Leeds United will reportedly look to sign 32-year-old Brazilian defender Diego Carlos from Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Turkish outlet Fotomac, Diego Carlos is the subject of interest from Leeds United. The Whites are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window. So, the 32-year-old Fenerbahce defender has emerged as a target for the newly promoted Premier League club.

The winter arrival is not part of Jose Mourinho’s plans for the 2025/26 season, and Fenerbahce will likely entertain bids to part ways with him in the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, Leeds United will soon present a formal bid to secure the South American defender’s services in the coming weeks.

Diego Carlos and a rollercoaster ride

Diego Carlos has endured a topsy-turvy ride since leaving Sevilla a few years ago. The 32-year-old was among the most dependable defenders in La Liga during his spell with the Andalusian outfit, but he was in and out of the starting lineup at Aston Villa. The West Midlands outfit sold him to Fenerbahce earlier this year for a deal worth €12 million, and the situation has not changed much.

The Brazilian defender has managed only 188 minutes of game time across five appearances thus far for Fenerbahce. The latest report has suggested that Carlos is not in Jose Mourinho’s plans for the 2025/26 season, with the Turkish Super Lig club ready to cash in on him in the summer transfer window. Leeds United will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.

Premier League return on the horizon?

Leeds United’s interest in Diego Carlos is perplexing. The Whites have already bolstered their defensive unit by signing two centre-backs, with Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw arriving at Elland Road this summer. In addition, Daniel Farke has Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk, and Joe Rodon as centre-back options.

So, it is unclear how Carlos may fit into the scheme of things at Elland Road amid the overcrowding of the defensive department. Nevertheless, the former Aston Villa defender is a target for Leeds United, with the West Yorkshire outfit preparing a formal bid to secure his services.

With Fenerbahce ready to part ways with the 32-year-old Brazilian defender, a summer return to the Premier League may be on the cards. It will be interesting to see if the Turkish Super Lig outfit can make a profit on the €12 million they forked out to secure his services earlier this year.