Leeds United have plans in place to offer Inter Milan prospect Facundo Colidio a long-term contract, as Whites chiefs ramp up the club’s efforts to boost Marcelo Bielsa’s strike force with a late recruitment drive, according to Football Insider.
The Whites board face serious competition from Newcastle United in our efforts to sign the 19-year-old Argentine, as Steve Bruce’s Magpies are said to be on pole position given their Premier League status and the greater resources on hand.
But United opened negotiations with Inter last week to sound out the potential of a move, with reports suggesting the Nerazzurri could demand between €8m and €10million (£7.3m and £9.2m) for the former Under 20 international.
Inter made it clear during discussions that they could open the door for a temporary move, although a loan agreement would have to carry an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
Bielsa is believed to be a big admirer of the Nerazzurri prospect, despite the teenage forward not yet making his senior debut for the San Siro side.
The Whites transfer delegation are keen to see that Colidio joins Bielsa’s ranks with Kemar Roofe close to joining RSC Anderlecht, but a club source has shared concerns that we face an uphill struggle to finalise a deal for the Argentine before Thursday’s deadline.
United intend to offer the Boca Juniors product a long-term contract to convince him of the benefits of joining the Whites, where a more direct route into first-team football will be on offer when compared to Newcastle, who are expected to place him in their Under 23s should they win the race.
While Colidio may be yet to make his first-team debut for Inter, he proved his abilities in front of the net with their youth sides last season, with twelve goals and six assists to his name across all competitions, including five in five UEFA Youth League encounters.