Leeds United plot move for defender eyed by Southampton and Leicester City | OneFootball

Daniel Farke has a big summer ahead at Elland Road, having come so close to regaining the club's Premier League status at the first time of asking, before coming unstuck in the play-off final to Southampton.

Unsurprisingly, the circulation of transfer rumours around the West Yorkshire outfit has already been rife, as the summer transfer window in the EFL officially opens later this week.

Many big names have been linked with potential departures, such as star performer Crysencio Summerville. However, Leeds are looking to bring in a long-standing target with a Dutch connection to the Championship, according to a fresh update.

Leeds United's interest in Anselmo García MacNulty

That's in the form of 21-year-old defender, Anselmo García MacNulty, who currently plies his trade for Dutch Eredivisie outfit, PEC Zwolle.

A fresh update from Dutch outlet, Voetbal International, claims that the Whites remain in the picture to sign the highly-rated Spanish-born Republic of Ireland youth international, who has also been linked with previous moves to these shores.

MacNulty was the main figure at left-back for Zwolle for the 2023/24 season, but the report claims that it remains to be seen as to whether he will still be at the MAC³PARK stadium by the time the new campaign rolls around in August.

It was previously revealed by Spanish news outlet, AS, back in late-April, when Leeds were in the midst of an enthralling race for automatic promotion, that the club had the versatile defender on their radar, along with Leicester City, who had just secured promotion back to the Premier League at the time of those revelations, as United were defeated 4-0 by Queens Park Rangers just days before.

However, today's update from Voetbal International believes that the Foxes' transfer plans may have changed since those prior links, due to their promotion back to the top flight, as well as other factors such as Enzo Maresca's well-documented departure to Chelsea.

Previous interest in MacNulty

It's not just Leeds and Leicester who have monitored the development of the 21-year-old, who enjoyed a fine maiden campaign with his current employers, having signed from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg last summer.

Southampton were also credited with interest after Leeds and Leicester's initial links, but no developments have since been mooted regarding Russell Martin's side, who also returned to the top flight at the Whites' expense in North London on May 26th.

Furthermore, there has been long-standing interest in MacNulty's services stretching back to the January transfer window, when Real Betis and Belgian Pro League side, Club Brugge, were involved in a transfer saga which never came to fruition.

MacNulty was born in Seville and progressed through the ranks of Los Verdiblancos before moving to Wolfsburg's academy in 2019.

Leeds United will have to strike strong agreement for Ireland youth internationalWhilst no fee has been mooted, it would take a significant agreement from Leeds to prize away the 21-year-old from Zwolle, especially if the likes of Real Betis were to rekindle their interest, as MacNulty's former club secured their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Regardless, his versatility would make him an astute signing for Farke, as well as being viewed as a short and long-term replacement for numerous centre-back options currently at the German's disposal, such as Charlie Cresswell, who has recently been linked with a £3m+ move to the likes of Toulouse, Hannover 96 and Hertha Berlin.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has recently claimed that there will "almost certainly" be a willing bidder for left-back, Junior Firpo, from the Spanish top flight.

Two fine seasons in Holland, having also enjoyed a successful loan stint with NAC Breda in 2022/23, showcase the two-time Ireland U21 international's potential, and a move to the Championship would no doubt see his stock rise even further.

However, Leeds do face potentially significant competition in a transfer saga which could develop strongly over the summer, and with MacNulty under contract until 2026, Zwolle hold a high amount of bargaining power.