Leeds United have already been looking at potential new signings in the event they are promoted to the Premier League this season.
The Whites are very much in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship but have seen their form stumble as of late, meaning it is no longer in their hands.
Daniel Farke’s side sit third in the table just a point adrift of Leicester City in second, who have a game in hand. Ipswich Town, meanwhile, are a further point and place ahead.
With the Premier League still possible, there have already been links to potential new signings, with the return of former midfield hero Kalvin Phillips said to be a realistic possibility.
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Luca Netz is among the other players to have been mentioned as a target, though Leeds have plenty of work to do if they are to be in a position to make these signings.
De Winter joins Genoa permanently, after reports of Leeds interest
With Liam Cooper’s contract set to expire, and Charlie Cresswell likely to be on the lookout for regular game time, centre-back is very much a position Leeds will need to strengthen.
Joe Rodon is, of course, wanted permanently from Tottenham, but him on his own will just not be enough and so there has already been a potential link.
It was reported last month that Leeds are among a host of English clubs who have taken a look at signing Juventus defender Koni De Winter.
However, Fabrizio Romano’s latest update on Twitter suggests a deal that was already unlikely in the first place, is even more so now.
De Winter has spent this season on loan at Genoa and according to Romano, his latest appearance yesterday triggered the option for the Serie A club to sign him on a permanent deal.
Juventus are set to receive around £6.8 million for the 21-year-old, and if Leeds are to make a move for him this summer, it is likely they will have to pay significantly more to get it done.
Who is reported Leeds target Koni De Winter?
De Winter is still just 21-years-old but already has a couple of seasons of Serie A football under his belt, having been at Empoli last season prior to Genoa.
He has been at Juventus since the age of 16 but has played just twice for their first team, and there will not be anymore after his loan deal at Genoa became permanent.
De Winter actually won his first cap for Belgium over the course of the most recent international break, playing 64 minutes of their 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland.
Clearly De Winter is a highly rated young centre-back but it is going to take a lot of work for Leeds to be able to get this one done, if they get promoted.