Leeds United reject £30m Premier League bid for key striker on eve of pre-season

A £30m bid for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Georginio Rutter has been rejected by Leeds United. LeedsLive understands the Seagulls’ bid was rejected within the last 48 hours by the Whites’ hierarchy.

The weekend and early part of this week were dominated by talks with Tottenham Hotspur, which eventually saw Archie Gray and Joe Rodon swap places ahead of the new season. While those talks were taking place, the East Sussex side tested the waters with a bid for Rutter.

Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto have been the attacking names linked outside West Yorkshire with moves this summer but Rutter, despite registering 16 assists last season, has seen no such speculation. Rutter remains the club’s record signing after arriving from Hoffenheim last year for around £35m.

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United’s profitability and sustainability picture was not in a desperate state heading into the June 30 deadline, but Brighton have tested United’s resolve in recent weeks. The bid for Rutter follows some informal enquiries into Summerville’s position, but his offer did not tick any of the club’s or the winger’s boxes on a transfer.

Rutter reported for pre-season at Thorp Arch today with the vast majority of the squad of players that Daniel Farke currently has on the books. The 22-year-old has four years remaining on his contract and is set to play another key role for Farke in their promotion push in 2025.

With Brenden Aaronson expected to return to Elland Road next term, there is a possibility that Rutter could be tested in a wider role, as he did at Hoffenheim, by Farke. Time will tell how the German’s strongest line-up shakes out on September 1.