It is understood Aston Villa and Everton were both also interested in a deal for the 29-year-old, but he has opted to move to Leeds on a lucrative long-term deal, in a huge statement of intent from the Yorkshire club.
After securing Premier League survival, Leeds are looking to move up the table next season and believe an ambitious approach in the transfer window could reap huge rewards.
Daniel Farke’s side are exploring a move for Borussia Dortmund forward Julian Brandt, who will also become a free agent at the end of the month, while they are in talks with Southampton over a move for star midfielder Shea Charles.
The most ambitious summer move might be for a Barcelona forward, though, with Leeds the latest club to be linked with a deal for Roony Bardghji.
Bardghji arrived at Barcelona with huge excitement following his move from Copenhagen last summer, but the 20-year-old has found playing time difficult to come by amid fierce competition in the forward line.
Bardghji is at his best on the right wing and is in direct competition with Lamine Yamal for a starting role in the Barcelona line up. It is no surprise then that the Catalan club are set to listen to offers for the youngster this summer, with Leeds one potential suitor for the Swedish youngster.
Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona have put great emphasis on player sales this summer and name Leeds as a club interested in giving the young winger a fresh opportunity away from Camp Nou.
Bardghji is not expected to be short of offers if he does leave, though the report claims Barca would be reluctant to sanction a full sale and would prefer an initial loan exit if possible.
Bardghji signed a four-year deal when he joined Barcelona for €2million last July, so there is an obvious reluctance to let him go so shortly after he joined. However, given that they only paid a small fee for him, a permanent sale would give Barcelona an easy opportunity to turn a profit on a squad player.“For [Roony], he’s a fantastic professional. The situation isn’t easy for him. He’s hoping for more playing time. Sometimes it’s like that; he has one of the best in the world ahead of him,” Barcelona boss Hansi Flick said in April.
“He’s an extraordinary player, he plays with the best in the world, and he’s also improved a lot. I already told him we’d talk at the end of the season. Everyone is important, and we need them motivated.”
Barcelona are eager to raise funds after they agreed a £69.3 million (€80m) deal to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle a month ago.
The La Liga champions have already sold Iñaki Peña to Panathinaikos this summer and are set to sell Ansu Fati to AS Monaco in the coming weeks. It is understood that Marc-André ter Stegen will also be allowed to leave, while the club aims to cash in on Marc Casadó too.
