{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Club left speechless by Leeds as serious bid tabled to sign new player - report
Dinamo Zagreb have been left “speechless” by Leeds United after the Whites tabled a “serious double-digit” bid for centre-back Josko Gvardiol, according to 24 Sata.
The Croatian newspaper reports on their website that Gvardiol, 18, has attracted attention from Italy, Germany and England but although he’s only made 13 senior appearances in his career, Marcelo Bielsa has not thought twice about making a move to sign him.
It is understood that Dinamo had not thought about selling Gvardiol this year but Leeds’ offer has forced them to reconsider as it is “a sum that would cover numerous costs” at the Croatian club.
24 Sata does not report how much Leeds have offered for Gvardiol but another Croatian news outlet, Sportske Novosti, claims that the Yorkshire club’s bid is worth £17.8million plus add-ons.
RB Leipzig are also said to have offered the same fee for the young defender.
Leeds have signed one new centre-back already this summer with Robin Koch arriving from Freiburg to fill the void left by Ben White’s return to Brighton.
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
Despite the Germany international’s arrival, he and Liam Cooper remain the only senior centre-backs on the books at Elland Road so it is certainly an area that can be added to.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has reinforced that Bielsa is out to sign another centre-back before the transfer window closes but what is so good about Gvardiol that Leeds are reportedly offering to pay more for him than they did for Koch?
It’s hard to say really with such limited information available on the Croatian centre-back but stats by WyScout suggest he’s a ball-playing defender as he completed 93.2 per cent of passes he attempted in the league last season.
Gvardiol also averaged 5.93 interceptions and 10.25 recoveries per 90 minutes of league football for Dinamo, which are great numbers considering White averaged 3.84 interceptions and 12.28 recoveries in the Championship.
Leeds clearly have big plans for a player they are bidding a big amount for.
It’s taken us by surprise and clearly it has taken Dinamo by surprise too.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have released two players in their 20s.