Leeds United are willing to spend £11 million on River Plate defender Lucas Martinez Quarta, according to Jeunes Footeaux.
It seems that, with every day that passes, Leeds’ interest in an Argentine international centre-back becomes more and more clear.
In an ideal world, Ben White would stay and spend ten years at Elland Road after the most successful of loan spells in 2019/20.
But the future of the Brighton loanee is out of their hands.
And, with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham circling like vultures around the supremely gifted White (Sky), a return to West Yorkshire feels increasingly like a pipe dream.
Whether Martinez Quarta can step into his boots remains to be seen.
But this is a player with caps for the Argentina national team, a proven winner who has helped a dominant River Plate side win five trophies since 2017 – including South America’s answer to the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores.
Martinez Quarta would certainly arrive in West Yorkshire with more pedigree than an unproven, former Peterborough United loanee.
El Intransigente backed up Leeds’ interest this week, but added that the Premier League newcomers were unlikely to trigger the £22.5 million release clause in his contract. They, the report added, were hoping to barter a reduced fee.
And if new claims are to be believed, that fee in question is around the £11 million mark.
Though with River under pressure to raise funds to avoid a financial crisis, a hefty reduction might just be considered after all.
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