Leeds United’s hopes of signing Dinamo Zagreb youngster Joško Gvardiol may have been given another boost.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have been linked with a move for the youngster for several weeks, with the Argentine boss thought to be extremely keen on him.
They have already made a €20m offer for him but looked to have missed out to RB Leipzig, with several reports indicating that the player valued a move there, and a return loan, ahead of Elland Road as he thought it would be better for his development.
A move was very much up in the air, though, with it made clear that Leeds offer was better financially and thus they were out in front.
Then, earlier today, we covered a report from Index HR that stated their chances had increased after Dinamo were knocked out of the Champions League last night.
That disappointment, they theorised, could see the player change his mind on the move as playing in Europe had been a key part of his desire to stay in Croatia.
Tportal now pick up on that and say the decision may be out of the player’s hands. They report that Dinamo’s failure in the Champions League means they are €15m down on last season.
That’s a hole even a Europa League run can’t fill, and so the Croatian side will have to raise funds by selling players, chiefly Gvardiol.
Leeds have ‘offered €20m’ for him already and that would ‘patch all the holes’ in one go and let them avoid selling other players.
He wanted to stay at Maksimir, but Dinamo ‘desperately need money’ and so now ‘his wish is in the background’.
The tone is very much that the youngster could be forced out of the club if they deem it necessary and with Leeds offering the most money, that’s where they want him to go.
Of course, things are never quite that easy but this, coupled with the earlier suggestion that he may be having second thoughts about staying, means the transfer is on a more positive track than it has been over the last week or so.
