Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims Alexander Nubel has agreed a move to join Stuttgart from Bayern Munich on loan – the Leeds United target will join for a fee nearly worth £900k, with no permanent option to buy.
Nubel, 26, has impressed over the last couple of years at Monaco – our opponents on Saturday. Nubel played 97 times for Monaco, 48 of which came last season – keeping 10 clean sheets, letting in 75. Hardly eye-catching stats.
But Leeds and Stuttgart are interested in signing Nubel. German newspaper Bild say Leeds are willing to splash a fee of £8.7m on Nubel, but the front runners were always Stuttgart. Nubel wanted to remain in German football.
Bayern wanted a permanent sale and that gave Leeds hope. But it was always likely to be that Stuttgart would get their man. A loan fee, worth slightly less than £1m, has been agreed. That is according to Plettenberg, on Sunday.
Alexander Nubel agrees Stuttgart move; Leeds target set to join on loan
It was one that always seemed a bit too good to be true. Illan Meslier is likely to go, while Joel Robles has departed. Leeds do need a goalkeeper. Meslier started between the sticks against Nubel’s loan side on Saturday, in York.
But it does not look as though it will be Nubel. He is a goalkeeper worthy of playing in European competition. So, a move to England’s second tier – even if Leeds get promoted – is still far from what Nubel is capable of achieving.
Leeds will now have to look elsewhere. Plenty have been linked with Leeds. The likes of Karl Darlow, Marek Rodak, Viktor Johansson and plenty more. So it will be interesting to see where Leeds turn next – but it will not be Nubel.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
