Leeds United transfer rumours as Whites eye Ecuadorian…

Leeds United transfer rumours as Whites eye Ecuadorian midfielder, Kalimuendo update

Here are the latest Leeds United transfer rumours on Sunday, 7 August.

Leeds 'eye Ecuadorian midfielder'

Leeds United are reportedly set to join Napoli and Leicester City in the race to sign Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes this summer.

A report from French outlet Jeunes Footeux claims that the Whites have watched the Ecuadorian international, who has scored 12 goals and provided 12 assists in 68 outings in Major League Soccer.

The report adds that an unnamed Ligue 1 club are also interested in the 23-year-old. Cifuentes’ contract expires in December 2023 and he is valued at around £5m.

Cifuentes has featured eight times for Ecuador and could represent his country at the 2022 World Cup. He also scored the winning goal against Argentina, as Ecuador U20s lifted the 2019 South American U20 Championship.

He went onto play at the 2019 U20 World Cup, a tournament which also featured Luis Sinisterra and Erling Haaland, scoring the winning goal against the United States to reach the semi-finals.

Kalimuendo update

Paris Saint-Germain advisor Luis Campos is willing to sell Arnaud Kalimuendo amid strong interest from Leeds United, claims journalist Ben Jacobs.

However, the report adds that the recently-appointed PSG boss Christoph Galtier is keen on the France U21 forward and would prefer to sell Argentinian forward Mauro Icardi.

Kalimuendo has also attracted interest from French side Stade Rennes after scoring 12 goals during his loan spell at RC Lens last season.

Leeds have reportedly tabled a £16.7m bid for Kalimuendo but PSG have told the Whites that they value the 20-year-old at £22m. After missing out on Charles de Ketelaere, Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani revealed in an interview with The Athletic on Friday that the Whites were monitoring an attacker.

However, Radrizzani did insist that Leeds won’t be held to ransom over any deals.

“I’m really relaxed with the team and confident that we will do well. We are actively monitoring and discussing with Jesse and Victor. We are still looking at an opportunity for an offensive player. It could be a number nine or it could be a number nine/10,” Radrizzani revealed.

“We don’t know yet that depends on the profile. Also a left-back because of the injury to Junior [Firpo] but anyway he is coming back soon so we are monitoring. We don’t have to do a deal at any cost”

Orta dismisses Guedes links

Leeds sporting director Victor Orta has labelled links to Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes as ‘clickbait’.

Speaking to Radio Marca, Orta said: “Guedes to Leeds is just clickbait. I have never spoken to Guedes, his agent or Valencia about this. There is absolutely nothing at all."

Guedes scored 13 times in 42 appearances for Valencia last term but Valencia are looking to offload key players to tackle their financial woes and facilitate their policy of promoting players from their own academy.

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