Journalist: Leeds closing in on another 'significant' signing as Orta agrees to various add-ons

Leeds United are closing in on signing Manchester City midfielder Darko Gyabi, according to The Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski.  

The Whites agreed on an initial £42m fee with Manchester City for Kalvin Phillips last week. Leeds were in separate talks with the Premier League champions for Gyabi, who Phil Hay said is expected to sign a four-year deal in Yorkshire.

Phillips is set to undergo his City medical today, and it looks as if Leeds’ move for Gyabi in the opposite direction isn’t too far behind.

Bajkowski ran a Q&A for The MEN on Thursday and was asked if anything could go wrong with deals for Phillips or Gyabi.

He said that the two announcements should be at similar times, adding a £5m fee is ‘significant’ for Leeds, who have also agreed to ‘clauses’ that will benefit City if Gyabi impresses at Elland Road.

“The two announcements should be at similar times but any delay wouldn’t suggest anything is wrong.

“Gyabi looks an excellent prospect from what I’ve seen, but £5m is a significant amount of money for someone who hasn’t played any senior football and there will be clauses in the deal to benefit City should he go on to thrive at Leeds.”

Gyabi is set to become the club’s fourth signing of the summer and second midfield addition through the door after Marc Roca. He is highly rated by those who know him well, with scout Xander Wilkinson describing him as a ‘Rolls Royce’ midfielder.

Therefore, a move to Leeds should be viewed as good news, and you’d expect he’ll initially link up with the U23s at Thorp Arch.

Only time will tell if a £5m transfer will turn out to be a shrewd piece of business, and if it is, it looks as if Leeds will need to pay more money in the long run for the central midfielder.