Back in 2020 under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United made a bid for Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas and now – the North Macedonia star is set to join RB Leipzig for a huge fee of £22million.
Elmas, 24, has been a key part of Napoli’s growth over the last four years – joining the Serie A side back in 2019. He has since played 189 games, and was a crucial cog in their incredible title-winning season.
But this season, he has found himself a bit of a back-up option – a rotational player. He’s started just four of 16 games for Napoli. Gjanni Alioski’s teammate is now set for a move to Leipzig, costing £22m.
In the summer after our promotion-winning campaign, it was claimed that Leeds made a bid for the midfielder – as per Italian journalist Ciro Venerato. It was rejected as he continued to break in at Napoli.
He has been linked with Leeds since, too. Now, Fabrizio Romano reports that a fee and personal terms have been agreed between Napoli, Elmas and Leipzig over a deal worth almost £22m for the midfielder.
Leeds bid for Eljif Elmas in 2020; Now set for RB Leipzig move
Elmas is a top talent and certainly deserves a move to a side like Leipzig. Had he joined Leeds, it would have seen us potentially replace the midfield creativity lost in Pablo Hernandez, as he began to die off.
A player that already boasts 52 international caps at his young age. He is going to be in and around the Champions League level for at least the next five or six years. Leeds missed a real opportunity in him.
Right now, Leeds lack that kind of attacking midfielder. Joel Piroe is impressing but the Whites clearly felt they needed more in the summer – having bid for Matt O’Riley, Nadiem Amiri and Kenny McLean.
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