Leeds United fans will be pleased with their team’s performance in Germany this pre-season, having defeated Schalke 2-0 last time out.
Joe Rothwell starred from the centre of the park in that friendly victory, playing Jayden Bogle into space to assist Mateo Joseph’s opener in the behind-closed-doors clash, but it appears unlikely that the Whites will make do with their numbers centrally without the AFC Bournemouth loanee.
Recently linked with a move for FC Koln’s Dejan Ljubičić to boost in these places, the Championship promotion hopefuls are also keeping an eye on a player much closer to home, who sparkled in the EFL last season.
Leeds are looking to recruit Norwich City magician.
According to Italian newspaper Correiro De Sport, as provided by MOT Leeds News, Leeds are looking to sign Norwich City ace Gabriel Sara this summer, while Serie A club Atalanta is also interested in the Canaries star.
Leicester City, Crystal Palace, and Galatasaray are also named as potential suitors, with an update from TeamTALK revealing that the Italian party may be ahead of the South American, seeing him as the best possible alternative to in-demand Celtic gem Matt O’Riley if he does not move to Bergamo soon.
Farke and Co will hope to come out on top despite significant interest from a club that will compete in the Champions League this season, and find their next Raphinha in Sara, with the current Barcelona man a dazzling ace to watch from Brazil in his own right at Elland Road.
Capable of playing down the right wing, like Raphinha did on a weekly basis in West Yorkshire, the 25-year-old may significantly boost Leeds’ midfield options ahead of a potential promotion-winning season.
How Sara can become Leeds’ next Raphinha.
Sara ended up with his own personal goal of the season competition in Norfolk last season, regularly smashing in audacious strikes like this one against Swansea City throughout the dramatic campaign, with a staggering 27 goal contributions tallied across all competitions by the end of the bumper schedule.
That is why so many suitors have put the £19k-per-week midfielder – according to Capology – at the top of their respective summer shopping lists, with Leeds wanting even more flair and creativity from midfield thanks to the South American, knowing that Sara can also play in the right midfield spot if necessary to give the Whites more options if Wilfried Gnonto leaves.
Sara has shone from his right midfield position for Norwich, as evidenced by the table above, and his adaptability has also come in good if Leeds required an extra person in defensive midfield or even down the left side if necessary.
He will want to play in an attacking role, since his 13 goals for Norwich last season surpassed Raphinha’s greatest campaign haul of 11 when he was still at Elland Road.
Like Sara, who has been described as “magical” by football commentator Ben Mattinson, the ex-Leeds maverick enjoyed cannoning in a magnificent strike from nowhere, as evidenced by the sumptuous montage above.
As a result, if a trade goes forward, the present Norwich man could be expected to perform a role akin to that of an entertaining magician for the Whites.
It will be difficult for Leeds to persuade Sara to stay in the Championship, especially with the allure of Serie A calling his name, but signing the slick midfield talent would be a huge statement about Leeds’ intentions this season, with a desire to take the league by storm rather than settle for another near miss.
