Borussia Dortmund, the Champions League finalists, are now looking to sign a Leeds United player this summer.
Dortmund, like Leeds six days before, were defeated 2-0 at Wembley Stadium by Real Madrid, putting an end to their goal of collecting European football’s biggest prize.
Leeds, meanwhile, fell 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final, relegating them to a second consecutive season in the Championship.
Leeds know they will have to sell some key players this summer in order to comply with the EFL’s PSR limits after failing to recover at the first attempt.
Having said that, Paraag Marathe has pledged that finances will be accessible, and Red Bull’s lucrative sponsorship contract should minimize the amount Leeds needs to sell.
Borussia Dortmund is considering a surprise bid for Leeds’ Gruev.
Leeds had one of the youngest squads in the Championship last season, so the level of interest is unsurprising.
A lot of it has come from some of Europe’s top clubs, with Crysencio Summerville attracting interest from Liverpool and Chelsea. Bayern Munich also likes Archie Gray.
But, in an unexpected change of events, according to Sky in Germany, midfielder Ilia Gruev is garnering interest from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Gruev, of course, arrived from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in August, and Dortmund is allegedly interested in bringing him back after just one season.
Dortmund had scouts in attendance for Leeds’ play-off final against the Saints, but they are not the only Bundesliga club interested in his services.
Gruev is still under contract for another three years, and the club is thought to want to keep him, but will consider offers if they reach a ‘specific sum’.
Leeds may make a fast Gruev profit.
Few people would have imagined Gruev to be the subject of high-level interest after just one season, but it could be a terrific opportunity to make a quick profit.
Leeds invested roughly £5 million to get him to Elland Road, and with the number of clubs reportedly interested, as well as the quality of his performances since January, they might easily double that.
If they could secure a charge of £10 million or more, it would be beneficial to Leeds’ compliance with PSR while also providing enough funds to find a suitable replacement.
They should then look for a midfielder who can score goals, given none of Leeds’ choices have done so during the regular season. Ethan Ampadu may then move back to midfield.
