In a summer transfer window where Leeds United fans have been treated very kindly, news have come from Belgium that Leeds have missed out on one of their priority targets according to Belgian source DH.
In an interview, carried by DH, with Anderlecht’s Herman van Holsbeeck, the Belgian side’s sporting director said that centre-back Bram Nuytinck had chosen Serie A over the Sky Bet Championship.
Vanden Stock said that “Udinese and Leeds wanted him [Nuytinck]“, but it seems that the player chose the move to Italy and Serie A over a move to England and a drop down in tiers of competition to the Sky Bet Championship.
Sporting Director van Holsbeeck said that the deal would bring €3m to Anderlecht for a player who he referred to as “not the most popular among the fans.” Speaking specifically of the teams interested in centre-back Nuytinck, the Anderlecht Sporting Director said: “I received two offers on my desk for him: one from Udinese and one from Leeds United, and finally they found an agreement with the Italians.”
Leeds United’s need for a centre-back has been lamented by Whites fans as the club have seemingly gone on an attacking-only transfer spree that has brought the likes of Ezgjan Alioski, Caleb Ekuban and Samu Saiz to Elland Road.
Underneath all of this though is a very real need for Leeds to bring in a solid centre-back, with Pontus Jansson the only one present at the club who inspires any deal of confidence.
Bram Nuytinck made 44 appearances for Anderlecht across all competitions last season, including the Jupiler Pro League and Europa League, scoring one goal in the league. With him heading to Udinese, it appears that the Whites will have to move on to other targets – with whispers in some quarters saying that Cagliari’s Bartosz Salamon could be a figure of interest for the Whites.
