---
title: "Leeds: Potential Kai Wagner ‘stumbling block’ emerges"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-potential-kai-wagner-stumbling-block-emerges/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-08-15T20:05:58Z"
modified: "2022-08-15T20:05:58Z"
---

# Leeds: Potential Kai Wagner ‘stumbling block’ emerges

**Leeds United may encounter a snag in their pursuit of Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner, [Forbes journalist](https://twitter.com/JDNalton) James Nalton has warned.**

### The lowdown

Leeds are already in talks with the Major League Soccer outfit over a deal for Wagner, as per CBS Sports journalist [Ben Jacobs](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1558761383742824449).

Jesse Marsch is ‘[driving](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1558761383742824449)‘ this particular pursuit as he [looks to bring in a new LB](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/free-agent-left-backs-available-to-leeds-united-as-transfer-stance-is-made-clear-by-jesse-marsch-3791016) before the end of the transfer window.

[Junior Firpo is currently injured](https://theathletic.com/news/junior-firpo-injury-leeds/9bwjVKD0LPqZ/), and Leeds [lack specialist cover](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/startseite/verein/399) for the Spaniard even when he’s fit.

### The latest

[Nalton says](https://twitter.com/JDNalton/status/1558816192365842436) he ‘hasn’t fully looked into’ Wagner’s prospective move to Leeds United but he imagines that he wouldn’t be able to secure a work permit.

It looks like a potential ‘stumbling block’ for the Whites, with Wagner [uncapped by the German national team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/profil/spieler/357842).

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### The verdict

Losing out on Wagner because of circumstances beyond their control would no doubt be frustrating for Leeds.

It seems Marsch has identified the 25-year-old as the solution to his left-back issue, so this may disrupt his plans.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

Wagner, a two-time MLS All-Star ([2021](https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/mls-all-stars-kai-wagner-philadelphia-union-20210805.html) & [2022](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2022-mls-all-star-team-roster)), is ‘[very creative](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1558761383742824449)‘, in the words of Jacobs, and his tally of [17 assists in 99 league games can attest to that](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/leistungsdaten/spieler/357842).

A source close to the player said that he viewed Leeds as the ‘[best option](https://twitter.com/LUFCFANZ0NE/status/1558011533627727873)‘, so it would be a disappointing turn of events for him too.

When you consider that he’s [out of contract at the end of the year](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/leistungsdaten/spieler/357842), a transfer to Elland Road might have been ideal for all parties, but now there’s a real degree of uncertainty.