---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay confirms Whites’ interest in Kai Wagner"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-premier-league-kai-wagner-phil-hay-transfer-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-12-27T17:40:13Z"
modified: "2022-12-27T17:40:13Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay confirms Whites’ interest in Kai Wagner

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) are interested in a move for Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner in January, reliable journalist Phil Hay has reported.**

### The Lowdown: Wagner linked with Leeds

The Whites are hopefully set for a busy January transfer window, with Jesse Marsch adding depth and quality to his squad for the second half of the season.

One player who Leeds have been [trying to sign](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11111285/Leeds-United-talks-Philadelphia-Unions-Kai-Wagner-Jesse-Marsch-interested.html) this year is Wagner, whose performances at left-back for Union in the MLS have caught the eye.

The German has [nine assists](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/371010/Show/Kai-Wagner) in 36 appearances this season, showing the abundant attacking threat that he offers from full-back.

### The Latest: Interest still rife

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1607302176149307392?s=20&t=UGpB8f74n-LK0rux2JxAAw) in sharing a report from [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4007869/2022/12/26/leeds-united-what-should-fans-expect-in-the-january-transfer-window/), Hay provided a short update on Leeds’ interest in the 25-year-old, succinctly stating: “Interest in Wagner at Philadelphia Union.”

Hay elaborated in the corresponding article that Victor Orta is looking to recruit a left-back ‘at the lower end of the age scale but with first-team experience behind him too’.

Wagner would appear to tick both of these boxes – while he has featured [more than 100 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/357842) in MLS, he has [never played in](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-wagner/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/357842) a major European league and could likely be snapped up for a modest fee.

[![Latest Leeds United updates](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-updates-12/)

### The Verdict: Very much needed

[As reported by Hay](https://theathletic.com/4007869/2022/12/26/leeds-united-what-should-fans-expect-in-the-january-transfer-window/), left-back is priority position to strengthen in January at Elland Road, with Junior Firpo simply [not cutting the mustard](https://www.footballfancast.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-transfers-junior-firpo-victor-orta-jesse-marsch-lufc-the-whites-premier-league) ever since joining from Barcelona in 2021.

Furthermore, Stuart Dallas has been a [long-term absentee](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stuart-dallas/verletzungen/spieler/158764), with the Northern Irishman capable of filling in at left-back, with youngster Leo Hjelde the [only other natural option](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/kadernachposition/verein/399) in that role at Leeds.

Wanger would surely be an upgrade on Firpo, who has only managed [two assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/junior-firpo/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/374139) in all his time at Elland Road; and while the German has no experience of playing in one of Europe’s top leagues, he could be an inspired prospective addition, having been described as ‘[very strong](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/philadelphia-union-full-back-kai-25837579)‘ by his manager Jim Curtin.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418869″\]