Exact costs of Georginio Rutter to Leeds revealed with Orta working on signing No 3 and star naming two Prem idols
Leeds United have reached total agreement to make Georginio Rutter their record signing – and it seems the Whites won’t be stopping there with work now underway for signing No 3 this month.
The Whites are not holding back this month as they bid to plot their safety in the Premier League. Having only survived on the final day last season, chairman Andrea Radrizzani is angling to make sure there is not a repeat. And with Leeds sat 14th, just two clear of the drop zone, he knows he cannot afford to take any chances.
As such, Leeds are quickly going about addressing their squad weaknesses this month. To that end, a deal for Maximilian Wober, who can cover in their problematic left-back position, has already been finalised. The Austrian arrives on a deal that sets the club back up to £17.7m.
And, following 48 hours of extensive talks, a deal for forward Rutter will be confirmed next.
The Hoffenheim striker found himself the subject of a Leeds enquiry over the weekend. And it seems the club are now closing on his signing with talks progressing well.
Now, according to Sky Germany, Leeds have reached a total agreement to bring Rutter to Elland Road. He will reportedly sign a deal to 2028.
The Whites will reportedly pay an initial £28.8m (€32.25m) for the striker, with the total package set to reach £35.4m (€40m). That represents a club-record move for Leeds with the deal topping the £27m paid to Valencia for Rodrigo in 2020.
Per the report, Rutter will now undergo a medical with Leeds and his signing could be confirmed some time on Thursday.
Rutter has already made clear his willingness to make the move, with the France U21 striker leaving Hoffenheim with little choice but to sell.
Georginio Rutter names his two Premier League idols
While a club record move for Leeds, the transfer makes him only joint 20th on the all-time list of Bundesliga departures. Top of the pile is the €140m package Barcelona agreed for Ousmane Dembele. Jadon Sancho, Kai Havertz, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Pulisic make up the top five.
He will, however, become Hoffenheim’s record sale, topping the fees Newcastle shelled out for Joelinton and Liverpool for Roberto Firmino.
And in an interview for Scouted Football back in May 2022, Rutter outlined his ambitions to follow in their footsteps by moving to the Premier League.
Speaking about Firmino, Rutter admits he is in awe of the Brazilian.
“He wrote the history of Hoffenheim and I love his creativity. I can play with my back to goal when needed (to help the team push up), but I also like to drift out wide and attack spaces as a winger. I’m a mix of all that.
“But I would say that things can change depending on the team you play for and what is happening during the game. I can also add that I’m a generous player – I run a lot.”
Asked about Joelinton’s move to Newcastle back in 2019, he added: “It makes us [young players] dream, it does,” he admits. “I still have a lot of work ahead of me here, though.”
Leeds working on deal for George Hall next
With a deal for Rutter as good as done, Leeds director of football Victor Orta will get to work on his next signing.
And it seems it is in midfield where he next wants to strengthen.
Leeds recently bode an emotional farewell to Mateusz Klich, who will move to MLS with DC United.
And with Adam Forshaw set to leave Leeds at the end of his contract this summer, Leeds are making their engine room their next priority.
Indeed, TEAMtalk exclusively revealed back in December that George Hall was a top target for Orta.
Now the Daily Mail claims Leeds are edging closer to the signing of the 18-year-old Birmingham star.
Rated at around the £12m bracket, Orta views Hall as a major star in the making.
Birmingham have expressed their desire to retain his services.
Sources have told TEAMtalk that Birmingham’s stance remains that Hall is not for sale. However, a sizeable offer would leave them with little choice but to cash in. We also understand that any move is unlikely to go through until late in the January window.
Blues want to retain his services for as long as possible. And a late sale will maximise their prospects of securing a replacement first.
