Premier League strugglers Leeds United look set to miss out on Tajon Buchanan with the Club Brugge ace agreeing a £13 million move to Serie A giants Inter Milan instead.
One of the breakthrough stars of the Qatar World Cup, Buchanan looks set to become the third Canadian international since the turn of the year to seal a high-profile switch to a club on the other side of The Atlantic.
Alistair Johnston has been a revelation since joining Celtic, while Watford stumped up a fee in the region of £9 million for Ismael Kone.
Buchanan, meanwhile, is closing in on a far more expensive, far more high-profile transfer. The versatile wideman, according to Belgian publication Het Laaste Nieuws, has verbally agreed a move to Champions League semi-finalists Inter Milan.
Inter Milan beat Leeds United to Tajon Buchanan
Club Brugge will not stand in Buchanan’s way either. The Blauw-Zwart sold Charles de Ketelaere to AC Milan in 2022, and will soon rubber-stamp an agreement with another Milanese giant. Buchanan, who’s agent recently held talks with Nerrazzuri director Piero Ausilio, will set Inter back around £13 million.
Leeds United were reportedly interested too. The Ontario-born 24-year-old has endured an underwhelming campaign at club level but caught the eye over in Qatar, his supreme self-confidence and his willingness to impose himself on the biggest of stages epitomising a Canada side who were perhaps unfortunate to bow out in the group-stages.
“As a child, I always dreamed of playing for one of the best teams in a top league. Hopefully, I will get the chance,” Buchanan explained recently.
“It’s nice to read (about) the rumours. Everyone knows that I came to Belgium as an intermediate step in my career. I would like to take that next step. But now, I focus first on the present.”
Leeds’ interest the highly-flexible Buchanan – who can play anywhere on the flank – may have been an indication that the Yorkshire giants were preparing for the potential departure of the much-coveted Jack Harrison.
Harrison’s new long-term contract, at least, should offset the disappointment of missing out on a player who now appears bound for Italy.
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