Leeds United are tracking Paris FC defender Samuel Yohou with a view to bringing him to the club this summer.
According to Le 10 Sport, Leeds are keen on the youngster but face a battle with Coventry City for his signature.
The 28-year-old, from the Ivory Coast, has turned heads in England after impressing in Ligue 2 and looks ready for a step up.
So who is Yohou? And what could he bring to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side?
The 6ft 3in centre-half made his professional debut for Paris FC at the age of 23, before spending time on loan in France’s fourth tier.
He was then signed by French third tier side Beziers, where he became an established first-team player.
Paris FC took notice of their former player after he netted four times with Beziers, and re-signed him in 2017.
He has since turned out 73 times for the club, including 23 appearances this season.
It is understood Leeds boss Bielsa is a fan of the player’s physical maturity and technical abilities, so where could he fit in at Elland Road?
As things stand, Leeds are likely to lose two key defenders this summer.
Ben White, on loan from Brighton, is set to return to the south coast in the summer after becoming an established first teamer with Leeds.
And long-time club servant Gaetano Berardi will see his contract expire in June.
Bielsa will surely seek reinforcements at the back should he lose these two, and Yohou could help fill the gap.
Of course, if Leeds are promoted to the Premier League they may look to make White’s move permanent or seek a more experienced centre-back. But while Yohou may not yet be ready for the highest level, he could come in as a worthy deputy.
The website TransferMarkt values the defender at just £428,000, so if Premier League status is secured then Yohou may be a risk worth taking for such a modest fee.
However, with Coventry looking to secure his services too, and Serie B side Crotone also taking an interest, that price may well rise.
