Leeds United step up interest on Tendayi Darikwa

LEEDS UNITED are understood to have stepped up their interest in Chesterfield defender Tendayi Darikwa.

The highly-rated full-back, 23, who can play at right-back or on the right hand side of midfield has a year left on his Spireites deal and Leeds are understood to have held talks with the Derbyshire club.

Nottingham-born Darikwa picked up a number of seasonal awards at Chesterfield last term - including the Player Of The Year award and Players' Player Of The Season accolade.

He was an ever-present in the league in 2014-15, with his consistent performances having caught the eye of a number of higher division clubs, including Leeds who have followed up their initial interest.

The addition of 6ft 2in Darikwa would potentially boost Leeds' options down the right, where they have little cover.

The long-term future of right-sided defender Sam Byram is also uncertain, with the 21-year-old linked with several Premier League sides already this summer, including Sunderland, Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Southampton also saw a bid turned down last August for Byram, whose contract at Leeds runs out in April 2016.

Meanwhile, the agent of Uruguay international defender Alvaro Pereira has claimed that Leeds are interested in signing him.

The talented Inter Milan full-back has been on loan with Argentinian side Estudiantes, but his representative Alfredo Reguira says that the 29-year-old is open to a return to Europe.

Speaking in the Italian press, Reguira said: "Leeds? It's true of their interest."

"He is well in (Estudiantes) La Plata but he is a professional and will evaluate solutions also with European clubs.

"He would return to Europe willingly."