Leeds United may encounter a snag in their pursuit of Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner,  Forbes journalist 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.

Jesse Marsch is 'driving' this particular pursuit as he looks to bring in a new LB before the end of the transfer window.

Junior Firpo is currently injured, and Leeds lack specialist cover for the Spaniard even when he's fit.

The latest

Nalton says 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.

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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.

Wagner, a two-time MLS All-Star (2021 & 2022), is 'very creative', in the words of Jacobs, and his tally of 17 assists in 99 league games can attest to that.

A source close to the player said that he viewed Leeds as the 'best option', 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, a transfer to Elland Road might have been ideal for all parties, but now there's a real degree of uncertainty.