On Wednesday, we covered an article from Switzerland suggesting that Lugano attacker Ezgjan Alioski was close to signing for Leeds United.
The appointment of Thomas Christiansen as the new manager appears to have sparked new life into the club’s recruitment process, and the Macedonian forward has seemingly made the shortlist as an ideal target to help Leeds United continue their impressive rejuvenation.
More commonly known as ‘Gianni’, the 25-year-old, who used to be a left-back, enjoyed an incredibly prolific first season further up the pitch, scoring 17 goals and picking up 14 assists in 36 appearances in all competition.
This has attracted a lot of interest from clubs inside and outside of Switzerland, and a move this summer looks more and more likely.
Speaking to Liberté, the player said: “Everyone knows me now, and that makes me proud. In the end, my agent deals with all this for me and leaves me alone. Staying at Lugano, leaving: everything is a possibility.
“I’ve never hidden it, my goal is to join a great European club. However, as long as nothing is done, I prefer not to get too far ahead of myself. If something happens, it needs to make sense. Bundesliga, Serie A or Premier League, I don’t have any preference. For now, I’m happy at Lugano”.
His agent confirmed to Liberté that he was receiving quite a few offers, including some concrete ones, for his client, who will have a final say in his next destination.
What about a Champions League club? While the player is in the ‘why not?’ frame of mine, his agent remains a bit more level-headed, as he knows staying at Lugano and playing in the Europa League next season could be an ideal opportunity to get his client even more recognition.
While there’s no mention of the Championship in the interview, a move to Leeds United and England’s second-tier is hardly a step down for the player.
A relatively well televised league with a guaranteed pay rise and the knowledge that Premier League clubs will always be keeping an eye on what’s going on? That cannot be said about the Swiss Super League.
At 25, however, it could be understandable if the player wanted to jump a few steps, but with a seemingly well-grounded agent, and the knowledge that even just one good season at a club like Leeds United could be incredibly beneficial, there is every chance Gianni could end up at Elland Road next year.
Leeds United have made a ‘more tempting offer’ to convince Samu Saiz to sign for them. #LUFC #MOT https://t.co/FGnYJ7w17G pic.twitter.com/okhxtYuAfB
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) June 22, 2017
