Leeds United’s pursuit of Hoffenheim winger Steven Zuber has come to an end, after it was agreed that he will join German side VfB Stuttgart on loan for the rest of the season.
Switzerland international winger Steven Zuber has joined Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart on loan for the rest of the season. Championship side Leeds United were keen to bring the Hoffenheim man in, but he has instead opted to remain in Germany.
Hoffenheim announced that the deal had been completed on Wednesday morning:
❗️
Die #TSG leiht Steven #Zuber bis zum Ende der laufenden Saison an den @VfB Stuttgart aus. Eine darüber hinaus gehende Option wurde nicht vereinbart. Der 27 Jahre alte Mittelfeldspieler hat bei "Hoffe" einen noch bis 2020 datierten Vertrag.
🗞️ https://t.co/SguUM2VGc2 pic.twitter.com/rPi21FLVVA
— TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) January 9, 2019
Leeds have been linked with many names in the run up to and throughout the January transfer window, but it seemed that their interest in Zuber was genuine. Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay tweeted that The Whites had watched Zuber play for a while, saying:
the Steven Zuber link is genuine and Leeds have watched him for a while so that could be done. Hoffenheim aren’t making much use of him. But he won’t be the only midfielder they’re looking at.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 4, 2019
Marcelo Bielsa has made no secret of the fact that Leeds United are in the market for a new winger this January, after Samu Saiz agreed a loan switch to Getafe. He most recently told Leeds Live that he was looking for a winger and a new ‘keeper. The Argentine said:
“And I couldn’t tell you if actually there’s a player who will come or not. If the club can get players who are better than the ones we have to come and in the position where we suffered some injuries, for example Samu Saiz left, Pablo now plays as a playmaker and we need a winger.
“The injury of Jamal Blackman has not been covered by another player. These are the two positions that were solved at the start of the competition and now we’re trying to find another one.
“We can also say that at the beginning of the season Jack Clarke was not a possibility, but now he is.
“If players come, it will be better. And if nobody comes we will finish the season with the players we have and we trust all of the players we have.
“From what I know the position of the club is that if we bring a player in, it must improve the club.”
Zuber would’ve provided some much desired versatility for Bielsa. The Swiss international plays left-wing mainly, but can also play at left-back if needs be. However, with Zuber joining Stuttgart, Bielsa will have to look elsewhere for a new winger.
