Leeds United continues to be linked with new players each week, even though it remains uncertain whether Daniel Farke’s team will be in the Premier League or the Championship next season.
While Farke may be “100% convinced” that Leeds will secure Premier League football next year, it’s still unclear, with Leeds slipping to third place and only six games left. A win against Middlesbrough tonight could propel them to the top, or they might stay in third if Burnley defeats Derby and Sheffield United bounces back with a win over Millwall.
Despite the uncertainty, new players are still being mentioned. This week, Leeds are reportedly interested in former Huddersfield midfielder Brahima Diarra, and French sources now suggest a Ligue 1 defender is on their radar.
Leeds are now said to be keen on Montpellier defender Modibo Sagnan. French outlet Foot Mercato reports that Leeds are ‘closely interested’ in signing Sagnan, a left-footed centre-back with seven caps for Mali. Sagnan joined Montpellier in January 2024 for £2.75 million and has since played 39 matches for the club. This season, he has featured in 25 of Montpellier’s 28 Ligue 1 games, starting 23 of them.
With Montpellier on the brink of relegation, sitting at the bottom of Ligue 1, Sagnan is expected to move quickly, and Leeds are reportedly leading the race for his signature.
Sagnan could be seen as a potential replacement for either Pascal Struijk or Max Wober. Struijk, the vice-captain, has been linked with a move to PSV Eindhoven, while Wober is expected to leave the club. Regardless of whether Leeds remain in the Premier League or drop to the Championship, they may need left-footed centre-backs, and Sagnan has emerged as a target. However, there are some concerns about his performance, as he has been part of a struggling Montpellier team.
Sagnan, who has scored five goals in 39 appearances, should only be considered if Leeds stay in the Championship. A transfer could be straightforward given Montpellier’s likely relegation to Ligue 2.
