Leeds United have officially confirmed that central midfielder Joe Rothwell and left winger Manor Solomon have moved on from the club at the end of their respective loan deals.
They both spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road and contributed to the team winning the Championship title, earning promotion to the Premier League in the process.
Rothwell will not be returning to West Yorkshire on a permanent deal, though, as Rangers have reportedly agreed a deal with Bournemouth to sign the midfielder on a permanent basis.
The central midfielder played 36 times in the Championship for Leeds last term, and the club are reportedly eyeing up a midfield replacement who would come in as an upgrade for Daniel Farke.
Leeds eyeing Serie A midfielder
The Whites have set their sights on a former Premier League star who could come in and be an upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park next season.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Leeds United are one of the teams pursuing in a deal to sign Juventus central midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer.
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The report claims that there are several Premier League sides keen on a swoop for the former Aston Villa man, but the Whites are the only team to have made an official enquiry at this moment in time.
Juventus are said to be exploring their options as they look to shed some wages during the summer transfer window, and a loan with an obligation to buy appears to be on the cards for Luiz.
The Brazil international is reportedly valued at £30m by the Italian giants, though, and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are willing to pay that price, even in an initial loan with an obligation for next summer.
Why Luiz would be a Rothwell upgrade for Leeds
Described as “one of the best [midfielders] in the world” by Sky Italia, if the Championship champions can get a deal over the line for the Brazilian midfielder, then they could land a big upgrade on what they had with Rothwell, who has yet to prove himself at Premier League level.
Both players played in the English top-flight, for Bournemouth and Aston Villa respectively, in the 2023/24 campaign and it was night and day between their performances.
Luiz, who was hailed as “phenomenal” by pundit Lee Hendrie, showcased his quality at the very top level for the Villans that term, and that earned him a move to Juventus in the summer of 2024.
The 27-year-old talent only started three of his 19 appearances in the Serie A last season, though, and that appears to have opened the door for Leeds to improve their squad.
Appearances
11
35
Sofascore rating
6.55
7.27
Goals
0
9
Assists
0
5
Tackles + interceptions per game
0.9
2.4
Duels won per game
1.5
4.1
As you can see in the table above, there is no debate over who the better Premier League central midfielder is between Rothwell and Luiz, as the Brazilian offers far more to the team in possession and defensively.
That is why Rothwell was loaned out to Southampton in the Championship for the second half of the season, before joining Leeds on loan in the summer, and why Luiz ended up at Juventus.
He is a proven Premier League performer who has the ability to hit the ground running at Elland Road as a star who has been there and done it at that level.
Therefore, Leeds could significantly improve their squad and provide the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka with real competition for their places in the XI by signing the Old Lady midfielder on loan for next season.
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