Leeds United should chase exciting Celtic deal as Manor Solomon doubts emerge - It's not Daizen Maeda | OneFootball

With a deal for Solomon now looking unlikely, the Whites should turn their attention to this Celtic star.

Leeds United have recently been dealt a significant blow in their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur star Manor Solomon.

Following an extremely productive loan stint at Elland Road, the Israeli international had been outlined as one of the Whites’ main transfer targets following their promotion to the Premier League.

Now, however, they look set to miss out on the attacker, who has given the “green light” to a potential move to Marseille instead.

With Leeds seemingly destined to miss out in their chase of Solomon, they should now turn their attention to Celtic Park to source a high-quality alternative. However, despite being one of several English sides linked with a move for Daizen Maeda recently, a move for Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn could be a better option.

Marseille’s Solomon update is a huge blow for Leeds

After the season Solomon has had, it is little surprise Leeds want to sign him permanently.

The 25-year-old struck 10 goals and 12 assists from 39 appearances in the league, providing a consistent source of both goals and creativity as Daniel Farke’s side raced to the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.

Despite Leeds’ star-studded squad in the second tier, the fact that all three promoted teams are set to return to the Championship once again for next season emphasises once again the gulf that now lies between the two divisions.

As such, it is vitally important for all promoted sides that they can add players of proven quality who are ready for the step-up to the top-flight. Having been one of the most dangerous attackers in the Championship this season, Solomon certainly fits that bill.

When you add on the fact that he already knows the club and his teammates well, and understands what Farke demands from his forwards, it’s easy to see why the club had earmarked him as one of their biggest targets this summer.

For a while, it seemed as though Leeds would get their wish. However, the latest update from Marseille has seemingly dealt a hammer blow to their hopes of bringing Solomon back to Yorkshire next term.

Les Olympiens recently secured Champions League football for next season, and the opportunity to play in Europe’s premier club competition could well be what has tempted Solomon to indicate his interest in a potential move to the south of France.

Leeds should target Kuhn instead

While news of Solomon’s interest in a move to Marseille has provided Leeds with a major setback in one of their biggest transfer pursuits of the summer, it’s important that they now explore their options and come up with contingency plans.

With the Solomon deal now seeming unlikely, the Whites should instead turn their attention north of the border, to a Celtic side that have recently claimed their fourth consecutive Premiership title.

Leeds have been linked with the Bhoys’ 33-goal frontman Daizen Maeda recently, but with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea all having watched the Japanese international, it could make more sense for them to set their sights on Kuhn instead.

Having already been tipped for a move to Elland Road earlier this season, the club’s interest in the German winger is seemingly concrete and sustained.

Since his £3m move from Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna back in January of last year, Kuhn has become one of the Scottish top flight’s most exciting talents.

After a relatively slow start to life at Celtic Park last season, this term he has been in explosive form.

The 25-year-old has struck 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, and only Maeda can better his goal contributions tally in the league for Celtic.

The former Bayern Munich and Ajax man is likely a better stylistic fit for Farke’s side than Maeda would be. Kuhn is a left-sided winger who carries a particularly dangerous threat from wide areas, which is more akin to what Solomon brought to the table than Maeda, who predominantly operates through the middle.

When you factor in the competition that Leeds are facing for Maeda’s signature, then they would likely have to pay significantly over the odds to secure the 27-year-old’s services.

However, Leeds would seemingly face comparatively less opposition if they were to chase Kuhn, which could lead to a deal being concluded with relative speed and ease.

Given the insignificant fee that Celtic parted with to bring Kuhn to Glasgow, there is a belief that Leeds could be able to get hold of him for a relatively minor outlay, meaning it could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Whites.