Leeds eyeing £20million swoop for Wolves speedster Adama Traore as Barcelona cannot afford permanent transfer
BUSY Leeds are eyeing Adama Traore to replace Raphinha.
And Sheffield United’s Sander Berge is on the Whites’ radar with Manchester City set to
Brazilian winger Raphinha looks set to leave Elland Road this summer with Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona circling.
And Traore has emerged as an affordable target at £20million.
Leeds' transfer chief Victor Orta signed the Spaniard, 26, for Middlesbrough from Aston Villa in 2016 and remains a fan.
Traore spent the second half of last season on loan at Barcelona.
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They wanted to keep him on a permanent deal but Nou Camp chiefs admitted their 'difficult financial situation' was a huge obstacle.
Traore is joined on Leeds’ wishlist by Norway midfield ace Berge, who joined the Blades from Genk for a club record £22m in 2020.
The Whites are closing in on Spanish defensive midfielder Marc Roca from Bayern Munich but do not view him as a replacement for Phillips.
And although Berge has played in a more advanced role for Sheffield United than Phillips has done at Leeds, he could sit alongside Roca in a revamped side.
City are primed to make their move for England’s Phillips, with 18-year-old Cityzen midfielder Romeo Lavia a potential makeweight in the deal.
RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams is another option in the middle of the park.
Jesse Marsch has already splashed £35m on Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen from RB Salzburg.