Player who rejected Leeds could be set to change mind, Whites only club who’ve bidded – report
Leeds United have been rejected by Dinamo Zagreb defender Josko Gvardiol despite being the only team to table a “concrete” offer for him, according to Index HR.
The Croatian broadcaster reports on their website that the 18-year-old has “refused” to join the Whites but Dinamo’s exit from the Champions League could force him to pull a U-turn on that decision.
Index HR adds that Leeds’ offer of around £18million is the only offer Dinamo have received for Gvardiol, which contradicts several reports that say RB Leipzig have also submitted a bid for the Croatia Under-21 international.
Gvardiol had every right to try and help Dinamo progress to the Champions League group stages but the Croatian giants have dropped into the Europa League after their defeat to Ferencvaros in Budapest earlier this week.
However, are Leeds going to want a player who has rejected them already in this transfer window?
If they really do want Gvardiol, it won’t matter. But the signs we’ve been getting from Phil Hay suggest that the Whites are still on the fence about whether or not to sign the Croatian defender.
According to The Athletic journalist in his latest podcast, Leeds “haven’t given up” on Gvardiol but they are still “toying with the idea” of spending so much money on him.
Gvardiol is quite an unproven player in terms of his senior experience but Victor Orta and his scouts must have seen something special in him to pursue him so much and reportedly table a bid.
We’ll see where this interest goes but Dinamo’s exit from the Champions League certainly changes the landscape.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are in talks to sign this French midfielder.