Agent suggests £17m captain would love Leeds or Newcastle move

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Ugurcan Cakir’s brother and agent admits that a summer move away from Trabzonspor is on the cards with Leeds United and Newcastle looking to bring the goalkeeper to the Premier League, speaking via Enson Haber. 

According to Athletic reporter and Elland Road oracle Phil Hay, Leeds manager Jesse Marsch will have a ‘decent transfer budget’ to play with over the summer. 

What a ‘decent transfer budget’ means, however, is anyone’s guess. £30 million? £50 million? More? Andrea Radrizzani must be tempted to call in a favour from the San Francisco 49ers in an attempt to freshen up a side who have spent much of the last eight months suffering many of the symptoms usually associated with the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’. 

Either way, with Leeds prioritising a new central midfielder and additions in both full-back positions, it’s hard to imagine Cakir arriving for a reported £17 million unless Illan Meslier leaves Elland Road.

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After all, £17 million is a lot of money to spend on a back-up goalkeeper, especially when you consider that Leeds do not have Saudi Arabian billionaires or oil-rich oligarchs financing their ambitions. 

Cakir is the captain of a Trabzonspor side cruising 13 points clear at the top of the Super Lig table and nearing their first domestic title since the 1980s. There are certainly worse ways to bow out. 

Is Ugurcan Cakir heading to England?

“It is a great honour for Ugurcan to be the captain of Trabzonspor and to serve in the national team,” says Nedcet Cakir, the 25-year-old’s brother and agent.  

“Ugurcan’s only current goal is to become a champion at Trabzonspor. When he completes his mission in Trabzonspor, he wants to go to Europe if he can.” 

Fanatik claims that Leeds have made talks with Cakir’s agent. A move to Newcastle may be more likely, however. The Magpies are actively searching for a new number one after all.

Leeds have been linked with Barcelona speed-machine Sergino Dest and Anderlecht flyer Sergio Gomez recently.

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Swansea City midfielder Flynn Downes, meanwhile, is a potential successor for the coveted Kalvin Phillips. 

And Marsch, ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton, spoke in glowing terms about the ‘great’ Brenden Aaronson. Leeds will reportedly make a new bid for the £20 million USA international.