Leeds United have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Derby County striker Matej Vydra after opening talks over a big-money deal with their Championship rivals, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claim on their live transfer blog (Thursday, 9pm) that County are willing to sell the prolific forward as they look to cut their wage bill after missing out on promotion.
The Mirror report Vydra is rated at £11million by Derby and they have told Leeds the “hefty double digit price” will be needed to secure his signature.
OPINION
Leeds’ pursuit of Vydra is hugely exciting for their supporters given his credentials as one of the outstanding forwards in England’s second tier. The 20-times Czech Republic international topped the Championship goal charts last season with 21 from 40 matches and demonstrated the clinical finishing and matchwinning ability absent from any of those on United’s payroll. His technical excellence and eye for the spectacular also makes him the kind of player who will lift spectators from their seats. That kind of quality does not come cheap and, with two years left on his contract, Derby understandably want top dollar for their man, whose salary is also said to be £30,000-a-week. Leeds have already demonstrated huge ambition by appointing Marco Bielsa as their new boss. Are they ready to supply the Argentine with the players capable of firing the team to promotion next May?