Leeds United ‘marquee’ target Gustavo Hamer ignores new Coventry City deal amid transfer links, Fulham and Burnley interested
Gustavo Hamer has a new Coventry City contract on the table but hasn’t signed it amid interest from Leeds United this summer, Voetbal Rotterdam reports.
The Brazilian-born Dutch midfielder was a crucial part of the Sky Blues’ run the Championship play-off final last season, and was identified as the Whites’ desired “marquee signing” this summer as part of “ambitious” 49ers plans in a report from Football League World on 9 June.
Fulham and Burnley are also credited with interest in the 26-year-old whose current contract expires next summer.
According to Voetbal Rotterdam the “continued interest” from Leeds United and the two top flight sides looks to be stopping Hamer from putting pen to paper on the new terms.
Former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones told the Fulhamish podcast on 10 July that it was the Whites who were “actively” looking to do a deal and were ahead of the Cottagers in the transfer stakes.
Strike
Daniel Farke has only got Ethan Ampadu in from Chelsea so far, and while he is set to answer his goalkeeper question with Karl Darlow in the coming days he seemingly needs a lot more.
Relegation appears to be causing difficulties in attracting targets so those already in the Championship make all the more sense.
If the Whites can push a deal for Hamer over the line before Fulham or Burnley get serious then he could be a vital component for a promotion push.
Tyler Adams might now be set to stay until at least January, and Ampadu is a useful signing, but the American is injured until weeks into the new campaign and otherwise there is just youngster Darko Gyabi left to step in.
Assuming Hamer doesn’t extend his deal at Coventry then he shouldn’t be overly expensive and, just like Farke himself, has proven he be effective in the second tier after 11 goals and 10 assists last season.
Undoubtedly, rival interest from Premier League clubs represents a threat, but the Whites appear set to land Darlow despite Bournemouth having been prominent in the race.
So if Leeds can either beat Fulham and Burnley, or the two top flight clubs prefer other targets, this looks like a very attractive opportunity for a man who seems ready to move on, and the 49ers should push through with their plans.
In other Leeds United news, a third signing is surely already on the cards after Darlow as Farke’s plans look clear.