Sources: Everton hijack Leeds deal for Dan James
Everton are hijacking the Leeds United deal for Man United winger Daniel James, Football Insider has learned.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have opened talks to sign James on a permanent deal by tomorrow’s transfer deadline.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Everton have also registered their interest in James.
That could spell trouble for Leeds, who famously came within a whisker of signing James from Swansea City in January 2019.
The Yorkshire giants are discussing a deal worth around £25m for James.
The Wales international had completed a medical and was on the verge of joining Leeds two-and-a-half years ago before Swansea pulled the plug at the 11th hour.
Instead, James stayed in south Wales before completing a £15million move to Manchester United that summer as Leeds failed to win promotion.
The 23-year-old has played 74 times for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and has started two of their opening three Premier League games this term.
However, with United set to formally complete the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no room for him at Old Trafford.
Football Insider revealed on 27 August that Solskjaer is planning on using Ronaldo as a striker where he played in his recent career.
With Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford back in training after shoulder surgery Solskjaer has a plethora of options in attack.
Leeds have been in the market for a new central-midfielder all summer but the potential opportunity to sign long-term target James has proven too difficult to resist.
Everton have already added wide players Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray this summer.