Leeds United eyeing transfer for £75k-a-week Liverpool FC star in Junior Firpo replacement search | OneFootball

The Whites are keen on making a move for Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas to replace Junior Firpo.

Leeds United are considering making a move for Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas to replace the impending departure of Junior Firpo.

According to the Daily Mail, the Whites are anticipating Firpo will leave the club at the end of the season to return to his native homeland with Real Betis, and Daniel Farke is keen to add more top-flight experience to the group to help push for survival in their first term back in the big time.

The Yorkshire outfit won the Championship title in dramatic fashion on the final day against relegated Plymouth Argyle, with Manor Solomon’s strike causing pandemonium in the away end at Home Park.

From lifting the second tier crown, Leeds are believed to have a transfer kitty of around £100 million to spend following promotion, and are determined to use it wisely to be competitive and avoid immediate relegation back to the second tier.

It looks like some of those funds will be spent on a new left-back, with the Greek international Tsimikas an appealing option after staying within the first-team ranks at Premier League champions Liverpool.

Leeds United eye Kostas Tsimikas summer move to replace Junior Firpo

As per the Daily Mail, Leeds are interested in swooping in for Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas, as an exit for Junior Firpo grows likelier heading into the summer window.

Firpo has been a superb attacking outlet for Leeds this season and has significantly contributed at the top end of the pitch, providing four goals and 10 assists in 32 Championship appearances.

But despite promotion back to the Premier League, he seems keen to make a return to Spain with Real Betis, opening the door for Tsimikas to make his switch in search of more regular game time.

The Reds are seemingly keen on letting Tsimikas go anyway, with Arne Slot’s men rumoured to make a move for Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Andy Robertson provides cover as he moves towards the latter stages of his career.

According to Anfield Watch on the transfer situation, an additional left-back signing would mean there wouldn’t be space for three senior options in that position, meaning Tsimikas is likely to be the outgoing figure.

Tsimikas, who is estimated by Capology to be on a weekly deal worth £75,000, is contracted to the Reds until 2027, so Leeds will have to pay a fee, but their substantial transfer budget should see no stumbling blocks in that department.

Leeds United, Kostas Tsimikas deal seems the logical move

While Kostas Tsimikas has rarely been first-choice left-back at Liverpool ahead of Andy Robertson, he has remained committed and fought for his place admirably, and at times has been rewarded with starts to show what he possesses under both Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

The 29-year-old has only managed to notch one assist from 17 Premier League games this term, but is someone who thrives on getting into attacking areas from the left-back position and creating an endless amount of chances for the forward line.

Whether the Greek international could invert into midfield like Firpo has managed to do on numerous occasions this term remains to be seen, but Tsimikas certainly holds vital Premier League experience from his time on Merseyside, and will be looking to use that to his advantage.