Leeds United Hit ‘Issues’ In Talks With Player, ‘Need Resolving’ To Progress | OneFootball

George Wood/Getty Images

Leeds United look unlikely to be able to sign a midfielder they have made a move for as there are ‘issues’ with the player’s side that ‘need resolving’, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Whites are closing in on defender Jaka Bijol from Udinese, while Lukas Nmecha is arriving when his Wolfsburg deal ends at the end of the month; the Germans offered him a new deal but it reflected his injury issues.

Leeds are also trying for 21-year-old midfielder Habib Diarra, who has earned the captain’s armband for Strasbourg and has helped them secure a spot in the Conference League qualifiers.

He finished the season with 33 appearances overall, making nine goal contributions, as several sides took notice.

In addition to Leeds, Aston Villa and Eintracht Frankfurt have also been linked with Diarra.

Leeds put in an official offer for Diarra last week and have been working to try to snap him up.

However, they are facing problems as there are ‘issues’ in talks with the player’s camp and they ‘need resolving’ if a deal is to make progress.

The Whites, who were one of the first clubs to have entered the race, now have reason to fear missing out.

Given that the player has a contract running until the summer of 2028, Strasbourg will want to make the most from his sale.

Diarra, who came through the Strasbourg youth ranks, made 30 appearances in Ligue 1 for the club in the recent season, skippering them away at European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Diarra started playing international football with France’s youth teams but then switched his allegiance to Senegal.

He has since been capped on eleven occasions by Senegal, with his bow coming in 2024.