Leeds United can start making signings from this Friday onwards.
The summer transfer window officially opens at the end of this week and Leeds will be eager to hit the ground running in order to avoid a repeat of 12 months ago.
Leeds did not make a single signing until the third week of July last summer and that slow start to rebuilding their squad was ultimately a major factor in their failure to win promotion.
Paraag Marathe has already insisted Leeds are in a better position to get their window off to a better start this time around, even if some key players will have to move on.
Leeds made their first real big decision of the summer on Monday with the news that Brenden Aaronson will be returning to the club, and so it will be interesting to see what other moves they make.
Leeds battling Orta and PSV for Couhaib Driouech
Aaronson’s return is the first step towards Leeds somewhat undergoing a bit of a rebuild with their attacking options.
Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto are among those who have been touted to leave, and that is a lot of goals that will need replacing. They scored a combined 27 in the league last season.
While Aaronson is likely to help Leeds’ quest for a proper number 10, exits for Summerville and Gnonto would leave a huge void out wide, with Jaidon Anthony also having returned to Bournemouth.
And according to ED Nieuws, one winger Leeds are reportedly looking at this summer is Excelsior star Couhaib Driouech, alongside Victor Orta’s Sevilla and Eredivisie champions PSV.
While PSV is said to be his preferred destination, they have so far been unable to meet his asking price of around £3m-£3.5m and negotiations are at an impasse.
Leeds and Sevilla are among 10 other clubs in the race to sign the 22-year-old, and could be waiting to pounce if PSV do not up there offer.
Who is reported Leeds target Couhaib Driouech?
Driouech is a young winger who has already has over 60 appearances under his belt in the top-flight of Dutch football.
With six goals and six assists in 26 appearances for an Excelsior side that were relegated, he enjoyed the best individual season of his career in 2023/24, which is what has attracted so many clubs to him this summer.
Similarly to both Summerville and Gnonto, Driouech primarily plays as a left-winger who enjoys cutting in on his stronger right foot, but can also play on the other flank.
He has been capped on nine occasions by Morocco’s U23s side, and based on the amount of interest in him, has a fair amount of potential.