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Leeds deal to sign £31m star is ‘done’, but one big problem remains

Andrea Radrizzani
Andrea Radrizzani Chairman of Leeds United prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Brentford at Elland Road on August 21, ...
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Leeds United and Cagliari are both confident a deal to bring Nahitan Nandez to the Premier League will be completed soon although concerns remain over the structure of a £31 million deal, Corriere dello Sport states.

Now, you should never believe everything you read, especially in an era of never-ending gossip and spurious sources.

And while Corriere dello Sport believes a deal that would see the impressive Nandez become Leeds’ record signing is “done” – their words, not ours – there are still compromises to be reached and hoops to be jumped through.

Calciomercato claimed just 24 hours ago the Yorkshire giants didn’t have the funds to trigger the £31 million release clause in Nandez’s contract.

It seems Leeds have found a way round that particular problem, however, with the Premier League entertainers hoping to pay the fee in two instalments – one this year and one the next.

And while Cagliari aren’t exactly enamoured by such a plan, there’s a belief behind the scenes at both clubs that Nandez will be wearing Leeds’ iconic white strip on the first day of the 2020/21 season.

Leeds edge ever closer to Nahitan Nandez deal

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has a superb relationship with Cagliari counterpart Tommaso Giulini and that stands the Whites in very good stead.

Andrea Radrizzani harvey elliott Pascal Struijk
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In October, Giulini himself admitted Leeds had tried to sign the all-action Uruguay international, although Cagliari were unwilling to sell in that transfer window with so little time to find a replacement.

Desperate to avoid a repeat of that situation, Leeds have made their approach far earlier in the window this time around, giving Cagliari two months to prepare for life without the former Boca Juniors youngster.

In addition to Nandez, Leeds are closing in on a deal that would see Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo swap Catalonia for the rolling hills of West Yorkshire.

Junior Firpo leeds
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