---
title: "Leeds: Transfer target Kai Wagner set to be sold"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/kai-wagner-january-sale-expected-leeds-philadelphia/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-09-26T16:20:13Z"
modified: "2022-09-26T16:20:13Z"
---

# Leeds: Transfer target Kai Wagner set to be sold

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) transfer target Kai Wagner will ‘absolutely’ leave Major League Soccer for Europe in January, according to MLS insider [Tom Bogert](https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1574037954489905152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1574037954489905152%7Ctwgr%5Ed46899adcb46cde599508901f3ceee99abb1f4a9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-35458762271061944520.ampproject.net%2F2209072154000%2Fframe.html).**

### The lowdown

The Whites held talks over a deal for the Philadelphia Union left-back during the summer transfer window, as per CBS Sports journalist [Ben Jacobs](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1558761383742824449). Jesse Marsch, who has coached in MLS with New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact, was [apparently](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1558761383742824449) the ‘driving’ force behind the prospective deal.

Wagner’s contract with Phildadelphia is due to expire at the end of the calendar year, but his club [have the option to extend it](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/profil/spieler/357842) by a further 12 months.

### The latest

Bogert says that Wagner will be on the move in the winter but it warned that it could be ‘difficult’ for Leeds to pull off the deal amid extensive competition.

He wrote on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1574037954489905152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1574037954489905152%7Ctwgr%5Ed46899adcb46cde599508901f3ceee99abb1f4a9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-35458762271061944520.ampproject.net%2F2209072154000%2Fframe.html): *“Sources: Expectation is that Philadelphia Union star LB Kai Wagner will ‘absolutely’ be sold to Europe this winter. Leeds United far from the only club interested, will be difficult for them now rather than the summer.”*

[![Latest Leeds United news](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-51/)

### The verdict

Leeds lack [specialist senior left-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/kadernachposition/verein/399) cover for the [injured](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/junior-firpo/verletzungen/spieler/374139) Junior Firpo. Pascal Struijk has [played there](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pascal-struijk/leistungsdaten/spieler/410708)in the early part of the season but he is naturally a centre-back, while Leo Hjelde is only 19 and boasts a mere [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leo-fuhr-hjelde/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/661208/verein/399) senior Whites appearances.

Wagner could duly be the man to fill that glaring void in the Whites’ squad if Victor Orta can pull off a deal for the German defender.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410182″\]

Jacobs describes the 25-year-old as ‘[very creative](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1558761383742824449)‘, a label which is justified by his tally of [eight MLS assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/leistungsdaten/spieler/357842) so far this season. That ranks him [first in the Philadelphia squad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philadelphia-union/leistungsdaten/verein/25467/reldata/%262021/plus/1), and [joint-sixth in the division](https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/130/stats/season/17185/players/goal_assist/mls-players) overall.

As Bogert warned, though, the timing may not work out in Leeds’ favour considering the added interest in the player.