Leeds United believe they can secure a move for Josko Gvardiol this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones...

What's the word?

Football Insider recently reported on the Whites' interest in the RB Leipzig centre-back, claiming that they had scouted him for the past two years and it's believed that director of football Victor Orta has kept a close eye on his progress.

Now valued at around £27m, the Yorkshire giants could well make their move this time around, especially with his former manager - Jesse Marsch - now in the dugout at Elland Road.

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And according to the Eurosport journalist, the club very much believe they can compete for his signature. He revealed to GIVEMESPORT:

"I thought at first it was a bit too ambitious, but the more I speak to people, the more I start to realise that Leeds are starting to believe that this is where they should be shopping.

"These are the sorts of players that they believe they can get. So, I’m certainly not going to rule it out."

Marsch madness

Considering the 20-year-old is estimated to be worth around €120m (£100m) by CIES Football Observatory, landing him for a fifth of the price would certainly be quite the steal.

And the Leipzig colossus would be an absolute coup, too.

It's no secret that Leeds have struggled defensively this campaign, ranking as the second-leakiest backline in the Premier League, so signing a talent so young and promising would go a long way in fixing that issue in the long run.

As per FBRef, Gvardiol ranks amongst the top 1% for dribbles completed, top 2% for interceptions made and top 4% for progressive passes compared to his positional peers across Europe over the last 365 days.

Meanwhile, as Leipzig's second-highest performer in the Bundesliga, he's not only showing he's tough defensively and adept as a ball-playing option but also one that is remarkably consistent.

Once described as being "built like a tank," the 6 foot 1 titan has been tipped to become "as good as Virgil" van Dijk one day by Germania Sport assistant editor Izak Ante Sucic when speaking to the BBC.

Given the Whites' defensive struggles, it is no wonder the recruitment team are targeting an arrival in that role this summer and if they truly believe that they can contend for Gvardiol's signature, then it would be a no-brainer to sign him.

The 20-year-old, also described as being a "top talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, could be a revolutionary signing for Marsch's backline and surely something of a dream, having already signed him once before.

AND in other news, Orta scouting mission: Leeds eyeing 6 ft 3 titan who "fits the bill", Marsch would love him...