Leeds United are unlikely to sign reported target Nahitan Nandez before Monday’s transfer deadline, as Cagliari President Tommaso Giulini has shut the door for the Uruguayan’s exit.
Giulini has revealed his Serie A side are yet to receive any formal bids for the midfielder, via Sky Italia. He also claims no club has made contact during the winter market to express any interest in the 26-year-old. Instead, reports of any move have so far only been paper talk.
Leeds are often among the teams reports link with Nandez in case he leaves Cagliari in the January transfer window. La Nuova Sardegna also claim the Whites are frontrunners for a deal, as they are the only chasing side who can afford Giulini’s €25m (£21m) valuation.
Torino are also keen on the 49-cap star, but Toro President Urban Cairo is reluctant to give the green light. Instead, the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium natives considered an onerous loan with an obligation to buy. But Giulini will not allow for any discounts in such a move.
Cagliari have already lessened their asking price to sell Nandez this month, amid Leeds and Torino’s transfer interest. Calciomercato noted in December the Rossoblu accept they can no longer tell clubs to pay his €36m (£30m) release clause. They also cited Leeds’ interest.
Giulini shuts transfer door for Cagliari ace and Leeds target Nandez
Sky Italia add Juventus are hot on Nandez’s case, but want to offer Cagliari a player in part-exchange. However, Giulini has no interest in accepting technical counterparts in any deal. So, the Cagliari chief shut the door on Leeds target Nandez leaving in a last-ditch transfer.
“A soap opera is created at each transfer market session about Nandez,” Giulini said. “We are three days before the transfer market closes and for us, he is a fundamental player to fight for salvation until the end.
“It is unlikely that such a situation will be realised within hours of the transfer market closing. We have not received official requests and offers. I, too, have read names of technical counterparts. But we are not interested.”
Cagliari currently rank in the Serie A drop zone on 17-points after 23 games. They have only won three matches so far this season to sit a point from Venezia and safety. Nandez has featured in 17 of their matches, while offering two assists from various midfield roles.
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