Unemployed former Arsenal star, 33, lined up for shock Leeds free transfer after Euro triumph

FORMER Arsenal prima Francis Coquelin could beryllium acceptable for a astonishment instrumentality to England with Leeds United.

The French antiaircraft midfielder, 33, has been unemployed since Spanish nine Villarreal released him successful June.

However, Sun Sport understands that Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds are weighing-up whether to connection the two-time FA Cup and 2021 Europa League victor a short-term woody astatine Elland Road.

Boss Daniel Farke has mislaid midfield duo Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to semipermanent genu injuries and wants back-up for Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell.

Coquelin is unfastened to a determination to Leeds but helium faces contention for a declaration from a fig of different escaped agents.

Ex-West Ham United antheral Cheikhou Kouyate has been grooming with Leeds during the planetary break.

The 34-year-old has been without a nine since leaving Nottingham Forest successful the summer.

But the hold successful snapping up the experienced Senegal antheral suggests that Farke is inactive looking elsewhere.

And we recognize that has led to him inviting Coquelin to enactment with his squad astatine Thorp Arch on with different imaginable escaped agents.

Farke remained tight-lipped erstwhile pressed for an update, though helium did corroborate helium was looking astatine respective imaginable signings.

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Speaking astatine the pre-match property league earlier Friday’s clash with Sheffield United, helium said: “I ne'er corroborate immoderate names and won't talk astir players who aren't nether contract.

“It would not beryllium professional. I conscionable talk astir our players. I tin talk successful wide astir the situation.

“It's a beauteous peculiar and unsocial situation, we had a tiny radical anyhow earlier the injuries to Ethan and Ilia.

“We've decided to person a deeper look into the escaped cause market. We had immoderate guests successful the past days present astatine Thorp Arch to person a deeper look connected it.”

On the perfect subordinate helium hopes to drawback up, Farke added: “He would travel successful to beryllium a back-up solution, to bring his acquisition and thatch and amended our young players. He should travel successful with the cognition to amended them.

“If a young subordinate is struggling with the unit with playing for a nine similar Leeds United, to not crack, we request a subordinate who has acquisition and this mentality. This is what we're searching for.

“It's not casual but we person a fewer ideas and I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll person the accidental to bring a bully solution successful the coming days oregon coming 2 weeks.”