Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are reportedly among a number of other clubs interested in Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson.
Swedish publication Expressen are claiming that a host of top English clubs are expressing an interest in Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson. Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are all interested in the player while Southampton is also eyeing the player as a potential replacement for the outbound Virgil Van Dijk.
Pontus Jansson arrived at Leeds United on a season-long loan from Torino in the summer of 2016, a move that was made permanent by the Championship club in February this year, after continuously impressive displays by the 26-year-old at the heart of the Leeds defence.
32 appearances in the league alone, his contribution to the attack – 3 goals and 2 assists – are also a testament to his ability to influence the game on both halves of the pitch. The player looked destined to arrive in the Premier League for the next campaign, with Leeds in a strong position.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham make contact with Leeds for Pontus Jansson https://t.co/apoYp2gu4l #CFC #LFC #THFC #LUFC pic.twitter.com/VTl096SP4T
— Express Sport (@DExpress_Sport) April 20, 2017
However, Garry Monk’s side have since wilted off outside the playoff spots and are in danger of not making it into the top-flight next season. Pontus, however, may be on his way to the Premier League, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham showing keen interest in the player.
The aforementioned trio have already submitted enquiries to Leeds as to the availability of the player and the club knows well enough that they have little chance of retaining the player for next campaign and if they fail to get promoted, there might not even be the slimmest of hopes left of fending off interest from other clubs.
Liverpool’s central defensive problems are aloof to none, with Joel Matip, the summer arrival, the only quality centre-back. Dejan Lovren has been inconsistent to stake his claim as the undisputed first-choice for the next campaign while Mamadou Sakho seems destined to exit the books of the club permanently in the summer.
Tottenham have just been rocked by rumours that Toby Alderweireld is uninterested in extending his deal and is looking for a move – with several clubs interested in activating his release clause. Jansson would be cheaper than any other quality alternatives.
Chelsea, too, are looking for central defenders to add to their squad and Jansson would be the perfect fit for the Blues, with the club more in need of a squad role player than an undisputed starter. However, Jansson is unproven on the highest level, with the most high-profile club he has played at being Malmo FF.
He has won the Swedish league thrice with Malmo but the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are another level altogether. However, there is no saying that Jansson cannot be a success at any of the aforementioned clubs especially after the recent rise of players from lower leagues that have taken to the Premier League pretty well.
The report does mention a price tag of £10 million, an amount the aforementioned clubs, including Southampton, are unlikely to have much issue in shelving out in order to sign a player of Jansson’s quality.
Leeds’ Premier League credentials look dicey but Jansson looks set to play Premier League football next season, regardless of the crest of the jersey he is likely to wear for the next campaign.
