Leeds United transfer latest as midfielder bid confirmed and bizarre defender link
The latest transfer talk from Elland Road with one week remaining in the January transfer window.
Leeds United kickstarted their January transfer window business with the loan signing of Brighton and Hove Albion attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte - and will hope to further boost their squad during the next week.
There are just eight days remaining in the transfer window and the Whites will have until 7pm next Monday night to conclude any further business after securing the services of the Argentina international. There has been a departure in recent days after winger Jack Harrison joined Serie A strugglers Fiorentina on loan and that could become a permanent switch at the end of the season.
However, the latest speculation has suggested a player could move to Elland Road from Italy after Como midfielder Martin Butarina was said to be the subject of a bid from the Whites. Speaking after joining the Serie A club from Dinamo Zagreb during the summer, Butarina immediately set his sights high. When he was asked what he wanted to achieve, he said: “Personally, I want to win games and become a better player—a better version of myself. As a team, we’re very ambitious. We want to win as many games as we can and see where that takes us.”
Butarina has lived up to his promise as the 15-times capped Croatia international has scored scored four goals and provided four assists in 16 appearances in all competition to help his new side push for a European place in what is only their second season back in Italian football’s top flight after securing promotion in May 2024. The midfielder’s appearances have not gone unnoticed and Leeds have been named as a possible suitor in recent months. Fabrizio Romano has now claimed the Whites placed a bid to sign Butarina last month but it was flatly rejected by Como, who view the Croatian as ‘untouchable’.
He posted on X: “Como turned down a proposal from Leeds United in December for Martin Baturina, he’s untouchable. Baturina delivered three goals, two assists in last four games for Como — in fantastic form again.”
Bizarre left-back link
Gabriel Gudmundsson has arguably been one of Leeds’ best signings of the summer transfer window as the Sweden international a number of impressive performances during the first half of the season.
However, that has not stopped speculation suggesting the Whites will move for another left-back during the final week of the January transfer window. The Daily Mail have claimed Leeds have lodged an enquiry over a possible deal for Strasbourg and England defender Ben Chilwell just months after they were initially linked with a move for the former Chelsea man.
Chilwell joined the Ligue 1 club on a free transfer last summer and has gone on to make 18 appearances in all competitions as his new side push for a second consecutive season in European competition. Any deal appears unlikely with Gudmundsson firmly established as Daniel Farke’s first choice left-back and Chilwell will surely focus on setting into life in France.
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