Claims of Leeds United being keen to sign Nico Elvedi have been covered by German newspaper Bild over the past couple days.
Whilst Leeds United being keen is a claim which started in the UK media, Bild have been giving the German slant on a potential move from Borussia Monchengladbach to Elland Road.
Daniel Farke was manager at the Bundesliga club for a year before he moved to Leeds United. He was shown the door by Gladbach and Bild have explained why.
It’s stated the club thought his ‘deficits in coaching during an ongoing game were too obvious’ and he was ‘an absolute transfer refuser’. On the latter, they appear to mean Farke didn’t bring through the options which had been brought in for him.
Sporting directors in Germany often get a relatively easy ride and are close to the media, with managers taking the fall for their bad decisions and them keeping the credit when things go well.
Bild say Farke could now get ‘revenge’ on Gladbach by signing Elvedi.
There appears to be a worry around Elvedi’s clause. It had been €10m, but it’s not clear what was agreed when the central defender extended his contract a year and a half ago.
Reports in the UK have suggested the deal would cost Leeds United €12m/£10m, or that they’d be willing to offer such a fee, but there’s no clarity if that amount would even be needed.
Elvedi is said to dream of the Premier League and wanted to move when Wolves were keen, whether he’ll feel the same about Leeds United and trust them securing promotion isn’t clear.
