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Kinnear: We will pursue Daniel James

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Image for Kinnear: We will pursue Daniel James

Leeds will continue to pursue a move for Swansea winger Daniel James, according to their chief executive Angus Kinnear.

James was Leeds’ number one outfield target in the January transfer window and a deal was almost signed, with the player completing his medical before the deadline passed without the paperwork being signed by Swansea.

That put paid to the transfer happening in January but Kinnear confirmed that they would pursue a move for the Wales international in the summer.

“The amount of time Victor’s negotiating team spent on identifying the right player… It was a disappointment but we don’t think it affects our chances of promotion,” Kinnear said on West Yorkshire Sport Daily (BBC Radio Leeds, Wednesday, 6pm).

“Daniel James is a very young player who will show more in years to come than in the second-half of this season.”

Asked if he was a player that Leeds would move for again, with an eye to being “Premier League ready”, Kinnear said “Absolutely. He [Victor] will definitely maintain an interest. He [James] has gone back and returned to Swansea but he was very excited about joining Leeds.

“When you’ve spent that amount of time identifying the right player it’s not something you give up on easily.”

OPINION

Exciting news for Leeds fans who can already start to look forward to the summer transfer window with one big target for the club. They will obviously want James to do well between now and the end of the season, but not too well, in case his price goes up again. Financials had been agreed with a fee reported to be up to £7million (Kinnear just said “A very generous offer”) but we presume that this won’t carry through to the summer. James was excited about joining though and Leeds still want him, so this could be a move that goes through very quickly in the summer. Kinnear said the club had spent a lot of time identifying him as a target and it’s interesting to hear that they see him as a player for the future and for the Premier League. That will be exciting news for James too, although it will be odd having to spend the rest of the season with Swansea and aiming to win promotion with them. 

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