Exclusive: Leeds turn attention to signing two PL defenders after 6-figure bid submitted
Leeds United have turned their attention to signing two Premier League centre-backs after missing out on Croatian ace Josko Gvardiol, Football Insider understands.
The Premier League new boys are trying to land one defender who can slot straight into the first-team squad and a second who can initially be developed in their Under-23s side.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club have made an approach to sign Arsenal's Calum Chambers on a season-long loan.
They are also trying to lure rising star Haydon Roberts from Brighton after, as exclusively revealed by this site, tabling a six-figure bid last week.
United face competition to sign both players from rival English clubs as well as, in Roberts' case, RB Leipzig.
The German giants are on the verge of winning the race for Gvardiol even though Leeds had a bid of around £18m accepted by his club Dinamo Zagreb.
It means Marcelo Bielsa and the United recruitment team have had to re-think their plans to stiffen a defence that has shed seven goals in their opening two Premier League matches.
Chambers has been made available by Arsenal after being deemed surplus to requirements by Mikel Arteta.
The Gunner signed Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille in a £20million-plus deal this summer and he has made a strong impression in their opening two Premier League wins.
Newcastle and West Ham also have registered their interest in Chambers, who has spent six years at Arsenal and has three England caps.