading to Brighton & Hove Albion a year before his Elland Road deal ends, with the Whites set to receive around £20m. It’s a frustrating blow for Daniel Farke, who has little choice but to watch on as a player brings the curtains down on an eight-year spell in Yorkshire.

Replacing Struijk after so many years won’t be a routine task, but the 49ers have already got a number of names lined up who could do exactly that.
Who could replace Struijk at Leeds?

The task becomes even tougher for Leeds after arguably Struijk’s best season at Elland Road. The 26-year-old featured in 34 of 38 Premier League games and started 33. He was the consistent member of Farke’s backline. Even as the German switched to a back five, Struijk remained crucial.

Nonetheless, there’s no standing in the way of his exit and Leeds have been forced to assess their options ahead of their second campaign back in the top flight. It’s seen names like Nico Elvedi emerge and the fact that he’s worked with Farke in the past should certainly boost any transfer chances. Whether that’s enough to tempt the 49ers into matching Borussia Mönchengladbach’s £9m asking price remains to be seen, however.
Instead, the American owners could land a player who’s already got Premier League experience. According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have opened talks to sign Ladislav Krejci from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer. The Czech Republic captain spent the second-half of last season on loan at Girona and is now heading back to Wolves, who are looking for a hefty £40m to sell their defender.

Leeds United’s most expensive signings of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Georginio Rutter

£35.5m

Hoffenheim

2023

2

Brenden Aaronson

£28.5m

RB Salzburg

2022

3

Rodrigo

£26m

Valencia

2020

4

Dan James

£25m

Man Utd

2018

5

Luis Sinisterra

£21m

Feyenoord

2022

As a result of that, he would become their biggest transfer in Leeds history. It would be quite the move.
Why Krejci could be Leeds’ dream replacement

Krejci’s ability to play in a back three has particularly attracted Farke and Leeds in their system, but there remains question marks over their ability to spend what would be a club-record asking price. After all, it’s easy to write relegated players off, particularly when they’ve just endured the nightmare that Leeds are desperate to avoid.

Ask some of the top clubs in England, however, and they’ll be quick to point out some incredible deals. Think Andy Robertson and Georginio Wijnaldum to Liverpool. They entered as relegated stars and left as serial winners.

Leeds now have the chance to swoop in and land Krejci in similar fashion. The 6 foot 2 defender has shown plenty of promise despite difficult collective campaigns at Wolves and Girona, and certainly deserves another shot at the Premier League.

Struijk vs Krejci – 2025/26 Premier League

Stats (* = per 90)

Struijk

Krejci

Minutes

2,937

2,361

Tackles*

1.2

1.22

Duel success*

55.6%

50.2%

Recoveries*

3.62

3.01

Pass success*

88.5%

82.5%

In a struggling Wolves side last season, Krejci still proved his worth at times. He particularly impressed off the ball, winning more tackles than Struijk per game, and may at least get the chance to improve his passing numbers in a more complete side like Leeds.

What is important to note is how tall the defender is. It’s become quite the theme at Elland Road since their return to the Premier League and replacing Struijk’s 6 foot 2 frame is just as important as replacing his defensive ability. Krejci, standing at the same height, would arguably do both. Whether or not he’s a £40m player remains to be seen, but they need a replacement and a Premier League-proven one is certainly a good idea. Losing the Brighton-bound star will be a major blow, but that exit once again allows Leeds to dip into the market and welcome an ideal replacement this summer.

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Better signing than Brandt: Leeds in talks to sign “exciting” World Cup star

Leeds United are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign a star who would be an even better signing than Julian Brandt.

Leeds United corner flag. Credit: Imago

Leeds United had a slow start to the summer transfer window, until the events of last week. It was revealed that the Whites had agreed a deal to sign Harry Wilson.

Wilson will leave Fulham when his contract expires and will join Leeds as a free agent.

Most Read on The Leeds Press

His arrival has been highly anticipated; a player who managed 19 goal contributions in all competitions last season. The Welsh international is set to bring attacking threat and creativity to the first team.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the formalities surrounding the move have been finalized.

Wilson will sign a four-year deal, on higher wages than he was at his previous club. There were many suitors after him this summer.

Leeds United confirm major departure

When this past season ended, Leeds United Chairman Paraag Marathe spoke about transfer plans this summer.

In his statement, he made it clear that the club would have a logical approach to the window. Marathe also highlighted the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules that will be in place this summer.

His submission pointed to the fact that if the Whites are to spend big, they will need to sell some players.

Leeds United have confirmed their first summer departure; Pascal Struijk will leave the club to join Brighton ahead of next season.

