According to Graeme Bailey, Leeds United will “going back in” with another bid for FC Koln midfielder Dejan Ljubicic before the transfer window closes.
On August 1, the writer told Leeds United News that the Whites are still keen on bringing Austrian international Ljubicic to Elland Road this summer.
Daniel Farke’s side has already had a £3.4 million proposal for Ljubicic rejected by Koln [Nancy Froston, 25 July], and they are apparently preparing another offer to press the recently relegated Bundesliga club’s hand.
Bailey commented on the Whites’ interest in Ljubicic: “They really like this youngster from Cologne.
“Yes, they are going back in for him.”
Leeds United must increase the heat in the Dejan Ljubicic transfer war.
Spending more than £3.4 million, and potentially as much as £5 million, on a midfielder whose team has just been demoted to Germany’s second division may not appear to be the best of moves.
However, with the Whites expected to collect a final fee north of £30 million – starting at £25 million [West Ham Football, 31 July] – for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham, the moment has come to act and go all guns blazing on the transfer front.
While Farke, like his promotion-winning predecessor Marcelo Bielsa, appeared to prefer a small squad last season, he must act on his interest in Ljubicic with finances that will shortly be transferred to LS11.
A replacement – or two, given his output last season – for Summerville must be prioritized, but adding other players in areas he believes require reinforcement, such as midfield, may be equally crucial.
While the departures of Glen Kamara and Summerville will leave openings to fill, the fact that the transfer window is late does not give the Whites enough time to act and avoid being kept hostage by Koln as the days pass.
