Marcelo Bielsa may have to accept defeat in his deadline day efforts to sign Daniel James after supporting the Leeds board’s valuation of the winger, per the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The Yorkshire Evening Post have run an update on their on-going story over the future of James, and state that Bielsa has agreed with the Whites’ board that the one-cap Wales international is only worth an upfront payment of £5million.
United are willing to up the overall value of the transfer with performance-related bonuses, but will not break the bank to sign the Swans star in January.
The 21-year-old winger has been linked with a move to Elland Road throughout the window, though, and is said to have quickly become Bielsa’s number one target after signing a new keeper.
That goalie proved to be Real Madrid’s Kiko Casilla, who joined earlier in the month on a free transfer, and all attention then went on to finding the next creator for the Whites’ ranks.
Bristol City’s Callum O’Dowda and Hoffenheim’s Sven Zuber are also said to have been considered, but Bielsa had his heart set on James from the off and swiftly ruled both out.
The Argentine’s interest in someone scouted by Leeds’ Head of Emerging Talent Craig Dean may have to stay at the Liberty Stadium, however, if Swansea do not lower their £12m valuation in the final hours of the window.