Leeds have opened talks for Pavel Šulc, but Lyon's price is the first hurdle. The French club value the midfielder at around €25m (£21m), and there is no agreement yet. What makes the chase expensive is clear enough: Sulc produced 15 goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions last season.
Lyon's asking price
Sebastien Denis of teamtalk.com said: "Discussions have been initiated with Leeds United for Pavel Sulc. OL values the Czech (15 goals, 10 assists last season) at around 25 M€. No agreement has been reached yet, with the price remaining the main sticking point."
That is the part Leeds will have to solve. The fee being discussed is not a bargain-basement number for a player who has just posted that kind of output, and Lyon are not being subtle about where they stand.
Why Leeds are looking at Sulc
Sulc's appeal is not hard to see. He joined Lyon from Viktoria Plzen in the summer of 2025 and has already shown he can add goals and assists from midfield. Paulo Fonseca has also used him as a false nine, which helps explain the interest in a player who can fill different roles.
Fonseca said: "He knows how to read the game well."
He also said: "We have played excellent matches with Pavel as a false nine, scoring three goals last time and two before. We don't have as many options upfront, but we will see what we will do."
That versatility is probably the selling point for Leeds. Daniel Farke's side are not chasing a specialist for one job here, they are looking at a midfielder who can contribute at both ends of the pitch. The valuation is the issue, not the profile.
Leeds have started talks early in the summer transfer window, and that gives them time. It also gives Lyon time to hold firm at around €25m. For now, this is a negotiation, not a deal, and the next move sits with the two clubs.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
