Ilia Gruev has missed training with Werder Bremen as he is in “contract talks” elsewhere, the German side has confirmed amid links to a Leeds United move.
The Bundesliga club revealed via their official website Wednesday (30 August) that the Bulgarian international was not in training as he was discussing a move away with an “other club”.
After being stung, more than once, in their pursuit of Nadiem Amiri from Bayer Leverkusen [The Athletic, 29 August] it looks like there may be swift movement to bring in a Bundesliga alternative.
Fast response
While it is obviously possible that another club has swooped in ahead of Leeds United and are negotiating a deal with Gruev, the Bremen confirmation coming so soon after the reported interest emerging makes it easy to assume a Whites connection.
If it is an Elland Road switch that is being discussed then it is just the latest indication that the recruitment department are firing on all cylinders over the last days of the window to strengthen a thin central midfield.
Amiri would have been great but proved himself far more trouble that Daniel Farke needs to deal with after the opening months in the job he has already had.
And rejections from both Norwich City and Celtic over Kenny McLean and Matt O’Riley respectively haven’t necessarily closed the doors on the pair as options, but there clearly isn’t much time to change their club’s stances if they want to play hardball.
It certainly appears that eight-cap international Gruev is on the way somewhere imminently, and Bremen don’t look to be standing in the way of it.
He has two years left on his contract so cash will have to change hands if the Whites are to be the ones to bring him in, but he may prove to be a more affordable option than the two British-based alternatives.
