Sheffield United and Leeds United face Jordan James transfer threat | OneFootball

The Welshman has earned rave reviews for his individual performances this season

Leicester City's second successive relegation from the Premier League into League One meant that there were, unsurprisingly, not many reasons to be cheerful for those at the King Power Stadium.

Although the Foxes' precarious financial predicament was well-documented before the Championship season began in August, you would have been extremely hard-pressed to have found many outsiders predicting what has since occurred for the East Midlands outfit.

Of course, their relegation was confirmed in late April under the management of Gary Rowett, who was tasked with saving his former club from the drop after the hierarchy initially dismissed Marti Cifuentes just months into his contract, as well as the sanction of a six-point deduction for breaching the EFL's PSR regulations during their title-winning season of 2023/24.

As well as being relegated from the Premier League three years ago with the division's most-expensive squad to do so, Leicester were ESTIMATED to have had the highest wage bill in this season's Championship at a figure of £820,500.

And, whilst supporters were often seen piling criticism onto several players for their performance levels, the same didn't exactly apply to Welsh international, Jordan James, who did all he possibly could in terms of output, scoring 11 times and posting four assists in 34 games, whilst also being named as the Championship's Young Player of the Season.

As such, it is perhaps not the greatest of surprises that the Hereford-born playmaker's signature is already being courted ahead of the summer window, with another EFL club now facing a threat on this particular front.

Fresh Jordan James transfer update emerges - Sheffield United and Leeds United will be on red alert

As a result of Leicester's fall into the third tier, there has been no such talk of James returning to the King Power, which also comes as no surprise to many.

Despite suffering two relegations from the Championship to League One on an individual level in a three-season period, James' potential has been well-documented, and was initially showcased when French Ligue 1 outfit, Stade Rennais, parted with a reported £8m fee to lure him away from Birmingham City in August 2024.

The 21-year-old initially struggled to adapt to life at Roahzon Park, but appeared to grow in confidence as the 2024/25 season progressed, ending it with a record of 25 appearances, one goal and a solitary assist.

Last month, it was claimed that Sheffield United were monitoring the situation of James, as well as former Leicester loanees, Harry Souttar and Hamza Choudhury, and that while it wasn't the Blades who had done so, contact had been made with Rennes over a potential move for the 26-time international by another club.

Yorkshire rivals, Leeds United, have since been credited with interest in the midfielder, but it has now been reported that they face a transfer threat from Villarreal of La Liga.

That is according to Alan Nixon - via Patreon - who states that the European sides have opened talks over a deal, and are soon hopeful of agreeing a fee.

A specific cash sum has not been disclosed, but the 'Yellow Submarine' are reportedly looking to strike a cut-price deal, whilst James is said to be attracted by the prospect of European football, with the Spanish club finishing third and subsequently qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

Sheffield United may have to look elsewhere as Jordan James update emerges

A player of James' quality would, no doubt, be a welcome addition to Chris Wilder's squad, as the 58-year-old sets about conducting a squad reshuffle this summer.

It remains to be seen if United can retain Gus Hamer, with it being revealed that the United boss is keen on the idea of moving the 28-year-old back to his favoured '10' position, which is where James excelled for Leicester this term.

However, with Villarreal having Champions League football on the agenda, few could begrudge James of jumping at that particular opportunity at this stage in his career, even if regular minutes are not guaranteed initially, with it being reported by Fabrizio Romano that Rayo Vallecano boss, Inigo Perez, will replace Marcelino at the Estadio de la Cerámica.