Leeds United and Brentford tracking midfielder – Birmingham City clause could force transfer route change

Leeds United and Brentford have both been keeping an eye on the Championship market. Jhon Solís has quietly worked his way into that conversation after a solid run at Birmingham City.

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder has made 13 appearances since arriving in January, scoring once and regularly getting minutes. More importantly, he has shown he can cope with the tempo and physical side of English football.

That context helps explain the reports coming from Spanish journalist Ivan Quirós Ruiz and South American outlet Win Sports. These reports claim both clubs are following Solís ahead of the summer window.

At the moment, though, the situation is not fully in their hands.

Clause could change the route

Jhon Solís joined Birmingham City on loan from Girona FC with a €500k (£430k) fee. The deal includes a €7.5m (£6.5m) option to buy. Furthermore, there is a strong indication that this could now be triggered automatically.

One of the conditions required him to play at least 11 matches with a minimum of 45 minutes. He has already reached 13 appearances, which puts Birmingham in a position where they may have to complete the permanent signing.

And as we recently covered, everything indicates they will buy Solís.

If that happens, Leeds United and Brentford would need to negotiate with Birmingham rather than Girona, which naturally changes the dynamic of any potential deal.

Why Leeds United and Brentford are interested

Jhon Solís fits what both clubs tend to look for. This is the case even if their approaches differ slightly.

Leeds United are likely to reshape parts of their midfield. A player already settled in England offers fewer unknowns. Solís has shown energy, ball recovery and a willingness to cover ground. These are traits that translate well in the Championship and Premier League.

Brentford, meanwhile, have built a model around spotting value early. A midfielder who could be signed for around €7.5m (£6.5m) – even if via Birmingham first – falls into that category, especially if his development continues at the same pace.

Win Sports also highlight his physical presence and growing comfort in England as key reasons behind the interest. Recently we covered that he quickly became one of the pillars to Chris Davies’ side.

What happens next

Jhon Solís’ future may now depend on a chain reaction. If Birmingham complete the €7.5m (£6.5m) deal, they gain control of the situation and could choose to keep him or sell at a profit.

That would likely be the point where Leeds and Brentford decide whether to step in more seriously.

For now, both clubs appear to be watching rather than acting. But with the clause close to being triggered, the situation could move quickly once the season ends.