Leed Moved ‘aggressively’ for £5m Premier League lefty, and 22-year-old in summer

According to transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, Leeds United moved “aggressively” for both Burnley left-back  Charlie Taylor  and Sheffield United signing Luke Thomas during the summer window.

Leeds have finished the transfer season with nine new players and an entirely new look to the side, with Daniel Farke and the transfer team performing admirably given the challenges they faced this summer.

However, there are two areas where a high-quality player who is naturally suited to that job is still absent. The first is the 10 position, which has seen Leeds make approaches for both Nadiem Amiri and Matt O’Riley in the last few weeks.

The other position is left-back. Taylor, 29, and Thomas of Leicester City were also on our radar. According to Jacobs, Leeds made “aggressive” bids for both, but neither Burnley nor Leicester were interested.

“Luke Thomas at Leicester – multiple approaches were made but Leicester had no desire to loan to a Championship rival, so he ended up going to Sheffield United. Charlie Taylor at Burnley,” Jacobs said.

“He could have returned to Leeds, but neither Leeds nor Burnley were interested.” Leeds attempted, and they were particularly aggressive in their pursuit of Thomas. But they just couldn’t get the deal done.”

According to Jacobs, Leeds pursued Taylor and Thomas aggressively.

Both players would have been amazing additions. Taylor – well, Leeds have not really replaced him since he left in 2017 for £5m. He knows the club and despite some ill-feeling, he would have been brilliant.

Thomas is a talent. A left-back that has shown he can shine in the Premier League. But Leicester are well within their rights not to loan him to us – and Taylor, like many others, chose the lure of the top tier.

If we were in Leicester’s shoes, would we want to loan a player to a direct rival? Would Thomas want to have come to Leeds – given it would be fighting his boyhood side to go up, before a possible return?