Exclusive: Major development in Leeds pursuit of Che Adams
Leeds United have stepped up their bid to sign Che Adams by making contact with Southampton yesterday over a January loan deal, Football Insider can reveal.
The Yorkshire giants are in the market for a new forward after Arsenal recalled Eddie Nketiah earlier this week.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club are pressing ahead with their pursuit of Adams and preliminary discussions have taken place with Southampton over the possibility of a half-season loan.
Football Insider first broke the news of Leeds' interest in Adams on 20 December and their pursuit has accelerated over the past two weeks.
Marcelo Bielsa has given the green light for recruitment chief Victor Orta to push ahead with a move for Adams after learning on Tuesday that new Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wanted Nketiah back at Emirates Stadium.
Leeds are now ready to battle multiple other Championship clubs in the race to sign Adams, who has been on the fringes at Southampton since his £15million summer move from Birmingham City.
Football Insider revealed that Forest tabled a loan offer for Adams before Christmas as they looked to steal an early march on rivals.
However, Leeds' interest is growing and they have turned their attention to him after all but accepting defeat in their bid to land Liverpool rising star Rhian Brewster.
Adams earned a move to the Premier League after he banged in 22 league goals for Birmingham last season.
But Adams has struggled to make an impression for the Saints.
He has yet to score for the Premier League club from 15 appearances in all competitions even though he has started two of their last three matches.