Phil Hay has told The Square Ball podcast that a number of big European clubs still “fancy” Leeds United attacker Georginio Rutter – having tried to convince him to join them over Leeds back in January.
Rutter, 21, has starred for Leeds this season. He is starting to show a bit of consistency in a Leeds shirt, after struggling in his first six months at Elland Road. He has learnt the language, building relationships.
He has had a hand in three goals in five Championship outings so far, two of which came on Sunday – a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Millwall. He is finally starting to show why Leeds spent big money.
But of course, he has had interest too. Lyon and Dortmund in the summer. Sky Sports said Dortmund made a £25m bid – while were just supposedly interested. Hay says big clubs would still take him now.
“The criticism of that signing wasn’t over Rutter per se, it was over that given what he contributed in that second half of the season from the end of the transfer window onwards, it wasn’t right,” Hay said.
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“I don’t think that’s the same as saying Rutter isn’t a good player or a talented player. There are bigger clubs in Europe who would’ve taken him and do fancy him,” Hay continued, on The Square Ball podcast.
Phil Hay: Big clubs still fancy Leeds attacker Georginio Rutter
While he is proving why Leeds and Victor Orta signed him – he is still some way off repaying the £35m club-record fee Leeds have in place with Hoffenheim. He was still the wrong man to sign in January.
Why on Earth, Victor Orta thought signing Rutter would make sense in the midst of a relegation battle remains dumbfounding. But, there is no doubting Rutter is a talent and he may come good this term.