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Leeds United have reportedly made a £12 million offer to Derby County for Matej Vydra. Vydra enjoyed a fine season for Derby last year, scoring 22 goals in 44 appearances for the club.
Leeds have been in search for a consistent goal-scorer after Chris Wood left the club last August for Burnley. Leeds brought in former Chievo Verona forward Caleb Ekuban on a transfer and also brought in Hamburger SV striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga on a loan, but neither one impressed at all last season, and Lasogga has gone back to the Bundesliga after his loan deal expired and Ekuban is close to leaving the club after reports indicate that he’s not in the future plans of Leeds.
EXC: Derby are weighing up a £12m bid from #LUFC for Matej Vydra. People close to Vydra have been impressed by Leeds' vision and their prospects for the season ahead - https://t.co/U58ZRBggWM
— Amitai Winehouse (@awinehouse1) June 28, 2018
Leeds have been pursuing the Czech Republic international for a few weeks and are now testing the resolve of the Rams by offering a big-money bid for the forward. Vydra is apparently open to the move with legendary Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa now at Leeds. Bielsa is said to be a big fan of Vydra, and bringing in a player with the kind of goal-scoring record as Vydra’s shows a lot of intent by Leeds. The acquisition of Vydra might also signal the end of a pursuit for former Hull City striker Abel Hernandez, as it’s bee said that Leeds would only do a deal for one or the other.
Of course, if the deal does go through, it will be interesting to see where he will play. Despite being listed as a forward or striker, Vydra did almost all of his damage this season lining up behind the striker in a number 10 role. Leeds already have both Pablo Hernandez and Samu Saiz for that position, and they are both two of the better players at the club. Perhaps the future for at least one, or more, of them is to either move to the wing or perhaps Bielsa envisions Vydra as a solution at striker.