Report suggests long-term Leeds United target Dan James could be available again in January

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Leeds United were again linked with a potential deal to sign Daniel James from Manchester United in the summer.

As reported by the Daily Star, Leeds were considering a season-long loan deal for the wideman with a potential to buy him the following summer. The Sun has since also reported on the story, so it seemed Leeds were indeed on the hunt for James again. 

Leeds infamously made a move to sign James from Swansea City in January 2019. As reported by the Yorkshire Post, the Welsh wing wizard had passed his medical and agreed personal terms at Elland Road, only for Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins to pull the plug. 

The Guardian later reported that James was left ‘devastated’ at the move falling apart. The Yorkshire born talent desperately wanted the Leeds deal to go through. It was an ordeal that was captured as part of Amazon’s Leeds United: Take Us Home documentary. The disappointment in not providing coach Marcelo Bielsa with his main target left director of football Victor Orta in tears. 

James eventually joined Manchester United the following summer for a fee reported by The Telegraph to be in the region of £15 million but after a promising start, he has slowly been reduced to an impact player at the club. 

Now, two years on, James is set to be available again. According to The Mirror, United could loan James out in January as he is struggling for first-team football at Old Trafford. 

Does that mean Leeds would be keen? Not necessarily. 

Leeds eventually signed Raphinha from Rennes and have plenty of other wide options available to them, James no longer seems a necessary purchase. 

That said, he has become Orta’s white whale and it would be no surprise if the West Yorkshire side do decide to have one more attempt at bringing the Welshman in.