Transfers

‘From what I hear’… Nancy Froston suggests Leeds feel they have a player worth over £30m

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Leeds United reportedly rejected a bid worth £30m from a Premier League club earlier this month and Athletic reporter Nancy Froston has now explained why that offer was turned down.

Plenty of players have already left Leeds on a permanent basis. Diego Llorente is expected to join Charlie Cresswell, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Archie Gray in leaving Elland Road for a fee in the coming hours.

Sam Greenwood and Sonny Perkins have joined Jack Harrison in leaving on loan, while Jamie Shackleton, Liam Cooper, Ian Poveda and Cody Drameh have gone on a free as things stand as their deals expired.

Leeds are financially in a better position after the sale of Gray and no longer need to sell, putting them in a strong place when Premier League clubs call. Brighton bid £30m for Georginio Rutter earlier this month.

Leeds United v Southampton - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Nancy Froston explains decision to reject Georginio Rutter bid

Leeds opted to turn down that offer with the belief that given Leeds spent £35m move to sign him from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in January 2023. A sale of £30m would represent a loss in the eyes of PSR.

Not only that, but having lost Gray, losing another fan favourite moments later would have been a car crash in terms of fan backlash. Now, Athletic reporter Froston has explained why the bid was rejected.

She told the One Leeds Fan Channel that Leeds chose to turn it down simply because they feel he is worth a whole lot more than the fee offered by Brighton, given his importance to Daniel Farke’s side.

“From what I hear that was genuine. They were able to reject, they didn’t feel it was the right price for a player of Rutter’s talents, and his importance to the team. It will be interesting to see how it rumbles on.”

Leeds United v Southampton - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

What kind of figure might tempt Leeds to cash in on Rutter

A thought that no Leeds fan will want to consider. As aforementioned, the sale of Gray ends any need to sell a big player this summer but every player his his price, something which Paraag Marathe suggested.

Leeds will want to keep Rutter and even a moderate profit on the Frenchman should be ignored. Rutter seems happy and his tears at Wembley suggests he has no interest in looking to leave Elland Road.

But should a fee perhaps go north of £40m then there is every chance that Marate and The 49ers take the motion out of an exit as they did with Gray, and choose to sell Rutter but that remains hypothetical.