Sky whispers: Lifelong fan most likely player to join Leeds this summer as report claims contract talks collapse
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Sky whispers: Lifelong fan most likely player to join Leeds this summer as report claims contract talks collapse

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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By Harry Sykes

Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale is the most likely player to join Leeds United in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Sky Sports' transfer section (Tuesday, 4.44pm) regularly plugs its Football Whispers, which claimed on Tuesday evening that the lifelong Leeds fan is the likeliest Elland Road arrival.

There have been recent reports that Leeds are one of a number of clubs interested in Stockdale, who was hugely influential in Brighton securing promotion to the Premier League.

The Mirror claimed at the end of last month that Leeds had joined Middlesbrough and Chelsea in the race to join the 31-year-old, who is out of contract with the Seagulls in the summer.

The Sun reported on Friday that Stockdale's contract talks with Brighton had collapsed as the two parties were nowhere near an agreement and that their draw against Brighton last weekend could have been his last match for the club.

Football Whispers, which gathers all transfer rumours across the globe and calculates the likelihood of them happening, rates it 1.2 out of 5 that Stockdale will join Leeds, with five the highest possible ranking and meaning it is a certainty.

The Swede is ahead in the ratings of Exeter striker Ollie Watkins, who has a rating of 1.1, and former Leeds winger, whose rating of moving to the Yorkshire giants from Bournemouth is also 1.1.

Stockdale, who joined Brighton from Fulham in 2014, was born in Leeds and has supported his hometown team since childhood.

In other Leeds United transfer news, the club are in a three-horse race to sign a top-flight captain who is desperate to make a move to the Championship big hitters.

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Leeds United
Brighton & Hove Albion
David Stockdale
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