Leeds United may reignite their bid to sign Daniel James from Swansea City in June, according to a reliable journalist.
Mirror correspondent David Anderson reported on his personal Twitter account on Friday morning that the Yorkshire giants have not given up hope of landing the Wales international despite the last-minute collapse of the deadline-day deal.
Anderson explained Leeds will continue to monitor James “and may return for him in June” but could “set their sights higher” if they secure promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds will also monitor James and may return for him in June. But if they win promotion, they may set their sights higher. Good luck to Swansea trying to get anything out of James in the rest of the season after leaving him high and dry…
— David Anderson (@MirrorAnderson) February 1, 2019
OPINION
Given that James was Leeds’ No1 target in January, and the only senior attacker they were keen on landing in the final week of the window, it would appear strange if that interest then completely fell away. The move did not collapse because of the 21-year-old. He was eager to join United and had complete a medical and was waiting at Elland Road to sign the contract when the rug was pulled from under the feet of the deal. Marcelo Bielsa is a massive admirer of James and the good news for Leeds is that he will be even cheaper in the summer, when he will have just 12 months remaining on his contract. Leeds could land him for quite a few million less than the fee they all but agreed on a final day of a window in which they lost one of their most gifted players in Samuel Saiz, and failed to adequately replace him. That is poor planning, and once again demonstrates what a piffling budget Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta are working with.