Leeds close in on Nice defender Bard

What the report says

Leeds United are close to completing a deadline-day move for Nice left-back Melvin Bard, according to BBC Sport Football. The deal is described as an initial loan with an option to buy, giving Leeds the chance to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season if they choose.

BBC Sport reports that Leeds would pay Nice an initial fee of one million euros, with a further five million euros required to sign Bard permanently. The 25-year-old is said to be travelling to Elland Road to undergo a medical. If completed, he would provide added cover at full-back for manager Daniel Farke, with Gabriel Gudmundsson currently the only natural left-sided option mentioned.

The transfer comes amid wider squad changes at Leeds, including uncertainty over the attacking department and the reported departure of Willy Gnonto to Fiorentina. BBC Sport also notes that Leeds had previously looked at a move for Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk, but that deal was reportedly beaten by Tottenham. Bard would become Leeds’ sixth senior signing of the summer, following arrivals including James Trafford, Michael Zetterer, Nico Elvedi, Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson.

More broadly, the move fits the pattern of late-window squad strengthening seen at many clubs in top-flight English football, where transfers can be shaped by injuries, depth concerns and outgoing players.