Leeds United Are in Pole Position to Sign the 25-year-old International

Leeds United are one of several clubs considering a move for a 25-year-old Sweden international.

Leeds United have spent much of the 2023/24 Championship campaign in and around the automatic promotion places. The Whites were second in the table with 44 games played, one point ahead of Ipswich Town. However, their hopes of finishing in the top two were dented by a 4-0 defeat to QPR on Friday evening.

A number of Leeds stars failed to impress in the defeat to QPR, suggesting Daniel Farke still has a lot of work to do with the Peacocks, regardless of which division they play their football in at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Should the West Yorkshire side secure a quick return to the Premier League, which remains very likely this season, they will need to add much higher quality players to their ranks to ensure they do not face immediate relegation, as happened with Sheffield United and Burnley the event is expected to take place this semester.

One player who would certainly add some quality to his squad is former star Kalvin Phillips. The Englishman has struggled for consistent form since leaving Leeds for Manchester City and earlier this month it was claimed that Leeds had contacted Phillips’ representatives about a summer move and had set aside £30m to secure a permanent transfer.

A report earlier this month claimed Leeds United would be keen to convert Joe Rodon’s current loan spell into a permanent move in the summer. Rodon has been crucial to Leeds having one of the best defenses in the Championship this season. Even after conceding four goals against QPR, they still have the second best defense in the division with 41 goals conceded in 45 games.

As well as making Rodon an integral part of their defensive line next season, Leeds are now looking to improve his goalkeeping skills.

Leeds United are targeting a 25-year-old international

According to a report by the Swedish magazine Aftonbladet [via Sport Witness]Leeds United are considering a move for Rotherham United star Viktor Johansson but could face competition from Stoke City and soon-to-be-relegated Sheffield United.

Unlike Stoke or the Blades, Leeds could well play in the Premier League next season. It is therefore no surprise that the report claims that Leeds are currently considered the leading candidate to sign Johansson, with Sweden expecting the goalkeeper not to stay at Rotherham next season.

Rotherham have endured a dismal 2023/24 season, managing just four wins from 44 league games this weekend. Despite their terrible form, Johansson, valued at around £2.5million by Transfermarkt.com, has shone on several occasions, including in the recent 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle where he made 11 saves. The 25-year-old’s impressive form even earned him his first international match for the Swedish national team on October 12, 2023.

It will be interesting to see how Leeds’ end to the season affects their transfer activity.