MORE TO FOLLOW

An extraordinary man who refuses to let a devastating diagnosis define him is capturing hearts across the country as he aims to raise a staggering £100,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.Matt Cox, who was diagnosed with the progressive disease just 12 months ago, has already seen his mobility heavily impacted.

Today, he relies on a dedicated support team and his incredibly loving family to push him in a wheelchair for the majority of his gruelling fundraising challenges.Yet, despite his rapidly fading physical strength, Matt’s mental grit is stronger than ever. This Sunday, he is determined to leave his wheelchair behind and walk the final four miles of the high-profile Wales marathon between Tenby and Pembroke.For Matt, every step is a personal victory and a chance to, in his own words, “put two fingers up to MND.”Matt’s fundraising journey has been nothing short of legendary. In April, he tackled the iconic London Marathon, emotional footage of which showed him courageously walking the final mile across the finish line. Weeks later in Leeds, he doubled it – walking the final two miles.
Now, as the marathon arrives on Welsh soil, Matt is doubling the stakes yet again.“I am absolutely determined to raise £100,000 to support the MND Association, a charity which continues to do so much to not only support me, but the 5,000 others who are living with MND in the UK right now,” Matt said.“The last few weeks have been really tough. I know MND is slowly taking away my mobility, but that makes me want to do even more.

“In London I walked for the last mile, in Leeds I walked for the last two, so I’m doubling it to walk four in Wales.”
“My next challenge will be the Great North Run in September where I will walk for the last eight miles. “I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me so far, including the MND community which has been incredible. Every penny we raise will make a huge difference.”Behind every great athlete is an incredible team, and Matt is no exception. His family and close friends have remained firmly by his side through every unimaginable challenge over the past year, acting as his literal and emotional pillars of strength.With his sight firmly set on hitting that massive £100,000 milestone, Matt’s defiance in the face of adversity is proving to be a true beacon of hope for the entire MND community.How to support MattShow your support for Matt along the marathon route this Sunday between Tenby and Pembroke.To learn more about his journey, share his story, or make a vital donation to his £100,000 goal, visit the MND Association.

By John Baron

A drainage failure which leaves Tong Road flooded and Farnley Falcons’ pitches unusable could soon be resolved, a councillor has said.

WLD featured in January how  persistent surface water runoff from Butt Lane Playing Fields has repeatedly flooded the road and pavement – leaving dangerous ice in winter and ongoing damage to the road. In February Farsley resident Peter Allison raised the issues with councillors on the Outer West Community Committee.

At today’s Outer West Community Committee meeting, Councillor Kate Haigh (Labour, Farnley & Wortley) had raised the issue with Leeds City Council and said a CCTV survey had revealed one of the culverts had been blocked and that it will be jetted and cleared in the coming weeks.

She said different options to improve drainage had been discussed and that investigations were ongoing, including options to upsize a pipe.

“We are hoping to have a solution soon,” she added.

Leeds City Council had said it was committed to finding the source of the issue and had been working collaboratively across various services and the rugby club to try and find a way to resolve the problems as soon as possible.

Credit: Imago

Leeds United are ramping up their efforts to bring in new players ahead of the start of pre-season preparations in the next couple of weeks.

The club have an agreement in place to sign Harry Wilson on a free transfer, and the deal will likely go through sometime this week once he is formally out of his Fulham contract.

Most Read on The Leeds Press

Leeds are also in talks with Julian Brandt and are trying to convince him to move to Elland Road over interest from two Champions League clubs this summer.

The Whites are close to finalising a new deal with Karl Darlow, but signing a goalkeeper remains a priority, and they have made a move for a long-term target in the Premier League.

Read More: Leeds United preparing a bid for World Cup goalkeeping star

Newcastle name asking price for Nick Pope

Nick Pope has been heavily linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer and has only a year left on his contract at St. James’ Park.

The Magpies have already signed a new goalkeeper and want to sign one more, a move that will require Pope’s departure in the ongoing transfer window.

He has been regularly linked with a move to Leeds, and according to Football Insider, the Whites have registered interest in signing him this summer.

Leeds are interested in Pope and are trying to gauge the financial aspects of a deal that would see him move to Elland Road in the ongoing window.

Newcastle are ready to sell him, but are expected to hold out for a fee of around £10m to £12m before agreeing to let Pope go.

There were suggestions that given his contract situation and age, Newcastle would be ready to accept somewhere around £5m for the goalkeeper.

However, it seems Newcastle are not prepared to sell him for a cut-price figure.

Leeds will likely sell Lucas Perri

Lucas Perri slipped down the pecking order midway through last season and spent the second half of the campaign largely confined to cup matches after losing his place in the Premier League side.

With Karl Darlow expected to sign a new contract and Leeds pushing to bring in another goalkeeper this summer, Perri’s future at Elland Road looks increasingly uncertain.

