On October 25th, Goal reported Leeds United were eyeing a renewed effort to sign Ibai Gomez during the January window.
The Yorkshire club had tried to sign him from Alaves in the summer and were still keen despite those attempts failing.
That same week, a source confirmed to Sport Witness that Leeds had made several offers during the summer market, but Gomez had decided to stay at his club in Spain.
The same source explained Gomez would be very interested in a move to England, and his relationship with Marcelo Bielsa, from their time together at Athletic Club Bilbao, would be beneficial in any signing attempt.
It was even pointed out that should Leeds fail to get promotion, then a free transfer in June, when the player’s Alaves contract ends, wouldn’t be ruled out.
Now Gomez is on the verge of a return to Athletic Club Bilbao for €4m, and whilst Leeds interest has been insisted upon repeatedly for months, Basque outlet EITB have a good reason why things haven’t gone further.
Despite the Championship club being keen ‘there was no firm offer’ made by them. Whether they were put off after speaking to the player, or if Athletic, in desperate need of reinforcements, simply offered a huge salary deal, is unknown.
