Leeds United were hit with a blow in the transfer window when attacking midfielder Julian Brandt was unveiled as Ajax's latest signing on Friday night.

Earlier this week, it had been claimed that the Whites had the best offer on the table for the free agent star and that they had made a convincing pitch to the 30-year-old talent.

That pitch was not quite convincing enough, though, as the former Borussia Dortmund playmaker has opted to join the Dutch giants instead of testing his luck in the Premier League.

Brandt became a free agent at the start of July after his contract with the German side expired, which allowed him to take his time to decide on his new club.

Leeds missing out on Brandt may be a blessing in disguise

Missing out on a deal to sign the experienced Germany international may seem like a blow on paper, because he racked up more than 300 appearances in the Bundesliga and scored 11 goals in all competitions for Dortmund last term.

Whilst he would have arrived at Elland Road as an experienced player who could have hit the ground running as a star for Daniel Farke's side, there would not have been much long-term value for the club.

Brandt turned 30 in May and is heading towards the latter stages of his career. He is not a young player with potential who could have been sold on for a significant profit in the future, or who could have offered five or six years of quality services.

It may be better for the Whites, despite his quality as an attacking midfielder, to sign a younger attacking talent with more long-term potential than Brandt.

That is why, whilst it is still a blow, missing out on the German star to Ajax may end up being a blessing in disguise if they can bring in an alternative with more scope for development.

How Leeds can move on from Brandt setback

In fact, the club are already looking at a player who could arrive at Elland Road as a far superior option to Brandt for Farke in the short and long-term.

The Yorkshire Evening Post's Graham Smyth reports that Leeds United are eyeing up a move for Marseille winger Igor Paixao as a potential alternative to Brandt.

Smyth claims that the Whites are considering moves for several different targets and the Brazilian attacker is one of a number of options being assessed by the 49ers in their pursuit of an addition to the forward line.

The reporter does not reveal how much the Ligue 1 side would want for his services, but it was reported earlier this summer that it could take a fee of at least £43m to tempt them into cashing in on him.

Leeds wanted to sign him from Feyenoord last summer, but he opted to join Marseille, and it may be second-time lucky for them in the current window.

They should now be pushing to bring him to Elland Road this time around because he would be a far better signing than Brandt, both because of what he can offer now and what he can offer in the future.

In the past two seasons, Paixao has racked up 50 goal contributions in 89 appearances for Marseille and Feyenoord, 13 more than Brandt managed in 91 games for Dortmund.

These statistics suggest that the left-sided winger, who scored 12 goals for Marseille last season, has the quality to provide an even greater threat at the top end of the pitch for the Whites than the Germany international would have done.

Paixao could win more points for Leeds in the Premier League than Brandt would have done by contribution to more draws and wins with the goals and assists that he can provide on a regular basis.

On top of that, the Marseille star is 26, four years younger than the German talent, and would arrive at Elland Road with time left ahead of him to develop further and potentially increase in value.

The 26-year-old forward would, therefore, be a far superior signing because he has more long-term potential, due to his age, and he could make a greater impact on the pitch in the here and now.

It is now down to the 49ers to open talks with Marseille to agree a deal with the French side to bring the winger to Elland Road before the end of the window.