Sources: Leeds United in ‘very advanced talks’ to sign Manuel Benson after Southampton hijack
Football Insider has been informed by sources that Leeds United is in “very advanced talks” to sign Manuel Benson, a winger for Burnley.
Although the deal is not finalised just yet, additional talks held early on Saturday morning indicate that it is getting close.
The 26-year-old will be signed by Leeds on a loan agreement through the end of the 2023–24 campaign.
Burnley rejected a loan offer worth much than £1 million for Southampton’s Benson, as Football Insider reported, but the negotiations have stopped.
Seven points separate the Whites from the automatic promotion slots as they presently occupy the fourth spot in the Championship table.
With Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville drawing interest from the Premier League, Farke is searching for offensive reinforcements this month.
Considering the interest from the Premier League and Serie A this month, Leeds may be willing to allow Gnonto go, as Football Insider reported.
The addition of Benson would provide Farke’s team more depth in the event that Gnonto or Summerville leave Elland Road this month.
In 42 games across all competitions, the Belgian winger has 14 goals and four assists for Burnley.
Benson only made five appearances for Burnley this season, out of favour even though he was crucial to their promotion campaign in 2023–24.
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Gnonto made it clear that he wanted to depart by refusing to play and submitting a transfer request after going through the preseason and the season’s first game without incident.
Everton was the team making the most push for the 20-year-old; in fact, it’s been stated that the Whites rejected four of their offers during the summer.
San Francisco 49ers Enterprises was in a strong position to honour Leeds’ declaration that they would not allow him to depart because his contract did not contain a release clause.
According to reports, Everton rejected an offer for Gnonto on deadline day for about £25 million, but Phil Hay revealed the precise sum when he spoke on the most recent episode of the Square Ball Podcast.
Hay shares how much Leeds turned down for Gnonto
He said: “You always wonder with Gnonto because he was so clear in the summer that he wanted to go and he made no secret of that. If he could’ve gone, he would’ve. But I don’t get the vibes from Farke that he’s expecting that to happen.
“I would have to look back but to the best of my knowledge it was around £15 million – £20 million. I don’t know how this season would’ve affected Gnonto’s valuation.”
Granoto may be heading to West Ham this month, despite the fact that the exact fee is still up for debate. The Daily Mirror, however, has now stated that he is not the target.
It is improbable that teams will choose to make an offer comparable to what was put up in the summer, given Gnonto’s performance thus far in 2013.Either way, Leeds ought to be trying to hang onto him.
In an indication to his followers that he is prepared to move past the summer incident, Gnonto has even entertained the idea of switching agents after the fiasco.
