Leeds United are likely to be in the market for a new winger this summer with Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto among those that could go, and one target could be on the move.
The Whites are expected to cash in on both Summerville and Gnonto this summer, with Leeds required to sell a few key players to balance the Elland Road books and comply with Profit & Sustainability rules.
Summerville has half the Premier League keeping an eye with Brighton said to have opened talks about a possible deal. Meanwhile, Gnonto is the subject of a bid worth £16.9m from top-flight Nottingham Forest.
Jaidon Anthony has already returned to Bournemouth after a loan spell and Ian Poveda will see his Leeds deal expire on Sunday. It leaves just Dan James as a natural option out wide in the Leeds squad right now.
Club president admits he may sell Leeds United target
One player Leeds are considering to fill the potential void left by Summerville, Gnonto and Anthony is Colombia star Jhon Arias. The Fluminense winger started for Colombia in their first Copa America outing.
Leeds have been linked with the South American before this summer and it appears a move to England is growing more and more traction. Leeds are certainly in that race to sign the exciting winger this summer.
Quoted by Noticias Caracol, Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt claims that Arias could leave in the coming months if he requests to do so and that may depend on the interest shown in the Colombian.
“We are in a situation in which they can leave or not. So I have to evaluate whether I am looking for a player who can leave or not. This is imagining a possible exit. We are always looking at the market.”
Leeds table Jhon Arias bid but West Ham are leading the race
Reports state that Leeds have tabled an offer of £12.7m to sign the Fluminense star. Leicester, Crystal Palace and Rangers are also said to be interested but it is claimed that West Ham are leading he way.
Whether Arias would start for the Hammers remains to be seen, given the form of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus last season. AT Leicester he would get more of a chance to start on a regular basis.
He might get that opportunity at Palace too but only if Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise leaves Selhurst Park first. The chances are that the only place where his position is sorted is at Elland Road, but he’s expensive.