Leeds United wants to sign a Premier League talent worth £4 million more than Millwall

In need of defensive reinforcements this summer, Leeds United will compete with three Championship clubs to recruit a center-back from the Premier League.

The Whites lost to Southampton 1-0 in the championship game at Wembley on Sunday, meaning they will have to play another difficult season of second-tier football. This was the team’s third straight loss versus the Saints in the current campaign.

The outcome may have a negative impact on the club’s capacity to spend big during the summer transfer window. Leeds have £190 million in outstanding credit from player purchases, according to football financial expert Kieran Maguire. Of that amount, £73 million must be paid by the end of June, which means Daniel Farke’s team will need to start selling before they can buy.

Furthermore, a number of players most likely won’t be at Elland Road for the upcoming season if they don’t get promoted. Joe Rodon, a central defender on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, had an incredible season in West Yorkshire. However, the latter team is requesting between £10 and $15 million for his permanent signing, therefore Sunday’s match against Southampton might have been his last for the team.

Leeds United will therefore need to be more astute in the transfer market and sign players who have a lot of potential for affordable prices. Journalist Ben Jacobs claims that the board has set their sights on Alfie Gilchrist, a defender for Chelsea who could be a good substitute for Rodon.

According to Jacobs, the Whites will face competition from Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End in Lancashire for the signature of the Premier League center-back. Millwall has already been connected to the 20-year-old, whose market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be £4.2 million. However, any transfer will only take the shape of a loan agreement.

Author’s Perspective

This season, Gilchrist progressed through Chelsea’s youth and made 17 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, including 11 in the Premier League. But now that Mauricio Pochettino, the man who gave him his Stamford Bridge debut, has departed the team, the young center defender might be considering his alternatives.

For Gilchrist, perhaps a loan arrangement would be the best choice. With Thiago Silva leaving, he still has a future in West London, but he will require more regular playing time to make sure his growth doesn’t stall. He could be able to get this from Millwall, Blackburn, Preston, and Leeds United.