Revealed: Leeds to complete big-money signing on 1 July regardless of Covid-19

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Published on:

22 Apr 2020, 11:30 am

The Leeds United permanent signing of Helder Costa will be unaffected by any potential transfer window delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Football Insider understands.

The suspension of the season and a resumption unlikely to be before mid-June could have major repercussions for the timing and structure of the summer window, as well as the contracts of loan players.

Leeds United will be significantly affected by this as five of their senior stars were originally signed on loan deals that expire on 30 June.

These are regular starters Costa, Jack Harrison and Ben White, goalkeeper Illan Meslier and January signing Jean-Kevin Augustin.

Costa moved to Elland Road last summer when it was announced he had signed on an initial season-long loan that would eventually become a full-time transfer.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider that the Portugese winger is set to become a permanent signing on 1 July regardless of the Covid-19 virus.

He will be handed a four-year contract and the £15million transfer fee is set to be paid in instalments across four years.

That will mitigate the financial blow for Leeds, who announced a £21m loss in their recently-published set of accounts.

By contrast, permanent deals for Augustin, Harrison, White and Meslier are up in the air.

They are dependent upon various factors, including promotion and negotiations involving the parent clubs and the players themselves.

Costa has been a mainstay of the team after struggling to break into Bielsa's XI at the start of the campaign.

The Portugal international has made 27 Championship starts among 40 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and supplying five assists.

In other Leeds United news, a sensational replacement for Pablo Hernandez is on the cards.

Leeds United