Italian club Cremonese have opened talks over a deal to sign Leeds United outcast Giuseppe Bellusci, according to Cuore Grigio Rosso.
The Italian media outlet claim the newly promoted Serie B side are working on ending Bellusci’s miserable spell at Elland Road.
Cuore Grigio Rosso report that a deal to take Bellusci, 27, from Leeds to Cremonese is “complicated” given the intense competition from Greek club PAOK for his signature.
It has been reported this week by another Italian site Calcio Mercato that PAOK will hold a second round of talks to discuss the transfer of the 27-year-old after a positive first set of negotiations between Bellusci’s representatives and officials from the Greek club in Germany on Thursday.
The emergence of Cremonese, who were promoted from the Italian third tier as champions last seasons, adds a fresh dimension to discussions and gives Leeds hopes that they can finally offload an unwanted player.
New Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen revealed on Wednesday night that the centre-back is not in his plans for 2017-18 even though he has a year remaining on his contract.
Bellusci was loaned out to Empoli last season after two controversy-strewn seasons at Elland Road but returned to train with his parent club this month after their relegation to Serie B ended hopes of a permanent transfer.
Bellusci was signed by Leeds in the summer of 2014 for £1.6million but a mixture of average performances and ill discipline meant he failed to win over supporters.
Leeds fans jeered him during a pre-season friendly eight days ago as they made it clear they do not want to see him play another competitive match for the club.