Leeds and Newcastle desperate to pip Brighton to £6m transfer swoop for Gareth Bale’s LAFC team-mate Jose Cifuentes

LEEDS and Newcastle are making hurried checks on Los Angeles FC’s Ecuadorian star Jose Cifuentes.

The pair have been tipped off that Brighton are trying to do a £6million swoop for the MLS-based midfielder.

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Jose Cifuentes is being heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer[/caption]

Cifuentes, 23, missed out on a Prem move two years ago but now qualifies for a work permit as a full international.

He has already made 83 appearances for LAFC, scoring 13 goals for the American outfit.

He has also contributed 15 assists – evidence he is able to create chances from the middle of the park.

For the Ecuadorian national team, Cifuentes has already been capped eight times – making his debut in September 2019.

He is set to go to the World Cup later this year after Ecuador successfully booked their place in Qatar.

They finished fourth in South American qualifying behind Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The three Prem clubs who are chasing Cifuentes – a team-mate of LAFC star Gareth Bale – have all made positive starts to their Prem campaigns.

Leeds sit third in the table thanks to wins over Wolves and Chelsea and a draw with Southampton.

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Brighton also have seven points, with victories over Man Utd and West Ham coupled with a draw against Newcastle.

And Eddie Howe’s Magpies have followed up a win over Nottingham Forest with draws against Brighton and Manchester City.

Leeds, Brighton and Newcastle all currently occupy spots in the top six of the Premier League table at this early point of the campaign.