Leeds United 'lose out' to Premier League new boys in transfer race for ex-Fulham forward

Pre-season is underway at Thorp Arch and Leeds United are on the lookout for new signings going into the 2024/25 Championship season. A raft of senior players have departed Elland Road since the club's play-off final defeat to Southampton.

There is a strong possibility Daniel Farke will look to bolster his attacking options this summer following their promotion near-miss and the Whites were strongly linked with former Fulham forward Bobby De Cordova-Reid last month. Cordova-Reid is a free agent after turning down a contract extension at Craven Cottage. Everton were also credited with an interest in the player.

But a Daily Telegraph report says De Cordova-Reid, who can operate as a forward or winger, is close to joining Premier League newcomers Leicester City. The report states that the 31-year-old has agreed to join the Foxes, despite a number of rival offers from top-flight clubs, and is due to undergo a medical at the King Power Stadium in the next 24 hours. It has been claimed that Cordova-Reid will pen a three-year contract.

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De Cordova-Reid scored six goals and set up two more in 33 Premier League appearances last season, albeit he was only in the starting 11 on 17 occasions. He made 209 appearances for the West London outfit in total after joining initially on loan from Cardiff City back in August 2019.

Should De Cordova-Reid join, it may be that he doesn’t link up with Steve Cooper’s squad straight away as he has only recently returned from the Copa America. Cordova-Reid featured in two of Jamaica’s three group-stage matches as they lost to Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Cooper, named City boss on June 20, will welcome his new squad back to training on Monday. The Foxes remain hopeful of persuading Wilfred Ndidi to sign a new contract. Talks are said to be ongoing with the midfielder, who has been targeted by clubs in England and overseas, and the Foxes are still confident of reaching an agreement.