Leeds United’s £13 million bid for Sheffield United star Gustavo Hamer is hopefully a sign of the club’s ambition during the remaining days of the transfer window.
The Whites are said to have seen an opening offer turned down by their Championship counterparts, who will clearly be keen to avoid selling one of their best players to a divisional rival.
Hamer was someone Leeds actually targeted 12 months ago when he was still at Coventry City, though he opted for a move to the Blades with them in the Premier League at the time.
Midfield is one of three positions Leeds are still looking to strengthen before Friday’s deadline, with a new full-back and attacker also on the radar.
A deal for Manor Solomon had looked like it was tied up after a medical on Saturday, but the longer it takes for it to be finalised, the more doubt there is it gets over the line.
Whether Leeds will bid again for Hamer
Leeds have raised the most amount of cash through player sales across the whole of Europe this summer, and so clearly have money to spend.
This £13 million offer is hopefully a show of intent of what could be to come, but it was always likely to be rejected, considering Sheffield United paid £15 million for him last summer.
Hamer is the exact number eight profile Daniel Farke is keen to bring in, as he would offer both experience and goal threat, having netted two already this season.
Leeds fans will be desperate for this deal to get done but according to BBC journalist Adam Pope, it appears as though it is a saga over before it is even started.
Pope wrote on his Twitter account last night that he has been told Leeds are ‘unlikely’ to make a second offer, which is probably a surprise to no one in truth.
Leeds are likely to have to get much closer to the £20 million mark for Sheffield United to even consider selling him this summer.
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Leeds bid for Hamer seemingly pointless
This news certainly poses the question as to what the point was of making this bid, as never in a million years would the Blades let him go for that price.
This time a year ago, Leeds made a late £10 million bid for Celtic’s Matt O’Riley but did not return again, and this Hamer interest has all the hallmarks of a repeat scenario.
Perhaps Leeds feel by bidding it could unsettle Hamer and make him push for a move away, but even then, it just feels like a strange thing to do.
With all that said, hopefully this is one that Leeds persist with but it would be a surprise if Pope is wrong.
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