Sky Sports: Leeds United in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Premier League midfielder | OneFootball

Sky Sports: Leeds United in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Premier League midfielder | OneFootball

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·15 January 2026

Sky Sports: Leeds United in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Premier League midfielder

Article image:Sky Sports: Leeds United in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Premier League midfielder

Leeds United Target Facundo Buonanotte Loan Move Amid Survival Push

Leeds United’s transfer strategy has taken a familiar turn, opportunistic, ambitious, and rooted in short term impact. According to Sky Sports, Leeds United are in advanced talks over a deal to sign Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton, a move that speaks to both urgency and intent as the season sharpens. 

At 21, the Argentine midfielder remains a player of promise rather than certainty, but that promise has long been enticing. Leeds’ interest is not new, nor is it casual. Sky Sports noted that Leeds were close to signing the attacking midfielder on loan at the end of the summer window before Chelsea came in for him. That detail matters, not as a footnote, but as context. Leeds have been monitoring him with purpose.


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Context and Tactical Fit

Buonanotte’s appeal lies in his ability to operate between lines, drifting into pockets where games are often decided. Leeds have not lacked intensity this season, but there have been moments where incision has been harder to find. An attacking midfielder capable of carrying the ball and making decisive final third contributions feels like a calculated response rather than a gamble.

Sky Sports reported, “The 21-year-old’s s current loan spell at Chelsea will need to be cut short before he can join Leeds until the end of the season.” That logistical wrinkle is significant. Chelsea’s willingness to step aside would suggest Buonanotte’s minutes have not matched expectation, opening a door Leeds are eager to walk through.

Brighton, Chelsea and the Development Path

Brighton’s reputation for player development adds another layer. Buonanotte was never a short term project on the south coast. His loan pathway reflects experimentation rather than abandonment. Leeds, in this sense, offer something Chelsea could not, a system that values tempo, risk, and emotional investment from the stands.

There is also something quietly symbolic about Leeds returning to a deal they nearly completed. It suggests clarity of thought. Recruitment that circles back is often recruitment that knows what it wants.

Timing and Promotion Stakes

Loans late in the season carry weight. They are statements. Leeds are not building for next year in this moment, they are reinforcing for now. Buonanotte’s arrival would be about securing survival in the Premier League.


Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Leeds supporter’s perspective, this report lands with cautious optimism. Buonanotte represents the kind of signing that aligns with how Leeds want to feel again, energetic, front foot, and slightly unpredictable.

Cutting short a Chelsea loan does not read as failure, it reads as correction. Leeds can offer clarity to players caught between potential and platform. Leeds fans will remember how often creative sparks have shifted seasons, Pablo Hernández being the obvious touchstone. Buonanotte does not need to be that figure, but he can tilt games.

There is also reassurance in the idea that Leeds tried to sign him before. This is not panic buying. It suggests conviction from the recruitment team and alignment with the manager’s vision. Supporters crave that coherence.

Of course, expectation must be managed. He is 21, adapting again, and walking into a pressurised environment. But Elland Road has a way of sharpening players quickly. If Buonanotte arrives hungry, minutes-starved, and eager to prove something to Brighton, Leeds may have found the right player at the right moment.

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