MLS left-back Kai Wagner on Premier League Leeds United’s transfer list for January
The Philadelphia Union player is wanted by Jesse Marsch’s side in the window, according to reports.
Get ready, the Christmas sales are about to begin! Yes, the January transfer window is about to open, and the Premier League will, once again, become a luxury space of impossibly expensive madness and thieving, shoppers grabbing overpriced items out of others’ baskets and running away - as we’ve already seen with Gakpo - with the month ahead promising to be calm for nobody in England’s top division.
One club already getting their credit card out of the pocket before the shops have opened is Leeds United. The Yorkshire club are in desperate need of a left back after performances from Junior Firpo have not convinced the demanding fans who have been left disappointed after his highly-anticipated move from FC Barcelona two seasons ago.
Who do Leeds United want to sign in January?
According to The Athletic, Leeds are ready to make a move for Philadephia Union left-back, Kai Wagner. The club, who are part owned by the San Francisco 49ers, also have an American manager, Jesse Marsch, who has reportedly sanctioned the move. Adding to the web of American flavour at Leeds, there are also USMNT stars in the squad, with both Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson calling Elland Road home this season after moving to England over the summer.
There is also talk of left-back Maximilian Wöber, from Salzburg. However, it is not known if the team consider the player to be an extra defender of if he would come in place of Kai Wagner.
Who is Kai Wagner?
The Philadelphia Union left-back hails from Germany, and joined the MLS side in 2019. He played 33 times in the previous season, getting 8 assists. In 2021, Wagner was selected for the MLS All-Star team to play against the Liga MX team. A year later, he signed a contract for the 2022 season, that has an option for the 2023 season. His age, together with the contract situation and his lack of European experience, should mean that the transfer to Leeds could be arranged at a lower price than one might expect for such a talented player who contributes so much to his team.