Leeds set sights on £8.5m ‘Rolls Royce’ defender who ‘nobody could outrun’

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Leeds United have reportedly set their sights on Genk and United States defender Mark McKenzie.

The Whites are said to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Leeds allowed Luke Ayling and Djed Spence to leave this month, while Charlie Cresswell is attracting admiring glances from other clubs.

With that in mind, Leeds are now being linked with a host of defenders, and McKenzie is one of the latest names doing the rounds.

According to Voetbal Nieuws, Leeds have joined Premier League trio Brighton, Everton and West Ham United in pursuit of the 24-year-old.

McKenzie is in the last 18 months of his Genk contract and, while his club doesn’t want to lose him in January, a transfer can’t be ruled out entirely.

In terms of price tag, a fee of over €10million (£8.5million) has been touted.

However, the report also makes clear that Genk’s head of football will play hardball over McKenzie’s signature.

“I want to be clear, we want to keep this core together and not let anyone go,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws – as transcribed by VN – in November.

“There are always exceptions – an offer that cannot be refused is always possible – that is the case everywhere. But we are going to make things very difficult.”

Leeds United target Mark McKenzie is a ‘fantastic athlete’

McKenzie is a talented defender who has gone from strength to strength at Genk and looks ready for a step up across the channel.

Iain Munro, who worked alongside McKenzie at Philadelphia Union’s academy, previously sung the £8.5million defender’s praises.

“Mark is a talented kid,” he is quoted by the Daily Record as saying in 2020.

“Coming through at the academy, you could see then that he had great pace and athleticism. Nobody could outrun him.

“He continues to improve all the time. He’s a smart boy and a fantastic athlete. He listens well and is very coachable.

“We’ve had the likes of (Zack) Steffen and Pulisic progress through the academy and done very well for themselves.

“Mark can go on to play at a high level as well – he’s a Rolls-Royce of a player.”

McKenzie came through the ranks Philadelphia Union before securing a big move across the pond to the Belgian top flight with Genk in 2021.

He has gone on to make 106 appearances for the club in all competitions, and also has 13 United States caps under his belt.