Leeds United Near Deadline-Day Deal for Melvin Bard

Leeds United are closing in on a deadline-day deal for Nice defender Melvin Bard, as Daniel Farke moves to plug a glaring gap on the left side of his defence.

The 25-year-old is travelling to Elland Road to undergo a medical ahead of an initial loan move, with Leeds agreeing to pay the French club around one million euros for the season. Built into the agreement is an option to buy Bard next summer for a further five million euros, giving the Yorkshire side a clear path to a permanent transfer if he convinces in the Championship.

For Farke, the need is obvious. Gabriel Gudmundsson is currently his only recognised left-sided full-back, leaving Leeds light in a key area as the season gathers pace. Bard’s arrival would immediately deepen those options, offering both competition and cover in a position that has looked exposed.

The defensive reshuffle comes at the same time as turbulence in attack. Willy Gnonto is in Florence completing a move to Fiorentina, a deal that returns the Italian forward to Serie A. That loan switch hinged on Leeds securing a suitable replacement, but their plans were hit when a move for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk was dramatically hijacked by Tottenham.

So Leeds head into the final hours of the window trying to solve two problems at once: lock in Bard to stabilise the back line, and somehow find fresh firepower up front after missing out on a high-profile attacking target.