Spanish outlet Diario SPORT claim Leeds United are close to completing a deal for Barcelona's Junior Firpo, fending off interest from Italian giants AC Milan.
It has been understood for some time that Junior will leave Barcelona, having failed to establish himself as a regular at Camp Nou under different managers and boardroom uncertainty.
This summer, the Catalan club have already secured moves for Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay, and are currently working on an extension for Lionel Messi.
Consequently, Barcelona's financial situation is a precarious one to say the least. Despite the club's size, the enormity of their debt obligation means they will inevitably offload players this summer who have been deemed expendable.
Junior appears to be one of those, with Celta Vigo also linked in a previous Mundo Deportivo report.
However, the same article suggested the left-back is keen on a move outside of La Liga, hence the interest from AC Milan, who will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season.
SPORT journalist Toni Juanmarti writes: "The agreement between the three parties [Leeds, Barcelona and Junior's representatives] is well advanced and in the next 24-48 hours what has been a lightning operation could be sealed.
"As we have been explaining in SPORT, Milan was the player's preferred option, but the energetic entry on the scene of the team led by Marcelo Bielsa has ended up convincing the former Betis player, who will leave after two seasons at Can Barça. With the sale of Junior, the Barça club will enter about 15 million Euros."
The fee suggested by the Spanish outlet is certainly the kind of figure Leeds United could justify spending on their primary transfer target this summer.
It would also make sense from Barcelona's perspective; making a quick sale for a player who has started just a handful of league games over the past two seasons.
Financially, the Catalans are in dire straits and the economical strain deals for Aguero, Depay and potentially Messi, will place upon the club's balance sheet means prospective sales such as Junior's will need to be sought.
If Leeds United have identified this off-field issue as one which could potentially play into their hands, it is one which must be commended as Junior has long-since been regarded as a player whose valuation exceeds this latest suggested transfer fee.
It may transpire that the former Manchester City striker could have a hand, indirectly, in Barcelona being more open to a Junior Firpo sale - which could certainly benefit Leeds United.
