Report: Leeds’ £22.5m bid for long-time Bielsa target fails; record fee required

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Leeds United have failed with a £22.5 million bid as their attempts to sign all-action Serie A enforcer Nahitan Nandez from Cagliari hit the buffers, according to Centro Trentuno.

It is difficult to imagine a midfielder better suited to Marcelo Bielsa’s ‘murderball’ tactics than a man who epitomises the ‘garra’ spirit of Uruguayan football.

Nandez is not just a fine passer of the ball with the ability to play across the centre of the park.

The 31-cap international shot to fame in the 2018 World Cup alongside Lucas Torreira and, at his best, makes the Duracell bunny seem lethargic.

A remarkable tally of 14 yellow cards in Serie A last season speaks volumes about the 24-year-old’s boundless enthusiasm and desperation to snatch back possession at the earliest opportunity.

Earlier this week, Centro Trentuno reported Bielsa has been a big fan of Nandez since his impressive spell at Boca Juniors.

He tried to sign Nandez last summer too.

Leeds, back then, were a mere Championship team, blown out of the water by a Cagliari side offering Nandez the chance to prove himself in a major European league.

12 months’ on, Bielsa has seen his long-time transfer target slip through his fingers again.

Leeds made a £22.5 million offer after securing promotion, with Whites owner Andrea Radrizzani hoping to strike an agreement with his friend and Cagliari counterpart Tomasso Giulini.

Cagliari were demanding a club-record fee of £30 million, however, and with just days remaining before the window closes, Nandez looks destined to stay in Sardinia.

“Leeds want both Nandez and (striker Giovanni) Simeone, but we can rule out these players leaving in the final days of the transfer market because we would be weakened,” Giulini told Football Italia.

“It’s too late, there wouldn’t be time to replace them.”