TBR View: Leeds United should look to former target Ivan Sunjic as final transfer business

Add as preferred source on Google

The transfer window is not quite shut yet for Leeds United, with the West Yorkshire side still able to pry away players from the Football League to continue what has been an impressive window regarding recruitment. 

Recent rumours have seen Leeds linked with the likes of Todd Cantwell and Louie Sibley of Norwich City and Derby County respectively. 

Leeds are clearly on the hunt for a versatile central midfield option, as was seen in the failed attempt to sign Michael Cuisance from Bayern Munich.

With the window drawing ever nearer to slamming shut, any deal looks likely to go down to the wire, but should Leeds instead turn their attention to a former target currently playing under an old pal of Leeds director of football Victor Orta. 

Ivan Sunjic has been consistently putting in excellent performances in the Championship with Birmingham City ever since the former Croatia under-21 captain arrived at St Andrew’s in 2019.

But it could have been so different. 

Leeds were also very keen on the 24-year-old midfielder. 

Interest in the former Dinamo Zagreb player originally emanated from the Daily Mail. It was then reported in Croatia with Sportske Novosti suggesting that Leeds had entered a £3.5 million bid for the player. 

The report claimed Leeds would have to nearly double that offer to make a deal happen which, considering Leeds’ tight purse strings last summer, made a move unlikely.

Then Birmingham swept in. Former Leeds assistant Pep Clotet lured Sunjic to the Midlands in a reported (BBC) £6.3 million deal and he has been a regular ever since. 

So why don’t Leeds rekindle that interest?

Sunjic would provide cover in the roles Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich currently occupy for Leeds, perhaps taking over from the injury-prone Adam Forshaw in that respect. 

Sunjic is currently playing under Aitor Karanka at the Championship club, someone Orta has a  previous working relationship with which could further aid in greasing the wheels of a potential deal. 

The Croatian has started the new season in fine form and his stamina and passing prowess would make him a perfect option for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, at what would surely be a reasonable price. 

Leeds might want to take a look at this former target as the last piece of the puzzle in this transfer window.