Leeds United have suffered a potential setback in their pursuit of Nigerian international Zaidu Sanusi, with FC Porto reportedly moving to secure the defender’s future ahead of the January transfer window.
The Portuguese giants are keen to prevent the 29-year-old left-back from leaving the club, with president André Villas-Boas reportedly pushing to reach an agreement over a new contract before the end of December.
According to Portuguese publication A Bola, negotiations between Porto and Sanusi’s representatives are already progressing, although an agreement has yet to be reached.
Sanusi’s current contract expires at the end of the 2026/27 season, meaning he will enter the final six months of his deal in January if he does not sign an extension.
The situation has attracted interest from Leeds, who have been monitoring the Super Eagles defender and are reportedly considering a January move to strengthen their defensive options.
The Premier League side are particularly interested in adding competition for Swedish left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson, who has featured regularly for Daniel Farke’s team.
However, Porto’s determination to retain Sanusi could complicate Leeds’ plans, especially if the Portuguese club successfully concludes negotiations before the transfer window opens.
Despite missing almost two months through injury earlier in the campaign, Sanusi has remained part of coach Francesco Farioli’s plans, making 10 appearances in Porto’s 16 matches this season, including eight starts.
His return to action has also strengthened his position at the club. The Nigerian defender recently featured in Porto’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Napoli, coming off the bench in the second half as the Portuguese side secured an impressive European result.
Sanusi joined Porto from Santa Clara in 2020 and has since established himself as an experienced member of the squad, making 162 appearances and contributing eight goals and three assists across competitions. He has also won two Portuguese Primeira Liga titles with the club.
Meanwhile, Leeds are not the only side monitoring his situation, with clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar also reportedly expressing interest in signing the Nigerian.
Aliyu Ibrahim, a confidant of the player, told Footy-Africa that Leeds had made a strong approach, but revealed that Sanusi’s preference remains staying in Portugal.
“Zaidu wants to remain at Porto, but it all depends on what his club can offer him in terms of a new deal. That is the situation at the moment,” Ibrahim said.
He explained that the defender had become comfortable with life in Portugal after spending almost a decade in the country, adding that his familiarity with the language and environment makes Porto his preferred destination.
Ibrahim also suggested that the final decision rests largely with the Portuguese club, which must determine whether to retain the defender or consider offers from interested teams.
With Porto reportedly targeting an agreement before the end of December, Leeds could be forced to reconsider their transfer strategy if Sanusi commits his future to the Portuguese champions.
For now, the defender’s future remains unresolved, with the outcome of the contract negotiations expected to play a significant role in determining whether he stays at Porto or makes a move to the Premier League.
