Leeds United want Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra, €26m bid tabled | OneFootball

Leeds United sent a €26 million offer for Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra in recent hours, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

The Elland Road club have joined suitors keen on recruiting the services of the 21-year-old Senegal international this summer, and they have entered the concrete phase of their strategy to land him.

Diarra has three years remaining on his contract at the Ligue 1 club and Leeds will have to battle some of their English counterparts and German clubs for him.

The Whites want to bolster their midfielder after returning to the Premier League, and the former France youth international midfielder could be perfect for their squad.

Strasbourg have yet to respond to their bid as they are always subject to the decisions of their shareholders, and they are waiting to see how other suitors will react in the coming days as a bidding war will help drive his fees up.

Diarra has played 102 games for the French club, with 11 goals and ten assists to his name, and Leeds could do with his experience and quality in the middle of the park next season.

While he is primarily a central midfielder, the Senegalese can also play in attack, featuring as a number 9 and as a right winger during the campaign, and manager Daniel Farke could do with such a utility player within their ranks.

Diarra helped his side finish seventh in the Ligue 1 last term, which saw them qualify for Conference League qualifiers next season, and whether he is open to leaving the potential of playing European football for a newly-promoted club remains to be seen.

The club have turned down €18m from Eintracht Frankfurt but are open to selling him to the Premier League for the right price, and Leeds may need to return with an improved bid should other suitors match their latest offer.