Everton, West Ham facing Barcelona, AC Milan battle for out-of-contract Leeds United ace | OneFootball

Firpo remains out-of-contract at Elland Road heading into next season

Everton, West Ham and Crystal Palace have held discussions with representatives of Leeds United's Junior Firpo, who remains out-of-contract at Elland Road heading into next season.

The Dominican Republic international has been integral to the Whites' title-winning season in the Championship this term, but his long-term future has remained in jeopardy for a lengthy period of time, with a fresh update from TBR Football continuing to echo such goings-on.

Firpo has been heavily linked with a return to one of his old clubs, Real Betis, at length across periods of the campaign, and such rumours have only intensified as a result of an incident involving club captain, Ethan Ampadu, during the club's title-winning parade throughout the West Yorkshire city, in which 150,000 supporters were said to have watched from the streets.

However, according to the aforementioned fresh update, another of the 28-year-old's former clubs are said to be hunting down his services in an ever-growing transfer saga that has now reached the off-season.

Premier League trio target Junior Firpo amid FC Barcelona, AC Milan interest

As previously mentioned, 'Los Verdiblancos' interest in Firpo goes as far back as September, with the full-back into the final year of his four-year contract, having joined from Barcelona for £13m under Marcelo Bielsa back in July 2021.

After securing automatic promotion with a 6-0 rout over Stoke City on Easter Monday, in which Firpo netted his fourth goal of the season, the 11-time international stated he was still in the dark over his future in LS11, amid reports that he had spelled out his desire to return to Betis at some point in his career.

However, after United secured the second-tier title with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle - a game Firpo watched from the away end due to injury - the update from TBR Football states that all of Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham have held talks with his representatives as he eyes up a plethora of transfer options, regardless of the fact Daniel Farke would like him to stay at Elland Road.

However, the report continues by stating that Barca, for whom the Dominican previously featured 41 times for between 2019 and 2021 amid an astounding £183m buyout clause in the move from Betis, could also consider plotting a move for the left-back to bolster their defensive options, which currently include Alejandro Balde and Gerard Martin.

Furthermore, it has been stated that Italian giants, AC Milan, are open to the possibility of selling Theo Hernandez amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and could see Firpo as a potential replacement for the Frenchman, with the Leeds man also linked with Atlético Madrid.

Leeds United will hope for quick resolution to Junior Firpo transfer saga

According to ESTIMATED figures from Capology, Firpo is said to be the Whites' second-highest earner behind Patrick Bamford, who is also out-of-contract amid interest from Wrexham on the Red Dragons' return to the Championship, which would see the club save approximately £130,000 per week in wages.

However, unlike the striker, Firpo has continued to play an integral part in Farke's relentless attacking style, as well as rarely being beaten by opposition wingers in duels, and the latter will be such an important facet in United's season as they look to consolidate back in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, it is paramount that the Dominican's contract is extended, even if it means garnering some form of cash or profit for his services, rather than losing it all for a pittance, especially with divisional rivals and European giants now on red alert.