Leeds United are lining up their targets for the summer transfer window.

They are in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years and are clearly identifying players who can help them compete in the 2020/21 season.

They will face the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea in the top-flight, and one has to think that they will need to make acquisitions if they are to enjoy a successful return to the top-flight.

Marcelo Bielsa masterminded a genuinely fantastic season in 2019/20, winning the Championship by 10 points from second-placed West Bromwich Albion.

But that is no guarantee of success.

Norwich won the Championship in 2018/19 and finished bottom of the Premier League last season.

Thus, Leeds will be well aware of the need to bring in some first-team stars in this transfer window to improve Bielsa’s squad.

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And Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, reports that Roma’s Amadou Diawara has been identified as a target.

The midfielder is also wanted by Arsenal but Leeds are said to have held talks with the Serie A club over the acquisition of the 23-year-old.

Diawara has only been at Roma for a season, joining from Napoli last summer, and made 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and registering one assist.

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The Guinea international is valued at €30 million (£27.1m) and Roma are not understood to be keen to sell him.

Hence the asking price, which would represent a significant profit on the €21m (£18.9m) Roma paid for him last summer.

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

Diawara would be a superb signing for Leeds.

The defensive midfielder has been in good form throughout the 2019/20 season, making 19 starts and, per WhoScored, averaging 1.8 tackles per game, 1.5 interceptions, and 0.6 clearances.

He also averages 0.7 key passes, and a passing accuracy of 88.9%.

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An excellent carrier of the ball, and a superb tackler, Diawara would bring some real physicality to the Leeds squad next season.

A cost of £27.1m would not actually be all that steep for a player who could well knit together their entire midfield.