Leeds United have submitted a £17.5million bid for Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi but a mystery club are thought to be closing in.
That’s according to Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor, who has taken to Twitter to offer an update on Leeds’ pursuit of Ounahi.
Taylor claims that Leeds are ‘facing disappointment’ in their pursuit of Ounahi despite making that £17.5million offer.
It’s suggested that an unnamed club are now in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Ounahi and loan him straight back to Angers.
Leeds aren’t really in a position to pay £17.5million for a player now and not use them until the summer.
They need players who can impact their quest to stay in the Premier League and the terms of an Ounahi deal just don’t seem to fit into that.
These claims come after Foot Mercato claimed on Sunday that a Leeds offer has been received by Angers.
Leeds could see Azzedine Ounahi join a Premier League arrival
Ounahi was exceptional for Morocco at the World Cup, going from relative unknown to global sensation.
The 22-year-old offered so much ability on the ball but also the energy needed off the ball to help Morocco reach the semi-finals.
Ounahi earned huge praise from pundits in England with Ray Parlour hailing him as ‘different class’ in Qatar.
Leeds clearly liked what they saw and tried to bring him to England but that won’t be happening.
Missing out on such a talented player will hurt Leeds, but it could get worse if Ounahi joins a Premier League rival.
La Repubblica claimed just a matter of days ago that Tottenham have opened talks to try and sign Ounahi.
90Min have even suggested that Leicester, Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham and Wolves are also interested, with plenty of Premier League interest emerging.
A club like Tottenham or Newcastle may well be in a better position to play £17.5million now and leave Ounahi with Angers until the summer.
That would be quite the blow for Leeds, who may now hope that Ounahi heads elsewhere; if they can’t have him, they won’t want anybody else in England to have him either!
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