Revealed: Leeds climb into pole position to sign striker
Leeds United have leapfrogged Nottingham Forest in the race to sign Che Adams on loan from Southampton this month, Football Insider can reveal.
The Yorkshire giants followed their Championship promotion rivals by formally registering their interest in Adams on Thursday, as revealed by Football Insider.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted yesterday at his media conference that he has no plans to allow Adams to go out on loan in the current window.
He subsequently handed the striker, 23, a rare start in today's 2-0 FA Cup third round win against Huddersfield, albeit in a weakened line-up that did not include red-hot Danny Ings.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club have not been put off by Southampton's public stance as they have received greater encouragement behind the scenes.
Marcelo Bielsa's side lead the loan race for Adams ahead of Forest even though the east Midlands outfit tabled a bid for him a fortnight ago.
The success of their pursuit is likely to depend upon the Premier League club recruiting a new front man before the 31 January cut-off to complement Ings, Shane Long and Michael Obafemi.
Football Insider first broke the news of Leeds' interest in Adams on 20 December and their pursuit could continue until the end of the month.
Bielsa has given the green light for United to push ahead with a move for Adams after new Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recalled Eddie Nketiah from his season-long loan at Elland Road earlier this week.
Adams has been on the fringes at Southampton since his £15million summer move from Birmingham City, where he scored 22 league goals last season.
He has yet to score for the Premier League club from 16 appearances in all competitions even though he has started three of their last four matches.