According to the latest reports from the Daily Mail, Leeds United have launched a bid to sign Dinamo Zagreb’s talented midfielder Ivan Sunjic. Birmingham City have already put in an offer of £3.5m for this Croatian u-21 captain. It is reported that the Whites have bookmarked Sunjic amid concerns about losing Kalvin Phillips to Aston Villa. The Whites are holding on to their prized asset for a price of £30m. It remains to be seen whether the Villans will match that valuation in the future or not.
Coming to Sunjic, the 21-year-old is being touted as the heir to Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric in his homeland. Dinamo Zagreb have produced some top talents in the past few years, and the Whites would hope that Sunjic can do a job for them if they go on to lose Phillips in this window.
United are reluctant to lose Phillips, but £30m could be difficult to ignore. It is reported that Villa have offered £20m to Leeds United as of now. We think that the Whites will likely hold on to him until they get their full price of £30m.
Can Sunjic act as a replacement for Phillips?
Defensive midfielders often play a role of midfield disruptor by shielding the back four and trying to make interceptions and tackles to stop the opponent attack from developing. Phillips used to do all that but what set him apart was his on the ball qualities. Phillips is currently as crucial to Leeds United as Sergio Busquets was for Barcelona in his prime.
Sunjic though is known to have similar on the ball qualities as he is calm and composed in the possession and can orchestrate play from the back. The 21-year-old can comfortably play in an advanced role as well in midfield. He has also got the experience of playing in Champions League qualifiers and the Europa League. Italian heavyweights Inter Milan are also reportedly interested in Sunjic, so one thing for sure is that the young midfielder has the talent to replace Phillips.
Concerns over Sunjic
However, the Whites will be playing with fire if they allow Phillips to go in this window. Sunjic seems like a top addition, but the player might take some time to settle in at the club. It is never easy to start hitting the ground straightaway in a new country and a new league. The intensity and the numbers of games of the Championship can cause a bit of trouble to Sunjic.
Given Phillips’ importance, even £30m seems less to us, but one cannot blame the club if they decide to cash in on him for that sum. As for Sunjic, he definitely has the potential to be his replacement, and it all comes down to how he would respond to a new challenge in a new country.
