According to the Sunday Mirror (14/06, p72), Birmingham City defender Kristian Pedersen and midfielder Ivan Sunjic could leave the club this summer.
Last summer, Birmingham managed to stump up £6.3million to sign Sunjic from Dinamo Zagreb. The 23-year-old was highly regarded in Croatia, and he was seen as a major signing for the Blues.
Sunjic has been a solid, battling midfielder with composure on the ball and grit in the tackle. The combative has scored two goals and picked up eight yellow cards, and could move on this summer.
Meanwhile, full back Pedersen has impressed since his 2018 move rom Union Berlin. He is a tall and strong left back with real defensive ability, whilst he has been a threat going forward with four goals and two assists this season.
It’s claimed that both players could follow Jude Bellingham out of the club this summer in order to raise funds, and that news may just attract the interest of Leeds United.
Both players have claimed that Leeds wanted them. Pedersen told BluesTV in September that Leeds wanted him before Birmingham landed him, whilst Sunjic told the Birmingham Mail in October that Leeds were an option for him last summer.
So, could Leeds look to them again? Pedersen should be a particularly appealing option having become one of the top left backs in the Championship.
Barry Douglas has endured a tough season, and finally landing Pederson would give Marcelo Bielsa an athletic option there. At 25, he still has potential to develop, and his versatility to play at centre back is appealing too.
Sunjic would provide Bielsa with another workmanlike option in midfield. He can cover for Kalvin Phillips or operate as a box-to-box player, and Birmingham’s financial issues mean they could land a smart deal.
Leeds fans will naturally want big names if they win promotion, but returning for former targets Pedersen and Sunjic could add valuable depth and potential to the Leeds squad at the right price.
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