Leeds United are reportedly keen on Everton’s Joe Williams.
After Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham, Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom will almost certainly have ideas in mind for this summer’s transfer window.
Heckingbottom has won just twice since leaving Barnsley for Leeds in February, and whilst fans are already questioning whether he is the right man for the job, he still deserves at least one transfer window to try and re-tool his squad.
The 40-year-old may look to reunite with some players he has already worked with, and The Sun (18/3 page 60) report that he holds an interest in signing Everton midfielder Joe Williams.
Heckingbottom snapped up Williams on loan for Barnsley last summer, and is seemingly keen to work with the 21-year-old again as he considers his midfield options at Elland Road.
In fact, Heckingbottom is such a big fan of Williams that he attempted to sign him permanently for Barnsley in January, though his £1million bid couldn’t tempt Everton into a deal, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
Heckingbottom will have a better chance of improving on that offer with Leeds than he did with Barnsley, but it just goes to show that the Whites can’t expect to land Williams on the cheap, and will certainly be required to offer a seven-figure deal well in excess of £1m to secure his signature.
A hard-working, box-to-box midfielder who thrived under Heckingbottom earlier this season, Williams could be an addition for the future for Leeds, and signing a player he has already worked with may just kick off the Heckingbottom era once and for all this summer.
Leeds may not contact Everton over a permanent deal for loan defender Matthew Pennington, but talks over Williams could be imminent – and Leeds must be ready to pay up if they want to land Heckingbottom’s man after he failed to secure him in January.
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