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‘He stays’: Manager comments following £8.5m West Brom and Leeds links

Marcelo Bielsa Manager (Ben Early/Getty Images)
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Championship rivals Leeds United and West Brom both reportedly wanted Dinamo Zagreb’s Mislav Orsic but Bilic and Bielsa have other ideas now.

Dinamo Zagreb's Croatian midfielder Mislav Orsic celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League group D football match Spartak Trnava v Dinamo Zagreb in Trnava, Slovakia on October 25,...

Dinamo Zagreb coach Nenad Bjelica claims that Mislav Orsic is set to stay in Croatia beyond Friday’s transfer deadline, according to Sportske Novosti, with West Brom and Leeds United set to miss out on the £8.5 million-rated forward.

With 19 goals in 26 games, plus a Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta under his belt, it’s fair to say the 2019/20 season has been the making of this explosive attacker.

And, just a few days ago, it felt like only a matter of time before Orsic arrived in England with the Championship’s two two jostling for his signature, according to Sportske Novosti.

West Brom were expected to return with a third bid for the 27-year-old, who also found himself in the sights of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds.

But things have changed fast, leaving Orsic stuck in Zagreb for the time being. West Brom are set to follow up the signing of Callum Robinson with Hull City’s Kamil Grosicki, while Leeds ended their prolonged striker search by landing the talented RB Leipzig forward Jean-Kevin Augustin.

And Dinamo Zagreb have now confirmed that Orsic is sticking put.

Mislav Orsic of Dinamo Zagreb is challenged by Remo Freuler of Atalanta BC during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on...

“Mislav Orsic will not go to England, he stays with us,” said a clearly relieved Bjelica, who had already lost Spain international Dani Olmo to Leipzig.

“This is what the club says. I also met Orsic’s agent and he told me that there would certainly be none of that (a late-window switch).”

Orsic is now training with the rest of Dinamo’s first team with the forward set to feature in Saturday’s Croatian league clash against Slaven Belupo.

Kim In-sung (R) of Ulsan Hyndai celebrates scoring the opening goal with his team mate Mislav Orsic (L) during the AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Ulsan Hyundai...