'I expect they will' - Leeds United transfer window insight provided by ex-Premier League scout
Ex-Premier League scout issues prediction regarding Leeds United’s transfer window activity
Former Premier League scout Mick Brown has tipped Leeds United to “spend big” ahead of their second season back in the Premier League.
When the Whites sealed promotion back to the top flight last year, the brief for manager Daniel Farke was a simple one.
He was tasked with keeping Leeds afloat after years of promoted clubs going straight back down to the Championship.
Farke completed the task and is now looking to push Leeds forward and away from the relegation battle picture. In order for the next hurdle to be cleared, Leeds must show ambition in the transfer market.
Leeds United transfer window insight offered
“It looks like Leeds are going to spend big this summer”, Brown told Football Insider. “They want to show the manager that they can be ambitious and back him with big signings, especially after he essentially told them he would walk away if they didn't.
“Leeds did really well last season to stay in the Premier League, but they want to build on that, and sometimes that means you have to spend big money.”
Ousmane Diomande prediction
Brown, who counts the likes of Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers among his former clubs, believes a huge outlay for a player like Ousmane Diomande is possible.
Diomande, a key figure for Sporting Lisbion in Portugal, has been linked with a big-money move to Elland Road.
“Paying a huge fee like that for Diomande is something I expect they will be prepared to do this summer because they want to show that they are willing to sign these top players,” Brown said. “If they go and break their transfer record on bringing in a player like Diomande, that's a real statement of intent and shows the manager they are behind him."
Diomande is far from the only centre-back to have been linked with Leeds, who have been reported to be admirers of an array of players.
Among those to have been named as potential targets are free agents Diogo Leite and Danilho Doekhi, both of whom are departing Union Berlin as free agents.