Daniel Farke said Leeds United player runs more than anyone else but he’s about to become fifth-choice…
Leeds United fans came into the week feeling a bit underwhelmed by the club’s work in the transfer window with a deal for Sean Longstaff seemingly over.
But 24 hours in the transfer window is a long time, and that feeling has quickly turned on its head. Leeds have agreed a £15m fee for Sean Longstaff, and a breakthrough has been reached in signing Anton Stach.
Leeds saw a third bid of £10m plus £2m rejected for Longstaff last week. The higher-ups at Leeds thought a deal would be unlikely and yet, David Ornstein reports a deal to sign Longstaff is now set to go through.
The news of Longstaff signing for Leeds came on Tuesday night, with confirmation set to arrive before the weekend. Then on Wednesday morning, it emerged Leeds had agreed personal terms to sign Stach.
READ MORE: Nikola Krstovic bid rejected, Leeds told they must increase offer by a huge £13m.
Sean Longstaff during a Newcastle training session.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
What next for Ilia Gruev as Leeds United close in on duo signing
Leeds lost Joe Rothwell and Josuha Guilavogui, reducing their complement of midfielders from five to three at the end of last season. Rothwell has since signed for The 49ers’ Rangers, north of the border.
Guilavogui was brought in as cover, but with Stach and Longstaff, Leeds will now have five midfielders who hope to start. Five options for two positions in midfield. Ilia Gruev will sit at the bottom of the pile.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Daniel Farke once said Gruev runs more than any other Leeds player, but the £4m signing was already behind captain Ethan Ampadu and fan favourite Ao Tanaka. With Longstaff and Stach, he is fifth choice.
Ilia Gruev may start to consider his future at Leeds United
Two years into the four-year deal he signed when joining the club in 2023, Gruev has played 60 times for Leeds. It would have been a lot more had he not missed four months through injury during 2024-25.
Gruev has already placed his own future in doubt with comments about the Bulgaria National Team. He said that the players representing his country should be playing regularly for their clubs, to be picked.
It means that if Gruev considers his own place in Bulgaria’s national team as pivotal to his career, he may need to leave and join a team where he’s first choice. If Stach and Longstaff sign, Gruev won’t be at Leeds.
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