Steinsson is set to get a transfer from Leeds over the line to sign the 26-year-old
Having failed in their first bid, Leeds United boss Gretar Steinsson is now reportedly on his way to securing a deal to sign Daniel Farke's midfield reinforcements.
Leeds transfer news
The loss of Glen Kamara is undoubtedly a blow to Farke and his team, prompting Leeds to urgently seek another midfielder. The former Rangers man switched Elland Road to French side Stade Rennais following the Whites' failure to gain promotion to the Championship last week. And he's not the only one left with heartbreak, as academy graduate Archie Gray has also joined Tottenham Hotspur in a big-money move.
Furthermore, Wilfried Gnonto could follow the aforementioned duo out the door in another major blow, with Everton having recently been linked with the Leeds winger's signing. But amid Gnonto's possible exit, there could finally be another arrival at Elland Road in the form of Kamara's replacement.
According to MOT Forum, Leeds boss Steinsson has now traveled to Germany to secure Dejan Ljubicic's deal for the line-up. This follows reports that the Whites submitted a €4m (£3.4m) bid to sign the player wanted by FC Koln, only to see that offer rejected by the German second division club.
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Despite being relegated from the Bundesliga, Ljubicic excelled in Koln and has reportedly opted out of signing a new contract in the summer. Whether that leads to a move to Leeds remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that they need to replace Kamara before the Championship campaign begins next month, and Ljucibic appears to be a strong candidate for that.
“Good” Ljubicic is ready for the Championship
Amidst the chaos of the Scouting promotion battle, Ljunbicic could add a lot of calm to the heart of the Leeds midfield in place of Kamara. The 26-year-old recently received praise from new Koln manager Gerhard Struber, who told the German club's website: “Dejan is a player who has done well for FC in recent years and he can help us very, very well on the way back to the Bundesliga. Good. Very good. The overall package is special. I am very happy with him.”
Alas, the new manager could be saying goodbye to one of his best players right away for the benefit of those at Elland Road, who could form a wonderful partnership between Ljubicic and Ethan Ampadu.
|
League stats P90 23/24 (via FBref) |
Dejan Ljubicic |
Ethan Ampadu |
|---|---|---|
|
Progressive Caries |
1.80 |
1.20 |
|
Continuous passes |
3.68 |
5.15 |
|
Priority Passes |
1.23 |
0.78 |
|
Football Discovery |
4.91 |
6.93 |
A more attacking midfielder than Ampadu, the Croatian, on paper, would be an ideal partner for Wales, whose work to cover and close the ball remains vital at Elland Road. Adding balance with Ljubicic will increase his influence and perhaps eventually unlock promotion to the Championship and Premier League football again in Yorkshire.
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