Leeds United are ready to battle it out against Ligue 1 side OGC Nice for the signing of Nigerian winger Moses Simon.
According to Foot Mercato, Leeds United and OGC Nice are in a direct battle for the signing of FC Nantes attacker Moses Simon. The Whites have had a long-standing interest in the Nigeria international and see him as a possible replacement for exit-bound superstar Raphinha.
Simon joined the French club from La Liga side Levante in the 2019 summer transfer window on a year-long loan before the move was made permanent a year later. The left-winger didn’t take much time to settle down in France, scoring nine goals in his debut season.
The following two seasons have been quite fruitful as well for the attacker, who can play across the front-line, a quality that especially interests potential suitors. Simon, in all, has made 100 appearances for Nantes, scoring 21 and assisting 22 goals.
The 26-year-old still has two years left on his contract with the club, but Nantes are reportedly ready to sell if a sizeable bid arrives for the winger. He is attracting interest from multiple clubs, including Newcastle United, but Leeds and OGC Nice are now the only two sides involved in the race.
The Whites are eager to strengthen in multiple positions ahead of the new season. They narrowly avoided relegation this past season and will want to stay clear of the drop zone in the 2022/23 campaign. But that won’t be very easy for the club.
They are set to lose two of their most important players in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, and replacing them will be a big ask. While the former seems set for a move to Chelsea, the latter has reportedly agreed on terms with Manchester City and will join them soon.
The two departures will leave Jesse Marsch with a big headache as he tries to replace the star duo of the club. As far as Simon is concerned, the attacker is inclined towards staying in France and prefers Nice over Leeds. But a lucrative contract offer from Leeds could change the 26-year-old’s mind, as the Whites scour the market for a replacement for Raphinha.
