French side Toulouse are preparing a seven-figure bid for MK Dons attacker Max Dean, as reported by Football Insider.
That’s good news for Dean’s former employer, Leeds United. When he left Elland Road, they inserted a clause in his contract stating that they’re due a portion of any fee for the striker.
Dean has only been at Stadium MK for 18 months, but he’s impressed hugely. Last season, he scored 19 times for the Dons, and picked up five assists as they narrowly missed out on promotion.
That form alerted Toulouse as early as January last year, and it’s now understood they’re preparing their £1 million bid for the youngster. The 20-year-old, who will serve a three-match ban for a stamp in the play-off semi-final against Crawley this season, could be a replacement for Thijs Dallinga, the Dutch striker who has fallen onto the radar of West Ham United.
Ormskirk-born Dean started his career as a youth at Everton before switching to Leeds, signing his first professional deal in 2021. He played six times in the EFL Trophy for the Whites’ Under 21 side, scoring three goals, including a brace against Barrow.
However, he did not break into the first team picture and was allowed to move to the then-League One outfit in January 2023. He scored once in nine outings as the Dons were relegated but has since thrived, being named Young Player of the Year last season.
It is not clear how much of the fee Leeds are due to receive or whether Toulouse will pay upfront or base the final figure on add-ons, which could affect the slice the Whites get.
Toulouse finished 11th in Ligue 1 last season, scoring fewer goals than relegated Lorient. Many saw this as a failure, especially after two trophy-filled seasons prior, when they won Ligue 2 and then the Coupe de France.
Writer’s View
There will have been plenty of clubs looking at Dean, but some may have been put off by that play-off game against Crawley. The petulant stamp was seemingly out of frustration, but onlookers might not have been impressed.
The French side seems to have been convinced he’s got what it takes. They’ve done business with MK Dons before, signing Rhys Healey for a big fee in 2020. However, Dean is younger and more likely to turn a profit.
As for Leeds, they won’t be expecting a big chunk; sell-ons are usually around 20%, but it’s still nice to see their academy graduates making a success of their career. A club’s academy is not just there to create players for them but also to create footballers who might play elsewhere, so they’ll see this as a success.
