Albeit a bit late, Leeds United have definitely commenced their summer business now. Following the arrival of midfielder Mateusz Klich from Dutch side FC Twente and goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, numerous reports are now claiming that Leeds are extremely close to landing La Liga2 midfielder Samu Saiz.
The Whites have been hot on his heels over the past few weeks with an agreement almost reached between the sides as well. But, reportedly, the player hasn’t got any clear indication concerning the deal getting finalised and his previous club, Atletico Madrid’s, intricate economic rights on him have further delayed it.
The player, amidst all this, has decided to go on a break in Miami leaving Leeds with much negotiations to do and shove off other suitors who have been keeping tabs on him. Spanish news outlet AS has claimed that the Spanish side Huesca are still considering offers from various clubs for the player, which means Leeds could be in grave danger of missing out on him.
Saiz has played a year for Atletico’s B side before Huesca bought him in 2015 and the terms of the contract then included a clause which entitles the Rojo Blancos to retain economic rights on the player that allows them to acquire half of Saiz’s transfer fee, provided the sum rises above a certain level.
Huesca has asked a fee in the region of £3 million, and Leeds United offering £3.5 million for the 26-year-old had made both the sides optimistic. However, the player has garnered a lot of interests from other clubs with La Liga side Eibar being a prime one, apart from Leeds. Their sale of defender Florian Lejeune to Premier League side Newcastle United has fetched them sufficient funds to go for the highly-rated midfielder.
However, his recent activities on Instagram indicate that the move is inclined towards Yorkshire. The player was found liking a mocked up FIFA Ultimate Team card that had Leeds as his club.
Saiz had played a huge role in leading Huesca to the playoffs the last term before they lost to Getafe. He has been instrumental scoring 12 goals from midfield and assisting eight times in 40 league appearances. In the playoffs too, he had managed an assist.
An academy product of Real Madrid, Saiz could never really reach the heights he was touted to. He broke into the Real Madrid C team back in 2010, when he was loaned off to second-tier side Sevilla Atlético. He was given a chance with the Real Madrid Castilla group before he was discarded to UD Melilla.
Saiz has never really made it to the top-flight since then, with the big season with Huesca being his first breakthrough last term. A move to Leeds would be huge, but a move up to La Liga isn’t any less alluring.
