Leeds' €8.5m opening bid forces Gladbach to set €12m price

€8.5 million opens Leeds United’s summer pursuit as a verbal offer for Borussia Mönchengladbach centre‑back Nico Elvedi, the 29‑year‑old Swiss international entering the final year of his contract. The bid arrives as the German club faces pressure to secure a decent fee.

Borussia Mönchengladbach director of football Rouven Schröder must decide quickly to sell Elvedi to obtain a reasonable return. The defender has rejected every contract extension and has expressed a desire to move to England.

Gladbach officials are reportedly terrified of losing another star asset for nothing, recalling similar situations in recent windows. While Schröder projects calm publicly, the board acknowledges Leeds United as the only serious suitor and has already rejected the €8.5 million opening offer.

The German side demands a valuation nearer to €12 million, signalling that the initial bid falls short of their expectations. Leeds must consider raising their offer to match the higher price if they wish to outbid competing European clubs.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke knows Elvedi’s qualities well from their time together in Germany and believes the defender fits his system that requires a centre‑back who can orchestrate play from the back. Farke argues that paying more makes sense compared with unproven lower‑league talent.

Elvedi logged 33 appearances last season, routinely delivering over 50 passes per match with a passing accuracy above 90 percent and averaging 12 clearances in high‑intensity fixtures. He also holds 70 caps for Switzerland, featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and displayed aerial dominance and composure against Canada.

To secure the Swiss international, Leeds must move beyond verbal talks, submit a formal written bid and finalize the deal before other European clubs react to the opportunity.