Exclusive: West Brom to offload player for good as Bielsa lines up bargain Leeds deal

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Published on:

31 Mar 2019, 12:00 pm

EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke

Midfielder Stefan Johansen is set to be offloaded for good by West Brom and quit parent club Fulham this summer as Leeds United line up a move to sign him on a free, Football Insider understands.

The Norway international, 28, is coming to the end of his contract at Craven Cottage and is not expected to be extend his stay at the club after being farmed out to Albion in the January transfer window.

The former Celtic man has struggled to hold down a regular spot at the Hawthorns since his arrival and he is not expected to make the move permanent this summer.

A well-placed Fulham source has told Football Insider that Johansen, who joined the Premier League club in 2016 from Celtic, is keen to explore his options as a free agent this summer with a number of foreign clubs also weighing up moves for him.

The source explained that West Brom have rejected the chance to sign the 28-year-old permanently and he won't return to the club next season.

The Norway captain has emerged as a target for Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa as he sees the midfielder as one of the best free agents in the market this summer.

The 28-year-old boasts a wealth of experience after spells in his native Norway, Scotland and England and he has won 47 caps for his country.

In other Leeds United transfer news, it can be REVEALED the club have agreed a fee with rival club as deal is done to sign attacker ahead of summer window.

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