Leeds United have held talks over the signing of Patrick Erras, although his agent has suggested to BILD that the free agent would prefer to stay with German outfit Nurnburg.
While 2019/20 is shaping up to be a season for the ages at Elland Road, with a 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City putting Leeds on the verge of a long-awaited return to the Premier League, it is fair to say Nurnburg couldn’t wait for the campaign to come to an end.
One of the biggest and most historic clubs in German football finished third from bottom in the 2.Bundesliga table.
And with Leeds offering Erras the chance to swap Nurnburg for West Yorkshire with his contract expiring, you would forgive the 6ft 5ins giant for packing his bags almost immediately (Mail).
Erras has held initial talks not just with Marcelo Bielsa’s league-leaders but also Brentford, Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and a managerless Bristol City.
But, after spending the entirety of his professional career at Nurnburg, a summer departure is far from a foregone conclusion.
Whoever said loyalty was dead in modern football?
“I know that Patrick is extremely attached to the FCN and, despite numerous offers from home and abroad, has never agreed (to move) anywhere,” agent Reinhold Hintermaier explains.
“For a new contract, of course, he also has to feel the trust of the FCN.”
Starting just 14 of Nurnburg’s 34 league games in 2019/20, perhaps a lack of first-team football, rather than a season embroiled in a relegation battle, will convince Erras to walk away from his hometown club.
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