Leeds close in on first January signing with two more set to follow

Chievo goalkeeper Elia Caprile is due in Leeds in the next few days to seal a permanent move to Leeds United, according to a report.

Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa has already confirmed that the club are keen to add reinforcements to bolster their Premier League promotion push, with a striker and a winger identified as key targets following the departures of Eddie Nketiah and Jack Clarke.

However, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay, it is a goalkeeper who Leeds have managed to secure first, with the club targeting two more players this window.

Caprile, 18, was a regular feature in Chievo’s matchday squad last season having appeared on the bench 13 times.

However the Italy Under-18 international has slipped down the pecking order and now finds himself playing in Italy’s domestic Under-19s tournament, with two clean sheets from 13 outings so far.

Caprile is expected to go straight into Leeds‘ Under-23s squad – headed up by Carlos Corberan – as opposed to joining the senior ranks.

The proposed transfer comes after on-loan goalkeeper Illan Meslier made his first appearance of the season in Monday’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.

Meslier, who is on a temporary deal from Lorient, impressed in North London and is reportedly keen to extend his stay in West Yorkshire.

The Athletic have claimed that Meslier is loving life working under Bielsa and that Leeds are considering activating the option to buy in the loan deal if the Frenchman continues to impress.

As for other players who could join Leeds this month, Southampton’s Che Adams is said to be keen on a move to Elland Road.

However, speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Bielsa would not be drawn on such speculation.

He said: “I don’t like to make reference to hypothetical options or options we don’t know will come.”

When asked more specifically about the need for attacking reinforcements, Bielsa added: “We need one striker as soon as possible. If we find the ideal player, good. If we don’t find the ideal player then we will find a solution.”