A report from Italy claims that Leeds United have set the asking price for defender Leo Hjelde at a bargain £1.75m with Serie A side Salernitana eyeing a move for the Norwegian – and selling him for such a bargain fee is a mistake.
Hjelde, 19, is back at Leeds this summer after spending the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Rotherham United. He impressed with The Millers, and now, has a chance of breaking into the Leeds United XI.
He started against Manchester United in Oslo and with the ‘wheels in motion’ as Leeds look to offload Junior Firpo – Hjelde is the next-best left-back option. Pascal Struijk and Max Wober can play there, but are better in the middle.
However, Hjelde may also decide to leave. Salernitana want to take him to Italian football and a report from Tutto Salernitana claims Leeds have informed the Serie A side that a fee of £1.75m is required to sign Hjelde this summer.
Leeds bargain asking price for Hjelde is a mistake as Salernitana circle
It would be a mistake to wave goodbye to Hjelde this summer at all, let alone at such a tiny figure. The Norway U21 man is in a position where Leeds need bodies – and he has shown that he is good enough in England’s second tier.
Of course, Leeds will feel they can bring in a better option than Hjelde on the left. But Leeds will need cover for the replacement for Firpo and Hjelde is the perfect man for that job. Promotion to second choice should tempt him.
Allowing him to go for less than £2m is ridiculous. A player that is a regular with his nation’s U21 side, a player with games for Celtic and Leeds and still only 19 – £1.75m is way too cheap. The 49ers would be making a mistake.
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