Exclusive: Leeds handed huge transfer boost amid dramatic new Derby development
Leeds United have been handed a huge transfer boost amid dramatic new Derby County developments, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
This site revealed earlier this month the Premier League club are keeping close tabs on teenage midfield star Jason Knight as well as his risings-star teammate Louie Sibley.
A Derby source has told Football Insider that the club have now enlisted agents to find buyers for a number of their stars to help balance the books.
It means cut-price deals could be rushed through before the 1 February transfer cut-off and that has alerted Leeds as contact is made via third parties over potential deals.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Knight and Sibley were on their radar, although summer moves were deemed more likely at that stage.
However, the duo, both of who are 19 and key members of the first-team squad, are prize assets at Derby and could stave off a financial crisis.
Derby were hoping for a takeover by Sheikh Khaled's Derventio Holdings to be finalised but the deal is still in the balance.
The Championship big guns do not have the funds to cover their players' salaries this month, which has opened the door to some potential big-name sales.
Knight has graduated from the Derby youth ranks to make 61 senior appearances, while Sibley has already played 35 times after emerging from the youth side.
Knight is such a talent that he can play anywhere in central or attacking midfield and has started 23 of Derby's 24 league matches this season.
Sibley has started five of Derby's Championship games this season among 18 appearances in total.
Leeds were keen on Sibley last summer, as revealed by Football Insider.
They were pushing for a deal right up until the window closed in October but Derby were holding out for £10million for the teenager at the time.