“DONE DEAL: Igor Paixao ‘80% Done’ to Marseille – Arsenal & Leeds Left Reeling as De Zerbi Hijacks £34M Star!”

Leeds United’s hopes of adding firepower to their frontline ahead of their Premier League return have taken a significant hit, as Olympique de Marseille look set to win the race for highly-rated Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao.

Daniel Farke’s side have already made four signings this summer, including forward Lukas Nmecha, but their attacking business is far from over. With plans still in place to recruit at least one winger, a striker and an attacking midfielder—potentially more depending on outgoings—Paixao had emerged as a serious target for Leeds in recent months.

The 24-year-old Brazilian enjoyed a standout campaign in the Eredivisie last season, catching the eye of several European clubs, including Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Leeds. His explosive pace, trickery on the ball and eye for goal made him an attractive prospect, particularly as a possible alternative to Manor Solomon if the Israeli international leaves the club this summer.

At one point, it appeared Paixao might be open to a move to Elland Road after initial talks with Leeds, but the deal failed to progress. Arsenal were also monitoring his situation closely, while Bayer Leverkusen reportedly kept tabs as they considered their summer transfer options.

However, Olympique de Marseille, now managed by former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, have made a bold move. According to reliable French journalist Santi Aouna, the Ligue 1 side have not only submitted an offer, but have also convinced the player of their long-term vision.

“🚨EXCL: 🔵⚪️🇧🇷 #Ligue1 | ❗️Paixão veut rejoindre l’OM. L’ailier brésilien a ete convaincu par le projet olympien,” Aouna wrote on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the winger’s desire to join Marseille. Translated: “Paixao wants to join OM. The Brazilian winger has been convinced by the Olympian project.”

Marseille’s offer is understood to be a paid loan with an option to buy—a proposal designed to work around financial fair play limitations. While details of the fee are still being discussed, Feyenoord are said to be pushing for a club-record sale worth close to €40 million (approximately £34 million).

“💰 L’OM a proposé un prêt payant avec OA. Le Feyenoord veut une vente record et espère 40M€,” Aouna added. “➡️ Leverkusen et des clubs anglais sont intéressés…”

That means Leeds and Arsenal’s hopes now rest on Marseille’s bid falling through—an outcome that currently seems unlikely, given the player’s enthusiasm for De Zerbi’s project.

For Leeds, missing out on Paixao will be a disappointment, particularly given their urgent need for more firepower. However, with several weeks left in the window, the club are expected to press ahead with alternative targets as they prepare for the demands of top-flight football once more.

Whether the club can recover and land a winger of similar quality will now be one of the major storylines to watch in West Yorkshire as the summer market heats up.