Leeds United Target Increases Market Value To $4.4 Million

Kai Wagner remains one of the best left-backs in Major League Soccer. The Philadelphia Union star scored five assists in 27 games this season and is heavily scouted by Leeds United and Benfica.

That interest has also had an impact on the 25-year-old’s market value. On Thursday, Transfermarkt updated MLS market values, and Wagner was one of the players to benefit. The German saw his market value increase from $3.3 million to $4.4 million.

An increase that sees Wagner become the most valuable left-back in MLS. The market value increase is also a direct response to the increased interest in the German.

Leeds United, in particular, has kept a close eye on Wagner’s development. Jesse Marsch and sporting director Victor Orta have been in close contact with the Wagner camp over the last few weeks.

Marsch, in particular, is a big fan of the left-back. The American Leeds manager has always kept a close eye on MLS and sees it as a market that produces ready-made players for the PremierPINC
League as the two competitions are similar in their physical demands.

For Wagner, a move to Leeds would be a significant step in his career. The left-back was signed from Regionalliga Bayern (fourth division) side Würzburger Kickers. At the time, Wagner had a market value of just $300,000.

But Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner was convinced by the left-back potential, and the transfer has paid off big time. Wagner has featured 118 games for the Union (four goals and 17 assists) and has been a key part of a side that won the Supporters’ Shield in 2021.

“Today, everybody would laugh about the small fee that Tanner paid to sign me,” Wagner has said in an interview. “At the time, though, it was a difficult step. And I had to jump over my own shadow. But the talks with Ernst Tanner and head coach Jim Curtin helped me make my decision, and once I knew that my family was on board, the decision [to move to MLS] was made very quickly.”

In that interview, Wagner also pointed out his desire to use the opportunity to make the step to a bigger league in Europe. That opportunity now seems to be there, even if Philadelphia will try to maximize the deal and demand significantly over the player’s market value to make a move in the summer happen as the Union is pushing for a first-ever MLS Cup title.

As a result, a transfer might not happen until the winter. But Wagner would be worth the wait for both Leeds and Benfica.

Wagner is not only a threat going forward but also strong defensively, where he ranks second in the league in completed interceptions (169) together with teammate Jakob Glesnes. Wagner also ranks 17th in progressive passes made (217) and fifth in overall crosses made (97).

Essentially, what clubs will get in Wagner is a hard-working left-back who is defensively sound but also dynamic going forward, and that is a crucial aspect of why Wagner is in demand. Currently, the market for pure wing-backs is very much deflated as clubs want to have players for that position that can play multiple roles and either further up or in a back three.

In Wagner’s case, the ability to play as a left-midfielder is also important. Furthermore, Philadelphia Union often operates in a narrow 4-3-1-2 formation, with Wagner pushing up the field. That makes him similar to German national team player Robin Gosens and explains why there is a hot market for Wagner.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth