Former Premier League owner Simon Jordan is not surprised to see Leeds United close in on a potential £35 million deal for Hoffenheim and Bundesliga wonderkid Georginio Rutter, speaking to talkSPORT (January 12, 11.30am).
Rutter, at just 20 years of age, is hardly the finished article. He’s raw, inconsistent, and arrives at Elland Road after just 11 goals in 59 Hoffenheim appearances.
Leeds are not spending £35 million on the player Rutter is now, however, but the player he could become. Rutter has everything in his locker to become one of Europe’s most exciting attackers; the explosive pace, the dazzling footwork, the skill, the versatility and the fearsome shooting power.
“Georginio’s development over the last year with us has been breathtaking,” explains Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen. “He’s one of the most promising young players in European football.
“Despite his young age, he already has an unbelievable blend of athleticism, technique, speed and an eye for goal.”
Leeds United are close to signing Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim
Reports suggesting that Leeds could end up paying a club-record £35 million for Rutter may raise eyebrows, given his youth and a relative lack of elite-level experience. One-time Crystal Palace chief Jordan is far from surprised, however, highlighting Leeds’ lack of attacking depth and the spending power afforded to Premier League clubs in the modern era.
“Let’s be clear; the club gets £120 million from opening their gates from Premier League, plus from TV companies. They can afford to be spending £30, £40, £50 million per season in transfers,” Jordan says.
“I don’t look at (the Rutter deal) and say; ‘wow’.”
Rutter can play on the right or the left, but arrives in West Yorkshire hoping to ease the goalscoring burden resting on the shoulders of injury-prone number nine Patrick Bamford. Per Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old Frenchman could travel to England on Thursday before undergoing medical tests.
Leeds, meanwhile, will pay an up-front fee of £25 million.
“I watched Leeds in the last couple of games. I watched them against West Ham (a 2-2 draw at Elland Road), and I watched them in the FA Cup (at Cardiff City). And it’s clear to me that, while they’ve got good little players up top, they need a centre-forward. Bamford won’t return to what he was before.
“£35m; that’s a centre-forward.”
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