Leeds are reportedly keen on signing Chelsea playmaker Lewis Baker.
Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea playmaker Lewis Baker, who was ostracised by former Whites boss Garry Monk at Middlesbrough last season.
The Daily Mirror claimed in their transfer news blog (Thursday, 18:20) that Marcelo Bielsa’s new side are interested in raiding bitter rivals Chelsea to land the 23-year-old playmaker this summer.
It is believed the Whites have ‘made a move’ to land the 17-time England Under-21 international on a permanent basis, but are willing to land him on loan if Chelsea refuse to sell him permanently.
Baker was signed by former Leeds boss Garry Monk at Middlesbrough on a season-long loan last summer, and although he scored two goals in 14 appearances, Baker was ostracised by Monk.
Indeed, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Vitesse Arnhem star plummeted down the pecking order under Monk, leaving Tony Pulis with little choice but to overlook Baker. He managed just two appearances in 2018.
Making only 12 Championship appearances, Baker started just six of those. Despite his sensational form for Vitesse in the Dutch league during 2016-17 – in which he scored 15 goals from midfield – he was hardly given a chance.
Leeds can help Baker have the last laugh over Monk, though, by luring him to Elland Road and giving him the chance he deserves to thrive in the Championship with the Yorkshire giants – two years after Monk first joined Leeds.
With Baker likely to have the bit between his teeth, his desire to prove Monk wrong could see him join Leeds and thrive under Bielsa – pushing Leeds a step closer to the top six.
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