Leeds United are opting against pursuing a summer transfer of Wales international Harry Wilson after being informed of Liverpool’s demands, according to Alan Nixon.
Wilson had emerged as a potential candidate for Director of Football Victor Orta to target this summer, as the Whites chief tackles the market looking to improve Marcelo Bielsa’s squad ahead of our long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Liverpool are open to parting ways with Wilson as his future is not certain at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp, but will only consider a permanent deal after the Merseyside club agreed with the 23-year-old that his one season with AFC Bournemouth would be his last loan spell.
Wilson joined Eddie Howe’s side on the south coast for the 2019/20 campaign and was a regular under the now-departed Cherries boss, with the 17-cap winger earning 20 starts over his 31 top-flight appearances.
The winger, who played 26 of his league games on the right-flank, returned Howe’s faith with seven goals but no assists, and last struck the back of the net in January before going 11 games without any return.
A number of Premier League sides have been touted as a potential destinations for Wilson should he leave Liverpool this summer, with Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers previously named.
Neither were pursuing a move at the time as they prioritised other positions, and Nixon now adds that we, Villa and Newcastle United are distancing ourselves from Wilson after hearing Liverpool would demand £20million for the attacker.
Unless the Reds consider lowering their valuation, it is presumed that our interest in a transfer will not materialise into a firm approach following successful negations with SC Freiburg for Robin Koch and Valencia for new club-record striker Rodrigo.
Would you spend £20m on Harry Wilson?
Yes
No
If the latest reports of Liverpool demanding £20m for Wilson are to be believed, it is yet another sign of how well Orta is managing the summer transfer window at this stage that he has not persisted with plans to sign the Wales international.
Having already begun to spend big with Rodrigo landed for €29m (£26m) and Koch for £13m, plus reports of interest in Udinese’s €35m-valued Rodrigo de Paul, Orta cannot afford to also waste funds on players of Wilson’s abilities.
He proved with Bournemouth that he cannot be relied on over a full Premier League season, and his lack of assists would be a huge flaw to his game at Elland Road. Wilson often failed to create chances at the Vitality Stadium, too, with SofaScore data showing just the 0.5 key balls a game which led to a total four big chances created by the end of the term.
Wilson further only averaged 0.5 successful dribbles, 2.6 ground duels won, delivered just 0.1 accurate crosses and 9.0 accurate passes in the opposition’s half a game. Further to that, the 23-year-old gave away two penalties and committed one further error that led to a shot.
If Orta and Bielsa are keen to strengthen our flanks this summer, hopefully they have other targets in mind.