Report: Leeds linked £10m man wanted to move; no one made an acceptable offer

Leeds United linked Gyrano Kerk was open to leaving Utrecht during the transfer window, but the Eredivisie outfit never received a single offer that was tempting enough to make them cash in, according to AD.

Before £21 million Raphinha became the final signing of a stunning transfer window for the West Yorkshire giants, it had seemed only a matter of time before one of the fastest footballers in Holland was posing for photos in front of Elland Road.

The Mirror (27 September, page 74) reported that Marcelo Bielsa himself had personally scouted Gyrano Kerk earlier in the year.

What’s more, Leeds were expected to tie up a deal that would see the Holland U21 international join the Premier League newcomers for £10 million; about half the fee they eventually paid to sign Raphinha from Rennes instead.

While the Dutch transfer window does not shut until late on Tuesday night, all the signs now suggest that Kerk will be carrying the can for John Van den Brom’s eye-catching Utrecht side until January at least.

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AD reports that the Amsterdam-born pocket rocket was keen on a move to one of Europe’s major leagues.

Utrecht, however, were under no financial pressure to sell after allowing right-back Sean Klaiber to join Ajax in a £6 million deal. And they never received an offer that met their demands for Kerk.

The versatile forward produced 11 goals and 12 assists last season and has started the current campaign in typically explosive fashion.

Continue like this and he will get his big move sooner rather than later.

In other news, President admits he was 'close' to re-signing £26m Arsenal man this year