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“Have not progressed” – Phil Hay shares insight into Leeds United’s midfielder search

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Leeds United’s attempts to sign Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi have never appeared to reach an advanced stage this month.

The final piece of the jigsaw for Leeds this month, it seems, is to land a midfield signing before the window shuts on Tuesday night.

Two prime targets appear to be on the table for Leeds: Juventus’ Weston McKennie, and Angers’ Azzedine Ounahi.

Ounahi was the first player Leeds looked to add in the midfield department this month, having held talks with his representatives in Paris weeks ago.

However, his performances in the World Cup have complicated Victor Orta’s interest in the 22-year-old, knowing that his Morocco heroics have drastically raised his valuation at club level.

That’s according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, who has shared more insight on the prospect of Leeds adding the energetic dribbler to their squad before the deadline next week:

“Ounahi was good but it had taken the tournament in Qatar to suggest he was that good. Whereas Angers were talking about a fee of around £10million in the summer window, the price now would be closer to £20million, if not slightly higher. Faced with that valuation, Leeds have not progressed talks with Angers or Ounahi’s camp to an advanced stage yet.”

Will Leeds sign a midfielder before the January deadline?

Yes

Yes

No

No

Ounahi would have been a brilliant signing to bolster our midfield, but I am glad that we’re not paying well over the odds for a player based on a month of good form.

He is clearly someone who impressed Orta during his time in Ligue 1, but not enough to warrant paying this much for him.

McKennie looks, to me, like the player that the club are going to press on with, knowing how keen he is to get a deal done.

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Leeds United season ticket holder since 2013/14, currently situated in the middle of the FA5 noise. From Pablo Hernandez to 5-1 drubbings, I've seen it all at Elland Road.