Leeds United want Kai Wagner and the Philadelphia Union star has tasted absolute heartbreak after losing the MLS Cup final on penalties.
You can’t really ignore the American influence at Leeds right now.
American internationals Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams both arrived over the summer whilst Jesse Marsch is still fighting off Ted Lasso comparisons.
Add in the continued involvement of 49ers Enterprises at the top of the club and it’s clear that the Whites have a major American flavour at the moment.
Leeds United want Kai Wagner
Leeds could even look into the American market in January with one Major League Soccer star on their wish list.
Philadelphia Union ace Kai Wagner is thought to be on Leeds’ wish list.
Brotherly Game reported in August that Union boss Jim Curtin had held talks with Marsch over a deal that would see Wagner join Leeds.
MLS reporter Tom Bogert has since claimed that Wagner is ‘absolutely’ expected to be sold to a European club in the January window.
Leeds are expected to be right in the mix but Boger noted that Leeds may now find it difficult to sign him because so many other clubs are keen.
Wagner, 25, notched nine assists in 36 MLS games this season, providing a major threat from left back.
Now nominated for MLS Defender of the Year, Wagner will have been hoping to leave Major League Soccer on a high – but that won’t happen now.
Union faced LAFC in the MLS Cup final on Saturday night and few could have expected such a bonkers game.
When LAFC went 2-1 up with seven minutes to go, that looked like the end.
Instead, Union equalised again and forced extra time, with Jack Elliott bagging a 124th minute goal to seemingly secure the title for Philadelphia.
However, with nine minutes of added time, LAFC still had the chance to hit back and Gareth Bale did what Gareth Bale does by scoring a goal in a final.
That 128th minute leveller forced penalties and Philadelphia fell apart, failing to score any of their three penalties.
Daniel Gazdag slipped and spooned his effort over the bar before both Jose Martinez and Wagner had their spot-kicks saved by John McCarthy.
Wagner has enjoyed such a strong season and he was mere minutes away from ending it as a champion.
Instead, Wagner is now dealing with the heartbreak from failing in the penalty shootout.
The German is likely to go in January and we would expect Leeds to be pushing to the front of the queue for his signature.
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