Leeds United Football Club will probably have to wait until the winter to sign Philadelphia Union and MLS ace Kai Wagner with Manuel Veth reporting on Twitter that a deadline day Premier League switch is highly unlikely.
Heading into the final few hours of the transfer window, there were two positions most Leeds fans were hoping to see strengthened. The attack, and the left-hand side of the defence.
With Bamba Dieng on his way from Marseille in a bargain £10 million deal, at least one of those wishes can be crossed off. Chairman Andrea Radrizzani even went as far as to ‘welcome’ the explosive Senegal international to Elland Road on Twitter, while insisting that a deal for PSV Eindhoven talisman Cody Gakpo is not dead just yet.
Kai Wagner will have to wait to make Leeds United move
One player very unlikely to arrive before tonight’s 11pm deadline, however, is Kai Wagner.
According to reports, Leeds coach Jesse Marsch has spoken to Philadelphia Union chief Jim Curtin about a potential £2.5 million move for arguably the finest left-back in American football. Wagner, formerly of Schalke, was seemingly keen to join fellow MLS exports Brendan Aaronson and Tyler Adams in West Yorkshire too.
But patience, as they say, is a virtue. 25-year-old Wagner, Veth explains, is far more likely to be on the move in January. Philadelphia Union are cruising at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. As such, they’d rather avoid cashing in on a player who’s contributed six assists in 29 games. There is a title on the line, after all.
“(Wagner) is unlikely to leave today for Leeds,” explains Veth, a reporter well-versed in the American and German markets.
“Tendency is towards a winter transfer, according to a source. Philadelphia Union very reluctant to let their star left-back go in the middle of the season.
“Union never received an official bid. (But) my understanding is that there has been plenty of talk between all parties all the way up to today. Leeds still very much in the race.”
Marsch, then, will be praying that Junior Firpo can stay fit between now and January. He is Leeds’ only senior, natural left-back.
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