Director discusses £20m reported Leeds target; dismisses Lazio claims

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Leeds United may have been left free to complete the signing of Freiburg defender Robin Koch with Lazio’s sporting director Igli Tare dismissing rumours linking him with the Serie A giants, while speaking to Kicker.

Brighton and Hove Albion could hardly have made it any clearer – Ben White will not be returning to Elland Road, neither on loan nor via a permanent deal.

Yet with Leeds seemingly edging closer to signing an alternative centre-half, a highly-rated Germany international no less, it seems that a heart-broken fan base are ready to move on from their old flame.

The Yorkshire Evening Post report that Leeds are hoping to complete a potential £20 million deal before the end of the week, with Koch expected to join Valencia’s Spanish striker Rodrigo Moreno at Elland Road.

And Tare has now allayed any fears that the Yorkshire giants would have to do battle with an ambitious Lazio side dreaming of their first Scudetto since the year 2000.

“There are currently no discussions (with Koch),” Tare said.

It remains to be seen whether Koch is capable of stepping into the void created by White’s departure but, while the latter struggled to adapt to a defensive midfield role at times under Marcelo Bielsa, the former has the ‘number six’ position all figured out.

In fact, Koch played in midfield more than he did in defence during the final few weeks of the last Bundesliga campaign.