Leeds United may still have Blackburn Rovers and Chile striker Ben Brereton Diaz and PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands winger Cody Gakpo on their transfer shortlist.
That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to This is Futbol about the latest from Elland Road during the international break.
Jesse Marsch’s side were interested in bringing Gakpo to Elland Road towards the end of the summer transfer window, and had agreed personal terms with the wide man according to Fabrizio Romano, but the 23-year-old remained at PSV following the window’s closure.
The club also attempted a late move for Brereton Diaz on deadline day, but again were unable to secure his signature.
However, O’Rourke thinks that both players will remain on Leeds’ transfer shortlist, following their failed pursuit of the pair in the summer.
“I’m sure they still remain on their target list.
“Obviously, they tried to sign both in the summer transfer window, but obviously left it too late to sign both players.”
TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke’s comments
We believe that both Brereton Diaz and Gakpo would be very handy additions for Marsch’s side, with both players likely to fill a gap in the squad.
The former seems to be the desired centre-forward option that the club have been desperate for following Patrick Bamford’s struggles with injury, and could be available as a free agent next summer, with the 14-time Chile international’s contract at Ewood Park running out at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Gakpo has got a fantastic goalscoring record from out wide in his homeland this season, with the seven-time Netherlands international scoring eight goals and providing six assists in just seven Eredivisie appearances so far this season, according to Transfermarkt.
We therefore think that both signings would add something incredibly useful to the Leeds squad, whether that be in January or next summer, and we believe that Victor Orta should be pursuing deals for the pair of them.