Dinamo Zagreb youngster Joško Gvardiol has been urged to make the move to Leeds United by Croatia striker Nikica Jelavić.
The youngster has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road over the last week, with it believed that Leeds have made a €22m bid to bring him to the club.
That has been accepted by Dinamo, but a move has not yet happened, with reports stating that the youngster is unconvinced about making the switch.
He would much prefer a move to German side RB Leipzig, who are battling Leeds for his signature but yet to match their offer financially.
Jelavić, though, believes he should jump at the chance to link up with Marcelo Bielsa and play in the Premier League.
“My personal opinion is that Guardiola’s departure to Leeds would be a huge step forward!” he told Sportske Novosti.
“By going to Leeds, the young stopper will lose absolutely nothing. He can only make more progress in the Premiership.
“If a club like Leeds values you so much and gives you that figure, then it’s clear they’re counting on you. No one will push such an offer if they don’t see you on the team.”
Reports this week indicated that he was more inclined to move to Leipzig as they are willing to let him stay at Dinamo this season and develop there, a plan that fits more into his personal outlook.
Leeds, though, want him permanently, with it claimed that Bielsa believes the youngster can make an impact immediately.
A move to the Premier League would be a significant step up, though, something that the player’s former coach Tomislav Rukavina thinks he needs to take into account.
“The possible departure to Leeds should be well assessed,” says Rukavina.
“The Premiership is a terribly strong league, the best strikers in the world play there.
“For a young player coming from the HNL, a much worse league and football, it is a big challenge. He will certainly need some time to adapt to the demands that await him.
“But given that they are willing to pay him so much, they certainly hold him to the club’s perspective, to be counted on most seriously in the future.
“However, Gvardiol must be aware that he will have certain problems at the beginning. He probably knows that.”
Agent, Matej Škegro, meanwhile, believes that the wages offered are key to the youngster’s decision this summer.
Leeds are reportedly willing to offer the defender a big package, compared to what he currently earns at Dinamo.
That is a clear indication that they believe he can be a first-team regular upon his arrival, and Škegro thinks the same.
“I don’t know how much salary Leeds is offering Guardiola, and in my opinion that is a crucial question,” he added.
“If they offer him a serious salary, then they immediately see him in the first team. If Leeds sees Guardiola as a full member of the first team, they will give him such a salary as well.
“Because, if someone is among the ten highest-paid players in the club, then he has a great pole-position as opposed to the one who is 25th in salary.
“I don’t know what they are offering him, and then I don’t know how seriously they take him.”
