Leeds United are making waves in the transfer market as they gear up for their Premier League return, eyeing Newcastle’s Nick Pope and Sean Longstaff to bolster their ranks. The Red Bull-backed Yorkshire giants are determined to avoid the fate of the last six promoted clubs, who tumbled straight back into the Championship.
With Daniel Farke at the helm, Leeds are setting their sights on St James’ Park, plotting to lure two of Newcastle’s seasoned players, Pope and Longstaff, away from Tyneside. Pope, who joined the Magpies from Burnley in 2022, is just five appearances shy of a century for the club. However, with Newcastle reportedly closing in on James Trafford, Leeds sense an opportunity to swoop in.
While Newcastle value Trafford at £40m, they’re confident of negotiating a lower fee. Fabrizio Romano suggests that Pope is open to staying, but the prospect of being relegated to second-choice could open the door for Leeds. Romano confirms that Leeds have “shown interest” in the goalkeeper, though talks remain in their infancy.
Meanwhile, a deal for Sean Longstaff appears to be gathering momentum. According to The Athletic, Leeds are “closing in” on the 27-year-old midfielder, with a £10m bid plus £2m in add-ons already on the table. Personal terms with Longstaff have reportedly been agreed, but Newcastle are yet to respond to the latest offer.
Longstaff, whose contract expires in 2024, could be a shrewd acquisition for Leeds as they aim to solidify their midfield. But the Yorkshire club’s ambitions don’t stop there. Lille’s left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson is also on their radar, with the Swedish international reportedly flying to the UK on Sunday to finalize a £10m move.
Gudmundsson, a versatile defender with 137 appearances for Lille, including nine in last season’s Champions League, has been a standout performer in Ligue 1. He recently hinted at a summer exit, and Leeds appear to be his next destination. The deal is rumored to be all but concluded, though an official announcement is still pending.
Leeds have already made significant strides in the transfer window, securing the signatures of Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw. Gudmundsson would mark their fourth signing of the summer, further strengthening their squad for the challenges ahead.
With the Premier League season fast approaching, Leeds are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to establish themselves as a top-flight force. The potential acquisitions of Pope, Longstaff, and Gudmundsson could be the missing pieces in Farke’s puzzle.
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