Leeds United’s attempts to sign Dinamo Zagreb youngster Joško Gvardiol have ‘failed’, with the centre back keen to remain in Croatia.
That’s according to Tportal, who say the defender ‘was supposed’ to go to Leeds after they had offered Dinamo €22m plus 20 per cent of his next transfer.
That is a figure the Croatian side would have welcomed gladly, with them facing a €15m deficit in their finances following their failure to make the Champions League group stages.
However, Gvardiol ‘decided to say no’ to the move to Elland Road, instead preferring to stay in his homeland for the time being.
That means Leeds have ‘failed’ in their attempts to secure his signature, although the website does add a caveat to that with the phrase ‘at least for now’.
That suggests they feel there could be another twist in this tale at some point, which would tally with reports yesterday that Dinamo’s need for the money and a lack of European football could see Gvardiol forced out.
The latter claim suggested he was only staying with Dinamo for the exposure to European football and so would be less interested in doing so now they’re out of the Champions League.
They still have the Europa League to fight for, however, so perhaps if they’re also knocked out of that, he will change his mind.
In truth, he’s not appeared to be keen on the move to Leeds at any point, with it made clear pretty early on that if he had to go, he’d prefer Leipzig.
It was only for the fact Leeds were offering more money that they’ve remained in the running but at this point, they may be best served turning their attention elsewhere and finding a player who won’t move to Elland Road begrudgingly.
