“SHOCKING TWIST! Crystal Palace and Leeds in WILD £20M Battle for Midfield MAESTRO with JAW-DROPPING 23 G/A – You WON’T Believe Who’s Winning!”

The summer transfer window is officially open, though a brief pause looms due to the Club World Cup.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is actively scouting potential new signings as he looks to strengthen his squad. Despite growing speculation, no deals have been finalized just yet.

Among the top targets is Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, with reports suggesting Leeds are pushing to secure the Slovenian’s signature.

The centre-back position is a clear priority, but it’s not the only area of concern. Midfield depth is another pressing issue, especially following Joe Rothwell’s return to Bournemouth after his loan spell.

There’s been chatter about Kalvin Phillips wanting a return to Elland Road, but it appears the interest isn’t fully reciprocated by the club.

Instead, Farke is assessing other midfield options, with Finn Azaz emerging as a serious candidate.

However, Leeds may face stiff competition for Azaz’s signature. Crystal Palace, who have firmly cemented their Premier League status since their 2013 promotion, are reportedly leading the race for the midfielder.

Leeds, under the 49ers’ ownership, are aiming for Premier League stability and eventual European qualification, but for now, they remain lower in the top-flight hierarchy—making transfer battles with more established sides tricky.

According to the Irish Examiner, Palace are currently favourites to land the £20 million-rated Azaz, who enjoyed an outstanding 2024/25 season with Middlesbrough.

The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international notched 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 Championship appearances, catching the eye of several top-flight clubs.

This isn’t the first time Crystal Palace have emerged as rivals to Leeds in the transfer market. The London side has repeatedly been linked with players that also feature on Leeds’ shortlist.

Earlier in the window, Palace reportedly tabled an offer for Bright Osayi-Samuel, who had been connected with a move to Elland Road before ultimately choosing to join Besiktas.

Similarly, veteran striker Jamie Vardy, another Farke target, was also reportedly on Palace’s radar.

Leeds are also rumoured to be pursuing Mateus Fernandes in a £30 million move from Southampton, but once again, Palace boss Oliver Glasner is believed to be tracking the same player.

Now, with Azaz potentially heading to Selhurst Park, Leeds are once again playing catch-up. What makes this transfer rivalry more worrying is that Palace, now FA Cup winners, can offer Europa League football—an attractive proposition that Leeds currently cannot match.

As Farke looks to reinforce key areas of the squad, he’ll need to act decisively if Leeds are to avoid losing more targets to their increasingly problematic Premier League rival.