Football
Exclusive: Premier League-Bound Leeds Target Benfica’s Leandro Santos in Summer Swoop
Leeds United are eyeing a deal for Benfica wonderkid Leandro Santos. Valued at £5million, the 19-year-old full-back is eager for more playing time. With Leeds keen on young talent, Santos could be a key addition to their squad as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.
AS Monaco v SL Benfica - UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 Playoffs by Johnny Fidelin | Getty Images
Premier League-bound Leeds United have expressed an interest in signing Benfica full-back Leandro Santos on loan, SportsBoom sources can reveal.
The highly-rated teenager is valued at £5million and is rated as a real prospect for the future having starred for the Lisbon giants this season.
Santos, 19, played three games for the club this season, all of which were victories.
And the Portuguese right-back, who has represented his country twice at Under-20 level, is hungry to get some much-needed experience at a top club under his belt.
The Whites fit the bill having won promotion back to the big time, with manager Daniel Farke keen to balance his ambitious squad with some young and hungry players, as well as experienced wise-old heads.
Santos graduated through the Benfica youth ranks before earning his first team chance. But regular football is unlikely to be on cards next season at the Estadio da Luz, with the defender ready to embark on a new challenge to give his burgeoning career another boost.
Benfica were narrowly pipped to the post by just two points by Sporting for the Portuguese Liga title this term.
TITLE PUSH
It is understood manager Bruno Lage is keen to add some more experience to his defence ahead of a real title-push next season.
Santos has a clause in his contract which allows him to move to a top side should them calling, but Benfica would land a sizeable compensation fee if he were to make the move.
Leeds are understandably ready to strengthen ahead of their return to the Premier League, with Farke identifying new targets throughout his squad.
Defenders Sam Byram and Junior Firpo are both out of contract next month, but Jayden Bogle has been the club’s first-choice right-back this season.
Santos is seen as a star for the future and would fit into the club’s young squad dynamic.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.