Leeds United submit £25.2m bid to sign Martin Baturina, Dinamo Zagreb accept offer
Leeds United have submitted a bid worth just under £25.2million to sign Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Martin Baturina, according to Sportske Novosti.
The Croatian news outlet reported via their website on 30 August that Leeds’ bid was accepted by Dinamo. However, it is understood that the 21-year-old has rejected the chance to move to Elland Road.
It is understood that now-Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol did similar to Leeds a few years ago because he didn’t think West Yorkshire was the best place for him to develop.
Sportske adds that Baturina is now more likely to join Fiorentina after Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported that negotiations are underway for the Serie A side.
Leeds United reportedly bid Championship record fee for Martin Baturina
Leeds have apparently offered £25million for Baturina – but we’re not buying it for one second.
There’s no way that at this late stage of the summer transfer window are the Whites even considering offering up that much money.
Sportske Novosti does say that the deal won’t happen because Baturina has rejected the offer from Leeds. However, it feels like this story is something that could have been concocted by an agent to help grease the wheels on that deal with Fiorentina.
Leeds look as though they’re going to sign Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf and Isaac Schmidt from St Gallen.
However, away from the Japanese central midfielder and the Swiss full-back, Leeds do need someone in the mould of Baturina – a top-quality number 10.
At the age of 21, the Split-born ace has already been capped four times by Croatia and has won four Croatian league titles with Dinamo.
Last season, he scored eight goals and supplied nine assists in 51 appearances across all competitions.
Leeds could do with someone like him but as a Championship club, it’s not going to happen.
Maybe if the Whites are in the Premier League this time next year, they’ll stand a chance.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are starting to see this transfer bid fail on Deadline Day.
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