Leeds United are prepared to walk away from a deal to sign Swansea City attacker after extensive talks, according to the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper’s live transfer blog (Tuesday, 12.49pm) claims that the Championship leaders are “working hard” to agree terms before Thursday night’s deadline but have yet to settle on a fee for the 21-year-old.
The Mirror report Swansea are holding out for £12million for James, while Leeds would prefer a lower figure made up of a down payment and add-ons.
OPINION
Should Leeds be worried about this update from the usually-reliable David Anderson? Possibly, yes. The threat to walk away from the deal is likely to be brinkmanship from United, as this is a normal negotiating tactic for such big-money transfers when the parties can’t agree on the fee. It is still encouraging that negotiations are ongoing, although there are now only just over 48 hours left of wrangling. There’s no way on earth Leeds are going to match Swansea’s £12million valuation, not for a player who’s been in and out of the starting XI this season and has only scored one Championship goal. Even a £6million plus £4million of add-ons bid, as was reported by the Sun newspaper on Monday afternoon, seems a bit steep for a winger bursting with potential but who’s actual achievements so far amount to some exciting cameos and eyecatching moments, rather than anything in the way of matchwinning performances.