Reported Leeds target dropped from squad as Whites offer £18m, manager prefers 17-year-old

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Michael Cuisance was left out of Bayern Munich’s squad at the weekend as Leeds United stepped up their interest, with coach Hansi Flick admitting he preferred a 17-year-old in Cuisance’s position (Abend Zeitung).

Any hopes Leeds had of signing one of the most highly rated young midfielders around appeared to take an almighty hit when the Bundesliga champions failed to stop Thiago Alcantara joining forces with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

After all, many considered 21-year-old Cuisance to be the long-term successor to Thiago at the heart of Bayern’s midfield.

But, with little more than a week remaining in the transfer window, the smart money is now on the former Borussia Monchengladbach man joining Liverpool’s new number six in England.

“Instead of Michael Cuisance, I chose Jamal Musiala because he played very well on the wing in the last game,” Flick said after the shock 3-1 loss at Hoffenheim, explaining his decision to drop Cuisance in favour of a 17-year-old.

“That’s why Jamal made the squad today and Mika didn’t.”

L’equipe reported on Sunday that Leeds have made an £18 million bid for a man who has played just 18 minutes of football this season for a Bayern side that recently added the UEFA Supercup to their Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal triumphs.

Javi Martinez, the veteran midfielder who scored the winner in that Supercup triumph over Sevilla, could now stay in Munich rather than return to Spain – pushing Cuisance even further down the pecking order.