News

Report: Leeds in amongst high-profile transfer battle

|
Image for Report: Leeds in amongst high-profile transfer battle

Leeds are one of a number of clubs from across Europe who are interested in signing Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko, a report from 90Min has claimed.

A graduate of Shakhtar’s academy, Matviyenko has already won six domestic honours since first stepping up to the club’s senior side back in 2015.

Now it seems as though the versatile defender is attracting plenty of attention from across the continent, with Leeds emerging as one potential destination for the 24-year-old.

Following their promotion to the Premier League at the end of last season, Leeds are in desperate need of a centre back following Ben White’s return to Brighton and the long-term injury suffered by the out of contract Gaetano Berardi.

Freiburg’s Robin Koch has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road, while Arsenal duo Rob Holding and Calum Chambers have also been touted as potential targets for Bielsa and co.

However, the links are not stopping there, with Matviyenko the latest to be touted as a potential target for the Whites.

According to the latest reports, Leeds, Everton, Wolves and West Ham are all providing Premier League interest in Matviyenko this summer, although there are plenty of big names on the continent for those four to contend with in this particular transfer battle.

Recently crowned Champions League winner Bayern Munich are perhaps the biggest name to be credited with an interest in the Ukraine international, with RB Leipzig, Monaco and Napoli all also said to be keen on the 24-year-old.

With just a year remaining on Matviyenko’s contract at Shakhtar, it could be possible that the club are hopeful of something of a bidding war for the player this summer, so that they do not lose him for free come the end of this season.

Perhaps as a result of that, it is thought that Donetsk are hopeful of receiving a fee of around £20million for the versatile defender, who can play at left-back as well as his natural position in the centre of defence.

It does make sense for Leeds to look for more than one centre in this window.

Even if they do get things sorted on that much talked about deal for Robin Koch, that would still only leave them with two centre backs, meaning they would be walking a tightrope when it comes to injuries or suspensions.

However, the price associated with Matviyenko here means that completing this deal would likely take a significant chunk out of the club’s transfer budget for the current window, making it something of a financial risk.

But when you look at what Matviyenko has achieved in his career so far, and the level of interest there is in him from across the continent, it does appear as though this would be both a big show of strength from Leeds, and a more than solid piece of recruitment from a football perspective as well, which suggests that this might just be a chance that is worth taking.

Share this article

UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.