Leeds could create their new Rutter by sealing exciting £30m transfer

Leeds United are looking to bolster their squad with the addition of a new attacking midfielder before the end of the summer transfer window.

Former Borussia Dortmund talent Julian Brandt is one of the players on their radar, and they have already held talks with his camp about a potential move to Elland Road.

The Germany international has been a free agent since his contact with the Bundesliga giants expired at the start of the month, which means that the Whites would not have to pay a transfer fee to secure his services.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the 30-year-old attacker wants to move to England, or if he would prefer to join a team that has European football to offer.

Why Leeds United need to add more creativity to their squad

Whether it is Brandt or another player, Daniel Farke needs to add a creative midfielder to his squad before the end of the summer transfer window to improve his team’s attack.

In the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, no Leeds player recorded more than five assists in their 38 matches, whilst only three players produced more than two assists for the club.

Brenden Aaronson was the main creative threat for the Whites in the top-flight, yet created less than one chance per game (0.9) for his teammates, and only assisted five goals in 37 games.

Two years on from his £40m move to Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds are still looking for a natural replacement for Georginio Rutter, who was a creative genius in the number ten position during his time under Farke.

The French ace created 22 ‘big chances’ and recorded 15 assists in 45 appearances for the German head coach in the 2023/24 campaign, before being sold to the Premier League a year before Leeds earned promotion themselves.

Leeds in talks to sign their next Georginio Rutter

Now, the club are looking at a move for a player who could arrive at Elland Road as Farke’s next version of Rutter in the Premier League next season.

TEAMtalk reports that Leeds United are one of the teams interested in signing Genk attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas in the summer transfer window.

The outlet claims that the 49ers have held talks over a possible deal for the 18-year-old talent within the last week, as they search for a new number ten ahead of next season.

It adds, though, that Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, AC Milan, Liverpool, and Everton are also eyeing the Greek star, who is valued at around £30m by Genk, with Dortmund said to be leading the race for his services as it stands.

The Whites must, now, push to beat the likes of Dortmund, Milan, and Liverpool in the race to sign the teenage talent, because he has the potential to be their next version of Rutter at Elland Road.

During his time in West Yorkshire, the Frenchman gained a reputation as an erratic finisher, scoring six goals from 12.34 xG in the Championship, and a terrific creator.

Karetsas could follow in his footsteps at Leeds on the basis of his Pro League form for Genk in the 2025/26 campaign, as he was wasteful in front of goal, whilst being an outstanding creator for his side.

The £30m-rated star created more ‘big chances’, provided more xA, and racked up more xA and assists than every single player in the Leeds squad managed in the Premier League last term.

These statistics suggest that Karetsas has the potential to be Farke’s outstanding creative threat in the number ten position, just as Rutter was in the 2023/24 campaign for the Whites.

The Greece international, who is also left-footed like Rutter, scored two goals and provided four assists in eight starts in the Europa League for Genk last term, which is further proof of his creative quality against tough opposition.

That is why the club have to splash the cash to agree a deal with the Belgian side to bring him to Elland Road in the coming weeks, as he appears to be the player they have been crying out for in the past two years.