Not only did Southampton end Leeds United’s hopes of playing Premier League football, but it also looks as though they are looking to ensure they endure a difficult summer.
It is now almost a month on from the Saints’ 1-0 win over Leeds in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, which earned them the final spot in next season’s Premier League.
Despite the difference in divisions and finance that comes with it, Leeds are continuing to be linked with the same sort of targets as Southampton.
Leeds remain determined to sign former loanee Joe Rodon from Tottenham, but Southampton are one of the Premier League sides standing in their way.
Coventry City’s Callum O’Hare is also said to be on the radar of Leeds this summer, a player who has been linked with a move to St Mary’s for a couple of months now.
Leeds dealt blow in faint hopes of Bobby De Cordova-Reid transfer
Despite being Leeds in the game dubbed the richest in world football, Southampton are also seemingly keen on making use of the free agent market.
They have already moved quickly to bring Adam Lallana back to the club after his release from Brighton, while O’Hare is just a matter of days from his contract at Coventry expiring.
Fulham’s Bobby De Cordova-Reid is someone Leeds have been linked with this summer but as reported by LeedsUnited.News earlier today, a move to Elland Road is highly unlikely.
While the offer of a new deal at Craven Cottage remains unsigned, this is due to the fact De Cordova-Reid looks set to stay in the Premier League.
And a new report from the Sun would seemingly indicate that being the case, who suggest Southampton are now interested in signing the 31-year-old.
It is said De Cordova-Reid is on a three-man shortlist at St. Mary’s of attackers they are looking to sign, while Fulham are also still hopeful he will commit his future to them.
Leeds to identify De Cordova-Reid alternatives
Though nothing concrete has arisen following on from initial reports of Leeds’ interest, it is important they are already on the phone to alternatives.
De Cordova-Reid is an extremely versatile forward who can play both out wide or centrally, and that sort of profile could be really useful for Leeds.
That said, once Crysencio Summerville departs as expected, Leeds will need to bring in a more direct replacement than the Jamaican. He does not have the attributes when it comes to beating players.
However, if others such as Willy Gnonto were to depart then that is where someone like De Cordova-Reid could come in handy.