Football

Everton make decision on Jean-Kevin Augustin transfer after being offered Leeds target


Everton have been offered Leeds United transfer target Jean-Kevin Augustin this month – but their decision on whether they want to sign the striker will be a boost for the Championship side.

Everton were offered the chance to sign Jean-Kevin Augustin earlier in the January transfer window – but snubbed the opportunity, according to reports. Leeds United are looking to wrap up a loan deal for the RB Leipzig attacker in the coming days. 

The Whites have canvassed a number of options as they look to bolster their frontline, with Che Adams and Andre Gray among those who they have looked at.

Marcelo Bielsa has seen three attempts to sign Adams on loan from Premier League side Southampton rebuffed.

And now, Leeds are keen on Augustin, who could cut short his loan spell with Ligue 1 side Monaco after a lack of minutes. He has started just two league games for the club this term.

Bielsa admires Augustin, who joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain for around £11million in 2017, and could make a late swoop for the 22-year-old before the window closes at 11pm on Friday.

And French newspaper L’Equipe claim Augustin is keen on a move to Elland Road and that a deal could be negotiated which would offer Leeds the chance to sign the player permanently in the summer.

The former France under-21 international missed out on Monaco’s loss to Strasbourg on Saturday night despite not having an injury.

Leeds need a new No 9 after Arsenal recalled Eddie Nketiah earlier this month, leaving Bielsa with Patrick Bamford as his only senior striker.

The west Yorkshire club sit second in the Championship, a point below leaders West Brom, as they seek to end a 16-year absence from England’s top flight.

But as they ponder a pursuit of the highly-rated Augustin, provided his temporary stay with Monaco is ended prematurely, it has emerged Everton were given the chance to sign him earlier this month.

Football Insider report that Everton were offered the forward via intermediaries as the Toffees themselves look to beef up their options in the final third.

The Merseyside outfit are said to be working on multiple deals but told Leipzig they were not interested in signing Augustin.

The report claims Leeds are increasingly hopeful of reaching an agreement and that Bielsa himself has personally intervened to try and accelerate a deal before the deadline.

The Argentine coach is said to have spoken to Augustin directly to try and persuade him to come to England.

Leipzig are keen for Augustin to play more regularly than he’s doing at Monaco, with the striker only having one goal and two assists to his name from 13 appearances this term, being an unused substitute eight times across all competitions.

Leeds, meanwhile, made Ian Poveda their second signing of the January transfer window on Friday, the 19-year-old winger joining on a free transfer from Manchester City.

He follows goalkeeper Elia Caprile in joining Leeds this month, signing from Chievo Verona.

Poveda told Leeds’ official website upon joining the club: “I’m very, very pleased, I know that Leeds United are a big club.

“I know Leeds won the league the year before it turned into the Premier League and I believe they should be back there.

“I’m very excited to work under Bielsa, I know he improves players and that’s what I’m looking to do under his guidance.

“I met a couple of my teammates when I was going through to have my medical, I’m very happy and they made me feel very welcome.

“I’m here to help the team as much as possible, to get promoted and restore this great club back to where it belongs.”



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