Mario Pasalic looks likely to be loaned out by Chelsea again after spells at Monaco and AC Milan – but could Leeds United be his next destination?
After a slow start, the Leeds United recruitment drive is picking up the pace. They look set to have a new goalkeeper in Werder Bremen’s Felix Wiedwald, as reported by Kicker, while AS claim Huesca forward Samu Saiz could also arrive to share the play-making burden with Polish international Mateusz Klich.
Yet a move for Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic would surely be the most ambitious deal yet. According to Italian publication Gianluca Di Marzio, Leeds are fighting two genuine European powerhouses, Lazio and Valencia, to sign the 22-year-old Croatian international on a season-long loan.
Pasalic started 20 Serie A games for AC Milan last season
Chelsea paid £3 million to sign Pasalic from Hajduk Split in 2014, as reported by the Daily Mail, but instead of forcing his way into The Blues first-team he has joined their lengthening legion of loanees.
After an impressive spell at Monaco in 2015/16, the youngster enjoyed a fine season at AC Milan, netting the winning penalty in the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus – the Rossineri’s first piece of silverware since 2011.
An energetic central midfielder with an eye for goal, Pasalic would be an impressive coup for Leeds if they were able to convince Chelsea to loan him to Elland Road for the upcoming campaign.
He has already proven himself at the top of Ligue 1 and Serie A but a short-term move to the Championship would perhaps give the Premier League champions an indication as to whether Pasalic could thrive in English football.
Leeds may be all too willing to give him that opportunity.
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