Leeds United are in danger of losing Ilia Gruev this summer with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund interested, but they have just received a boost in their hopes of keeping him.
The 49ers will have to cash in on a few players this summer in order to comply with Financial Fairplay regulations. The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto and others are expected to leave Leeds.
One that could go which has come as a bit of a surprise is Ilia Gruev, given the Bulgaria star only joined Leeds last summer. He arrived at Elland Road for a fee of £4m from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.
Gruev struggled to get into the Leeds side initially, but he was one of a handful of players who came into Daniel Farke’s XI around the January period alongside Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo.
He made an instant impact and even scored in the play-offs, while his presence in midfield allowed Ethan Ampadu to drop into the centre of defence, with the Wales star impressing alongside Joe Rodon.
Leeds receive boost amid Dortmund interest in Ilia Gruev
Reports earlier this month suggested Dortmund were considering a move for set-piece specialist Gruev ahead of the summer window with the German club keen to bring in more midfielders ahead of 2024-25.
No-one could begrudge a move to Dortmund for Gruev if he was keen on a potential move to the West Falon Stadion given Dortmund reached the Champions League final but now, a boost for Farke’s men.
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims Dortmund are actually closing in on Robin Koch’s Euro 2024 teammate Pascal Gross, with the Brighton star impressing over the years in the Premier League.
Indeed, nothing has been agreed but talks are moving along nicely as per Plettenberg, who also reports that Koch’s Frankfurt are also interested in landing the Bulgarian star. Here is what he said, on X:
“Talks between Borussia Dortmund and Pascal Groß and his management are becoming more concrete and are progressing very positively! … but at this stage, no verbal agreement yet. Groß, on the list of
“Dortmund, as revealed a few weeks ago in our show! New price expectation: €7-10 million with one year left on his contract. Frankfurt, also very interested,” Plettenberg reports on his personal account.
Keeping Gruev is crucial as Leeds push for promotion next season
Leeds are inevitably going to lose the likes of Summerville and Gnonto. Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk and Dan James have all been touted with possible exits over the past 12 months at Elland Road as well.
But, the likes of Gruev, Ampadu and other signings made by Farke are in the blueprint in which Farke has set in stone at Elland Road. If Farke is going to get us promoted, keeping his players at Leeds is crucial.
So, Dortmund’s move for Gross is a massive boost for Leeds going in to the summer. It all depends now if Gross is willing to swap the south coast for the Yellow Wall, but you would expect Gross would be keen.