Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Soccer Football - Men - Group C - Egypt v Argentina - Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan - July 25, 2021. Facundo Medina of Argentina celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Leeds United are reportedly battling with a number of Premier League clubs for the signing of Lens defender Facundo Medina in the summer transfer window.
The Lowdown: Madina shining for Lens
The 23-year-old has produced some strong performances for the Ligue 1 side so far this season, proving to be an influential member of their defence.
Medina has averaged a hugely impressive 90.6% pass completion rate across 23 league appearances in 2022/23, all of which have come as a centre-back, while he also boasts four direct goal involvements, making an impact in both boxes.
The Argentine’s current deal Lens deal expires in the summer of 2026.
The Latest: Leeds eyeing up move
According to AS RomaLive.it [via Sport Witness], Leeds are one of several Premier League teams who are in the race to sign Medina at the end of this season, with Lens set to demand up to €35m (£31m) for his signature.
The other clubs in question are Aston Villa, Brighton and West Ham, while Jose Mourino’s Roma are also in the equation.
The Verdict: Strong defensive signing
Medina could prove to be a brilliant signing by Leeds if they manage to get a deal over the line, with the defender winning two caps for Argentina to date and capable of playing at left-back, too.
A dominant physical figure despite only being 5 foot 10 in stature, the Lens man ranks highly in a number of metrics, namely impressing on the ball, sitting in the 99th percentile for successful dribbles, 98th for total passes and 97th for assists, compared to other centre-backs (FBRef).
The hope is that he could join Leeds and enjoy a similar impact to Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, who has been excellent despite not being a tall centre-back, taking the Red Devils up a gear with his tenacity and quality on the ball.
At 23, he would be considered a long-term investment who should only grow as a player over time, eventually becoming a mainstay of the team at Elland Road.
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