Wolves star has held Leeds tight on the neck with his ridiculous demands. Taking advantage of the love fans got for him already

Best signing since Raphinha: Leeds in talks to secure club-record signing

Leeds United’s survival in the Premier League this season was largely down to the shrewd business conducted last summer and the impressive man management from Daniel Farke.

The German was only handed £90m worth of funds to secure his desired additions, but his excellent ability to get the best out of the group helped the club avoid an immediate relegation.

His decision to switch to a back-three system undoubtedly saved the Whites’ campaign – as they only lost four of the 17 games after moving away from his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

However, the new formation will undoubtedly require new additions this summer, as Farke looks to add needed quality and depth in various key areas of the senior ranks.

Despite the transfer window not opening until next Monday, the 49ers have already identified numerous top-level targets to hand the manager the ammunition he craves.

Leeds enter talks to secure club-record transfer

After transferring to a back-three formation, added defensive reinforcements will no doubt be needed to offer cover to the backline ahead of 2026/27 and beyond.

Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Ladislav Krejci has been named as a potential target after Rob Edwards’ side suffered relegation from the Premier League.

It’s been reported that the second-tier outfit would not sell the Czech Republic international for less than his current release clause – which is said to be around the £40m mark.

He’s not the only defender currently in the hierarchy’s sights at present, with Sporting CP star Ousmane Diomande also being considered ahead of the summer.

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have entered talks with the Portuguese outfit over the possibility of securing a move for the 22-year-old in the months ahead.

The report states that the player himself is content at the Liga Portugal side at present, but would be willing to move to the Premier League in order to further his career.

Should Farke’s side want to secure a move for his signature this window, the Whites could have to fork out their biggest fee in club history – with a price of £43m currently being demanded.

Why Diomande would be Leeds’ best signing since Raphinha

As previously mentioned, Leeds recruitment in recent years has been impressive – none more so than the £17m deal to sign Brazilian winger Raphinha from Stade Rennais back in 2020.

He arrived as an unknown quantity to many supporters in Yorkshire, but it’s safe to say he exceeded all expectations during his two years at Elland Road.

The 29-year-old amassed a tally of 17 goals and 12 assists during his two seasons in the Premier League – even netting the goal which secured their top-flight status in 2021/22.

It would be his final act for the Whites as he joined Barcelona for a reported £55m – a record sale, which further cements his place in the club’s history forever.

Despite the impact of Dominic Calvert-Lewin this term, Leeds have lacked a similar top-level talent since his departure – a void which Diomande could fill upon any move this summer.

Whilst he’s a defensive option and not an attacking one, he still possesses serious quality and has key experience in featuring in the Champions League in recent seasons.

He’s amassed 18 appearances in Europe’s biggest club competition, which could make him a world-class option for Farke’s men during the upcoming summer.

His stats from the recent campaign highlight his star quality within the defensive third – with his figures handing the manager the top-level talent he craves this summer.

The 22-year-old made a staggering 5.2 ball recoveries and won 2.6 aerials won per 90 – with the former of the two stats ranking him in top 3% of defenders in Europe.

Diomande’s tally of 4.1 clearances made and 6.3 defensive actions per 90 reaffirms his phenomenal ability without the ball – which could massively improve the Whites’ backline.

In possession, the Ivorian has also thrived in recent months, subsequently completing 93% of the passes he attempted – also ranking him in the top 3% of defenders in the continent.

Landing a player of Diomande’s quality this summer would be a huge statement of intent from the Leeds hierarchy – undoubtedly fulfilling Farke’s demands in the process.

£43m would be a club-record deal for the Whites, but it would hand the club a world-class potential defender in their hunt for progression in the near future.

Should he get anywhere near the levels of Raphinha at Elland Road, the Ivorian would undoubtedly become a fan-favourite in no time at all.