Junior Firpo is expected to complete a £12.8million move from Barcelona next week, bringing an end to Victor Orta's Europe-wide search for a new left-back.
The 25-year-old would be Leeds United's third piece of summer business, following the permanent acquisitions of Jack Harrison and Amari Miller last week.
Firpo is a signing that fits the Whites' blueprint. At the age of 24, his best years remain ahead of him, whilst Orta will feel they've poached the Spaniard for a bargain fee, making the most of Barcelona's financial crisis.
Acquiring undervalued talent from Europe has been an important strategy upon promotion to the Premier League, in order to complement the more expensive purchases of ready-made talents, such as Diego Llorente and Rodrigo Moreno.
Leeds broke their 20-year transfer record to sign the Spaniard from Valencia and he remains their biggest deal a year on.
Rio Ferdinand's move from West Ham remains at number two, with the deal that brought Llorente to Elland Road the third most expensive in the club's history.
Raphina's price tag has already tripled after an impressive debut Premier League season, making the £17million Leeds splashed out look like a bargain.
Their next most costly piece of business was a deal to bring Robbie Keane to Elland Road from Inter Milan for £16million, all the way back in 2001.
Equally, Helder Costa's permanent switch from Wolves was more costly than Firpo at £15million, with Robbie Fowler's switch from Liverpool 29 years previous just below that figure.
That's where Firpo comes into the standings, as Leeds' eighth-highest transfer fee. At under £13million, Leeds are getting a bargain considering Firpo's age, 24 and his current club, Barcelona.
Of course, until the former Real Betis defender is stood in the Jack Charlton stand with a Leeds shirt on, nothing is official.
Leeds United's record transfers
- Rodrigo Moreno, Valencia - £27m
- Rio Ferdinand, West Ham - £18million
- Diego Llorenete, Real Sociedad - £18million
- Raphinha, Rennes - £17million
- Robbie Keane, Inter Milan - £16.5million
- Helder Costa, Wolves - £15million
- Robbie Fowler, Liverpool - £15million
- Junior Firpo, Barcelona - £12.8million
- Robin Koch, Freiburg - £12million
- Jack Harrison, Manchester City - £11million.
