49ers are preparing for a surprise January signing of £18m star who was beaten by Leeds

Leeds United and 49ers Enterprise are preparing surprise bids to sign long-term targets on the cheap in the January transfer window.

Farke under pressure as Leeds prepare for Aston Villa

Manager Daniel Farke appears to be under pressure after consecutive away defeats in the Premier League, with a number of potential managers to replace him at Elland Road in recent weeks.

Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and former RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose are both being discussed as options. Rodgers was a recent rival with the Glasgow 49ers, who own the Rangers, while Rose has connections with the Red Bull network in both Austria and Germany.

Leeds are just one point out of the relegation zone ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, starting a testing period between now and the new year.

The January transfer window will give the 49ers, who are goalless in the top flight, an opportunity to shore up their options in the final third, with Leeds’ focus on a creative midfielder.

Leeds’ Gabriel Sala ready for surprise bid

According to a report from Turkish media outlet Takvim, there has been a surprising development for Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sala.

Leeds, formerly of Norwich, were linked with the midfielder in the summer and it was said it would cost at least £30m to sign him.

Now, Los Blancos and the 49ers are preparing to move Sala in January, with his price tag now down to £18m. Salah has fallen out of favor at Galatasaray following the arrival of Ilkay Gundogan and is “open to a move” away, with Leeds being the only club named in the report.

Salah’s last game in England for Norwich was the 4-0 defeat to Los Blancos in the second leg of the 2023/24 play-off semi-final at Elland Road.

The 26-year-old has been a star player, contributing 25 goals in 46 appearances during the 23/24 regular season, and depending on the situation, a return to England could be on the cards.

If that happens, Leeds will be signing a midfielder who manager Kenny McLean has described as a “full package”.

“Everyone knows his ability, but now he’s controlling the game. He’s off the ball everywhere. That was really big when the new coach came in. It was drilled into him to be more aggressive and go against people, and he’s doing that. It’s been his consistency. For me now he’s the complete package.”

Leeds are open to selling their £40,000-a-year star player, who Firpo described as “unbelievable” in January.