Gvardiol to Leeds: Huge development after fee agreed - Sources

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Published on:

21 Sep 2020, 1:20 am

Leeds United are set to miss out on Josko Gvardiol despite agreeing an £18m fee with Dinamo Zagreb, Football Insider has learned.

The defender, 18, has agreed personal terms with RB Leipzig and is set to put pen to paper this week on a transfer.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that both Leeds and Leipzig have had bids accepted by Dinamo for Gvardiol.

The player has been free to discuss personal terms with both clubs and has now accepted the offer on the table from the German big hitters.

That means Leeds are set to miss out on one of their prime summer targets and following what have been extensive negotiations.

The Croatia Under-21 international has been targeted by Marcelo Bielsa as a young defender with the potential to develop into a bona fide star.

The United manager has earmarked the youngster to provide cover and competition at centre-back as well as an option to fill in at left-back.

Leeds had hoped Gvardiol could become their third major new signing this summer following Koch and striker Rodrigo Moreno.

United have also signed Jack Harrison on a third consecutive loan and converted the 2019-20 loans of Helder Costa and Illan Meslier into permanent transfers.

Leeds are not set to turn to alternative targets to bolster a defence that has conceded seven goals in their opening two Premier League matches.

United were beaten 4-3 by Liverpool on their opening day before a 4-3 triumph of their own against Fulham on Saturday.

In other news, Leeds United have tabled a fresh bid for Brighton centre-back.

Leeds United