Leeds United transfer hint as Borussia Monchengladbach confirm big Nico Elvedi decision
Leeds United have identified the Swiss international as a potential summer transfer.
Leeds United transfer target Nico Elvedi is not in the Borussia Monchengladbach squad for today’s pre-season friendly against Aston Villa.
Elvedi has been identified as a potential replacement for Sebastiaan Bornauw, who appears set to leave Elland Road this summer. The YEP understands a move to Hamburg is likely, initially on loan with the German side holding an option to make the deal permanent.
Shortly after news of Bornauw’s potential departure, reports emerged of renewed interest in Elvedi. The Swiss defender had been linked with Leeds in the past, having worked under Daniel Farke during one of his 11 years at Borussia Park.
Leeds reportedly agreed the terms of a three-year contract with Elvedi earlier this week. Monchengladbach are believed to want around £8.5million for the 29-year-old but progress looks to have been made.
Gladbach face Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly this afternoon and upon announcing their starting-XI for the day, confirmed no place for Elvedi. The centre-back, who had featured in previous friendlies including an 8-0 victory away to SSVg Velbert on Wednesday, was not in the matchday squad at all.
Interestingly, the man he could be signed to replace Bornauw was named in the Leeds squad to face Augsburg this afternoon. The Belgian is on Farke’s bench with Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and £34m summer signing Tarik Muharemovic all starting.
Speaking after Wednesday’s penalty-shootout defeat to Manchester United, Farke said of Bornauw: “Of course, every player wants to play all 90 minutes and in each and every game and wants to be the main man. But Seb was so important for us [last season]. I think he had even the best point average for all our players when he was in the starting line-up. He can play different positions during our defensive line.”
“If a player then also has his wish and wants perhaps something different and has behaved so professional like Seb has done, then we also take it into account. We are in very open, honest discussions also with him. But how much I rate him, how much I wanted to sign him one year ago, because we just can't always just sign starters. We need to think about the whole group.
“I think he has proven not just during this pre-season but also during last season how important he can be. I could live very, very good if he stays. Yes, if he is desperate to do something different, and you're just out of respect to him and what he has done so far - because he's always a top professional - we are also of course considering what he wants.
“But let's see what the talks in the next few days will bring. I just can say my valuation of Seb and what he brings to us is very, very high.”