Leeds United want to sign Argentina international Lucas Martinez Quarta from River Plate this summer due to concerns that a deal would become even more difficult in the post-Brexit era, according to Diario Popular.
It seems that the West Yorkshire giants have a £40 million footballer in their ranks.
Unfortunately for Marcelo Bielsa, however, Ben White is not actually a Leeds United player. Well, not a full-time one anyway.
While the Championship leaders would jump at the chance to sign arguably their finest centre-half since a young Rio Ferdinand on a permanent basis, Brighton and Hove Albion hold all the cards.
After a truly sublime season in the second tier, Brighton could perhaps do with White themselves.
However, with Sky reporting that some of the Premier League’s bona fide giants are also interested, the chance to make a massive profit on the former Newport starlet could leave Graham Potter, and Bielsa, scouring the market for replacements.
According to claims from South America, Leeds have already identified the man capable of stepping into White’s shoes at Elland Road – a two-time Argentina international and 2018 Copa Libertadores champion.
Like White, Martinez Quarta is commanding and classy in equal measure; just as likely to execute a perfectly-timed sliding challenge as he is to ping a pinpoint diagonal from one side of the pitch to the other.
Despite a £20 million release-clause in his contract, a cash-strapped River Plate could be willing to sell for less.
Leeds, however, will have to attack the summer market with typical intensity if they are to get the deal done.
As Diario Popular points out, securing work permits for non-EU players will become a real challenge after Brexit, so the Whites want to get Martinez Quarta through the door as soon as possible.
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