Report: Leeds looking to sign 25-year-old superstar as quickly as possible

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Leeds United will reportedly look to wrap up a deal to sign Philadelphia Union star Kai Wagner as quickly as possible with the Whites eager to bring the German defender to Elland Road.

According to Leeds Live, Jesse Marsch is looking at signing the MLS superstar as soon as possible, with depth in the left-back position a real concern for Leeds with Junior Firpo currently out injured as Pascal Struijk has started both games this season out of position to compensate for the missing Spaniard.

Whilst the Netherlands youth international has impressed in the left-back position with Struijk this weekend getting an assist in Leeds’ 2-2 draw against Southampton, there’s no denying that the Whites need a natural player acting as deputy for Firpo, which is why the club are keen to sign Wagner this week.

The 25-year-old defender has been one of the best overall defenders in MLS ever since arriving in Philadephia from the third-tier of German football in 2019, with Wagner making over 100 appearances for the Union and being named in the MLS All-Star squad for the past two years.

With Wagner a player many MLS pundits have tipped to one day return to Europe for a top-flight side, it makes sense why Leeds are now likely to win the race for the defender, with Jesse Marsch one of America’s best footballing exports in recent years based on his impact for the likes of RB Salzburg.

Indeed, Marsch has made two signings this summer with their roots forged in MLS in Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, and Wagner could now be the third arrival to move to Elland Road after a thorough footballing education in the United States.

Leeds must sign Wagner before next Premier League fixture

Completing any signing takes time in this market, but for Leeds, they must be working around the clock to try and sign Wagner before their next Premier League fixture, which just so happens to be English rivals Chelsea at Elland Road in what is a huge fixture for the Whites.

Whilst Struijk could do a job against the Blues, having a natural left-back in the squad will be ideal for Leeds, and Wagner could be the perfect option for the remainder of the season with Firpo set to miss the remaining Premier League fixtures this month.