According to a report from Birmingham Mail, Leeds United are interested in a summer swoop for Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen, who is currently on loan at West Brom in the Championship.
The Norway international, 28, found himself largely out of favour at Fulham this season, regardless of playing a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League. That saw him leave the Cottagers in January on loan to West Brom until the end of the season.
The midfielder’s contract is due to expire in the summer and thus, Leeds United are ready to pounce and bring him in on a free transfer.
The report claims Fulham have an option to extend Johansen’s contract for a further season in the summer, however. Whether they would take the option though remains to be seen as the 28-year-old could be valuable for them next season in the Championship once again.
Come summer, Leeds would need new faces in the squad, with or without promotion. Marcelo Bielsa has done a great job in his first season at Elland Road and if Leeds are to continue doing well, the board needs to back the manager fully in the summer transfer window. And the Whites are looking out on the possibility of snapping up Stefan Johansen to bolster their options in midfield.
Johansen was sent out on loan to West Brom on the January Deadline Day, in the hope that he could find more regular game time, but this hasn’t been the case. He has managed just six appearances at the Hawthorns and with his future at Fulham up in the air, a move to Leeds could really be a tempting proposition.
Leeds have lacked creativity at times and a bit of flair in the final third since the January departure of Samu Saiz. Johansen could exactly be the kind of player to fill the void left by Saiz and add more tenacity to the Whites’ midfield.
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The Norwegian is a technically gifted player who can play in various positions across the midfield. He has certainly proven himself in the Championship and will bring balance to Bielsa’s side, whilst adding creativity in the final third.
Johansen is perfectly suited to Bielsa’s style of play at Leeds. And if Bielsa can get the Norway international on a free then it would represent a mega coup for the Yorkshire club.