An update has emerged on Leeds target Nahitan Nandez, regarding Cagliari’s plans for the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
Leeds United target Nandez has been promised that Cagliari will work hard to allow him to leave in the January transfer window.
His agent has confirmed that his club’s president is willing to sell him for less than the €36m (£30.8m) release clause Nandez has in his current contract.
He told Calcio Napoli 24, via Sport Witness:
“Cagliari? Giulini has promised the player and me to do everything possible so that he leaves in the January market.
“Nandez wants to win something; he wants to play in the Champions League. The president has given us his word, Nandez has been the most expensive player in Cagliari’s history, but we know the crisis there has been.
“Goodbye on loan or outright? I think he will sell him at a lower price than the one requested, there is a 36 million clause, but the president spoke yesterday with Nandez and told him that he will lower the price and let him leave.”
Should Leeds sign Nandez?
Yes
No
Bielsa would love him
Leeds chief Victor Orta must sanction a January deal for Nandez following this update from the player’s agent, as it means the Whites could pick up a potential bargain.
Cagliari are seemingly desperate to cash in on the Uruguay international, hence their willingness to sell him for less than £30.8m, and Leeds could look to take advantage of the situation.
Orta reportedly chased a swoop for Nandez in the summer window, indicating that he feels the midfielder could be a useful addition to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad. The Leeds head coach would love to have him as an option in the middle of the park, based on his form last term in the Serie A.
Nandez averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.80 across 32 appearances – making 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game. This shows that he can perform consistently whilst putting himself about in midfield at the top level, although there is no guarantee that he can translate that over to the Premier League.
Serie A expert Conor Clancy hailed Nandez earlier this year, claiming he could play anywhere. He told This Is Futbol:
“Anywhere Bielsa wants to play him, he’d do a job. I like him a lot. I think he’s only about five foot seven, but you wouldn’t know it if you just watched clips of him, he is a little bit of a machine. He’s so powerful but at the same time, has really, really good ball control.”
Therefore, Bielsa would love the £42k-per-week beast as he, according to Clancy, has the physical attributes to thrive in a pressing, high intensity, system whilst also offering versatility positionally. This means that Bielsa could play him in a myriad of roles and fill several gaps by utilising Nandez’s flexibility, which he would surely be delighted with.
Orta must now look to persuade Nandez to arrive at Elland Road ahead of other interested clubs. Whilst his agent has outlined that he wants to play in the Champions League, Leeds could attempt to convince him – whether they believe it or not – that they can qualify for Europe’s premier competition in the coming years.
AND in other news, Forget Llorente: Leeds beast with 96 touches was Bielsa’s unsung hero vs Watford…