Leeds have now submitted an opening bid of £2.2m for AZ Alkmaar star man

The Whites are looking for a right-sided central defender, and the Alkmaar ace fits the description. A £2.2m bid offer has been made, and the club has already achieved an agreement on personal terms with the player.

The Dutch club are willing to let the defender depart this summer if their asking price is fulfilled, which is thought to be in the region of £2.5m-£3.5m.

Leeds are currently barely short of Alkmaar’s asking price, and there is “confidence” that an agreement can be struck, especially given Cooper’s recent injury and reports connecting him to a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Pantelis Chatzidiakos is who he claims to be.

The Rhodesian-born defender has played across the backline in his career, although he has spent the majority of his time at centre-back with Alkmaar, where he has spent his entire professional career, first breaking into the club in the 2015/16 season.

Not only has the 26-year-old begun to establish himself at club level, making 33 Eredivisie appearances last season and picking up four assists, but he is also a seasoned international, having earned 27 caps for Greece.

When compared to his positional contemporaries over the last year, the Alkmaar star scores in the 92nd percentile for passes attempted and progressive carries per 90, showing he might be a strong match in a Farke system, with the Leeds manager famed for his possession-based game.

Signing Chatzidiakos would be a risk, especially given that Phillips, who has already shown himself in England, is also available, but he has the right traits to thrive at Elland Road and would be a low-cost choice, costing roughly £3 million.