Leeds United and Everton Battle for 'Combative' £25.5m Midfielder

Leeds United and Everton are said to be in a battle for holding midfielder as the summer transfer window begins to hot up. Both sides are hoping to build on the momentum of last season, with Leeds having stayed in the Premier League at the first time of asking, and without too much of a sweat. Daniel Farke will be given money to spend this summer as the Whites look to become a Premier League mainstay, these days armed with a Red Bull budget. As for Everton, they flirted with the European spots last summer, and after a season of progress under David Moyes, they will fully believe they can take the next step towards qualifying for Europe next season, but not without a few quality signings this summer. Everton and Leeds battle for holding midfielder According to Parma Live, Everton and Leeds are in a tussle for holding midfielder Mandela Keita, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Serie A club this summer. According to the report, Everton have asked for a 'payment plan' when contacting Parma, while Leeds are also said to have interest, and they have also been linked with Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki over recent weeks. Elsewhere, Atalanta have also been linked, though they look as though they will now keep midfielder Ederson, who was all-set for a move to Manchester United only for the deal to be canceled by the Red Devils. Parma are said to be asking for €30million (£25.5million) to sell Keita, who is under contract until 2029 having arrived from Royal Antwerp since 2024. Keita a combative midfielder At 24 years of age, Keita has plenty of potential still to reach, and in terms of style, he is a combative midfielder who plays with energy and offers serious defensive ability. He is also solid on the ball, able to keep possession and help with quick transitions. In his last three years, his pass success percentage has not dropped below 87% in any competition. Back during his Royal Antwerp days, his former manager, Mark van Bommel said: "Mandela is an open guy, calm and modest. But he doesn't shy away from anything or anyone on the pitch." Keita won a senior cap for Belgium back in 2023 but hasn't been part of the international scene of late. It will be interesting to see if Leeds or Everton spend as much as £25.5million on Keita, given that would be a big statement from both sides, as shown by the reports of Everton asking for structured payments, although that is standard practice in the modern game, especially with the presence of Profit and Sustainability rules.