Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has turned his attention to former club Borussia Monchengladbach, with defender Nico Elvedi in his sights.
BILD report that the 29-year-old defender is a target for Leeds this summer. Farke is hoping for a successful third attempt to sign a player from his former club.
Farke targets former players for Leeds
The newspaper explains that Farke has already turned to the Bundesliga on several occasions to bolster Leeds’ squad.
For example, the current squad includes Anton Stach, signed from Hoffenheim, as well as former Werder Bremen player Ilja Gruev and Wolfsburg’s Lukas Nmecha.
He’s also tried to poach players from ‘his’ Monchengladbach team. Julian Weigl, Lukas Ullrich and Nico Elvedi have been targets in the past. Now the Switzerland international is now in his sights again.
Elvedi has always wanted to play in the Premier League and is using his starring role at the World Cup as a platform to make a move happen.
According to BILD, Leeds are prepared to pay €8.5m for him. That won’t be enough for Borussia. The bidding war for the defender is just getting started as a result.
Elvedi fears déjà vu
Elvedi is hoping that it won’t be a case of déjà vu. Three years ago his move to Wolves was done and dusted, before Gladbach rejected a €9.1m offer as they wanted €10m. They thought Wolves would return, but a sudden change of manager at Molineux stopped that happening.
Things will be different this time around as Elvedi’s current deal runs until 2027. That means a sale is now almost inevitable. They need to sell to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.
The question is whether they’ll accept what Leeds are offering. €8.5m is a fair offer given the likes of Transfermarkt currently rate the defender at €8m. BILD, though, make no mention of Monchengladbach’s asking price.
They have a decision to make either way. With Elvedi’s contract situation as it is, taking the money now while Leeds are offering it would be the smart choice.
