Josip Vukovic has got to pick a move to Leeds over Aston Villa this summer

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Leeds United are reportedly rivalling a whole host of Premier League sides for the signature of Maritimo midfielder Josip Vukovic including Aston Villa and Southampton – but the Croat has got to pick Elland Road.

TalkSPORT have claimed that 27-year-old Vukovic is being eyed by Leeds, Villa and Southampton, while the former Croatia youth international has also been scouted by another handful of Premier League clubs.

Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester and Watford have scouted the midfielder. Vukovic is also said to have turned down offers from Lille, Benfica and an unnamed Russian side – as he wants a move to England.

It seems as though Vukovic has three sides to pick from in England – in Villa, Leeds and Southampton. But Villa are highly unlikely to bring in another holding midfielder this summer.

That is because the club have brought in Douglas Luiz from Manchester City, before announcing the capture of Marvelous Nakamba from Club Brugge on Thursday. They are well stocked in holding midfield.

Despite Vukovic’s bargain price tag of £1.5million, Villa simply do not need the Croat. Similarly, at Southampton, the Saints boast the likes of Oriol Romeu, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mario Lemina.

Even if both sides did look to bring in Vukovic for cover, it would see the Croat struggle for game time and at 27 years of age, he needs regular football to further his career and remain at the top level as he enters his thirties.

But at Leeds, Vukovic is a player that Marcelo Bielsa has to incorporate into his starting line-up. He would get much more game time at Elland Road, than he would in the Premier League.