Leeds are in talks to sign an “exciting” World Cup star

Leeds United have already turned to the domestic market this summer to bring in a proven Premier League striker, as they close in on the signing of Harry Wilson.

The Wales midfielder will join on a free transfer, although the club are yet to confirm a deal, when his contract at Fulham expires at the end of this month.

Wilson scored ten goals and provided seven assists as a Premier League right winger for the Cottagers in the 2025/26 campaign, and should be expected to hit the ground running next season.

They are also looking at signings from further afield, however, as it was recently reported that they are in ongoing talks with Julian Brandt over a move to Elland Road.

The German’s contract with Borussia Dortmund expires this week and he could follow Wilson on a free transfer from Daniel Farke’s club.

Leeds United are in talks to sign the Serie A star

One thing Wilson and Brandt have in common is that they’ll both be in their 30s at the end of next season, and could be much shorter than the team’s long-term signings.

They need to balance their recruiting with younger players to create balance on the team, which is why one of their reported assets could be an even better addition than Brandt.

According to Italian journalist Luca Cerchione, Leeds United are interested in signing Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the two clubs are in ongoing discussions over a move to bring the Japanese international to Elland Road for the 2026/27 campaign and beyond.

Cerchione, however, did not reveal how much it would take to convince Parma to part with the World Cup star, or how much the Whites are willing to pay him.

They may have to move quickly if they want to get a deal over the line, as it was reported earlier this month that Premier League rivals Manchester United and Aston Villa are also eyeing the stopper.

Why Zion Suzuki would be a better Leeds signing than Julian Brandt

There is no doubt that Brandt could make a short-term impact for Leeds if they were to sign him on a free transfer, as he scored 11 goals and provided four assists in all competitions for Dortmund last season.

However, the Whites will be taking the risk of signing him as he may be entering the final stages of his career, which may make him go down during his time at Elland Road.

Suzuki, who was described as “exciting” by scout Ben Mattinson, is seven years younger than the German star and would not have joined the team with the same concerns, as he is a young player with many years ahead of him to develop and improve.

The Japanese international caught the eye at this summer’s World Cup with a save success rate of 73% across all three games, and 0.33 more goals than expected with his goals.

He will be facing Brazil on Monday night in the last 32 of this tournament and that will be a great opportunity to show what he can do against the best players in world football.

The 23-year-old talent has not only been successful on the world stage for his country, but, as he has also kept five clean sheets in 20 Serie A appearances for Parma in the 2025/26 campaign.

Suzuki has only made one mistake which has resulted in him scoring in 57 Serie A games in his career, showing that he is usually reliable between the sticks.

The Japanese player has proven himself in one of the biggest teams in Europe and in international competitions in the World Cup, which is why he will be an amazing player to replace the 35-year-old Karl Darlow.

Suzuki has the potential to be Leeds’ number one for the next decade, given he is 12 years younger than Darlow, while Brandt may be a short-term player in terms of his impact on the pitch.

Therefore, signing a Japanese goalkeeper would be a much better deal than getting a German international, despite the hype that might be in favor of the latter.