Leeds United will have to stump up £1million to push through the signing of Luton Town defender James Justin this month, according to Football Insider.
The football news site claim that United have made an approach for the England Under-20 international as they look to land a new right-back after Luke Ayling underwent ankle surgery.
Football Insider report that Luton have informed Leeds that they will need to come up with £1million if they are to secure the signature of Justin, 18, before the 31 January cut-off.
The League Two leaders are reluctant to lose Justin at this stage of the season as they battle to try and win promotion to the third tier of English football.
Justin is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in the Football League after bursting onto the scene last season and he has been a mainstay of the team in the current campaign.
United have signed five players already this month, Belgian De Bock, Japan midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, who has moved to Spanish club Cultural Leonesa on loan for the rest of the season, Finnish centre-back Aapo Halme, striker Oliver Sarkic and goalkeeper Kamil Miazek.
There are also widespread reports they are close to sealing a sixth through the £2.5million capture of Adam Forshaw from Middlesbrough.
Good move for Leeds?
Justin is an England Under-20 international and a rising star. He has already accumulated 56 Luton appearances and proved to be real force on the right flank. It is some achievement to be a first-team regular for a division-topping side at such a tender age. But Leeds’ pursuit of Justin is not entirely logical, even though 2017-18 Championship ever-present Ayling is not expected to play again this season. Leeds are well stocked for right-backs, with Gaetano Berardi and Vurnon Anita proven performers in that position, and new left-back Laurens De Bock is set to make his debut against Millwall this weekend after signing from Club Brugges last week.
This Is Futbol rating 5//10
Likely to happen?
Justin is the typical signing of the Andrea Radrizzani/Victor Orta era, young, unproven in the Championship and with the potential to be a star of the future. Football Insider are a reliable source of Leeds news, breaking the story yesterday that United were working on a deal for Forshaw, and a deal this month cannot be ruled out, especially given the £1million asking price.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10