Leeds United are thought to be interested in signing Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes.

The Lowdown: Cifuentes profiled

Cifuentes, an Ecuador international, is primarily a central midfielder but can also play in holding or attacking roles.

The 23-year-old is valued at a career-high £5.85m by Transfermarkt and is under contract with LAFC until the end of 2023.

Cifuentes, described as a ‘dynamic’ player with an ‘eye’ for goal by LAFC general manager John Thorrington, has scored 13 goals during his career, six of which have come in 2022.

Sports Witness relayed an update from Ecuadorian journalist Andres Ponce, who provided an update to Radio Diblu FM regarding Cifuentes.

He claimed that Europe is chasing the midfielder, name-checking Leeds and Brighton as sides who are ‘interested’ in his services.

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The Verdict: 49ers to lay the groundwork?

Cifuentes is plying his trade in the MLS, so the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers could help lay the groundwork over a potential transfer.

They hold a 44% stake in Leeds and have an option to buy the club outright from Andrea Radrizzani until 2024 so may well look at Cifuentes as a potential signing for their future.

Of course, it would need to be green-lit by Jesse Marsch, but with Mateusz Klich’s future up in the air, Cifuentes could prove to be a shrewd replacement as he can play in a variety of midfield roles and has good ‘mobility’.