Enzo Maresca is expected to make the bold move and swap newly-promoted Leicester City for Chelsea in the coming hours and days, and wants a Leeds United target to be his first signing.
While Kieran McKenna has chosen to stay and sign a contract at Ipswich, Italian boss Maresca has taken a leap of faith and leave the King Power after Leicester’s promotion to replace gaffer Mauricio Pochettino.
Meanwhile, Daniel Farke is preparing for another term in The Championship after losing to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley. The Whites are expecting to sell a whole host of key players this summer.
They will need replacements, and a no.10 is still a key area in which Farke’s squad requires strengthening. Leeds tried and failed last summer to sign a playmaker, bids failing for Nadiem Amiri and Matt O’Riley.
The Whites are now being linked with another, in the form of talent James McAtee after the 21-year-old starred while out on loan at Sheffield United over the last two seasons, from parent club Manchester City.
Leeds want James McAtee but so does Enzo Maresca at Chelsea
The report states that Leeds and Southampton have shown interest in the technically-excellent McAtee, with a £20m fee required. Leeds are now not the only side showing an interest in the England U21 man.
Indeed, The Sun on Sunday (page 61, 02/06/2024) state that Maresca was keen on luring McAtee to Leicester and had planned a £20m bid but with a move to Chelsea incoming, those plans are shelved.
However, and despite the move from Leicester to Chelsea, Maresca is still keen on having McAtee at Stamford Bridge. A move that would see the “outstanding” star follow in Cole Palmer’s footsteps.
Leeds stand little chance of McAtee deal but he’s needed
Having impressed in the Premier League in he top tier’s worst side, McAtee is sure to win himself a place at a Premier League club whether that is on loan or a permanent fee in the coming weeks and months.
But the kind of player McAtee is, is what Leeds need. Had The Whites been promoted, he would have been an excellent addition for Farke’s man. A player capable of conjuring magic from absolutely nothing.
Leeds need to go down the list and find themselves as close an alternative as McAtee as possible and hope he does not cost an arm and a leg, given our defeat in the Championship play-off final last month.