OPINION
Leeds United could be on the verge of signing the next Kemar Roofe if they succeed in landing Portsmouth hotshot Jamal Lowe.
Speculation has intensified in the last 24 hours that the Championship leaders are hot on the heels of the 24-year-old attacker following his excellent half-season for the League One table-toppers.
Football Insider claim Leeds have opened preliminary discussions with Portsmouth over a deal for Lowe as they look to fend off interest from second-tier rivals West Brom, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough for his signature.
It is said that United director of football Victor Orta is leading the negotiations as Leeds look to recruit one of the outstanding attacking players in the Football League this season.
The club showed with their capture of Roofe from Oxford United in the summer of 2016 how they can plunder the lower leagues for relatively hidden gems.
Like Roofe did when winning the League Two player of the year in 2015-16, Lowe is making a name for himself with his displays as a versatile attacker capable of creating and scoring goals.
Principally a right-winger, the Pompey ace has scored 11 goals this season and supplied four assists in all competitions, proving a real handful for third-tier defences.
He looks capable of making the step up to the Championship and possibly even beyond after learning his trade at non-league level before moving to the south coast in 2016.
Lowe will not come cheap even though his Portsmouth contract expires in the summer of 2020, with a bid of £3million-plus likely to be needed to force a transfer.
But he could be a stunning addition to the Leeds ranks if Orta can pull off a deal.