FC Porto consider renewing Zaidu deal amid fresh Leeds interest | OneFootball

Leeds, who finished 14th in the last Premier League season, have once again turned their attention to Zaidu. During the January transfer window, the English club had already made a strong effort to sign the left-back from FC Porto, but at that time they ran into a conversation between Francesco Farioli and the player, after which the Nigerian international decided to stay at the Dragão to help the team through a decisive stage of the season.

Even so, according to the English press, Leeds’ interest remains intact and could even lead to a concrete offer this summer. However, they will not be the only English club keeping an eye on the situation, not least because the full-back is represented by Jorge Mendes and there is a possibility that Wolverhampton could enter the race, a scenario that will always depend on the decision of the new coach, Portuguese manager César Peixoto. At the same time, according to information gathered by our newspaper, Zaidu also has suitors in La Liga, which increases the competition.

Despite this interest, the way the full-back finished the season and the trust placed in him by Farioli, after a first half of the campaign in which he was used less, put him in a strong position to complete a seventh season in the service of FC Porto, the last of his current contract. In that context, it is expected that the SAD will move forward with a renewal, not only because of his sporting performances, but also to avoid a free transfer, a scenario harshly criticised by André Villas-Boas when he spoke about the management of the club’s previous administration in cases such as Brahimi, Uribe, Marega or Marcano.

From the player’s side, there is openness to all scenarios, although staying at the Dragão appears to be a very strong possibility. Zaidu feels valued at the club and recognises FC Porto’s role in raising the profile of his career, both in terms of the titles won and regular appearances in the Champions League.

Moreover, the return of the blue and whites to Europe’s top competition after two years away is another major factor. In the current squad, Zaidu is actually the player with the most appearances in the competition, with 28 matches, 26 of them as a starter, numbers that reflect his experience on demanding stages. Besides the full-back, only the newly signed André Silva has a similar record, with 21 matches as a starter, although the forward accumulated them while playing for several teams and not only in the Dragons’ shirt.

That European experience, combined with the tendency he shows for stepping up in bigger matches, should weigh on the decisions of Farioli and the Porto hierarchy. These are also the factors FC Porto will take into account when analysing any potential offers, knowing that the 29-year-old Nigerian international is protected by a release clause set at 50 million euros.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.