A left-back currently on Leeds United’s radar has been left out of his side’s pre-season tour of America, with his current employers desperate to offload the defender this summer.
Daniel Farke is keen on bringing in a midfielder that can score more goals from deep as well as a full-back given he only has three options at his disposal in the form of Jayden Bogle, Sam Byram and Junior Firpo.
Joe Rothwell has been added but Leeds are expected to try and sign another midfielder with the likes of Dejan Ljubicic and Gabriel Sara linked. At left-back, there are also options being considered by Leeds.
Byram is capable of playing on both sides but given he is right-footed, it is expected a left-back will be targeted especially with Firpo’s long-term contract in doubt as he enters the final 12 months of his deal.
Leeds battling Watford to sign Champions League club’s lefty
Last season, Fode Ballo-Toure was sent on loan to Fulham by AC Milan. But the 16-time Senegal star struggled in London, managing only a handful of appearances and he remains out of Milan’s plans.
New manager Paulo Fonseca – who was approached by Victor Orta for the Leeds job before the choice of Jesse Marsch – has not included Ballo-Toure in his plans and Leeds are interested in landing the left-back.
The 27-year-old has other admirers, too. Ballo-Toure has just rejected a move to Turkish side Besiktas, and it is likely he returns to England though it is unclear if the left-back wants to join a Championship club.
Fode Ballo-Toure left out of Milan squad for USA trip
His exit has never been closer. Not only is Ballo-Toure in the final year of his Milan deal after a season out on loan, but the African defender has now been omitted from Milan’s trip to the USA for pre-season.
A report from Pianeta Milan says that Fonseca’s side are hoping for offers for the defender in order to sell him. They had agreed a fee with Besiktas, only for the defender to reject a move to the SuperLig outfit.
Left in Milan and his future in limbo, Leeds have a real chance of getting him. A fee is unlikely to be an issue for the Yorkshire side, but the real challenge lies within tempting Ballo-Toure to join Leeds.