Cardiff City are to table an opening bid of £7million for Leeds United midfielder Ronaldo Vieira, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper’s live transfer blog (Tuesday, 9.01pm) claim the Premier League side are planning “another raid on the Championship” after already sealing the signings of Josh Murphy, Bobby Reid and Greg Cunningham from Norwich, Bristol City and Preston North End.
The Mirror report that Cardiff manager Neil Warnock is a big admirer of Vieira, who is regarded as one of the outstanding talents in the Football League.
Good move for Leeds?
Selling off the crown jewels is rarely to the sporting advantage of a Championship club. Certainly, it might appease the beancounters or the board of directors struggling to keep the finances in a solid state. But Leeds do not have another young player with the talent or potential of Vieira. The former Benfica youth trod water last season after his sensational 2016-17 breakthrough campaign, partly due to knee problems, but his class and energy in central midfield make him a key man for Marcelo Bielsa’s new side. Should Vieira continue to develop, he could be worth double the £7million offer in a year’s time. Leeds should hold fire and bank on their new manager uncorking the midfielder’s immense promise.
This Is Futbol rating 4/10
Likely to happen?
It is certainly possible, given Leeds don’t appear to be flush with money owner Andrea Radrizzani’s ambitions do not match up to his big talk. A £7million-plus sale could also secure two or three new players who could go straight into the club’s matchday 18.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10