Leeds United and Leicester City 'express' transfer interest in European defender

PEC Zwolle centre-back Anselmo Garcia MacNulty has emerged as a transfer target for Leeds United. A report in Spanish outlet AS claims the Whites and Championship title winners Leicester City are interested in signing the player in the summer transfer window.

Born and raised in Seville, MacNulty progressed through the youth ranks at Real Betis but failed to make a senior appearance for the Spanish outfit. His heroes growing up included Edu, the former Real Betis striker that he watched every other week as a season ticket holder at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, and Spanish defenders Puyol and Sergio Ramos.

As well as representing German side VfB Wolfsburg, MacNulty also had a loan spell at NAC Breda in the Netherlands. He headed to Zwolle on a free transfer last summer and is now a first-team regular at Dutch top-flight side. The 21-year-old has racked up 29 appearances across all competitions for the club, with Zwolle currently 11th in the table.

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MacNulty, who can speak four languages (Spanish, English, German and Dutch), is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland through his mother, and has so at various youth levels. His progress has not gone unnoticed in England or Europe.

Club Brugges, currently top of the Belgian top-flight, are thought to be among a number of clubs thought to be closely monitoring MacNulty's situation. MacNulty has two years left to run on his Zwolle contract.

It is highly likely United will be in the market for new defenders this summer, with Luke Ayling and club captain
expected to leave the club following the climax of the 2023/24 season. Right-back Connor Roberts is due to return to parent club Burnley and there are doubts over Junior Firpo's long-term future if the Whites seal an instant Premier League return.