Leeds United have reportedly made an offer of €12 million to secure the signing of versatile Ivorian winger Maxwel Cornet from Olympique Lyon this summer.
According to a report from Olympique-et-Lyonnais.com, Premier League outfit Leeds United have made a €12 million bid to try and sign Maxwel Cornet from Ligue 1 club Lyon in the ongoing transfer window.
Cornet spent the formative years of his career with FC Metz before making the switch to Lyon during the January transfer window in 2015. The 24-year-old has gradually grown into a first-team regular at the Groupama Stadium over the past six years or so, going on to make 251 appearances for Les Gones, in which he has 51 goals and 29 assists.
A versatile operator, Cornet can play anywhere along the left flank. While he started out as a winger, recent seasons have seen him being utilised more and more as a wing-back of a full-back. The 22-time capped Ivory Coast international, though, has done well at each challenge thrown at him, as he impressed in the 2020/21 term with four goals and six assists from 39 games in all competitions.
Cornet’s impressive performances have seemingly landed him on the radars of Leeds United. The Whites have been active in the transfer market so far, having signed Jack Harrison on a permanent transfer while Junior Firpo has also been brought in from Barcelona. By doing so, manager Marcelo Bielsa has fortified his left flank, but there could be room for another addition in order to add more depth and quality.
More so, considering that the Yorkshire-based outfit decided to part ways with Ezgjan Alioski earlier this week. Cornet, to that end, can prove to be a handy addition for Leeds, considering his versatility – he can also do a job as a centre-forward or on the right-wing, age and athleticism. To that end, the club are said to have made an opening offer of around €12 million for the Ivory Coast international.
Lyon, though, are said to have been left unimpressed by the bid made by Leeds. The French outfit are seeking a higher fee for Cornet, given that he still has two years left on his contract. It now remains to be seen if Bielsa & co. are willing to return with an improved offer for the 24-year-old or are happy with their current options.
