Agent says Arsenal like £30m ace and admits ‘concrete’ Leeds interest

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Premier League quartet Leeds United, West Ham, Newcastle and Arsenal wanted Charles de Ketelaere before the Belgium international sealed a £30 million move to AC Milan, his representatives tells Het Laaste Nieuws.

One of the longest-running soap operas has finally come to an end. And we don’t mean Neighbours.

Serie A champions AC Milan confirmed the £30 million signing of Club Brugge talisman Charles de Ketelaere on Tuesday, fighting off competition a Leeds side who were willing to make the so-called ‘new Kevin de Bruyne’ the most expensive acquisition in their 102-year history.

Leeds United miss out on Charles de Ketelaere

“(Leeds’ interest) was very concrete. They absolutely wanted him. He would play there every week, and Jesse March is a top-notch manager,” explains De Ketelaere’s representatives, pointing out the role director Paolo Maldini and coach Stefano Pioli played in luring the elegant forward to Italy.

“To understand if Leeds was the right step, he wanted to make a comparison. We phoned Milan (and said); ‘If you really want him, you have to insist now. And push hard’.

“Maldini then called him. Charles had a good conversation with Pioli too and was completely convinced. Leeds were offering 40 million (euros) and Milan had a limit. But Brugge would not have sold him for 20 million, so Milan had to relaunch the offer.”

Leeds were not the only Premier League club who enquired about De Ketelaere’s availability. Not that West Ham, Newcastle or Arsenal really threatened to go all in for a player who fired Club Brugge to Jupiler League glory while providing 18 goals and 10 assists in all competitions across 2021/22.

“On Charles, there were West Ham, Newcastle and Arsenal,” the agent adds. “But, with them, the conversation never moved on. Barcelona had been following him for some time too, but I thought that was not the right move.

“Financially, Leeds would be the best option. But Charles wanted to wait a little longer. When Charles he felt that Milan wanted him 100 per cent, things changed.”