According to Ruhr24, Leeds United turned down a £22 million bid from German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund for French forward Georginio Rutter during the summer transfer window.
Rutter joined Elland Road from TSG Hoffenheim in January for a club record cost of £36 million. Rutter’s first half-season with the Lilywhites, however, did not go as anticipated, as he failed to score a single goal.
The Frenchman has been much more potent this term under new head coach Daniel Farke and has scored twice already for Leeds in the Championship, once against Ipswich Town followed up by a goal at the Den versus Millwall in the team’s most recent outing.
Nevertheless, there was an opportunity for Rutter to head out the exit door during the summer window. Ruhr24 are claiming that European giants Borussia Dortmund submitted a bid of £22 million for the 21-year-old but the offer was swiftly rejected.
Dortmund’s bid was just under £14 million less than Leeds paid for Rutter back in January and the board were not willing to accept it.
Die Schwarzgelben were not the only team in a top-five league to make an offer for Rutter. Telefoot reported that Lyon were interested in signing the former Rennes man should winger Bradley Barcola move to Paris Saint-Germain. Barcola did make the switch to the Parc des Princes but Leeds refused to sell Rutter.
The Yorkshire club underwent open heart surgery in the summer, with many key players leaving such as Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra but Rutter stayed put and is having a solid season so far.
Writer’s View
It makes sense that Borussia Dortmund were interested in bringing Rutter to the Signal Iduna Park given that the forward played two seasons in the Bundesliga.
However, the bid wasn’t worth accepting. Rutter is still 21 and, should he start hitting form, he could be worth far more in the future.
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