Leeds United are planning to sell or loan out several players in their squad over the course of the window. However, they remained determined to hold on to their best players.
The Whites have already been forced to sell a key player when Pascal Struijk joined Brighton last month. Leeds had little option but to sell him once the defender refused to sign a new deal.
Leeds have already signed Harry Wilson on a free transfer, and are pushing to bring in more players to strengthen several areas of their squad this summer.
Daniel Farke is determined to hold on to his best players this summer. However, one such star has declined opportunities to commit his future to Elland Road amid interest from Premier League bigwigs.
Read More: Daniel Farke fears losing top Leeds United star
Leeds United star again refuses to rule out Elland Road exit
With Daniel Farke and the squad set to reassemble for pre-season, the manager is keen to avoid disruptions over the course of the next few weeks.
However, it emerged a couple of weeks back that Chelsea are interested in Gabriel Gudmundsson, and the defender has not explicitly ruled out an Elland Road exit.
Following the rumours, Gudmundsson seemed happy that a big Premier League club are interested in him after just one season in English football.
The Swede again received an opportunity to clarify his future, but remained coy on the prospect of staying at Elland Road. He insisted that he is happy at Elland Road, but left the door ajar with his comments.
When asked about Chelsea’s interest, he said on Saturday’s edition of Hallandsposten via Sport Witness: “I haven’t had a focus on it because there has been so much with Leeds, the World Cup, and then I have become a father now, so I have really zoned out from that part of football.
“But it’s nice that they see me as an alternative and it’s a sign that something good has been done; then we’ll see what happens, but I’m happy where I am.”
Leeds must hold on to Gabriel Gudmundsson
Leeds United deserve huge credit for spotting Gabriel Gudmundsson’s potential and signing him for a fee that already looks like outstanding value.
That is why Chelsea’s interest is such a worry. Few clubs can rival the financial muscle of Stamford Bridge, and the combination of a substantial transfer fee and significantly higher wages would be enough to turn the head of almost any player.
For Leeds, keeping Gudmundsson has to be a top priority. Finding a left-back of similar quality without spending considerably more would be an enormous challenge, making his departure a major setback.
Daniel Farke’s job now is to convince the Sweden international that his immediate future is best served at Elland Road. Regular Premier League football and another season of development at Leeds could do far more for his long-term career than making an early move to one of England’s biggest clubs, even with the financial incentives Chelsea can offer.
It’s simple, slap a £60mil price tag on his head. They either get put off or it’s a win win for Leeds.