Phil Hay reacts as Victor Orta spotted in Munich amid Leeds United transfer talks
Phil Hay feels the image of Victor Orta at Munich Airport this week was legitimate with Leeds United reportedly bidding to sign Red Bull Salzburg star Brenden Aaronson.
On Wednesday night [19 January], Leeds fan Reehan Gulamhussein shared an image of himself with Leeds’ director of football, who suggested to him that he was in Munich for a business trip.
It’s common for British citizens to fly to Munich before either driving or getting a train to Salzburg, which is less than 100 miles away.
Leeds are widely reported to be bidding for Aaronson with The Athletic reporting late last night [10:38pm, 20 January] that after a £15million opening bid was turned down, the Whites are readying a new offer worth £20millon.
When asked if the image of Orta is authentic, Hay said on the Phil Hay Show podcast: “It is Orta in Munich Airport, you can see that. What he’s been out there for, I can’t tell you.
“I think you can probably add two and two together and assume that [Aaronson] has been on the agenda as that’s the one bid they have in at the moment.”
You can’t avoid Leeds fans
Orta must have been fairly surprised to have jetted out to Munich and get spotted by a Leeds fan who wanted to take a selfie with him.
Orta looked really happy in the image, so you can assume that he was in a good mood after presumably holding talks over signing USA midfielder Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg.
Leeds really need to bolster their midfield options this month and Aaronson, 21, will not only do that, but also offer Marcelo Bielsa and the club an option going forward due to his tender age.
Aaronson’s impressed in the Austrian Bundesliga and in the Champions League, helping Salzburg to set up a last-16 showdown with, ironically, Bayern Munich next month.
The Athletic reports that Salzburg are digging in their heels over selling Aaronson – but that’s the mark of a good player and you don’t really want to sign players who clubs are willing to sell.
While it’s promising that Orta was in that part of the world for, what we guess, talks with Salzburg, it doesn’t mean a deal will get done.
If it doesn’t, we’re not sure where the Whites will turn next.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds have been told to pay over £6million to sign a “terrific” player who’s been tipped to move on.