Adryan
Adryan set for six-month loan move to Leeds

Leeds United are likely to complete the signing of Brazilian starlet Adryan on loan before Monday's transfer deadline day.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder signed for Serie A side Cagliari on a one-and-a-half season loan in January after catching the attention of former owner Massimo Cellino, who relinquished control of the club after completing his takeover of Leeds last April.

The Italian businessman has been keen to bring Adryan to the Yorkshire club as part of his revolution at Elland Road and has held talks with both Cagliari and the player's parent club Flamengo in hope of securing a deal before Monday's transfer deadline.

Brazilian publication LANCE Net reports there has finally been a breakthrough in negotiations that will see Adryan join Leeds on an initial six-month loan deal with the option to make the deal permanent for a fee of €3m.

Adryan's representative Reinaldo Pitta stopped short of confirming a deal was in place, but suggested talks between the two parties had gone smoothly with confirmation of a deal imminent.

"Tomorrow (Thursday) I can guarantee that it is alright," Pitta was quoted as saying by the same publication.

"But I'd rather not talk about it now. But yes, everything has been submitted."

Adryan has represented Brazil at Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-20 level but his first campaign for Cagliari was derailed by injury that limited him to just five appearances last term.

Despite his minimal impact in Serie A, Cellino remains a huge admirer of the youngster and has been determined throughout the summer to bring him to Elland Road.

"The player wants to come to Elland Road, so that is not the issue here," Cellino told The Sun last month. "I know Adryan well and he is a special talent. But this is a complicated deal. There is still talking to do with Flamengo and the player's agent."

Adryan would be Leeds' 14<sup>th new signing of the summer but manager David Hockaday is yet to see positive results of the overhaul on the pitch. The club have taken just three points from a possible 12 in the opening month of their Championship campaign and were eliminated from the Capital One Cup by local rivals Bradford City on Wednesday night.