One of Leeds United’s newest transfer targets were involved in some international drama against Junior Firpo last night.
Firpo is currently away with the Dominican Republic for the second time in his career after pledging his allegiance to them before the recent March break.
He is just one of a small group of Leeds players from last season’s first team squad currently representing their respective countries following the play-off final defeat to Southampton last month.
Ilia Gruev, linked with Borussia Dortmund, is away with Bulgaria, while Ethan Ampadu, Dan James and youngster Charlie Crew are on duty with Wales.
Though returning loanees Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen will all be at the major international tournaments this summer, Liam Cooper is the only member of the current squad to be at either the EUROs or Copa America, with Scotland.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid involved in international drama with Junior Firpo
While it is the time for players to switch off from their club football, those in Leeds’ recruitment team face the busiest part of the year.
The summer transfer window officially opens a week today and it is expected to be a busy one at Elland Road, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.
The free agent and loan markets could certainly prove useful to Leeds and one soon-to-be out of contract players to have already been linked is Fulham’s Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
De Cordova-Reid was actually in international action for Jamaica last night against Firpo’s Dominican Republic, in a CONCACAF World Cup qualification group game.
It was the new Leeds target who came out on top in the match, but it would be fair to say he had a mixed night after missing a penalty to make it 2-0 in the second half.
Thankfully for him, it did not come back to cost his team as they got their campaign off to a winning start. Guatemala, British Virgin Islands and Dominica are the other sides in the group.
Will De Cordova-Reid and Firpo be teammates next season?
Clearly there is still plenty of work to do for De Cordova-Reid to become a Leeds player, but he would represent a fantastic bit of business on a free.
That said, even if he was to move to Elland Road this summer, there are question marks over whether he will link up with Firpo.
Firpo had been expected to leave Leeds 12 months ago after relegation, but a long-term injury meant that did not happen, and he then became a key player in the second half of the season, providing eight assists from left-back.
He has just one year left remaining on his deal at Leeds but will not reportedly be offered fresh terms, making this summer the last opportunity to recoup a fee for him.
Given how likely a departure looked a year ago, it is also uncertain as to whether he will want to spend another season at this level.