Leeds United plot transfer move for 6-cap Argentina international as £20m claim mooted | OneFootball

Balerdi has enjoyed a fine campaign with Marseille this term

Leeds United have made Marseille defender and captain, Leonardo Balerdi, one of their prime transfer targets as they return to the Premier League.

This is according to a fresh report from Alan Nixon via Patreon, as the Whites rounded off their latest two-season stint of Championship football in dramatic fashion, with Manor Solomon's 91st-minute winner seeing Daniel Farke's men secure the second-tier title with a 2-1 victory over relegated Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

Meanwhile, the Argentine centre-back becomes the latest in a plethora of high-quality performers from the continent to be linked with a potential move to Elland Road ahead of a critical summer for the West Yorkshire club, with the six-time international currently club captain at the Stade Velodrome.

Leeds United plot Leonardo Balerdi move amid eight-figure valuation claim

United, alongside Burnley, became the first set of clubs in English football history to achieve a 100-point haul in the same division at the end of the season. With their exile from the top-flight now over, they must focus on making an abundance of quality additions to avoid a repeat of the past two seasons, where each of the six newly-promoted sides have immediately returned to the EFL.

Despite holding a strong defensive record throughout the campaign, recent claims of a pursuit of former Tottenham defender, Eric Dier, showcase that experience in this department has been targeted, with Balerdi the latest on this particular front.

Nixon's report claims that he is among one of Leeds' "top targets" ahead of the forthcoming summer window, and that figures in LS11 have monitored his performances under former Brighton and Hove Albion boss, Roberto De Zerbi, as 'Les Phocéens' currently sit third in Ligue 1 in a congested race for UEFA Champions League football ahead of a grudge match with LOSC Lille this evening.

Furthermore, United are said to be preparing an offer for Balerdi who is valued at approximately £20m by his current employers having signed a fresh contract until 2028 last August. However, recent reports which followed interest from Italian giants, AS Roma, claim that the 'Giallorossi' would have to fork out a figure closer to the region of €45m.

According to ESTIMATED figures from Capology, the captain's long-term contract sees him collect a weekly sum of €80,069 (£68,210), which, unsurprisingly, would immediately make him one of the top earners at Elland Road as Farke looks to consolidate with a team in the top-flight for the first time after suffering two immediate relegations with Norwich City previously.

Leonardo Balerdi would boost Leeds' defence ahead of Premier League return

Whilst this season has seen Ipswich Town, in particular, invest heavily in terms of fees, the truth of the matter is that not many of the many incomings at Portman Road have proven to be up to the level yet, which is a feat Leeds must avoid.

With links to Balerdi following up reported interest in the likes of Celtic's 16-goal forward Daizen Maeda and Jamie Vardy, it shows the calibre of players which the Whites are aiming to attract.

Having a player who has made over 120 appearances in the French top flight competing for a starting berth alongside the impressive duo of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as well as Ethan Ampadu, who is capable of seamlessly filling in when needed, would be a major boost to the club's defensive prospects, although supporters may also wish for a step-up in quality between the sticks too.