Leeds United in race to sign "complete" £18m-rated "phenom", Phillips would love him - opinion

Leeds United are battling fellow Premier League sides Newcastle and Spurs for the signing of Lens midfielder Seko Fofana.

Back in the January transfer window, Foot Mercato’s editor-in-chief Sebastien Denis claimed the Whites were one of several teams looking at a potential move for the Ivory Coast international.

Now, Newcastle World have suggested that the Magpies face competition from both Spurs and Jesse Marsch’s side in the race to sign him this summer, and that Leeds in particular have been monitoring his situation.

While Kalvin Phillips has struggled with injuries this year, if he does stay put at Elland Road this summer, he will no doubt be hoping to enjoy a far more consistent campaign next season.

The big question for him and Leeds, is who his midfield partner should be in the long-term, with the likes of Mateusz Klich and Adam Forshaw generally used in the engine room alongside him.

But, in Fofana, they could have the kind of box-to-box powerhouse that would thrive with someone like Phillips next to him.

As per Whoscored, Fofana is currently Lens’ fourth highest-rated player (6.90) out of those who have started more than one game this season in Ligue 1, while compared to his teammates, he ranks top for both shots and dribbles (2.4 and 1.9), and second for key passes (1.1).

Indeed, with seven goals in his 31 appearances, he’s the club’s second top goal-scorer, with one of those strikes coming during a 1-1 draw with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, leading to journalist Zach Lowry describing him as a “phenom“.

It’s no surprise then his manager Franck Haise dubbed him “the most complete player”, and added: “On the pitch, he is able to stay organized to adjust the team’s balance. At the same time, he has a great