By support

25th Jul, 2016 | 3:15pm

Leeds blow as reliable journalist rules out deal for Bundesliga midfield ace

By Will Butcher

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay has been told by the agent of former Juventus midfielder Albin Ekdal that the 26-year-old will not be joining Leeds.

Italian owner Massimo Cellino told the Daily Mail that he was in talks with an unnamed player and rumours have circulated surrounding the identity of this man.

Many on social media believed it to be Hamburger SV’s Swedish international Ekdal.

But the reliable Hay rules out the possibility on his personal Twitter account on Monday afternoon.

Leeds fans will hope that the club is still set to announce a midfield signing soon, after Radio Yorkshire journalist Joe Rawson reported that the Whites’ could expect an announcement within 24 hours.

https://twitter.com/joerawson/status/757532868398776320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

It is still unclear as to who the mystery man will be, after a deal for Sunderland and former Leeds midfielder Liam Bridcutt hit an impasse due to Sunderland’s valuation of the Scottish international.

The 61-year-old described the midfielder to the Mail as ‘similar’ to Bridcutt, who normally operates as a marshal between the defence and midfield.

Manager Garry Monk has been linked with adding experience to his midfield, with Mathieu Flamini, Andrea Lazzari and Leon Osman all being linked with an Elland Road move.

Monk has been successful in the transfer market so far, with the signings of Rob Green, Hadi Sacko, Marcus Antonsson, Kyle Bartley, Kemar Roofe and Matt Grimes.

In other Leeds transfer news, Monk is ready to do battle with Championship rivals Newcastle and his former side Swansea for the signature of this Tottenham playmaker.