It should become clear in the next week whether or not Leeds are willing to pay Nahitan Nandez’s release clause, according to a report from Italian newspaper La Nuova Sardegna (via Sport Witness).
The lowdown
The 25-year-old midfielder made 34 appearances in all competitions for Cagliari last season, averaging 1.8 tackles, 1.5 clearances, 1.2 dribbles and one key pass per Serie A match (via WhoScored).
A couple of months ago, Italian football expert Mina Rzouki hailed Nandez as ‘one of the most underrated players’ in the league after a string of ‘amazing’ performances.
The midfielder was called up by Uruguay for the Copa America, but only made one appearance at the tournament prior to their quarter-final exit.
The latest
La Nuova Sardegna stated (via Sport Witness) that Leeds are an option for Nandez, but a ‘decisive’ period awaits ahead of his return to Italy for pre-season training. Cagliari, who finished 16th in Serie A last season, are waiting to see if they will need to recruit a new midfielder to replace him.
His release clause stands at €36m (£30.8m), which would break Leeds’ transfer record if they agree to meet it.
The verdict
Nandez appears to be an exceptionally well-rounded midfielder who could make a big impact at Leeds, but the price tag is a little prohibitive.
Marcelo Bielsa could do with more competition in the middle of the park, as demonstrated by the drop-off in Mateusz Klich’s form during the middle of last season, but does that really demand a record outlay?
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Perhaps a club like Cagliari who only narrowly staved off relegation would be willing to negotiate if it still meant a major influx of cash, so maybe Leeds could try to negotiate a more cost-effective deal for Nandez if they are determined to sign him.
In other news, this Leeds ace has been earmarked for a lengthy Elland Road stay.