Leeds United table transfer bid for Pantelis Chatzidiakos as defender accepts offer after Liam Cooper stretchered off vs Cardiff City
Pantelis Chatzidiakos has accepted an offer from Leeds United and a bid has been made to AZ Alkmaar to sign him, according to Spor Time.
The Greek newspaper reported on their website on Sunday evening (6 August) that the 26-year-old centre-back has “accepted an offer from Leeds United to compete” and his time with the Eredivisie side is “heading towards its finale”.
AZ reportedly want up to €4million [£3.45m] but the Whites have now tabled a bid of €2.5m [£2.16m] to get the deal done after a pursuit that has been “open” for 15 days.
Leeds United have been linked to Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Manchester City and Nat Phillips at Liverpool as Daniel Farke looks to address centre-back following the exits of Max Wober, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen, but both are likely to cost £10m or more.
Captain Liam Cooper was then stretchered off injured after scoring in the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on Sunday to increase the issues in defence.
Incoming?
The action in the Whites’ opening game of the season looks to have confirmed why the manager wants to add at centre-back above all.
Cooper and Pascal Struijk looked shaky in the middle as the Bluebirds took a two-goal lead, with Leo Hjelde also struggling on the left and and Luke Ayling playing his part in both goals conceded.
The captain injured his ankle in the process of pulling a goal back and could now be ruled out once again, as he was replaced by Charlie Cresswell.
Wober’s loan exit to Borussia Monchengladbach blew a whole in Farke’s preparations for the new season, and while Chatzidiakos looks to be a low-cost option he could now be part of the solution.
The Greek international has 27 caps for his country and European experience in the Europa League, plus 11 appearances in a run to the semi-final of the Europa Conference League last term where AZ were knocked out by winners West Ham.
Central defence has been a problem for much of the past two years and losing the top option at the position in Wober has only emphasised that.
Cresswell is surely in line for an expanded role now, but it looks like the Whites have wasted no time in reaction to the Cardiff result to push ahead with their move for Chatzidiakos.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit was blown away by what he saw from a “phenomenal” Whites player on Sunday.