Leeds United are keen on Benfica youngster Florentino Luis but face stern competition for the midfielder’s signature.
TuttoMercatoWeb report that the Championship leaders, who they describe as ‘ambitious’, are looking to give a ‘luxury gift’ to manager Marcelo Bielsa should they gain promotion to the Premier League this season.
Luis is such a gift, having impressed for the Portuguese side this season, drawing comparisons to Paul Pogba and Patrick Vieira, to name just two.
His performances have not gone unnoticed around Europe, and there are numerous clubs interested in his signature, including Leeds.
They are not the only ones keen, with Manchester United, AC Milan, Real Betis and Bayer Leverkusen all named as potential destinations too.
Of those, it is Manchester United who are slightly ahead of the competition having held a meeting with the player and his agent in the January transfer window about a possible move in future.
It’s explained he would ‘fill a situation necessity’ at Old Trafford, particularly if Paul Pogba were to depart as has been rumoured for several months.
Benfica, for their part, are willing to loan the player out with a ‘one year delayed redemption obligation’ to raise the cash they need to cover costs caused by the Coronavirus crisis.
This is why the likes of Betis and Leverkusen have become interested as both have a strong history of launching talents and moving them on for big prices.
AC Milan, meanwhile, see him as the perfect purchase for Ralf Rangnick should he arrive at the club as expected. Leeds, then, are facing stern and elite competition should they make their move.
However, perhaps they can use the lure of Marcelo Bielsa, something they’ve used in the past, and the guarantee of first-team football in the Premier League, to their advantage.
