Image for Door wide open for Leeds United target who flirts with transfer by praising Daniel Farke’s side
Image for Door wide open for Leeds United target who flirts with transfer by praising Daniel Farke’s side
Leeds United have been linked with a move to sign left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille this summer, and the Sweden international is well aware of the interest.
Junior Firpo’s and Sam Byram’s contracts at Elland Road officially comes to a conclusion next week and it leaves Leeds without any sort of depth at left-back for next season.
It’s therefore a priority for the club to address the position with a new signing of the right quality to help the Whites stay in the Premier League next season.
The top target at the moment for Leeds to address the left side of their back four is Lille’s Gabriel Gudmundsson, who is out of contract in 12 months’ time and could be available for a reasonable fee.
(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)
Having played in the Champions League last season and recorded historic victories over both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid back-to-back, the Sweden international has been open about his consideration of a transfer.
“There’s a good chance I’ll leave. It will be a very interesting summer,” he said while on Sweden duty earlier in June, via La Voix du Nord.
A new interview with the left-back conducted by Hallandspotsen has opened the door further to a Premier League transfer this summer, something that Gudmundsson has already admitted would be a “dream” of his.
The 26-year-old was asked about his thoughts on links to Elland Road, in which he was surprisingly open about the club.
“I can only say that it is a good team that plays in the Premier League, a league and a country where I also have an ambition to one day play considering that I grew up watching that league. It’s a league that I appreciate very much,” he said.
When quizzed about the timing of a potential deal between Leeds and himself, he stressed that he intends to first enjoy his holiday before addressing his future, while also rubbishing the online ‘rumour’ that he’d been seen at Thorp Arch.
“I can say that much that is not true. I’m on holiday and have spent my two weeks after the national team here at home,” he continued.
“I was very clear with both Lille and my agent that I am focusing on the national team and then I have a holiday. It is very important for me to be able to switch off completely and be able to recharge for the upcoming season.
“There are boxes that I like to check off. First and foremost, you should enjoy yourself, then I think you play your best football. You want to feel prioritised by a club. You also want to feel that there is a lot of competition in the league and that the club has a goal and clarity in what they want.
“That is very important, then the financial stuff comes a bit in second place. It is a lot of fun going forward regardless of what happens, so I am very excited about it.”
These comments are the biggest indication yet that Gudmundsson would be more than happy to move clubs this summer, and Leeds are a club he’s aware of.
Of course, in relaxing on holiday, he’s essentially saying that any agreement won’t be coming in the very near future, but Leeds could ramp up interest in July when pre-season kicks off.
It’s a position that we have to address as quickly as possible, though, because we could be looking at a completely new pair of left-backs that will need time to settle in.