The club are willing to listen to offers for the Brazilian once a replacement arrives, with all signs pointing towards an exit before the transfer window closes.

Perri never did enough to convince the coaching staff that he was ready to be Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League, and a summer departure now appears to be the most likely outcome.

Leeds United have a huge hole to fill in the squad as left-sided centre-back Pascal Struijk leaves for Brighton in a £20million deal.

News broke on Saturday night that United have sanctioned a deal to see the longest-serving player in Daniel Farke’s squad leave.

A verbal agreement had been reached between the Whites and Brighton for Pascal Struijk to move for £20million. However, reports on Sunday evening revealed Leeds are actually banking £15million with a further £3million in add-ons.

The rationale for Leeds was Struijk’s reluctance to extend his contract beyond 2027, meaning Leeds either cashed in, or faced losing him for nothing in 12 months.

Now, the 49ers’ task is replacing what Farke described previously as one of the “cornerstones” of the club. Not only just a generally crucial figure in United’s squad, but a rare asset as a left-footed centre-back at the peak of his powers, tasked with a key role in our buildup.

So, it’s not a straightforward replacement job.

Here, I look at a host of individuals I think Leeds should have on the shortlist to replace Struijk…

Ladislav Krejci – Wolves

The most strongly linked name is Wolves and Czechia centre-back Ladislav Krejci. A similar age to Struijk, Krejci wouldn’t have huge resale potential at Elland Road, but would certainly fill the void left by Struijk.

While we’d be losing some of the upside of Struijk’s prowess on the ball, Krejci would improve Leeds’ athleticism down the left, as well as the 27-year-old’s impressive ability to attack set pieces.

Wolves’ relegation opens the door for Krejci to leave at a somewhat modest sum. He joins the Molineux club permanently this summer on a £26million obligation to buy.

You’d imagine Wolves would be happy to break even on that fee.

Maxime Esteve – Burnley

Staying with relegated Premier League talent, a name that’s warming to me the more I think of him is Burnley’s Maxime Esteve.

I think it’s really harsh to tar relegated players with the same brush as not good enough. James Justin falls into that category and is one of the standout signings we made.

Esteve at 23 has a very high ceiling, and would definitely look much more suited to a side not losing most weeks in uninspiring fashion.

Like Struijk, the Frenchman would take plenty of responsibility on the ball, as well as provide solid aerial presence. Importantly, Esteve would add much more pace to the side when covering wide areas.

Frustratingly, Esteve penned a five-year deal last summer, meaning he is contracted until 2030 and might command a handsome fee.

Jhon Lucumi – Bologna

On the other end of the contract situation is Bologna and Colombia star Jhon Lucumi, heading into the final 12 months of his deal.

A starring performance at the heart of a back four against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Lucumi could be exactly what Leeds need at the back.

Again, he’s comfortable having plenty of the ball, and a physically robust centre-back.

When exploring the options that would come within Leeds’ budget and not spill over into other priorities, Lucumi might be that man.

Tarik Muharemovic – Sassuolo

Staying in the Serie A, Sassuolo and Bosnia’s aggressive Tarik Muharemovic has experienced the best and worst of a World Cup group stage.

There’s been some superb box defending from the 23-year-old, while he missed their final game of the group stages after a red card against Switzerland.

At 6ft4in, Leeds could add serious height and physicality to the squad with the Bosnian. He’s another too, at 23, that has the upside of potentially being worth even more in years to come.

Albian Hajdari – Hoffenheim

Another aggressive centre-back is Hoffenheim’s Kosovan star Albian Hajdari, whose trajectory in the Bundesliga is only going one way.

He’s only been in the German top flight for one season after leaving Swiss side Lugano. But, he’s taken to the challenge of an elite league with relative ease.

Hajdari, 23, might be something of a risk after relatively little experience at the top level, though his start to life at Hoffenheim promises a lot.

Konstantinos Koulierakis – Wolfsburg

Also in Germany, Wolfsburg’s shock relegation is no doubt catching the eye of clubs across Europe to potential bargains.

22-year-old Greek centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis is one of those that could easily be offered a route to a better club.

A four-goal haul in the Bundesliga despite his side’s struggles is a worthy plus. Leeds are strong at attacking set pieces, so replacing Struijk with another formidable attacking threat would be superb.

Nathan Ake – Manchester City

Perhaps a bold shout, but Nathan Ake doesn’t look to be a core part of the plans at Manchester City, out of contract in a year.

18 appearances for Man City in the league last season suggests he could get more regular playing time elsewhere.

There’ll be plenty of interest in the Dutchman’s services, should he be free to leave the Etihad. However, we proved with Harry Wilson that we’re capable of muscling into these conversations.

As left-sided centre-backs go, Ake would be a statement coup to add experience and starting quality.

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