Leeds United Target Melvin Bard as Gnonto Exit Approaches

Leeds United are closing in on a deadline-day move for Nice left-back Melvin Bard, in a deal that underlines both their urgency and their intent.

The 25-year-old Frenchman is travelling to Elland Road to undergo a medical ahead of an initial loan, with Leeds set to pay the Ligue 1 side around one million euros for the season. Built into the agreement is an option to buy at the end of the campaign for a further five million euros, giving Daniel Farke a relatively low-risk way to strengthen a thin area of his squad.

And it is thin.

With Gabriel Gudmundsson currently the only natural left-sided full-back at Farke’s disposal, Leeds have been walking a tightrope in that position. Bard’s arrival would immediately ease that strain, offering both competition and cover on the flank for the run-in.

The move for Bard comes against a backdrop of attacking uncertainty.

Willy Gnonto is in Florence finalising his return to Serie A with Fiorentina on an initial loan. That switch hinged on Leeds lining up a replacement in attack, a condition that briefly seemed to be met when they pushed for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

Then the plot twisted.

Tottenham stepped in and hijacked the move for Mudryk, leaving Leeds without the attacking reinforcement they had targeted and throwing fresh doubt over the terms and timing of Gnonto’s exit.

So Leeds head into the final hours of the window juggling two fronts: shoring up the defence with Bard, while trying to avoid being left light in attack if Gnonto’s move to Fiorentina goes through without a suitable successor in place.