Orta could form an “incredible” duo in Leeds move for £17.5m talent dubbed the “best”

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Igor Julio to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

That’s according to a recent report by Italian media outlet Firenze Viola, who claim that Victor Orta has ‘requested information’ about the ACF Fiorentina centre-back, who the Serie A side are believed to value at a figure in the region of €20m (£17.5m).

However, the Whites are not the only English club thought to be keen on the 24-year-old, with Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion also said to have made contact with the Italian side regarding the Brazilian, while the likes of Sevilla, Real Betis, Atletico Madrid are also thought to be keeping a very close eye on the situation of the defender.

Imagine him & Wober

With Leeds having already sealed the £11m signing of Max Wober this month, should Orta manage to get a further deal for Igor over the line in the coming days, the Spanish director of football could well have formed something of a dream centre-back partnership at Elland Road.

Indeed, over Igor’s 30 Serie A appearances last season, the £13m-rated talent was in imperious form in the heart of the Fiorentina backline, helping his side keep seven clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.8 tackles, one interception, 1.4 clearances and winning 3.9 duels – at a success rate of 59% – per game.

The £15k-per-week defender also impressed when in possession of the ball, creating one big chance, as well as enjoying an average of 64.6 touches, playing 3.6 long balls, making 1.6 chipped passes and completing 51.4 total passes – at a success rate of 92% – per match.

These returns saw the 24-year-old – who journalist Alvaro Canibe dubbed “incredible” and podcaster David Amoyal labelled “Fiorentina’s best defender” last term – average an extremely impressive Sofascore statistical rating of 6.97, ranking him as La Viola’s fourth-best performer in the top flight of Italian football last time out.

As such, with Igor quite clearly being a centre-back who is as strong on the ball as he is in a defensive capacity – something Wober’s five big chances created and 2.9 tackles and interceptions combined per match last season would suggest the Austria international also is – it would indeed appear as if Igor would make an incredible partner to the former Red Bull Salzburg star.

However, with a number of top-tier clubs believed to be keen on the Brazilian, it would appear extremely advisable for Orta to sanction a move for the Fiorentina titan as quickly as possible, or else the Spaniard runs the very real risk of missing out on the 24-year-old – be that in the January or summer transfer window.