Leeds United have rejected a transfer request from Charlie Taylor, reports the IB Times.
Newcastle United have been heavily linked with the full back, who can also play on the wing. However, Liverpool are also rumoured to be interested, complicating Rafa Benitez’s pursuit of the player.
The decision to decline Taylor’s attempt to force a move is seen as a move by Leeds to force a higher transfer fee from his eventual departure. Already mooted at £5m, if the Yorkshire club decides to play hardball, it could rise by 50%.
Benitez had been favourite to land the defender but Liverpool’s failure to sign Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell has seen them turn to Taylor as an alternative.
Other Premier League interest is coming from Middlesbrough and Burnley but as the signing of Ciaran Clark shows, Newcastle is a big enough club to compete with some of the top flight in the transfer market.