Leeds United’s deal to sign Manchester United winger Daniel James is imminent – and it looks his squad number has become common knowledge ahead of the announcement.
The Whites have been pursuing James for a long, long time now.
Leeds famously teed up a deal to sign James in January 2019, agreeing a deal to lure him to West Yorkshire from Swansea City.
James was at Elland Road, he’d had his photos done, it was all ready to go – but Swansea failed to sign off on the deal.
Victor Orta was in tears as James had to leave Leeds and head back to Swansea, and the winger then joined Leeds’ rivals Manchester United just months later.
Two years on, James is on the verge of a £25million move to Leeds, with Orta finally landing his man as Leeds benefit from Cristiano Ronaldo’s move.
Ronaldo has re-joined United, and that has made James available as competition for places in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attack grow.
A video has now emerged from one Leeds fan of James leaving Elland Road with his partner Ria Hughes.
Ria is holding a small Leeds shirt, which reads ‘Daddy 20’ on the back.
That would suggest that James has been handed the number 20 shirt at Leeds.
James wore 21 at Manchester United, and it’s now thought that Edinson Cavani will take that shirt, freeing up number seven for Ronaldo.
James also wore 20 for Swansea City and still does for Wales, so it looks like he has landed his dream number at Leeds.
UPDATE: Leeds have now announced James’ arrival, confirming that he is indeed taking number 20.
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