Leo Hjelde has returned to Leeds United after spending the second half of the last season on loan at Rotherham United, where he made 13 appearances.
Last month, we covered a claim made in Italy that stated the 19-year-old’s displays for Rotherham United had caught Salernitana’s attention.
The Serie A side are looking to bolster the left-back position and Tutto Salernitana state they have identified the Leeds player as their ‘main target’.
The Norway U21 international can also be used as a centre-back and his versatility has ‘convinced’ Salernitana to bet on him.
Hjelde has two years left on his deal and it’s claimed Leeds showed willingness to sell him for €2m. However, Salernitana chairman Danilo Iervolino refused to meet the demands set by the Whites.
The report says the Italian club found the price high for a player who’s not expected to be a regular next season. This resulted in them cooling their interest in the teenager.
According to Tutto Salernitana, the two clubs have now resumed contacts and the Serie A side’s idea is to take the player on loan with an option to buy.
Leeds are ‘willing to take a small step back’ and accept for a loan move, as long there’s an obligation to buy set at over €2m plus a percentage of the fee from his future sale.
The feeling, as per the report, is that Hjelde could move to Italy as ‘early as next week’, but only if Salernitana were to make a ‘small economic sacrifice’.
