Sources: Injury opens door for Dan James to complete permanent Leeds United move
Andreas Pereira’s serious ankle injury could open the door to Fulham sealing a permanent move for Leeds United’s Dan James, sources have told Football Insider.
This site revealed on Tuesday (2 May) that the two clubs a set for talks over a permanent summer deal for the on-loan 25-year-old.
Fulham confirmed on Monday (1 May) that Pereira will miss the rest of the season after he was stretchered off against Man City at the weekend.
It is believed that the chances of a permanent swoop for James will be enhanced should the Brazil international be ruled out for an extended period.
Pereira had started every Premier League game before the injury, notching four goals and six assists.
Conversely, James has struggled for game time since joining Fulham temporarily last summer (2022).
He has racked up 26 appearances across all competitions this term but the rapid winger has managed just six starts for the Cottagers.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Leeds will be happy to part with James in the summer window if they suffer relegation to the Championship.
The Whites are staring down the barrel of a potential fall into the second tier and have moved to bring Sam Allardyce in as manager until the end of the season.
James, who only joined Leeds from Man United in 2021, earns a reported wage of £50,000-a-week on his Whites contract.
He starred in a centre-forward role in Fulham’s 3-1 win over Everton last month in the absence of Aleksander Mitrovic – notching a goal and an assist in a rare start.
Marco Silva’s side could lose even more winger depth for the start of the 2023-24 campaign – with the contracts of Willian and Neeskens Kebano set to expire next month.
The Cottagers sit 10th in the Premier League with a mid-season blip effectively ending their hopes of European qualification.
In In other news, Leeds United and West Ham race to sign Ligue 1 star.