Leeds United are actively pursuing Real Betis centre-back Natan and Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly following the sale of Pascal Struijk to Brighton and Hove Albion. The Whites reluctantly agreed to sell Struijk for an initial £15 million, potentially rising to £18 million with add-ons, after the Dutchman expressed a desire for a new challenge with only one year remaining on his contract.
Struijk’s departure creates a significant void in Daniel Farke’s squad, having made 34 Premier League appearances last season. The club had anticipated this outcome, with sources indicating Struijk was unlikely to sign a contract extension. As a result, Leeds have been proactively identifying potential replacements for several months, previously holding talks with Ladislav Krejci of Wolves in April.
According to Spanish journalist Fran Campos Vazquez, Leeds have now formally enquired about the availability of 25-year-old Natan, who made 45 appearances for Real Betis across all competitions last season. The 6ft 2in Brazilian is also attracting interest from Brentford and Roma, with Barcelona previously linked, but Betis are reportedly open to a sale to generate transfer funds.
Italian journalist Marco Conterio reports that Leeds also have a “concrete interest” in Juventus’ Lloyd Kelly. The 27-year-old Englishman joined Juve on loan in February 2025, making the move permanent last summer for a fee of €17.5 million from Newcastle United. Despite becoming a regular fixture in the Juventus side, with 65 appearances over 18 months, the club are now considering a sale to raise revenue. Leeds are also monitoring Danilho Doekhi and Nico Elvedi as further options, and could potentially sign two centre-halves this summer. However, Charlie Cresswell, previously sold by Leeds to Toulouse, is expected to join Crystal Palace instead.
