Leeds United out to sign Porto star with £42m release clause for a bargain £8m fee

Leeds United continue to be linked with new names every day and the latest player said to be on the club’s radar is a Porto defender – but The Whites have competition.

Certainly, there is a need for additions in the middle of the Leeds defence. Joe Rodon starts regardless of who is brought in this summer, but it is more who partners the Welshman under manager Daniel Farke.

Pascal Struijk is first choice, but only when fit and in the last couple of seasons, that has been largely 50-50. Cover comes in the form of Ethan Ampadu and Max Wober, though Wober is expected to leave Leeds.

Farke would prefer Ampadu in midfield, rather than having to bring the skipper back into defence. Leeds then, need another top-quality centre-back and possibly two – and Porto’s Otavio is now on the list.

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Leeds battling Fulham and Palace for Porto defender Otavio

French outlet Team Football say Lille are leading the charge to land Brazilian defender Otavio, who has been somewhat indifferent since his move to Porto from Familicao. Porto will cash in for a fee of £8m.

This is for a player that has a release clause in his contract worth a staggering £42m, as per O Jogo. The report claims Leeds have been watching Otavio ‘for months’ while Fulham have sent scouts to watch.

Crystal Palace are also interested in signing him, with Porto president Andre Villas-Boas willing to cash in on Otavio. It is believed the player is open to a move that provides him with stability moving forward.

Otavio birthday party caused a stir back in April

There is a question mark regarding Otavio’s attitude. The defender held a party for his birthday in April, only a couple of days before Porto were in action – and some of his teammates attended the bash.

It led to Porto manager Martin Anselmi having to discuss it in press conferences. Certainly, if Leeds are to do a deal for Otavio, instances like this cannot be allowed to happen amid a fight for top-flight survival.

There are doubts regarding Otavio. His quality is clear, but something is not clicking for the Porto star and it remains to be seen if he is ready for a Premier League move – or may be better proving himself first.

Leeds United the only Premier League team to have requested to sign versatile free agent

Leeds United are expected to spend big this summer but if they are to bring in the reinforcements required, they will need to supplement the big-money moves with loans and free transfers.

Leeds need a goalkeeper, a centre-back, a replacement for Junior Firpo and possibly cover too, a new midfielder or possibly two, Manor Solomon or another winger and a proven Premier League forward.

That could mean Leeds have to bring in eight signings, before having to replace any surprise departures. Premier League-quality players cost £30m these days, but Leeds obviously can’t do that eight times.

It means a loan or two, or possibly a couple of free transfers for players at the end of their contracts is crucial. One player set to become a free agent on Leeds’ radar is Everton star Abdoulaye Doucoure.

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Leeds are the only Premier League side after Abdoulaye Doucoure

Leeds have been linked with a plethora of free agent signings and 32-year-old Doucoure is one of them, after Everton confirmed Doucoure would leave. David Moyes says Doucoure has a better offer elsewhere.

Now, a report from Africa Foot outlines what is on the table for Doucoure. They say Saudi Pro League sides Al Shabab and Al Ettifaq have both tabled offers, believed to be £57,000 and £85,000 a week.

That falls below Doucoure’s massive demands of £160,000 a week. Aleksandar Mitrovic’s Al Hilal, newly-promoted Neom and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Al Qadsiyah also want to lure him to Saudi Arabia.

Qatari side Al Sadd are also in the mix, as are Italian giants Roma – with Roma’s owners The Friedkin Group now in control at Everton. The only Premier League side listed as interested in Doucoure are Leeds.