Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Alberth Elis to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by French publication L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), who claim that Victor Orta has now started negotiations with FC Girondins Bordeaux regarding a deal for the 26-year-old forward.

The report goes on to state that, while the winger is technically owned by Portuguese side Boavista FC, Bordeaux possess a €7.5m (£6.5m) option to buy clause for the Honduras international - something the recently relegated Ligue 1 side are expected to activate this summer.

However, it is believed that, with Ligue 2 football ahead of the French club next season, David Guion's side are set to sanction the sales of a number of their brightest talents in the coming months, something that the Whites are evidently looking to take advantage of.

The next Raphinha

With Orta boasting an impressive record of scouting and identifying targets in the French leagues - with both Illan Meslier and Raphinha having been huge successes in LS11 - it is not difficult to understand why the sporting director is now keen on a deal to sign Elis.

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Indeed, over his 20 Ligue 1 appearances in 2021/22, the £5.85m-rated forward was in fantastic form for Bordeaux, scoring nine goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

Furthermore, according to FBref data, the 26-year-old ranks in the top 12% of forwards in Europe's big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 15% for progressive carries, the top 21% for dribbles and the top 30% for touches in the opposition penalty area over the last 365 days.

The 53-time capped Honduran also impresses in defensive metrics, with FBref ranking the winger in the top 1% for interceptions per 90, as well as the top 6% for tackles, the top 15% for pressures and the top 18% for blocks over the past 12 months.

As such, it is clear to see that Elis is a player with an extremely similar profile to Raphinha, and, with the Brazil international being linked with a £60m move away from Elland Road this summer, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for the player Johan Micoud dubbed "interesting" in the coming months, the 26-year-old could well prove to be the Spaniard's next French transfer masterclass.

AND in other news: "Closing in on..": Journo drops £17m Leeds transfer update, Marsch will be buzzing