Championship sides, Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday have been chasing Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, Gustavo Puerta, but a move is now in jeopardy following a multi-million-pound bid from Brondby.
Puerta lifted the Bundesliga title with Xavi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen last season but has struggled for game time under the Spaniard.
Hull and Sheffield Wednesday are looking to bolster their midfield
Both Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday are eyeing up improvements for the midfield despite the Championship season having already kicked off.
The Tigers have lost a variety of midfield players this summer, with little replacement, most notably selling Ozan Tufan after two impressive years at the MKM Stadium.
New Hull manager, Tim Walter, clearly wants a new man in the middle with the ex-Hamburg manager trying to lure his former player, Jonas Meffert, to join him at his new club, according to Hull Live.
Sheffield Wednesday are looking at more creative midfield options, with The Yorkshire Post reporting that the Owls are considering a loan deal for highly-rated Tottenham attacking midfielder, Alfie Devine, who spent the second half of last season with Plymouth Argyle.
Both sides are keen on Gustavo Puerta
However, a player that both Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday are looking to sign is Bayer Leverkusen’s Gustavo Puerta, although both sides chances have suffered a blow after Danish side, Brondby, submitted a £3 million bid, according to Alan Nixon (paywall).
Nixon’s report suggests that Hull City are the side most likely to be frustrated by what is expected to be a failed pursuit of Puerta with no alternative signing suggested to be lined up.
Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday are believed to be slightly more prepared to lose out on a deal for Puerta, with Alan Nixon confirming that Wednesday now have their sights set on a loan deal for Alfie Devine instead.
Puerta lifted the title with Bayer Leverkusen last season
21-year-old Colombian midfielder, Gustavo Puerta, could have brought some top-level European experience to either of the Championship sides that are interested.
The Colombia U20’s international didn’t have a pivotal part in Xavi Alonso’s Bundesliga glory however, only making seven Bundesliga outings for Die Werkself last season, amounting to just forty-one minutes of playing time. (TransferMarkt)
A lack of minutes suggests why Puerta may be moving on this summer, with the recent signing of Aleix Garcia from Girona only placing a further obstacle in Puerta’s path to regular first-team football.