Sheffield United and Hull City join transfer battle for Brighton player | OneFootball

Sheffield United and Hull City have joined the growing list of clubs keeping tabs on Brighton midfielder Marc Leonard after his impressive loan spells with Northampton Town.

Marc Leonard’s career so far

The 22-year-old Glaswegian initially started out with Rangers before he joined the Hearts academy, with Brighton picking up the player from the Jambos in the summer of 2018, as they identified Leonard as someone with plenty of potential.

Leonard has featured for the Seagulls in the League Cup, but he understandably has had to go out on loan to get regular game time.

A deal for Leonard to join Northampton was sorted for the previous campaign, with the midfielder starring as they won promotion from League Two.

Therefore, another temporary switch to the Cobbers was finalised this season, and Leonard has continued to impress, scoring five goals and registering six assists as he featured in every game for Jon Brady.

Marc Leonard transfer latest

Now, Leonard will return to Brighton, but it does seem unlikely that he will manage to force his way into Roberto De Zerbi’s plans. Therefore, a summer transfer could be on the cards, with Cardiff, Preston and Plymouth among the clubs linked with the youngster.

However, they could face competition for his signature, as Football Insider has revealed that Hull and Sheffield United are also monitoring Leonard.

“Sheffield United and Hull City have joined the chase to sign Brighton midfielder Marc Leonard. The 22-year-old has been a stand-out performer on loan at Northampton Town this season and he was rewarded by winning the club’s Player of the Season and Player’s Player of the Season awards.

“Sheffield United and Hull City made regular checks on Leonard before the end of the League One season. Brighton are unlikely to stand in Leonard’s way of a move this summer if one of his suitors make an offer in the region of £300,000. He is out of contract in the summer of 2025.”

The Blades’ relegation to the Championship was confirmed over the weekend, so they will be starting work ahead of next season as they look to win promotion back to the top-flight under Chris Wilder.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are still in the mix for promotion, as they need to beat Plymouth on the final day, whilst also hoping that Preston beat West Brom on the final day.

Marc Leonard could be a bargain this summer

Leonard has had an outstanding season with the Cobblers, but the reality is that he’s going to find it hard to get near the Brighton XI, which is no surprise.

So, a summer move could be ideal for his development, and the prospect of joining either Hull or Sheffield United is sure to appeal.

The £300,000 fee mentioned seems very low for a player with Leonard’s ability and potential, but his contract situation means Brighton will be open to selling.

At that price, he seems like a risk worth taking, and it will be very interesting to see how Leonard’s summer plays out, as it’s a key time in his career.