Leeds United secured seven new signings in the summer transfer window to improve their squad, but Pavel Sulc was one player who didn’t arrive despite getting heavily linked with a move to Elland Road.
The 25-year-old Czech attacking midfielder was expected to leave Lyon last summer due to interest from clubs across Europe, but he stayed put at the French club.
Leeds remain linked with the attacking midfielder, with suggestions they could rekindle their interest in the winter transfer window.
Sulc is still said to be a target for Leeds, but the player has indicated what he needs before he agrees to leave Lyon in the upcoming transfer window next year.
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Pavel Sulc breaks silence on summer transfer rumours
The 25-year-old admitted there was a chance to leave Lyon in the summer transfer window but insisted he was only open to concrete offers.
He claimed a few clubs were in touch but weren’t prepared to meet Lyon’s financial demands last summer.
Sulc feels that if he were a young marketable prospect from Portugal, clubs may have agreed to pay big money for him.
“A move was certainly on the cards. But I told the club officials to give me something concrete”, Sulc was quoted as saying by Sport.
“I didn’t want to know just because a club were making inquiries. Clubs did actually reach out, but we couldn’t agree on the money; in the end, they said they didn’t want to pay that much for me.
“I’m not a twenty-year-old prospect—though perhaps if I held a Portuguese passport, I’d be a more marketable asset. I don’t mean for that to sound bad.”
The message is clear for Leeds if they want Sulc
The Czech attacking midfielder had 25 goal involvements in all competitions last season, and Leeds could do with a player of his qualities in their squad.
If Leeds want to make a move for him in the winter transfer window, Sulc has made it clear they need to pay what Lyon want for him.
He has close to three years left on his contract, and Lyon are under no pressure to sell him for a knocked-down fee despite the financial troubles of French football.
The verdict is clear for Leeds – if they want to sign Sulc, they can’t penny-pinch and table a bid Lyon can accept.
