David Brooks wanted by Leeds “as well as” Southampton

AFC Bournemouth playmaker David Brooks is being pursued by a number of Championship teams, including Leeds United, for a loan deal at Elland Road

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook speculates that Leeds United is interested in signing AFC Bournemouth playmaker David Brooks on a loan basis that would last till the end of the 2023–2024 campaign. Going into the second half of the season, head coach Daniel Farke would love to add more players to his Whites team, since his team has a realistic chance of earning promotion to the Premier League.

After losing its top-flight standing at the conclusion of the 2022–2023 season, the Yorkshire team hopes to go closer to the Championship‘s automatic promotion berths in the upcoming weeks. Southampton, a play-off competitor and Leeds‘ opponent for promotion, have also expressed interest in Brooks, who will be hoping to gain consistent playing time before moving up to the second tier.

Southampton and Leeds are competing to sign Brooks.

Having already burned through a substantial portion of their budget in the summer of 2023, it seemed doubtful that Leeds would be able to pull up any trees in the market going into the winter transfer window. Nine fresh faces were welcomed to Elland Road by the Whites.

albeit this was lessened by the departure of 17 players as a result of their Premier League relegation during the opening window of the 2023–2024 season.

 

 

 

DJED SPENCE , one of Farke’s summer recruits, has already left Yorkshire as Tottenham Hotspur called him back from his loan. However, significant arrivals like Joel Piroe, Ethan Ampadu, and Glen Kamara have had the intended effect on Leeds‘ squad, positioning Farke’s team for Championship promotion.

However, Brooks has been noted by the Premier League as a possible target for the winter transfer window of 2024. The winger may be available on loan through the end of the current campaign. Crook revealed in December 2023 that Southampton had expressed interest in the 26-year-old, in addition to Leeds. Throughout the course of the 2023–24 season, Brooks has made 12 appearances in the Premier League, accounting for just 15% of the available minutes. He has one goal and one assist.

As a result, the Wales international might choose to go on loan to a lower division in order to obtain regular playing time and experience before a potentially big summer transfer window in 2024. Farke would benefit greatly from Brooks‘ versatility across his front line as he attempts to bolster his options in his squad before the run-in. Brooks can also play as an attacking midfielder. On January 9, however, journalist Nick Mashiter revealed that Southampton was attempting to finalize an agreement to keep the £50,000 weekly wage earner through the conclusion of the season. In addition to hurting Farke, losing out on Brooks—who previous head coach Gary O’Neil called “fantastic”—would increase Southampton’s chances of promotion, which would aggravate the Elland Road team even more.

Alex Crook-Brooks is really interested in the Championship

Prior to Brooks’ possible loan move from the Vitality Stadium, Crook has previously disclosed that he is much interested in the Championship, but he has also asserted that nothing is certain. Any deal might occur around the end of the winter window, the talkSPORT reporter suggests. To GIVEMESPORT, Crook said:

“Brooks has a lot of Championship interest, Leeds as well [as Southampton]. But I think with Bournemouth losing Hamed Traore because he’s got malaria, he won’t return anytime soon. Dango Ouattara is going to AFCON, so if they let them go, it will be towards the end of the window. Nothing is guaranteed.”

Leeds is expected to have a quiet winter transfer window, according to transfer news, which also includes updates on Charlie Cresswell‘s future. However, the scenario behind the scenes may be quite different. Additionally, Crook revealed to GIVEMESPORT on January 7th that he has received information indicating the Whites may be more aggressive in the market than Farke is letting on.

On the other hand, Charlie Cresswell, a left-back, is apparently drawing interest from other teams in the Championship. According to The Yorkshire Evening Post, the Whites are expected to resist an offer that is in the region of £4 million to £5 million. The cost, though, might prevent interested teams like Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, and Blackburn Rovers from making a move.

On January 13, Leeds will play their first Championship match as they welcome Cardiff City in an attempt to cut their seven-point deficit to second-place Ipswich Town. Then, on January 21, Farke‘s team will play Preston North End. The following weekend, on January 27, they will face Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road for an FA Cup fourth-round match.