When it emerged that Leeds United were looking into signing a player reportedly valued at around £17 million, it should have been obvious from the get-go that this was a target with Premier League football in mind.
As Daniel Farke explained ahead of Monday’s clash with Sunderland at Elland Road, Leeds must draw up plans for two different scenarios.
‘You have to wait’, Farke says, ‘until the money of the Premier League is guaranteed’ before committing yourself to any big-money transfers or eye-watering contract renewals.
Yes, we are looking at you, £60,000-a-week Junior Firpo.
And while promotion looks a very safe bet at this stage, Leeds United know all too well that nothing is ever over until the Fat Lady sings. The table-toppers cannot with any great authority pursue players ‘normally too expensive for the Championship’ until their fate is secured.
So while those Eduard Spertsyan reports emerged in January, suggestions that Krasnodar wanted a fee in the region of 20 million euros meant that this always felt like a deal that would be kept on the backburner until Leeds officially exercise the ghosts of last year’s play-off heartbreak.
Leeds United given Eduard Spertsyan discount by Krasnodar
Reporter Ben Jacobs now claims that Leeds have ‘made an initial approach’ for Eduard Spertsyan ahead of the summer window.
The talks are far from advanced at this stage, but The Whites are allegedly convinced that the 24-year-old Armenia international has the talented to thrive ‘at the highest level’.
Or, another way of putting it, the Premier League.
Spertsyan has been labelled ‘one of the best midfielders in Europe’ by a former Krasnodar coach, en route to finishing the 2022/23 campaign with 14 goals and 14 assists apiece. Spertsyan confirmed approaches from Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Ajax recently too, alongside Girona and RC Lens.
New reports coming out of Russia, however, suggest that the actual price-tag is much lower than had previously been alleged.
Rather than hold out for £17 million, Championat claim that Krasnodar would accept an offer in the region of just £10 million from Leeds should they step up their interest in a player Daniel Farke worked with briefly back in 2022.
Krasnodar willing to accept Leeds offer for Russian Premier League ace
“The clubs remain in touch regarding a possible transfer of the midfielder in the summer,” a source close to the situation tells Championat. “The deal will depend on several factors.
“First of all, on whether the English club will enter the Premier League. Krasnodar will be ready to accept Leeds’ offer in the summer if they successfully enter the Premier League.”
In an era of mega-money transfers, £10 million for a midfielder who has hit double figures in each of the last two full seasons – as well as being named the best player in his position in Russian football in both 2023 and 2024 – feels like a rare example of terrific value.
This week, Spertsyan left the door ajar to a future move to Leeds United. All the while confirming that he plans to leave Russia having spent the entirety of his career so far in Krasnodar.
“Why not?,” Spertsyan said when asked if he would consider a move to West Yorkshire. “They will most likely get into the Premier League.
“Yes, I want to leave.
“For PSG, my agent was in Paris. She had some communication about me, and that’s it. There was interest and communication from Juventus. Girona approached Krasnodar with an offer in the summer. I was ready to go to Lens too.
“But, to be honest, their gave Krasnodar less for me than Ajax gave the year before.”
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