Leeds United will have to fork out over £40 million to recruit a top attacking target this summer, having missed out on a move for Julian Brandt.

Ajax won the race for the former Borussia Dortmund star, who was highly admired by the Whites. The Dutch side snapped up the winger on a free transfer, following the expiration of his contract in Germany.

That was a blow for Leeds and sent the Premier League club back to the drawing board for recruitment. Daniel Farke’s side have now been handed another setback, learning that Marseille will demand a huge fee to part with Igor Paixao.

Marseille put £42m price tag on Leeds target

Leeds United interest in the player emerged over the weekend, with the club having been linked with the Brazilian 12 months ago. Paixao registered 12 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances for Marseille last season.

The Ligue 1 outfit are under pressure to sell this summer with UEFA monitoring finances following a breach of regulations. Mason Greenwood, Hamed Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have already departed and Foot Mercato claims that Paixao could be next.

It’s reported that the winger is only the third choice purchase at Elland Road and the valuation held by Marseille could prove tricky for any deal.

Marseille owner Franck McCourt is said to have put a lofty €50 million price tag on the player, equivalent to around £42 million. That is between €15 million and €20 million more than Leeds are understood to be willing to pay.

Paixao only arrived in the south of France on a £30 million move from Feyenoord last summer, and has another four years left to run on his current deal.

Igor Paixao dreams of Premier League opportunity

The winger is known to be keen on a move to the Premier League. When speaking to GE Globo in 2022, Paixao said: “The Premier League is a dream for me. Making it to the national team is another goal.

“I’m going to work towards that, so I can be at the Olympic Games. And of course, I want to give my family an even better future, be able to help more, and have a well-established career in football.”

Paixao missed out on the Olympics in 2024 with two-time defending champions Brazil not qualifying and has only played his football in the Netherlands and France since moving to the continent from his home country in 2022.

The player was handed minutes in the Champions League against Newcastle United and Liverpool last season, playing 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over the Magpies in France before a cameo in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Aston Villa have ‘discussed’ the possibility of a reunion with a club hero at Villa Park this summer as Unai Emery looks to plug the hole left by Morgan Rogers.

The Villans pocketed a staggering £117 million for the England international, in a much-needed cash injection this summer. The Midlands outfit are navigating a £19.5 million UEFA fine for a ‘significant breach’ of its squad cost rule for 2025.

Even with the profit made on Rogers, who cost the club just £15 million in 2024, Aston Villa must shop wisely and a loan move for a former winger could be on the cards.

Aston Villa discuss Jack Grealish reunion

The Sun claims that transfer chiefs at Villa Park have discussed the possibility of bringing Manchester City star Jack Grealish back to the club. The 30-year-old made a £100 million move to the Etihad Stadium in 2021, but the wheels have come off his stay in Manchester.

Grealish revived his career with a loan move to Everton last season, scoring two goals and picking up six assists over the first half of the campaign, before a foot injury in January ended his campaign.

The forward, who earns around £300,000-a-week, is now fit again and has been training with RCD Mallorca this summer, but was left out of Enzo Maresca’s side for a pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Seoul.

Everton are known to be keen on bringing Grealish back to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and could compete with any transfer interest from Aston Villa.

A product of the academy at Villa, the England international played 213 times for the side in the Premier League and Championship.

Leon Bailey close to Villa Park exit

The need to recruit in wide positions is set to be made more important as Aston Villa prepare to sell Leon Bailey to newly promoted Hull City – even with Alejandro Garnacho arriving from Chelsea.

The Jamaica international was sent on loan to Serie A outfit Roma last summer but was recalled in January and went on to make 13 Premier League appearances before the end of the season.

The player has been left out of the Aston Villa pre-season squad as a move to the MKM Stadium edges closer, although a deal has not been announced by the clubs.

There is no shortage of suitors for Grealish, who could be allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium on another loan move with no part to play under Enzo Maresca.

As well as Everton, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are admirers of the player with clubs in Saudi Arabia and the USA willing to offer big wages for the winger.

Everton are closing in on the signing of Celtic star Alistair Johnston after tabling a formal bid, according to Record Sport.

The Toffees have had a strong summer transfer window so far, bringing in Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, while they also made Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George’s loan moves permanent. The club have also worked this weekend to agree a deal with Arsenal for Christian Norgaard, and have shown a strong interest in both Man Utd striker Ethan Wheatley, and Galatasaray forward Baris Alper Yilmaz.

But the club are also keen to strengthen their defensive options after seeing Seamus Coleman depart at the end of his contract, and the Canadian has emerged as a top target.

Everton Table Bid for Johnston

Johnston, who has been described as ‘sensational’, has been a regular for Celtic in recent seasons, making 122 appearances over the last four seasons. He struggled with injury in the 2025/26 season, however, restricting him to just 11 appearances, but he still went to the World Cup and helped Canada reach the knockout stages.

Now Everton have identified the 27-year-old as a top target to come into the club to solve their right-back issues, and the Merseyside club have tabled an offer worth around £12m plus add-ons.

It’s believed that Celtic want more than that, but a deal is expected to be closed for around £15m. Johnston is understood to be very keen on making the move to the Premier League, and has told Celtic, and negotiations are ongoing between the clubs.

Everton are looking to strengthen in the full-back position after moving Coleman on, while there is also an expectation that Nathan Patterson will be allowed to leave the club.

Jake O’Brien has been the first-choice right-back during Moyes’ time at the club so far, but he is naturally a centre-back, and he could move back into the middle to compete with James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, and Jarrad Branthwaite for a starting spot.

Martin O’Neill Confirms Johnston Talks

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Reports of Everton’s interest in Johnston emerged over the weekend, and Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed that talks have been held between the clubs over a deal.

“In fairness, David Moyes did call me last week and say that there would be contact. But I don’t know how far that has progressed, if it has at all,” he said, speaking on Friday.

“Everton have been in contact. I’m not sure whether there’s been a bid in there for that one, but they’ve been in contact saying that they would be. But yeah, that would be disappointing obviously. But I suppose it’s to be expected, you know, players who have done well.”